Baseline anemia in patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC) and its association with survival: A retrospective cohort study

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Background: The prognostic significance of anemia in BTC is unknown, but is common and may be multifactorial; data regarding its causes are limited. This study interrogated a large institutional database to examine the effect of anemia on overall survival (OS) in BTC, and explore factors associated with anemia. Methods: This Princess Margaret Cancer Centre cohort study included patients with BTC with available baseline hemoglobin (Hb) (1987-2016). Anemia was defined as Hb < 132 mg/dL for men > 60 years, < 137mg/dL for men aged 20-59, and < 122mg/dL in women. Additional relevant covariates were included in multivariable Cox regression for OS, and linear regression for association with Hb. Results: Of 1398 patients included, 711 (51%) were anemic at baseline (mean Hb 112 mg/dL). Anemic versus non-anemic patients were older (median age 66 vs 64 yrs, p = 0.006), had worse ECOG PS (12% ECOG 2-3 vs 6%, p < .001), BMI < 20 (31% vs 27%, p = 0.006) and elevated neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (NLR), (64% vs 47%, p < .001), but cancer staging was not significantly different. Anemia was associated with shorter OS on univariate (HR 1.35, p < .001) and multivariable (HR 1.39, p < .001) regression (Table). Factors associated with lower Hb included older age, male gender, worse ECOG PS, tumor site, thrombocytopenia, elevated NLR. Conclusions: Baseline anemia was associated with shorter survival following diagnosis of BTC, independent of tumor stage or ECOG PS. Clinicians should be aware of this prognostic marker; validation in prospective datasets is warranted. [Table: see text]

Stereotactic body radiotherapy vs. TACE or RFA as a bridge to transplant in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. An intention-to-treat analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

There is limited information on the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as a bridge to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma and no study comparing its efficacy to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). We aimed to ascertain the safety and efficacy of SBRT on an intention-to-treat basis compared with TACE and RFA as a bridge to liver transplantation in a large cohort of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

Outcomes between groups were compared from the time of listing and from the time of transplant. Between July 2004 and December 2014, 379 patients were treated with either SBRT (n=36, SBRT group), TACE (n=99, TACE group) or RFA (n=244, RFA group).

RESULTS

The drop-out rate was similar between groups (16.7% SBRT group vs. 20.2% TACE group and 16.8% RFA group, p=0.7); 30 patients were transplanted in the SBRT group, 79 in the TACE group and 203 in the RFA group. Postoperative complications were similar between groups. Patients in the RFA group had more tumor necrosis in the explant. The 1-, 3- and 5-year actuarial patient survival from the time of listing was 83%, 61% and 61% in the SBRT group vs. 86%, 61% and 56% in the TACE group, and 86%, 72% and 61% in the RFA group, p=0.4. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival from the time of transplant was 83%, 75% and 75% in the SBRT group vs. 96%, 75% and 69% in the TACE group, and 95%, 81% and 73% in the RFA group, p=0.7.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, SBRT can be safely utilized as a bridge to LT in patients with HCC, as an alternative to conventional bridging therapies.

LAY SUMMARY

Patients with liver cancer included in the waiting list for liver transplantation are at risk of tumor progression and death. Stereotactic body radiotherapy may be a good alternative to conventional therapies to reduce this risk.

Neurocognitive function testing and health related quality of life in stage IV lung cancer patients with and without brain metastases

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Background: Survival in stage IV lung cancer (S4LC) patients (pts) continues to improve, highlighting the importance of assessing health related quality of life (HRQoL). Lung cancer, involvement with brain metastases (BM), and systemic or brain-specific treatment can all impact neurocognitive function (NCF) and HRQoL. We evaluated the relationship between NCF and HRQoL in S4LC pts by BM status. Methods: S4LC pts with BM (BM+) were frequency distributionally-matched to pts without BM (NBM). NCF was measured using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised (HVLT-R), the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) and Trail Making Tests (TMT-A/B); scores were correlated with health utility score (HUS) data from EQ5D-3L surveys (Pearson Coefficient, R). Results: BM+ (n = 54) and matched NBM (n = 40) pts had similar demographics. The overall median age was 61years; 59% were female; of 89% that were adenocarcinomas, half had EGFR/ALK alterations; mean time since diagnosis was 2.6 years; mean time since BM were diagnosed in BM+ pts was 0.5 years. Mean HUS (mHUS) were similar between groups: 0.77 for BM+ vs. 0.78 for NBM; p = 0.86. However, pts with stable BM had higher HUS than those with progressive BM (mHUS: 0.80 vs 0.69; p = 0.045). Of BM+ pts, 44% had received whole brain radiation (WBRT). Correlations of NCF and HUS specific for BM+ pts were observed for several HLVT scores, including Total Recall (TR), which was correlated with HUS in BM+ (R = 0.35, p = 0.01) but not in NBM (R = 0.04, p = 0.84) and Recognition Discrimination Index (BM+: R = 0.32, p = 0.03 vs NBM: R = 0.13, p = 0.51). In contrast, TMT-A/B NCF test results had slightly stronger associations with HUS in NBM pts. COWAT was least associated with HUS in BM+ or NBM pts. In BM+ pts treated vs untreated with WBRT, HLVT scores were better in untreated patients (TR, p < 0.0001; delayed recall, p = 0.006; retention, p = 0.089), associations not seen with either TMT-A/B or COWAT. Mutation status had no bearing on these associations. Conclusions: NCF impacts HUS in S4LC pts and should be considered in treatment planning. HVLT scores are useful to assess specifically the impact of BM and WBRT in S4LC pts, and is reflected in associations with HRQoL.

Pain in knee osteoarthritis is associated with variation in the neurokinin 1/substance P receptor (TACR1) gene

BACKGROUND

Substance P (SP) is a pain- and inflammation-related neuropeptide which preferentially binds to the neurokinin receptor 1 (NK₁ ). SP and NK₁ receptors have been implicated in joint pain, inflammation and damage in animal models and human studies of osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to test if genetic variation at the neurokinin 1 receptor gene (TACR1) is associated with pain in individuals with radiographic knee OA.

METHODS

Participants from the Genetics of OA and Lifestyle study were used for the discovery group (n = 1615). Genotype data for six SNPs selected to cover most variation in the TACR1 gene were used to test for an association with symptomatic OA. Replication analysis was performed using data from the Chingford 1000 Women Study, Hertfordshire Cohort Study, Tasmanian Older Adult Cohort Study and the Clearwater OA Study. In total, n = 1715 symptomatic OA and n = 735 asymptomatic OA individuals were analysed.

RESULTS

Out of six SNPs tested in the TACR1 gene, one (rs11688000) showed a nominally significant association with a decreased risk of symptomatic OA in the discovery cohort. This was then replicated in four additional cohorts. After adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and radiographic severity, the G (minor) allele at rs11688000 was associated with a decreased risk of symptomatic OA compared to asymptomatic OA cases (p = 9.90 × 10^-4 , OR = 0.79 95% 0.68-0.90 after meta-analysis).

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports a contribution from the TACR1 gene in human OA pain, supporting further investigation of this gene's function in OA.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study contributes to the knowledge of the genetics of painful osteoarthritis, a condition which affects millions of individuals worldwide. Specifically, a contribution from the TACR1 gene to modulating pain sensitivity in osteoarthritis is suggested.

Risk prediction model for knee pain in the Nottingham community: a Bayesian modelling approach

BACKGROUND

Twenty-five percent of the British population over the age of 50 years experiences knee pain. Knee pain can limit physical ability and cause distress and bears significant socioeconomic costs. The objectives of this study were to develop and validate the first risk prediction model for incident knee pain in the Nottingham community and validate this internally within the Nottingham cohort and externally within the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) cohort.

METHODS

A total of 1822 participants from the Nottingham community who were at risk for knee pain were followed for 12 years. Of this cohort, two-thirds (n = 1203) were used to develop the risk prediction model, and one-third (n = 619) were used to validate the model. Incident knee pain was defined as pain on most days for at least 1 month in the past 12 months. Predictors were age, sex, body mass index, pain elsewhere, prior knee injury and knee alignment. A Bayesian logistic regression model was used to determine the probability of an OR >1. The Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2 statistic (HLS) was used for calibration, and ROC curve analysis was used for discrimination. The OAI cohort from the United States was also used to examine the performance of the model.

RESULTS

A risk prediction model for knee pain incidence was developed using a Bayesian approach. The model had good calibration, with an HLS of 7.17 (p = 0.52) and moderate discriminative ability (ROC 0.70) in the community. Individual scenarios are given using the model. However, the model had poor calibration (HLS 5866.28, p < 0.01) and poor discriminative ability (ROC 0.54) in the OAI cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first risk prediction model for knee pain, regardless of underlying structural changes of knee osteoarthritis, in the community using a Bayesian modelling approach. The model appears to work well in a community-based population but not in individuals with a higher risk for knee osteoarthritis, and it may provide a convenient tool for use in primary care to predict the risk of knee pain in the general population.

Health utility scores (HUS) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in stage 4 lung cancer (S4LC) patients with brain metastases (BM)

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Background: Novel therapies have improved the survival of S4LC patients, particularly those with EGFR or ALK alterations. As BM are common among such patients, determining whether HUS appropriately capture BM-specific HRQoL is crucial in economic analyses. We evaluated the relationship between the FACT-Brain (Br) HRQoL, presence of BM, and HUS. Methods: This cross-sectional study of S4LC outpatients at a comprehensive cancer centre assessed FACT-Br and EQ-5D-3L-derived HUS. Correlational analyses, stratified by BM status, were performed between HUS and each of FACT-Br and its subscales: FACT-General (G), physical well-being (PWB), social well-being (SWB), emotional well-being (EWB), functional well-being (FWB), and brain cancer (BrC). Linear regression interaction models assessed whether BM modified the associations between FACT-Br or its subscales and HUS. Results: The 65 BM and 42 non-BM patients had similar demographics: median age (range) was 62 (30-83) years, 61% were female, 55% were Caucasian, and 54% were EGFR/ ALK+. Mean± standard error of the mean (SEM) values of HUS were similar between BM and non-BM groups (0.77±0.02 vs. 0.78±0.02; p=0.49). However, 40 BM patients with stable brain disease had higher HUS than the 14 with progressive disease (0.81 vs. 0.69; p=0.007). Mean±SEM values for FACT-Br, FACT-G, and BrC were 148±2.6, 79±1.5, and 69±1.3, respectively, with no differences between BM and non-BM groups. With the exception of SWB, FACT-Br and its subscales were each individually correlated with HUS (all p<0.001 unless specified), including between HUS and PWB (all patients: r=0.58; BM only: r=0.60; non-BM only: r=0.54), FACT-Br (all: r=0.55; BM: r=0.55; non-BM: r=0.54), FACT-G (all: r=0.51; BM: r=0.49; non-BM: r=0.55), and BrC (all: r=0.49; BM: r=0.51; non-BM: r=0.44, p=0.003). Having BM did not modify these relationships (each interaction, p>0.35). Conclusions: The FACT-Br HRQoL measures and the majority of its subcomponents moderately correlate with HUS but are not specific to patients with BM. Progression of CNS disease greatly alters HUS. EQ-5D-3L-derived HUS are a useful index of HRQoL in S4LC.

Real-World EQ5D Health Utility Scores for Patients With Metastatic Lung Cancer by Molecular Alteration and Response to Therapy

INTRODUCTION

Economic analyses of upcoming treatments for lung cancer benefit from real-world health utility scores (HUSs) in an era of targeted therapy.

METHODS

A longitudinal cohort study at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre evaluated 1571 EQ5D-3L-derived HUSs in 475 outpatients with metastatic lung cancer across various disease states. Patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (n = 183) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) (n = 38) driver alterations were enriched through targeted enrolment; patients with wild-type non-small-cell lung cancer (WT NSCLC) (n = 224) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) (n = 30) were sampled randomly.

RESULTS

For patients stable on most appropriate treatment, the mean HUSs were 0.81 and 0.82 in patients receiving EGFR and ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) respectively (with similar HUSs across agents), which were higher than patients with WT NSCLC (0.78; P = .04) and SCLC receiving chemotherapy (0.72; P = .06). In mutation-specific comparisons, disease stability on appropriate therapy resulted in significantly higher mean HUSs (P < .002-.02) than when disease was progressing (mean HUS: EGFR, 0.70; ALK, 0.69; WT NSCLC, 0.66; SCLC, 0.52). When evaluating treatment-related toxicities, significant inverse relationships were observed between HUS and the severity of fatigue and decreased appetite in the EGFR group. There was also a significant inverse relationship between the total number of clinically significant symptoms and HUS, both in patients who were EGFR-mutated and patients with WT NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

In a North American setting, HUSs generated from patients with metastatic lung cancer are higher in treated, stable patients carrying driver mutations. This is partially explainable by treatment toxicity and patient symptom differences. Such differences in scores should be considered in economic analyses.

Vaccination of special populations: Protecting the vulnerable

One of the strategic objectives of the 2011-2020 Global Vaccine Action Plan is for the benefits of immunisation to be equitably extended to all people. This approach encompasses special groups at increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as preterm infants and pregnant women, as well as those with chronic and immune-compromising medical conditions or at increased risk of disease due to immunosenescence. Despite demonstrations of effectiveness and safety, vaccine uptake in these special groups is frequently lower than expected, even in developed countries with vaccination strategies in place. For example, uptake of the influenza vaccine in pregnancy rarely exceeds 50% in developed countries and, although data are scarce, it appears that only half of preterm infants are up-to-date with routine paediatric vaccinations. Many people with chronic medical conditions or who are immunocompromised due to disease or aging are also under-vaccinated. In the US, coverage among people aged 65years or older was 67% for the influenza vaccine in the 2014-2015 season and 55-60% for tetanus and pneumococcal vaccines in 2013, while the coverage rate for herpes zoster vaccination among those aged 60years or older was only 24%. In most other countries, rates are far lower. Reasons for under-vaccination of special groups include fear of adverse outcomes or illness caused by the vaccine, the inconvenience (and in some settings, cost) of vaccination and lack of awareness of the need for vaccination or national recommendations. There is also evidence that healthcare providers' attitudes towards vaccination are among the most important influences on the decision to vaccinate. It is clear that physicians' adherence to recommendations needs to be improved, particularly where patients receive care from multiple subspecialists and receive little or no care from primary care providers.