Linking the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Item Library to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events

Anxiety is a risk prognosis factor for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus who underwent hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy: a propensity score-matching cohort study

BACKGROUND

Increasing evidence indicates that psychological factors play a role in tumor progression. This study aims to explore the impact of anxiety disorder on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) who underwent hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC).

METHODS

A propensity score-matching cohort study was conducted in 68 HCC patients with PVTT who underwent HAIC between January 2020 and December 2023. The anxiety situation was evaluated using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale before HAIC. The objective response rate, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, and adverse events were compared between the different anxiety score groups. Using Cox proportional hazards models for univariate and multivariate analysis to explore the risk factors of OS.

RESULTS

No statistical difference was found in the tumor response, treatment-related adverse events, and PFS between the two groups before and after PSM. Compared with low anxiety scores patients, the OS of obvious anxiety patients was shorter (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.606; 95%CI: 0.868-2.973; P = 0.116). The univariate and multivariate analysis showed that BMI (HR = 1.174, 95%CI: 1.044-1.320; P = 0.007), high anxiety score (HR = 2.769, 95%CI: 1.289-5.947; P = 0.007), and serum ammonia (HR = 1.059; 95%CI: 1.032-1.086; P < 0.001) were independent risk factors of OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals that elevated anxiety scores in HCC patients with PVTT correlated with poor prognosis, indicating that it's a potential prognostic marker. The high anxiety score, BMI, and serum ammonia were independent risk factors of OS.

Radiotherapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy of RALOX versus FOLFOX for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: a propensity score-matching cohort study

BACKGROUND

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with raltitrexed and oxaliplatin (RALOX-HAIC) combined with radiotherapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT).

METHODS

A propensity score-matching (PSM) cohort study was conducted. The tumor response, treatment-related adverse events, survival outcomes were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to explore the risk factors of overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Twenty-one pairs of patients were evaluated after PSM. No statistical differences were found in the tumor response, objective response rate, disease control rate, PVTT response, surgical resection rate, metastasis, and mortality between the two groups before and after PSM. Compared with the FOLFOX-HAIC group, the incidences of abdominal pain and fever was lower in the RALOX-HAIC group (P = 0.028, P = 0.029). These differences still had statistical significance after PSM (P = 0.013, P = 0.014). No statistical differences were found in OS and progression-free survival (PFS) between the two groups before and after PSM (Before [OS: hazard ratio(HR) = 1.138; 95%CI 0.569-2.276, P = 0.715; PFS: HR = 0.549; 95%CI 0.195-1.548, P = 0.257; After [OS: HR = 0.998; 95%CI 0.438-2.274, P = 0.995; PFS: HR = 0.792; 95%CI 0.359-1.748, P = 0.564]). The prealbumin < 170 mg/L before therapy was an independent risk factor for OS (HR = 2.234; 95%CI 1.051-4.751; P = 0.037).

CONCLUSIONS

The RALOX-HAIC combined radiotherapy, TKI, and ICI may provide similar survival advantages with fewer treatment-related abdominal pain and fever compared to FOLFOX-HAIC for HCC patients with PVTT. The prealbumin < 170 mg/L before therapy is an independent risk factor for OS.

Flexibility in patient-reported outcome and health-related quality of life measurement: The EORTC Quality of Life Group measurement strategy

The development of the first European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group (QLG) health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaires contributed to the systematic uptake of HRQoL as an endpoint in cancer clinical trials, and to the measurement of HRQoL for individual assessment in routine care. Following a modular approach, these patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures (PROMs) ensure that both generic and disease-specific issues are assessed, enabling comparison of PROs across groups and studies. The application of a comprehensive and continually refined methodology for developing and updating these PROMs has been crucial in supporting their psychometric and cross-cultural validity, and their continued implementation in clinical research. However, the advancement of measurement science, the more widespread implementation of PROMs, and the significant evolution of anti-cancer therapies over the last decades have highlighted the need to adopt more flexible approaches to PRO assessment to ensure that PROMs remain relevant and fit-for-purpose. The QLG has responded to this call by implementing more tailored PRO measurement approaches through the development and release of the computerised adaptive test (CAT) version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (i.e., the EORTC CAT Core) and the EORTC Item Library. The EORTC Item Library is an interactive online platform that allows for the creation of customised questionnaires (item lists) from the pool of available items derived from established EORTC QLG PROMs. The aim of this article is to describe the current EORTC QLG approach to PRO measurement in oncology, covering important historical developments and best practice recommendations.

Evaluating the efficacy and safety of Anlotinib in conjunction with stereotactic radiosurgery for small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases

Background

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by its aggressive nature and high propensity for brain metastases. This study investigates the clinical efficacy and safety profile of Anlotinib in combination with Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT) for treating brain metastases in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Methods

This research included 98 SCLC brain metastasis patients treated at Chengde Central Hospital from October 2020 to January 2024. The patients were categorized into a combined treatment group (CTG) (n = 45) and a Simple SRT group (SSG)(n = 53). The CTG (58 lesions) received Anlotinib with brain SRS, while the SSG (67 lesions) underwent only brain SRS. We compared the rates of intracranial hypertension relief, intracranial lesion treatment efficacy, radiation-induced brain necrosis, intracranial progression-free survival, and overall survival between the groups. Additionally, Anlotinib usage and adverse reactions in the CTG were documented.

Results

Intracranial hypertension relief was significantly higher in the CTG at 80.0% (36/45) compared to 11.3% (6/53) in the SSG (p < 0.001). Radiation-induced brain necrosis occurred in 3.4% (2/58) of the CTG, markedly less than the 20.9% (14/67) in the SSG, indicating a significant difference (χ2 = 8.479, p = 0.004). Effective intracranial lesion treatment rates were 86.7% (39/45) in the CTG and 62.3% (33/53) in the SSG, with a notable difference (χ2 = 7.951, p = 0.047). The median intracranial progression-free survival was 7.8 months in the CTG vs. 4.8 months in the SSG (p < 0.0001). Median overall survival times were 11.3 months for the CTG and 7.8 months for the SSG (p = 0.3506). The duration of Anlotinib treatment in the CTG was 6 (6, 18) weeks. Adverse reactions included Grade I hypertension in three patients and Grade I hand-foot skin reactions in two patients, with a drug-related adverse reaction rate of 11.1% (5/45).

Conclusion

Anlotinib combined with SRT significantly alleviates brain edema, reduces the incidence of radiation-induced brain necrosis, enhances intracranial progression-free survival, and demonstrates a low adverse reaction rate.

Impact of Patient-Centered Care on Treatment Outcomes of Multidrug-Resistant/Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis in Xi'an

Objective

A hospital in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, implemented patient-centered care services to improve the treatment outcomes of patients with multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis. Given the high recurrence rate and treatment challenges of this disease, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of patient-centered care services compared to standard care in improving patient treatment adherence and reducing loss to follow-up.

Methods

This single-center retrospective cohort study included multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis patients diagnosed and treated at the Xi'an Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019. Descriptive statistics, survival analysis, and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to analyze the impact of patient-centered care services on treatment adherence. Data collection included patients' demographic characteristics, clinical data, treatment outcomes, and reasons for loss to follow-up.

Results

A total of 429 patients were included in the final analysis, with 166 in the standard-of-care group and 263 in the patient-centered care services group. The treatment success rate in the patient-centered care services group (86.3%) was significantly higher than the standard of care group (59.0%), and the loss to follow-up rate was significantly lower (6.8% vs 30.1%). Multivariate analysis showed that patient-centered care services significantly reduced the risk of loss to follow-up (adjusted odds ratio of 0.14). The main reasons for the loss of follow-up included economic difficulties, lack of knowledge, and inadequate social support.

Conclusion

The patient-centered care services model significantly improved the treatment success rate and reduced the loss to follow-up rate for multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis patients, demonstrating potential benefits in managing drug-resistant tuberculosis. Based on these findings, exploring and optimizing the patient-centered care services model in other high-burden areas is recommended to enhance overall treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients.

Mapping immune checkpoint inhibitor side effects to item libraries for use in real-time side effect monitoring systems

BACKGROUND

Monitoring for the side effects of novel therapies using patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is critical for ensuring patient safety. Existing static patient-reported outcome measures may not provide adequate coverage of novel side effects. Item libraries provide a flexible approach to monitoring for side effects using customized item lists, but the ideal process for matching side effects to items sourced from multiple item libraries is yet to be established. We sought to develop a pragmatic process for mapping side effects to items from three major item libraries using immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) side effects as an example.

METHODS

Using a consumer- and clinician-driven list of 36 ICI side effects, two authors independently mapped side effects to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event (CTCAE) terms, and then to three item libraries: the Patient-Reported Outcome version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE), the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Item Library, and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) searchable library. The rates of inter-rater agreement were recorded. Following item collation from the item libraries, we devised criteria for selecting the optimal item for each side effect for inclusion in a future electronic PRO system based on guidance from the above groups.

RESULTS

All 36 side effects mapped to at least one CTCAE term, with eight mapping to more than one term. Twenty-three side effects mapped to at least one PRO-CTCAE term, 35 side effects mapped to at least one EORTC item, and 31 side effects mapped to at least one FACIT item. The inter-rater agreement rate was 100% (PRO-CTCAE), 83% (EORTC) and 75% (FACIT). Pre-determined criteria were applied to select the optimal item for each side effect from the three item libraries, producing a final 61-item list.

CONCLUSION

Using ICI side effects as an example, we developed a pragmatic approach to creating customized item lists from three major item libraries to monitor for side effects of novel therapies in routine care. This process highlighted the challenges of using item libraries and priorities for future work to improve their usability.

SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions | Measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) and Treatment Tolerability in Patients With Hematologic Malignancies

There has been a rapid expansion of novel therapeutics for hematologic malignancies, including monoclonal antibodies, small molecules, and cellular therapies, which confer different treatment-related toxicities and symptomatic adverse events (AEs) than traditional cytotoxic chemotherapies. Given that patients with blood cancers are living longer with these newer treatments, with some therapies requiring indefinite or time-intensive administration, consideration of patient-reported tolerability and effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are increasingly relevant. Historically, clinical trials have focused on the efficacy and safety of therapies. While related to safety and not intended to replace it, "treatment tolerability" is a distinct construct defined as the extent to which symptomatic and nonsymptomatic AEs impact a patient's ability and desire to continue with current treatment dosing, which also encompasses how patients feel and function while undergoing anticancer therapies. Assessment of tolerability requires the systematic and rigorous measurement of patient-reported outcomes (PROs). In this review, we discuss the introduction of patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) into hematology clinical trials and how PROs inform the measurement of treatment tolerability, including symptomatic adverse events, physical and role functioning, and overall side effect burden. Selected PROMs for measurement of these core tolerability domains are outlined, with a focus on novel analytic tools that have been developed for the longitudinal analysis of tolerability data. Further, we outline ongoing studies to accelerate integration of PROs throughout the cancer care spectrum, from early-stage drug development to routine clinical care, with the goal of improving both HRQoL and survival.

Efficacy of radiotherapy combined with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, TKI and ICI for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: a retrospective cohort study

PURPOSE

This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a new combination therapy of radiotherapy (RT), hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients involving portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT).

METHODS

A total of 71 HCC patients with PVTT were retrospectively analyzed: 45 patients were treated by 'HAIC + TKI + ICI' therapy and 26 patients by the new combination therapy. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and cumulative survival rate.

RESULTS

The PFS in the 'New combination therapy' group was longer than that in the 'HAIC + TKI + ICI' group (HR 0.459, 95%CI 0.253-0.832; P = 0.008). Meanwhile, the OS in the 'New combination therapy' group was also longer than that in the 'HAIC + TKI + ICI' group (HR 0.420, 95%CI 0.198-0.894; P = 0.024). Compared with 'HAIC + TKI + ICI' group patients, the 'New combination therapy' group patients had higher 1-year PFS rate and 1-year OS rate (P = 0.029; P = 0.015). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

The new combination therapy was an effective and safe non-surgical treatment for HCC patients with PVTT and could be considered a preferred therapy option.

Development and validation of the systemic nutrition/inflammation index for improving perioperative management of non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Systemic nutrition and inflammation status is recognized for its influence on cancer survival, yet its role in perioperative outcomes remains poorly defined. This study aimed to refine the assessment of systemic nutrition and inflammation status in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and to elucidate its impact on perioperative outcomes.

METHODS

All patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, with their nutrition and inflammation status assessed based on preoperative blood tests. The development cohort, comprising 1497 NSCLC patients from two centers, evaluated the predictive value of systemic nutrition/inflammation indicators for perioperative endpoints and formulated the systemic nutrition-inflammation index (SNII). The tertiles of SNII were used to classify the nutrition/inflammation risk as high (< 15.6), moderate (15.6-23.1), and low (> 23.1). An external validation cohort of 505 NSCLC patients was utilized to confirm the effectiveness of SNII in guiding perioperative management.

RESULTS

In the development cohort, the SNII tool, calculated as the product of total cholesterol and total lymphocytes divided by total monocytes, demonstrated a stronger correlation with perioperative outcomes compared to 11 existing nutrition/inflammation indicators. A low SNII score, indicative of high nutrition/inflammation risk, was independently predictive of increased complication incidence and severity, as well as prolonged chest tube duration and hospital stay. These findings were corroborated in the validation cohort. Upon combining the development and validation cohorts, the superiority of the SNII in predicting perioperative outcomes was further confirmed over the existing nutrition/inflammation indicators. Additionally, comprehensive subgroup analyses revealed the moderately variable efficacy of SNII across different patient populations.

CONCLUSIONS

This study developed and validated the SNII as a tool for identifying systemic nutrition and inflammation risk, which can enhance perioperative managements in NSCLC patients. Patients identified with high risk may benefit from prehabilitation and intensive treatments, highlighting the need for further research.

Common Sense Oncology principles for the design, analysis, and reporting of phase 3 randomised clinical trials

Common Sense Oncology (CSO) prioritises treatments providing meaningful benefits for people with cancer. Here, we describe CSO principles aimed at improving the design, analysis, and reporting of randomised, controlled, phase 3 clinical trials evaluating cancer treatments. These principles include: (1) control treatment should be the best current standard of care; (2) the preferred primary endpoint is overall survival or a validated surrogate; (3) an absolute measure of benefit should be provided, such as the difference between groups in median overall survival times or the proportion of surviving patients at a prespecified time; (4) health-related quality of life should be at least a secondary endpoint; (5) toxicity should be described objectively without subjective language diminishing its importance; (6) trials should be designed to show or rule out clinically meaningful differences in outcomes, rather than a statistically significant difference alone; (7) censoring should be detailed, and sensitivity analyses done to determine its possible effects; (8) experimental treatments known to improve overall survival at later disease stages should be offered and funded for patients progressing in the control group; and (9) reports of trials should include a lay-language summary. We include checklists to guide compliance with these principles. By encouraging adherence, CSO aims to ensure that clinical trials yield results that are scientifically robust and meaningful to patients.

Survival outcomes, multidimensional prediction and subsequent therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer receiving palbociclib: a real-world analysis

Background

To date, the overall survival (OS) of hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer (ABC) treated with palbociclib has not been reported in Chinese patients. It still remains unclear what kind of patients may benefit in OS from palbociclib treatment and what the optimal sequential antineoplastic regimen is for those progressing on palbociclib. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the OS outcome of ABC patients receiving palbociclib, establish a predictive model to identify the potential candidates who may benefit from palbociclib and explore the ideal subsequent treatment strategy after palbociclib.

Methods

This is a single-center ambispective real-world analysis of palbociclib in hormone receptor-positive ABC from April 2018 to August 2021. The patients were followed up via telephone or clinic visit. Progression-free survival (PFS), OS, overall response rate and time to second disease progression (PFS2) were evaluated as prognosis outcomes. Cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 inhibitor (CDKI) score was established to predict OS benefit on the basis of tumor burden, line of palbociclib treatment and tumor marker.

Results

Fifty patients were included with the median PFS of 9.57 months and the median OS of 33.60 months. Age <65 years [hazard ratio (HR) 0.33, P=0.008], lung or liver involvement (HR 3.01, P=0.005) and > first line palbociclib therapy (HR 2.13, P=0.03) were independent unfavorable prognosticators for PFS. Positive estrogen receptor (ER) (HR 0.22, P=0.004), metastatic sites <3 (HR 3.59, P=0.02), absence of lung or liver involvement (HR 3.77, P=0.058) and PFS ≥12 months during palbociclib regimen (HR 0.14, P<0.001) could predict longer OS. CDKI score discriminated OS significantly (HR 4.41, P=0.009) and the CDKI score-based models were multidimensionally verified with satisfying performance, among which the area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic reached 0.835 and the C-index was 0.72. Moreover, chemo-free regimens saw improvement in time to second disease progression (HR 0.32, P=0.006) and OS (HR 0.32, P=0.049) for patients progressing on palbociclib compared with chemotherapy-based regimens.

Conclusions

CDKI score is a practical and comprehensive tool in predicting OS benefit for ABC patients treated with palbociclib, which deserves further validation. Patients who progressed on palbociclib seem to keep benefiting from chemo-free antineoplastic treatments. These findings may help identify the candidates for CDK4/6 inhibitor and optimize the strategies for hormone receptor-positive ABC.

Assessing tolerability with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy item GP5: psychometric evidence from LIBRETTO-531, a phase 3 trial of selpercatinib in medullary thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND

This psychometric analysis generated evidence to support the use of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy item GP5 (GP5) as a measure of tolerability and confirms the appropriateness of categorizing "high side-effect burden" using a rating of 3 or 4 (score ranges 0-4) in patients with advanced/metastatic RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).

METHODOLOGY

Blinded, pooled interim data from the safety population (n=290) enrolled in the phase 3 LIBRETTO-531 trial (NCT04211337) were used. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for test-retest reliability using data from cycles 1-2 post-baseline. Construct validity was evaluated by examining the correlations of GP5 ratings with (a) symptomatic adverse events (AEs; measured by the PRO-CTCAE), and (b) functioning scores of EORTC QLQ-C30. The ability to detect change over time was examined by Cochrane-Mantel-Haenszel tests for GP5 ratings and PRO-CTCAE. The relationship of "high side-effect burden" categories with QLQ-C30 functioning scores was examined.

RESULTS

ICCs for the GP5 ratings after cycle 1 ranged between 0.80 and 0.85, indicating good reliability. Correlations between GP5 and PRO-CTCAE items ranged from 0.18 to 0.62 and ranged from -0.37 to -0.50 for QLQ-C30 functioning scores, consistent with study assumptions. Post-baseline GP5 ratings showed significant associations with PRO-CTCAE scores (p<0.001). Participants with GP5 ratings of 3 or 4 had worse physical function than those with GP5 ratings of 0 to 2 (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis generated evidence supportive of the psychometric properties of the GP5 as a fit-for-purpose measure to assess treatment tolerability in patients with advanced/metastatic MTC. The definition of "high side-effect burden" was associated with the clinical feature of tolerability.

Efficacy and safety of avatrombopag in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a single-center retrospective study

Background

Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) commonly exacerbates the difficulty of cancer treatment, increasing bleeding risks and potentially reducing chemotherapy dosage, ultimately impacting its efficacy. However, there are limited studies about avatrombopag application in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) CIT.

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of avatrombopag in treating CIT patients diagnosed with ALL.

Design

This retrospective study, using propensity score matching, included 42 pairs of cases treated with and without avatrombopag (CAT: 54 cases, CAT+: 30 cases).

Methods

Data of CIT-ALL children were retrospectively collected. The primary endpoint was platelet count (PC) response rate on day 10 ± 2 (defined as an increase of PC to ⩾75 × 109/L with the exclusion of platelet transfusion). Secondary efficacy endpoints, safety endpoints, and factors that predict PC response were also analyzed.

Results

In the avatrombopag group, the PC response rate was prominently higher on day 10 ± 2 (89.1%) versus the control group (56.4%, p = 0.005). On day 10 ± 2, the difference in median PC change from baseline was predominantly distinct in the avatrombopag group compared to the control group (p = 0.001). In the avatrombopag group, platelet recovery to ⩾25 and ⩾50 × 109/L was faster (p = 0.001, p = 0.002), and quicker platelet reaching ⩾75 × 109/L and ⩾100 × 109/L was achieved (p = 0.023, p = 0.011). The avatrombopag group not only increased the nadir PC (p = 0.009) but also reduced the total platelet transfusion compared to the control group (p = 0.047). Only one case (2.4%) experienced bleeding events after medication. Nine cases of secondary thrombocythemia were noted without other adverse events. There was no difference in event-free survival between the two groups (p = 0.648). Drug administration was prediction factor for PC response.

Conclusion

Avatrombopag is a potentially safe and effective treatment option for CIT in pediatric ALL.

Efficacy and safety of CAR-T therapy targeting CLL1 in patients with extramedullary diseases of acute myeloid leukemia

BACKGROUNDS

The incidence of extramedullary diseases (EMDs) in patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is approximately 10-20%. These patients exhibit a significantly distinct etiology, therapeutic response, and prognosis compared to patients without EMDs. CLL1 CAR-T therapy has been demonstrated satisfactory efficacy and safety in the treatment of refractory and relapsed AML patients. However, concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact of extramedullary niduses on the effectiveness of CLL1 CAR-T therapy.

METHODS

A total of 47 patients were enrolled in this study, including 27 patients with isolated AML tumor bone marrow infiltration and 20 patients with both extramedullary and bone marrow infiltration of AML. CLL1 CAR-T cells were manufactured and subjected to rigorous quality control in the hematology laboratory of Tianjin First Central Hospital. The efficacy and adverse reactions were assessed following CAR-T cell infusion, while expansion of CAR-T cells, levels of cytokines releasing, and other indicators were closely monitored.

RESULTS

Among the 20 patients with EMDs and the 27 individuals without EMDs, complete remission in bone marrow was achieved by 65.00% and 81.48% of patients, respectively. Meanwhile, among the patients with EMDs, 55.00% achieved complete remission while 10.00% achieved partial remission when assessing the efficacy of CLL1 CAR-T cells against extramedullary niduses. Although the overall survival, progression-free survival, and duration of remission period appeared to be shorter for patients with EMDs compared to those without EMDs, this difference did not reach statistical significance. The incidence rates of complications were comparable between both groups. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences observed in the levels of CAR-T cell expansion and accompanying cytokines release between patients with and without EMDs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study findings have demonstrated the efficacy of CLL1 CAR-T therapy in the treatment of AML patients with EMDs, while also indicating manageable occurrence rates of complications within a tolerable range. The CLL1 CAR-T therapy, serving as an ideal strategy for AML patients irrespective of the presence of EMDs, effectively ameliorates the conditions of AML patients and provides them with an opportunity to undergo curative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation while significantly enhancing their prognosis.

The Physical Activity and Cancer Control (PACC) framework: update on the evidence, guidelines, and future research priorities

BACKGROUND

We proposed the Physical Activity and Cancer Control (PACC) framework in 2007 to help organise, focus, and stimulate research on physical activity in eight cancer control categories: prevention, detection, treatment preparation/coping, treatment coping/effectiveness, recovery/rehabilitation, disease prevention/health promotion, palliation, and survival.

METHODS

This perspective paper provides a high-level overview of the scientific advances in physical activity research across cancer control categories, summarises current guidelines, updates the PACC framework, identifies remaining and emerging knowledge gaps, and provides future research directions.

RESULTS

Many scientific advances have been made that are reflected in updated physical activity guidelines for six of the cancer control categories apart from detection and palliation. Nevertheless, the minimal and optimal type, dose, and timing of physical activity across cancer control categories remain unknown, especially for the understudied population subgroups defined by cancer type, age, race/ethnicity, and resource level of regions/countries.

CONCLUSION

To achieve the full benefit of physical activity in cancer control, future research should use innovative study designs that include diverse at-risk populations and understudied cancer sites. Additionally, effective behaviour change strategies are needed to increase physical activity levels across populations that use implementation science to accelerate the translation from evidence generation into practical, real-world interventions.

Integrating Patient-Reported Outcomes Into the Care of People With Advanced Cancer-A Practical Guide

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are being increasingly integrated into routine clinical practice to enhance individual patient care. This has been driven by recognition of the benefits of PROs in enhancing symptom management, patient satisfaction, quality of life, and overall survival, and reductions in acute health care utilization. These benefits are reflected in the emergence of value-based health care initiatives incorporating PRO symptom monitoring such as the Enhancing Oncology Model in the United States. However, implementing PROs can be challenging and it can be difficult to know where to begin to select appropriate PROs, and effectively display and appropriately interpret PRO data. This manuscript summarizes an educational session at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting, which provided practical guidance to clinicians seeking to incorporate PROs into the care of people with advanced cancer. We focus on why it is important to collect PROs in routine care from a patient's perspective, how to select PROs for symptom monitoring (including using static patient-reported outcome measures and newer item libraries), and highlight key pearls and pitfalls in the display and interpretation of PROs. We highlight the breadth of existing resources available to guide clinicians in PRO implementation.

The role of adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization following repeated curative resection/ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma with early recurrence: a propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

The role of adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) following repeated resection/ablation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of adjuvant TACE following repeated resection or ablation in patients with early recurrent HCC.

METHODS

Information for patients who underwent repeated surgery or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for early recurrent HCCs (< 2 years) at our institution from January 2017 to December 2020 were collected. Patients were divided into adjuvant TACE and observation groups according to whether they received adjuvant TACE or not. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups before and after propensity score matching (PSM).

RESULTS

Of the 225 patients enrolled, the median time of HCC recurrence was 11 months (IQR, 6-16 months). After repeated surgery or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for recurrent tumors, 45 patients (20%) received adjuvant TACE while the remaining 180 (80%) didn't. There were no significant differences in RFS (P = 0.325) and OS (P = 0.072) between adjuvant TACE and observation groups before PSM. There were also no significant differences in RFS (P = 0.897) and OS (P = 0.090) between the two groups after PSM. Multivariable analysis suggested that multiple tumors, liver cirrhosis, and RFA were independent risk factors for the re-recurrence of HCC.

CONCLUSION

Adjuvant TACE after repeated resection or ablation for early recurrent HCCs was not associated with a long-term survival benefit in this single-center cohort.

Severe Vincristine-Induced Peripheral Neuropathic Weakness in Both Lower Limbs in an Asian Adolescent with CYP3A4 rs2740574 TT Genotype

Background

Vincristine (VCR)-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) is a common adverse reaction during cancer treatment, typically characterized by numbness and paresthesias. This study aimed to report a rare case of VIPN with an atypical genotype, manifesting as grade 3 weakness of the lower limbs.

Case Presentation

A 19-year-old man, diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma for 8 months, was transferred to our hospital for further treatment after the failure of first-line treatment. He developed severe long-standing weakness in both lower limbs and could not walk after four sessions of second-line chemotherapy. The diagnosis of VIPN was confirmed based on the patient's physical examination, imaging studies, electromyogram results, and treatment history. Furthermore, the pharmacogenetic analysis indicated that the patient harbored CYP3A4 rs2740574 TT genotypes.

Conclusion

We have reported for the first time a VIPN patient whose main clinical manifestation is severe weakness in both lower limbs, accompanied by the CYP3A4 rs2740574 TT phenotype. This case may provide new information on the phenotypic features of VIPN, and may help to better understand the disease pathogenesis and contributing factors.

Multi-centers experience using therapeutic plasma exchange for corticosteroid/tocilizumab-refractory cytokine release syndrome following CAR-T therapy

The chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy significantly enhances the prognosis of various hematologic malignancies; however, the systemic expansion of CAR-T cells also gives rise to severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Despite the successful application of corticosteroids and tocilizumab in alleviating severe CRS in most patients, there are still individuals who experience life-threatening CRS without responding to the aforementioned therapies. In our retrospective cohort, we conducted an analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters, including inflammatory cytokines, in 17 patients from three centers who underwent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for refractory CRS with or without ICANS following CAR-T products treatment. Our findings demonstrate a significant improvement in both clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters subsequent to TPE treatment. The rapid decrease in temperature and levels of inflammatory indexes indicates the remarkable scavenging efficacy of TPE against cytokine storm following CAR-T therapy. In conclusion, TPE may serve as a valuable and safe adjunct to corticosteroids and tocilizumab in the management of severe CRS resulting from CAR-T cell infusion. We eagerly await further prospective studies to validate this finding.

Acceptability and usefulness of the EORTC 'Write In three Symptoms/Problems' (WISP): a brief open-ended instrument for symptom assessment in cancer patients

BACKGROUND

The use of open-ended questions supplementing static questionnaires with closed questions may facilitate the recognition of symptoms and toxicities. The open-ended 'Write In three Symptoms/Problems (WISP)' instrument permits patients to report additional symptoms/problems not covered by selected EORTC questionnaires. We evaluated the acceptability and usefulness of WISP with cancer patients receiving active and palliative care/treatment in Austria, Chile, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search on validated instruments for cancer patients including open-ended questions and analyzing their responses. WISP was translated into eight languages and pilot tested. WISP translations were pre-tested together with EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-C15-PAL and relevant modules, followed by patient interviews to evaluate their understanding about WISP. Proportions were used to summarize patient responses obtained from interviews and WISP.

RESULTS

From the seven instruments identified in the literature, only the free text collected from the PRO-CTAE has been analyzed previously. In our study, 161 cancer patients participated in the pre-testing and interviews (50% in active treatment). Qualitative interviews showed high acceptability of WISP. Among the 295 symptoms/problems reported using WISP, skin problems, sore mouth and bleeding were more prevalent in patients in active treatment, whereas numbness/tingling, dry mouth and existential problems were more prevalent in patients in palliative care/treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The EORTC WISP instrument was found to be acceptable and useful for symptom assessment in cancer patients. WISP improves the identification of symptoms/problems not assessed by cancer-generic questionnaires and therefore, we recommend its use alongside the EORTC questionnaires.

Patient-Reported Adverse Events and Early Treatment Discontinuation Among Patients With Multiple Myeloma

Importance

There is substantial interest in capturing cancer treatment tolerability from the patient's perspective using patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Objective

To examine whether a PRO question, item 5 from the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General General Physical Wellbeing Scale (GP5), was associated with early treatment discontinuation (ETD) due to adverse events.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective survey study was conducted from February to April 2023. Among participants in the ECOG-ACRIN E1A11 trial (a phase 3, parallel design trial conducted between 2013 and 2019), patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were randomized to receive bortezomib (VRd) or carfilzomib (KRd) plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone as induction therapy. The GP5 item was administered at baseline (pretreatment) and at 1 month, 2.8 months, and 5.5 months postbaseline. Eligible participants included patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma treated at community oncology practices or academic medical centers in the US.

Exposures

GP5 response options were "very much," "quite a bit," "somewhat," "a little bit," and "not at all." Responses at each assessment while undergoing treatment (1 month, 2.8 months, and 5.5 months) were categorized as high adverse event bother (ie, "very much," and "quite a bit") and low adverse event bother (ie, "somewhat," "a little bit," or "not at all"). In addition, change from baseline to each assessment while undergoing treatment was calculated and categorized as worsening by 1 response category and 2 or more response categories.

Main Outcome and Measure

ETD due to adverse events (yes vs no) was analyzed using logistic regression adjusting for treatment group, performance status, gender, race, and disease stage.

Results

Of the 1087 participants in the original trial, 1058 (mean [SD] age 64 [9] years; 531 receiving VrD [50.2%]; 527 receiving KRd [49.8%]) responded to item GP5 and were included in the secondary analysis. A small proportion (142 patients [13.4%]) discontinued treatment early due to AEs. For those with high adverse-effect bother, GP5 while undergoing treatment was associated with ETD at 1 month (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.20; 95% CI, 1.25-3.89), 2.8 months (aOR, 3.41; 95% CI, 2.01-5.80), and 5.5 months (aOR, 4.66; 95% CI, 1.69-12.83). Worsening by 2 or more response categories on the GP5 was associated with ETD at 2.8 months (aOR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.64-5.54) and 5.5 months (aOR, 5.49; 95% CI, 1.45-20.76).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this survey study of the E1A11 trial, worse GP5 response was associated with ETD. These findings suggest that simple assessment of adverse-effect bother while receiving treatment is an efficient way to indicate treatment tolerability and ETD risk.

Outcomes and endpoints of relevance in gynecologic cancer clinical trials

Drug development is paramount to improve outcomes in patients with gynecologic cancers. A randomized clinical trial should measure whether a clinically relevant improvement is detected with the new intervention compared with the standard of care, using reproductible and appropriate endpoints. Clinically meaningful improvements in overall survival and/or quality of life (QoL) are the gold standards to measure benefit of new therapeutic strategies. Alternative endpoints, such as progression-free survival, provide an earlier measure of the effect of the new therapeutic drug, and are not confounded by the effect of subsequent lines of therapy. Yet, its surrogacy with improved overall survival or QoL is unclear in gynecologic malignancies. Of relevance to studies assessing maintenance strategies are other time-to-event endpoints, such as progression-free survival two and time to second subsequent treatment, which provide valuable information on the disease control in the longer term. Translational and biomarker studies are increasingly being incorporated into gynecologic oncology clinical trials, as they may allow understanding of the biology of the disease, resistance mechanisms, and enable a better selection of patients who might benefit from the new therapeutic strategy. Globally, the endpoint selection of a clinical trial will differ according to the type of study, population, disease setting, and type of therapeutic strategy. This review provides an overview of primary and secondary endpoint selection of relevance for gynecologic oncology clinical trials.