Body Mass Index and Total Symptom Burden in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Discovery of a U-shaped Association

Optimization of cardiovascular risk factor management in patients with BCR::ABL1 negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms, current knowledge, and perspectives

The exact prognostic role of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in patients with BCR::ABL1 negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) remains unknown as it is often masked by other MPN-related features that bear strong prognostic impact on thrombotic risk. Therefore, current MPN treatment is not primarily guided by presence of CV risk factors. Treatment of CV risk factors in MPN patients usually mirrors that from the general population, despite the fact that CV risk factors in MPNs have their own specificities. Moreover, the optimal target levels for different metabolic deflections in MPNs (i.e., low-density lipoprotein, serum uric acid, or glycated hemoglobin levels) have not been defined. In the current review, we separately discuss the most important aspects of every individual CV risk factor (arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic kidney disease, smoking, diabetes mellitus, hyperuricemia, and obesity and cachexia) in MPNs, summarize recent advances in the field, and propose future directions and research areas which may be needed to appropriately manage CV risk factors in MPNs.

Physical exercise recommendations for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia based on individual preferences identified in a large international patient survey study of the East German Study Group for Hematology and Oncology (OSHO #97)

Background

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have significantly lowered mortality of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients adjusting life expectancy to that of the standard population. However, CML and its treatment with TKIs causes a high disease burden. Physical exercise (PE) could be a non-pharmacological approach to reducing these and improving quality of life.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the individual disease burden as well as PE preferences of CML patients and to deduce thereof specific PE recommendations.

Methods

This multicenter survey was conducted in cooperation with the LeukaNET/Leukemia-patient network including CML patients aged ≥18 years (German Registry of Clinical Trials, DRKS00023698). The severity of selected symptoms was assessed using the adapted Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Symptom Assessment Form: 0 (absent), 1-30 (mild), 31-70 (moderate), or 71-100 (severe). Information about patients' PE needs and preferences depending on their motivation was recorded.

Results

A total of 212 questionnaires were analyzed (52% female, median age 54 years). The prevalence of moderate-to-severe symptoms was 49% for fatigue, 40% for musculoskeletal pain, and 37% for concentration problems. Other commonly reported symptoms included skin reactions (42%) and weight gain (24%). The proportion of overweight/obese patients was 52%. Half of all respondents requested more information regarding PE. Patients with CML preferred individual training (82%), located outdoors (71%), at home (47%), or in an indoor swimming pool (31%). Regarding the training frequency, sports-inactive patients preferred a frequency of 1-2 training sessions per week, whereas sports-active patients preferred 3-4 sessions per week (p <0.001). Sports-inactive patients preferred a training time of 15-45 minutes, while sports-active patients preferred 30-60 minutes (p = 0.002). Subsequently, PE recommendations were developed for patients with CML. Combined resistance and endurance training (moderate intensity twice per week for 30 minutes) was recommended for beginners. Obese patients should prioritize joint-relieving sports. To reduce the risk of skin reactions, direct sunlight and possibly water sports should be avoided, and UV protection should be used.

Conclusion

Counseling and motivation of CML patients to be physically active should be part of the standard of care as well as support for implementation.

Symptom Profiles and Related Factors Among Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Endocrine Therapy: A Latent Profile Analysis

BACKGROUND

To provide person-centered symptom management, the interindividual variability in breast cancer patients merits further exploration. However, how sociodemographic and clinical characteristics influence symptom profile membership in endocrine therapy for breast cancer is still unknown.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore symptom profiles of breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy and to identify sociodemographic and clinical characteristics among symptom subgroup members.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted, and participants were invited to complete a general information questionnaire and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endocrine Subscale. Latent profile analysis, univariate analysis, and multinomial logistic regression were performed to explore symptom profiles and identify interindividual variability.

RESULTS

Three distinct subgroups were identified: "all high" (9.8%), "all moderate but high sexual symptoms" (25.4%), and "all low" (64.8%). Age, body mass index, main payment source for medical expenses, type of endocrine therapy, and history of breast cancer treatment were factors that determined membership in these 3 symptom subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with their endocrine therapy-related symptom profiles. In general, those younger in age who pay out of pocket for medical expenses, use aromatase inhibitors, present a history of chemotherapy, and have a higher body mass index have a greater risk of symptom burden.

IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE

The findings of this study will contribute to implementing individual cancer care based on the characteristics and needs of patient subgroups, which may improve the allocation of medical resources and provide interventions tailored to patients' unique needs.

Physical exercise recommendations for patients with polycythemia vera based on preferences identified in a large international patient survey study of the East German Study Group for Hematology and Oncology (OSHO #97)

BACKGROUND

Exercise therapy during cancer treatment reduces symptom burden and improves quality of life (QoL). Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasia associated with good overall survival (up to decades) but a significant symptom burden, including thromboembolic events and dysesthesias. There are no specific exercise recommendations for patients with PV. Thus, we aimed to determine the exercise preferences of patients with PV and to derive specific recommendations based on the most commonly reported symptoms.

METHODS

This multicenter survey included patients with PV ≥18 years old. Demographic, clinical, and disease burden data were collected. The severity of selected symptoms was assessed using the adapted Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Symptom Assessment Form: 0 (absent), 1-30 (mild), 31-70 (moderate), or 71-100 (severe). The patients' information needs about physical activity (PA) and exercise preferences were recorded depending on their motivation and analyzed with regard to demographic aspects.

RESULTS

The sample comprised 182 patients (68% female, 61 ± 12 years). The prevalence of moderate-to-severe symptoms was 60% for fatigue, 44% for concentration problems, and 35% for bone/muscle pain. Other commonly reported symptoms included skin reactions (49%), splenomegaly (35%), and increased bleeding tendency (28%). Overall, 67% of respondents requested more information regarding PA. Patients with PV preferred individual training (79%) located outdoors (79%) or at home (56%). Regarding the amount of training, sports-inactive patients preferred a frequency of 1-2 times/week and session durations of 15-45 min, whereas sports-active patients preferred 3-4 times/week and 30-60 min (p < 0.001). Higher sport-inactiveness was observed in patients with lower educational level compared to patients with higher educational level (69% vs. 50%, p = 0.021). For beginners, combined resistance-endurance (circuit) training two times/week, which can be performed outdoors or at home, should be recommended. In the case of splenomegaly or bleeding symptoms, exercises with a low injury risk should be chosen.

CONCLUSION

PA is important for patients with PV; therefore, counseling should be integrated into the treatment plan. Specifically, patients with low educational level should be addressed. Prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the effects of the novel exercise recommendations.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms - blurring the lines between cancer and chronic inflammatory disorder

Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN) is a group of chronic blood cancers that arise from a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) clone with somatic mutations causing constitutive activation of myeloid cytokine receptor signaling. In addition to elevated blood cell counts, MPN typically presents with increased inflammatory signaling and inflammation symptoms. Therefore, while being a clonally derived neoplasm, MPN has much in common with chronic non-cancerous inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and many more. MPN and chronic inflammatory disease (CID) share similar chronicity, symptoms, dependency on the immune system, environmental triggers, and treatments. Overall, we will highlight the similarities between an MPN and CID. We highlight that while MPN is classified as a cancer, its behavior is more aligned to that of a chronic inflammatory disease. We propose that MPN should inhabit a fluid/spectrum between auto-inflammatory disease and cancer.

North American Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm Consortium: position on standards of care and areas of need

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare hematologic malignancy with historically poor outcomes and no worldwide consensus treatment approach. Unique among most hematologic malignancies for its frequent cutaneous involvement, BPDCN can also invade other extramedullary compartments, including the central nervous system. Generally affecting older adults, many patients are unfit to receive intensive chemotherapy, and although hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is preferred for younger, fit individuals, not all are eligible. One recent therapeutic breakthrough is that all BPDCNs express CD123 (IL3Rα) and that this accessible surface marker can be pharmacologically targeted. The first-in-class agent for BPDCN, tagraxofusp, which targets CD123, was approved in December 2018 in the United States for patients with BPDCN aged ≥2 years. Despite favorable response rates in the frontline setting, many patients still relapse in the setting of monotherapy, and outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory BPDCN remain dismal. Therefore, novel approaches targeting both CD123 and other targets are actively being investigated. To begin to formally address the state of the field, we formed a new collaborative initiative, the North American BPDCN Consortium (NABC). This group of experts, which includes a multidisciplinary panel of hematologists/oncologists, hematopoietic stem cell transplant physicians, pathologists, dermatologists, and pediatric oncologists, was tasked with defining the current standard of care in the field and identifying the most important research questions and future directions in BPDCN. The position findings of the NABC's inaugural meetings are presented herein.

Myeloproliferative neoplasm questionnaire: assessing patient disease knowledge in the modern digital information era

There is growing Internet and social media use among patients with rare blood cancers, notably myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). A 38-item online questionnaire was developed to assess patients' (n = 983) disease understanding and use of online resources regarding MPN. Many responders (74%) reported unawareness of additional mutations beyond their primary molecular marker(s); 32% were unsure of their prognostic risk stratification. Additionally, 89% reported using online resources (Facebook (61%); Google/Google+ (42%); YouTube (34%); blogs (26%); Twitter (5%)) to seek information about MPN. Despite this, results showed many gaps in patients' basic disease knowledge. Our findings suggest an important difference in social media habits between physicians and patients: physicians are rapidly adopting Twitter as their preferred medium for sharing medical knowledge; however, patients often prefer other social mediums. Educational campaigns should be designed in more personalized ways, aiming to fit a variety of online platforms to maximize reach and impact for patients with MPN.

Improving symptom burden and quality of life in patients with myelofibrosis: current strategies and future directions

INTRODUCTION

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a complex and aggressive hematologic malignancy resulting from JAK/STAT-driven myeloproliferation and abnormal fibrogenesis. The clinical manifestations are heterogeneous and negatively impact quality of life and survival. JAK inhibitors improve symptoms and splenomegaly to a variable degree in a proportion of patients, but the effects for many patients are insufficient or short-lived.

AREAS COVERED

This review examines the constellation of symptoms that befall patients with MF, describes methods to quantify and serially monitor these symptoms, and evaluates pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions for disease-related symptoms. The review also includes a discussion of areas of unmet medical need, and proposes future methods for meeting this need.

EXPERT OPINION

The treatment landscape for MF is evolving rapidly. The most effective therapies or combinations of therapies will likely simultaneously impact both the malignant hematopoietic stem cell and mechanisms of aberrant fibrogenesis that drive this disease. The goals of treatment for patients with myelofibrosis should be to improve length and quality of life. Clinical trials must be designed with these goals in mind, with endpoints focused on overall survival and symptom reduction, as opposed to surrogate endpoints such as spleen volume reduction.

Tobacco use in the Myeloproliferative neoplasms: symptom burden, patient opinions, and care

BACKGROUND

Patients with Philadelphia-negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) suffer from numerous symptoms and decreased quality of life. Smoking is associated with an increased symptom burden in several malignancies. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between smoking and MPN-related symptom burden and explore MPN patients' opinions on smoking.

METHODS

A total of 435 patients with MPN participated in a cross-sectional internet-based survey developed by the Mayo Clinic and the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Quality of Life Group. Patients reported their demographics, disease characteristics, tobacco use, and opinions on tobacco use. In addition, MPN-related symptoms were reported via the validated 10-item version of the Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Symptom Assessment Form.

RESULTS

Current/former smokers reported worse fatigue (mean severity 5.6 vs. 5.0, p = 0.02) and inactivity (mean severity 4.0 vs. 3.4, p = 0.03) than never smokers. Moreover, current/former smokers more frequently experienced early satiety (68.5% vs. 58.3%, p = 0.03), inactivity (79.9% vs. 71.1%, p = 0.04), and concentration difficulties (82.1% vs. 73.1%, p = 0.04). Although not significant, a higher total symptom burden was observed for current/former smokers (mean 30.4 vs. 27.0, p = 0.07). Accordingly, overall quality of life was significantly better among never smokers than current/former smokers (mean 3.5 vs. 3.9, p = 0.03). Only 43.2% of the current/former smokers reported having discussed tobacco use with their physician, and 17.5% did not believe smoking increased the risk of thrombosis.

CONCLUSION

The current study suggests that smoking may be associated with increased prevalence and severity of MPN symptoms and underscores the need to enhance patient education and address tobacco use in the care of MPN patients.

Being a Myeloproliferative Patient in COVID-19 Era: The Mytico Study

Introduction

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting social distancing, determined a reduction in access to care and limitations of individual freedom, with a consequent strong impact on quality of life (QoL), anxiety levels and medical management of onco-hematological people. In particular, in the case of patients with chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), concern about SARS-CoV-2 infection added to the burden of symptoms (BS) which already weights on the QoL of these patients. We designed a cross-sectional survey in order to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on status of anxiety, BS and QoL in MPN patients.

Methods

We analyzed the anxiety levels using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS); BS modifications were studied using the 18 items of the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form [MPN-SAF].

Results

132 people answered to the survey: 27 (20.4%) patients achieved a moderate to marked anxiety index value: this group described a greater worsening of symptoms than the rest of the cohort (p <0.0001). Women showed a higher level of anxiety than men (p = 0.01). A trend for lower level of anxiety was reported by patients who performed habitual physical activity (p = 0.06). A total of 98 (74.2%) patients described worsening of their symptoms during the quarantine period; 94 (71.2%) patients had postponed appointments or visits: they showed a significant worsening of their BS (p =0.01).

Conclusion

This study first showed that the COVID-19 quarantine had a significant negative impact on the level of anxiety and BS in MPN patients. We identified female gender, absence of physical activity, the need for frequent visit to the hospital and the absence of a direct access to healthcare staff as the main factors associated to a higher anxiety index and worst BS.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Philadelphia-Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: A Nationwide Population-Based Survey in Denmark

Simple Summary

The aim of this research was to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (chronic blood cancers) in Denmark. A nationwide questionnaire survey covering functioning, symptom burden, symptom profile, QoL, and lifestyle was performed. Patients registered in the National Patient Register with a diagnosis of Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm were invited. A total of 2228 patients participated in the survey and these could be divided into groups of participants with different subtypes of Phildelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms. The HRQoL across groups of participants with different subtypes of the disease was compared, and the HRQoL of all participants and the general population was compared in order to investigate for a potential difference. The participants reported their HRQoL to be inferior to the general population, but the difference was minor. The differences in HRQoL across groups of participants with different subtypes of the disease were subtle. Fatigue and sexual problems were prevalent and burdensome. Participants reported a slightly healthier lifestyle than the general population. Understanding HRQoL of these patients is a necessity to be able to provide the best treatment and rehabilitation activities.

Abstract

Previous studies have clarified that many patients with Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) have burdensome symptom profiles and accordingly impaired functioning and quality of life (QoL). In Denmark, all MPN patients are affiliated with public hospitals and because of a healthcare system financed by taxpayers these patients do not have any financial costs related to the hematological disease. Diagnoses are recorded for all patients in hospitals, and diagnosis codes are communicated to the National Patient Register (NPR). Owing to this, it was possible to contribute to the elucidation of Philadelphia-negative MPN patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL), by conducting a nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional HRQoL survey of these patients with cost-free access to the best available, suitable medical treatment. The survey contained validated questionnaires covering functioning, symptom burden, symptom profile, QoL, and additional questions on lifestyle. Information on comorbid diagnoses was obtained from the NPR. The participants’ HRQoL was compared to the general population. Moreover, differences in HRQoL across essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis, and unclassifiable MPN participants were investigated, adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity, and lifestyle. To the best of our knowledge this is the first survey of HRQoL in patients with unclassifiable MPN. A total of 2228 Philadelphia-negative MPN patients participated. The participants reported their HRQoL to be inferior to the general population, but the difference was minor. The differences in HRQoL across groups of participants with different MPN subtypes were subtle. Fatigue and sexual problems were prevalent and burdensome. Overall, participants reported a slightly healthier lifestyle compared to the general population.