Experiences and Comfort of Young Cancer Patients Discussing Cannabis with Their Providers: Insights from a Survey at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center.

Cannabis use among cancer patients for managing treatment-related symptoms is increasing, yet little is known about patterns in patient-provider communication. This study examines demographic differences in cannabis use communication at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. The analysis included cancer patients aged ≥ 18 years who self-reported current cannabis use (past 30 days) and had visited Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center within the past 5 years (N = 226). Data were collected via an anonymous electronic survey on REDCap. Responses on patients' disclosure of cannabis use to cancer doctor/care team and their comfort in discussing cannabis were analyzed. Chi-squared/Fisher's exact tests and t-tests were applied. Logistic regression estimated the associations between age and stage of cancer treatment with patients' comfort in discussing cannabis use with cancer doctor (oncologist). The sample was 51.8% male and 39.4% Hispanic (mean age, 45.9 years (SD = 15.1)); 41.1% were aged 20-39 years, 43.8% were undergoing treatment, and 35.4% were in follow-up/had finished treatment. Over half (50.4%) did not disclose cannabis use to their cancer doctor/care team. Non-disclosers were more often younger (20-39 years) than disclosers (52.6% vs. 29.5%, p < 0.01). Most patients (72.5%) felt comfortable discussing cannabis use with their oncologist; however, younger patients (20-39 years) were more often uncomfortable (40.8%). Logistic regression showed newly diagnosed patients had lower odds (aOR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.12-0.98) of comfort discussing cannabis compared to those in follow-up/finished treatment. Younger patients (20-39 years) also had lower odds (aOR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.03-0.40) of feeling comfortable discussing cannabis compared to older patients (≥ 60 years). Age and treatment stage significantly impact the cannabis use disclosure and comfort in discussing it with cancer doctor/care team. These findings underscore the importance of considering age-related factors and treatment status when addressing cannabis use discussions within oncology setting.

Designing a Culturally Relevant Digital Skin Cancer Prevention Intervention for Hispanic Individuals: Qualitative Exploration.

BACKGROUND: In the past 2 decades, melanoma incidence among Hispanic individuals has risen by 20%. The mortality rate of Hispanic individuals is higher than that for non-Hispanic White individuals. Skin cancer can largely be prevented with regular sun protection, and skin cancer outcomes can be improved through early detection, for example, by skin self-examination. Alarmingly, Hispanic individuals are less aware of the symptoms and harms of skin cancers, tend to have misperceptions regarding the risks and benefits of skin cancer prevention behaviors, and engage in less sun protection behaviors than non-Hispanic White individuals. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use a community-engaged approach and conduct both group and individual interviews among Hispanic individuals and relevant key stakeholders to explore the potential design of a mobile-based skin cancer prevention intervention for Hispanic individuals. METHODS: This study used a qualitative design (focus groups and individual interviews). Participants were recruited from local community organizations' social media, local events, and contact lists (eg, email). Zoom interviews were conducted to examine whether Hispanic individuals would be interested in a mobile-based skin cancer intervention and to explore their preferences and suggestions to inform skin cancer prevention intervention design. RESULTS: Five focus groups (2 in Spanish and 3 in English) among self-identified Hispanic individuals (n=34) and 15 semistructured, in-depth individual interviews among key stakeholders (health care providers and community leaders; eg, dermatologist, nurse practitioner, licensed social worker, and church leader) were conducted. The main themes and subthemes emerging from the group discussions and individual interviews were organized into the following categories: intervention platform, delivery frequency and format, message design, engagement plan, and activities. WhatsApp and Facebook were identified as suitable platforms for the intervention. Messages including short videos, visuals (eg, images and photographs), and simple texts messages were preferred. Recommendations for message design included personalized messages, personal stories and narratives, culturally relevant design (eg, incorporating family values), and community-trusted sources. Potential engagement and retention recommendations were also discussed. Additional details and exemplar quotes of each theme and subtheme are described. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides important insights and directions for the design of a mobile, digital skin cancer intervention to modify Hispanic individuals' sun protection and skin self-examination behaviors to help improve skin cancer outcomes. Insights gathered from community leaders and health care providers provided valuable additions to the community-derived data. Leveraging popular digital platforms among Hispanic individuals such as WhatsApp or Facebook could be a promising approach to skin cancer prevention. Recommendations from the community included the use of concise videos, illustrative images, clear text messages, tailored communications, narratives featuring personal experiences, designs that reflect cultural significance, and information from sources that are trusted by the community, which provided useful strategies for future intervention design among Hispanic individuals.

Exercise and nutrition to improve cancer Treatment-Related outcomes (ENICTO).

Chemotherapy treatment-related side-effects are common and increase the risk of suboptimal outcomes. Exercise interventions during cancer treatment improve self-reported physical functioning, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, but it is unclear whether these interventions improve important clinical outcomes, such as chemotherapy relative dose intensity (RDI). The National Cancer Institute funded the Exercise and Nutrition to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes (ENICTO) Consortium, to address this knowledge gap. This paper describes the mechanisms hypothesized to underpin intervention effects on clinically-relevant treatment outcomes, briefly outlines each project's distinct research aims, summarizes the scope and organizational structure of ENICTO, and provides an overview of the integrated common data elements used to pursue research questions collectively. In addition, the paper includes a description of consortium-wide activities and broader research community opportunities for collaborative research. Findings from the ENICTO Consortium have the potential to accelerate a paradigm shift in oncology care such that cancer patients could receive exercise and nutrition programming as the standard of care in tandem with chemotherapy to improve RDI for a curative outcome.

Ethnic differences in the patterns, sources, and reasons for cannabis use among cancer patients at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe patterns, sources, and reasons for cannabis use among cancer patients by ethnic group. METHODS: Data are from a cross-sectional study of 416 surveys collected via RedCap anonymously from adult cancer patients seen at a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center within the last 5 years. A harmonized survey was created with 11 other National Cancer Institute centers to assess cannabis use patterns, sources, and reasons for use. Sociodemographics and cancer details were also collected via self-report. Descriptive statistics by ethnic group were compared using χ2 and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: Among the sample (age mean = 50.4 [15.7] years; 53% male; 8.3% lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer; 46.7% Hispanic and Latinx individuals), 69.6% reported lifetime use of cannabis, 33.7% began cannabis use after cancer diagnosis, 48.1% of those consuming cannabis did not have a prescription for cannabis, and 29.4% of cannabis users consumed daily. The frequency of cannabis use (P = .04) and reasons for cannabis use (P = .02) varied by ethnic group. Sleep and pain were the most prevalent reasons for use among the Hispanics and Latinx populations; pain, mental health management, and neuropathy were the most prevalent reasons for cannabis use among non-Hispanic White individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Patterns and reasons for cannabis use differed among cancer patients by ethnic group in this exploratory cross-sectional study aimed to provide data for more rigorous study. Understanding these distinctions are pivotal in conducting more rigorous studies that address the unique needs of diverse populations utilizing cannabis for managing cancer-related symptoms.

Gerotherapeutics: Aging Mechanism-based Pharmaceutical and Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Cancer Racial and Ethnic Disparities.

The central premise of this article is that a portion of the established relationships between social determinants of health and racial/ethnic disparities in cancer morbidity and mortality are mediated through differences in rates of biological aging processes. We further posit that using knowledge about aging could enable discovery and testing of new mechanism-based pharmaceutical and behavioral interventions ("gerotherapeutics") to differentially improve the health of minoritized cancer survivors and reduce cancer disparities. These hypotheses are based on evidence that lifelong differences in adverse social determinants of health contribute to disparities in rates of biological aging ("social determinants of aging"), with minoritized groups having accelerated aging (ie, a steeper slope or trajectory of biological aging over time relative to chronological age) more often than non-minoritized groups. Acceleration of biological aging can increase the risk, age of onset, aggressivity and/or stage of many adult cancers. There are also documented negative feedback loops whereby the cellular damage caused by cancer and its therapies act as drivers of additional biological aging. Together, these dynamic intersectional forces can contribute to differences in cancer outcomes between minoritized vs non-minoritized survivor populations. We highlight key targetable biological aging mechanisms with potential applications to reducing cancer disparities and discuss methodological considerations for pre-clinical and clinical testing of the impact of gerotherapeutics on cancer outcomes in minoritized populations. Ultimately, the promise of reducing cancer disparities will require broad societal policy changes that address the structural causes of accelerated biological aging and ensure equitable access to all new cancer control paradigms.

Intra-Ethnic and Geographic Disparities in Stage at Diagnosis for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of early detection for lung cancer outcomes, staging disparities among the growing US Hispanic population remain underexplored. This population-based study aimed to identify racial-ethnic disparities among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic (including specific subgroups) patients in stage at diagnosis for potentially curable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Incident NSCLC cases (2005-2018) were extracted from the Florida cancer registry. Stage was categorized as early (localized/regional) or advanced (distant). Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between race/ethnicity and stage at diagnosis, adjusting for socioeconomic status, smoking, and clinical factors. RESULTS: Among 157,034 NSCLC patients, 47.8% were diagnosed at an advanced-stage. Multivariable models showed higher odds of advanced-stage diagnosis for non-Hispanic Blacks (ORadj=1.22; 95%CI: 1.17-1.26) and Hispanics (ORadj=1.03; 95%CI: 1.00-1.08) compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Regional differences were stark for Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic Whites: ORadj 0.96 (95%CI: 0.91-1.01) in South Florida vs 1.12 (95%CI: 1.05-1.19) in the rest of Florida. In South Florida, Central Americans (ORadj=1.49; 95%CI: 1.20-1.85) were the only Hispanic group showing a staging disadvantage compared to non-Hispanic Whites. CONCLUSION: Pronounced disparities in NSCLC staging among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic populations, with notable regional variations within Florida's Hispanic communities, indicate that targeted interventions could significantly enhance early detection. The relative advantage observed in nearly all minority groups in multicultural South Florida compared to the rest of Florida underscores the need for future research exploring how specific Hispanic and multiracial sociocultural contexts can positively influence the landscape of cancer early detection across the US.

Quality of life and survivorship in patients with low-grade ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: High-grade (HGOC) and low-grade ovarian carcinoma (LGOC) are distinct malignancies with different biological features, treatment paradigms, and life expectancies. However, differences in quality of life (QOL), sleep, and depressive symptoms have not been examined by grade, and neither have inflammatory profiles associated with these symptoms. We aim to characterize QOL and biomarkers by OC grade. METHODS: Participants included patients with HGOC (N = 578) or LGOC (N = 85). Participants completed baseline assessments of psychosocial factors prior to primary surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and contributed saliva for cortisol and blood for interleukin-6 (IL-6) quantification. Samples were collected intraoperatively to quantify tumor cortisol. General linear models were used to examine differences in biological and psychological variables by grade. RESULTS: At baseline, patients with LGOC reported less depression (p = 0.018) and sleep disturbances (p = 0.014), but no significant difference in depressive mood (p = 0.11) or QOL (p = 0.51) compared to patients with HGOC, adjusting for age and disease stage. There were trends towards lower tumor cortisol levels (p = 0.078) in LGOC compared to HGOC. One-year post-diagnosis, we found a significant improvement in QOL and fatigue, and a decrease in vegetative depression and IL-6 levels irrespective of grade. CONCLUSIONS: We present the first characterization of psychosocial experiences of patients with LGOC. Despite having a better disease prognosis, patients with LGOC were just as likely to have mood disturbances as those with HGOC. There was a trend towards differences in tumor cortisol by grade. Our findings highlight the need to address well-being in patients with both low- and high-grade ovarian malignancies.

A mixed methods evaluation of patient perspectives on the implementation of an electronic health record-integrated patient-reported symptom and needs monitoring program in cancer care.

BACKGROUND: As cancer centers have increased focus on patient-centered, evidenced-based care, implementing efficient programs that facilitate effective patient-clinician communication remains critical. We implemented an electronic health record-integrated patient-reported symptom and needs monitoring program ('cPRO' for cancer patient-reported outcomes). To aid evaluation of cPRO implementation, we asked patients receiving care in one of three geographical regions of an academic healthcare system about their experiences. METHODS: Using a sequential mixed-methods approach, we collected feedback in two waves. Wave 1 included virtual focus groups and interviews with patients who had completed cPRO. In Wave 2, we administered a structured survey to systematically examine Wave 1 themes. All participants had a diagnosed malignancy and received at least 2 invitations to complete cPRO. We used rapid and traditional qualitative methods to analyze Wave 1 data and focused on identifying facilitators and barriers to cPRO implementation. Wave 2 data were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Participants (n = 180) were on average 62.9 years old; were majority female, White, non-Hispanic, and married; and represented various cancer types and phases of treatment. Wave 1 participants (n = 37) identified facilitators, including cPRO's perceived value and favorable usability, and barriers, including confusion about cPRO's purpose and various considerations for responding. High levels of clinician engagement with, and patient education on, cPRO were described as facilitators while low levels were described as barriers. Wave 2 (n = 143) data demonstrated high endorsement rates of cPRO's usability on domains such as navigability (91.6%), comprehensibility (98.7%), and relevance (82.4%). Wave 2 data also indicated low rates of understanding cPRO's purpose (56.7%), education from care teams about cPRO (22.5%), and discussing results of cPRO with care teams (16.3%). CONCLUSIONS: While patients reported high value and ease of use when completing cPRO, they also reported areas of confusion, emphasizing the importance of patient education on the purpose and use of cPRO and clinician engagement to sustain participation. These results guided successful implementation changes and will inform future improvements.

Physical Activity, Cardiovascular Status, Mortality, and Prediabetes in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Adults.

Importance: Data are limited on the association of physical activity (PA) with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in prediabetes, especially in racial and ethnic minority groups, including Hispanic and Latino populations. Objective: To determine the association of PA with incident CVD and mortality by prediabetes status among Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included data from 2 cohorts of adults with prediabetes or normoglycemia who were free of CVD at baseline visit: the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) from baseline examination through 2017, with median (IQR) follow-up of 7.8 (7.2-8.5) years, and the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) with non-Hispanic participants from index examination through 2019, with median (IQR) follow-up of 9.6 (8.1-10.7) years. Analyses were conducted between September 1, 2022, and January 10, 2024. Exposure: The primary exposure was baseline accelerometry-measured moderate to vigorous PA, insufficient vs sufficient to meet 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (PAG) in both cohorts; additional accelerometer-measured exposures in HCHS/SOL were steps per day, sedentary behavior, and counts per min. Main Outcomes and Measures: The outcome was a composite of incident CVD or all-cause mortality, whichever came first. Results: This cohort study included 13 223 participants: from HCHS/SOL, there were 9456 adults (all self-identified Hispanic or Latino ethnicity; survey-adjusted mean [SD] age, 38.3 [13.9] years, unweighted counts 5673 (60.0%) female; 4882 [51.6%] with normoglycemia; 4574 [48.4%] with prediabetes), and from FHS there were 3767 adults (3623 [96.2%] non-Hispanic and 140 [3.7%] Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, with 4 [0.1%] participants missing ethnicity; mean [SD] age, 54.2 [13.6] years; 2128 (56.5%) female; 2739 [72.7%] with normoglycemia; 1028 [27.3%] with prediabetes). Not meeting PAG was associated with higher risk of the composite outcome among participants with normoglycemia (vs PAG met; hazard ratio [HR], 1.85 [95% CI, 1.12-3.06]), but not among participants with prediabetes (HR, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.72-1.58]). For HCHS/SOL, no statistically significant association was found between the composite outcome and other PA metrics, although estimated HRs tended to be higher for lower activity in the normoglycemia group but not for the prediabetes group (eg, for steps less than vs at least 7000 per day, the HR was 1.58 [95% CI, 0.85-2.93] for normoglycemia vs 1.08 [95% CI 0.67-1.74] for prediabetes). While there was also no association in HCHS/SOL between the composite outcome and sedentary behavior, results were similar in the prediabetes group (HR per 30 minutes per day of sedentary behavior, 1.05 [95% CI 0.99-1.12]) and in the normoglycemia group (HR, 1.07 [95% CI 0.98-1.16]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of US Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic adults, lower moderate to vigorous PA levels were associated with CVD or mortality among participants with normoglycemia but not participants with prediabetes. Adults with prediabetes may benefit from reducing sedentary behavior and improving multiple lifestyle factors beyond improving moderate to vigorous PA alone.

Quality of Life in Patients and Their Spouses and Cohabitating Partners in the Year Following a Cancer Biopsy (the Couples Cope Study): Protocol for a Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Receiving a diagnosis of cancer is a profound and often very stressful experience. Few studies have prospectively recruited patients prior to receiving a new diagnosis of cancer and included spouses or partners. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the Couples Cope Study is to understand the impact of undergoing a diagnostic biopsy and receiving a new cancer diagnosis on quality of life (QoL) in both patients and their spouses or partners, as well as on the quality of their relationship. This protocol paper describes the study design and assesses the feasibility of recruitment and retention. METHODS: Study staff reviewed the schedules of collaborating physicians using specific encounter codes to identify patients scheduled for breast or prostate biopsies. Potential participants were prescreened via the electronic health record and sent a recruitment letter at least 2 to 3 weeks prior to their biopsy procedure. Patients subsequently underwent a phone screening to determine eligibility. Patients who enrolled provided study staff with contact information for their spouses or partners. All consent forms were completed online. Surveys were completed online prior to receiving the biopsy results (baseline), and at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after the biopsy. Study staff engaged in ongoing, personalized contact with participants and sent assessment completion reminders via phone and email. RESULTS: A total of 2294 patients undergoing a breast or prostate biopsy were identified and 69% (n=1582) were eligible for phone screening following electronic health record prescreening. Of the 431 patients who underwent phone screening, 75% (n=321) were eligible to participate. Of the eligible patients, 72% (n=231) enrolled and 82% (n=190) of enrolled patients had an accompanying partner or spouse who also enrolled. A total of 77% (34/44) of patients who received a cancer diagnosis and 72% (26/36) of their spouses or partners were retained through 9 months, while 80% (53/66) of patients who received a benign diagnosis and 68% (42/62) of their partners were retained. CONCLUSIONS: Prospective recruitment of patients undergoing diagnostic biopsy and their partners is feasible and requires both strategic collaboration with providers and concerted prescreening and recruitment efforts by study staff. Importantly, this study was able to conduct all study activities online without disrupting clinical workflow and without requiring patients and their spouses or partners to come into the laboratory. Consideration should be given to the ratio of biopsies to cancer diagnoses, which can vary significantly by cancer type. Prospective studies are needed and can inform our ability to provide effective support earlier to couples facing a possible cancer diagnosis. Future studies should examine other tumor types that have received less attention in QoL studies, include behavioral and neurobiological assessments beyond self-report measures, and follow couples beyond 9 months in order to examine long-term effects on QoL. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/52361.

Living Well: Protocol for a web-based program to improve quality of life in rural and urban ovarian cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer (OC) survivors commonly experience chronic symptoms including anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, fatigue, physical symptoms, poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and a generally poor prognosis. Additionally, factors such as social isolation, stress, and depression are associated with key biological processes promoting tumor progression and poorer survival. Accessible psychosocial interventions to improve HRQOL and clinical outcomes are needed. This need is particularly true in rural settings where survivors may have less access to clinic-based support systems. METHODS: The Living Well Study, a cluster-randomized Phase II multi-site clinical trial, is designed to evaluate the efficacy of a group-based, web-delivered psychosocial intervention (Mindful Living) verses a Health Promotion active control (Healthy Lifestyles) in increasing HRQOL and decreasing perceived stress (primary outcomes), depressive mood, anxiety, and fatigue (secondary outcomes) for 256 OC survivors who are <5 years post-primary therapy. Mindful Living targets key concerns of OC survivors and teaches stress reduction skills and coping strategies utilizing cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapies. Healthy Lifestyles provides lifestyle information including exercise, nutrition, sleep, and other survivorship topics. Interventions consist of 11 consecutive weekly group sessions lasting 1.5-2 h led by trained facilitators and two booster sessions. Participants complete psychosocial questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, at 6-months, and at 12-months. A subset completes bloodspots for analysis of inflammatory biology. CONCLUSION: Easily accessible psychosocial interventions addressing key concerns of OC survivors are an unmet need. The Mindful Living intervention has the potential to substantially enhance HRQOL and decrease distress in OC survivors. Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04533763.

Associations of Allostatic Load with Level of and Change in Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Hispanic/Latino Adults: The Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA).

Background: Higher allostatic load (AL), a multi-system measure of physiological dysregulation considered a proxy for chronic stress exposure, is associated with poorer global cognition (GC) in older non-Hispanic white adults. However, evidence of these associations in middle-aged and older US-based Hispanic/Latino adults is limited. Objective: To examine associations of AL with level of cognition, performance in cognition 7 years later, and change in cognition over 7 years among middle-aged and older US-based Hispanic/Latino adults. Methods: We used data (n = 5,799, 45-74 years at baseline) from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) and SOL-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA). The AL score comprised 16 biomarkers representing cardiometabolic, glucose, cardiopulmonary, parasympathetic, and inflammatory systems (higher scores = greater dysregulation). Cognitive outcomes included GC and individual tests of verbal learning and memory, world fluency (WF), Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS), and Trail Making (Parts A & B). Survey-linear regressions assessed associations of AL with performance in cognition at baseline, 7 years later, and via 7-year cognitive change scores adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and depressive symptoms. Results: Higher AL was associated with lower baseline performance in GC and WF; and lower 7-year follow-up performance in these same measures plus DSS and Trail Making Parts A & B. Higher AL was associated with more pronounced 7-year change (reduction) in GC and on WF and DSS tests. Conclusions: Findings extend previous evidence in predominantly older non-Hispanic white cohorts to show that AL is related to level of and change in GC (as well as WF and DSS) among middle-aged and older US-based Hispanic/Latino adults.

eHealth mindfulness-based music therapy for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A pilot randomized controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is the preferred therapy for patients with high-risk or relapsed hematologic malignancies, but may be complicated by psychological distress (e.g., depression, anxiety) and symptom burden (e.g., fatigue, pain). Mindfulness-based music therapy (MBMT), a relatively novel integrative medicine intervention that draws from mindfulness and music therapy principles, has shown promise in improving psychosocial outcomes and symptom burden in cancer patients. We outline an eHealth-based MBMT (eMBMT) intervention protocol examining: (1) feasibility, acceptability, and intended effects of eMBMT in improving HRQOL, symptom burden, and clinical markers of disease activity (e.g., infections), and (2) the extent to which eMBMT music therapy component-associated improvements in HRQOL, symptom burden, and disease activity are mediated by improvements in psychosocial and physiological (e.g., systemic inflammation, immune recovery) adaptation. METHODS: Participants (n = 60) with a hematologic malignancy undergoing allo-SCT will be randomized to receive eMBMT or an eHealth-based mindfulness meditation (eMM) intervention. eMBMT includes eight 60-min sessions facilitated by a music therapist focusing on mindfulness and music therapy. eMM includes eight 60-min self-led MM practices. RESULTS: Feasibility, acceptability, HRQOL, symptom burden, disease activity, and mediation effects of psychosocial and physiological adaptation will be assessed at baseline, pre-infusion, and post-engraftment with blood collection at baseline and post-engraftment. CONCLUSION: The current pilot RCT is the first eMBMT intervention to address the HRQOL and symptom burden of patients who are undergoing allo-SCT. Results will inform a fully powered RCT to establish preliminary efficacy of eMBMT on improvements in HRQOL, symptom burden, and disease activity.

Endometrial Cancer Survival in Populations of African Descent.

To examine whether the endometrial cancer (EC) survival disadvantage among Black populations is US-specific, a comparison between African descent populations from different countries with a high development index is warranted. We analyzed 28,213 EC cases from cancer registries in Florida (2005-2018) and Martinique (2005-2018)/Guadeloupe (2008-2018), French Caribbean islands. Kaplan-Meier and all-cause Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare survival. Models were stratified by EC histology type and the main predictor examined was race/ethnicity [non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Black (NHB) women in the US versus Black women residing in the Caribbean]. For endometrioid and non-endometrioid EC, after adjusting for age, histology, stage at diagnosis, receipt of surgery, period of diagnosis, and poverty level, US NHB women and Caribbean Blacks had a higher risk of death relative to US NHWs. There was no difference between US NHBs and Caribbean Blacks (HR 1.07, 95% CI: 0.88-1.30) with endometrioid EC. However, Caribbean Black women with non-endometrioid carcinomas had a 40% (HR 1.40, 95% CI: 1.13-1.74) higher risk of death than US NHBs. The low EC survival among US Black women extends to foreign populations of African descent. For the aggressive non-endometrioid ECs, survival in Caribbean Blacks outside of the US is considerably worse.

A sociodemographic index identifies non-biological sex-related effects on insomnia in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

Background: Sex differences are related to both biological factors and the gendered environment. To untangle sex-related effects on health and disease it is important to model sex-related differences better. Methods: Data came from the baseline visit of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a longitudinal cohort study following 16,415 individuals recruited at baseline from four study sites: Bronx NY, Miami FL, San Diego CA, and Chicago IL. We applied LASSO penalized logistic regression of male versus female sex over sociodemographic, acculturation, and psychological factors jointly. Two "gendered indices", GISE and GIPSE, summarizing the sociodemographic environment (GISE, primary) and psychosocial and sociodemographic environment (GIPSE, secondary) associated with sex, were calculated by summing these variables, weighted by their regression coefficients. We examined the association of these indices with insomnia derived from self-reported symptoms assessed via the Women Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale (WHIIRS), a phenotype with strong sex differences, in sex-adjusted and sex-stratified analyses. All analyses were adjusted for age, Hispanic/Latino background, and study center. Results: The distribution of GISE and GIPSE differed by sex with higher values in male individuals, even when constructing and validating them on separate, independent, subsets of HCHS/SOL individuals. In an association model with insomnia, male sex was associated with lower likelihood of insomnia (odds ratio (OR)=0.60, 95% CI (0.53, 0.67)). Including GISE in the model, the association was slightly weaker (OR=0.63, 95% CI (0.56, 0.70)), and weaker when including instead GIPSE in the association model (OR=0.78, 95% CI (0.69, 0.88)). Higher values of GISE and of GIPSE, more common in male sex, were associated with lower likelihood of insomnia, in analyses adjusted for sex (per 1 standard deviation of the index, GISE OR= 0.92, 95% CI (0.87, 0.99), GIPSE OR=0.65, 95% CI (0.61, 0.70)). Conclusions: New measures such as GISE and GIPSE capture sex-related differences beyond binary sex and have the potential to better model and inform research studies of health. However, such indices do not account for gender identity and may not well capture the environment experienced by intersex and non-binary persons.

Avanzando Caminos (Leading Pathways): design and procedures of the Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Study.

Avanzando Caminos (Leading Pathways): The Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Cohort Study aims to examine the influence of sociocultural, medical, stress-related, psychosocial, lifestyle, behavioral, and biological factors on symptom burden, health-related quality of life, and clinical outcomes among Hispanics/Latinos who have been previously treated for cancer. Avanzando Caminos is a prospective, cohort-based study of 3000 Hispanics/Latinos who completed primary cancer treatment within the past 5 years that is representative of the general Hispanic/Latino population in the United States. Participants will complete self-report measures at baseline (time [T] 1), 6 months (T2), 1 year (T3), 2 years (T4), 3 years (T5), 4 years (T6), and 5 years (T7). Blood samples drawn for assessment of leukocyte gene expression, cardiometabolic markers, and genetic admixture will be collected at baseline (T1), 1 year (T3), 3 years (T5), and 5 years (T7). Medical and cancer characteristics and clinical outcomes will be extracted from the electronic medical record and/or state cancer registry at each time point. Data analysis will include general latent variable modeling and latent growth modeling. Avanzando Caminos will fill critical gaps in knowledge in order to guide future secondary and tertiary prevention efforts to mitigate cancer disparities and optimize health-related quality of life among Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors.

Familism, family cohesion, and health-related quality of life in Hispanic prostate cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Familism, the cultural value that emphasizes feelings of loyalty and dedication to one's family, has been related to both positive and negative outcomes in Hispanic cancer survivors. One potential source of observed inconsistencies may be limited attention to the family environment, as familism may be protective in a cohesive family whereas it can exacerbate distress in a conflictive family. PURPOSE: The current study explored the associations of familism with general and disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Hispanic men who completed prostate cancer (PC) treatment, and whether family cohesion may help explain these relationships. METHODS: Hispanic men treated for localized PC (e.g., radiation, surgery) were enrolled in a randomized controlled stress management trial and assessed prior to randomization. Familism (familial obligation) was assessed using Sabogal's Familism Scale and family cohesion was measured using the Family Environment Scale (ranging from high to low). The sexual, urinary incontinence, and urinary obstructive/irritative domains of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite - Short Form measured disease-specific HRQoL. The physical, emotional, and functional well-being subscales of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General captured general HRQoL. Hierarchical linear regression and the SPSS PROCESS macro were used to conduct moderation analyses, while controlling for relevant covariates. RESULTS: Participants were 202 older men on average 65.7 years of age (SD = 8.0) who had been diagnosed with PC an average of 22 months prior to enrollment. Familism was not directly associated with general and disease-specific HRQoL. Moderation analyses revealed that greater familism was related to poorer urinary functioning in the incontinence (p = .03) and irritative/obstructive domains (p = .01), and lower emotional well-being (p = .02), particularly when family cohesion was low. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of considering contextual factors, such as family cohesion, in understanding the influence of familism on general and disease-specific HRQoL among Hispanic PC patients. The combined influence of familism and family cohesion predicts clinically meaningful differences in urinary functioning and emotional well-being during the posttreatment phase. Culturally sensitive psychosocial interventions to boost family cohesion and leverage the positive impact of familistic attitudes are needed to enhance HRQoL outcomes in this population.

Impact of COVID-19-related experiences on health-related quality of life in cancer survivors in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Little evidence exists on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer survivors, limiting recommendations to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in this population. We describe survivors' pandemic experiences and examine associations between COVID-19-related exposures, psychosocial experiences, and HRQoL. METHODS: Between May 2020-April 2021, survivors completed cross-sectional questionnaires capturing COVID-19-related exposures (e.g., exposure to virus, job loss); psychosocial experiences (i.e., COVID-19-related anxiety/depression, disruptions to health care and daily activities/social interactions, satisfaction with providers' response to COVID, financial hardship, perceived benefits of the pandemic, social support, and perceived stress management ability); and HRQoL. RESULTS: Data were collected from N = 11,325 survivors in the United States. Participants were mostly female (58%), White (89%) and non-Hispanic (88%), and age 63 on average. Breast cancer was the most common diagnosis (23%). Eight percent of participants reported being exposed to COVID-19; 1% tested positive. About 6% of participants lost their jobs, while 24% lost household income. Nearly 30% avoided attending in-person oncology appointments because of the pandemic. Poorer HRQoL was associated with demographic (younger age; female; non-Hispanic White), clinical (Medicare; stage IV disease; hematologic/digestive/respiratory system cancer), and psychosocial factors (low perceived benefits and stress management ability; more disruption to health care and daily activities/social interactions; financial hardship). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19-related stressors were associated with various psychosocial experiences in cancer survivors, and these psychosocial experiences were associated with HRQoL above and beyond demographic and clinical factors.

Low Social Well-Being in Advanced and Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Effects of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management.

BACKGROUND: Social well-being impacts cancer patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and coping style. This secondary analysis was conducted to examine whether advanced prostate cancer survivors who had experienced low social well-being would benefit from a web-based cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention. METHOD: APC survivors (N = 192) who had received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) were randomized to a 10-week CBSM or a health promotion (HP) control condition. A subsample of participants (n = 61) with low pre-intervention SWB (measured by social support from and relationship satisfaction with family and friends) was included in the study. Multilevel models compared participants' PC-specific quality of life (sexual, hormonal, urinary), affect-based psychosocial burden (cancer-related anxiety and distress), and coping strategies at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Covariates were included in all models as appropriate. RESULTS: Participants randomized to the CBSM condition showed significantly greater improvements in fear of cancer recurrence and cancer-related intrusive thoughts than those in the HP control condition. A significant condition by time interaction was also found, indicating that CBSM improved participants' PC-related fear in both short- (6 months) and long-term (12 months). However, the CBSM intervention did not significantly impact APC-related symptom burden. Only for the urinary domain, clinically meaningful changes (CBSM vs HP) were observed. In addition, all participants, regardless of condition, reported less coping (e.g., emotion-, problem- and avoidance-focused) over time. CONCLUSION: As predicted, the CBSM intervention improved several affect-based psychosocial outcomes for APC survivors with low baseline SWB.

Risk factors and health behaviors associated with loneliness among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loneliness may exacerbate poor health outcomes particularly among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the risk factors of loneliness among cancer survivors. We evaluated the risk factors of loneliness in the context of COVID-19 pandemic-related prevention behaviors and lifestyle/psychosocial factors among cancer survivors. Cancer survivors (n = 1471) seen at Huntsman Cancer Institute completed a survey between August-September 2020 evaluating health behaviors, medical care, and psychosocial factors including loneliness during COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were classified into two groups: 'lonely' (sometimes, usually, or always felt lonely in past month) and 'non-lonely' (never or rarely felt lonely in past month). 33% of cancer survivors reported feeling lonely in the past month. Multivariable logistic regression showed female sex, not living with a spouse/partner, poor health status, COVID-19 pandemic-associated lifestyle factors including increased alcohol consumption and marijuana/CBD oil use, and psychosocial stressors such as disruptions in daily life, less social interaction, and higher perceived stress and financial stress were associated with feeling lonely as compared to being non-lonely (all p < 0.05). A significant proportion of participants reported loneliness, which is a serious health risk among vulnerable populations, particularly cancer survivors. Modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and psychosocial stress were associated with loneliness. These results highlight the need to screen for unhealthy lifestyle factors and psychosocial stressors to identify cancer survivors at increased risk of loneliness and to develop effective management strategies.