A randomized trial of physical activity for cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors: Rationale and study design of I Can! Improving Cognition After Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Difficulties with cognition are extremely common among breast cancer survivors and can significantly impact quality of life, daily functioning, and ability to return to work. One promising intervention is increasing physical activity, as it has been effective in improving cognition in non-cancer populations. Few physical activity intervention trials with cognition outcomes have included cancer survivors. This project builds upon our previous work indicating that increased physical activity can improve objectively measured processing speed and self-reported cognition among breast cancer survivors. METHODS: The I Can! study will examine whether a physical activity intervention improves cognition among 250 post-treatment breast cancer survivors (Stages I-III, <5 years post-treatment) who are reporting cognitive difficulties. This 2-arm randomized controlled trial comparing a 6-month physical activity intervention (Exercise Group) to a health & wellness attention-comparison condition (Health & Wellness Group) will examine intervention effects on cognition (at 3 and 6 months) and maintenance of effects at 12 months. The primary aim is to investigate the impact of exercise on objectively measured processing speed and self-reported cognition. Secondary aims are to investigate maintenance of cognitive changes and examine candidate biological mechanisms and psychological mediators. CONCLUSION: The I Can! study will contribute to the scientific, public health, and survivorship intervention literature by providing new information on the impact of physical activity for cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors. Findings from this study will inform guidelines for physical activity to improve the lives of millions of breast cancer survivors.

Accuracy of a Novel Handheld Wireless Platform for Detection of Cardiac Dysfunction in Anthracycline-Exposed Survivors of Childhood Cancer.

Purpose: Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for anthracycline-related cardiac dysfunction, often developing at a time when they are least engaged in long-term survivorship care. New paradigms in survivorship care and chronic disease screening are needed in this population. We compared the accuracy of a novel handheld mHealth platform (Vivio) as well as echocardiography for assessment of cardiac function [left ventricular ejection fraction (EF)] in childhood cancer survivors with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging (reference).Experimental Design: Cross-sectional study design was used. Concurrent evaluation of EF was performed using Vivio, two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography, and CMR. Differences in mean EF (2D echocardiography vs. CMR; Vivio vs. CMR) were compared using Bland-Altman plots. Linear regression was used to evaluate proportional bias.Results: A total of 191 consecutive survivors participated [50.7% female; median time from diagnosis: 15.8 years (2-44); median anthracycline dose: 225 mg/m2 (25-642)]. Echocardiography overestimated mean EF by 4.9% (P < 0.001); linear regression analysis confirmed a proportional bias, when compared with CMR (t = 3.1, P < 0.001). There was no difference between mean EF derived from Vivio and from CMR (-0.2%, P = 0.68). The detection of cardiac dysfunction via echocardiography was poor when compared with CMR [Echo EF < 45% (sensitivity 14.3%), Echo EF < 50% (sensitivity 28.6%)]. Sensitivity was substantially better for Vivio-based measurements [EF < 45% or EF < 50% (sensitivity 85.7%)].Conclusions: This accessible technology has the potential to change the day-to-day practice of clinicians caring for the large number of patients diagnosed with cardiac dysfunction and heart failure each year, allowing real-time monitoring and management of their disease without the lag-time between imaging and interpretation of results. Clin Cancer Res; 24(13); 3119-25. ©2018 AACR.

Metastatic genitourinary cancer diagnosed by body fluid cytology: clinicopathologic and cytomorphologic correlation.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant effusions secondary to genitourinary cancers constitute less than 5% of metastatic malignancies. Because of their rarity, definitive cytodiagnosis may be challenging. Our study aims to examine the incidence of malignant fluids secondary to genitourinary cancers in our institution, and to characterize their clinicopathologic and cytomorphologic features. METHODS: A search of our database was undertaken for all body fluids reviewed from January 2003 through April 2014 at our institution. RESULTS: During this 11.3-year study period, our search revealed 8255 body fluids. Of these, 1341 (16.2%) were malignant with only 15 (0.2%) due to a genitourinary primary, constituting a mere 1.1% of all malignant fluids. Eight cases (53%) were urothelial carcinomas, 6 (40%) were renal cell carcinomas, and 1 was a bladder leiomyosarcoma (7%). No prostate cancers were found. Seven (47%) involved the pleura, 6 (40%) were in the peritoneum, and 2 (13%) were in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). None were detected in the pericardium. Genitourinary metastases comprised 1.9% of peritoneal, 0.8% of pleural, 1.9% of CSF malignant fluids. CONCLUSION: Metastatic genitourinary cancers in body fluids are rare, comprising only 0.2% of all fluids and 1.1% of all malignancies. The cytomorphologic features of metastatic urothelial and renal cell carcinoma, although similar to those described in the literature, are nonspecific. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of metastatic bladder leiomyosarcoma in ascites diagnosed by effusion cytology. Because leiomyosarcoma in body fluids can demonstrate epithelioid features and cohesiveness, it may be confused with metastatic carcinomas.