Risk-adapted treatment in multiple myeloma: Does more make it merrier?

Kaiser et al. offer management recommendations for transplant-eligible, high-risk multiple myeloma (HRMM), derived from recent trials exploring treatment intensification in the various phases of front-line therapy. The definition of HRMM continues to evolve with emergence of novel genomic insights and impact of modern therapies, underscoring the need to expand beyond traditional interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization cytogenetics and International Staging System staging for a precise risk assessment. Despite progress, ongoing challenges in treatment delivery and tolerability underscore the urgency for exploring novel approaches like T-cell redirecting bispecific antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell to enhance outcomes in this complex patient population. Commentary on: Kaiser et al. Diagnosis and initial treatment of transplant-eligible high-risk myeloma patients: A British Society for Haematology/UK Myeloma Society Good Practice Paper. Br J Haematol 2024 (Online ahead of print). doi: 10.1111/bjh.19623.

Effectiveness of ChatGPT 4.0 in Telemedicine-Based Management of Metastatic Prostate Carcinoma.

The recent rise in telemedicine, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the potential of integrating artificial intelligence tools in healthcare. This study assessed the effectiveness of ChatGPT versus medical oncologists in the telemedicine-based management of metastatic prostate cancer. In this retrospective study, 102 patients who met inclusion criteria were analyzed to compare the competencies of ChatGPT and oncologists in telemedicine consultations. ChatGPT's role in pre-charting and determining the need for in-person consultations was evaluated. The primary outcome was the concordance between ChatGPT and oncologists in treatment decisions. Results showed a moderate concordance (Cohen's Kappa = 0.43, p < 0.001). The number of diagnoses made by both parties was not significantly different (median number of diagnoses: 5 vs. 5, p = 0.12). In conclusion, ChatGPT exhibited moderate agreement with oncologists in management via telemedicine, indicating the need for further research to explore its healthcare applications.

Real-World Data on Liquid Biopsy Use in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Community Setting.

Introduction: The yield of adding plasma-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) to tissue NGS for the detection of actionable aberrations (AAs) has been reported; however, additional studies are needed to determine utility in the clinical setting. In this retrospective data review, we present our real world data on the utilization of liquid biopsies in the routine management of NCSLC patients, in a community setting. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 279 consecutive patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the community setting, who had liquid biopsies performed between the years 2014 and 2019 as part of routine clinical management. Results: Over a period of 5 years, 337 liquid biopsy samples, taken from 279 patients were sent for plasma NGS testing. The median age at diagnosis was 73 years (range 36-93 y, SD 10.4 y), 141, (51%) were men and 138 (49%) were women. The majority were White or Caucasian (80% versus 8% Black or African American versus 12% Multiracial or unknown race) and had a history of smoking (79%). Excluding synonymous mutations and variants of unknown significance, 254 AAs were detected in 106 patients. Commonly detected AAs were EGFR (n = 127, 50%), KRAS (n = 61, 24%), BRAF (n = 24, 9.5%), and MET (n = 23, 9%). Tissue NGS detected AAs in 45 patients, with EGFR (n = 28, 57%) and KRAS (n = 10, 20%) being the most common AAs. Concordance agreement between plasma and tissue NGS modalities was detected in 39 of 45, 87% patients and was demonstrated most commonly in EGFR (n = 25) and KRAS (n = 11). In 44 of 106 (42%) of patients, for whom tissue NGS was not performed, additional precision treatment was guided by the AA detected through liquid biopsy. Conclusions: Integration of liquid biopsy into the routine management of patients with non-small cell lung cancer demonstrated AA detection in 44 additional patients, which comprise a 42% increase in AA detection rate, when tissue NGS was not performed.

Lung Adenocarcinoma Presenting as Multiple Thromboembolic Events: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Patients with malignancy may present with significant thromboembolic complications including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, arterial thrombosis, nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis, and stroke due to abnormal coagulation cascades. Although these events are typically recognized later in the disease process, complications of a hypercoagulable state can rarely present as the first manifestation of an occult malignancy. We report a case of a young male who was ultimately found to have an aggressive form of lung adenocarcinoma after the initial presentation of multiple thromboembolic events. DVT and stroke as an initial presentation of an active lung adenocarcinoma in a young patient is extremely rare as patients presenting in a hypercoagulable state usually are older. Though testing for a hypercoagulable state is not recommended for the first unprovoked DVT, clinicians should be prompted to screen for malignancy in the setting of cryptogenic strokes, especially in younger patients with no prior risk factors.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Metastatic Disease to the Pancreas.

Introduction: Metastatic disease to the pancreas is a rare entity from all malignant pancreatic masses. Its diagnosis is very challenging, but with the introduction of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-fine needle aspiration (FNA), now there is a feasible way to make an accurate histopathological and definitive diagnosis. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of 11 patients with metastasis to the pancreas diagnosed with EUS-FNA in a tertiary referral center over a period of 3 years. We describe our institutional experience in diagnosing metastatic disease to the pancreas through EUS-FNA. Results: Between January 2015 and June 2018, 115 patients were diagnosed with pancreatic malignancy by EUS-FNA and only 11 (10%) with metastatic disease to the pancreas. Most common primary malignancy was renal cell carcinoma, followed by colon carcinoma, squamous/small cell carcinoma of the lung, and urothelial carcinoma. Five of 11 patients presented as a solitary pancreatic mass on initial imaging without any evidence of primary or metastatic disease elsewhere. Conclusions: In our experience, metastatic disease to the pancreas can represent up to 10% of solid pancreatic masses, which is lower compared to the reported incidence in previous literature. Our findings reveal that early identification and diagnosis help patient management and limit surgical morbidity and mortality.

A Rare Case of Light Chain Amyloidosis of the Gastrointestinal Tract.

A 65-year-old Hispanic female presented with a one-year history of anorexia, nausea, early satiety, epigastric discomfort, and a 20 kg weight loss. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated heterogeneous liver parenchyma. Upper endoscopy revealed large, fungating, infiltrative mass at the lesser gastric curvature incisura, highly suspicious of gastric tumor; however, initial biopsy of the gastric mass was equivocal and an exploratory laparoscopy was performed. Repeated intraoperative biopsies of the gastric mass and of liver parenchyma demonstrated diffuse hyalinized stroma consistent with amyloid deposition, and a bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of primary light chain (AL) amyloidosis.

Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma in an Immunocompetent Patient Presenting as Multiple Cerebellar Lesions: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (PCNSL) is an uncommon extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma often presenting as a single brain lesion within the CNS. On histopathological evaluation of PCNSL a positive CD10, which is frequently observed in systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, is present in approximately 10% of PCNSL. We describe a case of CD10-positive PCNSL presenting with multiple posterior fossa enhancing lesions in an immunocompetent older woman with a history of breast cancer successfully treated by the RTOG 0227 protocol consisting of pre-irradiation chemotherapy with high-dose methotrexate, rituximab, and temozolomide for 6 cycles, followed by low-dose whole-brain radiation and post-irradiation temozolomide.