Impact of neuromuscular block on myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) incidence in the early postoperative stage of older patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) is a common and serious complication in older patients. This study investigates the impact of neuromuscular block on the MINS incidence and other cardiovascular complications in the early postoperative stage of older patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection. METHODS: 70 older patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection were separated into the deep neuromuscular block group and moderate neuromuscular block group for 35 cases in each group (n = 1:1). The deep neuromuscular block group maintained train of four (TOF) = 0, post-tetanic count (PTC) 1-2, and the moderate neuromuscular block group maintained TOF = 1-2 during the operation. Sugammadex sodium was used at 2 mg/kg or 4 mg/kg for muscle relaxation antagonism at the end of surgery. The MINS incidence was the primary outcome and compared with Fisher's exact test. About the secondary outcomes, the postoperative pain was analyzed with Man-Whitney U test, the postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and the incidence of cardiovascular complications were analyzed with Chi-square test, intraoperative mean artery pressure (MAP) and cardiac output (CO) ratio to baseline, length of stay and dosage of anesthetics were compared by two independent samples t-test. RESULTS: MINS was not observed in both groups. The highest incidence of postoperative cardiovascular complications was lower limbs deep vein thrombosis (14.3% in deep neuromuscular block group and 8.6% in moderate neuromuscular group). The numeric rating scale (NRS) score in the deep neuromuscular block group was lower than the moderate neuromuscular block group 72 h after surgery (0(1,2) vs 0(1,2), P = 0.018). The operation time in the deep neuromuscular block group was longer (356.7(107.6) vs 294.8 (80.0), min, P = 0.008), the dosage of propofol and remifentanil was less (3.4 (0.7) vs 3.8 (1.0), mg·kg-1·h-1, P = 0.043; 0.2 (0.06) vs 0.3 (0.07), µg·kg-1·min-1, P < 0.001), and the length of hospital stay was shorter than the moderate neuromuscular block group (18.4 (4.9) vs 22.0 (8.3), day, P = 0.028). The differences of other outcomes were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining different degrees of the neuromuscular block under TOF guidance did not change the MINS incidence within 7 days after surgery in older patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The present study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (10/02/2021, ChiCTR2100043323).

Combined utility of p16 and BRAF V600E in the evaluation of spitzoid tumors: Superiority to PRAME and correlation with FISH.

BACKGROUND: Spitzoid melanocytic neoplasms are diagnostically challenging; criteria for malignancy continue to evolve. The ability to predict chromosomal abnormalities with immunohistochemistry (IHC) could help select cases requiring chromosomal evaluation. METHODS: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-tested spitzoid neoplasms at our institution (2013-2021) were reviewed. p16, BRAF V600E, and preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) IHC results were correlated with FISH. RESULTS: A total of 174 cases (1.9F:1M, median age 28 years; range, 5 months-74 years) were included; final diagnoses: Spitz nevus (11%), atypical Spitz tumor (47%), spitzoid dysplastic nevus (9%), and spitzoid melanoma (32%). Sixty (34%) were FISH positive, most commonly with absolute 6p25 gain (RREB1 > 2). Dermal mitotic count was the only clinicopathologic predictor of FISH. Among IHC-stained cases, p16 was lost in 55 of 134 cases (41%); loss correlated with FISH positive (p < 0.001, Fisher exact test). BRAF V600E (14/88, 16%) and PRAME (15/56, 27%) expression did not correlate with FISH alone (p = 0.242 and p = 0.359, respectively, Fisher exact test). When examined together, however, p16-retained/BRAF V600E-negative lesions had low FISH-positive rates (5/37, 14%; 4/37, 11% not counting isolated MYB loss); all other marker combinations had high rates (56%-75% of cases; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: p16/BRAF V600E IHC predicts FISH results. "Low-risk" lesions (p16+ /BRAF V600E- ) uncommonly have meaningful FISH abnormalities (11%). PRAME may have limited utility in this setting.

Outcomes with Partial Breast Irradiation vs. Whole Breast Irradiation: a Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several randomized trials have been performed comparing partial breast irradiation (PBI) and whole breast irradiation (WBI) though controversy remains, including regarding differences by PBI technique. We performed a meta-analysis to compare results between WBI versus PBI and between PBI techniques. METHODS: A systematic review was performed to identify modern randomized studies listed in MEDLINE from 2005 to 2020. PBI trials were divided into external beam radiation and brachytherapy techniques, with intraoperative radiation excluded. A Bayesian logistic regression model evaluated the risk of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) and acute and chronic toxicities. The primary outcome was IBTR at 5 years with WBI compared with PBI. RESULTS: A total of 9758 patients from 7 studies were included (4840-WBI, 4918-PBI). At 5 years, no statistically significant difference in the rate of IBTR was noted between PBI (1.8%, 95% HPD 0.68-3.2%) and WBI (1.7%, 95% HPD 0.92-2.4%). By PBI technique, the 5-year rate of IBTR rate for external beam was 1.7% and 2.2% for brachytherapy. Rates of grade 2 + acute toxicity were 7.1% with PBI versus 47.5% with WBI. For late toxicities, grade 2/3 rates were 0%/0% with PBI compared with 1.0%/0% with WBI. CONCLUSIONS: IBTR rates were similar between PBI and WBI with no significant differences noted by PBI technique; PBI had reduced acute toxicities compared to WBI. Because studies did not provide toxicity data in a consistent fashion, definitive conclusions cannot be made with additional data from randomized trials needed to compare toxicity profiles between PBI techniques.

Impact of treatment modality on overall survival in women with advanced endometrial cancer: A National Cancer Database analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate overall survival (OS) in women with advanced endometrial cancer (EC) following chemotherapy alone (CT), neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval debulking surgery (NACT + IDS) or primary cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy (PCS + CT). METHODS: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for patients with stage III/IV EC from 2004 to 2015. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses assessed the impact of treatment modality upon OS. RESULTS: Of 48,179 women identified, 5531 received CT (11.5%), 2614 NACT + IDS (5.4%) and 40,034 PCS + CT (83.1%). Median OS was 11.1 months for CT, 25.1 months for NACT + IDS and 60.9 months for PCS + CT (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, NACT + IDS (HR 0.44 (0.40, 0.49); p < 0.001) and PCS + CT (HR 0.32 (0.30, 0.35); p < 0.001) were associated with improved OS vs. CT alone. Age, African American race, income, higher Charlson comorbidity index and grade were predictors of worse OS (p < 0.001). On subgroup analysis by stage (III/IV) and histology (Type I/II), PCS + CT improved OS for all patients, compared to NACT + IDS (p < 0.001) and CT (p < 0.001). NACT + IDS was associated with improved OS vs. CT in stage III type I (HR 0.50; 95% CI 0.38, 0.67; p < 0.001), stage IV type I (HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.35, 0.52; p < 0.001), and stage IV type II EC (HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.36, 0.51; p < 0.001), but not stage III type II EC (HR 0.76; 95% CI 0.56, 1.03; p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: In women with advanced EC, PCS + CT is associated with improved OS compared to NACT + IDS or CT alone, regardless of stage or histology. Additionally, NACT + IDS is associated with superior OS in stage III type I and all stage IV EC compared to CT alone. Where feasible, surgery should be incorporated into treatment planning in women with advanced EC.

Defining the Economic Burden of Perioperative Venous Thromboembolism in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Patients with IBD are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to define the economic burden associated with inpatient venous thromboembolism after surgery for IBD that presently remains undefined. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis using the National Inpatient Sample from 2004 to 2014. SETTING: Participating hospitals across the United States were sampled. PATIENTS: The International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes were used to identify patients with a primary diagnosis of IBD. INTERVENTIONS: Major abdominopelvic bowel surgery was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measured was the occurrence of inpatient venous thromboembolism. Univariate and multivariable patient- and hospital-level logistic regression models were used to compare patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, and outcomes between venous thromboembolism and non-venous thromboembolism cohorts. Total average direct costs were then compared between cohorts, and the resulting difference was extrapolated to the national population. RESULTS: Of 26,080 patients included, inpatient venous thromboembolism was identified in 581 (2.2%). On multivariable analysis, diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, transfer status, length of preoperative hospitalization, and insurance status were independently associated with inpatient venous thromboembolism. Patients with venous thromboembolism were observed to be associated with an increased median length of stay (17.6 vs 6.7 days; p < 0.001) and higher inpatient mortality (5.0% vs 1.1%; OR 4.7, SE 3.2-7.0; p < 0.001). After adjusting for clinically relevant covariates, the additional cost associated with each inpatient venous thromboembolism was $31,551 (95% CI, $29,136-$33,965). LIMITATIONS: Our study is limited by the administrative nature of the National Inpatient Sample database, which limits our ability to evaluate the impact of clinical covariates (eg, use of venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis, steroid use, and nutrition status). CONCLUSION: Inpatient venous thromboembolism in abdominopelvic surgery for IBD is an infrequent, yet costly, morbid complication. Given the magnitude of patient morbidity and economic burden, venous thromboembolism prevention should be a national quality improvement and research priority. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B544. DEFINICIN IMPACTO ECONMICO DE LA TROMBOEMBOLIA VENOSA PERIOPERATORIA EN LA ENFERMEDAD INFLAMATORIA INTESTINAL EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS: ANTECEDENTES:Pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) tienen un mayor riesgo de tromboembolismo venoso (TEV).OBJETIVO:Definir el impacto económico de TEV hospitalaria después de la cirugía por EII, que en la actualidad permanece indefinida.DISEÑO:Un análisis transversal retrospectivo utilizando la Muestra Nacional de Pacientes Internos (NIS) de 2004 a 2014.ENTORNO CLINICO:Hospitales participantes muestreados en los Estados Unidos.PACIENTES:Se utilizaron los códigos de la 9ª edición de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (ICD-9) para identificar a los pacientes con diagnóstico primario de EII.INTERVENCIONES:Cirugía mayor abdominopélvica intestinal.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE VALORACION:Incidencia de TEV en pacientes hospitalizados, utilizando modelos de regresión logística univariado y multivariable a nivel de pacientes y hospitales para comparar las características de los pacientes, las características del hospital y los resultados entre las cohortes de TEV y no TEV. Se compararon los costos directos promedio totales entre cohortes y la diferencia resultante extrapolando a la población nacional.RESULTADOS:De 26080 pacientes incluidos, se identificó TEV hospitalario en 581 (2,2%). En análisis multivariable, el diagnóstico de colitis ulcerosa, el estado de transferencia (entre centros hospitalarios), la duración de la hospitalización preoperatoria y el nivel de seguro medico se asociaron de forma independiente con la TEV hospitalaria. Se observó que los pacientes con TEV se asociaron con un aumento de la duración media de la estancia (17,6 versus a 6,7 días; p <0,001) y una mayor mortalidad hospitalaria (5,0% versus a 1,1%; OR 4,7, SE 3,2 -7,0; p <0,001). Después de ajustar las covariables clínicamente relevantes, el costo adicional asociado con cada TEV para pacientes hospitalizados fue de $ 31,551 USD (95% C.I. $ 29,136 - $ 33,965).LIMITACIONES:Estudio limitado por la naturaleza administrativa de la base de datos del NIS, que limita nuestra capacidad para evaluar el impacto de las covariables clínicas (por ejemplo, el uso de quimioprofilaxis de TEV, el uso de esteroides y el estado nutricional).CONCLUSIÓN:TEV hospitalaria en la cirugía abdominopélvica para la EII es una complicación mórbida infrecuente, pero costosa. Debido a la magnitud de la morbilidad el impacto económico, la prevención del TEV debería ser una prioridad de investigación y para mejoría de calidad a nivel nacional. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B544.

The Diminishing Impact of Margin Definitions and Width on Local Recurrence Rates following Breast-Conserving Therapy for Early-Stage Invasive Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal tumor-free margin definition and width following breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for early-stage invasive cancers has been evaluated in previous meta-analyses and guidelines. We performed an updated meta-analysis to assess how improvements in treatment over time have affected the impact of margins on local recurrence (LR) rates over time. METHODS: A systematic literature review identified 38 eligible studies comprising 54,502 patients treated between 1968 and 2010. Inclusion criteria included patients treated with BCT and minimum follow-up of 50 months, pathologic definitions of margin status explicitly stated, and LR data in relation to margin status. Data were pooled using a Bayesian logistic regression model to evaluate the risk of LR in relation to both margin status and study enrollment periods. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 7.25 years. Absolute LR rates decreased over time for each margin width cohort, with maximum differences between negative margin groups of less than 1% for the most recent enrollment period. However, relative rates of LR between different margin groups remained stable over time. CONCLUSIONS: With an additional 22,000 patients compared with the previous meta-analysis, this updated meta-analysis supports the consensus guideline of "no tumor on ink" for the majority of patients. Additionally, while concerns exist regarding a benefit with wider margins from previous studies, the analysis demonstrates the impact of margin width on LR rates has declined substantially over time, with very small differences between the narrowest and widest margin groups in the most recent cohort. Hence, older studies appear to have limited value to inform current management guidelines.

Individualised axitinib regimen for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma after treatment with checkpoint inhibitors: a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 study.

BACKGROUND: Checkpoint inhibitor therapy is a standard of care for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Treatment options after checkpoint inhibitor therapy include vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF-R) tyrosine kinase inhibitors, although no prospective data regarding their use in this setting exist. Axitinib is a VEGF-R inhibitor with clinical data supporting increased activity with dose titration. We aimed to investigate the activity of dose titrated axitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who were previously treated with checkpoint inhibitor. METHODS: We did a multicentre, phase 2 trial of axitinib given on an individualised dosing algorithm. Patients at least 18 years of age with histologically or cytologically confirmed locally recurrent or metastatic renal cell carcinoma with clear cell histology, a Karnofsky Performance Status of 70% or more, and measurable disease who received checkpoint inhibitor therapy as the most recent treatment were eligible. There was no limit on number of previous therapies received. Patients received oral axitinib at a starting dose of 5 mg twice daily with dose titration every 14 days in 1 mg increments (ie, 5 mg twice daily to 6 mg twice daily, up to 10 mg twice daily maximum dose) if there was no axitinib-related grade 2 or higher mucositis, diarrhoea, hand-foot syndrome, or fatigue. If one or more of these grade 2 adverse events occurred, axitinib was withheld for 3 days before the same dose was resumed. Dose reductions were made if recurrent grade 2 adverse events despite treatment breaks or grade 3-4 adverse events occurred. The primary outcome was progression-free survival. Analyses were done per protocol in all patients who received at least one dose of axitinib. Recruitment has been completed and the trial is ongoing. This trial is registered with ClincalTrials.gov, number NCT02579811. FINDINGS: Between Jan 5, 2016 and Feb 21, 2018, 40 patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of study treatment. With a median follow-up of 8·7 months (IQR 3·7-14·2), the median progression-free survival was 8·8 months (95% CI 5·7-16·6). Fatigue (83%) and hypertension (75%) were the most common all-grade adverse events. The most common grade 3 adverse event was hypertension (24 patients [60%]). There was one (3%) grade 4 adverse event (elevated lipase) and no treatment-related deaths occurred. Serious adverse events that were likely related to therapy occurred in eight (20%) patients; the most common were dehydration (n=4) and diarrhoea (n=2). INTERPRETATION: Individualised axitinib dosing in patients with metastatic renal cell inoma previously treated with checkpoint inhibitors did not meet the prespecified threshold for progression free survival, but these data show that this individualised titration scheme is feasible and has robust clinical activity. These prospective results warrant consideration of axitinib in this setting. FUNDING: Pfizer.

Real-world clinical outcomes and toxicity in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with palbociclib and endocrine therapy.

PURPOSE: Real-world data are critical to demonstrate the reproducibility of evidence and external generalizability of randomized clinical trials. Palbociclib is an oral small-molecule inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 that has been shown to improve progression-free survival (PFS) when combined with letrozole or fulvestrant in phase 3 clinical trials. We evaluated real-world outcomes in metastatic breast cancer patients who received palbociclib in combination with endocrine therapy in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Records of patients with advanced hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer treated with palbociclib at the Cleveland Clinic health system from February, 2015 to December, 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The primary end point was PFS. RESULTS: In this cohort, 411 women were included. The median age and follow-up times were 53.5 years and 10.2 months, respectively. The median PFS for palbociclib plus letrozole was 15.1 months for patients treated in first line, 10.5 months in second line, and 4.2 months in third line and beyond. For patients who received fulvestrant plus palbociclib, the median PFS in first, second, and third line and beyond were 11.6, 12.3, and 6.4 months, respectively. The most common adverse events were hematologic, with grade 3-4 neutropenia occurring in 58% of patients. Thirty-one (8%) patients permanently discontinued palbociclib due to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with HR-positive advanced breast cancer, the estimated PFS in patients treated with fulvestrant and palbociclib was comparable to a previously reported phase 3 trial. However, the median PFS with letrozole and palbociclib was shorter than previously reported data from phase 2 and 3 trials. Palbociclib toxicity was very manageable, with a low drug discontinuation rate.

Impact of comorbidities on outcomes of elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

International prognostic index (IPI) has remained the primary prognostic tool in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) for more than 20 years. Even though the disease is more common in older population, the impact of comorbidities, dose reductions, and treatment-related adverse events (TAEs) on the outcome in elderly DLBCL patients has not been well established. We studied 413 consecutive patients aged ≥ 60 years who were treated at the Cleveland Clinic. The median age at diagnosis was 69 years, 58% of patients had high IPI score, and 85% had low Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Forty percent of patients required dose reductions during treatment, 78% achieved CR, and 70% experienced at least one grade II-IV TAE. High IPI score, high CCI, reduced dose chemotherapy, TAE, and hospitalization were significant predictors of death and relapse. In multivariable analysis, high IPI and CCI were independent predictors of overall and progression free survival. A simple model combining IPI and CCI could reliably distinguish three prognostically separate risk groups. Our results suggest that incorporation of CCI in current prognostic models can improve prognostication of older DLBCL patients and CCI might be a valuable tool in evaluating the eligibility of older patients for clinical trial enrollment.

Is rituximab sub-optimally dosed in indolent B cell lymphoma?

Rituximab pharmacokinetics are affected by gender, age and weight and can affect outcomes in aggressive B cell lymphoma. Less is known about the pharmacokinetics of rituximab in indolent B cell lymphoma (iNHL). We analysed the effects of gender, age, weight and body surface area on the outcomes of 303 patients treated with first line rituximab-based regimens for iNHL. The patients were divided into 3 treatment cohorts: rituximab only, rituximab + chemotherapy (R-CTX) and R-CTX followed by rituximab maintenance; furthermore, each cohort was subdivided as follicular (FL) or non-FL, based on histology. Older males and patients with higher weight had worse outcomes when treated with R-CTX, probably due to faster rituximab clearance. Our results concur with studies of R-CTX for DLBCL. As this effect was not observed in patients treated with rituximab alone or R-CTX followed by rituximab maintenance, we hypothesize that higher rituximab levels reached with weekly rituximab and/or prolonged exposure achieved with maintenance therapy exceed the therapeutic threshold, even with faster clearance, which nullifies the negative effect of higher weight and male gender. In conclusion, under current practices, a subset of patients with iNHL, i.e., FL treated with R-CTX, may be sub-optimally dosed with rituximab.

Impact of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant in patients with myeloid neoplasms carrying spliceosomal mutations.

Molecular predictors of outcome are increasingly important in determining optimal therapy for myeloid neoplasms. Mutations in the spliceosomal genes (U2AF1 and SRSF2) predict for poor outcomes in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and related diseases. We investigated the effect of hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) on the negative prognostic impact of U2AF1 and SRSF2 mutations. In total, 122 patients with MDS (30%), acute myeloid leukemia (51%), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) (11%), and MDS/MPN (8%) receiving a HCT from 2003 to 2012 were evaluated for mutations in U2AF1 and SRSF2 by direct sequencing. Median time of follow up was 24 months (range 0.46-110). SRSF2 mutations were detected in 11 (10%) patients and U2AF1 in 3 (3%) patients. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between mutated and wild-type (WT) patients. Patients carrying SRSF2 and U2AF1 mutations had similar overall survival (P = 0.84), relapse mortality (P = 0.50), and non-relapse mortality (P = 0.72) compared to WT patients. However, taking into account disease status and cytogenetics in a subset of AML patients, SRSF2 and U2AF1 mutations were associated with worse survival (HR 3.71, P = 0.035).

Meta-Analysis of 5-Fraction Preoperative Radiotherapy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: Studies investigating preoperative 5-fraction radiation therapy (RT) for soft tissue sarcoma (STS) are limited. We performed a meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of this treatment paradigm. METHODS: This study-level meta-analysis was conducted using Bayesian methods. Statistical estimation for risk of outcome rates was conducted by posterior mean and 95% highest posterior density (HPD) intervals. Studies with 2-year local control (LC) and description of major wound complications (MWC) per the CAN-NCIC-SR2 study were included and served as the primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints included rates of acute and late toxicity. A total of 10 studies were identified and 7 met the inclusion criteria. Subgroup analyses were performed for ≥30 Gy vs <30 Gy. RESULTS: A total of 209 patients from 7 studies were included. Five studies used ≥30 Gy (n=144), and 2 studies <30 Gy (n=64). Median follow-up was 29 months (range: 21 to 57 mo). Primary tumor location was lower extremity in 68% and upper extremity in 22%. Most tumors were intermediate or high grade (95%, 160/169), and 50% (79/158) were >10 cm. The two-year LC for the entire cohort was 96.9%, and the rate of MWC was 30.6%. There was a trend toward improved LC with ≥ 30 Gy (95% HPD: 0.95 to 0.99 vs 0.84 to 0.99). There was no difference in MWC (95% HPD: 0.18 to 0.42 vs 0.17 to 0.55) or late toxicity between the groups. CONCLUSION: Preoperative 5-fraction RT for STS demonstrates excellent 2-year LC with MWC and toxicity similar to standard fractionation preoperative RT. Multi-institutional trials with a universal RT protocol are warranted.

Impact of Frailty on Outcomes after Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

The literature is limited regarding outcomes in older adults and frail patients receiving BCMA-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T) for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Here we describe the safety and efficacy of CAR-T in these clinically important subgroups treated in a real-world setting. Frailty was defined as a frail score ≥2 using the simplified frailty index (score based on age + Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] Performance Status + Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Comorbidity Index [HCT-CI]). Of the 136 patients analyzed (age range, 41 to 81 years), 83 (61%) were considered frail at the time of CAR-T infusion. Compared to the nonfrail group, the frail group had higher proportions of patients with renal insufficiency (18% versus 6%), high-risk cytogenetics (45% versus 35%), extramedullary disease (51% versus 43%), and ECOG Performance Status ≥2 (18% versus 2%), and worse HCT-CI (3 versus 1). Although patients in the frail group had a higher incidence of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) (39% versus 17%), the incidences of all- grade cytokine release syndrome (CRS), as well as high-grade CRS and ICANS, were similar in the 2 groups. With a median follow-up of 7 months, the median progression-free survival was 6.9 months in the frail group versus 11.1 months in the nonfrail group (P = .028). The median overall survival was 14 months in the frail group and was not reached in the nonfrail group (P = .025). This study highlights the tolerable safety and reasonable efficacy of CAR-T for frail myeloma patients in a real-world practice. Although the frail patients did not experience any excessive high-grade toxicities, they did have inferior efficacy outcomes.

Navigating The 2022 International Consensus and World Health Organization Classifications of Hematopathology: A Call for Unified Diagnostic Language.

CONTEXT.­: In 2022, 2 distinct guidelines for the diagnosis of myeloid neoplasms became available: the 5th edition of the World Health Organization guideline (WHO2022) solely and the International Consensus Classification (ICC). Despite major overlap, there are important differences that can have important implications. OBJECTIVE.­: To explore the current opinions and diagnostic practices of hemato-oncologists and hematopathologists across the United States. DESIGN.­: An online anonymous survey was created using REDCap, and a secure link was shared via email to fellowship program leaderships and via posts on social media. RESULTS.­: A total of 310 responses were obtained. Only 33 of 309 respondents (10.7%) reported using solely the 2016 World Health Organization guideline to make diagnoses, whereas 167 of 309 (54%) supplemented it with other guidelines. The rest were either not sure (17; 5.5%), used WHO2022 solely (46; 14.9%), or used ICC solely (6; 1.9%). The choice of guideline was not related to region (P = .15), practice setting (P = .86), or hospital size (P = .22). More than 90% reported it is a source of confusion in clinical diagnosis, management, trial design, and other areas. CONCLUSIONS.­: Overall, our study found that having 2 distinct guidelines could be a source of confusion for physicians and calls for a unified diagnostic language.

Safety and Efficacy of Teclistamab in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: A Real-World Experience.

Teclistamab is a B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed bispecific antibody approved for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) on the basis of the phase I/II MajesTEC-1 trial. Here we report clinical outcomes with standard-of-care teclistamab in a real-world RRMM population. A total of 106 patients from 5 academic centers who received teclistamab from August 2022 to August 2023 were included in this retrospective analysis, 83% of whom would have been considered ineligible for the MajesTEC-1 trial. All patients were triple-class exposed, 64% were penta-class refractory, and 53% had received prior BCMA-directed therapy. Cytokine release syndrome was observed in 64% of patients, and only 1 event was grade ≥3, whereas immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome was observed in 14% of patients (3 events were grade 3 or 4). One-third (31%) of patients experienced at least 1 infection, with nearly half of these infections graded as severe (grade ≥3). The overall response rate (ORR) was 66%, and the complete or better response rate was 29%. The ORR was 47% for patients with extramedullary disease (EMD), 59% for patients with prior BCMA-directed therapy exposure, and 68% for patients with penta-refractory disease. At a median follow-up of 3.8 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.4 months (95% CI, 3.4 months to not reached), while median overall survival was not reached. Patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≥2, EMD, and age ≤70 years had inferior PFS on multivariable analysis. Our study demonstrates reasonable safety and good efficacy of teclistamab in patients with RRMM treated in a real-world setting.

Readmission Rates Following Major Head and Neck Surgery With Concurrent Tracheostomy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the influence of major head and neck procedures on readmission and complication rates following tracheostomy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using the 2005 to 2017 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify tracheostomy patients and to define the underlying head and neck procedure. Patients under the age of 18 and with unknown pre-operative variables were excluded. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 3240 tracheostomy patients undergoing major head and neck surgery were identified in NSQIP. The 30-day mortality rate was 104 (3.2%) and 258 (9.0%) patients were readmitted. 637 (19.7%) patients had an unplanned return to the operating room. There were 1606 (49.6%) non-tracheostomy specific complications, which included 850 (26.2%) medical and 1142 (35.2%) surgical complications. On multivariable analysis, we found that the underlying procedures did not impact the risk of readmission (P > .05 for all). The underlying procedure was also not associated with unplanned return to the operating room except for thyroidectomies, which had a lower risk than free tissue graft reconstruction (OR = 0.53 (95%CI 0.31, 0.88), P = .018). CONCLUSION: While almost 1 in every 2 patients had a complication following major head and neck surgery that included creation of a tracheostomy, the rate of readmission is comparatively low and is not associated with the underlying procedure. These findings should reassure head and neck surgeons that properly managed tracheostomies do not constitute a disproportionate risk of readmission.

First- versus Third-Generation EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases.

Introduction: Up to 50% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harbor EGFR alterations, the most common etiology behind brain metastases (BMs). First-generation EGFR-directed tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) are limited by blood-brain barrier penetration and T790M tumor mutations, wherein third-generation EGFR-TKIs, like Osimertinib, have shown greater activity. However, their efficacy has not been well-studied in later therapy lines in NSCLC patients with BMs (NSCLC-BM). We sought to compare outcomes of NSCLC-BM treated with either first- or third-generation EGFR-TKIs in first-line and 2nd-to-5th-line settings. Methods: A retrospective review of NSCLC-BM patients diagnosed during 2010-2019 at Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, US, a quaternary-care center, was performed and reported following 'strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology' (STROBE) guidelines. Data regarding socio-demographic, histopathological, molecular characteristics, and clinical outcomes were collected. Primary outcomes were median overall survival (mOS) and progression-free survival (mPFS). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling and propensity score matching were utilized to adjust for confounders. Results: 239 NSCLC-BM patients with EGFR alterations were identified, of which 107 received EGFR-TKIs after diagnosis of BMs. 77.6% (83/107) received it as first-line treatment, and 30.8% (33/107) received it in later (2nd-5th) lines of therapy, with nine patients receiving it in both settings. 64 of 107 patients received first-generation (erlotinib/gefitinib) TKIs, with 53 receiving them in the first line setting and 13 receiving it in the 2nd-5th lines of therapy. 50 patients received Osimertinib as third-generation EGFR-TKI, 30 in first-line, and 20 in the 2nd-5th lines of therapy. Univariable analysis in first-line therapy demonstrated mOS of first- and third-generation EGFR-TKIs as 18.2 and 19.4 months, respectively (p = 0.57), while unadjusted mPFS of first- and third-generation EGFR-TKIs was 9.3 and 13.8 months, respectively (p = 0.14). In 2nd-5th line therapy, for first- and third-generation EGFR-TKIs, mOS was 17.3 and 11.9 months, (p = 0.19), while mPFS was 10.4 and 6.08 months, respectively (p = 0.41). After adjusting for age, performance status, presence of extracranial metastases, whole-brain radiotherapy, and presence of leptomeningeal metastases, hazard ratio (HR) for OS was 1.25 (95% CI 0.63-2.49, p = 0.52) for first-line therapy. Adjusted HR for mOS in 2nd-to-5th line therapy was 1.60 (95% CI 0.55-4.69, p = 0.39). Conclusions: No difference in survival was detected between first- and third-generation EGFR-TKIs in either first or 2nd-to-5th lines of therapy. Larger prospective studies are warranted reporting intracranial lesion size, EGFR alteration and expression levels in primary tumor and brain metastases, and response rates.

Combination of EGFR-Directed Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) with Radiotherapy in Brain Metastases from Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A 2010-2019 Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Traditionally, brain metastases have been treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), whole-brain radiation (WBRT), and/or surgical resection. Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), over half of which carry EGFR mutations, are the leading cause of brain metastases. EGFR-directed tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have shown promise in NSCLC; but their utility in NSCLC brain metastases (NSCLCBM) remains unclear. This work sought to investigate whether combining EGFR-TKI with WBRT and/or SRS improves overall survival (OS) in NSCLCBM. METHODS: A retrospective review of NSCLCBM patients diagnosed during 2010-2019 at a tertiary-care US center was performed and reported following the 'strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology' (STROBE) guidelines. Data regarding socio-demographic and histopathological characteristics, molecular attributes, treatment strategies, and clinical outcomes were collected. Concurrent therapy was defined as the combination of EGFR-TKI and radiotherapy given within 28 days of each other. RESULTS: A total of 239 patients with EGFR mutations were included. Of these, 32 patients had been treated with WBRT only, 51 patients received SRS only, 36 patients received SRS and WBRT only, 18 were given EGFR-TKI and SRS, and 29 were given EGFR-TKI and WBRT. Median OS for the WBRT-only group was 3.23 months, for SRS + WBRT it was 3.17 months, for EGFR-TKI + WBRT 15.50 months, for SRS only 21.73 months, and for EGFR-TKI + SRS 23.63 months. Multivariable analysis demonstrated significantly higher OS in the SRS-only group (HR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.17-0.84, p = 0.017) compared to the WBRT reference group. There were no significant differences in overall survival for the SRS + WBRT combination cohort (HR = 1.30, 95% CI = 0.60, 2.82, p = 0.50), EGFR-TKIs and WBRT combination cohort (HR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.41, 2.08, p = 0.85), or the EGFR-TKI + SRS cohort (HR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.20, 1.09, p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: NSCLCBM patients treated with SRS had a significantly higher OS compared to patients treated with WBRT-only. While sample-size limitations and investigator-associated selection bias may limit the generalizability of these results, phase II/III clinicals trials are warranted to investigate synergistic efficacy of EGFR-TKI and SRS.

3-(4-Chloro-benzo-yl)-6-(4-chloro-phen-yl)-2,4-dimethyl-benzonitrile.

In the title compound, C(22)H(15)Cl(2)NO, the terminal chloro-benzene rings are oriented at 44.51 (15) and 86.06 (17)° with respect to the central polysubstituted benzene ring, and make a dihedral angle of 49.48 (17)°with each other. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯O and C-H⋯N inter-actions.

Association between hypertension requiring medication and 30-day outcomes in head and neck microvascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension has been shown to be both a protective factor and a risk factor for complications in head and neck reconstructive surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of microvascular free tissue transfer patients using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. RESULTS: Hypertensive patients (n = 1598; 46.9%) had a significantly higher rate of complications, including pneumonia (p < 0.001), myocardial infarction (p = 0.003), and intra/post-operative transfusion (p < 0.001). In a multivariable model, hypertension was associated with returning to the operating room (OR = 1.45 [95% CI 1.20, 1.76], p < 0.001), post-operative medical complications (OR = 1.53 [95% CI 1.24, 1.90], p < 0.001), and surgical complications (OR = 1.17 [95% CI 1.00, 1.37], p = 0.047). However, no difference in 30-day readmission was found (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension is a modifiable risk factor for post-operative complications in head and neck free tissue transfer, in which prospective studies are required to establish causation. This study may serve as an impetus for proactive recommendations to manage hypertension before undergoing head and neck microvascular surgery.