Prognostic awareness and willingness to explore prognosis in older adults with cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Prognostic awareness varies widely among older adults with cancer. Accurate prognostic awareness helps to ensure delivery of care that is aligned with the patient's goals. Understanding factors associated with poor prognostic awareness in older adults with cancer may help identify which patients may need interventions to improve prognostic awareness. In this study, we assessed factors associated with poor prognostic awareness in older adults with cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of older patients with cancer referred to a geriatric oncology clinic at the University of Rochester. We provided paper questionnaires for patients to complete prior to their clinic assessment. Questionnaires asked patients to estimate their overall life expectancy and the life expectancy of a person of the same age with normal health. Prognostic awareness was considered poor if patients estimated living at least as long as a person of the same age with normal health. We assessed independent demographic and clinical variables (age, sex, race, income, religion, living situation, education, marital status, and cancer type and stage), aging-related factors (comorbidities, cognition, depression, social support, nutritional status, and physical function), and willingness to discuss prognosis. Factors significant at p ≤ 0.15 on bivariate analyses were included in the multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: We included 257 patients; the mean age was 80 years (standard deviation [SD] 6.8, range 55-97), 37% were female, 71% were White, and 44% were married. Nearly two-thirds of patients (62%) had poor prognostic awareness: 7% estimated they would live longer than and 55% estimated they would live as long as a person of the same age with normal health. Half (49%) were willing to discuss prognosis, 29% were not, and 22% did not answer. On multivariable analysis, factors associated with poor prognostic awareness were older age [one-year increase; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.12], race other than White (AOR 2.35, 95% CI 1.09-5.06), unwillingness to discuss prognosis (AOR 3.33, 95% CI 1.54-7.18), and stage I-III cancer (vs. stage IV, AOR 3.83, 95% CI 1.8-8.17). DISCUSSION: In a cohort of older patients with cancer, approximately two-thirds had poor prognostic awareness. Older age, race other than White, stage I-III cancer, and unwillingness to discuss prognosis were associated with higher odds of poor prognostic awareness. Interventions aiming to improve patients' prognostic awareness may need to gauge patients' willingness to discuss prognosis.

Geriatric Oncology: A 5-Year Strategic Plan.

The increasing rate of the older adult population across the world over the next 20 years along with significant developments in the treatment of oncology will require a more granular understanding of the older adult population with cancer. The ASCO Geriatric Oncology Community of Practice (COP) herein provides an outline for the field along three fundamental pillars: education, research, and implementation, inspired by ASCO's 5-Year Strategic Plan. Fundamental to improving the understanding of geriatric oncology is research that intentionally includes older adults with clinically meaningful data supported by grants across all career stages. The increased knowledge base that is developed should be conveyed among health care providers through core competencies for trainees and continuing education for practicing oncologists. ASCO's infrastructure can serve as a resource for fellowship programs interested in acquiring geriatric oncology content and provide recommendations on developing training pathways for fellows interested in pursuing formalized training in geriatrics. Incorporating geriatric oncology into everyday practice is challenging as each clinical setting has unique operational workflows with barriers that limit implementation of valuable geriatric tools such as Geriatric Assessment. Partnerships among experts in quality improvement from the ASCO Geriatric Oncology COP, the Cancer and Aging Research Group, and ASCO's Quality Training Program can provide one such venue for implementation of geriatric oncology through a structured support mechanism. The field of geriatric oncology must continue to find innovative strategies using existing resources and partnerships to address the pressing needs of the older adult population with cancer to improve patient outcomes.

Validation of algorithms to select patients with multiple myeloma and patients initiating myeloma treatment in the national Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate and compare the performance of multiple myeloma (MM) selection algorithms for use in Veterans Affairs (VA) research. METHODS: Using the VA Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW), the VA Cancer Registry (VACR), and VA pharmacy data, we randomly selected 500 patients from 01/01/1999 to 06/01/2021 who had (1) either one MM diagnostic code OR were listed in the VACR as having MM AND (2) at least one MM treatment code. A team reviewed oncology notes for each veteran to annotate details regarding MM diagnosis and initial treatment within VA. We evaluated inter-annotator agreement and compared the performance of four published algorithms (two developed and validated external to VA data and two used in VA data). RESULTS: A total of 859 patients were reviewed to obtain 500 patients who were annotated as having MM and initiating MM treatment in VA. Agreement was high among annotators for all variables: MM diagnosis (98.3% agreement, Kappa = 0.93); initial treatment in VA (91.8% agreement; Kappa = 0.77); and initial treatment classification (87.6% agreement; Kappa = 0.86). VA Algorithms were more specific and had higher PPVs than non-VA algorithms for both MM diagnosis and initial treatment in VA. We developed the "VA Recommended Algorithm," which had the highest PPV among all algorithms in identifying patients diagnosed with MM (PPV = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.95-0.99) and in identifying patients who initiated their MM treatment in VA (PPV = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.90-0.96). CONCLUSION: Our VA Recommended Algorithm optimizes sensitivity and PPV for cohort selection and treatment classification.

A Systematic Review of Decision Aids in Hematologic Malignancies: What Are Currently Available and What Are We Missing?

BACKGROUND: Patient decision aids (PDAs) are tools designed to facilitate decision-making. In this systematic review, we summarized existing studies on the development and evaluation of PDAs for patients with hematologic malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched for articles in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov. We included studies, abstracts, and clinical trial protocols available in English involving PDAs for patients age ≥18 diagnosed with a hematologic malignancy and/or their caregivers. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Of the 5281 titles/abstracts screened, 15 were included: 1 protocol, 7 abstracts, and 7 full-texts. Six were PDA developmental studies, 6 were pilot studies, and 3 were randomized trials. PDA formats included electronic with web content, videos, and/or audio, questionnaires, bedside instruments, and a combination of various formats. Average participant age ranged from 36.0 to 62.4 years. Patients and caregivers identified efficacy, adverse effects, cost, and quality of life as important decision-making factors. PDAs were associated with increased knowledge and patient satisfaction as well as decreased decisional conflict and attitudinal barriers. Research on PDAs for adult patients with hematologic malignancies and their caregivers is limited. Among the studies, PDAs appear to support patients in shared decision-making. CONCLUSION: While current literature examining the use of PDAs for adults with hematologic malignancies is limited, the positive impact of PDAs on shared decision-making and patient outcomes warrants additional research in this field.

Older patients' experiences following initial diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia: A qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: The onset of symptoms and the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) often occur suddenly and may lead to a range of emotional responses. Understanding patients' experiences and emotional states allows clinicians to tailor care to patients' needs. Previous studies have largely focused on patients' experiences at diagnosis and after remission has been achieved among those who received intensive chemotherapy. In this study, we evaluated experiences of older patients with AML who had received or were receiving treatments of varying intensity, in both outpatient and inpatient settings, and who were at different stages in their treatment course at the time of our interviews. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a single center qualitative study which aimed to understand factors influencing older patients' treatment decision-making and the findings were previously reported. This analysis specifically explored older patients' experiences at various stages after AML diagnosis. We purposively sampled patients based on treatment intensity and stage of treatment (undergoing induction treatment, post-remission treatment, or post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant). We recruited fifteen patients aged ≥60 years with AML. The sample size was determined based on reaching data saturation for the primary study aim. For this analysis, data saturation was reached by the fourteenth manuscript. In-depth semi-structured interviews that had been recorded and transcribed were re-analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to explore patients' experiences. Coding was performed using Atlas.ti. We identified themes with the aim of capturing the most commonly shared experiences. RESULTS: Mean age of the fifteen patients was 72.1 years; all had received one or more treatments including intensive induction therapy (10/15), lower-intensity treatment (7/15), and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (3/15). Patients experienced strong negative emotional responses, including shock, that were barriers to processing information and meaningful communication. Patients also shared their perspectives on communication with healthcare professionals (including thoughts on adequacy of information provided) and coping strategies. DISCUSSION: Understanding older patients' experiences, including emotional responses and barriers to communication and decision making, at AML diagnosis and throughout the illness trajectory allows clinicians to address patients' supportive care needs during this difficult period.

The Evolution of Geriatric Oncology and Geriatric Assessment over the Past Decade.

Cancer is predominantly a disease of aging, and older adults represent the majority of cancer diagnoses and deaths. Older adults with cancer differ significantly from younger patients, leading to important distinctions in cancer treatment planning and decision-making. As a consequence, the field of geriatric oncology has blossomed and evolved over recent decades, as the need to bring personalized cancer care to older adults has been increasingly recognized and a focus of study. The geriatric assessment (GA) has become the cornerstone of geriatric oncology research, and the past year has yielded promising results regarding the implementation of GA into routine cancer treatment decisions and outcomes for older adults. In this article, we provide an overview of the field of geriatric oncology and highlight recent breakthroughs with the use of GA in cancer care. Further work is needed to continue to provide personalized, evidence-based care for each older adult with cancer.

Update on the Contemporary Treatment of Light Chain Amyloidosis Including Stem Cell Transplantation.

The management of immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis is complex. Emerging data have shown promising results for several novel agents. We review the management of AL amyloidosis, including factors that determine transplant eligibility, treatment options for transplant-ineligible patients, and treatment options for relapsed/refractory AL amyloidosis. For carefully selected patients, high-dose melphalan and stem cell transplantation is recommended. Transplant eligibility criteria generally include biopsy-proven amyloidosis, evidence of a plasma cell dyscrasia, involvement of at least one major organ, and adequate performance status. For transplant-ineligible patients, bortezomib-based regimens are recommended, including: 1) bortezomib, oral melphalan, and dexamethasone (BMDex); 2) bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (CyBorD or VCd); and 3) subcutaneous daratumumab (DARA SC) and VCd. The latter option is based on a landmark trial that led to the first US Food and Drug Administration-approved therapy for AL amyloidosis. For relapsed/refractory disease, novel therapeutics including proteosome inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, and monoclonal antibodies have shown promising results. In this review, we summarize data for various therapeutics in different clinical scenarios of AL amyloidosis.

Treatment decision-making in acute myeloid leukemia: a qualitative study of older adults and community oncologists.

Little is known about the characteristics of patients, physicians, and organizations that influence treatment decisions in older patients with AML. We conducted qualitative interviews with community oncologists and older patients with AML to elicit factors that influence their treatment decision-making. Recruitment was done via purposive sampling and continued until theoretical saturation was reached, resulting in the inclusion of 15 patients and 15 oncologists. Participants' responses were analyzed using directed content analysis. Oncologists and patients considered comorbidities, functional status, emotional health, cognition, and social factors when deciding treatment; most oncologists evaluated these using clinical gestalt. Sixty-seven percent of patients perceived that treatment was their only option and that they had not been offered a choice. In conclusion, treatment decision-making is complex and influenced by patient-related factors. These factors can be assessed as part of a geriatric assessment which can help oncologists better determine fitness and guide treatment decision-making.

Management of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Older Patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment landscape has rapidly evolved over the past few years. These changes have several implications for the care of older adults (≥ 60 years), who have inferior clinical outcomes. We review decision-making in older adults, focusing on patient- and disease-related factors. We then summarize current treatment options, including multiple recently approved therapies, based on hypothetical clinical scenarios. RECENT FINDINGS: In lieu of using chronological age to determine fitness, we highlight the importance of standardized fitness assessments using geriatric assessments. Next, we review intensive and lower-intensity treatment options in the upfront setting. We focus on multiple newly approved medications, including venetoclax, midostaurin, CPX-351, gemtuzumab, glasdegib, enasidenib, and ivosidenib, and their specific indications. Lastly, we briefly discuss supportive care of older adults with AML. Outcomes of older adults with AML remain poor; fortunately, there are many new promising treatment options. Personalized treatment plans based on patient- and disease-specific factors are essential to the care of older adults with AML.

Embracing the complexity: Older adults with cancer-related cognitive decline-A Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology position paper.

Cancer-related cognitive decline (CRCD) may have particularly significant consequences for older adults, impacting their functional and physical abilities, level of independence, ability to make decisions, treatment adherence, overall quality of life, and ultimately survival. In honor of Dr. Hurria's work we explore and examine multiple types of screening, assessment and non-pharmacologic treatments for CRCD. We then suggest future research and clinical practice questions to holistically appreciate the complexity of older adults with cancer's experiences and fully integrate the team-based approach to best serve this population.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Treatment of Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: a Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology Review Paper.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The treatment landscape for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is evolving. Many treatments have comparable efficacy making their impact on quality of life (QoL) an important differentiating factor. In this review, we discuss QoL in older adults with AML, focusing on therapeutic and observational trials that have incorporated QoL assessments. RECENT FINDINGS: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multi-dimensional concept incorporating physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning domains. HRQoL components overlap with components of geriatric assessment, a multidisciplinary diagnostic process that identifies underlying vulnerabilities of older adults and guides subsequent management strategies. HRQoL questionnaires may be general, cancer-specific, leukemia-specific, or symptom-focused. Therapeutic and observational cohort studies suggest HRQoL improves, or at least remains stable, during intensive and lower-intensity therapies. Nonetheless, HRQoL is not routinely incorporated in AML therapeutic trials. HRQoL assessments can inform both decision-making and management for older adults with AML.

Use of Inpatient Palliative Care Services in Patients With Advanced Cancer Receiving Critical Care Therapies.

Background: Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), dialysis for acute kidney failure, and other critical care therapies (CCTs) are associated with a high risk for complications in patients with metastatic cancer. Inpatient palliative care (IPC) can assist in assessing patients' preferences for life-prolonging treatment at the end of life. This study investigated the use pattern of IPC, outcomes (in-hospital mortality, length of stay [LOS], discharge destination, and cost of care), and predictors of IPC use in patients with metastatic cancer who received CCTs. We hypothesized that IPC services are underused in this cohort. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we used the 2010 California State Inpatient Databases to identify adults with metastatic cancer who received CCTs that are common and reliably coded (IMV, tracheostomy, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube, dialysis for acute kidney failure, and total parenteral nutrition). We determined IPC use in all patients, in those who received IMV, and across 4 cancer subtypes (lung, breast, colorectal, and genitourinary). Outcomes were assessed based on IPC use. Multivariable analyses were used to investigate factors associated with IPC use. Results: We identified 5,862 hospitalizations, 19.8% of which used IPC services. IPC use varied across cancer subtypes (lung, 28.3%; breast, 22.4%; colorectal, 12.8%; genitourinary, 16.1%; P<.01). Patients who received and did not receive IPC services had high in-hospital mortality rates (63.9% and 29.8%, respectively), and costs of care and LOS were lower in survivors who received IPC compared with those who did not. Predictors of IPC use were lung cancer (vs colorectal or genitourinary cancer), higher comorbidity score, do-not-resuscitate status on admission or within 24 hours of admission, infections (vs cancer-related diagnoses), and higher hospital bed count. Conclusions: Use of IPC was low in the cohort who received CCTs with poor outcomes, although data on outpatient palliative care services is lacking. Predictors of IPC use may be used to identify patients who may benefit from these services.