Clonal Hematopoiesis and Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Multiple Myeloma Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplant.

Importance: There is a paucity of information on the association between clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with cancer, including those with multiple myeloma (MM) undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT), a population at high risk of developing CVD after HCT. Objective: To examine the association between CHIP and CVD in patients with MM and to describe modifiers of CVD risk among those with CHIP. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with MM who underwent HCT between 2010 and 2016 at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, California, and had pre-HCT mobilized peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) products cryopreserved and accessible for CHIP analyses. The study team performed targeted panel DNA sequencing to detect the presence of CHIP (variant allele frequency 2% or more). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was the 5-year cumulative incidence and risk for developing de novo CVD (heart failure, coronary artery disease, or stroke) after HCT. Results: Of 1036 consecutive patients with MM (580 male [56%]; median age, 60.0 years) who underwent a first autologous HCT, 201 patients had at least 1 CHIP variant (19.4%) and 35 patients had 2 or more variants (3.4%). The 5-year incidence of CVD was significantly higher in patients with CHIP (21.1% vs 8.4%; P < .001) compared with those without CHIP; the 5-year incidence among those with 2 or more variants was 25.6%. In the multivariable model, CHIP was associated with increased risk of CVD (hazard ratio [HR], 2.72; 95% CI, 1.70-4.39), as well as of individual outcomes of interest, including heart failure (HR, 4.02; 95% CI, 2.32-6.98), coronary artery disease (HR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.06-4.63), and stroke (HR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.07-8.52). Patients who had both CHIP and preexisting hypertension or dyslipidemia were at nearly 7-fold and 4-fold increased risk of CVD, respectively (reference: no CHIP, no hypertension, or dyslipidemia). Conclusion and Relevance: CHIP was significantly and independently associated with risk of CVD in patients with MM undergoing HCT and may serve as a novel biologically plausible biomarker for CVD in this cohort. Patients with MM and both CHIP and cardiovascular risk factors had an exceptionally high risk of CVD. Additional studies are warranted to determine if cardiovascular preventive measures can reduce CHIP-associated CVD risk.

Cardiovascular toxicities with pediatric tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy: An analysis of adverse events reported to the Food and Drug Administration.

We sought to examine cardiovascular toxicities associated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in pediatrics. We examined 1624 pediatric adverse events with imatinib, dasatinib, sorafenib, pazopanib, crizotinib, and ruxolitinib reported to the Food and Drug Administration between January 1, 2015, and August 14, 2020. There were 102 cardiovascular event reports. Hypertension was the most commonly reported cardiovascular event and was most frequently associated with sorafenib and pazopanib. The presence of infection increased the reporting odds of cardiovascular events overall and specifically cardiac arrest, heart failure, and hypertension. These data provide early insight into cardiovascular toxicities with tyrosine kinase inhibitor use in pediatrics.

Exercise training and NR supplementation to improve muscle mass and fitness in adolescent and young adult hematopoietic cell transplant survivors: a randomized controlled trial {1}.

BACKGROUND: Advances in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) have led to marked improvements in survival. However, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) who undergo HCT are at high risk of developing sarcopenia (loss of skeletal muscle mass) due to the impact of HCT-related exposures on the developing musculoskeletal system. HCT survivors who have sarcopenia also have excess lifetime risk of non-relapse mortality. Therefore, interventions that increase skeletal muscle mass, metabolism, strength, and function are needed to improve health in AYA HCT survivors. Skeletal muscle is highly reliant on mitochondrial energy production, as reflected by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) capacity. Exercise is one approach to target skeletal muscle mitochondrial OXPHOS, and in turn improve muscle function and strength. Another approach is to use "exercise enhancers", such as nicotinamide riboside (NR), a safe and well-tolerated precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a cofactor that in turn impacts muscle energy production. Interventions combining exercise with exercise enhancers like NR hold promise, but have not yet been rigorously tested in AYA HCT survivors. METHODS/DESIGN: We will perform a randomized controlled trial testing 16 weeks of in-home aerobic and resistance exercise and NR in AYA HCT survivors, with a primary outcome of muscle strength via dynamometry and a key secondary outcome of cardiovascular fitness via cardiopulmonary exercise testing. We will also test the effects of these interventions on i) muscle mass via dual energy x-ray absorptiometry; ii) muscle mitochondrial OXPHOS via an innovative non-invasive MRI-based technique, and iii) circulating correlates of NAD+ metabolism via metabolomics. Eighty AYAs (ages 15-30y) will be recruited 6-24 months post-HCT and randomized to 1 of 4 arms: exercise + NR, exercise alone, NR alone, or control. Outcomes will be collected at baseline and after the 16-week intervention. DISCUSSION: We expect that exercise with NR will produce larger changes than exercise alone in key outcomes, and that changes will be mediated by increases in muscle OXPHOS. We will apply the insights gained from this trial to develop individualized, evidence-supported precision initiatives that will reduce chronic disease burden in high-risk cancer survivors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05194397. Registered January 18, 2022, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05194397 {2a}.

Immunogenicity and safety of the human papillomavirus vaccine in young survivors of cancer in the USA: a single-arm, open-label, phase 2, non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Young survivors of cancer are at increased risk for cancers that are related to human papillomavirus (HPV), primarily caused by oncogenic HPV types 16 and 18. We aimed to examine the immunogenicity and safety of the three-dose series of HPV vaccine in young survivors of cancer. METHODS: We conducted an investigator-initiated, phase 2, single-arm, open-label, non-inferiority trial at five National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centres in the USA. Eligible participants were survivors of cancer who were HPV vaccine-naive, were aged 9-26 years, in remission, and had completed cancer therapy between 1 and 5 years previously. Participants received three intramuscular doses of either quadrivalent HPV vaccine (HPV4; enrolments on or before March 1, 2016) or nonavalent HPV vaccine (HPV9; enrolments after March 1, 2016) over 6 months (on day 1, at month 2, and at month 6). We also obtained data from published clinical trials assessing safety and immunogenicity of HPV4 and HPV9 in 9-26-year-olds from the general population, as a comparator group. The primary endpoint was antibody response against HPV types 16 and 18 at month 7 in the per-protocol population. A response was deemed non-inferior if the lower bound of the multiplicity-adjusted 95% CI was greater than 0·5 for the ratio of anti-HPV-16 and anti-HPV-18 geometric mean titres (GMTs) in survivors of cancer versus the general population. Responses were examined separately in male and female participants by age group (ie, 9-15 years and 16-26 years). Safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one vaccine dose and for whom safety data were available. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01492582. This trial is now completed. FINDINGS: Between Feb 18, 2013, and June 22, 2018, we enrolled 453 survivors of cancer, of whom 436 received one or more vaccine doses: 203 (47%) participants had survived leukaemia, 185 (42%) were female, and 280 (64%) were non-Hispanic white. Mean age at first dose was 15·6 years (SD 4·6). 378 (83%) of 453 participants had evaluable immunogenicity data; main reasons for exclusion from per-protocol analysis were to loss to follow-up, patient reasons, and medical reasons. Data were also obtained from 26 486 general population controls. The ratio of mean GMT for anti-HPV types 16 and 18 in survivors of cancer versus the general population was more than 1 for all subgroups (ie, aged 9-15 years, aged 16-26 years, male, and female groups) in both vaccine cohorts (ranging from 1·64 [95% CI 1·12-2·18] for anti-HPV type 16 in female participants aged 9-15 years who received HPV9, to 4·77 [2·48-7·18] for anti-HPV type 18 in male participants aged 16-26 years who received HPV4). Non-inferiority criteria were met within each age and sex subgroup, except against HPV type 18 in female participants aged 16-26 years receiving HPV9 (4·30 [0·00-9·05]). Adverse events were reported by 237 (54%) of 435 participants; injection site pain was most common (174 [40%] participants). One serious adverse event (ie, erythema nodosum) was possibly related to vaccine (HPV9; 16-26 year female cohort). INTERPRETATION: Immunogenicity and safety of HPV vaccine three-dose series in survivors of cancer is similar to that in the general population, providing evidence for use in this clinically vulnerable population. FUNDING: US National Cancer Institute, Merck, Sharp & Dohme, and American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities.

Cause-specific mortality in survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have adequately addressed long-term survival (>20 years from diagnosis) among survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers. METHODS: In this retrospective, population-based cohort study in a US integrated health care system, the authors examined cause-specific mortality in 2-year survivors of AYA cancers (patients aged 15-39 years who were diagnosed between 1990 and 2012; N = 10,574) matched (by age, sex, and calendar year) to individuals without cancer (N = 136,683) to determine whether mortality rates changed over time. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for mortality were estimated using multivariable Poisson regression. A multivariable Cox model was used to examine predictors of cause-specific mortality among AYA cancer survivors. RESULTS: Through December 31, 2014, 1352 deaths were observed among AYA cancer survivors, yielding an overall survival rate of 78.5% at 25 years after diagnosis. Overall, AYA cancer survivors were at 10.4-fold increased risk for death (95% CI, 9.7-fold to 11.2-fold increased risk for death) compared with the matched noncancer cohort, and this risk remained elevated at >20 years after diagnosis (IRR, 2.9; 95% CI, 2.0-4.3). The absolute excess risk for death from any cause was 12.7 per 1000 person-years (95% CI, 11.9-13.4 per 1000 person-years). Starting at 15 years after diagnosis, the incidence of second cancer-related mortality exceeded the rate of recurrence-related mortality, and similar trends were observed for deaths from other health-related conditions. The 8-year cumulative incidence of mortality declined over time (before 2000, 12.6%; 2000-2006, 10.1%; after 2006, 7.3%; P < .001), largely because of declines in recurrence-related mortality. Age, sex, race/ethnicity, cancer stage at diagnosis, and cancer treatment predicted cause-specific mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The current data highlight the need for specialized, long-term follow-up care for AYA cancer survivors.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Mortality Associated With Second Malignant Neoplasms Among Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer.

Importance: Detailed data describing the epidemiology of second malignant neoplasms (SMN) are needed for survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer to inform the development of age-appropriate survivorship care guidelines. Objective: To describe the incidence, risk factors, and mortality for SMN in survivors of AYA cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective matched cohort study included 10 574 two-year survivors diagnosed with cancer between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2012, at age 15 to 39 years in an integrated health care delivery system in Southern California. A comparison cohort without a history of cancer was individually matched 13:1 to survivors of AYA cancer by age, sex, and calendar year. Data analysis was completed in July 2018. Exposures: Secondary malignant neoplasm risk factors of interest included age, stage, and calendar year at first cancer diagnosis; sex; race/ethnicity; radiation therapy; and chemotherapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: Diagnoses of SMN were ascertained using cancer registries from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program through December 31, 2014. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the association between cancer survivor status and developing SMN and risk factors for SMN, while risk of all-cause mortality by SMN status was examined in Cox regression. Results: A total of 10 574 survivors of AYA cancer (6853 [64.8%] female; median [range] age, 33 [15-39] years; 622 with SMN) and 136 683 participants in the comparison cohort (88 513 [64.8%] female; median [range] age, 33 [15-39] years; 3437 with first cancer) were included. In survivors of AYA cancer, 20-year cumulative incidence of SMN was 12.5%. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of developing SMN in survivors of AYA cancer was 2.6 (95% CI, 2.4-2.9) compared with the comparison cohort. Survivors of breast cancer, melanoma, and testicular cancer had substantially elevated risk for SMN of the same organ (IRR, 5.6 [95% CI, 4.6-6.8], 11.2 [95% CI, 7.3-17.2], and 16.2 [95% CI, 6.8-38.4], respectively). Among survivors of AYA cancer, older age (IRR for age 30-39 years, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.21-2.65]), female sex (IRR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.09-1.57]), white race/ethnicity (IRR for Asian race, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.43-0.87]), advanced stage at first cancer diagnosis (IRR for stage II, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.11-1.65]), and use of radiotherapy (IRR, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.26-1.79]) were associated with increased risk of SMN. Survivors of AYA cancer who developed SMN had an all-cause mortality rate 7.2 (95% CI, 6.1-8.5) times greater than survivors without SMN. Conclusions and Relevance: This study suggests that SMN risk is elevated in survivors of AYA cancer and varies across survivor subgroups. Survival following SMN may be significantly compromised. These data may form the basis for identifying individuals at high risk, as well as informing screening for SMN.

Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Young Cancer Patients: The Role of Carnitine.

While the increased rates of survival in childhood cancers have increased progressively in recent decades, many childhood cancer survivors will have at least one chronic health condition within 40 years of age. In this regard, cardiovascular complications have emerged as a leading cause of long-term morbidity and mortality in long-term survivors of childhood cancer, likely due to exposure to anthracycline chemotherapy, and outcomes in patients with anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy remain poor. Some progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms at the basis of anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy, which appear to involve generation of reactive oxygen species, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, followed by myocyte apoptosis and maladaptive left ventricular remodeling. Even if several guidelines currently exist for monitoring cancer patients treated with cardiotoxic therapies who are at high risk for heart failure, much work remains to be done in finding reliable markers for screening for cardiac dysfunction. Studies from our group have identified alterations in L-carnitine in cancer survivors. While additional investigations are needed, preliminary studies suggest a role for carnitine in primary prevention (during treatment) and secondary prevention (to improve function after treatment).

Round Table Discussion.

The 1st International Carnitine Working Group concluded with a round table discussion addressing several areas of relevance. These included the design of future studies that could increase the amount of evidence-based data about the role of carnitine in the treatment of fatty acid oxidation defects, for which substantial controversy still exists. There was general consensus that future trials on the effect of carnitine in disorders of fatty acid oxidation should be randomized, double-blinded, multicentered and minimally include the following diagnoses: medium-chain acyl coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenase deficiency, very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency. Another area that generated interest was trials of carnitine in cardiomyopathy and, especially, the use of biomarkers to identify patients at greater risk of cardiotoxicity following treatment with anthracyclines. The possibility that carnitine treatment may lead to improvements in autistic behaviors was also discussed, although the evidence is still not sufficient to make any firm conclusions in this regard. Preliminary data on carnitine levels in children and adolescents with primary hypertension, low birth weight and nephrotic syndrome was also presented. Lastly, the panelists stressed that there remains an objective need to harmonize the terminology used to describe carnitine deficiencies (e.g., primary, secondary and systemic deficiency).