Erectile dysfunction in patients treated with selpercatinib for RET altered thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: The highly selective RET inhibitor selpercatinib showed high efficacy and favorable toxicity profile in treating patients with RET-altered thyroid cancer (TC). Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common adverse event observed in patients with advanced cancers. This study aims to evaluate the occurrence of ED in TC patients treated with selpercatinib. METHODS: In a multi-center retrospective cohort study, we investigated the prevalence of ED in 25 male patients treated with selpercatinib for advanced TC. The management of ED was also examined. RESULTS: 18/25 (78.3%) patients presented ED after starting selpercatinib treatment. However, only 2/18 (11.1%) spontaneously reported ED, while 16/18 (88.9%) reported ED only after specific questioning. Ten patients started treatment with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5i) with a significant improvement of ED. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed that ED was not infrequently reported among men treated with selpercatinib for RET-altered TC. We believe that clinicians should actively inquire about ED in such patients at it may be underreported but may be amenable to treatment.

The Multi-institutional Medullary Thyroid Cancer Collaborative Registry (MTCCoRe): Can a rare tumor registry accurately represent the real-world patient population?

BACKGROUND: Large population-based registries, such as the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Registry help in the study of rare tumors, including medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), but lack data to understand the natural history of the disease. The Medullary Thyroid Cancer Collaborative Registry (MTCCoRe) is an exhaustive multi-institutional collection of demographic, clinical, and pathologic data. To determine the extent to which MTCCoRe represents the real-world MTC population, we compared characteristics of patients enrolled in MTCCoRe with patients enrolled in population-based cancer registries. METHODS: Comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics of MTC patients who were enrolled in MTCCoRe, Texas Cancer Registry (TCR), California Cancer Registry (CCR), and SEER between 1995-2018. RESULTS: 1,416 patients were identified in MTCCoRe, 329 in TCR, 2,105 in CCR, and 3,820 in SEER. Percentages of patients 20-54 years in MTCCoRe were 58.0%, 50.2% in TCR, 47.2% in CCR, and 44.8% in SEER (p < 0.0001). About half of the patients were female (55.9% in MTCCoRe, 61.4% in TCR, 59% in CCR, and 57.5% in SEER (p=0.3). Percentages of Hispanic and Black patients differed among cohorts (10.1% and 3.8% for MTCCoRe, 23.7% and 8.2% for TCR, 24.8% and 4.9% in CCR, and 15.9% and 8.2% for SEER, respectively; p<0.001). MTCCoRe patients presented with more advanced T and N classifications than patients in the other registries (MTCCoRe, 28.6% T3-4 and 49.4% N1; TCR, 12.7% and 32.2%; CCR, 18.6% and 32.4%; and SEER, 24% and 37.8%; p < 0.0001). Prevalence of M1 disease was 10% in MTCCoRe, 11.9% in TCR, 14.1% in CCR, and 9.5% in SEER (p < 0.0001). In the MTCCoRe, 11.4% underwent systemic therapy (compared to 0.3% in TCR, 5.6% in CCR). CONCLUSIONS: The clinico-demographic profile of patients with MTC enrolled in a multi-institutional registry differs from those enrolled in population-based databases, with lower proportions of Hispanic and Black patients but additive data on treatment modalities. Moving forward, MTCCoRe and other registry and clinical trial enrollment efforts should intentionally include underrepresented groups via community engagement techniques, patient stakeholder involvement, and inclusion of languages other than English in study materials to yield more generalizable results and conclusions.

Next-Generation Sequencing in Sporadic Medullary Thyroid Cancer Patients: Mutation Profile and Disease Aggressiveness.

Context: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (sMTC) has led to increased detection of somatic mutations, including RET M918T, which has been considered a negative prognostic indicator. Objective: This study aimed to determine the association between clinicopathologic behavior and somatic mutation identified on clinically motivated NGS. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients with sMTC who underwent NGS to identify somatic mutations for treatment planning were identified. Clinicopathologic factors, time to distant metastatic disease (DMD), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between somatic mutations. Results: Somatic mutations were identified in 191 sMTC tumors, including RET M918T (53.4%), other RET codons (10.5%), RAS (18.3%), somatic RET indels (8.9%), and RET/RAS wild-type (WT) status (8.9%). The median age at diagnosis was 50 years (range, 11-83); 46.1% were female. When comparing patients with RET M918T, RET-Other, and RET WT (which included RAS and RET/RAS WT), there were no differences in sex, TNM category, systemic therapy use, time to DMD, DSS, or OS. On multivariate analysis, older age at diagnosis (HR 1.05, P < .001; HR 1.06, P< .001) and M1 stage at diagnosis (HR 3.17, P = .001; HR 2.98, P = .001) were associated with decreased DSS and OS, respectively, but mutation cohort was not. When comparing RET M918T to RET indels there was no significant difference in time to DMD, DSS, or OS between the groups. Conclusion: Somatic RET mutations do not portend compromised DSS or OS in a cohort of sMTC patients who underwent clinically motivated NGS.

Clinical Activity of Selpercatinib in RET-mutant Pheochromocytoma.

INTRODUCTION: Activating RET alterations have been reported in a variety of solid tumors, including pheochromocytoma where they occur both sporadically and as part of familial multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) syndromes. Selpercatinib is a first-in-class, highly selective, and potent small molecule RET kinase inhibitor that has demonstrated marked and durable anti-tumor activity in diverse RET-activated solid tumors in the LIBRETTO-001 study (NCT03157128). METHODS: We describe the first six pheochromocytoma cases treated with selpercatinib in the LIBRETTO-001 study. RESULTS: Of the six patients (one sporadic and five reported as part of MEN2 syndromes) in this case report, four had a partial response/complete response and two had stable disease per independent review committee. Treatment duration ranged from 9.2 months to more than 56.4 months. The safety profile of treatment was consistent with selpercatinib in other indications. CONCLUSION: These data support selpercatinib as an effective therapy against RET-mutant pheochromocytoma, adding to the diversity of RET-activated tumor types that may benefit from targeted RET inhibition.

Pediatric Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Clinical Presentations and Long-term Outcomes in 144 Patients Over Six Decades.

CONTEXT: Sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (sMTC) rarely occurs in childhood and no studies have specifically focused on this entity. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentations and long-term outcomes of a large cohort of children and young adults with sMTC compared with hereditary MTC (hMTC). METHODS: Retrospective study of 144 patients diagnosed with MTC between 1961-2019 at an age ≤21 years and evaluated at a tertiary referral center. RESULTS: In contrast to hMTC (n=124/144, 86%), patients with sMTC (n=20/144, 14%) are older (p<0.0001), have larger tumors (p<0.0001), a higher initial stage grouping (p=0.001) and have more structural disease (p=0.0045) and distant metastases (DM) (p=0.00084) at last follow up, but are not more likely to die from MTC (p=0.42). Among 77 patients diagnosed clinically, not by family history (20/20 sMTC and 57/124 hMTC), there was no difference in the initial stage (p=0.27), presence of DM at diagnosis (p=1.0), disease status at last follow-up (p=0.13), overall survival (p=0.57), or disease specific survival (p=0.87). Of the twelve sMTC tumors that underwent somatic testing, eleven (91%) had an identifiable alteration: ten RET gene alterations and one ALK fusion. CONCLUSIONS: sMTC is primarily a RET-driven disease that represents 14% of childhood-onset MTC in this cohort. Pediatric sMTC patients are older, present with clinical disease at a more advanced TNM classification, and have more persistent disease at last follow up compared with hMTC, but these differences disappear when comparing those presenting clinically. Somatic molecular testing should be considered in sMTC patients who would benefit from systemic therapy.

RET kinase inhibitors for the treatment of RET-altered thyroid cancers: Current knowledge and future directions.

RET gain-of-function mutations are the most common drivers in medullary thyroid carcinoma, while RET fusions are identified in 5-10% of papillary thyroid carcinomas. Thus, RET plays a major role in the tumorigenesis of thyroid neoplasia, making it a valuable therapeutic target. Over a decade ago, multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) were first shown to have variable degrees of anti-RET activity. Despite some clinical efficacy in RET-altered thyroid cancers, significant off-target activity of MKIs led to marked toxicities limiting their use. More recently, two potent, highly selective RET inhibitors, selpercatinib and pralsetinib, were shown to have notable efficacy in RET-altered cancers, associated with more tolerable side effect profiles than those of MKIs. However, these treatments are non-curative, and emerging evidence suggests that patients who progress on therapy acquire mutations conferring drug resistance. Thus, the quest for a more definitive treatment for advanced, RET-altered thyroid cancers continues. This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the association of germline mutations of the RET proto-oncogene with the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2 syndromes. In this timely review, we summarize the current state-of-the-art treatment strategies for RET-altered thyroid cancers, their limitations, as well as future therapeutic avenues.

Pralsetinib in Patients with Advanced/Metastatic Rearranged During Transfection (RET)-Altered Thyroid Cancer: Updated Efficacy and Safety Data from the ARROW Study.

Background: Rearranged during transfection (RET) alterations are targetable oncogenic drivers in thyroid cancer. Primary data from the open-label, phase 1/2 ARROW study demonstrated clinical activity and manageable safety with pralsetinib, a selective RET inhibitor, in patients with advanced/metastatic RET-altered thyroid cancer. We present an updated analysis with more patients and longer follow-up. Methods: Adult patients with advanced/metastatic RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) or RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer who initiated oral pralsetinib at 400 mg once daily were included. Primary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR) by blinded independent central review (per RECIST v1.1) and safety. Secondary endpoints included duration of response (DoR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival. Responses were assessed in three cohorts of patients with baseline measurable disease: patients with RET-mutant MTC who had received prior cabozantinib and/or vandetanib (C/V), treatment-naïve patients with RET-mutant MTC, and patients with previously treated RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were an exploratory endpoint. Results: As of October 18, 2021, the measurable disease population comprised of 61 patients with RET-mutant MTC and prior C/V, 62 treatment-naïve patients with RET-mutant MTC, and 22 patients with RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer who had received prior systemic therapy, including radioactive iodine. The ORR was 55.7% [confidence interval; 95% CI: 42.4-68.5] in patients with RET-mutant MTC and prior C/V, 77.4% [95% CI: 65.0-87.1] in treatment-naïve patients with RET-mutant MTC, and 90.9% [95% CI: 70.8-98.9] in patients with previously treated RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer. Median DoR and median PFS were both 25.8 months in patients with RET-mutant MTC and prior C/V, not reached in treatment-naïve patients with RET-mutant MTC, and 23.6 and 25.4 months, respectively, in patients with previously treated RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer. In the RET-altered thyroid cancer safety population (N = 175), 97.1% of patients reported a treatment-related adverse event (TRAE); these led to discontinuation in 5.7% and dose reduction in 52.6% of patients. There was one death (0.6%) due to a TRAE. PROs improved or remained stable after pralsetinib treatment. Conclusions: In this updated analysis of the ARROW study, pralsetinib continued to show deep and durable clinical activity and a manageable safety profile in patients with advanced/metastatic RET-altered thyroid cancer. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT03037385.

Decreasing utilization for postoperative radiation therapy in locoregionally advanced medullary thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Use of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) in locoregionally advanced medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) remains controversial. The objective was to evaluate the effect of PORT on locoregional control (LRC) and overall survival (OS). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 346 MTC patients separated into PORT and no-PORT cohorts. Relative indications for PORT, as well as changes in patterns of treatment, were recorded. RESULTS: 49/346 (14%) received PORT. PORT was associated with worse OS; adjusted HR = 2.0 (95%CI 1.3-3.3). PORT was not associated with improved LRC, even when adjusting for advanced stage (Stage III p = 0.892; Stage IV p = 0.101). PORT and targeted therapy were not associated with improved OS compared to targeted therapy alone; adjusted HR = 1.2 (95%CI 0.3-4.1). CONCLUSIONS: Use of PORT in MTC has decreased and its indications have become more selective, coinciding with the advent of effective targeted therapies. Overall, PORT was not associated with improved LRC or OS.

Strategies for mitigating adverse events related to selective RET inhibitors in patients with RET-altered cancers.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the selective RET inhibitors selpercatinib and pralsetinib has led to a paradigm change in the treatment of RET-altered lung and thyroid cancers through a higher response rate and a more tolerable safety and toxicity profile than multi-kinase inhibitors. Recently, selpercatinib has received a tissue-agnostic FDA approval for all RET-fusion-positive cancers, and pralsetinib has shown pan-cancer activity as well. Given the anticipated increase in the use of both drugs across multiple tumor types, it is crucial to recognize the possible side effects and approaches for their optimal management in order to maximize the clinical benefit for treated patients. In this review, we underscore potential toxicities associated with selective RET inhibitors and discuss strategies to mitigate them.

Phase 3 Trial of Selpercatinib in Advanced RET-Mutant Medullary Thyroid Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Selpercatinib, a highly selective, potent RET inhibitor, has shown efficacy in advanced RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer in a phase 1-2 trial, but its efficacy as compared with approved multikinase inhibitors is unclear. METHODS: We conducted a phase 3, randomized trial comparing selpercatinib as first-line therapy with the physician's choice of cabozantinib or vandetanib (control group). Eligible patients had progressive disease documented within 14 months before enrollment. The primary end point in the protocol-specified interim efficacy analysis was progression-free survival, assessed by blinded independent central review. Crossover to selpercatinib was permitted among patients in the control group after disease progression. Treatment failure-free survival, assessed by blinded independent central review, was a secondary, alpha-controlled end point that was to be tested only if progression-free survival was significant. Among the other secondary end points were overall response and safety. RESULTS: A total of 291 patients underwent randomization. At a median follow-up of 12 months, median progression-free survival as assessed by blinded independent central review was not reached in the selpercatinib group and was 16.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.2 to 25.1) in the control group (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.48; P<0.001). Progression-free survival at 12 months was 86.8% (95% CI, 79.8 to 91.6) in the selpercatinib group and 65.7% (95% CI, 51.9 to 76.4) in the control group. Median treatment failure-free survival as assessed by blinded independent central review was not reached in the selpercatinib group and was 13.9 months in the control group (hazard ratio for disease progression, discontinuation due to treatment-related adverse events, or death, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.42; P<0.001). Treatment failure-free survival at 12 months was 86.2% (95% CI, 79.1 to 91.0) in the selpercatinib group and 62.1% (95% CI, 48.9 to 72.8) in the control group. The overall response was 69.4% (95% CI, 62.4 to 75.8) in the selpercatinib group and 38.8% (95% CI, 29.1 to 49.2) in the control group. Adverse events led to a dose reduction in 38.9% of the patients in the selpercatinib group, as compared with 77.3% in the control group, and to treatment discontinuation in 4.7% and 26.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Selpercatinib treatment resulted in superior progression-free survival and treatment failure-free survival as compared with cabozantinib or vandetanib in patients with RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer. (Funded by Loxo Oncology, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly; LIBRETTO-531 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04211337.).

Review article: new treatments for advanced differentiated thyroid cancers and potential mechanisms of drug resistance.

The treatment of advanced, radioiodine refractory, differentiated thyroid cancers (RR-DTCs) has undergone major advancements in the last decade, causing a paradigm shift in the management and prognosis of these patients. Better understanding of the molecular drivers of tumorigenesis and access to next generation sequencing of tumors have led to the development and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approval of numerous targeted therapies for RR-DTCs, including antiangiogenic multikinase inhibitors, and more recently, fusion-specific kinase inhibitors such as RET inhibitors and NTRK inhibitors. BRAF + MEK inhibitors have also been approved for BRAF-mutated solid tumors and are routinely used in RR-DTCs in many centers. However, none of the currently available treatments are curative, and most patients will ultimately show progression. Current research efforts are therefore focused on identifying resistance mechanisms to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and ways to overcome them. Various novel treatment strategies are under investigation, including immunotherapy, redifferentiation therapy, and second-generation kinase inhibitors. In this review, we will discuss currently available drugs for advanced RR-DTCs, potential mechanisms of drug resistance and future therapeutic avenues.

Treatment of Hypercalcemia of Malignancy in Adults: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.

BACKGROUND: Hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM) is the most common metabolic complication of malignancies, but its incidence may be declining due to potent chemotherapeutic agents. The high mortality associated with HCM has declined markedly due to the introduction of increasingly effective chemotherapeutic drugs. Despite the widespread availability of efficacious medications to treat HCM, evidence-based recommendations to manage this debilitating condition are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To develop guidelines for the treatment of adults with HCM. METHODS: A multidisciplinary panel of clinical experts, together with experts in systematic literature review, identified and prioritized 8 clinical questions related to the treatment of HCM in adult patients. The systematic reviews (SRs) queried electronic databases for studies relevant to the selected questions. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to assess the certainty of evidence and make recommendations. An independent SR was conducted in parallel to assess patients' and physicians' values and preferences, costs, resources needed, acceptability, feasibility, equity, and other domains relevant to the Evidence-to-Decision framework as well as to enable judgements and recommendations. RESULTS: The panel recommends (strong recommendation) in adults with HCM treatment with denosumab (Dmab) or an intravenous (IV) bisphosphonate (BP). The following recommendations were based on low certainty of the evidence. The panel suggests (conditional recommendation) (1) in adults with HCM, the use of Dmab rather than an IV BP; (2) in adults with severe HCM, a combination of calcitonin and an IV BP or Dmab therapy as initial treatment; and (3) in adults with refractory/recurrent HCM despite treatment with BP, the use of Dmab. The panel suggests (conditional recommendation) the addition of an IV BP or Dmab in adult patients with hypercalcemia due to tumors associated with high calcitriol levels who are already receiving glucocorticoid therapy but continue to have severe or symptomatic HCM. The panel suggests (conditional recommendation) in adult patients with hypercalcemia due to parathyroid carcinoma, treatment with either a calcimimetic or an antiresorptive (IV BP or Dmab). The panel judges the treatments as probably accessible and feasible for most recommendations but noted variability in costs, resources required, and their impact on equity. CONCLUSIONS: The panel's recommendations are based on currently available evidence considering the most important outcomes in HCM to patients and key stakeholders. Treatment of the primary malignancy is instrumental for controlling hypercalcemia and preventing its recurrence. The recommendations provide a framework for the medical management of adults with HCM and incorporate important decisional and contextual factors. The guidelines underscore current knowledge gaps that can be used to establish future research agendas.

LIBRETTO-531: a phase III study of selpercatinib in multikinase inhibitor-naïve RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer.

Selpercatinib is a first-in-class, highly selective and potent, central nervous system-active RET kinase inhibitor. In the phase I/II trial, selpercatinib demonstrated clinically meaningful antitumor activity with manageable toxicity in heavily pre-treated and treatment-naive patients with RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). LIBRETTO-531 (NCT04211337) is a multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled, phase III trial comparing selpercatinib to cabozantinib or vandetanib in patients with advanced/metastatic RET-mutant MTC. The primary objective is to compare progression-free survival (per RECIST 1.1) by blinded independent central review of patients with progressive, advanced, multikinase inhibitor-naive, RET-mutant MTC treated with selpercatinib versus cabozantinib or vandetanib. Key secondary objectives are to compare other efficacy outcomes (per RECIST 1.1) and tolerability of selpercatinib versus cabozantinib or vandetanib.

Selpercatinib (also known by the brand name Retevmo^®/Retsevmo^®) is a new treatment available in multiple countries for people with advanced or metastatic RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Thyroid cancer starts in your thyroid gland and may spread or metastasize to other parts of the body, including lungs, bones, and occasionally the brain, which means the cancer is likely to be advanced. Advanced thyroid cancer can be driven by a gene in your body, one of which is RET. This is a summary of the LIBRETTO-531 study which compares selpercatinib, which is a strong and selective inhibitor of RET, with two approved drugs, cabozantinib and vandetanib. Patients with advanced or metastatic RET-mutant MTC who have not already received treatment with kinase inhibitors are being enrolled. This trial will evaluate how long people during and after treatment live with the disease without it getting worse. Selpercatinib may affect both healthy cells and tumor cells, which can result in side effects, which will also be evaluated in this study. This study is active and currently recruiting new patients. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04211337 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

RET kinase inhibitors for RET-altered thyroid cancers.

Precision oncology has opened a new era in cancer treatment focused on targeting specific cellular pathways directly involved in tumorigenesis. The REarrangement during Transfection (RET) proto-oncogene is involved in the pathogenesis of various thyroid cancer subtypes. Mutations in RET give rise to both hereditary and sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). RET fusions are found in follicular cell-derived thyroid cancers (papillary, poorly differentiated, and anaplastic). Hence, drugs that block the RET tyrosine kinase receptor have been explored in the management of locally advanced or metastatic thyroid cancer. The multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) with nonselective RET inhibition are sorafenib, lenvatinib, vandetanib, cabozantinib, and sunitinib. Although the efficacy of these drugs varies, a major issue is the lack of specificity resulting in a higher rate of drug-related toxicities, leading to dose reduction, interruption, or discontinuation. Moreover, MKIs are subject to drug resistance by RET Val804 residue gatekeeper mutations. In phase I/II clinical studies, the highly selective first-generation RET inhibitors, selpercatinib and pralsetinib, demonstrate high efficacy in controlling disease even in the presence of gatekeeper mutations combined with greater tolerability. However, resistance mechanisms such as RET solvent front mutations (SFMs) have evolved in some patients, giving the need to develop the selective second-generation RET inhibitors. Although the approval of selpercatinib and pralsetinib in 2020 has profoundly benefited patients with RET-altered thyroid cancer, further research into optimal treatment strategies, mechanisms of drug resistance, long-term consequences of potent RET-inhibition, and development of more effective agents against emergent mutations are much needed.

Adverse events associated with bone-directed therapies in patients with cancer.

Bone metastatic disease may lead to serious adverse events in patients with cancer. Bone-directed therapies, including bisphosphonates such as pamidronate and zoledronic acid and the human monoclonal antibody denosumab, are currently approved for the prevention of bone-related adverse events. However, despite the benefits of these drugs, they may cause side effects that are mostly associated with dosages and treatment durations. These side effects range from more frequent, mostly mild, and generally self-limited side effects-such as fever, myalgias, arthralgias, and electrolyte imbalances-to less frequent and more severe side effects such as medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical femoral fractures. The purpose of this review is to familiarize clinicians with the literature regarding adverse events associated with bone-directed therapies in patients with cancer. It is important to be aware of these possible adverse events and to educate patients about the predisposing factors associated with side effects from bone-directed therapies and the preventive measures necessary to decrease the risk of occurrence.

Hypercalcemia of Malignancy.

Hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM) is considered an oncologic emergency associated with significant symptom burden and increased comorbid conditions and mortality. Underlying pathologic processes most often stimulate osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Although long-term control of HCM depends on effective management of the underlying cancer, temporizing management strategies for acute and/or symptomatic HCM include hydration and antiresorptive bone-modifying agents. Although most patients respond well to the antiresorptive therapies available, further investigation into other agents for those who are refractory to both bisphosphonates and denosumab is needed.

Decision Making When Cancer Becomes Chronic: Needs Assessment for a Web-Based Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Patient Decision Aid.

BACKGROUND: In cancers with a chronic phase, patients and family caregivers face difficult decisions such as whether to start a novel therapy, whether to enroll in a clinical trial, and when to stop treatment. These decisions are complex, require an understanding of uncertainty, and necessitate the consideration of patients' informed preferences. For some cancers, such as medullary thyroid carcinoma, these decisions may also involve significant out-of-pocket costs and effects on family members. Providers have expressed a need for web-based interventions that can be delivered between consultations to provide education and prepare patients and families to discuss these decisions. To ensure that these tools are effective, usable, and understandable, studies are needed to identify patients', families', and providers' decision-making needs and optimal design strategies for a web-based patient decision aid. OBJECTIVE: Following the international guidelines for the development of a web-based patient decision aid, the objectives of this study are to engage potential users to guide development; review the existing literature and available tools; assess users' decision-making experiences, needs, and design recommendations; and identify shared decision-making approaches to address each need. METHODS: This study used the decisional needs assessment approach, which included creating a stakeholder advisory panel, mapping decision pathways, conducting an environmental scan of existing materials, and administering a decisional needs assessment questionnaire. Thematic analyses identified current decision-making pathways, unmet decision-making needs, and decision support strategies for meeting each need. RESULTS: The stakeholders reported wide heterogeneity in decision timing and pathways. Relevant existing materials included 2 systematic reviews, 9 additional papers, and multiple educational websites, but none of these met the criteria for a patient decision aid. Patients and family members (n=54) emphasized the need for plain language (46/54, 85%), shared decision making (45/54, 83%), and help with family discussions (39/54, 72%). Additional needs included information about uncertainty, lived experience, and costs. Providers (n=10) reported needing interventions that address misinformation (9/10, 90%), foster realistic expectations (9/10, 90%), and address mistrust in clinical trials (5/10, 50%). Additional needs included provider tools that support shared decision making. Both groups recommended designing a web-based patient decision aid that can be tailored to (64/64, 100%) and delivered on a hospital website (53/64, 83%), focuses on quality of life (45/64, 70%), and provides step-by-step guidance (43/64, 67%). The study team identified best practices to meet each need, which are presented in the proposed decision support design guide. CONCLUSIONS: Patients, families, and providers report multifaceted decision support needs during the chronic phase of cancer. Web-based patient decision aids that provide tailored support over time and explicitly address uncertainty, quality of life, realistic expectations, and effects on families are needed.