SnapShot: Mammalian Sirtuins.

The mammalian sirtuins have emerged as critical regulators of cellular stress resistance, energy metabolism, and tumorigenesis. In some contexts, they delay the onset of age-related diseases and promote a healthy lifespan. The seven mammalian sirtuins, SIRT1-7, share a highly conserved NAD+-binding catalytic core domain although they exhibit distinct expression patterns, catalytic activities, and biological functions. This SnapShot provides an overview of these properties, with an emphasis on their relevance to aging.

Baricitinib plus Remdesivir for Hospitalized Adults with Covid-19.

BACKGROUND: Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is associated with dysregulated inflammation. The effects of combination treatment with baricitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, plus remdesivir are not known. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating baricitinib plus remdesivir in hospitalized adults with Covid-19. All the patients received remdesivir (≤10 days) and either baricitinib (≤14 days) or placebo (control). The primary outcome was the time to recovery. The key secondary outcome was clinical status at day 15. RESULTS: A total of 1033 patients underwent randomization (with 515 assigned to combination treatment and 518 to control). Patients receiving baricitinib had a median time to recovery of 7 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 6 to 8), as compared with 8 days (95% CI, 7 to 9) with control (rate ratio for recovery, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.32; P = 0.03), and a 30% higher odds of improvement in clinical status at day 15 (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.6). Patients receiving high-flow oxygen or noninvasive ventilation at enrollment had a time to recovery of 10 days with combination treatment and 18 days with control (rate ratio for recovery, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.08). The 28-day mortality was 5.1% in the combination group and 7.8% in the control group (hazard ratio for death, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.39 to 1.09). Serious adverse events were less frequent in the combination group than in the control group (16.0% vs. 21.0%; difference, -5.0 percentage points; 95% CI, -9.8 to -0.3; P = 0.03), as were new infections (5.9% vs. 11.2%; difference, -5.3 percentage points; 95% CI, -8.7 to -1.9; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Baricitinib plus remdesivir was superior to remdesivir alone in reducing recovery time and accelerating improvement in clinical status among patients with Covid-19, notably among those receiving high-flow oxygen or noninvasive ventilation. The combination was associated with fewer serious adverse events. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04401579.).

Cost-utility analysis of TAVI compared with surgery in patients with severe aortic stenosis at low risk of surgical mortality in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence to support the benefits of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) over surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (sSAS) who are at high- or intermediate-risk of surgical mortality. The PARTNER 3 trial showed clinical benefits with SAPIEN 3 TAVI compared with SAVR in patients at low risk of surgical mortality. Whether TAVI is also cost-effective compared with SAVR for low-risk patients in the Dutch healthcare system remains uncertain. This article presents an analysis using PARTNER 3 outcomes and costs data from the Netherlands to inform a cost-utility model and examine cost implications of TAVI over SAVR in a Dutch low-risk population. METHODS: A two-stage cost-utility analysis was performed using a published and validated health economic model based on adverse events with both TAVI and SAVR interventions from a published randomized low risk trial dataset, and a Markov model that captured lifetime healthcare costs and patient outcomes post-intervention. The model was adapted using Netherlands-specific cost data to assess the cost-effectiveness of TAVI and SAVR. Uncertainty was addressed using deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: TAVI generated 0.89 additional quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) at a €4742 increase in costs per patient compared with SAVR over a lifetime time horizon, representing an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of €5346 per QALY gained. Sensitivity analyses confirm robust results, with TAVI remaining cost-effective across several sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the model results, compared with SAVR, TAVI with SAPIEN 3 appears cost-effective for the treatment of Dutch patients with sSAS who are at low risk of surgical mortality. Qualitative data suggest broader societal benefits are likely and these findings could be used to optimize appropriate intervention selection for this patient population.

Concordance Between Genomic Alterations Detected by Tumor and Germline Sequencing: Results from a Tertiary Care Academic Center Molecular Tumor Board.

OBJECTIVE: The majority of tumor sequencing currently performed on cancer patients does not include a matched normal control, and in cases where germline testing is performed, it is usually run independently of tumor testing. The rates of concordance between variants identified via germline and tumor testing in this context are poorly understood. We compared tumor and germline sequencing results in patients with breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer who were found to harbor alterations in genes associated with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and increased hereditary cancer risk. We then evaluated the potential for a computational somatic-germline-zygosity (SGZ) modeling algorithm to predict germline status based on tumor-only comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) results. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed using an academic cancer center's databases of somatic and germline sequencing tests, and concordance between tumor and germline results was assessed. SGZ modeling from tumor-only CGP was compared to germline results to assess this method's accuracy in determining germline mutation status. RESULTS: A total of 115 patients with 146 total alterations were identified. Concordance rates between somatic and germline alterations ranged from 0% to 85.7% depending on the gene and variant classification. After correcting for differences in variant classification and filtering practices, SGZ modeling was found to have 97.2% sensitivity and 90.3% specificity for the prediction of somatic versus germline origin. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in HRD genes identified by tumor-only sequencing are frequently germline. Providers should be aware that technical differences related to assay design, variant filtering, and variant classification can contribute to discordance between tumor-only and germline sequencing test results. In addition, SGZ modeling had high predictive power to distinguish between mutations of somatic and germline origin without the need for a matched normal control, and could potentially be considered to inform clinical decision-making.

Remdesivir for the Treatment of Covid-19 - Final Report.

BACKGROUND: Although several therapeutic agents have been evaluated for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), no antiviral agents have yet been shown to be efficacious. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of intravenous remdesivir in adults who were hospitalized with Covid-19 and had evidence of lower respiratory tract infection. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either remdesivir (200 mg loading dose on day 1, followed by 100 mg daily for up to 9 additional days) or placebo for up to 10 days. The primary outcome was the time to recovery, defined by either discharge from the hospital or hospitalization for infection-control purposes only. RESULTS: A total of 1062 patients underwent randomization (with 541 assigned to remdesivir and 521 to placebo). Those who received remdesivir had a median recovery time of 10 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 9 to 11), as compared with 15 days (95% CI, 13 to 18) among those who received placebo (rate ratio for recovery, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.49; P<0.001, by a log-rank test). In an analysis that used a proportional-odds model with an eight-category ordinal scale, the patients who received remdesivir were found to be more likely than those who received placebo to have clinical improvement at day 15 (odds ratio, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2 to 1.9, after adjustment for actual disease severity). The Kaplan-Meier estimates of mortality were 6.7% with remdesivir and 11.9% with placebo by day 15 and 11.4% with remdesivir and 15.2% with placebo by day 29 (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.52 to 1.03). Serious adverse events were reported in 131 of the 532 patients who received remdesivir (24.6%) and in 163 of the 516 patients who received placebo (31.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that remdesivir was superior to placebo in shortening the time to recovery in adults who were hospitalized with Covid-19 and had evidence of lower respiratory tract infection. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others; ACTT-1 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04280705.).

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Procedure Compared With Surgery in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis at Low Risk of Surgical Mortality in France.

OBJECTIVES: The clinical and cost-saving benefits of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) over surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at high or intermediate risk of surgical mortality are supported by a growing evidence base. The PARTNER 3 trial (Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER Valve Trial) demonstrated clinical benefits with SAPIEN 3 TAVI compared with SAVR in selected patients at low risk of surgical mortality. This study uses PARTNER 3 outcomes in combination with a French national hospital claim database to inform a cost-utility model and examine the cost implications of TAVI over SAVR in a low-risk population. METHODS: A 2-stage cost-utility analysis was developed to estimate changes in both direct healthcare costs and health-related quality of life using TAVI with SAPIEN 3 compared with SAVR. Early adverse events associated with TAVI were captured using the PARTNER 3 data set. These data fed into a Markov model that captured longer-term outcomes of patients, after TAVI or SAVR intervention. RESULTS: TAVI with SAPIEN 3 offers meaningful benefits over SAVR in providing both cost saving (€12 742 per patient) and generating greater quality-adjusted life-years (0.89 per patient). These results are robust with TAVI with SAPIEN 3 remaining dominant across several scenarios and deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This model demonstrated that TAVI with SAPIEN 3 was dominant compared with SAVR in the treatment of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are at low risk of surgical mortality. These findings should help policy makers in developing informed approaches to intervention selection for this patient population.

A population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model of navtemadlin, its glucuronide metabolite (M1) and serum macrophage inhibitory cykokine-1 (MIC-1).

Navtemadlin is a potent, selective, orally available inhibitor of murine double minute 2 that restores p53 activity to induce apoptosis in TP53 wild-type malignancies. Using richly sampled pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) data from healthy volunteers, a population PK/PD model was developed.A population PK (PPK) model described the PK characteristics of navtemadlin and its major metabolite acyl glucuronide (M1) and quantified enterohepatic recirculation (EHR). Post hoc individual PK parameters from this model were coupled with PD data for serum macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1, GDF15), a cytokine biomarker of p53 activation, to construct a population PK/PD model that described plasma concentration-driven MIC-1 excursions and enabled simulation of the extent and duration of navtemadlin PD effects.The median apparent clearance (CL/F) and apparent central volume (V2/F) of navtemadlin were 36.4 L/hr and 159 L. The typical maximum stimulatory effect (Smax) was close to the median maximum MIC-1 ratio to baseline of 7.29 in observed data.Simulation revealed a dose-dependent increase of MIC-1 with steady state attained in approximately 7 days, in a 7-day-on/21-day-off dose regimen. Elevated MIC-1 concentrations persist through 17-19 days, leaving about 9-11 PD-free days in a 28-day cycle.

Targeting MET Amplification with Crizotinib in a Case of Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma.

Comprehensive molecular testing of individual tumors has led to the identification of novel molecularly defined cancer therapies and treatment indications. Given low frequencies of many molecular alterations, efficacy of therapies used to target them are often undefined, especially in the context of rare malignancies. Here we describe the first reported case of MET amplification in sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC), a rare cancer with a poor prognosis. The patient was treated with crizotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets c-MET, and experienced a complete response. Our report demonstrates the potential of employing precision oncology approaches in SNUC and other rare cancers.

Population exposure-efficacy and exposure-safety analyses for rucaparib in patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma from Study 10 and ARIEL2.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate correlations between rucaparib exposure and selected efficacy and safety endpoints in patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma using pooled data from Study 10 and ARIEL2. METHODS: Efficacy analyses were limited to patients with carcinomas harboring a deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation who had received ≥2 prior lines of chemotherapy. Safety was evaluated in all patients who received ≥1 rucaparib dose. Steady-state daily area under the concentration-time curve (AUCss) and maximum concentration (Cmax,ss) for rucaparib were calculated for each patient and averaged by actual dose received over time (AUCavg,ss and Cmax,avg,ss) using a previously developed population pharmacokinetic model. RESULTS: Rucaparib exposure was dose-proportional and not associated with baseline patient weight. In the exposure-efficacy analyses (n = 121), AUCavg,ss was positively associated with independent radiology review-assessed RECIST response in the subgroup of patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent disease (n = 75, p = 0.017). In the exposure-safety analyses (n = 393, 40 mg once daily to 840 mg twice daily [BID] starting doses), most patients received a 600 mg BID rucaparib starting dose, with 27% and 21% receiving 1 or ≥2 dose reductions, respectively. Cmax,ss was significantly correlated with grade ≥2 serum creatinine increase, grade ≥3 alanine transaminase/aspartate transaminase increase, platelet decrease, fatigue/asthenia, and maximal hemoglobin decrease (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The exposure-response analyses provide support for the approved starting dose of rucaparib 600 mg BID for maximum clinical benefit with subsequent dose modification only following the occurrence of a treatment-emergent adverse event in patients with BRCA-mutated recurrent ovarian carcinoma.

Cost-Effectiveness Analyses of an Absorbable Antibacterial Envelope for Use in Patients at Increased Risk of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infection in Germany, Italy, and England.

OBJECTIVES: To model the cost-effectiveness of the TYRX Absorbable Antibacterial Envelope when used in patients at increased risk of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection in the context of 3 European healthcare systems: Germany, Italy, and England. METHODS: A decision tree model with a lifetime horizon was populated using data from the Worldwide Randomized Antibiotic Envelope Infection Prevention Trial, a large multicenter randomized controlled trial. Use of the antibacterial envelope adjunctive to standard of care was compared to standard of care infection prevention alone. Patients in the model were divided into subgroups based on presence of factors known to increase infection risk. RESULTS: The antibacterial envelope had the most favorable cost-effectiveness profile when patients had previously experienced CIED infection, had a history of immunosuppressive therapy, or had a Prevention of Arrhythmia Device Infection Trial (PADIT) score indicating high risk of infection (scores ≥6) at cost-effectiveness thresholds of €50 000 in Germany (assumed in the absence of an official threshold), €40 000 in Italy, and £30 000 in England. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicated that the antibacterial envelope was likely to be cost-effective in patients with other risk factors (including replacement of high power CIEDs, generator replacement with lead modification, and PADIT scores indicating intermediate risk of infection) when used with some device types and in some countries. CONCLUSIONS: The absorbable antibacterial envelope was associated with cost-effectiveness ratios below European benchmarks in selected patients at increased risk of infection, suggesting the envelope provides value for European healthcare systems by reducing CIED infections.

Neurologic and musculoskeletal effects of tilt-table standing on adults: a systematic review.

[Purpose] Tilt table use is associated, most often, with the assessment of syncope. However, it also has applications for patients with neurologic and orthopedic problems. These applications do not appear to be widely applied. The purpose of this review, therefore, was to summarize the research literature addressing the use of tilt tables for treating specific musculoskeletal and neurologic impairments in adults. [Methods] Relevant literature was identified by searches of the PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus databases and hand searches (December 2018 and October 2020). The methodological quality of the identified research articles was assessed using the PEDro scale. [Results] Of 482 unique articles identified, 20 matched the eligibility criteria of the review and were included. The studies varied widely in the populations studied, procedures used, and responses reported. The studies provide limited support for tilt table standing as an intervention. [Conclusion] However, evidence that some patients with neurologic conditions may respond positively to tilt-table standing is available. Among such individuals are those with decreased ankle range of motion, positive neurologic signs in the lower limbs, and decreased levels of consciousness.

The Dopamine D2 Receptor Contributes to the Spheroid Formation Behavior of U87 Glioblastoma Cells.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a common and lethal cancer of the central nervous system. This cancer is difficult to treat because most anticancer therapeutics do not readily penetrate into the brain due to the tight control at the cerebrovascular barrier. Numerous studies have suggested that dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) antagonists, such as first generation antipsychotics, may have anticancer efficacy in vivo and in vitro. The role of the D2R itself in the anticancer effects is unclear, but there is evidence suggesting that D2R activation promotes stem-like and spheroid forming behaviors in GBM. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to observe the role of the dopamine D2R and its modulators (at selective concentrations) in spheroid formation and stemness of GBM cell line, U87MG, to clarify the validity of the D2R as a therapeutic target for cancer therapy. METHODS: Spheroid formation assays and Western blotting of the glioblastoma cell line, U87MG, were used to observe responses to treatment with the D2R agonists sumanirole, ropinirole, and 4-propyl-9-hydroxynaphthoxazine (PHNO); and the D2R antagonists thioridazine, pimozide, haloperidol, and remoxipride. Extreme limiting dilution analysis was done to determine the impact of sumanirole and remoxipride treatment on sphere-forming cell frequency. Proliferation was also measured by crystal violet staining. Stable lentiviral transduction of DRD2 or shDRD2 was used to validate the role of the D2R in assay behaviors. RESULTS: D2R antagonists thioridazine, pimozide, haloperidol, and remoxipride decrease spheroid formation behaviors at a selective 100 nmol/L concentration, while D2R agonists PHNO, sumanirole, and ropinirole increase the formation of spheroids. Similarly, 100 nmol/L remoxipride decreased sphere-forming cell frequency. These results were recapitulated with genetic overexpression and knockdown of the D2R, and combination experiments indicate that the D2R is required for the effects of the pharmacological modulators. Furthermore, spheroid proliferation and invasive capacity increased under treatment with 100 nmol/L sumanirole and decreased under treatment with 100 nmol/L thioridazine. Expression levels of the stemness markers Nestin and Sox2, as well as those of differentiation marker glial fibrillary acidic protein, were not altered by 100 nmol/L thioridazine or sumanirole for 72 h or continuous treatment with these compounds for 7 days during a spheroid formation assay. CONCLUSIONS: Signaling activity of the dopamine D2R may be involved in the spheroid formation phenotype in the context of the U87MG cell line. However, this modulation may not be due to alterations in stemness marker expression, but due to other factors that may contribute to spheroid formation, such as cell-cell adhesion or EGFR signaling.

Dysregulated metabolism contributes to oncogenesis.

Cancer is a disease characterized by unrestrained cellular proliferation. In order to sustain growth, cancer cells undergo a complex metabolic rearrangement characterized by changes in metabolic pathways involved in energy production and biosynthetic processes. The relevance of the metabolic transformation of cancer cells has been recently included in the updated version of the review "Hallmarks of Cancer", where dysregulation of cellular metabolism was included as an emerging hallmark. While several lines of evidence suggest that metabolic rewiring is orchestrated by the concerted action of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, in some circumstances altered metabolism can play a primary role in oncogenesis. Recently, mutations of cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes involved in key metabolic pathways have been associated with hereditary and sporadic forms of cancer. Together, these results demonstrate that aberrant metabolism, once seen just as an epiphenomenon of oncogenic reprogramming, plays a key role in oncogenesis with the power to control both genetic and epigenetic events in cells. In this review, we discuss the relationship between metabolism and cancer, as part of a larger effort to identify a broad-spectrum of therapeutic approaches. We focus on major alterations in nutrient metabolism and the emerging link between metabolism and epigenetics. Finally, we discuss potential strategies to manipulate metabolism in cancer and tradeoffs that should be considered. More research on the suite of metabolic alterations in cancer holds the potential to discover novel approaches to treat it.

Concentration-QT analysis of the randomized, placebo- and moxifloxacin-controlled thorough QT study of umeclidinium monotherapy and umeclidinium/vilanterol combination in healthy subjects.

The long-acting muscarinic antagonist umeclidinium (UMEC) is approved as a once-daily monotherapy and in combination with the long-acting ß2 agonist vilanterol (VI) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The objective of this analysis was to assess the relationship between observed plasma UMEC and/or VI concentrations and QT interval corrected using Fridericia's correction (QTcF). 103 subjects were enrolled and 86 (83 %) completed the study. Subjects were randomized to 4 of 5 repeat-dose treatments (days 1-10: n = 77 subjects received placebo, n = 76 UMEC 500 µg, n = 78 UMEC/VI 125/25 µg, or n = 76 UMEC/VI 500/100 µg; day 10: n = 74 oral tablet moxifloxacin 400 mg [positive control]). The concentration-QTcF interval relationship was examined using nonlinear mixed-effects methods. For UMEC, predicted QTcF interval prolongation (at observed geometric mean of maximum plasma concentrations) was -2.38 ms (90 % prediction interval [PI] -3.82, -0.85) with UMEC 500 µg and -0.50 ms (90 % PI -0.80, -0.18) and -2.01 ms (90 % PI -3.22, -0.72) with UMEC/VI 125/25 µg and 500/100 µg, respectively. For VI, estimates were 5.89 ms (90 % PI 4.89, 6.91) and 7.23 ms (90 % PI 5.88, 8.55) with UMEC/VI 125/25 µg and 500/100 µg, respectively. Combined additive mean effects were estimated for UMEC/VI 125/25 µg (5.39 ms [90 % PI 4.40, 6.47]) and 500/100 µg (5.22 ms [90 % PI 3.72, 6.80]). The model-predicted decrease with UMEC and increase with UMEC/VI combination in QTcF interval suggest that the QT effect is likely attributable to VI. These model-predicted results support those of previously-published traditional statistical analyses.

An outbreak of norovirus linked to oysters in Tasmania.

Norovirus is the most commonly reported virus in shellfish related gastroenteritis outbreaks. In March 2013 an investigation was conducted following the receipt of reports of gastroenteritis after the consumption of oysters at private functions in Tasmania. Cases were ascertained through general practitioners, emergency departments, media releases and self-reporting. Of the 306 cases identified in Tasmania, ten faecal specimens were collected for laboratory testing and eight were positive for norovirus (GII.g). The most common symptoms were vomiting (87%), diarrhoea (85%), myalgia (82%) and fever (56%). The implicated oysters were traced to a single lease from which they were harvested and distributed locally and interstate. Nationally 525 cases were identified from Tasmania (306), Victoria (209), New South Wales (8) and Queensland (2). This report highlights the consequences of norovirus outbreaks in shellfish, even with rapid identification, trace back and removal of the implicated product from the market.

Unique genomic alterations in the circulating tumor DNA of patients with solid tumors brain metastases.

Background: Although serum circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is routine, data from patients with brain metastases (BrMs) is limited. We assessed genomic alterations in ctDNA from patients with solid tumor BrMs in 3 groups: Isolated BrMs with stable extracranial disease (iCNS), concurrent brain and extracranial progression (cCNS), and extracranial progression with no active BrMs (eCNS). We also compared ctDNA alterations between patients with and without BrMs. Methods: Patients with a Guardant360 ctDNA profile with (n = 253) and without BrMs (n = 449) from the Duke Molecular Registry between January 2014 and December 2020 were identified. Actionable alterations were defined as FDA-recognized or standard-of-care biomarkers. Disease status was determined via investigator assessment within 30 days of ctDNA collection. Results: Among the 253 patients with BrMs: 29 (12%) had iCNS, 160 (63%) cCNS, and 64 (25%) eCNS. Breast (BC; 12.0%) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; 76.4%) were the most common tumor types. ESR1 (60% vs 25%, P < .001) and BRCA2 (17% vs 5%, P = .022) were more frequent in BC BrMs. In NSCLC BrMs, EGFR alterations were most frequent in the iCNS group (iCNS: 67%, cCNS: 40%, eCNS:37%, P = .08) and in patients with BrMs (36% vs 17%, P < .001). Sequencing from both brain tissue and ctDNA were available for 8 patients; 7 (87.5%) had identical alterations. Conclusions: This study illustrates the feasibility of detecting alterations from ctDNA among patients with BrMs. A higher frequency of actionable mutations was observed in ctDNA in patients with BrMs. Additional studies comparing ctDNA and alterations in BrMs tissue are needed to determine if ctDNA can be considered a surrogate to support treatment decisions.

Racial and ethnic disparities in genomic testing among lung cancer patients: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic disparities in genomic testing could exacerbate disparities in access to precision cancer therapies and survival-particularly in the context of lung cancer where genomic testing has been recommended for the past decade. However, prior studies assessing disparities in genomic testing have yielded mixed results. METHODS: We conducted a systemic review to examine racial and ethnic disparities in the use of genomic testing among lung cancer patients in the United States. Two comprehensive searches in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were conducted (September 2022, May 2023). Original studies that assessed rates of genomic testing by race or ethnicity were included. Findings were narratively synthesized by outcome. RESULTS: The search yielded 2739 unique records, resulting in 18 included studies. All but 1 study were limited to patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. Diagnosis years ranged from 2007 to 2022. Of the 18 studies, 11 found statistically significant differences in the likelihood of genomic testing by race or ethnicity; in 7 of these studies, testing was lower among Black patients compared with White or Asian patients. However, many studies lacked adjustment for key covariates and included patients with unclear eligibility for testing. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of studies, though not all, observed racial and ethnic disparities in the use of genomic testing among patients with lung cancer. Heterogeneity of study results throughout a period of changing clinical guidelines suggests that minoritized populations-Black patients in particular-have faced additional barriers to genomic testing, even if not universally observed at all institutions.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus surgical aortic valve replacement in severe aortic stenosis patients at low surgical mortality risk: a cost-effectiveness analysis in Belgium.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with the SAPIEN 3 device has recently shown significant clinical benefits, compared to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), in patients at low risk for surgical mortality (PARTNER 3 trial, NCT02675114). Currently in Belgium, TAVI use is restricted to high-risk or inoperable patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (sSAS). This cost-utility analysis aimed to assess whether TAVI with SAPIEN 3 could lead to potential cost-savings compared with SAVR, in the low-risk sSAS population in Belgium. METHODS: A previously published, two-stage, Markov-based cost-utility model was used. Clinical outcomes were captured using data from PARTNER 3 and the model was adapted for the Belgian context using cost data from the perspective of the Belgian National Healthcare System, indexed to 2022. A lifetime horizon was chosen. The model outputs included changes in direct healthcare costs, survival and health-related quality of life using TAVI versus SAVR. RESULTS: TAVI with SAPIEN 3 provides meaningful clinical and cost benefits over SAVR, in terms of an increase in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of 0.94 and cost-saving of €3 013 per patient. While initial procedure costs were higher for TAVI compared with SAVR, costs related to rehabilitation, disabling stroke, treated atrial fibrillation, and rehospitalization were lower. The cost-effectiveness of TAVI over SAVR remained robust in sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: TAVI with SAPIEN 3 may offer a meaningful alternative intervention to SAVR in Belgian low-risk patients with sSAS, showing both clinical benefits and cost savings associated with post-procedure patient management.

Effects of Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated Variants on Radionecrosis and Local Control After Stereotactic Radiation Surgery for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Brain Metastases.

Purpose: Genetic variants affecting the radiation response protein ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) have been associated with increased adverse effects of radiation but also with improved local control after conventional radiation therapy. However, it is unknown whether ATM variants affect rates of radionecrosis (RN) and local intracranial progression (LIP) after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastases. Methods and Materials: Patients undergoing an initial course of SRS for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastases at a single institution were retrospectively identified. Kaplan-Meier estimates were calculated and Cox proportional hazards testing was performed based on ATM variant status. Results: A total of 541 patients completed SRS for brain metastasis secondary to NSCLC, of whom 260 completed molecular profiling. Variants of ATM were identified in 36 cases (13.8%). Among patients who completed molecular profiling, RN incidence was 4.9% (95% CI, 1.6%-8.2%) at 6 months and 9.9% (95% CI, 4.8%-15.0%) at 12 months. Incidence of RN was not significantly increased among patients with ATM variants, with an RN incidence of 5.3% (95% CI, 0.0%-15.3%) at both 6 and 12 months (P = .46). For all patients who completed genomic profiling, LIP was 5.4% (95% CI, 2.4%-8.4%) at 6 months and 9.8% (5.5%-14.1%) at 12 months. A significant improvement in LIP was not detected among patients with ATM variants, with an LIP incidence of 3.1% (0.0%-9.1%) at both 6 and 12 months (P = .26). Although differences according to ATM variant type (pathologic variant or variant of unknown significance) did not reach significance, no patients with ATM pathologic variants experienced LIP. Conclusions: We did not detect significant associations between ATM variant status and RN or LIP after SRS for NSCLC brain metastases. The current data set allows estimation of patient cohort sizes needed to power future investigations to identify genetic variants that associate with significant differences in outcomes after SRS.

Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer Harboring Homologous Recombination Repair Mutations.

BACKGROUND: There is currently limited literature assessing the real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and homologous recombination repair (HRR) mutations. METHODS: Medical charts were abstracted for mCRPC patients with ≥ 1 of 12 HRR somatic gene alterations treated at US oncology centers participating in the American Association for Cancer Research Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange. Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes were assessed from the initiation of first-line or later (1L+) mCRPC therapy received on or after July 1, 2014. RESULTS: Among 138 patients included in the study, the most common somatic HRR mutations were CDK12 (47.8%), BRCA2 (22.5%), and ATM (21.0%). Novel hormonal therapy and taxane chemotherapy were most commonly used in 1L; taxane use increased in later lines. Median overall survival (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 36.3 (30.7-47.8) months from initiation of 1L therapy and decreased for subsequent lines. Similarly, there was a trend of decreasing progression-free survival and prostate-specific antigen response from 1L to 4L+ therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment patterns identified in this study were similar to those among patients with mCRPC regardless of tumor HRR mutation status in the literature.