Association Between Geriatric Assessment and Post-Chemotherapy Functional Status in Older Patients with Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Maintaining functional status is among the most important patient-centered outcomes for older adults with cancer. This study investigated the association between comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and progressive disease or decline of IADL-independence 1 year after chemotherapy, overall survival (OS), and premature termination of chemotherapy. CGA-based functional status and quality of life (QOL) 1 year after chemotherapy are also described. METHODS: This prospective cohort study involved patients aged ≥65 years treated with chemotherapy for any cancer type. CGA and the G8-screening tool were performed before and after the completion of chemotherapy. Analyses were adjusted for tumor type and treatment intent: (a) indolent hematological malignancies, (b) aggressive hematological malignancies, c) solid malignancies treated with curative intent, and (d) solid malignancies treated with palliative intent. RESULTS: All 291 included patients lived in The Netherlands; 193 (67.4%) lived fully independent prior to chemotherapy. The median age was 72 years; 164 (56.4%) were male. IADL independence, CGA-based functional status, and QOL were maintained in half of the patients 1 year after chemotherapy. An abnormal G8-score before chemotherapy was a higher risk for progressive disease or a decline of IADL-independence (OR 3.60, 95% CI, 1.98-6.54, P < .0001), prematurely terminated chemotherapy (OR 2.12, 95% CI, 1.24-3.65, P = .006), and shorter median OS (HR 1.71, 95% CI, 1.16-2.52, P = .007). The impact of an abnormal G8-score differed across tumor type (oncological or hematological) and treatment indication (adjuvant or palliative). CONCLUSION: An abnormal G8 score before chemotherapy is associated with progressive disease and functional decline after chemotherapy and shorter median OS, especially in patients with solid malignancies.

Bortezomib maintenance after R-CHOP, cytarabine and autologous stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed patients with mantle cell lymphoma, results of a randomised phase II HOVON trial.

Rituximab-containing induction followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard first-line treatment for young mantle cell lymphoma patients. However, most patients relapse after ASCT. We investigated in a randomised phase II study the outcome of a chemo-immuno regimen and ASCT with or without maintenance therapy with bortezomib. Induction consisted of three cycles R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone), two cycles high-dose cytarabine, BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) and ASCT. Patients responding were randomised between bortezomib maintenance (1·3 mg/m2 intravenously once every 2 weeks, for 2 years) and observation. Of 135 eligible patients, 115 (85%) proceeded to ASCT, 60 (44%) were randomised. With a median follow-up of 77·5 months for patients still alive, 5-year event-free survival (EFS) was 51% (95% CI 42-59%); 5-year overall survival (OS) was 73% (95% CI 65-80%). The median follow-up of randomised patients still alive was 71·5 months. Patients with bortezomib maintenance had a 5-year EFS of 63% (95% CI 44-78%) and 5-year OS of 90% (95% CI 72-97%). The patients randomised to observation had 5-year PFS of 60% (95% CI, 40-75%) and OS of 90% (95% CI 72-97%). In conclusion, in this phase II study we found no indication of a positive effect of bortezomib maintenance after ASCT.

Treatment of patients with MYC rearrangement positive large B-cell lymphoma with R-CHOP plus lenalidomide: results of a multicenter HOVON phase II trial.

Patients with MYC-rearrangement positive large B-cell lymphoma (MYC+ LBCL) have an inferior prognosis following standard first-line therapy with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP) as compared to patients without MYC rearrangement. Although intensive chemotherapy regimens yield higher remission rates, toxicity remains a concern. Lenalidomide is an oral immunomodulatory drug which downregulates MYC and its target genes thereby providing support using lenalidomide as additional therapeutic option for MYC+ LBCL. A phase II trial was conducted evaluating the efficacy of lenalidomide (15 mg day 1-14) in combination with R-CHOP (R2CHOP) in newly diagnosed MYC+ LBCL patients identified through a nationwide MYC-FISH screening program. The primary endpoint was complete metabolic response (CMR) on centrally reviewed 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)-computer tomography (CT)-scan at end-of-treatment. Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and event-free survival (EFS). Eighty-two patients with stage II-IV MYC+ LBCL were treated with 6 cycles of R2CHOP. At EOT, 67% (confidence interval (CI) 58-75%) of the patients reached CMR. With a median follow-up of 25.4 months, 2-year estimates (95% CI) for OS, DFS, EFS were 73% (62-82%), 75% (63-84%) and 63% (52-73%) respectively. In this prospective trial for newly diagnosed MYC+ LBCL patients, we found that administering R2CHOP was safe, and yields comparable CMR and survival rates as in studies applying more intensive chemotherapy regimens. Hence, these findings offer new prospects for MYC+ LBCL patients and warrant comparison in prospective randomized clinical trials. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu (#2014-002654-39).

Doxorubicin Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk in Survivors of Adolescent and Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Female Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors treated with chest radiotherapy (RT) at a young age have a strongly increased risk of breast cancer (BC). Studies in childhood cancer survivors have shown that doxorubicin exposure may also increase BC risk. Although doxorubicin is the cornerstone of HL chemotherapy, the association between doxorubicin and BC risk has not been examined in HL survivors treated at adult ages. METHODS: We assessed BC risk in a cohort of 1,964 female 5-year HL survivors, treated at age 15-50 years in 20 Dutch hospitals between 1975 and 2008. We calculated standardized incidence ratios, absolute excess risks, and cumulative incidences. Doxorubicin exposure was analyzed using multivariable Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 21.6 years (IQR, 15.8-27.1 years), 252 women had developed invasive BC or ductal carcinoma in situ. The 30-year cumulative incidence was 20.8% (95% CI, 18.2 to 23.4). Survivors treated with a cumulative doxorubicin dose of >200 mg/m2 had a 1.5-fold increased BC risk (95% CI, 1.08 to 2.1), compared with survivors not treated with doxorubicin. BC risk increased 1.18-fold (95% CI, 1.05 to 1.32) per additional 100 mg/m2 doxorubicin (Ptrend = .004). The risk increase associated with doxorubicin (yes v no) was not modified by age at first treatment (hazard ratio [HR]age <21 years, 1.5 [95% CI, 0.9 to 2.6]; HRage ≥21 years, 1.3 [95% CI, 0.9 to 1.9) or chest RT (HRwithout mantle/axillary field RT, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.06 to 3.3]; HRwith mantle/axillary field RT, 1.2 [95% CI, 0.8 to 1.8]). CONCLUSION: This study shows that treatment with doxorubicin is associated with increased BC risk in both adolescent and adult HL survivors. Our results have implications for BC surveillance guidelines for HL survivors and treatment strategies for patients with newly diagnosed HL.

Improving Outcome-Driven Care in Multiple Myeloma Using Patient-Reported Outcomes: A Qualitative Evaluation Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Multiple myeloma is an incurable disease with a considerable illness and treatment burden, which negatively impacts patients' quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of multiple myeloma care in five Dutch hospitals, related to the three objectives of outcome-driven care, which are defined as (1) providing information for shared decision making in individual patient care, (2) supporting the learning capacity of healthcare professionals and healthcare institutions through benchmarking and (3) developing outcome-driven and patient-centred contracting by health insurers. METHODS: In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews about experiences with patient-reported outcomes were conducted with patients, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders 2 years after implementation. Data were thematically analysed, and emerging topics were clustered around the three objectives of outcome-driven care. RESULTS: A total of 46 interviews were held (15 with patients, 16 with professionals and 15 with other stakeholders) that showed patients with multiple myeloma were willing to complete patient-reported outcomes, although integration of patient-reported outcomes in shared decision making fell short in clinical practice. Aggregated patient-reported outcomes were considered important for improving quality of care; however, data collection and data exchange are hindered by privacy legislation, limitations of IT systems and a lack of data standards. Patient-reported outcomes were expected to contribute to cost-effective multiple myeloma treatment, yet outcome-driven reimbursement is still lacking. CONCLUSIONS: Outcome-driven multiple myeloma care using patient-reported outcomes is feasible, provided that (1) patient-reported outcomes and shared decision making are integrated into clinical practice, (2) legal and technical obstacles hindering data collection are removed and (3) health insurers adjust their reimbursement plans to facilitate outcome-driven care.

A non-randomized risk-adjusted comparison of lenalidomide + R-CHOP versus R-CHOP for MYC-rearranged DLBCL patients.

Patients with MYC rearranged (MYC-R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have a poor prognosis. Previously, we demonstrated in a single-arm phase II trial (HOVON-130) that addition of lenalidomide to R-CHOP (R2CHOP) is well-tolerated and yields similar complete metabolic remission rates as more intensive chemotherapy regimens in literature. In parallel with this single-arm interventional trial, a prospective observational screening cohort (HOVON-900) was open in which we identified all newly diagnosed MYC-R DLBCL patients in the Netherlands. Eligible patients from the observational cohort that were not included in the interventional trial served as control group in the present risk-adjusted comparison. R2CHOP treated patients from the interventional trial (n = 77) were younger than patients in the R-CHOP control cohort (n = 56) (median age 63 versus 70 years, p = 0.018) and they were more likely to have a lower WHO performance score (p = 0.013). We adjusted for differences at baseline using 1:1 matching, multivariable analysis, and weighting using the propensity score to reduce treatment-selection bias. These analyses consistently showed improved outcome after R2CHOP with HRs of 0.53, 0.51, and 0.59, respectively, for OS, and 0.53, 0.59, and 0.60 for PFS. Thus, this non-randomized risk-adjusted comparison supports R2CHOP as an additional treatment option for MYC-R DLBCL patients.

Light Therapy for Cancer-Related Fatigue in (Non-)Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short- and long-term effects of light therapy on fatigue (primary outcome) and sleep quality, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and circadian rhythms (secondary outcomes) in survivors of (non-)Hodgkin lymphoma presenting with chronic cancer-related fatigue. METHODS: We randomly assigned 166 survivors (mean survival 13 years) to a bright white light intervention (BWL) or dim white light comparison (DWL) group. Measurements were completed at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), at three (T2), and nine (T3) months follow-up. A mixed-effect modeling approach was used to compare linear and non-linear effects of time between groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between BWL and DWL in the reduction in fatigue over time. Both BWL and DWL significantly (p < 0.001) improved fatigue levels during the intervention followed by a slight reduction in this effect during follow-up (EST0-T1 = -0.71; EST1-T3 = 0.15). Similar results were found for depression, sleep quality, and some aspects of quality of life. Light therapy had no effect on circadian rhythms. CONCLUSIONS: BWL was not superior in reducing fatigue compared to DWL in HL and DLBCL survivors. Remarkably, the total sample showed clinically relevant and persistent improvements on fatigue not commonly seen in longitudinal observational studies in these survivors.

Disseminated cryptococcal disease during treatment with idelalisib and corticosteroids for follicular lymphoma.

A patient on a regimen of idelalisib and corticosteroids for a relapse of follicular lymphoma presented to our emergency ward with a fever of unknown origin. Despite the initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics and fluids, the patient's clinical condition deteriorated. Eventually, a diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcosis was established and immunophenotyping revealed complete absence of circulating B and CD4+-T lymphocytes, and a markedly diminished CD8+-T lymphocyte count. In this case, treatment with idelalisib and corticosteroids likely resulted in profound lymphopenia and the first reported instance of disseminated cryptococcosis under this regimen. After the withdrawal of idelalisib and steroids and initiation of antifungal therapy, lymphocyte counts partially recovered. After clinical improvement, the patient could be discharged from the hospital. This case highlights that the combination of idelalisib and corticosteroids can cause significant immunocompromise and opportunistic infections. Additionally, we illustrate the rate of lymphocyte reconstitution after withdrawal from idelalisib and corticosteroids.

Prognostic impact of low muscle mass and low muscle density in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Low muscle mass (LMM) and low muscle density (LMD) are increasingly recognized as prognostic factors for survival in different malignancies. This study determined the association of LMM and LMD with survival in DLBCL (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) patients. CT-based measurement of muscle was performed in 164 DLBCL patients prior to chemo-immunotherapy. Z-scores adjusted for gender, age, and body mass index were derived from a healthy reference population. LMM or LMD were defined as a Z-score below -1 and were related to OS and PFS. The co-existence of both LMM and LMD was observed in 13% of the DLBCL patients and was significantly associated with shorter OS and PFS. Also, these patients more often did not complete the planned treatment. The combination of LMM and LMD is an independent prognostic factor for survival in DLBCL patients. This may guide clinical decision-making in patients with suspected insufficient performance to benefit from chemo-immunotherapy in standard doses.Key pointsPatients with DLBCL have low muscle mass (LMM) and low muscle density (LMD) compared to healthy counterparts.The combination of LMM and LMD is a negative prognostic factor for survival, independent of comorbidities and unfavorable lymphoma characteristics.

A novel haemocytometric COVID-19 prognostic score developed and validated in an observational multicentre European hospital-based study.

COVID-19 induces haemocytometric changes. Complete blood count changes, including new cell activation parameters, from 982 confirmed COVID-19 adult patients from 11 European hospitals were retrospectively analysed for distinctive patterns based on age, gender, clinical severity, symptom duration, and hospital days. The observed haemocytometric patterns formed the basis to develop a multi-haemocytometric-parameter prognostic score to predict, during the first three days after presentation, which patients will recover without ventilation or deteriorate within a two-week timeframe, needing intensive care or with fatal outcome. The prognostic score, with ROC curve AUC at baseline of 0.753 (95% CI 0.723-0.781) increasing to 0.875 (95% CI 0.806-0.926) on day 3, was superior to any individual parameter at distinguishing between clinical severity. Findings were confirmed in a validation cohort. Aim is that the score and haemocytometry results are simultaneously provided by analyser software, enabling wide applicability of the score as haemocytometry is commonly requested in COVID-19 patients.

Rituximab-CHOP With Early Rituximab Intensification for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Randomized Phase III Trial of the HOVON and the Nordic Lymphoma Group (HOVON-84).

PURPOSE: Immunochemotherapy with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) has become standard of care for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This randomized trial assessed whether rituximab intensification during the first 4 cycles of R-CHOP could improve the outcome of these patients compared with standard R-CHOP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 574 patients with DLBCL age 18 to 80 years were randomly assigned to induction therapy with 6 or 8 cycles of R-CHOP-14 with (RR-CHOP-14) or without (R-CHOP-14) intensification of rituximab in the first 4 cycles. The primary end point was complete remission (CR) on induction. Analyses were performed by intention to treat. RESULTS: CR was achieved in 254 (89%) of 286 patients in the R-CHOP-14 arm and 249 (86%) of 288 patients in the RR-CHOP-14 arm (hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; 95% CI, 0.50 to 1.36; P = .44). After a median follow-up of 92 months (range, 1-131 months), 3-year failure-free survival was 74% (95% CI, 68% to 78%) in the R-CHOP-14 arm versus 69% (95% CI, 63% to 74%) in the RR-CHOP-14 arm (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.61; P = .07). Progression-free survival at 3 years was 74% (95% CI, 69% to 79%) in the R-CHOP-14 arm versus 71% (95% CI, 66% to 76%) in the RR-CHOP-14 arm (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.94 to 1.55; P = .15). Overall survival at 3 years was 81% (95% CI, 76% to 85%) in the R-CHOP-14 arm versus 76% (95% CI, 70% to 80%) in the RR-CHOP-14 arm (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.67; P = .09). Patients between ages 66 and 80 years experienced significantly more toxicity during the first 4 cycles in the RR-CHOP-14 arm, especially neutropenia and infections. CONCLUSION: Early rituximab intensification during R-CHOP-14 does not improve outcome in patients with untreated DLBCL.

[D-dimer: how about it?] / D-dimeerbepaling: hoe zit het ook alweer?

This lab quiz presents some practical case studies on the correct use of D-dimer tests in patients suspected of venous thromboembolism. Elevated D-dimer levels are associated with clotting activation and fibrinolysis and can be used as indirect biomarkers of thrombosis. The D-dimer test is highly sensitive and is used to rule out the presence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) when clinical probability is low, based on Wells scores. However, sensitivity and specificity of cut-off values for D-dimer for ruling out VTE are strongly assay-dependent due to lack of standardisation. Because of low specificity, use of these cut-off values is problematic in cases of sepsis and inflammation, after recent surgery and in cases of trauma and active malignancy as well as during anticoagulant therapy and pregnancy. Agedependent cut-off values for patients > 50 years old might improve specificity and could be safely used if clinically validated assays (latex-agglutination assays) are used as described for the ADJUST-study.