Three-Year Overall Survival with Tebentafusp in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Tebentafusp, a T-cell receptor-bispecific molecule that targets glycoprotein 100 and CD3, is approved for adult patients who are positive for HLA-A*02:01 and have unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma. The primary analysis in the present phase 3 trial supported a long-term survival benefit associated with the drug. METHODS: We report the 3-year efficacy and safety results from our open-label, phase 3 trial in which HLA-A*02:01-positive patients with previously untreated metastatic uveal melanoma were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive tebentafusp (tebentafusp group) or the investigator's choice of therapy with pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, or dacarbazine (control group), with randomization stratified according to the lactate dehydrogenase level. The primary end point was overall survival. RESULTS: At a minimum follow-up of 36 months, median overall survival was 21.6 months in the tebentafusp group and 16.9 months in the control group (hazard ratio for death, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.54 to 0.87). The estimated percentage of patients surviving at 3 years was 27% in the tebentafusp group and 18% in the control group. The most common treatment-related adverse events of any grade in the tebentafusp group were rash (83%), pyrexia (76%), pruritus (70%), and hypotension (38%). Most tebentafusp-related adverse events occurred early during treatment, and no new adverse events were observed with long-term administration. The percentage of patients who discontinued treatment because of adverse events continued to be low in both treatment groups (2% in the tebentafusp group and 5% in the control group). No treatment-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: This 3-year analysis supported a continued long-term benefit of tebentafusp for overall survival among adult HLA-A*02:01-positive patients with previously untreated metastatic uveal melanoma. (Funded by Immunocore; IMCgp100-202 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03070392; EudraCT number, 2015-003153-18.).

Late mortality among 5-year survivors of childhood cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk of late mortality (death ≥5 years after diagnosis) from cancer recurrence and treatment-related late effects. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide comprehensive estimates of late mortality risk among survivors internationally and to investigate differences in risk across world regions. METHODS: Health sciences databases were searched for cohort studies comprised of 5-year childhood cancer survivors in which the risk of mortality was evaluated across multiple cancer types. Eligible studies assessed all-cause mortality risk in survivors relative to the general population using the standardized mortality ratio (SMR). The absolute excess risk (AER) was assessed as a secondary measure to examine excess deaths. Cause-specific mortality risk was also assessed, if reported. SMRs from nonoverlapping cohorts were combined in subgroup meta-analysis, and the effect of world region was tested in univariate meta-regression. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included, and cohort sizes ranged from 314 to 77,423 survivors. Throughout survivorship, SMRs for all-cause mortality generally declined, whereas AERs increased after 15-20 years from diagnosis in several cohorts. All-cause SMRs were significantly lower overall in North American studies than in European studies (relative SMR, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.80). SMRs for subsequent malignant neoplasms and for cardiovascular, respiratory, and external causes did not vary significantly between world regions. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that late mortality risk may differ significantly between world regions, but these conclusions are based on a limited number of studies with considerable heterogeneity. Reasons for regional differences remain unclear but may be better elucidated through future analyses of individual-level data.

Financial hardship among siblings of long-term survivors of childhood cancer: A Childhood Cancer Survivor Study report.

BACKGROUND: Siblings of children with cancer may experience adverse household economic consequences, but their financial outcomes in adulthood are unknown. METHODS: A total of 880 siblings (aged 18-64 years) of adult-aged childhood cancer survivors were surveyed to estimate the prevalence of financial hardship by three established domains (behavioral, material, and psychological). For individual financial hardship items matching the contemporaneous National Health Interview Survey or Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, siblings were compared with the general population by calculating adjusted prevalence odds ratios (ORs) to sample-weighted responses. Multivariable logistic regression models examined associations between sibling characteristics and each hardship domain and between sibling hardship and survivors' cancer/treatment characteristics. RESULTS: Behavioral, material, and psychological hardship was reported by 24%, 35%, and 28%, respectively. Compared with national survey respondents, siblings were more likely to report worries about medical bills (OR, 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.22), difficulty affording nutritious foods (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.54-2.07), and forgoing needed medical care (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.10-1.73), prescription medications (OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.99-3.20), and dental care (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.15-1.57) because of cost. Sibling characteristics associated with reporting financial hardship in one or more domains included female sex, older age, chronic health conditions, lower income, not having health insurance, high out-of-pocket medical expenditures, and nonmedical/nonhome debt. No survivor cancer/treatment characteristics were associated with sibling financial hardship. CONCLUSIONS: Adult siblings of childhood cancer survivors were more likely to experience financial hardship compared with the general population. Childhood cancer may adversely affect entire households, with potentially lasting implications.

Specific causes of excess late mortality and association with modifiable risk factors among survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study cohort.

BACKGROUND: 5-year survival after childhood cancer does not fully describe life-years lost due to childhood cancer because there are a large number of deaths occurring beyond 5-years (late mortality) related to cancer and cancer treatment. Specific causes of health-related (non-recurrence, non-external) late mortality and risk reduction through modifiable lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors are not well described. Through using a well-characterised cohort of 5-year survivors of the most common childhood cancers, we evaluated specific health-related causes of late mortality and excess deaths compared with the general US population and identified targets to reduce future risk. METHODS: In this multi-institutional, hospital-based, retrospective cohort study, late mortality (death ≥5 years from diagnosis) and specific causes of death were evaluated in 34 230 5-year survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed at an age younger than 21 years from 1970 to 1999 at 31 institutions in the USA and Canada; median follow-up from diagnosis was 29 years (range 5-48) in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Demographic, self-reported modifiable lifestyle (ie, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, and BMI) and cardiovascular risk factors (ie, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia) associated with health-related mortality (which excludes death from primary cancer and external causes and includes death from late effects of cancer therapy) were evaluated. FINDINGS: 40-year cumulative all-cause mortality was 23·3% (95% CI 22·7-24·0), with 3061 (51·2%) of 5916 deaths from health-related causes. Survivors 40 years or more from diagnosis experienced 131 excess health-related deaths per 10 000 person-years (95% CI 111-163), including those due to the top three causes of health-related death in the general population: cancer (absolute excess risk per 10 000 person-years 54, 95% CI 41-68), heart disease (27, 18-38), and cerebrovascular disease (10, 5-17). Healthy lifestyle and absence of hypertension and diabetes were each associated with a 20-30% reduction in health-related mortality independent of other factors (all p values ≤0·002). INTERPRETATION: Survivors of childhood cancer are at excess risk of late mortality even 40 years from diagnosis, due to many of the leading causes of death in the US population. Modifiable lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors associated with reduced risk for late mortality should be part of future interventions. FUNDING: US National Cancer Institute and the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities.

Overall Survival Benefit with Tebentafusp in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Uveal melanoma is a disease that is distinct from cutaneous melanoma, with a low tumor mutational burden and a 1-year overall survival of approximately 50% in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. Data showing a proven overall survival benefit with a systemic treatment are lacking. Tebentafusp is a bispecific protein consisting of an affinity-enhanced T-cell receptor fused to an anti-CD3 effector that can redirect T cells to target glycoprotein 100-positive cells. METHODS: In this open-label, phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned previously untreated HLA-A*02:01-positive patients with metastatic uveal melanoma in a 2:1 ratio to receive tebentafusp (tebentafusp group) or the investigator's choice of therapy with single-agent pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, or dacarbazine (control group), stratified according to the lactate dehydrogenase level. The primary end point was overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 378 patients were randomly assigned to either the tebentafusp group (252 patients) or the control group (126 patients). Overall survival at 1 year was 73% in the tebentafusp group and 59% in the control group (hazard ratio for death, 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37 to 0.71; P<0.001) in the intention-to-treat population. Progression-free survival was also significantly higher in the tebentafusp group than in the control group (31% vs. 19% at 6 months; hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.94; P = 0.01). The most common treatment-related adverse events in the tebentafusp group were cytokine-mediated events (due to T-cell activation) and skin-related events (due to glycoprotein 100-positive melanocytes), including rash (83%), pyrexia (76%), and pruritus (69%). These adverse events decreased in incidence and severity after the first three or four doses and infrequently led to discontinuation of the trial treatment (2%). No treatment-related deaths were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with tebentafusp resulted in longer overall survival than the control therapy among previously untreated patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. (Funded by Immunocore; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03070392; EudraCT number, 2015-003153-18.).

Candida parapsilosis: A systematic review to inform the World Health Organization fungal priority pathogens list.

Candida parapsilosis is globally distributed and recognised for causing an increasing proportion of invasive Candida infections. It is associated with high crude mortality in all age groups. It has been particularly associated with nosocomial outbreaks, particularly in association with the use of invasive medical devices such as central venous catheters. Candida parapsilosis is one of the pathogens considered in the WHO priority pathogens list, and this review was conducted to inform the ranking of the pathogen in the list. In this systematic review, we searched PubMed and Web of Science to find studies between 2011 and 2021 reporting on the following criteria for C. parapsilosis infections: mortality, morbidity (hospitalisation and disability), drug resistance, preventability, yearly incidence, and distribution/emergence. We identified 336 potentially relevant papers, of which 51 were included in the analyses. The included studies confirmed high mortality rates, ranging from 17.5% to 46.8%. Data on disability and sequelae were sparse. Many reports highlighted concerns with azole resistance, with resistance rates of >10% described in some regions. Annual incidence rates were relatively poorly described, although there was clear evidence that the proportion of candidaemia cases caused by C. parapsilosis increased over time. While this review summarises current data on C.parapsilosis, there remains an urgent need for ongoing research and surveillance to fully understand and manage this increasingly important pathogen.

Histoplasmosis: A systematic review to inform the World Health Organization of a fungal priority pathogens list.

Histoplasmosis, a significant mycosis primarily prevalent in Africa, North and South America, with emerging reports globally, poses notable health challenges, particularly in immunocompromised individuals such as people living with HIV/AIDS and organ transplant recipients. This systematic review, aimed at informing the World Health Organization's Fungal Priority Pathogens List, critically examines literature from 2011 to 2021 using PubMed and Web of Science, focusing on the incidence, mortality, morbidity, antifungal resistance, preventability, and distribution of Histoplasma. We also found a high prevalence (22%-44%) in people living with HIV, with mortality rates ranging from 21% to 53%. Despite limited data, the prevalence of histoplasmosis seems stable, with lower estimates in Europe. Complications such as central nervous system disease, pulmonary issues, and lymphoedema due to granuloma or sclerosis are noted, though their burden remains uncertain. Antifungal susceptibility varies, particularly against fluconazole (MIC: ≥32 mg/l) and caspofungin (MICs: 4-32 mg/l), while resistance to amphotericin B (MIC: 0.125-0.16 mg/l), itraconazole (MICs: 0.004-0.125 mg/l), and voriconazole (MICs: 0.004-0.125 mg/l) remains low. This review identifies critical knowledge gaps, underlining the need for robust, globally representative surveillance systems to better understand and combat this fungal threat.

Features and global impact of invasive fungal infections caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii: A systematic review to inform the World Health Organization fungal priority pathogens list.

This systematic review evaluates the current global impact of invasive infections caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii (principally pneumonia: PJP), and was carried out to inform the World Health Organization Fungal Priority Pathogens List. PubMed and Web of Science were used to find studies reporting mortality, inpatient care, complications/sequelae, antifungal susceptibility/resistance, preventability, annual incidence, global distribution, and emergence in the past 10 years, published from January 2011 to February 2021. Reported mortality is highly variable, depending on the patient population: In studies of persons with HIV, mortality was reported at 5%-30%, while in studies of persons without HIV, mortality ranged from 4% to 76%. Risk factors for disease principally include immunosuppression from HIV, but other types of immunosuppression are increasingly recognised, including solid organ and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, autoimmune and inflammatory disease, and chemotherapy for cancer. Although prophylaxis is available and generally effective, burdensome side effects may lead to discontinuation. After a period of decline associated with improvement in access to HIV treatment, new risk groups of immunosuppressed patients with PJP are increasingly identified, including solid organ transplant patients.

Longitudinal adherence to surveillance for late effects of cancer treatment: a population-based study of adult survivors of childhood cancer.

BACKGROUND: Adult survivors of childhood cancer are at elevated risk of morbidity and mortality compared to the general population, but their adherence to lifelong periodic surveillance is suboptimal. We aimed to examine adherence to surveillance guidelines for high-yield tests and identify risk factors for nonadherence in adult survivors of childhood cancer. METHODS: In this retrospective, population-based cohort study, we used health care administrative data from Ontario, Canada, to identify adult survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed between 1986 and 2014 who were at elevated risk of therapy-related colorectal cancer, breast cancer, or cardiomyopathy. Using a Poisson regression framework, we assessed longitudinal adherence and predictors of adherence to the Children's Oncology Group surveillance guideline. RESULTS: Among 3241 survivors, 327 (10%), 234 (7%), and 3205 (99%) were at elevated risk for colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and cardiomyopathy, respectively. Within these cohorts, only 13%, 6%, and 53% were adherent to recommended surveillance as of February 2020. During a median follow-up of 7.8 years, the proportion of time spent adherent was 14% among survivors at elevated risk for colorectal cancer, 10% for breast cancer, and 43% for cardiomyopathy. Significant predictors of adherence varied across the risk groups, but higher comorbidity was associated with adherence to recommended surveillance. INTERPRETATION: Survivors of childhood cancer in Ontario are rarely up to date for recommended surveillance tests. Tailored interventions beyond specialized clinics are needed to improve surveillance adherence.

Cost-effectiveness of the McGill interactive pediatric oncogenetic guidelines in identifying Li-Fraumeni syndrome in female patients with osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a penetrant cancer predisposition syndrome (CPS) associated with the development of many tumor types in young people including osteosarcoma and breast cancer (BC). The McGill Interactive Pediatric OncoGenetic Guidelines (MIPOGG) decision-support tool provides a standardized approach to identify patients at risk of CPSs. METHODS: We conducted a cost-utility analysis, from the healthcare payer perspective, to compare MIPOGG-guided, physician-guided, and universal genetic testing strategies to detect LFS in female patients diagnosed at an age of less than 18 years with osteosarcoma. We developed a decision tree and discrete-event simulation model to simulate the clinical and cost outcomes of the three genetic referral strategies on a cohort of female children diagnosed with osteosarcoma, especially focused on BC as subsequent cancer. Outcomes included BC incidence, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), healthcare costs, and incremental cost-utility ratios (ICURs). We conducted probabilistic and scenario analyses to assess the uncertainty surrounding model parameters. RESULTS: Compared to the physician-guided testing, the MIPOGG-guided strategy was marginally more expensive by $105 (-$516; $743), but slightly more effective by 0.003 (-0.04; 0.045) QALYs. Compared to MIPOGG, the universal testing strategy was $1333 ($732; $1953) more costly and associated with 0.011 (-0.043; 0.064) additional QALYs. The ICUR for the MIPOGG strategy was $33,947/QALY when compared to the physician strategy; the ICUR for universal testing strategy was $118,631/QALY when compared to the MIPOGG strategy. DISCUSSION: This study provides evidence for clinical and policy decision-making on the cost-effectiveness of genetic referral strategies to identify LFS in the setting of osteosarcoma. MIPOGG-guided strategy was most likely to be cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold value of $50,000/QALY.

Job lock among survivors of childhood cancer and their spouses post Affordable Care Act implementation: A Childhood Cancer Survivor Study brief report.

It is unknown how common job lock (i.e., staying at job to maintain health insurance) remains among childhood cancer survivors after Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation in 2010. We examined prevalence of and factors associated with job lock using a cross-sectional survey from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (3503 survivors; 942 siblings). Survivor, spousal, and any survivor/spouse job lock were more frequently reported by survivors than siblings. Survivor job lock/any job lock was associated with older age, low income, severe chronic conditions, and debt/inability to pay debt. Job lock remains more common among survivors than siblings after ACA implementation.

Utility of apical four-chamber longitudinal strain in the assessment of childhood cancer survivors: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: A previous multicenter study showed that longitudinal changes in standard cardiac functional parameters were associated with the development of cardiomyopathy in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). Evaluation of the relationship between global longitudinal strain (GLS) changes and cardiomyopathy risk was limited, largely due to lack of quality apical 2- and 3-chamber views in addition to 4-chamber view. We sought to determine whether apical 4-chamber longitudinal strain (A4LS) alone can serve as a suitable surrogate for GLS in this population. METHODS: A4LS and GLS were measured in echocardiograms with acceptable apical 2-, 3-, and 4-chamber views. Correlation was evaluated using Pearson and Spearman coefficients, and agreement was evaluated with Bland-Altman plots. The ability of A4LS to identify normal and abnormal values compared to GLS as the reference was evaluated. RESULTS: Among a total of 632 reviewed echocardiograms, we identified 130 echocardiograms from 56 patients with adequate views (38% female; mean age at cancer diagnosis 8.3 years; mean follow-up 9.4 years). Correlation coefficients between A4LS and GLS were .89 (Pearson) and .85 (Spearman), with Bland-Altman plot of GLS-A4LS showing a mean difference of -.71 ± 1.8. Compared with GLS as the gold standard, A4LS had a sensitivity of 86% (95% CI 79%-93%) and specificity of 82% (69%-95%) when using normal range cutoffs and 90% (82%-97%) and 70% (58%-81%) when using ±2 standard deviations. CONCLUSION: A4LS performs well when compared with GLS in this population. Given the more recent adoption of apical 2- and 3-chamber views in most pediatric echocardiography laboratories, A4LS is a reasonable stand-alone measurement in retrospective analyses of older study cohorts and echocardiogram biorepositories.

Development and validation of age-specific risk prediction models for primary ovarian insufficiency in long-term survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and St Jude Lifetime Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Female survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), defined as the cessation of gonadal function before the age of 40 years. We aimed to develop and validate models to predict age-specific POI risk among long-term survivors of childhood cancer. METHODS: To develop models to predict age-specific POI risk for the ages of 21-40 years, we used data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). Female survivors aged 18 years or older at their latest follow-up, with self-reported menstrual history information and free of subsequent malignant neoplasms within 5 years of diagnosis, were included. We evaluated models that used algorithms based on statistical or machine learning to consider all predictors, including cancer treatments. Cross-validated prediction performance metrics (eg, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC]) were compared to select the best-performing models. For external validation of the models, we used data from 5-year survivors in the St Jude Lifetime Cohort (SJLIFE) with ovarian status clinically ascertained using hormone measurements (menopause defined by follicle stimulating hormone >30 mIU/mL and oestradiol <17 pg/mL) and medical chart or questionnaire review. We also evaluated an SJLIFE-based polygenic risk score for POI among 1985 CCSS survivors with genotype data available. FINDINGS: 7891 female CCSS survivors (922 with POI) were included in the development of the POI risk prediction model, and 1349 female SJLIFE survivors (101 with POI) were included in the validation study. Median follow-up from cancer diagnosis was 23·7 years (IQR 18·3-30·0) in CCSS and 15·1 years (10·4-22·9) in SJLIFE. Between the ages of 21 and 40 years, POI prevalence increased from 7·9% (95% CI 7·3-8·5) to 18·6% (17·3-20·0) in CCSS and 7·3% (5·8-8·9) to 14·9% (11·6-19·1) in SJLIFE. Age-specific logistic regression models considering ovarian radiation dosimetry or prescribed pelvic and abdominal radiation dose, along with individual chemotherapy predictors, performed well in CCSS. In the SJLIFE validation, the prescribed radiation dose model performed well (AUROC 0·88-0·95), as did a simpler model that considered any exposures to pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy or alkylators (0·82-0·90). Addition of the polygenic risk predictor significantly improved the average positive predictive value (from 0·76 [95% CI 0·63-0·89] to 0·87 [0·80-0·94]; p=0·029) among CCSS survivors treated with ovarian radiation and chemotherapy. INTERPRETATION: POI risk prediction models using treatment information showed robust prediction performance in adult survivors of childhood cancer. FUNDING: Canadian Institutes of Health Research, US National Cancer Institute.

Temporary treatment cessation versus continuation of first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor in patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (STAR): an open-label, non-inferiority, randomised, controlled, phase 2/3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Temporary drug treatment cessation might alleviate toxicity without substantially compromising efficacy in patients with cancer. We aimed to determine if a tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug-free interval strategy was non-inferior to a conventional continuation strategy for first-line treatment of advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: This open-label, non-inferiority, randomised, controlled, phase 2/3 trial was done at 60 hospital sites in the UK. Eligible patients (aged ≥18 years) had histologically confirmed clear cell renal cell carcinoma, inoperable loco-regional or metastatic disease, no previous systemic therapy for advanced disease, uni-dimensionally assessed Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours-defined measurable disease, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) at baseline to a conventional continuation strategy or drug-free interval strategy using a central computer-generated minimisation programme incorporating a random element. Stratification factors were Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center prognostic group risk factor, sex, trial site, age, disease status, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and previous nephrectomy. All patients received standard dosing schedules of oral sunitinib (50 mg per day) or oral pazopanib (800 mg per day) for 24 weeks before moving into their randomly allocated group. Patients allocated to the drug-free interval strategy group then had a treatment break until disease progression, when treatment was re-instated. Patients in the conventional continuation strategy group continued treatment. Patients, treating clinicians, and the study team were aware of treatment allocation. The co-primary endpoints were overall survival and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs); non-inferiority was shown if the lower limit of the two-sided 95% CI for the overall survival hazard ratio (HR) was 0·812 or higher and if the lower limit of the two-sided 95% CI of the marginal difference in mean QALYs was -0·156 or higher. The co-primary endpoints were assessed in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population, which included all randomly assigned patients, and the per-protocol population, which excluded patients in the ITT population with major protocol violations and who did not begin their randomisation allocation as per the protocol. Non-inferiority was to be concluded if it was met for both endpoints in both analysis populations. Safety was assessed in all participants who received a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The trial was registered with ISRCTN, 06473203, and EudraCT, 2011-001098-16. FINDINGS: Between Jan 13, 2012, and Sept 12, 2017, 2197 patients were screened for eligibility, of whom 920 were randomly assigned to the conventional continuation strategy (n=461) or the drug-free interval strategy (n=459; 668 [73%] male and 251 [27%] female; 885 [96%] White and 23 [3%] non-White). The median follow-up time was 58 months (IQR 46-73 months) in the ITT population and 58 months (46-72) in the per-protocol population. 488 patients continued on the trial after week 24. For overall survival, non-inferiority was demonstrated in the ITT population only (adjusted HR 0·97 [95% CI 0·83 to 1·12] in the ITT population; 0·94 [0·80 to 1·09] in the per-protocol population). Non-inferiority was demonstrated for QALYs in the ITT population (n=919) and per-protocol (n=871) population (marginal effect difference 0·06 [95% CI -0·11 to 0·23] for the ITT population; 0·04 [-0·14 to 0·21] for the per-protocol population). The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events were hypertension (124 [26%] of 485 patients in the conventional continuation strategy group vs 127 [29%] of 431 patients in the drug-free interval strategy group); hepatotoxicity (55 [11%] vs 48 [11%]); and fatigue (39 [8%] vs 63 [15%]). 192 (21%) of 920 participants had a serious adverse reaction. 12 treatment-related deaths were reported (three patients in the conventional continuation strategy group; nine patients in the drug-free interval strategy group) due to vascular (n=3), cardiac (n=3), hepatobiliary (n=3), gastrointestinal (n=1), or nervous system (n=1) disorders, and from infections and infestations (n=1). INTERPRETATION: Overall, non-inferiority between groups could not be concluded. However, there seemed to be no clinically meaningful reduction in life expectancy between the drug-free interval strategy and conventional continuation strategy groups and treatment breaks might be a feasible and cost-effective option with lifestyle benefits for patients during tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy in patients with renal cell carcinoma. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Systematic review and updated recommendations for cardiomyopathy surveillance for survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group.

Survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer, previously treated with anthracycline chemotherapy (including mitoxantrone) or radiotherapy in which the heart was exposed, are at increased risk of cardiomyopathy. Symptomatic cardiomyopathy is typically preceded by a series of gradually progressive, asymptomatic changes in structure and function of the heart that can be ameliorated with treatment, prompting specialist organisations to endorse guidelines on cardiac surveillance in at-risk survivors of cancer. In 2015, the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group compiled these guidelines into a uniform set of recommendations applicable to a broad spectrum of clinical environments with varying resource availabilities. Since then, additional studies have provided insight into dose thresholds associated with a risk of asymptomatic and symptomatic cardiomyopathy, have characterised risk over time, and have established the cost-effectiveness of different surveillance strategies. This systematic Review and guideline provides updated recommendations based on the evidence published up to September, 2020.

Treatment patterns and outcomes in adolescents and young adults with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: an IMPACT cohort study.

We leveraged population-based clinical and healthcare data to identify treatment patterns and long-term outcomes among adolescents and young adults (AYA) with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL). All Ontario, Canada, AYA aged 15-21 years at diagnosis with NLPHL between 1992 and 2012 were identified, and their detailed clinical data were collected. Linkage to healthcare databases identified additional events (subsequent malignant neoplasms [SMN], relapses and deaths). Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared by locus of care (adult vs. paediatric) and predictors of outcomes determined. Of 1014 AYA with Hodgkin lymphoma, 54 (5.3%) had NLPHL; 15 (27.8%) were treated at a paediatric centre. No paediatric centre patient received radiation only versus 16 (41.0%) of adult centre patients. Excision only was more common in paediatric centres (p < 0.001). The 20-year EFS and OS rates were 82.9% ± 5.2% and 100% respectively. Advanced stage (hazard ratio: 4.9, 95% CI: 1.3-18.4; p = 0.02) was associated with inferior EFS. Although the 25-year cumulative incidence of SMN was 19.3% ± 9.6% for the entire cohort, there were no SMN among the patients treated with excision only. AYA with NLPHL have outstanding long-term survival. Resection alone was rare outside of paediatric institutions but associated with excellent outcomes. Given substantial SMN risks, chemotherapy-sparing and radiation-sparing strategies for appropriate subsets of patients are warranted.

Avelumab Plus Axitinib as First-Line Therapy for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Long-Term Results from the JAVELIN Renal 100 Phase Ib Trial.

BACKGROUND: Progression-free survival was significantly longer in patients who received avelumab plus axitinib versus sunitinib as first-line treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) in a randomized phase III trial. We report long-term safety and efficacy of avelumab plus axitinib as first-line treatment for patients with aRCC from the JAVELIN Renal 100 phase Ib trial (NCT02493751). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this open-label, multicenter, phase Ib study, patients with untreated aRCC received avelumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks plus axitinib 5 mg twice daily or with axitinib for 7 days followed by avelumab plus axitinib. Safety and efficacy were assessed in all patients receiving at least one dose of avelumab or axitinib. RESULTS: Overall, 55 patients were enrolled and treated. Median follow-up was 55.7 months (95% CI, 54.5-58.7). Treatment-related adverse events of any grade or grade ≥3 occurred in 54 (98.2%) and 34 (61.8%) patients, respectively. The confirmed objective response rate was 60.0% (95% CI, 45.9-73.0), including complete response in 10.9% of patients. Median duration of response was 35.9 months (95% CI, 12.7-52.9); the probability of response was 65.8% (95% CI, 46.7-79.4) at 2 years. Median progression-free survival was 8.3 months (95% CI, 5.3-32.0). Median overall survival was not reached (95% CI, 40.8-not estimable); the 5-year overall survival rate was 57.3% (95% CI, 41.2-70.5). CONCLUSION: Five-year follow-up for combination treatment with avelumab plus axitinib in previously untreated patients with aRCC showed long-term clinical activity with no new safety signals, supporting use of this regimen within its approved indication in clinical practice (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02493751).

Total serum N-glycans associate with response to immune checkpoint inhibition therapy and survival in patients with advanced melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of melanoma and other cancers. However, no reliable biomarker of survival or response has entered the clinic to identify those patients with melanoma who are most likely to benefit from ICIs. Glycosylation affects proteins and lipids' structure and functions. Tumours are characterized by aberrant glycosylation which may contribute to their progression and hinder an effective antitumour immune response. METHODS: We aim at identifying novel glyco-markers of response and survival by leveraging the N-glycome of total serum proteins collected in 88 ICI-naive patients with advanced melanoma from two European countries. Samples were collected before and during ICI treatment. RESULTS: We observe that responders to ICIs present with a pre-treatment N-glycome profile significantly shifted towards higher abundancy of low-branched structures containing lower abundances of antennary fucose, and that this profile is positively associated with survival and a better predictor of response than clinical variables alone. CONCLUSION: While changes in serum protein glycosylation have been previously implicated in a pro-metastatic melanoma behaviour, we show here that they are also associated with response to ICI, opening new avenues for the stratification of patients and the design of adjunct therapies aiming at improving immune response.

NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Survivorship, Version 1.2023.

The NCCN Guidelines for Survivorship are intended to help healthcare professionals address the complex and varied needs of cancer survivors. The NCCN Guidelines provide screening, evaluation, and treatment recommendations for psychosocial and physical problems resulting from adult-onset cancer and its treatment; recommendations to help promote healthy behaviors and immunizations in survivors; and a framework for care coordination. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize recent guideline updates and panel discussions pertaining to sleep disorders, fatigue, and cognitive function in cancer survivors.

A qualitative exploration of parental caregivers' experience caring for children who have survived medulloblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 70% of children diagnosed with a medulloblastoma will become long-term survivors. Medulloblastoma therapy frequently causes long-term morbidities in survivors, which places a considerable burden on parental caregivers. We aimed to explore the experience of parental caregivers caring for medulloblastoma survivors. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study using grounded theory thematic analysis. We used semi-structured parental caregiver interviews to explore family experiences, social circumstances, and family-reported impact within families of children who had survived medulloblastoma. Parental caregivers were recruited from specialized survivor clinics at two large quaternary centers in Toronto, Canada. RESULTS: Sixteen of 22 eligible families participated, and 20 parental caregiver interviews were completed. Survivors were a median age of 6 years (range: 1-9 years) at diagnosis, and were 9.5 years (range: 5-12 years) from treatment at the time of the interview. Three major themes and associated subthemes emerged: (i) parental caregivers described significant long-term challenges associated with their child's survivorship. Subthemes included medical treatment sequelae, school issues and behavioral concerns, and surveillance and access to care. (ii) Parental caregivers recognized the impact that their child's quality of life (QOL) had on both their personal and family QOL. Subthemes included parental QOL, parental mental health and coping, spousal relationships, and effects on the family unit as a whole. (iii) Parental caregivers reported experiencing conflicting emotions related to their child's survivorship status and long-term effects. Subthemes included feeling happiness with concurrent worry, fear, and stress, as well as concerns about the future. CONCLUSIONS: Parental caregivers of medulloblastoma survivors experience long-term challenges, with personal and family impacts. Further work is needed to improve care models and support systems for families with a child who has survived medulloblastoma.