Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes Among Black and White Patients With Cancer.

Importance: Non-Hispanic Black individuals experience a higher burden of COVID-19 than the general population; hence, there is an urgent need to characterize the unique clinical course and outcomes of COVID-19 in Black patients with cancer. Objective: To investigate racial disparities in severity of COVID-19 presentation, clinical complications, and outcomes between Black patients and non-Hispanic White patients with cancer and COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used data from the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium registry from March 17, 2020, to November 18, 2020, to examine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in Black patients with cancer. Data analysis was performed from December 2020 to February 2021. Exposures: Black and White race recorded in patient's electronic health record. Main Outcomes and Measures: An a priori 5-level ordinal scale including hospitalization intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and all-cause death. Results: Among 3506 included patients (1768 women [50%]; median [IQR] age, 67 [58-77] years), 1068 (30%) were Black and 2438 (70%) were White. Black patients had higher rates of preexisting comorbidities compared with White patients, including obesity (480 Black patients [45%] vs 925 White patients [38%]), diabetes (411 Black patients [38%] vs 574 White patients [24%]), and kidney disease (248 Black patients [23%] vs 392 White patients [16%]). Despite the similar distribution of cancer type, cancer status, and anticancer therapy at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis, Black patients presented with worse illness and had significantly worse COVID-19 severity (unweighted odds ratio, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.15-1.58]; weighted odds ratio, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.11-1.33]). Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that Black patients with cancer experience worse COVID-19 outcomes compared with White patients. Understanding and addressing racial inequities within the causal framework of structural racism is essential to reduce the disproportionate burden of diseases, such as COVID-19 and cancer, in Black patients.

Assessment of Regional Variability in COVID-19 Outcomes Among Patients With Cancer in the United States.

Importance: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a distinct spatiotemporal pattern in the United States. Patients with cancer are at higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19, but it is not well known whether COVID-19 outcomes in this patient population were associated with geography. Objective: To quantify spatiotemporal variation in COVID-19 outcomes among patients with cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants: This registry-based retrospective cohort study included patients with a historical diagnosis of invasive malignant neoplasm and laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between March and November 2020. Data were collected from cancer care delivery centers in the United States. Exposures: Patient residence was categorized into 9 US census divisions. Cancer center characteristics included academic or community classification, rural-urban continuum code (RUCC), and social vulnerability index. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. The secondary composite outcome consisted of receipt of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission, and all-cause death. Multilevel mixed-effects models estimated associations of center-level and census division-level exposures with outcomes after adjustment for patient-level risk factors and quantified variation in adjusted outcomes across centers, census divisions, and calendar time. Results: Data for 4749 patients (median [IQR] age, 66 [56-76] years; 2439 [51.4%] female individuals, 1079 [22.7%] non-Hispanic Black individuals, and 690 [14.5%] Hispanic individuals) were reported from 83 centers in the Northeast (1564 patients [32.9%]), Midwest (1638 [34.5%]), South (894 [18.8%]), and West (653 [13.8%]). After adjustment for patient characteristics, including month of COVID-19 diagnosis, estimated 30-day mortality rates ranged from 5.2% to 26.6% across centers. Patients from centers located in metropolitan areas with population less than 250 000 (RUCC 3) had lower odds of 30-day mortality compared with patients from centers in metropolitan areas with population at least 1 million (RUCC 1) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.31; 95% CI, 0.11-0.84). The type of center was not significantly associated with primary or secondary outcomes. There were no statistically significant differences in outcome rates across the 9 census divisions, but adjusted mortality rates significantly improved over time (eg, September to November vs March to May: aOR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.17-0.58). Conclusions and Relevance: In this registry-based cohort study, significant differences in COVID-19 outcomes across US census divisions were not observed. However, substantial heterogeneity in COVID-19 outcomes across cancer care delivery centers was found. Attention to implementing standardized guidelines for the care of patients with cancer and COVID-19 could improve outcomes for these vulnerable patients.

The CoVID-TE risk assessment model for venous thromboembolism in hospitalized patients with cancer and COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 have increased risks of venous (VTE) and arterial thromboembolism (ATE). Active cancer diagnosis and treatment are well-known risk factors; however, a risk assessment model (RAM) for VTE in patients with both cancer and COVID-19 is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence of and risk factors for thrombosis in hospitalized patients with cancer and COVID-19. METHODS: Among patients with cancer in the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium registry (CCC19) cohort study, we assessed the incidence of VTE and ATE within 90 days of COVID-19-associated hospitalization. A multivariable logistic regression model specifically for VTE was built using a priori determined clinical risk factors. A simplified RAM was derived and internally validated using bootstrap. RESULTS: From March 17, 2020 to November 30, 2020, 2804 hospitalized patients were analyzed. The incidence of VTE and ATE was 7.6% and 3.9%, respectively. The incidence of VTE, but not ATE, was higher in patients receiving recent anti-cancer therapy. A simplified RAM for VTE was derived and named CoVID-TE (Cancer subtype high to very-high risk by original Khorana score +1, VTE history +2, ICU admission +2, D-dimer elevation +1, recent systemic anti-cancer Therapy +1, and non-Hispanic Ethnicity +1). The RAM stratified patients into two cohorts (low-risk, 0-2 points, n = 1423 vs. high-risk, 3+ points, n = 1034) where VTE occurred in 4.1% low-risk and 11.3% high-risk patients (c statistic 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.63-0.71). The RAM performed similarly well in subgroups of patients not on anticoagulant prior to admission and moderately ill patients not requiring direct ICU admission. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalized patients with cancer and COVID-19 have elevated thrombotic risks. The CoVID-TE RAM for VTE prediction may help real-time data-driven decisions in this vulnerable population.

A Case of T-Cell Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia and Renal Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGL) is a rare hematological malignancy that currently has no standard therapy. Immunoglobulin heavy chain amyloidosis (AH) involving the kidney is a rare condition and the pathology, diagnosis, clinical characteristics, and prognosis are becoming understood. This report is of a rare case of T-LGL associated with renal AH and discusses the approach to management. CASE REPORT A 57-year-old woman presented with symptoms of fatigue and she had proteinuria. A diagnosis of T-LGL associated with renal AH was made, which is an association that has not been previously reported in the literature. Given the dysregulation of her immune function due to her underlying T-LGL and her comorbidities, treatment options were limited. She was clinically stable and was initially observed. After one year, her symptoms of fatigue became worse, and her proteinuria increased. Treatment was initiated with the triple drug combination of bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) with consideration for future hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Her clinical condition improved, with a reduction in proteinuria. CONCLUSIONS A rare case of T-LGL and renal AH is presented. Currently, there is no standard therapy for T-LGL and AH amyloidosis, and the approach, in this case, was to manage the patient initially with CyBorD triple chemotherapy.

Treatment with Lanreotide Depot Following Octreotide Long-Acting Release Among Patients with Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Objective: To examine patients with metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) who receive sequential treatment with somatostatin analogs. Materials and Methods: This retrospective chart review examined lanreotide depot/autogel tolerability and efficacy among GEP-NET patients who received lanreotide after octreotide long-acting release (LAR) at Tufts University Medical Center. Information obtained included background patient characteristics, dosing, adverse events (AEs), radiologic response, and biochemical markers. Results: Patients (n = 16; 43-81 years; mean age, 64.25 years; 11 female) with nonfunctional, low-grade GEP-NETs receiving octreotide LAR 30-60 mg were transitioned to lanreotide because of patient decision (n = 6), disease progression (n = 6), AEs (n = 2), poor tolerance (n = 1), and injection discomfort/pain (n = 1). Lanreotide doses started at 120 mg (n = 13), 90 mg (n = 1), or 60 mg (n = 2); 8 patients received concomitant therapies, mostly liver-directed (radiofrequency ablation/radioembolization). AEs associated with lanreotide experienced by ≥2 patients were fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, hypertension, pancreatic enzyme deficiency, and hyperglycemia. Radiologic treatment responses of the combination of lanreotide with other therapeutic modalities included complete response (n = 1), partial response (n = 5), and stable disease (n = 9). One patient had radiologic progression. Serum serotonin and chromogranin levels decreased, but urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels appeared relatively unchanged. Conclusion: Among post-octreotide GEP-NET patients, including those with disease progression or poor octreotide tolerance, lanreotide alone or with concomitant therapies was well tolerated and associated with radiologic responses.

Cancer clinical trial enrollment of diverse and underserved patients within an urban safety net hospital.

BACKGROUND: Enrollment rates onto cancer clinical trials are low and reflect a small subset of the population of which even fewer participants come from populations of racial or ethnic diversity or low socioeconomic status. There is a need to increase enrollment onto cancer clinical trials with a focus on recruitment of a diverse, underrepresented patient population. OBJECTIVE: To use the electronic medical record (EMR) to understand the eligibility and enrollment rates for all available cancer trials in the ambulatory care setting at an urban safety net hospital to identify specific strategies for enhanced accrual onto cancer clinical trials of diverse and underserved patients. METHODS: A clinical trial screening note was created for the EMR by the clinical trials office at an urban safety net hospital. 847 cancer clinical trial screening notes were extracted from the EMR between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. During that time, 99 cancer trials were registered for accrual, including clinical treatment, survey, data repository, imaging, and symptom management trials. Data on eligibility, enrollment status, and relationship to sociodemographic status were compared. LIMITATIONS: This is a single-institution and retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that a formal process of tracking cancer clinical trial screens using an EMR can document baseline rates of institution-specific accrual patterns and identify targeted strategies for increasing cancer clinical trial enrollment among a vulnerable patient population. Offering nontreatment trials may be an important and strategic method of engaging this vulnerable population in clinical research.

Lymphadenopathy as a manifestation of amyloidosis: a case series.

Lymphadenopathy as a manifestation of amyloidosis is rare. Of 3008 new patients with amyloidosis evaluated from 1994 to 2013 at a single center, 47 (1.6%) presented with lymph node enlargement leading to a biopsy and the diagnosis. We conducted a retrospective review of the initial presentation, time to progression, and treatment outcomes for these patients. Upon initial evaluation, 14 (30%) had isolated lymphadenopathy while 33 (70%) had evidence of vital organ involvement. Thirty-nine patients (83%) had systemic AL amyloidosis at initial evaluation or developed it on follow up; there was a single case each of AA, wtTTR and V122ITTR and one untyped amyloidosis. Eleven patients (23%) had IgM monoclonal gammopathy and 3 (6%) had histology consistent with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Of the 14 patients with isolated lymphadenopathy, 10 (71%) eventually progressed to other organ disease requiring treatment at a median time of 10 months (range 4-71). This series demonstrates that patients presenting with amyloid lymphadenopathy usually have AL amyloidosis, and should have a thorough evaluation for other organ involvement at diagnosis. If present, treatment should be similar to that of other patients with systemic AL amyloidosis, but if not, patients should be monitored regularly for development of other organ disease over time.