Burnout of health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Focus on Medical Oncologists.

The spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has challenged hard the national health system worldwide. At any level, the role of health care providers has been rapidly revisited and eventually modified to face the pandemic. The search of the balance between the provision of the most appropriate health-related services and safety of both patients and health care providers has become an indisputable necessity. The consequently increased work load, along with a widespread feeling of intellectual isolation, emotional overload, sense of inadequacy for involvement in tasks and disciplines which are not always familiar have all been proposed as factors related to the onset and/or worsening of the burnout phenomenon. This latter is sadly renown among care givers and is particularly common among medical oncologists. We herein share our perspectives on the burnout phenomenon over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on medical oncologists. Results from the most recent and inherent studies are presented and commented in light of hints provided by the experience matured by a quite restricted, still potentially representative, number of professionals figures from the medical oncologists' category. Reasons are proposed to explain the sense of inadequacy currently perceived in relation to the limits imposed by the current pandemic. In more detail, we illustrate the nature and extents of some of the most relevant difficulties in the optimal management of cancer patients and constant efforts towards the scientific upgrade which allows for the improvement of the professional performance. The need for a deeper understanding of the roots and consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of medical oncologists is finally stressed.

Second-line Eribulin in Triple Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer patients. Multicentre Retrospective Study: The TETRIS Trial.

Introduction: Large and consistent evidence supports the use of eribulin mesylate in clinical practice in third or later line treatment of metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC). Conversely, there is paucity of data on eribulin efficacy in second line treatment. Methods: We investigated outcomes of 44 mTNBC patients treated from 2013 through 2019 with second line eribulin mesylate in a multicentre retrospective study involving 14 Italian oncologic centres. Results: Median age was 51 years, with 11.4% of these patients being metastatic at diagnosis. Median overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) from eribulin starting were 11.9 (95%CI: 8.4-15.5) and 3.5 months (95%CI: 1.7-5.3), respectively. We observed 8 (18.2%) partial responses and 10 (22.7%) patients had stable disease as best response. A longer PFS on previous first line treatment predicted a better OS (HR=0.87, 95%CI: 0.77-0.99, p= 0.038) and a longer PFS on eribulin treatment (HR=0.92, 95%CI: 0.85-0.98, p=0.018). Progression free survival to eribulin was also favorably influenced by prior adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=0.44, 95%CI: 0.22-0.88, p=0.02). Eribulin was generally well tolerated, with grade 3-4 adverse events being recorded in 15.9% of patients. Conclusions: The outcomes described for our cohort are consistent with those reported in the pivotal Study301 and subsequent observational studies. Further data from adequately-sized, ad hoc trials on eribulin use in second line for mTNBC are warranted to confirm our findings.

COVID-19 risk in breast cancer patients receiving CDK4/6 inhibitors: literature data and a monocentric experience.

Substantial changes in the management of cancer patients have been required worldwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond the due details on the primitive cancer site and setting at diagnosis, these latter adaptions are most commonly exemplified by a significant reduction in the screening of asymptomatic subjects, delays in elective surgery and radiotherapy for primary tumors, and dose reductions and/or delays in systemic therapy administration. Advanced breast cancer patients with hormonal receptor positive, HER2 negative tumors are usually treated with endocrine therapy combined with CDK 4/6 inhibitors as first- and second-line treatment. During the pandemic, experts' recommendations have suggested the omission or delay of CDK 4/6 inhibitors delivery, or a careful evaluation of their real need due to the hypothesized increased risk of SARS-Cov-2 infection and disease possibly related to neutropenia. The inherent literature is sparse and inconsistent. We herein present data on the use of CDK 4/6 inhibitors during the pandemic. The evidence reported punctually reflects the experience matured at our Institution, a comprehensive cancer centre, on the topic of interest.

Distinct HR expression patterns significantly affect the clinical behavior of metastatic HER2+ breast cancer and degree of benefit from novel anti-HER2 agents in the real world setting.

We analyzed data from 738 HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (mbc) patients treated with pertuzumab-based regimens and/or T-DM1 at 45 Italian centers. Outcomes were explored in relation to tumor subtype assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The median progression-free survival at first-line (mPFS1) was 12 months. Pertuzumab as first-line conferred longer mPFS1 compared to other first-line treatments (16 vs. 9 months, p = 0.0001), regardless of IHC subtype. Median PFS in second-line (mPFS2) was 7 months, with no difference by IHC subtype, but it was more favorable with T-DM1 compared to other agents (7 vs. 6 months, p = 0.03). There was no PFS2 gain in patients with tumors expressing both hormonal receptors (HRs; p = 0.17), while a trend emerged for tumors with one HR (p = 0.05). Conversely, PFS2 gain was significant in HRs-negative tumors (p = 0.04). Median overall survival (mOS) was 74 months, with no significant differences by IHC subtypes. Survival rates at 2 and 3 years in patients treated with T-DM1 in second-line after pertuzumab were significantly lower compared to pertuzumab-naïve patients (p = 0.01). When analyzed by IHC subtype, the outcome was confirmed if both HRs or no HRs were expressed (p = 0.02 and p = 0.006, respectively). Our results confirm that HRs expression impacts the clinical behavior and novel treatment-related outcomes of HER2-positive tumors when treatment sequences are considered. Moreover, multivariate analysis showed that HRs expression had no effect on PFS and OS. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings and clarify the interplay between HER2 and estrogen receptor pathways in HER2-positive (mbc) patients.

Clinical and psychometric validation of the BreSAS questionnaire module for symptom assessment among breast cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: The large number of women surviving many years post breast cancer (BC) diagnosis has heightened interest in studying long-term effects of cancer on quality of life (QoL). Several cancer-specific health-related measures have been developed, but these may not be appropriate for long survivors. This study evaluates the reliability and clinical and psychometric validity of the BreSAS questionnaire (BQ) among BC survivors. METHODS: The BQ is a quick, simple ten-item module for the assessment of long-term physical, psychological, sexual, and cognitive effects that may influence QoL. The total BreSAS score ranks from 0 to 100, with a low score indicating a better QoL. Patients complete the BQ, the FACT-ES questionnaire, and case report forms for clinical and socio-demographic data during follow-up visits. Reliability and clinical and psychometric validity of the questionnaires are assessed by correlation analyses and exploration of known group comparisons. RESULTS: From September 2015 to February 2016, 149 patients from three Italian oncology units were enrolled. Baseline questionnaires were returned from all, and 134 patients (89%) completed the BQ and FACT-ES in less than 15 min. For reliability, Cronbach's alpha coefficients for each scale were greater than 0.70 in all analyzed symptoms. Convergent validity of BQ showed by Pearson's r demonstrated a high correlation between intensity of symptoms and QoL, especially for pain and depression. No data were provided about reproducibility with test-retest study. CONCLUSION: The BQ demonstrates sufficient validity and reliability to support its use to assess patient-reported symptoms during planned follow-up clinical visits among BC survivors. Further full validation studies are needed.

Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives.

In locally advanced (LA) breast cancer (BC), neoadjuvant treatments have led to major achievements, which hold particular relevance in HER2-positive and triple-negative BC. Conversely, their role in hormone receptor positive (HR+), hormone epidermal growth factor 2 negative (HER2-) BC is still under debate, mainly due to the generally low rates of pathological complete response (pCR) and lower accuracy of pCR as predictors of long-term outcomes in this patient subset. While administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) in LA, HR+, HER2- BC patients is widely used in clinical practice, neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) still retains an unfulfilled potential in the management of these subgroups, particularly in elderly and unfit patients. In addition, NET has gained a central role as a platform to test new drugs and predictive biomarkers in previously untreated patients. We herein present historical data regarding Tamoxifen and/or Aromatase Inhibitors and a debate on recent evidence regarding agents such as CDK4/6 and PI3K/mTOR inhibitors in the neoadjuvant setting. We also discuss key issues concerning the optimal treatment length, appropriate comparisons with NCT efficacy and use of NET in premenopausal patients.

Palbociclib plus endocrine therapy in HER2 negative, hormonal receptor-positive, advanced breast cancer: A real-world experience.

Data from 423 human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-), hormone receptor-positive (HR+) advanced breast cancer (aBC) patients treated with palbociclib and endocrine therapy (ET) were provided by 35 Italian cancer centers and analyzed for treatment outcomes. Overall, 158 patients were treated in first line and 265 in second/later lines. We observed 19 complete responses and 112 partial responses. The overall response rate (ORR) was 31% (95% confidence interval [CI], 26.6-35.4) and clinical benefit was 52.7% (95% CI, 48-57.5). ORR was negatively affected by prior exposure to everolimus/exemestane ( p = 0.002) and favorably influenced by early line-treatment ( p < 0.0001). At 6 months, median progression-free survival was 12 months (95% CI, 8-16) and median overall survival was 24 months (95% CI, 17-30). More favorable outcomes were associated with palbociclib in early lines, no visceral metastases and no prior everolimus/exemestane. The main toxicity reported was neutropenia. Our results provide further support to the use of palbociclib with ET in HER2-, HR+ aBC. Differences in outcomes across patients subsets remain largely unexplained.

A nomogram to predict survival in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with nivolumab.

BACKGROUND: The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has considerably expanded the armamentarium against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) contributing to reshaping treatment paradigms in the advanced disease setting. While promising tissue- and plasma-based biomarkers are under investigation, no reliable predictive factor is currently available to aid in treatment selection. METHODS: Patients with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC receiving nivolumab at Sant'Andrea Hospital and Regina Elena National Cancer Institute from June 2016 to July 2017 were enrolled onto this study. Major clinicopathological parameters were retrieved and correlated with patients' survival outcomes in order to assess their prognostic value and build a useful tool to assist in the decision making process. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were included in this study. The median age was 69 years (range 44-85 years), 69 (68%) were male and 52% had ECOG PS 0. Loco-regional/distant lymph nodes were the most commonly involved site of metastasis (71%), followed by lung parenchyma (67%) and bone (26%). Overall survival (OS) in the whole patients' population was 83.6%, 63.2% and 46.9% at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively; while progression-free survival (PFS) was 66.5%, 44.4% and 26.4% at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. At univariate analysis, age ≥ 69 years (P = 0.057), ECOG PS (P < 0.001), the presence of liver (P < 0.001), lung (P = 0.017) metastases, lymph nodes only involvement (P = 0.0145) were significantly associated with OS and ECOG PS (P < 0.001) and liver metastases (P < 0.001), retained statistical significance at multivariate analysis. A prognostic nomogram based on three variables (liver and lung metastases and ECOG PS) was built to assign survival probability at 3, 6, and 12 months after nivolumab treatment commencement. CONCLUSION: We developed a nomogram based on easily available and inexpensive clinical factors showing a good performance in predicting individual OS probability among NSCLC patients treated with nivolumab. This prognostic device could be valuable to clinicians in more accurately driving treatment decision in daily practice as well as enrollment onto clinical trials.

Four lines of anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors and brain radiotherapy in a long-surviving non-small-cell lung cancer anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive patient with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

Lung cancer is the most common tumor and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Approximately 6.7% of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) show anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement and could benefit from ALK-targeted treatment. Various anti-ALK drugs have been developed during the past years, but it is actually controversial which sequence and which ALK inhibitor is recommended for a single patient. Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) is associated with a poor prognosis, with an overall survival of 2-4 months for treated patients. The data about LC management derive mainly from retrospective studies, being an exclusion criterion for most trials. Intrathecal chemotherapy and whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), associated with a systemic treatment, are the most commonly used approach. Here we present a case of NSCLC harboring an ALK translocation treated with four lines of ALK inhibitors and receiving WBRT for LC, showing an overall survival of ∼5 years from the diagnosis of metastatic disease. This case report focuses mainly on several controversial clinical aspects, that is, the sequence of treatment in ALK-positive NSCLC, the ALK inhibitors' efficacy on brain disease and beyond progression, the management of LC, and the role of WBRT despite the risk of cognitive impairment.

Prophylactic use of antiemetics for prevention of opioid-induced nausea and vomiting: a survey about Italian physicians' practice.

PURPOSE: Antiemetics are being used both for the treatment and prophylaxis of opioid-induced nausea and vomiting (OINV) in clinical practice, despite the lack of evidence for the prophylactic benefit. Studies among Japanese physicians demonstrated over 80% prescribe antiemetics, with neuroleptic antipsychotics as the most commonly prescribed drugs. Our objective was to elucidate the current scenario of the prophylactic use of antiemetics for OINV among Italian physicians. METHODS: We conducted a web-based cross-sectional national survey. All the invited participants received an e-mail with an 11-item electronic questionnaire accessible through a direct link. Anonymity was guaranteed. According to the exploratory intent of the survey, we did not predefine any formal statistical hypothesis. Associations between variables were tested by the Pearson chi-square or the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: From January to March 2017, 112 completed the electronic questionnaire (112/256, overall response rate, 43.7%). Nearly half of the participants were oncologists (54; 48.2%). Sixty-one (54.4%) physicians worked in palliative care units. About 45% of the interviewed prescribed prophylactic antiemetics at the beginning of opioid prescription. The most commonly chosen drugs for this purpose were prokinetics such as metoclopramide and domperidone (84%), followed by 5-HT3 antagonists (8%), neuroleptic antipsychotics (6%), and corticosteroids (2%). Ninety-one physicians (81%) declared to prescribe antiemetics at the occurrence of OINV, mainly prokinetics (N = 70; 77%). CONCLUSION: Italian physicians do not commonly prescribe prophylactic antiemetics for OINV. Unlike previously reported data, dopamine antagonists resulted the most commonly prescribed drugs. Prospective clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the real efficacy of this practice.

The Incidence of Alcoholism in Patients with Advanced Cancer Receiving Active Treatment in Two Tertiary Care Centers in Italy.

INTRODUCTION: Substance abuse is frequently under-diagnosed among cancer patients. Alcoholism is a problem afflicting about 18% of the general population. This percentage is higher in hospitalized patients. Previous studies conducted on advanced cancer patients admitted in palliative care units have highlighted this problem only for a small percentage of cases. The objective of the study was to evaluate the incidence of alcoholism in patients with advanced cancer admitted to two Italian Oncology Units for active cancer treatment, using a recognized and validated assessment tool. SHORT SUMMARY: To evaluate the incidence of alcoholism in cancer patients and its impact on symptoms, the CAGE questionnaire was completed by 117 patients in active anticancer treatment. The percentage of CAGE-positive patients was higher than previously detected in palliative settings and was associated to male sex and lower ESAS score. METHODS: All eligible patients were enrolled consecutively during a 12-month recruitment period. Clinical and demographic data were collected. Each enrolled patient completed the Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire. RESULTS: Hundred and seventeen consecutive patients were surveyed in the 12-month period. The mean age was 63.3 (SD 12.0) years and 66 were males. The mean Karnofsky level was 68.3 (SD 16.0). Twelve patients were CAGE positive (10.3%). Males (P = 0.05) and patients with low Edmonton Symptom Assessment System score (P = 0.03) proved to be CAGE positive. CONCLUSIONS: Alcoholism is widespread and under-diagnosed among patients undergoing active cancer treatment. Compared with other experience in palliative settings among European population, percentage of CAGE-positive patients was double. CAGE-positive patients were more likely to be male, with lower ESAS score. It is possible to hypothesize an effect of alcohol consumption on patients' perception of symptoms. This data has never been reported in the literature and will certainly need confirmation studies.

Coexisting YAP expression and TP53 missense mutations delineates a molecular scenario unexpectedly associated with better survival outcomes in advanced gastric cancer.

We have previously reported that nuclear expression of the Hippo transducer TAZ in association with Wnt pathway mutations negatively impacts survival outcomes in advanced gastric cancer (GC) patients. Here, we extended these previous findings by investigating another oncogenic cooperation, namely, the interplay between YAP, the TAZ paralogue, and p53. The molecular output of the YAP-p53 cooperation is dependent on TP53 mutational status. In the absence of mutations, the YAP-p53 crosstalk elicits a pro-apoptotic response, whereas in the presence of TP53 mutations it activates a pro-proliferative transcriptional program. In order to study this phenomenon, we re-analyzed data from 83 advanced GC patients treated with chemotherapy whose tissue samples had been characterized for YAP expression (immunohistochemistry, IHC) and TP53 mutations (deep sequencing). In doing so, we generated a molecular model combining nuclear YAP expression in association with TP53 missense variants (YAP+/TP53mut(mv)). Surprisingly, this signature was associated with a decreased risk of disease progression (multivariate Cox for progression-free survival: HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.30-0.91, p = 0.022). The YAP+/TP53mut(mv) model was also associated with better OS in the subgroup of patients who received chemotherapy beyond the first-line setting (multivariate Cox: HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.16-0.81, p = 0.013). Collectively, our findings suggest that the oncogenic cooperation between YAP and mutant p53 may translate into better survival outcomes. This apparent paradox can be explained by the pro-proliferative program triggered by YAP and mutant p53, that supposedly renders cancer cells more vulnerable to cytotoxic therapies.

Expression of the Hippo transducer TAZ in association with WNT pathway mutations impacts survival outcomes in advanced gastric cancer patients treated with first-line chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: An extensive crosstalk co-regulates the Hippo and Wnt pathway. Preclinical studies revealed that the Hippo transducers YAP/TAZ mediate a number of oncogenic functions in gastric cancer (GC). Moreover, comprehensive characterization of GC demonstrated that the Wnt pathway is targeted by oncogenic mutations. On this ground, we hypothesized that YAP/TAZ- and Wnt-related biomarkers may predict clinical outcomes in GC patients treated with chemotherapy. METHODS: In the present study, we included 86 patients with advanced GC treated with first-line chemotherapy in prospective phase II trials or in routine clinical practice. Tissue samples were immunostained to evaluate the expression of YAP/TAZ. Mutational status of key Wnt pathway genes (CTNNB1, APC and FBXW7) was assessed by targeted DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS). Survival curves were estimated and compared by the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method and the log-rank test, respectively. Variables potentially affecting progression-free survival (PFS) were verified in univariate Cox proportional hazard models. The final multivariate Cox models were obtained with variables testing significant at the univariate analysis, and by adjusting for all plausible predictors of the outcome of interest (PFS). RESULTS: We observed a significant association between TAZ expression and Wnt mutations (Chi-squared p = 0.008). Combined TAZ expression and Wnt mutations (TAZpos/WNTmut) was more frequently observed in patients with the shortest progression-free survival (negative outliers) (Fisher p = 0.021). Uni-and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that patients whose tumors harbored the TAZpos/WNTmut signature had an increased risk of disease progression (univariate Cox: HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.27-4.05, p = 0.006; multivariate Cox: HR 2.73, 95% CI 1.41-5.29, p = 0.003). Finally, the TAZpos/WNTmut signature negatively impacted overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our findings indicate that the oncogenic YAP/TAZ-Wnt crosstalk may be active in GC, conferring chemoresistant traits that translate into adverse survival outcomes.

Observational study of coagulation activation in early breast cancer: development of a prognostic model based on data from the real world setting.

BACKGROUND: Cancer and coagulation activation are tightly related. The extent to which factors related to both these pathologic conditions concur to patient prognosis intensely animates the inherent research areas. The study herein presented aimed to the development of a tool for the assessment and stratification of risk of death and disease recurrence in early breast cancer. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2010, two hundreds thirty-five (N: 235) patients diagnosed with stage I-IIA breast cancer were included. Data on patient demographics and clinic-pathologic features were collected in course of face-to-face interviews or actively retrieved from clinical charts. Plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2), thrombin antithrombin complex (TAT), factor VIII (FVIII), and D-dimer (DD) were measured at breast cancer diagnosis and prior to any therapeutic procedure, including breast surgery. The risk of death was computed in terms of overall survival (OS), which was the primary outcome. For a subset of patients (N = 62), disease free survival (DFS) was also assessed as a measure of risk of disease recurrence. RESULTS: Median follow up was 95 months (range 6-112 months). Mean age at diagnosis was 60.3 ± 13.4 years. Cancer cases were more commonly intraductal carcinomas (N: 204; 86.8%), pT1 (131; 55.7%), pN0 (141; 60%) and G2 (126; 53.6%). Elevated levels of PAI-1 (113; 48.1%) represented the most frequent coagulation abnormality, followed by higher levels of F1 + 2 (97; 41.3%), DD (63; 27.0%), TAT (34; 40%), and FVIII (29; 12.3%). In univariate models of OS, age, pT, DD, FVIII were prognostically relevant. In multivariate models of OS, age (p = 0.043), pT (p = 0.001), levels of DD (p = 0.029) and FVIII (p = 0.087) were confirmed. In the smaller subgroup of 62 patients, lymph node involvement, percent expression of estrogen receptors and levels of FVIII impacted DFS significantly. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a risk assessment tool for OS including patient- and cancer-related features along with biomarkers of coagulation activation in a cohort of early BC patients. Further studies are warranted to validate our prognostic model in the early setting and eventually extend its application to risk evaluation in the advanced setting for breast and other cancers.

Pathologic response and survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without pertuzumab in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer: the Neopearl nationwide collaborative study.

Purpose: Clinical trials have shown a significant increase in pathologic complete response (pCR) with the addition of pertuzumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with early-stage HER-2 positive breast cancer. To date, limited studies have examined comparative outcomes of neoadjuvant pertuzumab in real-world setting. The Neopearl study aimed to assess comparative real-life efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant pertuzumab for these patients. Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective analysis involving 17 oncology facilities with a certified multidisciplinary breast cancer treatment committee. We identified patients with HER-2 positive stage II-III breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on trastuzumab and taxanes with or without pertuzumab. All patients underwent breast surgery and received a comprehensive cardiologic evaluation at baseline and after neoadjuvant treatment. Patients who received the combination of pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and chemotherapy constituted case cohort (PTCT), whereas those treated with trastuzumab and chemotherapy accounted for control cohort (TCT). The pCR rate and 5-year event free survival (EFS) were the primary outcomes. Secondary end-points were rates of conversion from planned modified radical mastectomy (MRM) to breast conservation surgery (BCS) and cardiotoxicities. Results: From March 2014 to April 2021, we included 271 patients, 134 (49%) and 137 (51%) in TCT and PTCT cohort, respectively. Positive axillary lymph nodes and stage III were more frequent in PTCT cohort. The pCR rate was significantly increased in patients who received pertuzumab (49% vs 62%; OR 1.74, 95%CI 1.04-2.89) and with HER-2 enriched subtypes (16% vs 85%; OR 2.94, 95%CI 1.60-5.41). After a median follow-up of 5 years, the 5-year EFS was significantly prolonged only in patients treated with pertuzumab (81% vs 93%; HR 2.22, 95%CI 1.03-4.79). The same analysis performed on propensity score matched population showed concordant results. On univariate analysis, only patients with positive lymph nodes were found to benefit from pertuzumab for both pCR and 5-year EFS. The rates of conversion from MRM to BCS and cardiologic toxicities did not differ between the cohorts. Conclusion: Our findings support previous data on improved outcomes with the addition of pertuzumab to trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This benefit seems to be more significant in patients with clinically positive lymph nodes.

Patients' Satisfaction with Breakthrough Cancer Pain Therapy: A Secondary Analysis of IOPS-MS Study.

Background: Cancer pain is one of the most important symptoms for patients. Pharmacological control is central for clinical management and to ensure well-being. In cancer patients, the management of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is also crucial. This study aims to identify factors that can predict patients' satisfaction with pain relief for BTcP. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the IOPS-MS study, a large, observational, multicenter, national study where thirty-two Italian centers were involved to explore BTcP management. Clinical and pathologic features were recorded, as well as the patients' degree of satisfaction with BTcP medications classified as dissatisfied (not or indifferent satisfied) versus satisfied (or very satisfied). Frequency distributions and the chi-squared test of independence were performed. A multivariate model was carried out by selecting significant variables upon univariate analysis using logistic regression. Results: From the original 4016 patients enrolled, 3840 were available for the study purpose. Seventy-one per cent of patients declared satisfaction with BTcP medications. Young age [odds ratio (OR) 1.29 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.12-1.50)], non-metastatic cancer stage [OR 1.53 (95% CI: 1.22-1.91)], high Karnofsky performance status [OR 1.63 (95% CI:1.33-1.99)], the absence of anticancer treatment [OR 1.42 (95% CI: 1.19-1.69)], the NSAIDs/paracetamol use for background pain [OR 1.56 (95% CI: 1.34-1.82)] and a high BTcP interference in activities of daily living [OR 2.34 (95% CI: 1.81-3.01)] resulted positively correlated with dissatisfaction in the multivariate analyses. Also, the setting of care was related to difference in BTcP therapy satisfaction. Conclusion: This study proposes several key points to be considered in the pharmacological management of BTcP, useful to ensure patients' satisfaction and optimal quality of life.

KEAP1-Mutant NSCLC: The Catastrophic Failure of a Cell-Protecting Hub.

Mutations in the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway are common in NSCLC, albeit with a prevalence of KEAP1 mutations in lung adenocarcinoma and an equal representation of KEAP1 and NFE2L2 (the gene encoding for NRF2) alterations in lung squamous cell carcinoma. The KEAP1-NRF2 axis is a crucial modulator of cellular homeostasis, enabling cells to tolerate oxidative and metabolic stresses, and xenobiotics. The complex cytoprotective response orchestrated by NRF2-mediated gene transcription embraces detoxification mechanisms, ferroptosis protection, and metabolic reprogramming. Given that the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway controls core cellular functions, it is not surprising that a number of clinical studies connected KEAP1 mutations to increased resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted agents. More recently, an immune-cold tumor microenvironment was described as a typical feature of KEAP1-mutant lung adenocarcinoma. Consistently, a reduced efficacy of immunotherapy was reported in the KEAP1-mutant background. Nevertheless, the connection between KEAP1 and immune resistance seems more complex and dependent on coexisting genomic alterations. Given the clinical implications of deregulated KEAP1-NRF2 pathway in lung cancer, the development of pathway-directed anticancer treatments should be considered a priority in the domain of thoracic oncology.

Peripheral lymphocyte subset counts predict antibody response after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-BNT162b2 vaccine in cancer patients: Results from the Vax-On-Profile study.

BACKGROUND: The adaptive immune response following COVID-19 vaccination is essential for humoral immunogenicity and clinical protection against symptomatic infections. We present the results of circulating lymphocyte profiling and their correlation with antibody response in cancer patients tested serologically six months after receiving a two-dose schedule of mRNA-BNT162b2 vaccine. METHODS: Absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets were determined using peripheral blood immunophenotyping. We collected samples for flow cytometry analysis alongside quantitative detection of IgG antibodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (S1). An IgG titer ≥ 50 AU/mL defined a positive seroconversion response. RESULTS: 311 patients were evaluable for lymphocyte profiling and serologic testing. A preliminary multivariate analysis revealed that cytotoxic chemotherapy was the most consistent factor associated with lower counts of all lymphocyte subpopulations. T helper and B cells were found to be useful in predicting the occurrence of a positive seroconversion response using ROC curve analysis. A significant positive linear correlation was shown when anti-RBD-S1 IgG titers were compared to these lymphocyte subset counts. Univariate analysis indicated that antibody titers and seroconversion rates were significantly improved in the high-level T and B cell subgroups. Multivariate analysis confirmed these significant interactions, as well as the negative predictive value of immunosuppressive corticosteroid therapy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that simple and widely available peripheral counts of T helper and B cells correlate with humoral response to mRNA-BNT162b2 vaccine in actively treated cancer patients. Upon validation, our results could provide additional insights into the predictive assessment of vaccination efficacy.

Immune-related Thyroid Dysfunction (irTD) in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Correlates With Response and Survival.

Background: There is no clear information on the proportion of patients who need therapy for immune-related thyroid dysfunction (irTD) or who need to delay, omit, or discontinue immunotherapy. Furthermore, it is not well known whether irTD correlates with better outcomes or not. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1. Results: Our study enrolled 75 patients, 25.3% of them developed immune-related thyroid dysfunction. Three patients delayed a course of immunotherapy due to irTD, 2 patients omitted a course and 1 patient permanently discontinued. In patients with irTD compared with those without irTD the ORR was 42.1% vs. 7.1% (p<0.001), DCR was 78.9% vs. 32.1% (p<0.001); mPFS was 15.7 vs. 3.6 months (p<0.001) and mOS was 18.6 months vs. 5.1 months (p<0.001). Conclusion: Immune-related thyroid dysfunction has a mild impact on the immunotherapy treatment program. The occurrence of irTD correlates with more favorable response and survival.

Dynamic changes in peripheral lymphocytes and antibody response following a third dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-BNT162b2 vaccine in cancer patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of circulating lymphocytes profiling with antibody response in cancer patients receiving the third dose of COVID-19 mRNA-BNT162b2 vaccine. Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood was used to determine absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets, alongside detection of IgG antibodies against receptor-binding-domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (S1) before booster dosing (timepoint-1) and four weeks afterward (timepoint-2). An IgG titer ≥ 50 AU/mL defined a positive seroconversion response. An IgG titer ≥ 4446 AU/mL was assumed as a correlate of 50% vaccine efficacy against symptomatic infections. A total of 258 patients on active treatment within the previous six months were enrolled between September 23 and October 7, 2021. The third dose resulted in an exponential increase in median anti-RBD-S1 IgG titer (P < 0.001), seroconversion rates (P < 0.001), and 50% vaccine efficacy rates (P < 0.001). According to ROC curve analysis, T helper and B cells were significantly associated with seroconversion responses at timepoint-1, whereas only B cells were relevant to 50% vaccine efficacy rates at timepoint-2. A positive linear correlation was shown between anti-RBD-S1 IgG titers and these lymphocyte subset counts. Multivariate analysis ruled out a potential role of T helper cells but confirmed a significant interaction between higher B cell levels and improved antibody response. These findings suggest that peripheral counts of B cells correlate with humoral response to the third dose of mRNA-BNT162b2 vaccine in actively treated cancer patients and could provide insights into a more comprehensive assessment of vaccination efficacy.