A single-day polychemotherapy regimen with proteasome inhibitor combinations for relapsed/refractory myeloma in the era of novel therapies.

PCAB (prednisone, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, carmustine) is a single-day regimen previously used for induction and now in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). We retrospectively analysed the outcomes of 85 patients from five Australian centres. These included 30 patients (35.3%) who received PCAB with one additional agent (bortezomib most frequently). Median age of the patients was 65 years (37-80), with a median of four (1-8) prior lines of therapy. ORR was 37% (CR 4.9%). Median progression free survival and overall survival were 4.4 months (95% CI 3.5-6.7) and 7.4 months (95% CI 6.4-10.2), respectively. Extramedullary disease (EMD) was associated with shorter survival. Grade 3 or 4 cytopenia and febrile neutropenia occurred in 76.2% and 39.1%, respectively, with six (7.1%) treatment-related mortalities. Median inpatient stay was 3.3 days/28-day cycle (IQR 0.6-13), and for patients who died, a median of 20.2% of days alive were spent inpatient (IQR 6.4-39.1%). Three patients were successfully bridged to CAR T-cell therapy using PCAB, despite being penta-exposed and having EMD. PCAB may be considered as a useful salvage therapy amongst other polychemotherapy regimens in late relapse. Further studies is warranted to investigate and define its role as a bridging therapy to novel therapeutics.

FLT3-TKD Measurable Residual Disease Detection Using Droplet Digital PCR and Clinical Applications in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

The tyrosine kinase domain of the FMS-Like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3-TKD) is recurrently mutated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Common molecular techniques used in its detection include PCR and capillary electrophoresis, Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing with recognized sensitivity limitations. This study aims to validate the use of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in the detection of measurable residual disease (MRD) involving the common FLT3-TKD mutations (D835Y, D835H, D835V, D835E). Twenty-two diagnostic samples, six donor controls, and a commercial D835Y positive control were tested using a commercial Bio-rad® ddPCR assay. All known variants were identified, and no false positives were detected in the wild-type control (100% specificity and sensitivity). The assays achieved a limit of detection suitable for MRD testing at 0.01% variant allelic fraction. Serial samples from seven intensively-treated patients with FLT3-TKD variants at diagnosis were tested. Five patients demonstrated clearance of FLT3-TKD clones, but two patients had FLT3-TKD persistence in the context of primary refractory disease. In conclusion, ddPCR is suitable for the detection and quantification of FLT3-TKD mutations in the MRD setting; however, the clinical significance and optimal management of MRD positivity require further exploration.

Immunotherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy for older patients with non-metastatic renal cancer unfit for surgery or decline nephrectomy: practical proposal by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group.

The standard of care for non-metastatic renal cancer is surgical resection followed by adjuvant therapy for those at high risk for recurrences. However, for older patients, surgery may not be an option due to the high risk of complications which may result in death. In the past renal cancer was considered to be radio-resistant, and required a higher dose of radiation leading to excessive complications secondary to damage of the normal organs surrounding the cancer. Advances in radiotherapy technique such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has led to the delivery of a tumoricidal dose of radiation with minimal damage to the normal tissue. Excellent local control and survival have been reported for selective patients with small tumors following SBRT. However, for patients with poor prognostic factors such as large tumor size and aggressive histology, there was a higher rate of loco-regional recurrences and distant metastases. Those tumors frequently carry program death ligand 1 (PD-L1) which makes them an ideal target for immunotherapy with check point inhibitors (CPI). Given the synergy between radiotherapy and immunotherapy, we propose an algorithm combining CPI and SBRT for older patients with non-metastatic renal cancer who are not candidates for surgical resection or decline nephrectomy.

Detection of clinically significant prostate cancer following initial omission of biopsy in multiparametric MRI era.

BACKGROUND: Multiparametric prostate MRI (mpMRI) is being increasingly adopted for work-up of prostate cancer. For patients selected to omit biopsy, we identified factors associated with repeat MRI, eventual prostate biopsy, and subsequent detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa, Grade Group ≥2). METHODS: We identified biopsy-naïve men presenting with PSA 2-20 ng/mL (March 2018-June 2021) undergoing initial mpMRI with PIRADS 1-3 lesions who were not selected for biopsy with ≥6 months follow-up. We examined factors associated with repeat mpMRI, progression to biopsy, and subsequent detection of csPCa with univariable and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 1494 men, 31% (463/1494) did not pursue biopsy. PSA density (PSAD) ≤ 0.1, prostate health index (PHI) < 55, and PIRADS 1-2 were associated with omission of prostate biopsy. csPCa diagnosis-free survival was 97.6% (326/334) with median follow up of 23.1 months (IQR 15.1-34.6 months). Black race, PSA, PHI, PSA density, and PSA and PHI velocity were significant predictors of undergoing repeat mpMRI (15.6%, 52/334) and subsequent biopsy (8.4%, 28/334). 8 men were subsequently diagnosed with csPCa (N = 7 on prostate biopsy; N = 1 incidentally on holmium enucleation of prostate). All patients diagnosed with csPCa had PIRADS 4-5 on repeat mpMRI. CONCLUSIONS: The subsequent detection rate of csPCa among patients not initially biopsied after mpMRI was low at 2.4%. Decisions to omit biopsy after initial reassuring PHI, PSAD, and mpMRI appear safe with subsequent reassuring serum biomarkers and for cause mpMRI during follow-up.

Preview-Based Path-tracking Stability Control with Vehicle Dynamic Uncertainty via Robust Weighted LPV/H∞ Technique.

This article proposes a preview-based robust path-tracking control technique for maintaining lateral stability and tracking performance of autonomous vehicles, particularly in the presence of external disturbances and modeling uncertainties. First, a vehicle-road dynamic model with tire norm-bounded uncertainty is developed, which includes time-varying velocities and preview distances. The lateral and yaw dynamic characteristics are also analyzed in the frequency domain. Subsequently, an optimal preview model corresponding to sideslip-yaw rate states and longitudinal velocities is formulated employing a fuzzy logic model, and the sideslip angle is estimated using a sliding mode observer. Furthermore, a linear parameter-varying (LPV)/H∞ path-tracking controller that satisfies the pole placement and performance constraint is constructed to guarantee robustness and lateral stability across the whole parameters space with the coexistence of external disturbances and parametric uncertainties. Finally, the simulation results demonstrate that the proposed controller substantially enhances tracking performance while also maintaining excellent lateral stability.

Rotational Stability of Toric Intraocular Lenses by Lens Model and Haptic Design: A Systematic Review and Single-Arm Meta-Analysis.

Rotational stability is key for optimizing postoperative visual outcomes as even a small degree of rotation of a toric intraocular lens (IOL) from its target axis can result in a significant reduction of astigmatic correction. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the rotational stability of toric IOLs of different lens models and haptic designs. All published studies and clinical trials that investigate postoperative rotation of toric IOLs were searched and evaluated. Quality of studies was assessed using the Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) scale. A single-arm meta-analysis was performed in R4.3.1 software with subgroup analysis performed based on lens model and haptic design. Fifty-one published studies of 4863 eyes were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled mean absolute rotation of all toric IOLs was 2.36° (95% CI: 2.08-2.64). Postoperative rotation is dependent on many aspects of lens material and design. Modern commercially available toric IOLs exhibit exceptional rotational stability.

Contemporary Diagnosis of Very Low-risk Prostate Cancer in a Multihospital Health Care System.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) very low risk (VLR) category for prostate cancer (PCa) represents clinically insignificant disease, and detection of VLR PCa contributes to overdiagnosis. Greater use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biomarkers before patient selection for prostate biopsy (PBx) reduces unnecessary biopsies and may reduce the diagnosis of clinically insignificant PCa. We tested a hypothesis that the proportion of VLR diagnoses has decreased with greater use of MRI-informed PBx using data from our 11-hospital system. From 2018 to 2023, 351/3197 (11%) men diagnosed with PCa met the NCCN VLR criteria. The proportion of VLR diagnoses did not change from 2018 to 2023 (p = 0.8) despite an increase in the use of MRI-informed PBx (from 49% to 82%; p < 0.001). Of patients who underwent combined systematic and targeted PBx and were diagnosed with VLR disease, cancer was found in systematic PBx regions in 79% of cases and in targeted PBx regions in 31% of cases. When performing both systematic and targeted PBx, prebiopsy MRI-based risk calculators could limit VLR diagnosis by 41% using a risk threshold of >5% for Gleason grade group ≥3 PCa to recommend biopsy; the reduction would be 77% if performing targeted PBx only. These findings suggest that VLR disease continues to account for a significant minority of PCa diagnoses and could be limited by targeted PBx and risk stratification calculators. PATIENT SUMMARY: We looked at recent trends for the diagnosis of very low-risk (VLR) prostate cancer. We found that VLR cancer still seems to be frequently diagnosed despite the use of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans before biopsy. The use of risk calculators to identify men who could avoid biopsy and/or biopsy only for lesions that are visible on MRI could reduce the overdiagnosis of VLR prostate cancer.

Masculinity, Meat, and Veg*nism: A Scoping Review.

Men historically consume more meat than women, show fewer intentions to reduce meat consumption, and are underrepresented among vegans and vegetarians. Eating meat strongly aligns with normative masculinities, decisively affirming that "real men" eat meat and subordinating men who choose to be veg*n (vegan or vegetarian). The emergence of meat alternatives and increasing environmental concerns may contest these long-standing masculine norms and hierarchies. The current scoping review addresses the research question what are the connections between masculinities and men's attitudes and behaviors toward meat consumption and veg*nism? Using keywords derived from two key concepts, "men" and "meat," 39 articles were selected and analyzed to inductively derive three thematic findings; (a) Meat as Masculine, (b) Veg*n Men as Othered, and (c) Veg*nism as Contemporary Masculinity. Meat as Masculine included how men's gendered identities, defenses, and physicalities were entwined with meat consumption. Veg*n Men as Othered explored the social and cultural challenges faced by men who adopt meatless diets, including perceptions of emasculation. Veg*nism as Contemporary Masculinity was claimed by men who eschewed meat in their diets and advocated for veg*nism as legitimate masculine capital through linkages to physical strength, rationality, self-determination, courage, and discipline. In light of the growing concern about the ecological impact of meat production and the adverse health outcomes associated with its excessive consumption, this review summarizes empirical connections between masculinities and the consumption of meat to consider directions for future men's health promotion research, policy, and practice.

Ultrasensitive PSA: rethinking post-surgical management for node positive prostate cancer.

Introduction: Clinicians may offer patients with positive lymph nodes (pN1) and undetectable PSA following surgery for prostate cancer either observation or adjuvant therapy based on AUA, EAU, and NCCN guidelines considering standard PSA detection thresholds of <0.1ng/ml. Here we sought to investigate the outcomes of pN1 patients in the era of ultrasensitive PSA testing. Methods: We queried the Northwestern Electronic Data Warehouse for patients with prostate cancer who were pN1 at radical prostatectomy and followed with ultrasensitive PSA. Patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment were excluded. We compared clinical characteristics including age, race, pre-operative PSA, Gleason grade, tumor stage, surgical margins, and nodal specimens to identify factors associated with achievement and maintenance of an undetectable PSA (defined as <0.01 ng/mL). Statistics were performed using t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-squared analysis, and logistic regression with significance defined as p<0.05. Results: From 2018-2023, 188 patients were included. Subsequently, 39 (20.7%) had a PSA decline to undetectable levels (<0.01 ng/mL) post-operatively at a median time of 63 days. Seven percent of these men (3/39) were treated with adjuvant RT + ADT with undetectable PSA levels. 13/39 (33.3%) had eventual rises in PSA to ≥0.01 ng/mL for which they underwent salvage RT with ADT. Overall, 23/39 (59%) patients achieved and maintained undetectable PSA levels without subsequent therapy at median follow-up of 24.2 mo. Compared to patients with PSA persistence after surgery or elevations to detectable levels (≥0.01 ng/mL), patients who achieved and maintained undetectable levels had lower Gleason grades (p=0.03), lower tumor stage (p<0.001), fewer positive margins (p=0.02), and fewer involved lymph nodes (p=0.02). On multivariable analysis, only primary tumor (pT) stage was associated with achieving and maintaining an undetectable PSA; pT3b disease was associated with a 6.6-fold increased chance of developing a detectable PSA (p=0.03). Conclusion: Ultrasensitive PSA can aid initiation of early salvage therapy for lymph node positive patients after radical prostatectomy while avoiding overtreatment in a significant subset. 20% of patients achieved an undetectable PSA and over half of this subset remained undetectable after 2 years.

Implementation of PSMA PET/CT and alignment of ordering to SNMMI appropriate use criteria in a large network system.

INTRODUCTION: The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) provides appropriate use criteria (AUC) for prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT) which include guidance on imaging in newly diagnosed prostate cancer and in patients with biochemically recurrent (BCR) disease. This study aims to examine trends in PSMA implementation and the prevalence and outcomes of scans ordered in scenarios deemed rarely appropriate or not meeting SNMMI AUC. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients who were diagnosed with presumptive National Comprehensive Cancer Network unfavorable intermediate, high, or very high risk prostate cancer, patients who underwent staging for BCR, and all patients staged with PSMA between July 2021 and March 2023. Positivity was validated by adherence to a predetermined reference standard. RESULTS: The frequency of PSMA use increased in initial staging from 24% to 80% and work-up of BCR from 91% to 99% over our study period. In addition, 5% (17/340) of PSMA scans ordered for initial staging did not meet AUC and 3% (15/557) of posttreatment scans were deemed rarely appropriate. Initial staging orders not meeting SNMMI AUC resulted in no positivity (0/17), while rarely appropriate posttreatment scans were falsely positive in 75% (3/4) of cases. Urologists (53%, 17/32) comprised the largest ordering specialty in rarely appropriate use. CONCLUSION: The frequency of PSMA use rose across the study period. A significant minority of patients received PSMA PET/CT in rarely appropriate scenarios yielding no positivity in initial staging and significant false positivity post-therapy. Further education of providers and electronic medical record-based interventions could help limit the rarely appropriate use of PET imaging.

Generating user-driven patient personas to support preventive health care activities of rural-living unattached patients.

Objective: This study created personas using quantitative segmentation and knowledge user enhancement to inform intervention and service design for rural patients to encourage preventive care uptake. Methods: This study comprised a cross-sectional survey of rural unattached patients and a co-design workshop for persona development. Cross-sectional survey data were analyzed for meaningful subgroups based on quartiles of preventive care completion. These quartiles informed "relevant user segments" grouped according to demographics (age, sex), length of unattachment, percentage of up-to-date preventive activities, health care visit frequency, preventive priorities, communication confidence with providers, and chronic health conditions, which were then used in the workshop to build the final personas. Results: 207 responses informed persona user segments, and five health care providers and 13 patients attended the workshop. The resulting four personas, included John (not up-to-date on preventive care activities), Terrance (few up-to-date preventive care activities), George (moderately up-to-date preventive care activities), and Anne (mostly up-to-date preventive care activities). Conclusion: Quantitative persona development with integrated knowledge user co-design/enhancement elevated and enriched final personas that achieved robust profiles for intervention design. Innovation: This project's use of a progressive methodology to build robust personas coupled with participant feedback on the co-design process offers a replicable approach for health researchers.

Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Risk Calculators to Predict Prostate Cancer Risk.

Importance: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based risk calculators can replace or augment traditional prostate cancer (PCa) risk prediction tools. However, few data are available comparing performance of different MRI-based risk calculators in external cohorts across different countries or screening paradigms. Objective: To externally validate and compare MRI-based PCa risk calculators (Prospective Loyola University Multiparametric MRI [PLUM], UCLA [University of California, Los Angeles]-Cornell, Van Leeuwen, and Rotterdam Prostate Cancer Risk Calculator-MRI [RPCRC-MRI]) in cohorts from Europe and North America. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multi-institutional, external validation diagnostic study of 3 unique cohorts was performed from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2022. Two cohorts from Europe and North America used MRI before biopsy, while a third cohort used an advanced serum biomarker, the Prostate Health Index (PHI), before MRI or biopsy. Participants included adult men without a PCa diagnosis receiving MRI before prostate biopsy. Interventions: Prostate MRI followed by prostate biopsy. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was diagnosis of clinically significant PCa (grade group ≥2). Receiver operating characteristics for area under the curve (AUC) estimates, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis were evaluated. Results: A total of 2181 patients across the 3 cohorts were included, with a median age of 65 (IQR, 58-70) years and a median prostate-specific antigen level of 5.92 (IQR, 4.32-8.94) ng/mL. All models had good diagnostic discrimination in the European cohort, with AUCs of 0.90 for the PLUM (95% CI, 0.86-0.93), UCLA-Cornell (95% CI, 0.86-0.93), Van Leeuwen (95% CI, 0.87-0.93), and RPCRC-MRI (95% CI, 0.86-0.93) models. All models had good discrimination in the North American cohort, with an AUC of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.80-0.89) for PLUM and AUCs of 0.83 for the UCLA-Cornell (95% CI, 0.80-0.88), Van Leeuwen (95% CI, 0.79-0.88), and RPCRC-MRI (95% CI, 0.78-0.87) models, with somewhat better calibration for the RPCRC-MRI and PLUM models. In the PHI cohort, all models were prone to underestimate clinically significant PCa risk, with best calibration and discrimination for the UCLA-Cornell (AUC, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.81-0.85]) model, followed by the PLUM model (AUC, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.80-0.84]). The Van Leeuwen model was poorly calibrated in all 3 cohorts. On decision curve analysis, all models provided similar net benefit in the European cohort, with higher benefit for the PLUM and RPCRC-MRI models at a threshold greater than 22% in the North American cohort. The UCLA-Cornell model demonstrated highest net benefit in the PHI cohort. Conclusions and Relevance: In this external validation study of patients receiving MRI and prostate biopsy, the results support the use of the PLUM or RPCRC-MRI models in MRI-based screening pathways regardless of European or North American setting. However, tools specific to screening pathways incorporating advanced biomarkers as reflex tests are needed due to underprediction.

Immunotherapy and radiotherapy for older patients with locally advanced rectal cancer unfit for surgery or decline surgery: a practical proposal by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group.

The standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer is total neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection. Current evidence suggests that selected patients may be able to delay or avoid surgery without affecting survival rates if they achieve a complete clinical response (CCR). However, for older cancer patients who are too frail for surgery or decline the surgical procedure, local recurrence may lead to a deterioration of patient quality of life. Thus, for clinicians, a treatment algorithm which is well tolerated and may improve CCR in older and frail patients with rectal cancer may improve the potential for prolonged remission and potential cure. Recently, immunotherapy with check point inhibitors (CPI) is a promising treatment in selected patients with high expression of program death ligands receptor 1 (PD- L1). Radiotherapy may enhance PD-L1 expression in rectal cancer and may improve response rate to immunotherapy. We propose an algorithm combining immunotherapy and radiotherapy for older patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who are too frail for surgery or who decline surgery.

Assessing emergence risk of double-resistant and triple-resistant genotypes of Plasmodium falciparum.

Delaying and slowing antimalarial drug resistance evolution is a priority for malaria-endemic countries. Until novel therapies become available, the mainstay of antimalarial treatment will continue to be artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). Deployment of different ACTs can be optimized to minimize evolutionary pressure for drug resistance by deploying them as a set of co-equal multiple first-line therapies (MFT) rather than rotating therapies in and out of use. Here, we consider one potential detriment of MFT policies, namely, that the simultaneous deployment of multiple ACTs could drive the evolution of different resistance alleles concurrently and that these resistance alleles could then be brought together by recombination into double-resistant or triple-resistant parasites. Using an individual-based model, we compare MFT and cycling policies in malaria transmission settings ranging from 0.1% to 50% prevalence. We define a total risk measure for multi-drug resistance (MDR) by summing the area under the genotype-frequency curves (AUC) of double- and triple-resistant genotypes. When prevalence ≥ 1%, total MDR risk ranges from statistically similar to 80% lower under MFT policies than under cycling policies, irrespective of whether resistance is imported or emerges de novo. At 0.1% prevalence, there is little statistical difference in MDR risk between MFT and cycling.

Prostate Cancer Detection Rate of Transperineal Prostate Biopsy: Cognitive vs Software Fusion, A Multicenter Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinically significant prostate cancer detection with TP-TBx utilizing software vs cognitive fusion. It is established that MRI prior to prostate biopsy improves detection of clinically significant cancer (csPCa, Grade Group ≥2). MRI/US fusion targeted biopsy via a transperineal approach (TP-TBx) is increasing in utilization due to the clean percutaneous approach that greatly reduces postbiopsy infection. However, the comparative effectiveness of formal software fusion over cognitive fusion remains under studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective multicenter study from June 2020 to July 2022 including age, race, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostate volume, PI-RADS, lesion size(s), number of cores sampled, indication (elevated PSA, prior negative, active surveillance) and anesthesia type. Surgeon preference determined use of cognitive (PrecisionPoint) vs software fusion techniques. Multivariable logistic regression determined factors associated with TP-TBx detection of csPCa. RESULTS: We identified 490 patients (201 cognitive, 289 software fusion) who underwent TP-TBx. Patient age, PSA, number of targets, and PI-RADS were similar (all P > .05). Software fusion TP-TBx had 4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3-5] more (estimated median difference) systematic cores sampled. csPCa was detected in 44% of all patients. In adjusted analysis, cognitive vs software fusion was similar in detection of csPCa (odds ratio 1.46, 95% CI 0.82-2.58). CONCLUSION: Cognitive vs software fusion TP-TBx has similar csPCa detection, despite fewer systematic cores taken with cognitive fusion. The expense, additional time requirement, and similar outcomes of software fusion platforms confers higher value to cognitive TP-Bx.

Assessment of online information on robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery.

Online health resources are important for patients seeking perioperative information on robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery. The value of the resources depends on their readability, accuracy, content, quality, and suitability for patient use. We systematically assess current online health information on robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery. Systematic online searches were performed to identify websites discussing robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery. For each website, readability was measured by nine standardized tests, and accuracy and content were assessed by an independent panel of two robotic cardiothoracic surgeons. Quality and suitability of websites were evaluated using the DISCERN and Suitability Assessment of Materials tools, respectively. A total of 220 websites (120 cardiac, and 100 thoracic) were evaluated. Both robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery websites were very difficult to read with mean readability scores of 13.8 and 14.0 (p = 0.97), respectively, requiring at least 13 years of education to be comprehended. Both robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery websites had similar accuracy, amount of content, quality, and suitability (p > 0.05). On multivariable regression, academic websites [Exp (B)], 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-3.16; P < 0.001), and websites with higher amount of content [Exp (B)],1.73; 95% CI, 1.24-2.41; P < 0.001) were associated with higher accuracy. There was no association between readability of websites and accuracy [Exp (B)], 1.04; 95% CI, 0.90-1.21; P = 0.57). Online information on robotic cardiac and thoracic surgery websites overestimate patients' understanding and require at least 13 years of education to be comprehended. As website accuracy is not associated with ease of reading, the readability of online resources can be improved without compromising accuracy.

The association between telemedicine, advance care planning, and unplanned hospitalizations among high-risk patients with cancer.

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread implementation of telemedicine, there are limited data regarding its impact on key components of care for patients with incurable or high-risk cancer. For these patients, high-quality care requires detailed conversations regarding treatment priorities (advance care planning) and clinical care to minimize unnecessary acute care (unplanned hospitalizations). Whether telemedicine affects these outcomes relative to in-person clinic visits was examined among patients with cancer at high risk for 6-month mortality. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included adult patients with cancer with any tumor type treated at the University of Pennsylvania who were newly identified between April 1 and December 31, 2020, to be at high risk for 6-month mortality via a validated machine learning algorithm. Separate modified Poisson regressions were used to assess the occurrence of advance care planning and unplanned hospitalizations for telemedicine as compared to in-person visits. Additional analyses were done comparing telemedicine type (video or phone) as compared to in-person clinic visits. RESULTS: The occurrence of advance care planning was similar between telemedicine and in-person visits (6.8% vs. 6.0%; adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.25; 95% CI, 0.92-1.69). In regard to telemedicine subtype, patients exposed to video encounters were modestly more likely to have documented advance care planning in comparison to those seen in person (7.5% vs. 6.0%; aRR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.03-2.11). The 3-month risk for unplanned hospitalization was comparable for telemedicine compared to in-person clinic encounters (21% vs. 18%; aRR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.81-1.38). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, care delivered by telemedicine, compared to in-person clinic visits, produced comparable rates of advance care planning conversations without increasing hospitalizations, which suggests that vulnerable patients can be managed safely by telemedicine.