Functional precision medicine assay for recurrent meningioma: a proof of principle. Illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas are the most prevalent primary central nervous system tumors. Although low-grade meningiomas are considered benign tumors, a subset of these can behave aggressively, showing progression and recurrence. In such cases, functional assays could influence treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes. OBSERVATIONS: A 78-year-old female presented with a long-standing history of a supratentorial meningioma that was initially resected and treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Surveillance revealed progression. She began systemic therapy with everolimus and octreotide but was lost to follow-up and did not continue the treatment. She returned because of a rapid decline in her neurological status. Biopsy with advanced molecular characterization by next-generation sequencing revealed NF2 and CREBBP mutations, and a commercial functional assay was done. This assay successfully isolated cancer stem cells (CSCs) from biopsy cores and identified potential drugs based on cellular sensitivity profiles. This is the first reported case in which a commercial functional drug screen was used for a meningioma. LESSONS: In cases in which meningiomas exhibit specific genetic alterations and characteristics of aggressiveness, functional assays can be a useful tool for isolating CSCs. The authors report success in obtaining drug-screen profiling for a World Health Organization grade 1 meningioma. Multimodal approaches utilizing multi-omics analyses with functional assays can improve patient outcomes. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24242.

Long-read sequencing for brain tumors.

Brain tumors and genomics have a long-standing history given that glioblastoma was the first cancer studied by the cancer genome atlas. The numerous and continuous advances through the decades in sequencing technologies have aided in the advanced molecular characterization of brain tumors for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Since the implementation of molecular biomarkers by the WHO CNS in 2016, the genomics of brain tumors has been integrated into diagnostic criteria. Long-read sequencing, also known as third generation sequencing, is an emerging technique that allows for the sequencing of longer DNA segments leading to improved detection of structural variants and epigenetics. These capabilities are opening a way for better characterization of brain tumors. Here, we present a comprehensive summary of the state of the art of third-generation sequencing in the application for brain tumor diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. We discuss the advantages and potential new implementations of long-read sequencing into clinical paradigms for neuro-oncology patients.

SMARCA4-deficient central nervous system metastases: A case series and systematic review.

SMARCA4 alterations can be encountered in a variety of human neoplasms, and metastases to the central nervous system (CNS) are rare, offering a challenge to neuropathologists despite not representing a distinct diagnostic entity. To better understand the clinical and histologic presentation of such neoplasms, we report an observational case series and systematic review of 178 unique articles that yielded 15 published cases and 7 cases from institutional files. In the systematic review, the median age was 58 years, the male-to-female ratio was 2:1, and the most common diagnosis was lung adenocarcinoma; all CNS metastases were discovered within 1 year of presentation. In the case series, the median age was 58 years, the male-to-female ratio was 6:1, and all known metastases originated from the lung. Most patients had a smoking history and died of disease. GATA-3 positivity was seen in most case series examples. Concurrent TP53 mutations (83.3%) and a high tumor mutation rate (60%) were common. To our knowledge, this is the only case series and systematic review in the English literature aimed at assessing SMARCA4-altered metastases in the CNS and vertebral column. We highlight the challenges of neuropathologic evaluation of such tumors and provide observational evidence of early metastases, histologic appearances, and immunohistochemical findings, including previously unreported GATA-3 positivity.

A rare case of atypical intradural extramedullary glioblastoma diagnosed utilizing next-generation sequencing and methylation profiling: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Primary spinal cord tumors, especially primary spinal cord glioblastoma multiforme (PSC-GBM), are exceptionally rare, accounting for less than 1.5% of all spinal tumors. Their infrequency and aggressive yet atypical presentation make diagnosis challenging. In uncertain cases, a surgical approach for tissue diagnosis is often optimal. OBSERVATIONS: A 76-year-old male presented with a rapidly progressing clinical history marked by worsening extremity weakness, urinary retention, and periodic fecal incontinence alongside diffuse changes on neuraxis imaging. The patient, in whom subacute polyneuropathy was initially diagnosed, received multiple rounds of steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin without clinical improvement. Histopathological review of the biopsy tissue yielded an initial diagnosis of spindle cell neoplasm. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is done routinely on all neuropathology specimens at the authors' institution, and methylation profiling is pursued in difficult cases. Ultimately, NGS and methylation profiling results were essential to an integrated final diagnosis of GBM. LESSONS: PSC-GBM is a rare but highly aggressive occurrence of this tumor. Prolonged back pain, rapid neurological decline, and imaging changes warrant the consideration of lesional biopsy for precise disease characterization. In inconclusive cases, NGS has proved invaluable for clinical clarification and diagnosis, underscoring its importance for integrated diagnoses in guiding appropriate treatment strategies.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy for new and recurrent meningioma: a prospective and retrospective case series.

OBJECTIVE: Meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults and a subset are aggressive lesions resistant to standard therapies. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) has been successfully applied to other brain tumors, and recent work aims to explore the safety and long-term outcome experiences of LITT for both new and recurrent meningiomas. The authors' objective was to report safety and outcomes data of the largest cohort of LITT-treated meningioma patients to date. METHODS: Eight United States-based hospitals enrolled patients with meningioma in the Laser Ablation of Abnormal Neurological Tissue Using Robotic NeuroBlate System (LAANTERN) prospective multicenter registry and/or contributed additional retrospective enrollments for this cohort study. Demographic, procedural, safety, and outcomes data were collected and analyzed using standard statistical methods. RESULTS: Twenty adult patients (12 prospective and 8 retrospective) with LITT-targeted meningiomas were accrued. Patients underwent LITT for new (6 patients) and recurrent (14 patients) tumors (ranging from the 1st to 12th recurrence). The 30-day complication rate was 10%. Twenty percent of patients (4/20) had exhausted all other treatment options. Median length of follow-up was 1.3 years. One-third of new (2/6) and one-half of recurrent (7/14) meningiomas had disease progression during follow-up. One-year estimated local control (LC), progression-free survival, and overall survival rates were 55.3%, 48.4%, and 86.3%, respectively. In the 12 patients who had ≥ 91% ablative coverage, 1-year estimated LC was 61.4%. The complication rate was 10% (2/20), with 1 complication being transient and resolving postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: This cohort study supports the safety of the procedure for this tumor type. LITT can offer a much-needed treatment option, especially for patients with multiply recurrent meningiomas who have limited remaining alternatives.

Operative planning for a functional precision medicine assay of recurrent high-grade glioma: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Functional precision medicine (FPM) represents a personalized and efficacious modality for treating malignant neoplasms. However, acquiring sufficient live tissue to perform FPM analyses is complicated by both difficult identification on imaging and radiation necrosis, particularly in cases of recurrence. The authors describe a case of planning biopsy trajectories for an FPM assay in a patient with recurrent high-grade glioma. OBSERVATIONS: A 25-year-old male with a history of recurrent high-grade glioma was scheduled for laser ablation and biopsy with ChemoID assaying after regions of potential recurrence were identified on follow-up imaging. Preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy of the regions showed areas of high choline/creatine ratios within lesions of radiation necrosis, which helped in planning the biopsy trajectories to selectively target malignancies for FPM analysis. ChemoID results showed high tumor susceptibility to lomustine, which was implemented as adjuvant therapy. LESSONS: FPM therapy in the setting of recurrence is complicated by radiation necrosis, which can present as malignancy on imaging and interfere with tissue acquisition during biopsy or resection. Thus, operative approaches should be carefully planned with the assistance of imaging modalities such as MR spectroscopy to better ensure effective tissue acquisition for accurate FPM analysis and to promote more definitive treatment of recurrence.

Bifunctional Inhibitor Reveals NEK2 as a Therapeutic Target and Regulator of Oncogenic Pathways in Lymphoma.

Expression of the serine/threonine kinase never in mitosis gene A (NIMA)-related kinase 2 (NEK2) is essential for entry into mitosis via its role in facilitating centrosome separation. Its overactivity can lead to tumorigenesis and drug resistance through the activation of several oncogenic pathways, including AKT. Although the cancer-enabling activities of NEK2 are documented in many malignancies, including correlations with poor survival in myeloma, breast, and non-small cell lung cancer, little is known about the role of NEK2 in lymphoma. Here, in tumors from patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, we found a high abundance of NEK2 mRNA and protein associated with an inferior overall survival. Using our recently developed NEK2 inhibitor, NBI-961, we discovered that DLBCL cell lines and patient-derived cells exhibit a dependency on NEK2 for their viability. This compromised cell fitness was directly attributable to efficient NEK2 inhibition and proteasomal degradation by NBI-961. In a subset of particularly sensitive DLBCL cells, NBI-961 induced G2/mitosis arrest and apoptosis. In contrast, an existing indirect NEK2 inhibitor, INH154, did not prevent NEK2 autophosphorylation, induce NEK2 proteasomal degradation, or affect cell viability. Global proteomics and phospho-proteomics revealed that NEK2 orchestrates cell-cycle and apoptotic pathways through regulation of both known and new signaling molecules. We show the loss of NEK2-sensitized DLBCL to the chemotherapy agents, doxorubicin and vincristine, and effectively suppressed tumor growth in mice. These studies establish the oncogenic activity of NEK2 in DLBCL and set the foundation for development of anti-NEK2 therapeutic strategies in this frequently refractory and relapse-prone cancer.

Synthesis and Anti-Melanoma Activity of Acryloyl Pyridinone Analogues.

A major challenge for clinical management of melanoma is the prevention and treatment of metastatic disease. Drug discovery efforts over the last 10 years have resulted in several drugs that improve the prognosis of metastatic melanoma; however, most patients develop early resistance to these treatments. We designed and synthesized, through a concise synthetic strategy, a series of hybrid olefin-pyridinone compounds that consist of structural motifs from tamoxifen and ilicicolin H. These compounds were tested against a human melanoma cell line and patient-derived melanoma cells that had metastasized to the brain. Three compounds 7 b, 7 c, and 7 g demonstrated promising activity (IC50=0.4-4.3 µM). Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that 7 b and 7 c induce cell cycle arrest predominantly in the G1 phase. Both 7 b and 7c significantly inhibited migration of A375 melanoma cells; greater effects were demonstrated by 7 b. Molecular modelling analysis provides insight into a plausible mechanism of action.

Real-World Survival of First-Line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment Versus Chemotherapy in Older Patients With Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Synchronous Brain Metastases.

PURPOSE: This study assessed real-world survival among older patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and brain metastases (BMs) at diagnosis (synchronous BM [SBM]) receiving first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) compared with chemotherapy only. METHODS: Patients with NSCLC and SBM age 65 years or older at diagnosis from 2010 to 2019 SEER-Medicare database and received US Food and Drug Administration-approved ICIs (pembrolizumab/nivolumab/ipilimumab/atezolizumab/durvalumab/cemiplimab) and/or chemotherapy (platinum-based doublets/taxane/pemetrexed/gemcitabine) as first-line systemic treatment were included, excluding those with no cranial radiation or ever being treated with targeted therapies. Overall survival time was from the start of systemic treatment (ICI/chemotherapy) to death, censored at disenrollment from Medicare part A/B, enrollment in part C, or end of the study period (December 31, 2019). Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival curves were compared between treatment groups using the log-rank test. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards (CPH) model was used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) between groups, adjusting for patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: The study included 1,481 patients (1,303 chemotherapy and 178 ICI). The median (range) age was 71 (65-91) years. First-line ICI patients were more likely to be older, live in urban areas, and less likely to be non-White than the chemotherapy group. KM estimates showed that survival curves initially overlapped but diverged approximately 6 months after initiating first-line systemic treatment (median survival [95% CI]: ICI, 190 [131 to 303] days versus chemotherapy, 189 [177 to 201] days), with ICI showing a better survival than the chemotherapy group (log-rank test P < .0001). First-line ICI was associated with a lower risk of death compared with chemotherapy in adjusted CPH model (HR [95% CI], 0.67 [0.55 to 0.80]; P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Among older patients with NSCLC and SBM, first-line ICI use was associated with improved survival occurring 6 months after treatment initiation compared with chemotherapy only.

Intracranial hematolymphoid malignancies: A case series with molecular characterization.

OBJECTIVE: Central nervous system (CNS) manifestations of hematologic malignancies are uncommon and often have a poor prognosis. As hematologic neoplasms are typically chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-sensitive, surgical resection is usually not indicated; thus, opportunities for in-depth characterization of CNS hematologic tumors are limited. Here, we report four cases of rare intracranial hematologic tumors requiring surgical intervention, allowing for histopathologic and genomic characterization. METHODS: The clinical course, genetic perturbations, and histopathological features are described for a case of 1) primary marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the dura as well as cases of brain metastases of 2) cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, 3) acute myeloid leukemia/myeloid sarcoma, and 4) multiple myeloma. Targeted DNA sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, cytogenetic analysis, flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining were used to assess the lesions. RESULT: Molecular and histopathological characterizations of four unusual presentations of hematolymphoid diseases involving the CNS are presented. Genetic abnormalities were identified in each lesion, including chromosomal aberrations and single nucleotide variants resulting in missense or nonsense mutations in oncogenes. CONCLUSIONS: Our case series provides insight into unique pathological phenotypes of hematologic neoplasms with atypical CNS involvement. We offer targets for future studies by identifying potentially pathogenic genetic variants in these lesions, as the full implications of the novel molecular abnormalities described remain unclear.

Using the Chick Embryo Brain as a Model for In Vivo and Ex Vivo Analyses of Human Glioblastoma Cell Behavior.

The chick embryo has been an ideal model system for the study of vertebrate development, particularly for experimental manipulations. Use of the chick embryo has been extended for studying the formation of human glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumors in vivo and the invasiveness of tumor cells into surrounding brain tissue. GBM tumors can be formed by injection of a suspension of fluorescently labeled cells into the E5 midbrain (optic tectum) ventricle in ovo. Depending on the GBM cells, compact tumors randomly form in the ventricle and within the brain wall, and groups of cells invade the brain wall tissue. Thick tissue sections (350 µm) of fixed E15 tecta with tumors can be immunostained to reveal that invading cells often migrate along blood vessels when analyzed by 3D reconstruction of confocal z-stack images. Live E15 midbrain and forebrain slices (250-350 µm) can be cultured on membrane inserts, where fluorescently labeled GBM cells can be introduced into non-random locations to provide ex vivo co-cultures to analyze cell invasion, which also can occur along blood vessels, over a period of about 1 week. These ex vivo co-cultures can be monitored by widefield or confocal fluorescence time-lapse microscopy to observe live cell behavior. Co-cultured slices then can be fixed, immunostained, and analyzed by confocal microscopy to determine whether or not the invasion occurred along blood vessels or axons. Additionally, the co-culture system can be used for investigating potential cell-cell interactions by placing aggregates of different cell types and colors in different precise locations and observing cell movements. Drug treatments can be performed on ex vivo cultures, whereas these treatments are not compatible with the in ovo system. These two complementary approaches allow for detailed and precise analyses of human GBM cell behavior and tumor formation in a highly manipulatable vertebrate brain environment.

Oncolytic DNX-2401 virotherapy plus pembrolizumab in recurrent glioblastoma: a phase 1/2 trial.

Immune-mediated anti-tumoral responses, elicited by oncolytic viruses and augmented with checkpoint inhibition, may be an effective treatment approach for glioblastoma. Here in this multicenter phase 1/2 study we evaluated the combination of intratumoral delivery of oncolytic virus DNX-2401 followed by intravenous anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab in recurrent glioblastoma, first in a dose-escalation and then in a dose-expansion phase, in 49 patients. The primary endpoints were overall safety and objective response rate. The primary safety endpoint was met, whereas the primary efficacy endpoint was not met. There were no dose-limiting toxicities, and full dose combined treatment was well tolerated. The objective response rate was 10.4% (90% confidence interval (CI) 4.2-20.7%), which was not statistically greater than the prespecified control rate of 5%. The secondary endpoint of overall survival at 12 months was 52.7% (95% CI 40.1-69.2%), which was statistically greater than the prespecified control rate of 20%. Median overall survival was 12.5 months (10.7-13.5 months). Objective responses led to longer survival (hazard ratio 0.20, 95% CI 0.05-0.87). A total of 56.2% (95% CI 41.1-70.5%) of patients had a clinical benefit defined as stable disease or better. Three patients completed treatment with durable responses and remain alive at 45, 48 and 60 months. Exploratory mutational, gene-expression and immunophenotypic analyses revealed that the balance between immune cell infiltration and expression of checkpoint inhibitors may potentially inform on response to treatment and mechanisms of resistance. Overall, the combination of intratumoral DNX-2401 followed by pembrolizumab was safe with notable survival benefit in select patients (ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT02798406).

Modeling collective cell behavior in cancer: Perspectives from an interdisciplinary conversation.

Collective cell behavior contributes to all stages of cancer progression. Understanding how collective behavior emerges through cell-cell interactions and decision-making will advance our understanding of cancer biology and provide new therapeutic approaches. Here, we summarize an interdisciplinary discussion on multicellular behavior in cancer, draw lessons from other scientific disciplines, and identify future directions.

Promoting diversity in neurosurgery through a virtual symposium.

OBJECTIVE: The rates of women and underrepresented racial and ethnic minority (UREM) students successfully matching into neurosurgical residency are extremely low and do not reflect the makeup of the general population. As of 2019, only 17.5% of neurosurgical residents in the United States were women, 4.95% were Black or African American, and 7.2% were Hispanic or Latinx. Earlier recruitment of UREM students will help to diversify the neurosurgical workforce. Therefore, the authors developed a virtual educational event for undergraduate students entitled "Future Leaders in Neurosurgery Symposium for Underrepresented Students'' (FLNSUS). The primary objectives of the FLNSUS were to expose attendees to 1) neurosurgeons from diverse gender, racial, and ethnic backgrounds; 2) neurosurgical research; 3) opportunities for neurosurgical mentorship; and 4) information about life as a neurosurgeon. The authors hypothesized that the FLNSUS would increase student self-confidence, provide exposure to the specialty, and reduce perceived barriers to a neurosurgical career. METHODS: To measure the change in participant perceptions of neurosurgery, pre- and postsymposium surveys were administered to attendees. Of the 269 participants who completed the presymposium survey, 250 participated in the virtual event and 124 completed the postsymposium survey. Paired pre- and postsurvey responses were used for analysis, yielding a response rate of 46%. To assess the impact of participant perceptions of neurosurgery as a field, pre- and postsurvey responses to questions were compared. The change in response was analyzed, and a nonparametric sign test was performed to check for significant differences. RESULTS: According to the sign test, applicants showed increased familiarity with the field (p < 0.001), increased confidence in their abilities to become neurosurgeons (p = 0.014), and increased exposure to neurosurgeons from diverse gender, racial, and ethnic backgrounds (p < 0.001 for all categories). CONCLUSIONS: These results reflect a significant improvement in student perceptions of neurosurgery and suggest that symposiums like the FLNSUS may promote further diversification of the field. The authors anticipate that events promoting diversity in neurosurgery will lead to a more equitable workforce that will ultimately translate to enhanced research productivity, cultural humility, and patient-centered care in neurosurgery.

CAR T-cells to treat brain tumors.

Tremendous success using CAR T therapy in hematological malignancies has garnered significant interest in developing such treatments for solid tumors, including brain tumors. This success, however, has yet to be mirrored in solid organ neoplasms. CAR T function has shown limited efficacy against brain tumors due to several factors including the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, blood-brain barrier, and tumor-antigen heterogeneity. Despite these considerations, CAR T-cell therapy has the potential to be implemented as a treatment modality for brain tumors. Here, we review adult and pediatric brain tumors, including glioblastoma, diffuse midline gliomas, and medulloblastomas that continue to portend a grim prognosis. We describe insights gained from different preclinical models using CAR T therapy against various brain tumors and results gathered from ongoing clinical trials. Furthermore, we outline the challenges limiting CAR T therapy success against brain tumors and summarize advancements made to overcome these obstacles.

Zebrafish Cancer Avatars: A Translational Platform for Analyzing Tumor Heterogeneity and Predicting Patient Outcomes.

The increasing number of available anti-cancer drugs presents a challenge for oncologists, who must choose the most effective treatment for the patient. Precision cancer medicine relies on matching a drug with a tumor's molecular profile to optimize the therapeutic benefit. However, current precision medicine approaches do not fully account for intra-tumoral heterogeneity. Different mutation profiles and cell behaviors within a single heterogeneous tumor can significantly impact therapy response and patient outcomes. Patient-derived avatar models recapitulate a patient's tumor in an animal or dish and provide the means to functionally assess heterogeneity's impact on drug response. Mouse xenograft and organoid avatars are well-established, but the time required to generate these models is not practical for clinical decision-making. Zebrafish are emerging as a time-efficient and cost-effective cancer avatar model. In this review, we highlight recent developments in zebrafish cancer avatar models and discuss the unique features of zebrafish that make them ideal for the interrogation of cancer heterogeneity and as part of precision cancer medicine pipelines.

CAR-T Therapies in Solid Tumors: Opportunities and Challenges.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review will discuss the challenges facing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell application for solid tumors and opportunities to overcome these obstacles. In addition, this review will examine therapies that are in development for pediatric solid tumors. RECENT FINDINGS: The similar success of CAR-T cell treatment for hematological malignancies has not been observed in solid tumors because of the hostile tumor microenvironment and tumor heterogeneity. Most strategies developed to combat these limitations emphasize combinatorial techniques that still require further testing. Preliminary results of multiple clinical trials, including GD2- and HER2-CAR-T cells, are encouraging but must be reproduced and validated on a larger scale. CAR-T cell application in solid tumors remains challenging, and most research is in development. Several clinical trials are ongoing for pediatric solid tumors. Early results are promising but demonstrate the need for CAR-T cell modification to prevent tumor recurrence.

Diversity within the neurosurgical oncology workforce in the United States: A cross-sectional study with proposed strategies to pave the path forward.

BACKGROUND: Improving and fostering diversity within the neurosurgical workforce has become a high priority. This cross-sectional study aims to provide data on the diversity of neurosurgical oncology faculty (NSOF) in the US. METHODS: All 115 neurosurgery (NS) Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited programs were included in this study. The academic rank, academic and clinical title(s), gender, race, and hiring date of neurosurgical faculty with a primary focus on neurosurgical oncology (NSOF) were recorded. Geographical distribution and "top 10" programs were tabulated according to published data. Underrepresented minorities in medicine (URiM) faculty were identified according to the AAMC definition. RESULTS: The NSOF workforce constitutes 21% of the total NS faculty. Of these, 10.1% are women and 9.9% are URiM (P < .001). Currently, 58% of neurosurgery programs (NSP) do not have URiM and/or women NSOF. The top 10 ranked NSP, according to Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, had a significantly less URiM NSOF (P = .019) than nontop 10 ranked programs. There was a decreasing trend in the proportion of URiM at higher academic ranks (P = .019). All of the URiM department chairs (3/113)-all men-and 1/3 women department chairs nationwide subspecialized in neurosurgical oncology. CONCLUSIONS: Neurosurgical oncology is a sought-after subspecialty attracting a fifth of neurosurgeons practicing in ACGME-accredited training programs. Changing demographics and the benefits of workforce diversity represent a great opportunity for our field to continue leading inclusion efforts and attracting the best and brightest.

Variation in Time Between Testing Positive for COVID-19 and Hospital Admission by Race/Ethnicity and Insurance Status.

Understanding the extent to which demographic and socioeconomic factors play a role in the disparities associated with duration between testing positive for COVID-19 and hospital admission will help in achieving equitable health outcomes. This project linked the statewide COVID-19 registry to administrative datasets to examine the variation in times between testing positive for COVID-19 and hospital admission by race/ethnicity and insurance. In 2020, there were 11,314 patients admitted for COVID-19 in Arkansas. Approximately 42.2% tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day as hospital admission. Black patients had 38% higher odds of hospitalization on the day of testing compared with White patients (p<.001). Medicaid and uninsured patients had 51% and 50% higher odds of admission on the day of testing compared with privately insured patients (both p<.001), respectively. This study highlights the implications of reduced access to testing with respect to equitable health outcomes.

Machine learning multi-omics analysis reveals cancer driver dysregulation in pan-cancer cell lines compared to primary tumors.

Cancer cell lines have been widely used for decades to study biological processes driving cancer development, and to identify biomarkers of response to therapeutic agents. Advances in genomic sequencing have made possible large-scale genomic characterizations of collections of cancer cell lines and primary tumors, such as the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). These studies allow for the first time a comprehensive evaluation of the comparability of cancer cell lines and primary tumors on the genomic and proteomic level. Here we employ bulk mRNA and micro-RNA sequencing data from thousands of samples in CCLE and TCGA, and proteomic data from partner studies in the MD Anderson Cell Line Project (MCLP) and The Cancer Proteome Atlas (TCPA), to characterize the extent to which cancer cell lines recapitulate tumors. We identify dysregulation of a long non-coding RNA and microRNA regulatory network in cancer cell lines, associated with differential expression between cell lines and primary tumors in four key cancer driver pathways: KRAS signaling, NFKB signaling, IL2/STAT5 signaling and TP53 signaling. Our results emphasize the necessity for careful interpretation of cancer cell line experiments, particularly with respect to therapeutic treatments targeting these important cancer pathways.