Prevalence of geriatric impairments and frailty categorization among real-world patients with multiple myeloma: a prospective cohort study (MFRAIL).

There is limited knowledge regarding the prevalence of geriatric impairments and frailty among patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in a real-world setting. This study evaluated the distribution of frailty profiles among 116 patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed MM, using four common frailty scales. The proportion of patients classified as frail varied significantly, ranging from 15.5% to 56.9%, due to differences in how frailty was operationalized between each frailty measure. Functional, cognitive, and mobility impairments were common overall and irrespective of performance status. Analyses between frailty and treatment selection (dose reduction and doublet vs. triplet therapy) demonstrated significant differences in non-steroid MM drug dose reductions between frail vs. non-frail patients, as scored by the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) Frailty Index and Simplified Frailty Score (p < .05). A standardized approach to frailty assessment that is practical in application, and beneficial in guiding treatment selection and minimizing treatment related toxicity is necessary to provide optimal tailored care.

Treatment Pattern, Healthcare Resource Utilization and Symptom Burden Among Patients with Triple Class Exposed Multiple Myeloma: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: This study aims to describe the treatment patterns, outcomes, health care utilization and symptom burden of triple class exposed (TCE) relapsed/refractory patents with multiple myeloma (MM) receiving a subsequent line of treatment (LOT). METHODS: This is a retrospective observational cohort study using administrative databases in Ontario, Canada. Outcomes were captured for TCE patients receiving a subsequent LOT and included: treatment regimen details, time to next treatment (TTNT), overall survival (OS), health care utilization, palliative care referral, and patient reported symptoms. RESULTS: Of the 16,777 patients diagnosed with MM between 2007-2021 in Ontario, 1358 (8%) patients were classified as TCE. Among the TCE MM patients, 489 (36%) received a subsequent LOT. The two most commonly administered therapies post TCE were carfilzomib/dexamethasone (n = 111, 22%) and pomalidomide/dexamethasone(n = 95, 19%). Median TTNT was 1.7 months (95%CI 1.2-2.4 months) and median OS 12.8 months (95%CI 10.8-16.5). Healthcare utilization was high with 276 (56%) of patients evaluated in an emergency department (ED) or admitted to hospital. There was high symptom burden as reported by patients with moderate-severe impairment in well-being, fatigue, pain and drowsiness noted in greater than 25% of the cohort. Palliative care referrals rates were low with only 10% (n = 48) patients referred to palliative care. Among the patients that died during study follow up, the majority died in hospital (n = 147,44%). CONCLUSION: Our study reports one of the largest series of real-world TCE patients published and demonstrates the poor outcomes of TCE patients receiving a subsequent LOT.

A structured oral chemotherapy teaching tool to improve adherence in adults with multiple myeloma: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Many of the newer treatments for adults with newly-diagnosed and relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) are orally administered. Adherence is a challenge, and little is known about strategies to optimize adherence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients initiating orally-administered anti-myeloma therapy were enrolled and randomized in a pilot study to receive either standard of care teaching or the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Oral agent Teaching Tool (MOATT), a structured teaching tool. Adherence was measured electronically with a Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) cap. Optimal adherence was defined as an adherence rate of ≥90% over the six months study duration. Patients completed surveys regarding cancer therapy satisfaction and self-efficacy for medication management at one month and six months following the initiation of treatment in both arms. RESULTS: The mean adherence of patients over six months was 86.9%; 43.9% of the cohort were classified as non-adherent using the 90% threshold of adherence. Mean adherence was similar among standard of care teaching (87.9%) versus the MOATT intervention tool (85.6%) as was cancer therapy satisfaction and self-efficacy for medication management. DISCUSSION: In our pilot, the MOATT tool was not found to be feasible or acceptable. There were no preliminary differences noted between standard of care teaching versus the structured MOATT teaching tool with regards to overall adherence rates, cancer therapy satisfaction, or self-efficacy in medication management. Overall adherence rates were suboptimal in our study. Future research should work to identify aspects of educational interventions which are effective, and investigate different strategies which can be used to supplement patient education and potentially optimize medication adherence in patients with MM.

Nivolumab in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck (SCCHN): A Real-world Outcome Study in Ontario, Canada.

The CheckMate-141 trial led to the approval of nivolumab in platinum-resistant metastatic/advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). We evaluated the outcomes of SCCHN patients in Ontario, Canada, treated with nivolumab through retrospective review of the provincial treatment registry. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS) and Cox regression to evaluate the prognostic effect of selected factors. Nivolumab was used as second-line therapy after disease relapse for curative-intent platinum chemotherapy (PC) (indication 1-I1), as second-line therapy post-PC in noncurative intent (indication 2-I2), and as first-line therapy in noncurative intent due to contraindication for PC (indication 3-I3). The median OS for patients treated with nivolumab was 5.8 months (95% CI: 4.5-7.3), and the 1-year OS was 28.4% (CI: 2.10-36.1). When patients with I3 were excluded to match inclusion criteria for CheckMate-141, median OS was 4.8 months (CI: 3.6-6.7) with 1-year OS of 21.8% (14.4-30.1). Patients with lower body surface area (BSA) (<1.81) had a median OS of 3.9 months (CI: 3.1-6.7) versus 9.0 months (CI: 6.5-14.8) in those with higher BSA, hazard ratio (HR)=0.12 (CI: 0.04-0.39, P <0.001). Patients receiving nivolumab for I1 had a median OS of 7.2 months (CI 3.8-9.8) versus 11.9 months (CI: 6.2-not reached) for I3, HR=1.73 (CI: 0.94-3.16). Patients receiving nivolumab for I2 had a median OS of 3.9 months (CI: 2.9-5.4) as compared with I3, HR=3.27 (CI: 1.80-5.94). Real-world analysis of patients with advanced/metastatic SCCHN in Ontario, Canada, treated with nivolumab demonstrates poorer median OS compared with CheckMate-141 trial. Lower BSA was a predictor of poorer median OS.

Evaluating equity of access and predictors of minimally invasive hysterectomy for endometrial and cervical cancer from 2000 to 2017 in Ontario, Canada: A population-based cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to assess the uptake of minimally invasive hysterectomy among patients with endometrial and cervical cancer in Ontario, Canada, and assess the equity of access to minimally invasive surgery (MIS) by evaluating associations with patient, disease, institutional, and provider factors. METHODS: This is a retrospective population-based cohort study of hysterectomy for endometrial and cervical cancer in Ontario (2000-2017). Surgical approach, clinicopathologic, sociodemographic, institutional, and provider factors were identified through administrative databases. Fisher's exact, χ2 , Wilcoxon rank sum, logistic regression, and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to explore factors associated with MIS. RESULTS: A total of 27 652 patients were included. In total, 6199/24 264 (26%) endometrial and 842/3388 (25%) cervical cancer patients received MIS. The proportion of MIS to open surgeries increased from <0.1% in 2000 to over 55% in 2017 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.31, confidence interval [CI] = 1.28-1.34). Low-income quintile, rurality, low hospital volume, nonacademic hospital, nongynecologic oncology surgeon, and earlier year of surgeon graduation were associated with reduced odds of MIS (OR < 1). CONCLUSIONS: The uptake of MIS hysterectomy increased steadily over the time period. Receipt of MIS is dependent upon multiple social determinants, provider variables, and systems factors. These disparities raise concern for health equity in Ontario and have significant implications for health systems planning and resource allocation.

Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) Expression Predicts Need for Early Treatment in Prostate Cancer Patients Managed with Active Surveillance.

Metabolic dysregulation is an early event in carcinogenesis. Here, we examined the expression of enzymes involved in de novo lipogenesis (ATP-citrate lyase: ACLY), glucose uptake (Glucose Transporter 1: GLUT1), and folate-glutamate metabolism (Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen: PSMA) as potential biomarkers of risk for early prostate cancer progression. Patients who were managed initially on active surveillance with a Gleason score of 6 or a low-volume Gleason score of 7 (3 + 4) were accrued from a prostate cancer diagnostic assessment program. Patients were asked to donate their baseline diagnostic biopsy tissues and permit access to their clinical data. PSMA, GLUT1, and ACLY expression were examined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) in baseline biopsies, quantitated by Histologic Score for expression in benign and malignant glands, and compared with patient time remaining on active surveillance (time-on-AS). All three markers showed trends for elevated expression in malignant compared to benign glands, which was statistically significant for ACLY. On univariate analysis, increased PSMA and GLUT1 expression in malignant glands was associated with shorter time-on-AS (HR: 5.06, [CI 95%: 1.83-13.94] and HR: 2.44, [CI 95%: 1.10-5.44], respectively). Malignant ACLY and benign gland PSMA and GLUT1 expression showed non-significant trends for such association. On multivariate analysis, overexpression of PSMA in malignant glands was an independent predictor of early PC progression (p = 0.006). This work suggests that the expression of metabolic enzymes determined by IHC on baseline diagnostic prostate biopsies may have value as biomarkers of risk for rapid PC progression. PSMA may be an independent predictor of risk for progression and should be investigated further in systematic studies.

The impact of staging FDG-PET/CT on treatment for stage III NSCLC - an analysis of population-based data from Ontario, Canada.

Purpose: Fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is now considered a standard investigation for the staging of new cases of stage III NSCLC. However, there is not published level 3 evidence demonstrating the impact of FDG-PET/CT on appropriate therapy in this setting. Using retrospective population-based data, we sought to examine the role and timing that FDG-PET/CT scans play in influencing treatment choice, as well as survival in patients diagnosed with stage III NSCLC. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort of patients diagnosed with stage III NSCLC from 2009-2017 in Ontario were identified from the IC/ES (formerly Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences) database. FDG-PET/CT utilization over time, trends in mediastinal biopsy technique and usage, the impact of FDG-PET/CT on overall survival (OS), and its influence on use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) were explored. The impact of timing of pre-treatment FDG-PET/CT on OS was also analyzed (≤28 days prior to treatment, 29-56 days prior, and >56 days prior). Results: Between 2007 and 2017, a total of 13 796 people were diagnosed with stage III NSCLC in Ontario. FDG-PET/CT utilization increased over time with 0% of cases in 2007 and 74% in 2017 with pre-treatment FDG-PET/CT scans. The number of patients who received a mediastinal biopsy similarly increased in this timeframe increasing from 41% to 53%. More patients with pre-treatment FDG-PET/CT scans received curative-intent therapy than those who did not: 23% vs 13% for CRT (p<0.001), and 23% vs 10% for surgery (p<0.001). Median OS was longer in those with FDG-PET/CT scans prior to treatment (17 vs 11 months), as was 5-year survival (22% vs 14%, p<0.001), and this held true on both univariate and multivariate analyses. Timing of FDG-PET/CT scan relative to treatment was not associated with differences in OS. Conclusion: Improvements in OS were seen in this cohort of stage III NSCLC patients who underwent a pre-treatment FDG-PET/CT scan. This can likely be attributed to stage-appropriate therapy due to more complete staging using FDG-PET/CT. This study stresses the importance of complete staging for suspected stage III NSCLC using FDG-PET/CT, and a need for continued advocacy for increased access to FDG-PET/CT scans.

A Multi-Centre Randomized Study Comparing Two Standard of Care Chemotherapy Regimens for Lower-Risk HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Neither paclitaxel plus trastuzumab (P-H) nor docetaxel-cyclophosphamide plus trastuzumab (TC-H) have been prospectively compared in HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer (EBC). A randomized trial was performed to assess the feasibility of a larger study. METHODS: Lower-risk HER2-positive EBC patients were randomized to either P-H or TC-H treatment arms. The co-primary feasibility outcomes were: ≥75% patient acceptability rate, active trial participation of ≥50% of medical oncologists, ≥75% and ≥90% treatment completion, and receipt rate of planned cycles of chemotherapy, respectively. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Febrile neutropenia (FN) rate, treatment-related hospitalizations, health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) questionnaires. Analyses were performed by per protocol and intention-to-treat. RESULTS: Between May 2019 and March 2021, 49 of 52 patients agreed to study participation (94% acceptability rate). Fifteen (65%) of 23 medical oncologists approached patients. Rates of FN were higher (8.3% vs. 0%) in the TC-H vs. P-H arm. Median (IQR) changes in scores from baseline in FACT-Taxane Trial Outcome Index at 24 weeks were -4 (-10, -1) vs. -6.5 (-15, -2) for TC-H and P-H arms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A randomized trial comparing P-H and TC-H was feasible. Expansion to a larger trial would be feasible to explore patient-reported outcomes of these adjuvant HER2 chemotherapy regimens.

Trainee Evaluations of Preparedness for Clinical Trials in Medical Oncology-A National Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: A standardized approach to the education of clinical trial investigators across Canadian medical oncology (MO) subspecialty training does not exist. With training programs transitioning to competency-based medical education (CBME), studies assessing education practices and competence are paramount to enhancing trainee education. This study aimed to determine whether current education practices in MO subspecialty training programs in Canada prepare trainees for participating in clinical trials as an investigator. METHODS: From November 2021 to February 2022 a national, bilingual, online questionnaire to understand trainee experiences with self-perceived competence, preparedness, and willingness to participate in clinical trials as investigators was conducted. MO trainees, fellows, and new-to-practice physicians who completed an MO subspecialty training program in Canada were included. RESULTS: A total of 41 responses were received (response rate: 15%). Formal training in how to participate in clinical trials as an investigator was reported by 73% of respondents. At the end of training, 65% of respondents rated competence in clinical trials as fair/poor and 74% rated preparedness in conducting clinical trials as fair/poor. Correlation analysis determined that in-clinic teaching in clinical trials trended toward improved self-evaluations of competence and preparedness (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This is the first study in Canada to assess competencies in any residency training program since the establishment of CBME. Training in conducting clinical trials is highly variable across MO programs in Canada, with most trainees finding current practices not translating into self-perceived competence and preparedness. Further assessment into how to produce competent clinical trial investigators is warranted.

Differentiating Specialized and Advanced Nursing Roles: The Pathway to Role Optimization.

Aim: We aimed to differentiate the practice patterns of nurses in specialized and advanced roles in a cross-sectional study. Method: Canadian nurses completed a self-report questionnaire (June 2017-September 2017). Demographic data and time spent in five domains of advanced practice were compared across three nurse groups. Regression analysis examined factors associated with domain involvement. Results: Respondents (n = 1,107) represented all provinces/territories, including 396 specialized nurses (SNs), 211 clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) and 490 nurse practitioners (NPs). Nurses across all groups were the most involved in direct comprehensive care and the least involved in research. NPs were more involved in direct comprehensive care compared to CNSs (p < 0.001) and SNs (p < 0.001). CNSs were more involved than SNs and NPs in support of systems, education, research and professional leadership (p < 0.001). Role type, years as an advanced practice nurse and specialist certification were modest predictors of domain involvement. Conclusion: Distinguishing how specialized and advanced nursing roles contribute to healthcare can inform policies to support their optimal utilization in healthcare systems.

Safety and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced penile cancer: report from the Global Society of Rare Genitourinary Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Treatment options for penile squamous cell carcinoma are limited. We sought to investigate clinical outcomes and safety profiles of patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with locally advanced or metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors between 2015 and 2022 across 24 centers in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Overall survival and progression-free survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Objective response rates were determined per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours 1.1 criteria. Treatment-related adverse events were graded per the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. Two-sided statistical tests were used for comparisons. RESULTS: Among 92 patients, 8 (8.7%) were Asian, 6 (6.5%) were Black, and 24 (29%) were Hispanic and/or Latinx. Median (interquartile range) age was 62 (53-70) years. In all, 83 (90%) had metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma, and 74 (80%) had received at least second-line treatment. Most patients received pembrolizumab monotherapy (n = 26 [28%]), combination nivolumab-ipilimumab with or without multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (n = 23 [25%]), or nivolumab (n = 16 [17%]) or cemiplimab (n = 15 [16%]) monotherapies. Median overall and progression-free survival were 9.8 months (95% confidence interval = 7.7 to 12.8 months) and 3.2 months (95% confidence interval = 2.5 to 4.2 months), respectively. The objective response rate was 13% (n = 11/85) in the overall cohort and 35% (n = 7/20) in patients with lymph node-only metastases. Visceral metastases, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 1 or higher, and a higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio were associated with worse overall survival. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 27 (29%) patients, and 9.8% (n = 9) of the events were grade 3 or higher. CONCLUSIONS: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are active in a subset of patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma. Future translational studies are warranted to identify patients more likely to derive clinical benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Contemporary real-world radiotherapy outcomes of unresected locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Radiotherapy (RT) is used as monotherapy in poor performance patients with unresected locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC), but their outcomes are not well-described. As novel therapies are increasingly considered in this space, it is important to understand contemporary outcomes of RT alone. Here, in this retrospective cohort study we analyzed LA-NSCLC outcomes of RT alone in Ontario, Canada, and contrasted them against those of standard of care (SoC) treatment of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (cCRT). Methods: Ontario provincial databases were searched through the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (IC/ES) for stage III NSCLC patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2017. Surgical patients were excluded, and all patients that received RT without or with chemotherapy were selected. Patients were divided in groups of RT dose received (<40 Gy, 40-55.9 Gy, and ≥56 Gy) and whether they underwent diagnostic 18F-deoxy-glucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET). Results: Five thousand five hundred and seventy-seven stage III patients that received chest RT without surgery between January 2007 and March 2017 were included in this analysis. Within this group, 39.8% (2,225) received RT alone, 47.4% (2,645) cCRT and 12.6% (707) received sequential chemo-radiotherapy (sCRT). Median OS with RT alone in three dose groups <40/40-55.9/≥56 Gy was 7.2, 8.5 and 13.3 months compared to 16.5, 15.8 and 22 months for cCRT patients. Higher RT dose and PET utilization were independently associated with improved survival in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Radiation monotherapy remains a widely used treatment modality in LA-NSCLC. RT dose and utilization of FDG-PET imaging are associated with improved survival in this group. These findings help improve clinical decision making and serve as basis for future trials.

Regularly scheduled physical examinations and the detection of breast cancer recurrences.

PURPOSE: Follow-up care of early breast cancer (EBC) patients usually includes routinely scheduled physical examinations. While ASCO guidelines recommend a physical exam every three to six months for the first three years, little evidence supports this schedule. We evaluated recurrence detection of patients transferred into a single centre survivorship program that follows ASCO recommendations. METHODS: Patients with EBC referred to the Wellness Beyond Cancer Program (WBCP) who had breast cancer recurrence between February 1, 2013, and January 1, 2019 were reviewed. Descriptive analyses were used to present patient and disease characteristics stratified by type of recurrence and mode of cancer detection. RESULTS: Of 206 recurrences, 135 were distant recurrences (65.5%), 41 were ipsilateral breast recurrences (19.9%), and 30 were contralateral breast primaries (14.6%). Distant recurrences were primarily detected via patient-reported symptoms (125/135, 92.6%). 53.7% (22/41) of ipsilateral breast recurrences were detected by patients and 41.5% (17/41) by routine imaging. Contralateral breast primaries were primarily detected by imaging 83.3% (25/30) and patient-reported symptoms 16.7% (5/30). Only 2/206 (1.14%) recurrences/new primaries were detected by healthcare providers at routinely scheduled follow-up visits. CONCLUSIONS: Despite following ASCO guidelines, healthcare providers rarely detect recurrences at routinely scheduled follow-up appointments. Our data suggests that approximately 35, 000 follow-up visits were required for healthcare providers to detect these 2 recurrences. While reduced in-person visits may affect other aspects of follow-up care (e.g. toxicity management), it appears unlikely, provided patients attend regular screening tests, that less frequent in-person follow-up is associated with worse breast cancer-related outcomes.

Feasibility and Effectiveness of Self-Management Education and Coaching on Patient Activation for Managing Cancer Treatment Toxicities.

BACKGROUND: Poorly managed cancer treatment toxicities negatively impact quality of life, but little research has examined patient activation in self-management (SM) early in cancer treatment. METHODS: We undertook a pilot randomized trial to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the SMARTCare (Self-Management and Activation to Reduce Treatment Toxicities) intervention. This intervention included an online SM education program (I-Can Manage) plus 5 sessions of telephone cancer coaching in patients initiating systemic therapy for lymphoma or colorectal or lung cancer at 3 centers in Ontario, Canada, relative to a usual care control group. Patient-reported outcomes included patient activation (Patient Activation Measure [PAM]), symptom or emotional distress, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to examine changes over time (baseline and at 2, 4, and 6 months) within and between groups. We used general estimating equations to compare outcomes between groups over time. The intervention group completed an acceptability survey and qualitative interviews. RESULTS: Of 90 patients approached, 62 (68.9%) were enrolled. Mean age of the sample was 60.5 years. Most patients were married (77.1%), were university educated (71%), had colorectal cancer (41.9%) or lymphoma (42.0%), and had stage III or IV disease (75.8%). Attrition was higher in the intervention group than among control subjects (36.7% vs 25%, respectively). Adherence to I-Can Manage was low; 30% of intervention patients completed all 5 coaching calls, but 87% completed ≥1. Both the continuous PAM total score (P<.001) and categorical PAM levels (3/4 vs 1/2) (P=.002) were significantly improved in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: SM education and coaching early during cancer treatment may improve patient activation, but a larger trial is needed. CLINICALTRIALS: gov Identifier: NCT03849950.

Oncologic Outcomes of Surgically Treated Cervical Cancer with No Residual Disease on Hysterectomy Specimen: A 4C (Canadian Cervical Cancer Collaborative) Working Group Study.

Minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of macroscopic cervical cancer leads to worse oncologic outcomes than with open surgery. Preoperative conization may mitigate the risk of surgical approach. Our objective was to describe the oncologic outcomes in cases of cervical cancer initially treated with conization, and subsequently found to have no residual cervical cancer after hysterectomy performed via open and minimally invasive approaches. This was a retrospective cohort study of surgically treated cervical cancer at 11 Canadian institutions from 2007 to 2017. Cases initially treated with cervical conization and subsequent hysterectomy, with no residual disease on hysterectomy specimen were included. They were subdivided according to minimally invasive (laparoscopic/robotic (MIS) or laparoscopically assisted vaginal/vaginal hysterectomy (LVH)), or abdominal (AH). Recurrence free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Chi-square and log-rank tests were used to compare between cohorts. Within the total cohort, 238/1696 (14%) had no residual disease on hysterectomy specimen (122 MIS, 103 AH, and 13 VLH). The majority of cases in the cohort were FIGO 2018 stage IB1 (43.7%) and underwent a radical hysterectomy (81.9%). There was no statistical difference between stage, histology, and radical vs simple hysterectomy between the abdominal and minimally invasive groups. There were no significant differences in RFS (5-year: MIS/LVH 97.7%, AH 95.8%, p = 0.23) or OS (5-year: MIS/VLH 98.9%, AH 97.4%, p = 0.10), although event-rates were low. There were only two recurrences. In this large study including only patients with no residual cervical cancer on hysterectomy specimen, no significant differences in survival were seen by surgical approach. This may be due to the small number of events or due to no actual difference between the groups. Further studies are warranted.

Neurocognitive impairment, neurobehavioral symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Background: In addition to poor survival rates, individuals with glioblastoma (GBM) are at risk of neurocognitive impairment due to multiple factors. This study aimed to characterize neurocognitive impairment, neurobehavioral symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms in newly diagnosed GBM patients; and to examine whether neurobehavioral symptoms, fatigue, sleep, and depressive symptoms influence neurocognitive performance. Methods: This study was part of a prospective, inception cohort, single-arm exercise intervention in which GBM patients underwent a neuropsychological assessment shortly after diagnosis (median 4 weeks; ie, baseline) and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months later, or until tumor progression. Here, we present baseline data. Forty-five GBM patients (mean age = 55 years) completed objective neurocognitive tests, and self-report measures of neurobehavioral symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms. Results: Compared to normative samples, GBM patients scored significantly lower on all neurocognitive tests, with 34 (76%) patients exhibiting neurocognitive impairment. Specifically, 53% exhibited impairment in memory retention, 51% in executive function, 42% in immediate recall, 41% in verbal fluency, and 24% in attention. There were high rates of clinically elevated sleep disturbance (70%), fatigue (57%), depressive symptoms (16%), and neurobehavioral symptoms (27%). A multivariate regression analysis revealed that depressive symptoms are significantly associated with neurocognitive impairment. Conclusions: GBM patients are vulnerable to adverse outcomes including neurocognitive impairment, neurobehavioral symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms shortly after diagnosis, prior to completing chemoradiation. Those with increased depressive symptoms are more likely to demonstrate neurocognitive impairment, highlighting the need for early identification and treatment of depression in this population.

Web-Based Asynchronous Tool to Facilitate Communication Between Primary Care Providers and Cancer Specialists: Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Cancer poses a significant global health burden. With advances in screening and treatment, there are now a growing number of cancer survivors with complex needs, requiring the involvement of multiple health care providers. Previous studies have identified problems related to communication and care coordination between primary care providers (PCPs) and cancer specialists. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether a web- and text-based asynchronous system (eOncoNote) could facilitate communication between PCPs and cancer specialists (oncologists and oncology nurses) to improve patient-reported continuity of care among patients receiving treatment or posttreatment survivorship care. METHODS: In this pragmatic randomized controlled trial, a total of 173 patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (eOncoNote plus usual methods of communication between PCPs and cancer specialists) or a control group (usual communication only), including 104 (60.1%) patients in the survivorship phase (breast and colorectal cancer) and 69 (39.9%) patients in the treatment phase (breast and prostate cancer). The primary outcome was patient-reported team and cross-boundary continuity (Nijmegen Continuity Questionnaire). Secondary outcome measures included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire on Major Depression, and Picker Patient Experience Questionnaire. Patients completed the questionnaires at baseline and at 2 points following randomization. Patients in the treatment phase completed follow-up questionnaires at 1 month and at either 4 months (patients with prostate cancer) or 6 months following randomization (patients with breast cancer). Patients in the survivorship phase completed follow-up questionnaires at 6 months and at 12 months following randomization. RESULTS: The results did not show an intervention effect on the primary outcome of team and cross-boundary continuity of care or on the secondary outcomes of depression and patient experience with their health care. However, there was an intervention effect on anxiety. In the treatment phase, there was a statistically significant difference in the change score from baseline to the 1-month follow-up for GAD-7 (mean difference -2.3; P=.03). In the survivorship phase, there was a statistically significant difference in the change score for GAD-7 between baseline and the 6-month follow-up (mean difference -1.7; P=.03) and between baseline and the 12-month follow-up (mean difference -2.4; P=.004). CONCLUSIONS: PCPs' and cancer specialists' access to eOncoNote is not significantly associated with patient-reported continuity of care. However, PCPs' and cancer specialists' access to the eOncoNote intervention may be a factor in reducing patient anxiety. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03333785; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03333785.

Rurality index score and pediatric neuro-oncological outcome in Ontario.

OBJECTIVE: Rapid access to neurosurgical decisions and definitive management are vital for the outcome of neurocritical patients. There are unique challenges associated with the provision of services required to maintain critical infrastructure for rural citizens. Given that a relationship between rurality, marginalization, and health outcomes has been identified as associated with higher mortality rates and higher rates of many diseases, the authors studied whether worse clinical outcomes were associated with rurality in pediatric neuro-oncological disease. METHODS: Using linked administrative databases, the authors retrospectively analyzed a population-based cohort of patients diagnosed with a pediatric brain tumor between 1996 and 2017 in Ontario, Canada. The main variable of interest was the Rurality Index for Ontario (RIO; larger value denotes more rural); the main outcome was survival, while controlling for surgery and tumor type. RESULTS: Of the 1428 patients included, 53.9% were male. Overall survival of all the children (controlling for surgery and tumor type) at 1, 5, and 10 years was 84.7%, 65.1%, and 58.4%, respectively. A total of 11.5% were classified as living in a rural area of Ontario. The distance to the nearest pediatric neurosurgical hospital ranged from 25.6 to 167.4 km. The RIO score was 0 in 38.7% of children, and the majority of patients had a RIO score < 40. A higher RIO score was not a significant factor (continuous p = 0.12/ordinal p = 0.18) associated with length of follow-up, indicating that rurality was not significantly linked to compliance with clinical follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Rurality of the region in which pediatric neuro-oncological patients reside was not associated with patient outcome (HR 0.83, p = 0.39).