Implementation and evaluation of a remote geriatric assessment and intervention program in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a remote geriatric assessment (GA) and implementation (GAIN) program in Brazil. The authors also explored the effect of this program on health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) outcomes 3 months after initiating treatment. METHODS: This is a longitudinal study enrolling older adults (65+ years), diagnosed with any type of solid tumor, scheduled to initiate chemotherapy in a networked Brazilian cancer center. The GA was performed through telehealth. We assessed the feasibility of the remote GA, acceptability to patients, and changes in patient-centered outcomes (HR-QOL, mood, function) from baseline to month 3. Linear mixed model analysis was done, adjusting for age, gender, race, income, and disease stage. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients completed all intended assessments. Notably, the threshold of feasibility was 70% and there was 92% complete adherence. Average age was 76 years old (SD = 7.2). Most patients were female (57%), married (59%), and had a college degree (46%). The most common diagnoses were gastrointestinal (39%) and gynecological cancers (18%); most were diagnosed at an advance disease stage (77%). A total of 32 patients were referred to a remote appointment and 86% followed this recommendation(s). Significant improvement in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General FACT-G (mean difference, 6.04; p < .001), Geriatric Depression Scale (mean difference, -0.86; p = .008), and instrumental activities of daily living ratio (mean difference, 0.17; p < .001) were found. CONCLUSION: Remote GAIN is feasible and acceptable to older adults with cancer receiving treatment in Brazil. The authors also found significant improvement in HR-QOL outcomes over time. Notably, this GAIN program could guide early detection of chemotherapy toxicity and improving patient-reported outcomes in low-resource environments.

Patients' Perceptions Regarding the Relevance of Items Contained in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index-19.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal method of assessing health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). This study explored the perceived relevance of items that make up the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index-19 (FKSI-19), as judged by patients with mRCC. METHODS: This was a multinational cross-sectional survey. Eligible patients responded to a questionnaire composed of 18 items that assessed the perceived relevance of each item in the FKSI-19 questionnaire. Open-ended questions assessed additional issues deemed relevant by patients. Responses were grouped as relevant (scores 2-5) or nonrelevant (score 1). Descriptive statistics were collated, and open-ended questions were analyzed and categorized into descriptive categories. Spearman correlation statistics were used to test the association between relevance and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 151 patients were included (gender: 78.1 M, 21.9F; median age: 64; treatment: 38.4 immunotherapy, 29.8 targeted therapy, 13.9 immuno-TKI combination therapy) in the study. The most relevant questions evaluated fatigue (77.5), lack of energy (72.2), and worry that their condition will get worse (71.5). Most patients rated blood in urine (15.2), fevers (16.6), and lack of appetite (23.2) as least relevant. Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions revealed several themes, including emotional and physical symptoms, ability to live independently, effectiveness of treatment, family, spirituality, and financial toxicity. CONCLUSION: There is a need to refine widely used HR-QOL measures that are employed among patients diagnosed with mRCC treated with contemporary therapies. Guidance was provided for the inclusion of more relevant items to patients' cancer journey.

Anxiety, Depression, and Coping Strategies during Chemotherapy Treatment: A Comparison of Older and Younger Adults with Advanced Cancer in Brazil.

We sought to examine differences in anxiety, depression and coping strategies among younger (<64-year old) and older (≥65-year old) patients. Patients were assessed at baseline (T1), mid-point (T2) and on the last day of treatment (T3) using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Ways of Coping. A linear mixed modeling approach was used. The study included 200 patients (gender: 70% women; diagnosis: 30% breast, 22% hematological, 18% gastrointestinal; disease stage: 60% advanced). Older patients who used an emotion-focused coping strategy had a greater decrease in anxiety at T3 compared to those that used problem-focused coping (p = .002).

Racial and ethnic differences in perceptions of germline or somatic DNA sequencing among patients with advanced prostate, urothelial, or kidney cancer.

We sought to determine racial and ethnic differences in perceptions (quality of communication, expectations, and concerns) of germline or somatic DNA sequencing (genomic profiling). Patients with prostate, urothelial, or kidney cancer were surveyed using a questionnaire that assessed previous experience, beliefs, expectations, and concerns regarding genomic profiling. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to identify factors associated with patients' perceptions of genomic profiling. A total of 150 consecutive patients were enrolled. The majority were male (74%) with a mean age of 68 years old. Most patients underwent somatic testing (54%), 24% undertook germline testing, and 21% undertook both tests. Significant differences were found across racial and/or ethnicity concerning factors that could have influenced patients' decision to pursue genomic profiling, including ability to guide the type of treatment (White: 54.1% vs. other ethnic groups: 43.9%, p = 0.04) and potential to improve treatment response (White: 10.1% vs. other ethnic groups: 22.0%, p = 0.04). Other ethnic group of patients were more concerned about learning that the cancer was less treatable or aggressive (43.8% vs. 27.7%, p = 0.01) and anxious about what would be learnt from genomic profiling (34.4% vs. 21.3, p = 0.01) as compared to White patients. Our findings reinforce the importance of developing culturally tailored education to help patients participate actively in decisions about genomic profiling.

Psycho-Oncology and the Relevance of a Biopsychosocial Screening Program.

A 40-year-old unmarried Brazilian woman, Ms A, received a diagnosis of papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in February 2020; she underwent nephrectomy the following month. In August, she began to experience generalized pain with subsequent scans revealing metastatic disease to the supraclavicular lymph node, liver, and vagina. In October 2020, Ms A started first-line systemic combination treatment with nivolumab (Opdivo; 3 mg/kg) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy; 1 mg/kg) every 3 weeks for 4 doses, followed by nivolumab (3 mg/kg) every 2 weeks, to be taken for 2 years. In April 2021, follow-up testing revealed a partial response to therapy, and a complete response was evident in August 2021. Ms A was first screened for biopsychosocial distress by the supportive care team in October 2020, and she completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) evaluation.During her fourth cycle of treatment in October 2020, the patient was assessed with the ESAS. During her medical visits, Ms A also expressed concern regarding her physical symptoms and admitted frequent self-monitoring for signs of recurrence or progression. Her oncologist prescribed tramadol for pain and the supportive care team recommended increased engagement in physical activity. Upon further assessment, the patient reported a belief that her psychosocial symptoms, worry about recurrence or progression, and time spent self-monitoring were a normal part of her cancer experience.

Discrepancies between genitourinary cancer patients' and clinicians' characterization of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes have been used to assess treatment effectiveness and actively engage patients in their disease management. This study was designed to describe the patient-reported performance status (PS) and the provider-reported PS. METHODS: Patients with metastatic genitourinary cancers were recruited from a single cancer center before the initiation of a new line of treatment. PS (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG]), quality of life (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-General), and distress (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Anxiety and Depression) were self-reported by patients. Clinical data (eg, age, sex, diagnosis, and physician-reported ECOG PS) were extracted from medical records. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the association between PS, quality of life, and psychological symptoms. RESULTS: One hundred forty-five patients were enrolled (76.6% male, 70.3% White, 81.4% married, and 76.6% well educated). The median age was 67 years; 66.9% were diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, 20.0% were diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma, and 13.1% were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Clinicians more frequently classified patients' ECOG PS as 0 in comparison with the patients themselves (92.4% vs 64.1%; P = .001). Higher clinician-reported ECOG PS was associated with poorer physical and functional well-being and higher rates of depression (P < .01), whereas higher patient-reported ECOG PS was associated with worse psychosocial outcomes (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies were noted between the patient- and provider-reported ECOG PS, with clinicians overestimating the ECOG PS in comparison with the patients themselves. This study's findings suggest that patients incorporate their social and emotional well-being into their PS score in addition to their physical well-being. This information is not immediately accessible to most clinicians from just a standard patient interview and likely accounts for the overestimation of the patients' ECOG PS by the clinicians.

Association between hospital anxiety and depression scale and problem-related distress in patients with cancer in a Brazilian private institution.

OBJECTIVE: Emotional symptoms are frequently reported among patients with cancer. We evaluated the association between emotional symptoms and problem-related distress in a sample of patients with cancer about to initiate chemotherapy within a private hospital in Brazil. METHODS: Patients were assessed before initiating chemotherapy, treatment mid-point, and on the last day of treatment for anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]) and for problem-related distress (Distress Thermometer Problem List). Problem-related distress variable was computed as the sum of practical, physical, spiritual and familial problems. Mixed-model analysis was applied to determine the association between HADS and problem-related distress, adjusting for age and gender. RESULTS: A total of 655 consecutive patients were enrolled. There was a significant main effect of time (F = 8.99, p = 0.0001), showing that emotional symptoms improve over time. A significant main effect was observed for problem-related distress (F = 371.56, p < 0.0001) revealing that patients with elevated problem-related distress at baseline tend to have higher HADS across the three time points, compared to patients with lower problem-related distress. There was an interaction effect between problem-related distress and time (F = 85.22, p < 0.0001), suggesting that HADS scores decreased differently over time, depending on patients' initial level of problem-related distress. CONCLUSION: Overall, emotional symptoms, while decreasing over time, remained associated with problem-related distress after chemotherapy in Brazil. The potential benefit of implementing a psychosocial intervention remains high throughout cancer treatment.

Influence of treatment access on survival of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in brazilian cancer center.

BACKGROUND: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and immunotherapy improved survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Disparities in treatment access are present in healthcare systems globally. The aim of this study was to analyze survival outcomes of mRCC patients treated with first-line TKIs in the public (PHS) and private (PrS) health system in a Brazilian Cancer Center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records from all mRCC patients treated with first-line TKIs from 2007-2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Categorial variables were compared by Fisher's exact test. Survival was estimated by Kaplan-Maier method and survival curves were compared using the log-rank test. Prognostic factors were adjusted by Cox regression model. RESULTS: Of the 171 eligible patients, 37 (21.6%) were PHS patients and 134 (78.4%) were PrS patients. There were no difference in age, gender, or sites of metastasis. PHS patients had worse performance status (ECOG ≥2, 35.1% vs. 13.5%, p=0.007), poorer risk score (IMDC poor risk, 32.4% vs. 16.4%, p=0.09), and less nephrectomies (73% vs. 92.5%, p=0.003) than PrS patients. Median lines of therapy was one for PHS versus two for PrS patients (p=0.03). Median overall survival (OS) was 16.5 versus 26.5 months (p=0.002) and progression-free survival (PFS), 8.4 versus 11 months (p=0.01) for PHS and PrS patients, respectively. After adjusting for known prognostic factors on multivariate analysis, PHS patients still had a higher risk of death (HR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.01-2.56, p=0.047). CONCLUSION: Patients with mRCC treated via the PHS had worse overall survival, possibly due to poorer prognosis at presentation and less drug access.

Emotional Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Psycho-Oncology Perspective.

Patients with cancer represent a vulnerable population and are at greater risk of developing serious complications as a result of a COVID-19 infection. In response, oncology societies around the world have proposed changes to their standards of care. These changes have helped guide health care providers in prioritizing clinical management of patients with cancer: identifying situations in which urgent intervention is needed and those that can be triaged until the risk of infection has lessened.

A phase 1 trial of SGN-CD70A in patients with CD70-positive, metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cluster of differentiation 70 (CD70) is frequently expressed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and has immunomodulatory properties. An antibody-drug conjugate targeting CD70, SGN-CD70A, was developed to treat patients with CD70-positive RCC. METHODS: The objective of this phase 1, open-label, dose-escalation, multicenter study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of SGN-CD70A and establish its maximum tolerated dose in patients with CD70-positive, metastatic RCC (mRCC). All subtypes of RCC were permitted, and no limit was set on the number of prior therapies. Safety assessments consisted of monitoring and recording all adverse events (AEs) and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). Treatment response was assessed by radiographic tumor evaluation according to the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors, version 1.1. A model-based, modified continual-reassessment method was used to estimate the probabilities of DLT and response. RESULTS: The maximum tolerated dose was determined to be 30 µg/kg, with thrombocytopenia as the DLT. The most common AEs were fatigue (67%), anemia (61%), and thrombocytopenia (56%). Of 18 enrolled patients, 1 achieved a partial response and 13 achieved stable disease, for a clinical benefit rate of 78%. Limitations of the study included the heavily pretreated nature of patients, receipt of a median of 4 prior lines of therapy (range, 1-8 prior lines of therapy), and diminishing response potential. CONCLUSIONS: The modest antitumor activity of SGN-CD70A does not support its development in mRCC. However, given the high disease control rate in a heavily pretreated population and the modest toxicity profile, CD70 remains of interest because of its immunomodulatory properties.

Obesity and psychosocial well-being among cancer patients and survivors.

OBJECTIVE: As the association between obesity and cancer receives increasing attention, studies have begun to examine the potential impact of excess weight on psychosocial domains during treatment and survivorship. The current study will examine the effect of weight status on psychosocial outcomes among patients diagnosed with breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study included 4159 patients over the age of 55 who were diagnosed with postmenopausal breast (52.2%), prostate (38.7%), or colon cancer (9.1%). Prior to treatment, patients were screened for problem-related distress using a 33-item touch screen-based instrument. Descriptive statistics were generated for each cancer type and one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) used to determine significant differences in distress by weight (nonobese: <30 kg/m2 vs obese: ≥30 kg/m2 ). RESULTS: A higher prevalence of biopsychosocial problem-related distress was reported by patients with breast cancer (M = 4.3) compared with prostate (M = 2.8) and colon cancer (M = 3.8). Obese breast and prostate cancer patients reported higher levels of problem-related distress compared with nonobese patients (P < .05), whereas an opposite trend was noted for patients with colon cancer. CONCLUSION: The current study found notable obesity-related differences among patients diagnosed with postmenopausal breast cancer or prostate cancer, with excess weight consistently associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes. These findings among a large cohort of patients provide insight into the impact of obesity during the cancer care trajectory and can provide guidance in the development and implementation of supportive care services for this "at-risk" population.

The Changing Landscape of Management of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Current Treatment Options and Future Directions.

OPINION STATEMENT: For the practicing clinician, the dilemma becomes how most appropriate to sequence the aforementioned regimens. It is challenging to be dogmatic, as there are no comparative studies juxtaposing novel front-line options directly-all of the available studies utilize a comparator arm of sunitinib. With this in mind, the selection of front-line therapy with a patient with mRCC should involve a thorough discussion of both efficacy and safety of available options. The oncologist must also weigh their ability to manage complex immune-related adverse events that can emerge from checkpoint inhibitors, particularly with dual regimens such as nivolumab/ipilimumab. For the patient with good-risk disease, VEGF-directed therapies should remain a component of treatment. The data from CheckMate-214 does not support the use of nivolumab/ipilimumab in this setting, and in fact suggests superiority with the approach of VEGF-TKIs. Until regulatory decisions have been made around bevacizumab/atezolizumab and axitinib/avelumab, sunitinib and pazopanib remain options for patients with good-risk disease, although cabozantinib should be a consideration as well. Although the CABOSUN study did not include patients with good-risk disease, it is important to bear in mind that this was more of a pragmatic decision-inclusion of these patients in the original design could have potentially lengthened the extent of necessary follow-up. From a mechanistic standpoint, there is no reason to assume that cabozantinib would not also achieve superiority to sunitinib in patients with good-risk disease. For patients with intermediate- and poor-risk disease, cabozantinib and nivolumab/ipilimumab represent the only reasonable options thus far that have achieved regulatory approval. As previously noted, nivolumab/ipilimumab has proven benefit in this setting, but should be used only by the oncologist who has ready access to subspecialists who can aid in managing immune-related adverse events. Prompt recognition of colitis, hepatitis, and other sequelae from these therapies is critical, as these toxicities can be life-threatening. If such resources are not available, then cabozantinib should be considered. Cabozantinib should further be contemplated in the subset of patients with bony metastatic disease, where it appears to offer substantial control. Of course, it also represents an option for those individuals who have contraindications to immunotherapy, such as rheumatologic and autoimmune disorders.When combinations of VEGF-directed and immunotherapies are approved, the clinician will have an even more complicated dilemma. Regimens such as a bevacizumab/atezolizumab offer an exceptional safety profile, which may weigh heavily in frail patients who cannot tolerate the side effect profile associated with VEGF-TKIs.

Biopsychosocial distress and clinical outcome in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Limited research exists examining the biopsychosocial experience of patients diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), a disease commonly associated with a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to describe rates and types of distress in mRCC patients and explore the relationship between distress and overall survival. METHOD: A cohort of 102 patients with mRCC treated at a single institution was assessed by a touch screen-based instrument comprising 22 core items spanning physical, practical, functional, and emotional domains. Association between biopsychosocial distress and clinicopathologic criteria was interrogated. Overall survival was compared between patients with low distress versus high distress.ResultHigh rates of distress (20.7%) were found among patients newly diagnosed with mRCC. Among those domains contributing to distress, pain, fatigue, and financial comorbidity were the most commonly reported by patients with mRCC. A trend toward poorer overall survival in those patients with high distress versus low distress was observed among mRCC patients.Significance of resultsBased on data from a relatively large sample of patients, this study provides the first specific insights into the potential impact of biopsychosocial distress and outcomes among patients with mRCC.

Assessment of distress and quality of life in rare cancers.

OBJECTIVE: Rare cancers are a heterogeneous group of conditions that can be associated with emotional and physical impairments. In view of the dearth of research in this area, we investigated the quality of life and prevalence of distress in a cohort of patients diagnosed with a rare cancer, classified by the RARECARE definition. METHODS: A cohort of rare cancer patients, treated in a Brazilian public cancer center, was assessed for distress (Distress Thermometer), anxiety/depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Version). Descriptive statistics were generated, and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with distress, anxiety/depression, and quality of life. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients (52.6% male, mean age of 50 years; range 18-90) were identified. Nearly half (49.6%) of patients reported high levels of distress, with 19.7% endorsing anxiety and 15.3% depression. In multivariate analysis, demographic and clinical variables associated with worse psychosocial outcomes included younger age (P < 0.05), female gender (P < 0.01), advanced disease stage (P < 0.01), and engagement in active therapy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients diagnosed with rare cancer reported poorer psychosocial outcomes and impaired quality of life when compared to the general population of cancer patients. Certain demographic groups (eg, women and younger patients) may benefit from targeted psychosocial interventions.

Advances in the Treatment of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

The treatment landscape for metastatic renal cell carcinoma has constantly been in flux. In 2005, with the advent of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy, the standard of care shifted to agents such as sunitinib and pazopanib. However, more recently there have been datasets, suggesting that next-generation TKIs such as cabozantinib may play an important role in therapy. Furthermore, immunotherapy has had resurgence with the FDA approval of nivolumab with ipilimumab. In the current chapter, we attempt to contextualize available frontline therapies for metastatic renal cell carcinoma with a focus on the CABOSUN and CheckMate 214 clinical trials.

The Role of Circulating Tumor DNA in Renal Cell Carcinoma.

OPINION STATEMENT: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a novel technology that can complement tumor tissue NGS and has the potential to influence diagnosis and treatment of both localized and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). ctDNA NGS is an attractive alternative to tumor tissue NGS because it circumvents the need for repeated, invasive tissue biopsies while providing a contemporary mutational profile of a patient's tumors. While the role of ctDNA NGS in non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer is well established, studies of ctDNA NGS in mRCC are only hypothesis-generating to date. In the localized RCC setting, ctDNA has demonstrated potential as a surveillance biomarker for disease recurrence. Earlier detection of mRCC, prior to the onset of symptoms, may lead to improved clinical outcomes. NGS of ctDNA in mRCC is even more promising in patients with metastatic disease. The majority of patients with mRCC have detectable ctDNA. Thus, ctDNA could be used to select patients for biomarker-guided clinical trials, such as savolitinib in MET-positive papillary RCC. Furthermore, studies have shown that the mutational profile of mRCC in ctDNA evolves after treatment progression. The most exciting potential role for ctDNA in mRCC is as a predictive biomarker for response to immunotherapy. Studies have shown that tumor mutational burden (TMB) is predictive of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, and hypermutated ctDNA can act as a surrogate biomarker for TMB and response to immunotherapy. While studies of ctDNA in RCC are still in their infancy, there are many promising roles for ctDNA in localized and metastatic RCC.

Adjuvant treatment in renal cell carcinoma.

In parallel with advances in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), multiple adjuvant treatments have been tested for RCC. Adjuvant approaches now extend beyond conventional immunotherapies, such as interferon alfa and interleukins, to targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Most treatment approaches before the targeted treatment era did not improve patient outcomes, or study results were mixed. For example, a recent study found that disease-free survival was longer with sunitinib than with placebo in high-risk clear cell RCC, which led to the regulatory approval of sunitinib. However, another large study of adjuvant sunitinib in a slightly different patient population did not confirm these results. Ongoing studies of targeted treatments and immune checkpoint inhibitors may clarify the effectiveness of these agents in the near future. This review presents a comprehensive, chronologic examination of studies addressing adjuvant treatment in RCC, focusing on the key differences between similar approaches. It also discusses the future of adjuvant treatment in RCC.

Impact of a Biopsychosocial Screening Program on Clinical and Hospital-Based Outcomes in Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The integration of a biopsychosocial screening (BPS) program has been proposed by international agencies to better identify and effectively manage unmet needs among patients with cancer. We sought to evaluate the effect of a BPS program on hospital admissions and length of stay (LOS) among a diverse sample of patients with cancer and receiving treatment in Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed from March 2020 to December 2021. Eligible patients were diagnosed with cancer and were receiving treatment at a private practice in Brazil. Clinical characteristics, participation in the BPS program, hospital admissions, reason, and LOS in hospital were evaluated. We compared the number of hospital admissions and LOS between groups (participation v no participation). T test and Chi-square test were used to test for differences between groups. RESULTS: A total of 1,014 patients were included in the analysis. Baseline clinical characteristics were well balanced between groups (n = 459 patients who participated and n = 555 patients who did not). The median age of patients was 63 years. Breast and hematological cancers were the most common types of cancer; 60% were diagnosed at an advanced disease stage. A smaller proportion of patients who participated in the BPS program were hospitalized compared with patients who did not participate (8% v 32%, P = .001). Patients who participated in the program also spent less days in the hospital compared with patients who did not participate in the program (M = 4.2 days v 9.8 days, P = .001). CONCLUSION: Engagement in a BPS program was associated with reduced hospital admissions and LOS. This study provides novel insight into the potential broader implications of BPS programs for clinical care systems. Future studies are needed to explore the mechanisms behind such associations.

Changes in Perception of Cure Among Patients With Genitourinary Cancers Initiating Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: We explored changes in perceptions of cure among patients with genitourinary (GU) cancers starting Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This longitudinal study assessed patients before starting therapy and 3-months later with a questionnaire that included patient perceptions of ICIs and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety scale. General linear modeling was used to investigate changes in expectation of cure over time, and chi-square tests were used to determine the association between expectation of cure and perceptions of ICIs and anxiety. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were recruited (73% male, 84% diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma). The proportion of patients who possessed an accurate expectation of cure increased over time (55.6%-66.7%, P = .001). An accurate expectation of cure was associated with lower rates of anxiety over time. Patients with inaccurate expectation of cure reported more severe side effects and worse self-reported ECOG score at the follow-up assessment (P = .04). CONCLUSION: We found that patients with GU metastatic cancer treated with ICI therapy have increasingly accurate expectations of cure over time. Accurate expectation of cure is associated with decreased anxiety. Further research is needed to fully explore this dynamic over time and help inform interventions that can help patients develop accurate expectations.

Fear of cancer recurrence among Brazilian patients with cancer: Translation and cultural adaptation of FCR4/7 and FCRI-SF measures.

OBJECTIVE: Fear of cancer recurrence or progression (FCR) is considered one of the most common unmet needs among patients with cancer. This study sought to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence scale (FCR4/7) and Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form (FCRI-SF). METHODS: This study involved three phases: (1) translation and cultural adaptation of the FCR4/7 and FCRI-SF measures, (2) validity and reliability testing of the Portuguese version of these measures, and (3) examining patient's perceptions of these measures. Eligible patients were diagnosed with localized breast cancer, and patients with metastatic cancer. Descriptive analyses were collated, and psychometric analysis were conducted (confirmatory factor analysis). RESULTS: A total of 200 patients were recruited (100 patients with localized and 100 patients with metastatic cancer). A significant proportion of patients reported moderate to severe FCR (FCR7: 32.0% and FCRI-SF: 43.0%). Female gender, younger age and metastatic cancer were associated with higher levels of FCR. Psychometric analyses suggested that the Portuguese versions of the FCR4/7 and FCRI-SF were valid, unidimensional in nature, with acceptable reliability coefficients across all scales. In a sub-sample qualitative analysis (n = 75), most patients were satisfied with the relevance of both measures. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the Portuguese versions of the FCR4/7 and FCRI-SF are valid tools to assess FCR among patients with localized and metastatic cancer. Future research can now extend our understanding of FCR and assess this construct among Portuguese speaking patients, to guide the development of effective and targeted interventions for patients globally.