Nurses in clinical trials: perceptions of impact on the research enterprise.

Background: Clinical Research Nurses practice across a wide spectrum of roles and settings within the global research enterprise. Clinical Research Nurses working with clinical trials face a dual fidelity in their role, balancing integrity of the protocol and quality care for participants. Aims: The purpose of this study was to describe Clinical Research Nurses' experiences in clinical trials, educational preparation, and career pathways, to gain a deeper understanding of clinical research nursing contributions to the clinical research enterprise. Methods: An internet-based survey was conducted to collect demographic data and free text responses to four open-ended queries related to the experience of nurses working in clinical trials research, educational preparation, and role pathways. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze free text responses. The study was guided by the Clinical Research Nursing Domain of Practice and Duffy's Quality Caring Model of relationship centered professional encounters. Results: Forty clinical research nurses responded to the open-ended questions with themes related to dual fidelity to study participants and protocols, relationships and nursing care, interdisciplinary team membership and contributing to science, emerging from the data. Gaps in educational preparation and professional pathways were identified. Conclusion: This study provides insights to unique clinical research nurse practice contributions in the clinical trial research enterprise within a context of Duffy's Quality Caring Model.

Adding Umbralisib and Ublituximab (U2) to Ibrutinib in Patients with CLL: A Phase II Study of an MRD-Driven Approach.

PURPOSE: Ibrutinib has transformed the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), though its use is limited by toxicity and resistance. In this study, we utilized an "add on" approach for patients who had been treated with ibrutinib in the front-line or relapsed/refractory settings with detectable MRD. Umbralisib and ublituximab (U2) were added on to ibrutinib, patients were treated until achieving undetectable-MRD (U-MRD), and then they entered a period of treatment-free observation (TFO). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were eligible if they received ibrutinib in any line of therapy for at least 6 months and had detectable MRD (flow cytometry, <1 cell in 10-4 cutoff for U-MRD). U2 was added to ibrutinib, and patients were monitored serially for MRD. Once U-MRD was achieved or a total of 24 cycles were administered, patients entered a period of TFO. The primary study objective was rate of U-MRD. Secondary endpoints included safety and durability of clinical benefit after treatment discontinuation. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled of whom 27 were evaluable for efficacy. Patients received ibrutinib for a median of 21 months (range 7-67) prior to study enrollment. Fourteen patients (52%) have achieved U-MRD per protocol whereas 78% had at least one U-MRD evaluation. Seventeen patients (63%) have entered TFO after a median of 6.4 months on triplet therapy. Progression-free survival at 12 months was estimated at 95%. Grade ≥3 adverse events were hypertension 7%, diarrhea 4%, and increased ALT/AST 4%. CONCLUSIONS: This triplet approach utilizes the addition of U2 to ibrutinib as an MRD-driven time-limited therapy. This therapy was well tolerated and effective. TFO following this therapy appears durable in ongoing follow-up.

Tolerability and activity of ublituximab, umbralisib, and ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a phase 1 dose escalation and expansion trial.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic approaches for B-cell malignancies continue to evolve, especially with regard to combination approaches. We assessed the safety and efficacy of the triplet ublituximab, umbralisib, and ibrutinib in patients with advanced B-cell malignancies. METHODS: We did an open-label, phase 1 study with dose-escalation and dose-expansion phases, at five centres in the USA. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older with histologically confirmed lymphocytic leukaemia or relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, had measurable disease, adequate organ function, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 2 or less. Patients with known CNS lymphoma, active hepatitis B or C infection, or HIV were excluded. In the dose-escalation cohort, patients were treated in cycles of 28 days with escalating doses of oral umbralisib (400, 600, or 800 mg) and fixed doses of intravenous ublituximab (900 mg) and oral ibrutinib (420 mg for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; 560 mg for patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma) in a standard 3 × 3 design until disease progression or intolerance. In the dose-expansion phase, patients were given the recommended dose of the drug combination as determined from the dose-escalation phase. The primary endpoints were safety, dose-limiting toxicities, and the maximum tolerated dose of umbralisib, when given in combination with ublituximab and ibrutinib. Safety was assessed in patients who received at least one dose of study drug; activity was assessed in all patients who had at least one post-treatment efficacy measurement. The study is ongoing but no longer recruiting patients. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02006485. FINDINGS: Between Sept 2, 2014, and Nov 6, 2017, we enrolled 46 patients: 24 in the dose-escalation cohort (n=14 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma; n=10 B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and 22 in the dose-expansion cohort (n=9 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma; n=13 B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma). 46 patients received at least one dose of study drug. The maximum tolerated dose of umbralisib was not reached. The recommended dose for the dose-expansion phase was umbralisib 800 mg orally once daily plus ibrutinib orally once daily and intravenous ublituximab 900 mg administered on days 1, 8, and 15 of cycle 1, day 1 of cycles 2-6, and on day 1 of cycles 9 and 12. 37 (84%) of 44 patients achieved an overall response (complete or partial response). The most common any-grade adverse events were diarrhoea (n=27 [59%]), fatigue (n=23 [50%]), infusion-related reaction (n=20 [43%]), dizziness (n=17 [37%]), nausea (n=17 [37%]), and cough (n=16 [35%]). Grade 3-4 adverse events were manageable with the most common being neutropenia (n=10 [22%]) and cellulitis (n=6 [13%]). Serious adverse events occurred in 11 (24%) of 46 patients and included rash (n=2 [4%]), pneumonia (n=2 [4%]), atrial fibrillation (n=2 [4%]), sepsis (n=2 [4%]), abdominal pain (n=1 [2%]), syncope (n=1 [2%]), cellulitis (n=1 [2%]), pneumonitis (n=1 [2%]), headache (n=1 [2%]), lung infection (n=1 [2%]), skin infection (n=1 [2%]), pleural effusion (n=1 [2%]), pericardial infusion (n=1 [2%]), upper gastrointestinal bleeding (n=1 [2%]), diarrhoea (n=1 [2%]), and weakness (n=1 [2%]). No deaths related to adverse events occurred. INTERPRETATION: The combination of ublituximab, umbralisib, and ibrutinib seems to be tolerable and is associated with encouraging activity in advanced chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This triplet combination will require further investigation in future studies to improve understanding of this novel, chemotherapy-free triplet combination in the management of these cancers. FUNDING: TG Therapeutics.

Clinical management of EGFRI dermatologic toxicities: the nursing perspective.

All nursing personnel actively participate in the nursing process, with the registered nurse taking primary responsibility. Five steps in the nursing process include assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Health-care professionals have more than 10 years of experience with EGFR inhibitors in the oncology setting. To date, the application of the nursing process to assist in patient management has not been previously published or thoroughly described in the literature. This article will apply the nursing process utilizing current recommendations regarding the assessment and management of dermatologic toxicities associated with EGFR inhibitors.

Results of an Oncology Clinical Trial Nurse Role Delineation Study.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relevance of a five-dimensional model of clinical trial nursing practice in an oncology clinical trial nurse population. 
. DESIGN: Web-based cross-sectional survey.
. SETTING: Online via Qualtrics.
. SAMPLE: 167 oncology nurses throughout the United States, including 41 study coordinators, 35 direct care providers, and 91 dual-role nurses who provide direct patient care and trial coordination.
. METHODS: Principal components analysis was used to determine the dimensions of oncology clinical trial nursing practice.
. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Self-reported frequency of 59 activities.
. FINDINGS: The results did not support the original five-dimensional model of nursing care but revealed a more multidimensional model.
. CONCLUSIONS: An analysis of frequency data revealed an eight-dimensional model of oncology research nursing, including care, manage study, expert, lead, prepare, data, advance science, and ethics.
. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: This evidence-based model expands understanding of the multidimensional roles of oncology nurses caring for patients with cancer enrolled in clinical trials.

The epidermal growth factor receptor as a novel target for cancer therapy: case studies and clinical implications.

OBJECTIVES: To update the success and obstacles using therapies targeted to the epidermal growth factor receptor including IMC-C225, ZD1839, and OSI-774. DATA SOURCES: Research articles, textbooks, clinical protocols, case studies. CONCLUSIONS: Ongoing studies show promise using monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and other malignancies. Such therapies can be delivered with limited toxicity to the host, and initial studies have shown single-agent efficacy and efficacy in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses are directly involved in the delivery of these novel therapies and the management of associated toxicities. They serve to coordinate treatment protocols and help to ensure patient understanding and compliance.

Safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of AMG 706, an oral multikinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid tumors.

PURPOSE: AMG 706 is an investigational, orally bioavailable inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1, 2, and 3, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and stem-cell factor receptor. This phase I, dose-finding study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of AMG 706 in patients with refractory advanced solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: AMG 706 was administered at escalating doses of 50 to 175 mg once daily or 25 mg bid for the first 21 days of a 28-day cycle. The 125-mg once-daily dose was also administered continuously. The maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), safety, pharmacokinetics, tumor response, and serum levels of proangiogenic markers were determined. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients received AMG 706. The MTD was 125 mg once daily administered continuously. The most frequent adverse events were fatigue (55%), diarrhea (51%), nausea (44%), and hypertension (42%). Plasma AMG 706 concentrations increased in a dose-proportional manner with no accumulation after multiple doses. Five patients (7%) had a partial response, 35 patients (49%) had stable disease (at least through day 50), and 31 patients (44%) had progressive disease. Changes in tumor size correlated significantly with an increase in placental growth factor (P = .003) and a decrease in soluble kinase domain receptor (P = .001). CONCLUSION: In this study of patients with advanced refractory solid tumors, AMG 706 was well tolerated and displayed favorable pharmacokinetics and evidence of antitumor activity. Additional studies of AMG 706 as monotherapy and in combination with various agents are ongoing.