Publications by authors named "Lisa Boris"
Article Synopsis
- Sleep-wake disturbances are prevalent among primary brain tumor patients, and this study explores the relationship between patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and data from smart wearables like Fitbits over a 4-week period.
- Fifty-four patients participated, wearing Fitbits to track their sleep patterns and completing various PROs at the start and end of the study, showing high compliance and reliability in the data collected.
- Results indicated that while some patients experienced significant improvements in sleep disturbance, a notable correlation was found between wake after sleep onset and sleep disturbance, highlighting a need for further research into sleep mechanics in this patient population.
Purpose: Multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTBs) integrate clinical, molecular, and radiological information and facilitate coordination of neuro-oncology care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our MTB transitioned to a virtual and multi-institutional format. We hypothesized that this expansion would allow expert review of challenging neuro-oncology cases and contribute to the care of patients with limited access to specialized centers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain malignancy with <45% living a year beyond diagnosis. Previously published investigations of long-term survivors (LTS) provided clinical data but rarely incorporated a comprehensive clinical and molecular analysis. Herein, we identify clinical, imaging, molecular, and outcome features for 23 GBM-LTS patients and compare them with a matched cohort of short-term survivors (STS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Cancer patients experience distress and anxiety when undergoing imaging studies to monitor disease status, yet these symptoms are not always appropriately identified or well-managed. This interim analysis of a phase 2 clinical trial explored feasibility and acceptability of a virtual reality relaxation (VR) intervention for primary brain tumor (PBT) patients at the time of clinical evaluation.
Methods: English speaking, adult PBT patients with previous reports of distress and upcoming neuroimaging were recruited between March of 2021 and March 2022.
Article Synopsis
- Precision health strategies are essential for managing symptom burden in primary brain tumor patients, addressing the complex and diverse nature of their symptoms.
- The study used network analysis and unsupervised clustering on data from 1,128 patients to uncover symptoms' interconnections, revealing four key dimensions of symptom burden: cognitive, physical, focal neurologic, and affective.
- The results indicated four patient subgroups, with notable distinctions in their symptom patterns and severities, potentially guiding the development of personalized symptom management approaches in the future.
Article Synopsis
- Cancer patients often face anxiety during imaging studies, leading to the need for effective management of their distress.
- A phase 2 clinical trial tested a virtual reality relaxation (VR) intervention for primary brain tumor patients, assessing its feasibility and acceptability before neuroimaging.
- Out of 55 approached, 20 patients enrolled, with high satisfaction reported (90%) and minimal adverse effects, indicating the potential of VR as a supportive tool for managing psychological symptoms in this population.
Article Synopsis
- Financial toxicity, especially linked to unemployment, has a significant impact on cancer survivors, prompting an evaluation of how it relates to patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in individuals with primary CNS tumors (PCNST).
- The study, conducted between September 2016 and December 2019 with 277 participants, revealed that Hispanic individuals faced higher unemployment rates and reported greater functional impairments and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) than employed counterparts.
- Unemployed participants exhibited notably higher levels of depressive (25% vs. 8%) and anxiety symptoms (30% vs. 15%), highlighting the mental health challenges associated with unemployment in this patient group.
Article Synopsis
- Astroblastoma, -altered is a new classification of rare CNS tumors added by the WHO in 2021, characterized by unique DNA methylation patterns and specific genetic fusions but has variable histological features.
- These tumors are most frequently found in children, especially females, and their clinical outcomes vary widely, with some patients facing multiple recurrences despite aggressive treatment while others do well after surgery alone.
- The report details the cases of three female adults with these tumors, highlights the need for better clinical data collection, and suggests a standardized method for gathering neuropathological and patient-reported outcomes to enhance understanding of the tumor's clinical diversity.
Article Synopsis
- * Patients with sleep disturbances also experienced a higher overall symptom burden, including significantly more depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as increased feelings of drowsiness and distress.
- * The findings suggest that addressing sleep disturbances in PBT patients could improve their overall symptom experience and quality of life, highlighting the need for future research on sleep patterns and potential interventions.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on the importance of clinical outcomes assessments (COAs) for patients with malignant glioma, specifically looking at symptoms and functions recommended by the RANO-PRO Working Group.
- Using a cohort of 336 patients from a larger study, researchers analyzed how symptoms like pain and cognitive issues and functions like weakness and ability to work relate to disease progression over time.
- Findings suggest that these COAs are relevant indicators of disease status and may change as the disease progresses, providing vital information for both clinical care and research.
Article Synopsis
- Cognitive impairments are common in patients with primary CNS tumors, and traditional neuropsychological assessments are often too lengthy for routine use, prompting the study of the brief Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) during in-person and telehealth visits.
- The study involved 71 adults with CNS tumors who took the MoCA, revealing an average score of 25 in-person and 26 via telehealth, with a notable percentage scoring abnormally; satisfaction surveys indicated healthcare providers found the MoCA useful in both settings.
- Findings demonstrated a correlation between lower MoCA scores and worse symptoms, emphasizing the importance of incorporating both objective cognitive measures and patient-reported outcomes for a comprehensive understanding of patient cognition in neuro-oncology care.
Introduction: Despite an increasing aging population, older adults (≥ 65 years) with primary brain tumors (PBTs) are not routinely assessed for geriatric vulnerabilities. Recent reports of geriatric assessment (GA) in patients with glioblastomas demonstrated that GA may serve as a sensitive prognosticator of overall survival. Yet, current practice does not include routine evaluation of geriatric vulnerabilities and the relevance of GA has not been previously evaluated in broader cohorts of PBT patients.
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- The study examines the challenges in interpreting imaging for oligodendroglioma patients at a referral center and assesses the agreement between different reviewers.
- Two neuro-oncologists reviewed MRIs prior to radiation, finding significant variations in interpretations, indicated by kappa coefficients for features like enhancement and necrosis.
- The findings revealed that while certain imaging traits correlated with grade 3 oligodendroglioma, the variability between reviewers highlights the need for standardized imaging processes.
Article Synopsis
- Primary CNS tumors lead to significant symptoms and a poor prognosis, prompting a study on long-term survivors (≥5 years) to evaluate their reported outcomes.
- Data from 248 adult survivors revealed that while 42% reported no moderate-to-severe symptoms, many experienced issues like fatigue and cognitive difficulties, with significant anxiety and depression reported by some.
- The study highlights the need for tailored survivorship care programs, as survivors exhibited diverse symptom experiences regardless of tumor characteristics, indicating ongoing support and research are essential.
Purpose: To investigate the toxicity profile and establish an optimal dosing schedule of zotiraciclib with temozolomide in patients with recurrent high-grade astrocytoma.
Patients And Methods: This two-stage phase I trial determined the MTD of zotiraciclib combined with either dose-dense (Arm1) or metronomic (Arm2) temozolomide using a Bayesian Optimal Interval design; then a randomized cohort expansion compared the progression-free survival rate at 4 months (PFS4) of the two arms for an efficient determination of a temozolomide schedule to combine with zotiraciclib at MTD. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenomic profiling were included.
Purpose: Body image (BI) is an important issue for cancer patients, as patients with BI concerns are susceptible to depression, anxiety, difficulty coping, and poor quality of life (QoL). While this concern has been documented in patients with other malignancies, no data exists of this QoL issue in patients with primary brain tumors (PBT).
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 100 PBT patients was conducted on an IRB approved prospective protocol using structured questionnaires.
Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) are being investigated in clinical trials for patients with glioblastoma. While these therapies hold great promise, management of the patients receiving such treatment can be complicated due to the challenges in recognizing immune-related adverse events caused by checkpoint inhibitor treatment. Brain imaging changes that are the consequence of an inflammatory response may be misinterpreted as disease progression leading to inappropriate premature cessation of treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is due to defective nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity and characterized by recurrent infections with a limited spectrum of bacteria and fungi as well as inflammatory complications. To understand the impact of common severe infections in CGD, we examined the records of 268 patients followed at a single center over 4 decades.
Methods: All patients had confirmed diagnoses of CGD, and genotype was determined where possible.
Purpose: Autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome (AD-HIES) due to heterozygous STAT3 mutation is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by eczema, elevated serum IgE, recurrent infections, and connective tissue and skeletal findings. Healing of pneumonias is often abnormal with formation of pneumatoceles and bronchiectasis. We aimed to explore whether healing after lung surgery is also aberrant.
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