Publications by authors named "Matthew Puc"
Introduction:: Patients with thoracic cancers have one of the highest mortality rates among patients with cancer and COVID-19. Data evaluating the impact of recent anti-cancer therapies on COVID-19 outcomes in patients with thoracic cancers are confined to heterogenous studies with limited follow-up data. We leveraged data from the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) (NCT04354701) to analyze the impact of recent anti-cancer therapies on the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with thoracic cancers.
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- COVID-19 severely impacts cancer patients, particularly those with metastatic cancer, and this study explored the relationship between cancer metastasis and COVID-19 outcomes.
- Using data from the CCC19 registry, researchers analyzed over 10,000 cancer patients with COVID-19 to assess hospitalization rates and mortality based on the presence and site of metastasis.
- Findings showed that patients with metastases had higher hospitalization rates (59% vs. 49%) and 30-day mortality (18% vs. 9%), with those having lung metastases experiencing the highest risk of death in that timeframe.
Background: Patients with thoracic malignancies who develop COVID-19 infection have a higher hospitalization rate compared to the general population and to those with other cancer types, but how this outcome differs by race and ethnicity is relatively understudied.
Methods: The TERAVOLT database is an international, multi-center repository of cross-sectional and longitudinal data studying the impact of COVID-19 on individuals with thoracic malignancies. Patients from North America with thoracic malignancies and confirmed COVID-19 infection were included for this analysis of racial and ethnic disparities.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on female patients with breast cancer, particularly focusing on underrepresented racial/ethnic populations from March 2020 to June 2021 in the US.
- The analysis included 1,383 patients, revealing that older age and certain racial/ethnic groups (such as Black and Asian American/Pacific Islanders) showed higher odds of severe COVID-19 outcomes.
- Key findings noted that factors like worse performance status, pre-existing health conditions, and active cancer significantly contributed to increased severity, while variables like Hispanic ethnicity and anti-cancer therapy type did not impact outcomes as much.
Importance: Systematic data on the association between anticancer therapies and thromboembolic events (TEEs) in patients with COVID-19 are lacking.
Objective: To assess the association between anticancer therapy exposure within 3 months prior to COVID-19 and TEEs following COVID-19 diagnosis in patients with cancer.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This registry-based retrospective cohort study included patients who were hospitalized and had active cancer and laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Article Synopsis
- A study examined outcomes of cancer patients who got COVID-19, focusing on those with and without existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) or risk factors (CVRF).
- The research found that over half of the 10,876 patients had CVD/CVRF, which linked to more severe COVID-19 symptoms and complications.
- Notably, patients without recent cancer treatment experienced worse COVID-19 severity related to CVD/CVRF compared to those under active treatment.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on female breast cancer patients using a large U.S. registry during 2020-2021, focusing on underrepresented racial/ethnic populations.
- Key findings show that older age, being Black, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and having worse overall health significantly increase the severity of COVID-19 in these patients.
- The overall hospitalization rate was 37% and mortality rate 9%, but these rates varied depending on the active status of breast cancer in patients.
Introduction: COVID-19 particularly impacted patients with co-morbid conditions, including cancer. Patients with melanoma have not been specifically studied in large numbers. Here, we sought to identify factors that associated with COVID-19 severity among patients with melanoma, particularly assessing outcomes of patients on active targeted or immune therapy.
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- Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections post-vaccination are a major concern, particularly for cancer patients who are at higher risk of severe outcomes.
- A study analyzed 2,486 cancer patients with confirmed infections, focusing on the impact of receiving 2 or 3 doses of mRNA vaccines, looking at mortality and hospitalization rates.
- Results showed that vaccinated individuals had significantly lower 30-day mortality and hospitalization rates compared to unvaccinated patients, with those receiving 3 doses having the best outcomes.
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- Cytokine storms caused by COVID-19 can lead to severe health issues, particularly in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy due to heightened immune responses.
- A study involving over 12,000 cancer patients aimed to explore how baseline immunosuppression and immunotherapy affect the severity of COVID-19 and the likelihood of cytokine storms.
- Results indicated no significant differences in COVID-19 severity or cytokine storm occurrence among patients receiving immunotherapy compared to those not receiving any cancer treatment prior to their COVID-19 diagnosis.
Article Synopsis
- * Data from the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium indicates that those treated for B-lymphoid malignancies within the past year have a greater severity of COVID-19 compared to those who were not recently treated.
- * The study highlights the need for tailored strategies to protect this vulnerable group of patients, as recent treatment appears to be a key factor in increased COVID-19 risk.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the frequency and outcomes of coinfections in cancer patients who also have COVID-19, a group at high risk for such infections.
- Among 8,765 patients analyzed, 16.6% developed coinfections, predominantly bacterial, with specific risk factors identified such as age, sex, and existing health conditions.
- Co-occurrence of bacterial and fungal infections significantly increased the 30-day mortality rates, highlighting the severe impact of these coinfections in this vulnerable population.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore how a new geriatric risk index, which considers factors like age and comorbidities, impacts COVID-19 severity and mortality among older adults with cancer.
- It analyzed a cohort of 5,671 patients aged 60 and older who were part of a global cancer registry during the pandemic, focusing on outcomes based on the developed risk index.
- Results showed that nearly 20% of patients were labeled as high risk, and these individuals faced significantly worse COVID-19 severity compared to those classified as standard risk, with a mortality rate of 16.2% among all participants.
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 pandemic has affected cancer patients differently across various regions in the U.S., showing that these patients are at a higher risk for severe COVID-19 complications.
- This study tracked and analyzed COVID-19 outcomes among cancer patients diagnosed between March and November 2020 across different U.S. census divisions, focusing on factors that may influence their health outcomes.
- Results indicated significant variability in 30-day mortality rates among cancer patients in different centers, ranging from 5.2% to 26.6%, suggesting that geographic location and healthcare center characteristics play a crucial role in these outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates whether androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) could lower the risk of 30-day mortality from SARS-CoV-2 in patients with prostate cancer by reducing the expression of the virus's coreceptor TMPRSS2.
- Researchers analyzed data from a COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium registry, looking specifically at prostate cancer patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 2020 and February 2021, with a focus on matching patients receiving ADT to those who were not.
- The main goal was to compare the 30-day mortality rates of prostate cancer patients who underwent ADT versus those who did not, providing insights into treatment impacts during the pandemic.
Article Synopsis
- * Hydroxychloroquine combined with other drugs increased mortality compared to alternative treatments or no treatment, while remdesivir showed a trend towards reduced mortality that wasn't statistically significant.
- * Treatment receipt was influenced by factors like baseline COVID-19 severity and revealed disparities, such as Black patients being less likely to receive remdesivir than white patients, emphasizing the need for more inclusive trials.
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- Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication in noncardiac thoracic surgeries, affecting 10-20% of patients and leading to increased health issues and costs.
- The study analyzed data from 525 patients who underwent lobectomies to see if the preoperative CHADS-VASc score could effectively predict the occurrence of POAF.
- Results showed that higher CHADS-VASc scores, particularly those 5 or greater, and older age groups (65 and older) are significant predictors for developing POAF, suggesting targeted prophylaxis for at-risk patients is necessary.
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- Bronchogenic cysts (BC) are rare congenital abnormalities primarily found in the mediastinum, with a few instances occurring in the diaphragm; this text discusses the 21st documented case of an intradiaphragmatic BC.
- The study reviews past cases and includes information on clinical symptoms, imaging studies, surgical removal methods, and diaphragm management related to these cysts.
- It emphasizes the importance of considering bronchogenic cysts in the differential diagnosis for unusual masses in the diaphragm area.
Esophageal cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, with many patients found to have locoregional or metastatic disease at time of diagnosis. Because of this, cure may be unlikely, leading treatment efforts to focus more on symptom palliation and improving patient quality of life. The majority of patients with advanced disease suffer from some degree of dysphagia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Survival after pulmonary metastasectomy for soft tissue sarcoma (STS) has been lower than in osteosarcoma (14-40% versus 40-50%). With improved patient selection criteria and advanced chemotherapy agents, we hypothesized that survival after metastasectomy for STS has improved in recent years.
Methods: Retrospective study of 48 patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy for STS between 1995 and 2007.
Article Synopsis
- - The study examined a National Emphysema Treatment Trial subanalysis comparing outcomes of bilateral lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) using two methods: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and median sternotomy (MS), suggesting VATS might have slightly lower morbidity.
- - Over a 9-year period, 15 patients underwent VATS and 35 underwent MS, with the VATS group being subjectively selected as higher risk, yet showing no significant differences in major complications or overall outcomes between the two groups.
- - Although the VATS procedure took longer on average, both methods resulted in comparable morbidity, indicating that VATS is a viable option even for higher-risk patients.
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- Acute acalculous cholecystitis is difficult to diagnose in critically ill trauma patients because lab tests and other injuries can obscure symptoms.
- A study examined the effectiveness of ultrasound for diagnosing this condition over 40 months at a trauma center, focusing on specific imaging criteria.
- Results showed that ultrasound had low sensitivity (30%) but high specificity (93%) for diagnosing the condition, while hepatobiliary scans were much more accurate, suggesting ultrasound is not reliable as a routine screening tool.