Trends, Sociodemographic and Hospital-Level Factors Associated with Palliative Care Utilization Among Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients.

Several factors are reported to be associated with palliative care utilization among patients with various cancers, but literature is lacking on metastatic prostate cancer (MPC) specific factors. Early integration of palliative care in management of MPC patients could increase their quality of life and overall outcomes. Retrospective longitudinal analyses were conducted using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data (2010 - 2019).

Response to ABAI Task Force on the Use of Contingent Electric Skin Shock.

In this article, the authors provide their response to the Association for Behavior Analysis International (2022) position statement on the use of contingent electric skin shock (CESS). In this response, we address concerns raised by the task force regarding limitations of the Zarcone et al. (2020) review article in which both methodological and ethical concerns were raised about the quality of research in the use of CESS with people with disabilities in the treatment of challenging behavior.

Characteristics of patients with hematologic malignancies without seroconversion post-COVID-19 third vaccine dosing.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to explore the characteristics of the subset of patients with hematologic malignancies (HMs) who had little to no change in SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody index value levels after a third mRNA vaccine dose (3V) and to compare the cohort of patients who did and did not seroconvert post-3V to get a better understanding of the demographics and potential drivers of serostatus.

Study Design: This retrospective cohort study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibody index values pre and post the 3V data on 625 patients diagnosed with HM across a large Midwestern United States healthcare system between 31 October 2019 and 31 January 2022.

Methods: To assess the association between individual characteristics and seroconversion status, patients were placed into two groups based on IgG antibody status pre and post the 3V dose, (-/+) and (-/-).

Quantifying the Value of the Molecular Tumor Board: Discordance Recommendation Rate and Drug Cost Avoidance.

Purpose: Molecular tumor boards (MTBs) provide interventions that assist the patient's primary oncologist's interpretation and application of precision oncology and avoid clinical and financial toxicities of prescribing inappropriate targeted therapy. In this article, we describe a novel method for illustrating MTBs value and recommendation discordance rate and report associated drug cost avoidance data.

Methods: From January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, patients assessed by our program's MTB were retrospectively evaluated.

Real-World Third COVID-19 Vaccine Dosing and Antibody Response in Patients With Hematologic Malignancies.

Purpose: This study sought to describe the changes in immune response to a third dose of either Pfizer's or Moderna's COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (3V) among patients with hematologic malignancies, as well as associated characteristics.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed pre-3V and post-3V data on 493 patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies across a large Midwestern health system between August 28, 2021, and November 1, 2021. For antibody testing, S1 spike antigen of the SARS-CoV-2 virus titer was used to determine serostatus.

Long-term outcomes for ibrutinib-rituximab and chemoimmunotherapy in CLL: updated results of the E1912 trial.

Herein, we present the long-term follow-up of the randomized E1912 trial comparing the long-term efficacy of ibrutinib-rituximab (IR) therapy to fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) and describe the tolerability of continuous ibrutinib. The E1912 trial enrolled 529 treatment-naïve patients aged ≤70 years with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Patients were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio) to receive IR or 6 cycles of FCR.

Measurable residual disease does not preclude prolonged progression-free survival in CLL treated with ibrutinib.

E1912 was a randomized phase 3 trial comparing indefinite ibrutinib plus 6 cycles of rituximab (IR) to 6 cycles of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) in untreated younger patients with CLL. We describe measurable residual disease (MRD) levels in E1912 over time and correlate them with clinical outcome. Undetectable MRD rates (<1 CLL cell per 104 leukocytes) were 29.

Implementation of Germline Testing for Prostate Cancer: Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference 2019.

Purpose: Germline testing (GT) is a central feature of prostate cancer (PCA) treatment, management, and hereditary cancer assessment. Critical needs include optimized multigene testing strategies that incorporate evolving genetic data, consistency in GT indications and management, and alternate genetic evaluation models that address the rising demand for genetic services.

Methods: A multidisciplinary consensus conference that included experts, stakeholders, and national organization leaders was convened in response to current practice challenges and to develop a genetic implementation framework.

Efficacy of Upfront Docetaxel With Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Castration-Sensitive Metastatic Prostate Cancer Among Minority Patients.

Background: Upfront docetaxel (UD) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been demonstrated to improve survival outcomes in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). However, existing studies have included predominantly Caucasian patients.

Study Question: To compare the efficacy of addition of UD to ADT in mCSPC to ADT alone among minority patients.

Coordinating an Oncology Precision Medicine Clinic Within an Integrated Health System: Lessons Learned in Year One.

Precision medicine is a term describing strategies to promote health and prevent and treat disease based on an individual's genetic, molecular, and lifestyle characteristics. Oncology precision medicine (OPM) is a cancer treatment approach targeting cancer-specific genetic and molecular alterations. Implementation of an OPM clinical program optimally involves the support and collaboration of multiple departments, including administration, medical oncology, pathology, interventional radiology, genetics, research, and informatics.

Ibrutinib-Rituximab or Chemoimmunotherapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Background: Data regarding the efficacy of treatment with ibrutinib-rituximab, as compared with standard chemoimmunotherapy with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab, in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been limited.

Methods: In a phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned (in a 2:1 ratio) patients 70 years of age or younger with previously untreated CLL to receive either ibrutinib and rituximab for six cycles (after a single cycle of ibrutinib alone), followed by ibrutinib until disease progression, or six cycles of chemoimmunotherapy with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab. The primary end point was progression-free survival, and overall survival was a secondary end point.

Effects of word overlap on generalized gains from a repeated readings intervention.

We compared children's gains in oral reading fluency after applying a standard fluency-building intervention to three training passages that differed in word overlap (high, low, and multiple exemplar) with an untrained generalization passage. Participants were 132 White and Hispanic third-grade children from two schools in the northeast and mountain west. Children were randomly assigned within classrooms to the three word overlap conditions, pre-tested on their assigned training and a common generalization passage, received a fluency-building intervention on their assigned training passage, and then post-tested on the same two passages.

Identification, Prioritization, and Treatment of Mutations Identified by Next-Generation Sequencing.

Many targeted therapies-and, more recently, immunotherapies-have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with companion diagnostic tests.

Metastatic spread from squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx to the totally implantable venous access port insertion site: Case report and review of literature.

Background: The totally implantable venous access port plays a crucial role in delivering chemotherapy in the outpatient setting. Here, we report the first case of a patient with hypopharyngeal tumor who developed chest wall metastasis over the totally implantable venous access port inserted in the internal jugular vein.

Methods: Our patient, a 58-year-old man with a hypopharyngeal tumor presented with a lump over the totally implantable venous access port site.

Adrenocortical carcinoma and succinate dehydrogenase gene mutations: an observational case series.

Objective: Germline loss-of-function mutations in succinate dehydrogenase () genes results in rare tumor syndromes that include pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, and others. Here we report a case series of patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) that harbor mutations.

Patients And Results: We report four unrelated patients with ACC and mutations.

Metastasis of cervical cancer to breast: A case report and review of literature.

Metastasis to the breast from an extra-mammary malignancy has been documented in literature, however cervical cancer metastasis to the breast is very rare. Thirty-eight cases of metastatic deposit to the breast from cervical cancer have been reported in literature. Though most patients present with a breast lump, it is very difficult to clinically distinguish a primary breast malignancy from a metastatic deposit.

Children's preference for mixed- versus fixed-ratio schedules of reinforcement: A translational study of risky choice.

Laboratory research has shown that when subjects are given a choice between fixed-ratio and bi-valued mixed-ratio schedules of reinforcement, preference typically emerges for the mixed-ratio schedule even with a larger ratio requirement. The current study sought to replicate and extend these findings to children's math problem completion. Using an ABCBC reversal design, four fourth-grade students were given the choice of completing addition problems reinforced on either a fixed-ratio 5 schedule or one of three mixed-ratio schedules; an equivalent mixed-ratio (1, 9) schedule, a mixed-ratio (1, 11) schedule with a 20% larger ratio requirement, and an equally lean mixed-ratio (5, 7) schedule without the small fixed-ratio 1 component.