Non-Genetic Biomarkers in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Prognostic Implications and Predictive Utility for Response to Anti-PD-(L)1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a skin cancer that arises due to either Merkel cell polyomavirus infection (MCPyV) or ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, presenting primarily in the head and neck region of fair-skinned males. The recent success of PD-(L)1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in locally advanced/metastatic MCC, with an objective response rate (ORR) around 50% and improved survival, as a first-line treatment has moved ICIs to the forefront of therapy for MCC and generated interest in identifying biomarkers to predict clinical response. The MCC tumour microenvironment (TME) contains various components of the adaptive and innate immune system.

A Cohort Study to Evaluate Genetic Predictors of Aromatase Inhibitor Musculoskeletal Symptoms: Results from ECOG-ACRIN E1Z11.

Purpose: Aromatase inhibitor (AI)-associated musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS) are common and frequently lead to AI discontinuation. SNPs in candidate genes have been associated with AIMSS and AI discontinuation. E1Z11 is a prospective cohort study designed to validate the association between 10 SNPs and AI discontinuation due to AIMSS.

Body composition measurements and clinical outcomes in patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma - analysis from SWOG S1505.

Background: Sarcopenic obesity and muscle attenuation have been associated with survival in patients with borderline resectable and advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA); however, these relationships are unknown for patients with resectable PDA. This study examined the associations between skeletal muscle and adipose tissue as measured on baseline computed tomography (CT) and the overall survival (OS) of participants with resectable PDA in a secondary analysis of the Southwest Oncology Group S1505 clinical trial (identifier: NCT02562716).

Methods: The S1505 phase II clinical trial enrolled patients with resectable PDA who were randomized to receive modified FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel as perioperative chemotherapy, followed by surgical resection.

GI Symptoms in Pancreatic Cancer.

This review will apply a multidisciplinary approach to GI symptoms with attention to symptom assessment (instruments and qualitative aspects), differential diagnosis, and recent findings relevant to management of symptoms and underlying diseases. We conclude that further development of supportive interventions for GI symptoms for both patient and caregivers has the potential to reduce distress from GI symptoms, and anticipate better symptom control with advances in scientific knowledge and improvement of the evidence base.

Extrapulmonary Small Cell Carcinoma Presenting as an Orbital Mass: A Case Report.

Extrapulmonary small cell carcinomas (ESCCs) are poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumors that are characterized by an aggressive course and poor survival rates. While these tumors can be found anywhere in the body, presentations of lesions in the orbit are exceedingly rare. We present the case of a 47-year-old man who presented with blurry vision, lacrimation, and tenderness of his right eye, as well as a small but palpable temporal mass.

Symptom Clusters and Quality of Life in Gastric Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.

Context: Although gastric cancer is one of the most common tumors worldwide, there is little knowledge about symptom clusters and quality of life (QoL) in this population.

Objectives: The objectives were to identify the symptom clusters in gastric cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and explore their effects on QoL.

Methods: Gastric cancer patients receiving chemotherapy were recruited.

NFĸB Targeting in Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Mediated Support of Age-Linked Hematological Malignancies.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can become dysfunctional in patients with hematological disorders. An unanswered question is whether age-linked disruption of the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment is secondary to hematological dysfunction or vice versa. We therefore studied MSC function in patients with different hematological disorders and found decreased MHC-II except from one sample with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Hypomethylating Chemotherapeutic Agents as Therapy for Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Prevention of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDSs) affect the elderly and can progress to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Epigenetic alterations including DNA methylation and chromatin modification may contribute to the initiation and progression of these malignancies. DNA hypomethylating agents such as decitabine and azacitidine are used as therapeutic treatments and have shown to promote expression of genes involved in tumor suppression, apoptosis, and immune response.

Testing Symptom Severity Thresholds and Potential Alerts for Clinical Intervention in Patients With Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy.

Purpose: Symptom monitoring is attracting attention as a way to improve adherence to cancer therapy, reduce treatment-related toxicities, and possibly improve overall survival. How reporting thresholds affect symptom alert generation and clinical outcomes is poorly understood.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed data from 38 US health care institutions collected for the prospective Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network E2Z02 Symptom Outcomes and Practice Patterns study.

Spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome in T-cell malignancy: two case reports.

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) refers to a constellation of metabolic abnormalities that result from release of intracellular solutes (potassium, phosphate, and nucleic acid metabolites) from rapidly dying tumor cells. While TLS most commonly occurs following chemotherapy, spontaneous TLS can rarely occur in rapidly dividing liquid or solid malignancies. Here, we report the cases of two patients who presented with non-specific symptoms and were found to have spontaneous TLS.

Validation of the Simplified Chinese Version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form Among Cancer Patients.

Context: Comprehensive symptom assessment is crucial for symptom management. The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form (MSAS-SF) has been validated for symptom assessment in cancer patients, but there is no simplified Chinese version.

Objectives: To present the validation procedures and results for the simplified Chinese version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form (MSAS-SF-SC) among cancer patients in mainland China.

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form in Gynecological Cancer Patients.

Context: Symptoms of patients with cancer need to be evaluated with a standard instrument. The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form (MSAS-SF) is a symptom assessment tool that has been validated in many languages.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to validate the Korean-version Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form (MSAS-SF) in patients with gynecologic cancer.

In-Hospital Mortality and Post-Transplantation Complications in Elderly Multiple Myeloma Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Population-Based Study.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) has improved survival in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and is increasingly used in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare in-hospital complications and mortality after auto-HSCT in younger (< age 65) versus elderly (> age 65) MM patients utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Over a 3-year period (2008 to 2010), 2209 patients with MM were admitted to US hospitals for auto-HSCT.

Maintenance Therapy With Immunomodulatory Drugs in Multiple Myeloma: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

Background: Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) and proteasome inhibitors have dramatically changed management of multiple myeloma (MM). While MM remains incurable, consolidation and maintenance therapy aimed at improving duration of response can potentially improve survival outcomes. A majority of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated benefit of IMiD-based maintenance therapy in delaying disease progression; however, whether this therapy can lead to improved survival remains controversial.

Variation in symptom distress in underserved Chinese American cancer patients.

Background: Cancer is prevalent in the rapidly growing Chinese American community, yet little is known about the symptom experience to guide comprehensive treatment planning. This study evaluated symptom prevalence and patient subgroups with symptom distress in a large sample of Chinese American cancer patients.

Methods: Patients were consecutively recruited from 4 oncology practices, and they completed a translated cancer symptom scale.

Patient-Reported Outcomes for Determining Prognostic Groups in Veterans With Advanced Cancer.

Context: Physicians overestimate survival in patients with advanced cancer. Patient-reported outcomes could provide another way to estimate survival. We previously reported four prognostic groups based on Karnofsky Performance Status, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy physical well-being subscale, and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form physical symptom distress subscale scores.

How well do medical oncologists manage chronic cancer pain? A national survey.

Background: Cancer pain is usually managed by oncologists, occasionally with input from specialists in hospice and palliative medicine (PLM) or pain medicine (PMD). We evaluated the knowledge of cancer pain management in these three specialty groups.

Methods: Eight vignettes depicting challenging scenarios of patients with poorly controlled pain were developed; each had five or six treatment choices.

Symptom burden among young adults with breast or colorectal cancer.

Background: Cancer incidence has increased among young adults (YAs) and survival rates have not improved compared with other age groups. Patient-reported outcomes may enhance our understanding of this vulnerable population.

Methods: In a multisite prospective study, patients completed a cancer symptom inventory at the time of enrollment (T1) and 4 weeks to 5 weeks later (T2).

Inactivation of Rb and E2f8 synergizes to trigger stressed DNA replication during erythroid terminal differentiation.

Rb is critical for promoting cell cycle exit in cells undergoing terminal differentiation. Here we show that during erythroid terminal differentiation, Rb plays a previously unappreciated and unorthodox role in promoting DNA replication and cell cycle progression. Specifically, inactivation of Rb in erythroid cells led to stressed DNA replication, increased DNA damage, and impaired cell cycle progression, culminating in defective terminal differentiation and anemia.

Determinants of pain severity changes in ambulatory patients with cancer: an analysis from Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trial E2Z02.

Purpose: To understand changes in pain severity over time and to explore the factors associated with pain changes in ambulatory patients with solid tumors.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 3,106 patients with invasive cancer of the breast, prostate, colon/rectum, or lung from multiple sites. At baseline and 4 to 5 weeks later, patients rated their pain level on a 0 to 10 numerical rating scale.

Clinician perceptions of care difficulty, quality of life, and symptom reports for lung cancer patients: an analysis from the Symptom Outcomes and Practice patterns (SOAPP) study.

Introduction: Despite recent therapeutic advances, lung cancer is a difficult disease to manage. This study assessed clinicians' perceptions of care difficulty, quality of life (QOL), and symptom reports for their lung cancer patients compared with their patients with breast, prostate, and colon cancer.

Methods: This report focused on secondary analyses from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Symptom Outcomes and Practice Patterns (SOAPP) study (E2Z02); outcome measures included clinician ratings of 3106 solid tumor patients.

The symptom burden of cancer: Evidence for a core set of cancer-related and treatment-related symptoms from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Symptom Outcomes and Practice Patterns study.

Background: A set of common cancer-related and treatment-related symptoms has been proposed for quality of care assessment and clinical research. Using data from a large, multicenter, prospective study, the authors assessed the effects of disease site and stage on the percentages of patients rating these proposed symptoms as moderate to severe.

Methods: The severity of 13 symptoms proposed to represent "core" oncology symptoms was rated by 3106 ambulatory patients with cancer of the breast, prostate, colon/rectum, or lung, regardless of disease stage or phase of care; 2801 patients (90%) repeated the assessment 4 to 5 weeks later.