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Purpose: Aromatase inhibitors (AI) block estrogen synthesis and are used as long-term adjuvant treatment for breast cancer in postmenopausal women. AI use can be associated with weight gain that can lead to increased cardiometabolic risk. The response to anti-obesity medications (AOM) in patients using AI has yet to be studied. We sought to investigate weight loss outcomes of AOM in patients taking AI for breast cancer treatment. Methods: This is a matched retrospective cohort study of breast cancer survivors on AI using AOM (AOM/AI group). We compared their weight loss outcomes with a group of female patients with obesity, without a history of breast cancer or AI use, on AOM (AOM group). The primary endpoint was total body weight loss percentage (TBWL %) at the last follow-up. We performed mixed linear regression models, including diabetes status at baseline, to assess associations between use of AOM with/without AI with total body weight loss percentage (TBWL%). Results: We included 124 patients: 62 in the AOM/AI group (63.6 ± 10 years, body mass index [BMI] 34.3 ± 7.1 kg/m2) and 62 in the AOM group (62.8 ± 9.9 years, BMI 34.6 ± 6.5 kg/m2). The mean time of follow up was 9.3 ± 3.5 months, with no differences among the two groups. The AOM/AI group had a lower TBWL% compared to the AOM group at the last follow-up −5.3 ± 5.0 vs. −8.2 ± 6.3 (p = 0.005). The results remained significant after adjusting for diabetes status (p = 0.0002). At 12 months, the AOM/AI group had a lower TBWL% compared to the AOM group 6.4 ± 0.8% vs. 9.8 ± 0.9% (p = 0.04). The percentage of patients achieving ≥ 5%, ≥ 10%, and ≥ 15% of weight loss at 12 months was greater in the AOM compared to the AOM/AI group. Although the weight loss response was suboptimal, patients in the AOM/AI group had improvement in fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusions: The use of AI in breast cancer survivors is associated with less weight loss response to AOM compared to patients without breast cancer history and who do not take AI. Studies are needed to assess the mechanisms behind the differential weight loss response to AOM in women taking AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Physical activity is associated with decreased breast cancer recurrence and mortality, as well as fewer treatment-related symptoms. Nevertheless, most breast cancer survivors do not meet physical activity guidelines. The purpose of this manuscript is to characterize physical activity trends over time in breast cancer survivors. Methods Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry participants received surveys at baseline and at 1 and 4 years after diagnosis; breast cancer recurrence and/or metastatic disease were exclusion criteria. Participants were considered to be meeting guidelines if they self-reported at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity (eg, fast walking) and/or strenuous (eg, jogging) physical activity per week. Statistical analyses include analysis of covariance methods, paired t tests, conditional logistic regression models, and McNemar tests of homogeneity. Results A total of 171 participants were included in the analysis. The amount of total physical activity decreased over time (P  = .07). Mild-intensity physical activity (eg, easy walking) decreased most over time (P  = .05). Among participants aged 18-49 years, mild-intensity (P  = .05) and moderate-intensity (P  = .02) physical activity decreased over time. Strenuous-intensity physical activity levels decreased over time among participants with a normal body mass index (P  = .002) and with obesity (P  = .01). Conclusions We found a trend-level decrease in total physical activity over time, driven mostly by a decrease in mild-intensity physical activity. Young breast cancer survivors are especially likely to reduce their physical activity over time. Further research on implementing physical activity guidelines in clinical practice is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This project evaluated the dietary supplement (DS) use of patients referred to an integrative oncology program and documented the frequency and reasons for recommending stopping DS. Many patients with cancer are taking dietary supplements and may not disclose such to their care teams. There is potential for harm in several ways: (1) interactions with their medications that may increase side effects, (2) interactions with their treatment that may lead to decreased efficacy, and 3) direct toxicity from the supplement. Methods: Patient data (N = 100) were collected prospectively from an Integrative Oncology Clinic. The number and type of DS were documented. Using the Natural Medicines Database, we determined whether supplements interacted with the patient’s other medications or cancer therapies. We calculated the percentage of patients in which a recommendation for discontinuation (DC) of DS was provided, along with the supporting reasons. Results: We found that 91% of patients took DS, averaging 5.5 per patient (range 0–20). In 35% of patients, we recommended stopping some of their DS or other therapies, the reasons being: DC antioxidants, vitamin B12/iron while on chemo/RT (unless deficient or part of protocol) 32%; DC due to taking excess amounts (i.e., fat-soluble vitamins, calcium, iron) 13.5%; DC supplements with known toxicity (i.e., laetrile, Miracle mineral solution) 13.5%; DC due to interactions with other medications (i.e., anticoagulants) 13.5%; DC DS with potential to increase cancer growth (i.e., estrogenic potential in those with hormone-sensitive cancers, glutamine) 11%; DC due to potential for increased toxicity with chemotherapy (i.e., increased risk of bleeding, CIPN) 11%; DC probiotics, immune stimulants, and cannabis while on immunotherapy 5.4%. Conclusions: Patients with cancer referred to an integrative oncology clinic use large numbers of DS with the potential for adverse effects and/or decreasing efficacy of treatments. This study highlights the prevalence of DS usage in cancer patients referred to an integrative oncology clinic and demonstrates the need for counseling about safe supplement use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity (PA) is associated with improvement in breast cancer treatment-related symptoms and survival, yet most breast cancer survivors do not meet national PA guidelines. This study aimed to identify characteristics of participants that were associated with an increased likelihood of meeting PA guidelines. Adults with breast cancer seen at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) were surveyed regarding their PA participation, and those who self-reported at least 150 minutes of moderate and/or strenuous aerobic PA weekly on average were considered to be "meeting guidelines". Three thousand participants returned PA data. Younger age, completion of the survey 7-12 years after diagnosis, absence of recurrence, no bilateral mastectomy, absence of metastatic disease, and lower BMI at the time of survey completion were associated with PA participation (P <.05 in univariate and multivariate analyses). Findings were similar when a threshold of 90 minutes was applied. These results may inform the development of targeted PA-facilitating interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity (PA) is associated with improvement in breast cancer treatment-related symptoms and survival, yet most breast cancer survivors do not meet national PA guidelines. This study aimed to identify characteristics of participants that were associated with an increased likelihood of meeting PA guidelines. Adults with breast cancer seen at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) were surveyed regarding their PA participation, and those who self-reported at least 150 minutes of moderate and/or strenuous aerobic PA weekly on average were considered to be "meeting guidelines". Three thousand participants returned PA data. Younger age, completion of the survey 7-12 years after diagnosis, absence of recurrence, no bilateral mastectomy, absence of metastatic disease, and lower BMI at the time of survey completion were associated with PA participation (P <.05 in univariate and multivariate analyses). Findings were similar when a threshold of 90 minutes was applied. These results may inform the development of targeted PA-facilitating interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Standard therapy for glioblastoma includes surgery, radiotherapy, and temozolomide. This Phase 3 trial evaluates the addition of an autologous tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cell vaccine (DCVax®-L) to standard therapy for newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Methods: After surgery and chemoradiotherapy, patients were randomized (2:1) to receive temozolomide plus DCVax-L (n = 232) or temozolomide and placebo (n = 99). Following recurrence, all patients were allowed to receive DCVax-L, without unblinding. The primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS); the secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: For the intent-to-treat (ITT) population (n = 331), median OS (mOS) was 23.1 months from surgery. Because of the cross-over trial design, nearly 90% of the ITT population received DCVax-L. For patients with methylated MGMT (n = 131), mOS was 34.7 months from surgery, with a 3-year survival of 46.4%. As of this analysis, 223 patients are ≥ 30 months past their surgery date; 67 of these (30.0%) have lived ≥ 30 months and have a Kaplan-Meier (KM)-derived mOS of 46.5 months. 182 patients are ≥ 36 months past surgery; 44 of these (24.2%) have lived ≥ 36 months and have a KM-derived mOS of 88.2 months. A population of extended survivors (n = 100) with mOS of 40.5 months, not explained by known prognostic factors, will be analyzed further. Only 2.1% of ITT patients (n = 7) had a grade 3 or 4 adverse event that was deemed at least possibly related to the vaccine. Overall adverse events with DCVax were comparable to standard therapy alone. Conclusions: Addition of DCVax-L to standard therapy is feasible and safe in glioblastoma patients, and may extend survival. Trial registration Funded by Northwest Biotherapeutics; Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT00045968; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00045968?term=NCT00045968&rank=1; initially registered 19 September 2002 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported an error in the spelling of one of the author names. In this Correction the incorrect and correct author names are indicated and the author name has been updated in the original publication. The authors also reported an error in the Methods section of the original article. In this Correction the incorrect and correct versions of the affected sentence are indicated. The original article has not been updated with regards to the error in the Methods section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Standard therapy for glioblastoma includes surgery, radiotherapy, and temozolomide. This Phase 3 trial evaluates the addition of an autologous tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cell vaccine (DCVax®-L) to standard therapy for newly diagnosed glioblastoma.Methods: After surgery and chemoradiotherapy, patients were randomized (2:1) to receive temozolomide plus DCVax-L (n = 232) or temozolomide and placebo (n = 99). Following recurrence, all patients were allowed to receive DCVax-L, without unblinding. The primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS); the secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS).Results: For the intent-to-treat (ITT) population (n = 331), median OS (mOS) was 23.1 months from surgery. Because of the cross-over trial design, nearly 90% of the ITT population received DCVax-L. For patients with methylated MGMT (n = 131), mOS was 34.7 months from surgery, with a 3-year survival of 46.4%. As of this analysis, 223 patients are ≥ 30 months past their surgery date; 67 of these (30.0%) have lived ≥ 30 months and have a Kaplan-Meier (KM)-derived mOS of 46.5 months. 182 patients are ≥ 36 months past surgery; 44 of these (24.2%) have lived ≥ 36 months and have a KM-derived mOS of 88.2 months. A population of extended survivors (n = 100) with mOS of 40.5 months, not explained by known prognostic factors, will be analyzed further. Only 2.1% of ITT patients (n = 7) had a grade 3 or 4 adverse event that was deemed at least possibly related to the vaccine. Overall adverse events with DCVax were comparable to standard therapy alone.Conclusions: Addition of DCVax-L to standard therapy is feasible and safe in glioblastoma patients, and may extend survival. Trial registration Funded by Northwest Biotherapeutics; Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT00045968; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00045968?term=NCT00045968&rank=1 ; initially registered 19 September 2002. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]