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Background Despite improvements in survival rates, cancer treatments have significant side effects that affect the quality of life of children and their families. When an ill child cannot self-report symptoms (eg, he or she is too ill), caregiver (parent) reporting becomes critical. This study evaluates the validity and reliability of the caregiver-reported Pediatric Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (Ped-PRO-CTCAE [Caregiver]) measure. Methods A diverse sample of caregivers with children receiving treatment at 9 oncology centers completed the Ped-PRO-CTCAE [Caregiver] measure, the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS® ) Parent Proxy measures, the Lansky Play-Performance Scale (PPS), medication use questions, and Global Impressions of Change (GIC). Construct validity (including convergent, discriminant, and known groups validity and responsiveness over time) and reliability (stability) were examined. Results A majority of the 473 caregivers were female (85%), non-Hispanic White (61%), and married (75%). Symptoms assessed with the Ped-PRO-CTCAE [Caregiver] and PROMIS Parent Proxy measures were strongly correlated (e.g., r for pain = 0.78; r for fatigue = 0.78; and r for depression = 0.83). Most of the Ped-PRO-CTCAE [Caregiver] item mean scores distinguished among PPS function levels and between children who did take medications for symptom control and children who did not. Changes in Ped-PRO-CTCAE [Caregiver] item mean scores were responsive to GIC over time. Test-retest evaluation found moderate to high agreement (57.8%-93.3%) over time. Conclusions This study found strong evidence for the convergent and discriminant validity, known groups validity, responsiveness, and stability of the Ped-PRO-CTCAE [Caregiver] measure in a large and diverse sample of caregivers. The caregiver perspective provides a valuable and unique insight into the experiences of children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment. Lay summary Despite advances in cancer treatments, children and adolescents continue to suffer from treatment side effects, including pain, nausea, fatigue, and emotional distress, that can adversely affect quality of life for children and their families. Although it is best for children to report how they are feeling, there are times when a child may be too young or too ill to self-report. This study provides critical evidence for a new type of questionnaire that allows the caregiver or parent to report accurately what the child is experiencing. This measure can be used to improve adverse event reporting and child cancer care.

Sexual function is a vital aspect of quality of life among adolescent and young adult (AYA) (ages 15-39 years) cancer survivors. Sexual function encompasses physical, psychosocial, and developmental factors that contribute to sexual health, all of which may be negatively impacted by cancer and treatment. However, limited information is available to inform the care of AYA cancer survivors in this regard. This scoping review, conducted by the Children's Oncology Group AYA Oncology Discipline Committee, summarizes available literature regarding sexual function among AYA cancer survivors, including relevant psychosexual aspects of romantic relationships and body image. Results suggest that, overall, AYA cancer survivors experience a substantial burden of sexual dysfunction. Both physical and psychosocial sequelae influence survivors' sexual health. Interventions to support sexual health and psychosexual adjustment after cancer treatment are needed. Collaborations between the Children's Oncology Group and adult-focused cooperative groups within the National Cancer Institute's National Clinical Trials Network are warranted to advance prospective assessment of sexual dysfunction and test interventions to improve sexual health among AYA cancer survivors.

Background Radiation‐related screening guidelines for survivors of childhood cancer currently use irradiated regions (IR) to determine risk for late effects. However, contemporary radiotherapy techniques utilize volumetric dosimetry (VD) to determine organ‐specific exposures, which could inform need for late effect surveillance. Methods This cross‐sectional cohort study involved patients treated for cancer using computerized tomography‐planned irradiation at Children's Hospital Los Angeles from 2000–2016. Organs at risk were identified using both VD and IR. Under each method, Children's Oncology Group Long‐Term Follow‐Up Guidelines were applied to determine radiation‐related potential late effects and their correlative recommended screening practices. Patients served as their own controls. Mean number of potential late effects per patient and recommended screening practices per patient per decade of follow‐up were compared using paired t‐tests; comparisons were adjusted for diagnosis and gender using random effects, repeated measure linear regression. Results In this cohort (n = 132), median age at end of treatment was 10.6 years (range, 1.4–20.4). Brain tumor was the most common diagnosis (45%) and head/brain the most common irradiated region (61%). Under IR and VD, the mean number of potential late effects flagged was 24.4 and 21.7, respectively (−11.3%, p, In this cross‐sectional cohort study of 132 eligible childhood cancer survivors treated with radiation therapy, we utilized current Children's Oncology Group Long‐term Follow‐Up Guidelines to compare the recommended screening practices triggered by use of conventional radiation fields ("irradiated regions") versus the more precise approach of volumetric dosimetry. This figure shows the number of recommended screening practices per patient per decade of follow‐up, by volumetric dosimetry (VD) compared with irradiated regions (IR). Each scatter plot point represents one patient with the number of recommended screening practices as determined by IR (x‐axis) versus VD (y‐axis); patients below the dotted line had fewer screening practices triggered using VD while those above it had more. Results are shown for all patients (A); by diagnosis (BSTT=bone/soft tissue tumor, LL=leukemia and lymphoma, CNS=central nervous system tumor) (B); by gender (C); and by age at end of therapy (D) Under IR and VD, the mean number of potential late effects flagged was 24.4 and 21.7, respectively (−11.3%, p < 0.001); full concordance between the two methods was 6.1%. We found that under VD, the difference in mean number of recommended screening practices per patient was −7.4% in aggregate but as large as −37.0% for diagnostic imaging and procedures (p < 0.001 for both). Study results show that use of VD rather than IR is feasible and enhances precision of guideline‐based screening for radiation‐related late effects in long‐term childhood cancer survivors.

Background Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer are underrepresented on cancer clinical trials (CCTs), and most AYAs are treated in the community setting. Past research has focused on individual academic institutions, but factors impacting enrollment vary across institutions. Therefore, we examined the patterns of barriers and facilitators between high- and low-AYA enrolling community-based clinics to identify targets for intervention. Materials and Methods We conducted 34 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders employed used at National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) affiliate sites (“clinics”). Stakeholders (eg, clinical research associates, patient advocates) were recruited from high- and low-AYA enrolling clinics. We conducted a content analysis and calculated the percentage of stakeholders from each clinic type that reported the barrier or facilitator. A 10% gap between high- and low-enrollers was considered the threshold for differences. Results Both high- and low-enrollers highlighted insufficient resources as a barrier and the presence of a patient eligibility screening process as a facilitator to AYA enrollment. High-enrolling clinics reported physician gatekeeping as a barrier and the improvement of departmental collaboration as a facilitator. Low-enrollers reported AYAs’ uncertainty regarding the CCT process as a barrier and the need for increased physician endorsement of CCTs as a facilitator. Conclusions High-enrolling clinics reported more barriers downstream in the enrollment process, such as physician gatekeeping. In contrast, low-enrolling clinics struggled with the earlier steps in the CCT enrollment process, such as identifying eligible trials. These findings highlight the need for multi-level, tailored interventions rather than a “one-size-fits-all” approach to improve AYA enrollment in the community setting.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has disrupted health care globally with dramatic impacts on cancer care delivery in addition to adverse economic and psychological effects. This study examined impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on young adult colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors diagnosed age 18-39 years. Nearly 40% reported delays in cancer-related care, loss of income, and poorer mental health during the pandemic. Impacts were greater for survivors aged 20-29 years, with nearly 60% reporting cancer care delays and 53% experiencing income loss. Such impacts may result in detrimental downstream outcomes for young CRC survivors, requiring specific support, resources, and continued monitoring.

PURPOSE To examine concordance in symptomatic adverse event (AE) grading using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE 4.0) for clinicians and its patient-reported outcome (PRO) versions for children (Ped-PRO-CTCAE) and caregivers (Ped-PRO-CTCAE [Caregiver]). METHODS Children age 7-18 years with a first cancer diagnosis, their clinicians, and caregivers completed CTCAE-based measures before starting a treatment course (T1) and after the treatment (T2). Grades (0-3) were assigned by each reporter for 15 core AEs spanning physical and mental health. Mean grades were compared between reporters using two-sample t-tests; agreement was estimated using weighted kappa (κ) statistics. Multivariable mixed regression models were used to evaluate associations of clinical factors with AE reporting concordance. Significance was set at α = .05 (two-sided). RESULTS There were 438 child-clinician-caregiver triads with complete data at either T1 or T2. For children, the mean age was 13 years (standard deviation = 3.4), 53.7% were male, 32.6% non-White, and 56.4% had leukemia/lymphoma. At T1, clinician mean AE grades were significantly lower (ie, better) than children for all AEs and remained significantly lower at T2 except for constipation, nausea, anorexia, neuropathy, and anxiety. Caregiver mean AE grades were similar to children at T1 and significantly higher (ie, worse) at T2 for nausea, vomiting, anorexia, pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Agreement for child-clinician grading was poor-to-fair at T1 (κ range, 0.08-0.34) and T2 (0.11-0.35), and for child-caregiver, was fair-to-good at T1 (0.34-0.65) and T2 (0.24-0.60). No factors were consistently associated with reporter concordance across AEs. CONCLUSION Compared with children, symptomatic AEs were consistently under-reported by clinicians with low agreement and over-reported by caregivers with low-moderate agreement. Direct reporting by children using Ped-PRO-CTCAE or similar measures should be routinely incorporated for toxicity assessment in clinical trials.

Background Adolescent and young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors (CCS) should be empowered to continue their survivor-focused care as they transition into adult medicine. However, the majority of AYA-aged survivors become lost to follow up around the age of typical transition to adulthood. The purpose of this study was to identify, from the patient’s perspective, key factors that facilitate successful transitions to adult-centered survivorship care. Methods A qualitative study was conducted with AYA CCS (n = 29) from the survivorship clinic of a single institution as key informants. Data were collected through a series of structured phone interviews and subjected to thematic content analysis. Results Four major themes with multiple subthemes were identified: (1) transition practices need to be flexible and individually tailored; (2) effective communication is critical to a successful transition; (3) continuity in providers is needed during the transition; and (4) comprehensive care means care that also addresses psycho-social well-being. Conclusions From the perspective of AYA CCS, the ideal model of transitional survivorship care could include a patient navigator who promotes provider flexibility, consistent communication, and pro-active comprehensive care that encompasses both medical and psycho-social well-being. Models of care for CCS should be built to provide, or seamlessly facilitate, continuous survivor-focused care across the age continuum. A longitudinal relationship with a survivor-focused provider can help promote the values that CCS’ report as important in transitioning care from pediatric- to adult-centered care.

Purpose: In the Children's Oncology Group (COG), there is precedent for scientific committees designating institutional Responsible Investigators (RIs) to promote clinical trial enrollment and coordinate related research activities. In response to low enrollment of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) on COG clinical trials, the COG AYA RI Network was established. Leveraging this network, we undertook an initiative to identify site-level factors influencing AYA enrollment. Methods: The overarching goal of the AYA RI Network is to increase AYA enrollment onto COG trials. At each site, RIs highlight AYA disparities, facilitate activation of relevant trials, improve recruitment processes, and expand interactions with medical oncologists. Through a series of monthly national webinars and workshops, participating RIs reported local barriers and facilitators enrolling AYAs. A mixed-methods approach was utilized to determine major themes of factors affecting site-level enrollment. Results: For this report, there were 145 participating RIs representing 122 demographically and geographically diverse sites. There were 13 interactive webinars and 3 symposia involving 25 speakers focused on addressing enrollment barriers. Major thematic categories for site-level barriers were (1) Lack of available trials; (2) Poor communication between pediatric and medical oncology; (3) Logistical constraints to accessing trials; and (4) Need for leadership support, sufficient resources and appropriate policies. Conclusion: The COG AYA RI Network has identified multiple site-level barriers impeding AYA clinical trial enrollment and represents a novel model for developing and implementing appropriate solutions through a nationally coordinated strategy.

Background Few adolescents and young adults (AYAs, 15‐39 years old) enroll onto cancer clinical trials, which hinders research otherwise having the potential to improve outcomes in this unique population. Prior studies have reported that AYAs are more likely to receive cancer care in community settings. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has led efforts to increase trial enrollment through its network of NCI‐designated cancer centers (NCICC) combined with community outreach through its Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP; replaced by the NCI Community Oncology Research Program in 2014). Methods Using AYA proportional enrollment (the proportion of total enrollments who were AYAs) as the primary outcome, we examined enrollment of AYAs onto SWOG therapeutic trials at NCICC, CCOP, and non‐NCICC/non‐CCOP sites from 2004 to 2013 by type of site, study period (2004‐08 vs 2009‐13), and patient demographics. Results Overall, AYA proportional enrollment was 10.1%. AYA proportional enrollment decreased between 2004‐2008 and 2009‐2013 (13.1% vs 8.5%, P, From 2004‐2013, adolescents and young adults (AYA) proportional representation of AYAs on SWOG Cancer Research Network clinical trials decreased significantly across all treatment settings, including community‐based sites. Initiatives are needed to overcome barriers preventing limiting AYA trial enrollment.

Background Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measurements linked to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grading may improve symptom adverse event (AE) reporting in pediatric oncology trials. We evaluated construct validity, responsiveness, and test-retest reliability of the Ped-PRO–CTCAE measurement system for children and adolescents undergoing cancer care. Methods A total of 482 children and adolescents (7–18 years, 41.5% not non-Hispanic white) newly diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers participated from nine pediatric oncology hospitals. Surveys were completed at 72 hours preceding treatment initiation (T1) and at follow-up (T2) approximately 7–17 days later for chemotherapy, and 4+ weeks for radiation. Psychometric analyses examined the relationship of Ped-PRO-CTCAE items (assessing 62 symptom AEs) with Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, Lansky Play-Performance Scale, and medication use. A separate test-retest study included 46 children. Results Ped-PRO-CTCAE and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale were strongly correlated across age groups at T2: 7–12 years (r = 0.62–0.80), 13–15 years (r = 0.44–0.94), and 16–18 years (r = 0.65–0.98); and over time. The Ped-PRO-CTCAE was strongly correlated with Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric measures at T2; for example, pain interference (r = 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64 to 0.76), fatigue severity (r = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.56 to 0.69), and depression severity (r = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.71 to 0.81). Ped-PRO-CTCAE items differentiated children by Lansky Play-Performance Scale and by medication use. Test-retest agreement ranged from 54.3% to 93.5%. Conclusions This longitudinal study provided evidence for the construct validity and reliability of the core Ped-PRO-CTCAE symptom AE items relative to several established measures. Additional responsiveness data with clinical anchors are recommended. Incorporation of Ped-PRO-CTCAE in trials may lead to a better understanding of the cancer treatment experience.

Introduction Given their risk for late effects and early mortality, childhood/adolescent cancer survivors (CACSs) should receive longitudinal monitoring and care. The Southern California Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer Survivorship (SC-PACS) consortium was established in February 2017 to combine resources and expertise across seven participating survivorship programs. Its over-arching objective is to address the unique needs of its demographically diverse CACS population through collaborative survivorship research and care initiatives. The first SC-PACS study was an assessment of survivorship needs and evaluation of current services as reported by CACSs and their parents/primary care givers (PPCGs) receiving survivorship care at consortium sites. Methods As an initial investigation, a cross-sectional survey for CACSs and their parents/primary care givers was conducted. The goal was to enroll 10 CACSs and 10 PPCGs from each of the seven institutions (total of 140 participants). The eligibility criteria for CACSs were age ≥13 years at the time of enrollment,2 years from the end of treatment, sufficient cognitive function to complete the survey, and English or Spanish language proficiency. For CACSs13 years old, their PPCGs completed the survey. This was a convenience sample using frequencies and proportions to describe participant characteristics and survey responses, which were entered into a Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) database. Results Across the consortium, of the recruitment target of 140 participants (CACSs, n=70; PPCGs, n=70), 127 (90.7%) participants were enrolled. Of the 127 participants enrolled, 65 (51.2%) were CACSs and 62 (48.8%) were PPCGs. The majority of participants were female (51.2%), were Hispanic (62.2%), spoke English as the primary language at home (57.5%), and were diagnosed between one to four years of age (45.7%). Information considered most important by both CACSs and PPCGs was related to cancer diagnosis (90.8%) and future risks as a result of cancer treatment received (98.0%). Overall, 78% of CACSs and PPCGs found the survivorship information (treatment summary) useful, and 83% felt that they received the right amount of information about their cancer. Conclusion Our aim was to obtain baseline data that would characterize our CACS population, inform consortium priorities, and establish a collaborative research platform. The ultimate goal of the consortium is to develop a comprehensive survivorship care approach that addresses the most important needs of cancer survivors in our catchment area and promotes best practice interventions. Future plans are to expand the needs assessment survey to obtain a wider representation of the survivor population at SC-PACS institutions, helping create strategies to improve cancer-specific education, delivery of treatment summary, and access to community resources for this demographically and socioeconomically diverse population.

DNMT3A Overgrowth Syndrome (DOS, also known as Tatton-Brown Rahman Syndrome/TBRS) is one of several overgrowth syndromes with complex phenotypes caused by constitutional mutations in genes encoding epigenetic regulators. The clinical features of DOS are variable but include overgrowth (tall stature and/or obesity) and intellectual disability. DNMT3A is essential for de novo DNA methylation and plays an important role in hematopoiesis. Somatic mutations in DNMT3A are among the most common initiating mutations in normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and in elderly people with clonal hematopoiesis. The natural history of DOS has not been fully explored since the first description of this rare condition in 2014. Because of the association of somatic DNMT3A mutations and leukemia development, we assessed information from the ~200 known DOS patients world-wide and were able to document eight with hematologic malignancies. Based on this prevalence, we suggest DOS is a cancer predisposition syndrome, especially for hematologic malignancies. Using recommendations from an expert panel, we suggest DOS patients should be prospectively monitored for hematologic malignancies, which may allow for early intervention and permit its natural history to be better defined.

88 Background: From 1995-2016, rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) have increased among young adults (YA) under 50 years by 2% annually, despite overall rates of CRC among adults over age 65 decreasing. Unfortunately, this population is disproportionately affected by diagnosis at later stage of disease due to systematic and healthcare factors. Such late diagnoses are associated with higher symptom burden among survivors; however, symptom burden among YA early-onset CRC (EOCRC) survivors is poorly understood. The present study aims to characterize symptom burden among YA EOCRC survivors. Methods: A cross sectional survey was administered online in collaboration with a national organization for YA CRC survivors. Respondents (18-49 years) were EOCRC survivors who were 6-36 months from diagnosis/relapse. Survivors endorsed symptoms they experienced among 23 common CRC late effects. Responses were stratified by symptom duration (6-18 versus 19-36 months) to examine differences in endorsement rates among respondents. Results: Respondents (n=235) were colon (n=86) and rectal (n=149) cancer survivors, primarily male 63%, diagnosed at 32.4 years (SD=6.65), with an average of 5.1 (SD=2.57) symptoms. Overall, the most highly reported symptoms were fatigue, perceived change in appearance after treatment, and nail color changes. Comparisons of 6-18 and 19-36 months-from-diagnosis groups revealed similar symptom endorsement rates, with those 19-36 months from diagnosis endorsing constipation/diarrhea, anal bleeding, and incisional discomfort at higher rates than those 6-18 months from diagnosis. The 6-18 and 19-36 months-from-diagnosis groups carried similar symptom burdens of 4.9 (SD=2.57) and 5.1 (SD=2.58), respectively. Conclusions: YA EOCRC survivors endorse numerous symptoms that may interfere with their daily living and quality of life. Similarities in endorsement between 6-18 month and 19-36-month groups suggest symptoms may become chronic and persist beyond cancer treatment. Fortunately, many symptoms can be mitigated or prevented with proper medical and/or psychosocial intervention, patient education, and resource availability. Providers can leverage these findings in their evaluation of YA EOCRC patients during treatment and follow-up care to ensure the delivery of optimal symptom management. [Table: see text]

Introduction: Survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC) are at risk for late effects of therapy and recurrence of cancer. With recurrence rates ranging between 30–40%, follow-up care is needed for both early detection and management of late effects. Cancer care delivery for CRC patients was significantly disrupted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, with decreases of 40% in such services in the United States between April 2020 and 2019. Survivors were left with fewer options for care, potentially causing increases in emergency room (ER) utilization. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the patterns of ER utilization during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic among young adult CRC survivors and assessed the relationship between self-reported care satisfaction and ER use. Eligible participants were colon or rectal cancer survivors diagnosed between 18–39 years of age, 6–36 months from diagnosis/relapse, English speaking and residing in the United States. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between patient care satisfaction and ER utilization, adjusting for pandemic factors. Covariates were chosen by significance of p < 0.1 at the univariate level and perceived clinical significance. Results: The overall sample (N = 196) had mean age (SD) 32.1 (4.5); 59% were male. Tumor location was colon or rectal in 42% and 57%, respectively, and the majority (56%) were diagnosed with stage 2 disease; 42.6% reported relapsed disease, and 20% had an ostomy. Most survivors (72.5%) had between 1–4 visits to an ER in the last 12 months and were categorized as normal utilizers. Approximately 24.7% of the sample had greater than 4 visits to the ER in the last 12 months and were categorized as super-utilizers. CRC survivors that reported a delay in their follow-up care as a result of the pandemic were two times (OR: 2.05, 95% CI 0.99, 4.24) more likely to be super-utilizers of the ER. Higher self-reported satisfaction with care was associated with a 13.7% lower likelihood of being a super-utilizer (OR: 0.86, 95%CI: −0.68, 1.09). Conclusions: This study found strong associations between delays in care, self-reported care satisfaction, and being a super-utilizer of the ER during the pandemic among young adult CRC survivors off treatment. Increasing patient satisfaction and minimizing care interruptions amongst this vulnerable population may aid in mitigating over-utilization in the ER during an ongoing pandemic.

Background Young adults (YA) diagnosed with rectal cancer are disproportionately impacted by the gonadotoxic effects of treatment and potential subsequent infertility. Objective The purpose of this study was to characterize the prevalence of fertility preservation measures used, reasons why such measures were not used, and correlates of discussion between providers and YA rectal cancer survivors. Design An online, cross-sectional survey was administered on the Facebook page of a national colorectal cancer (CRC) advocacy organization. Eligible participants were rectal cancer survivors diagnosed before age 50, between 6 and 36 months from diagnosis or relapse, and based in the US. Results Participants were 148 rectal cancer survivors. Over half of the survivors reported that their doctor did not talk to them about potential therapy-related fertility complications. Only one-fifth of survivors banked sperm (males) or eggs/embryos (females) prior to their cancer therapy. Older age at diagnosis and greater quality of life were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of fertility discussions among males. Greater quality of life was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of fertility discussion among females. Conclusions These findings indicate that the majority of YA rectal cancer survivors do not receive, or cannot recall, comprehensive cancer care, and help to identify patients with rectal cancer who may be at risk for inadequate fertility counseling. Clinicians should provide proper counseling to mitigate this late effect and to ensure optimal quality of life for YA rectal cancer survivors.

Importance Ototoxicity is an irreversible direct and late effect of certain childhood cancer treatments. Audiologic surveillance during therapy as part of the supportive care pathway enables early detection of hearing loss, decision-making about ongoing cancer treatment, and, when applicable, the timely use of audiologic interventions. Pediatric oncologic clinical practice and treatment trials have tended to be driven by tumor type and tumor-specific working groups. Internationally accepted standardized recommendations for monitoring hearing during treatment have not previously been agreed on. Objective To provide standard recommendations on hearing loss monitoring during childhood cancer therapy for clinical practice. Methods An Ototoxicity Task Force was formed under the umbrella of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology, consisting of international audiologists, otolaryngologists, and leaders in the field of relevant pediatric oncology tumor groups. Consensus meetings conducted by experts were organized, aimed at providing standardized recommendations on age-directed testing, timing, and frequency of monitoring during cancer treatment based on literature and consensus. Consensus statements were prepared by the core group, adapted following several videoconferences, and finally agreed on by the expert panel. Findings The consensus reached was that children who receive ototoxic cancer treatment (platinum agents, cranial irradiation, and/or brain surgery) require a baseline case history, monitoring of their middle ear and inner ear function, and assessment of tinnitus at each audiologic follow-up. As a minimum, age-appropriate testing should be performed before and at the end of treatment. Ideally, audiometry with counseling before each cisplatin cycle should be considered in the context of the individual patient, specific disease, feasibility, and available resources. Conclusions and Relevance This is an international multidisciplinary consensus report providing standardized supportive care recommendations on hearing monitoring in children undergoing potentially ototoxic cancer treatment. The recommendations are intended to improve the care of children with cancer and facilitate comparative research on the timing and development of hearing loss caused by different cancer treatment regimens.

Simple Summary Cancer survivors are at risk for developing serious health problems and dying prematurely. Adolescents and young adults (AYAs, aged 15–39 years at diagnosis) are a unique population challenged with different cancer types and treatment toxicity than other age groups, impaired access to care, financial hardship, and psychosocial distress due to their life stage. Although 85% of AYAs with cancer are alive 5 years after diagnosis, in subsequent years, their survival is consistently lower and declines faster than the general population. However, knowledge regarding why these long-term survivors of AYA cancer die prematurely is incomplete. Therefore, we sought to provide a detailed report of all causes of death in this population, including recurrence of the first cancer, development of a different cancer type, or other health problems. Our results can help inform future research to develop safer cancer treatment and better long-term care that will improve the health and survival of this vulnerable population. Abstract Despite an aggregate 5-year survival of 85%, many adolescents and young adults (AYAs, 15–39 years old) treated for cancer die prematurely decades later. To develop a more complete understanding of this problem, particularly the role of specific subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs), we used the SEER-9 registry to analyze causes of death (COD: Primary cancer, SMN, non-malignant conditions) among 162,317 AYAs diagnosed with first cancer between 1975–2012 and surviving 5 or more years. Cumulative mortality, attributable mortality, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), and adjusted hazard ratios were determined for each cancer site and COD. At 30 years, cumulative mortality due to primary cancer was matched by that due to all other causes (12.8% 95% CI [12.5%, 13.0%] for primary cancer versus 12.8% [12.5%, 13.1%] for all other causes combined) in the combined cohort, and was overtaken by non-malignant conditions in Hodgkin lymphoma, testicular, cervical/uterine, and thyroid cancers. Overall, SMNs accounted for 20% of malignant deaths, the most common being lung/bronchus (25.6%), colorectal/liver/biliary/pancreas (19.1%), and breast (10.2%). For non-malignant conditions, excess risk was noted overall (SMR 1.37, 95% CI [1.34, 1.40]) and for infectious (1.97 [1.85, 2.10]), renal (1.85 [1.60, 2.13]), cardio/cerebrovascular (1.38 [1.33, 1.43]), and suicide (1.15 [1.04, 1.27]). Racial minorities were at significantly higher risk across all COD. Safer therapy, longitudinal monitoring, and primary/secondary preventive strategies are needed to reduce late mortality in this vulnerable population.

BackgroundChildhood cancer survivors (CCS) face increased risk of morbidity and are recommended to receive lifelong cancer-related follow-up care. Identifying factors associated with follow-up care can inform efforts to support the long-term health of CCS.MethodsEligible CCS (diagnosed between 1996 and 2010) identified through the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program responded to a self-report survey that assessed demographic, clinical, health-care engagement, and psychosocial risk and protective factors of recent (prior 2 years) cancer-related follow-up care. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify correlates of care. All statistical tests were 2-sided.ResultsThe overall response rate was 44.9%, with an analytical sample of n = 1106 (54.2% Hispanic; mean [SD] ages at survey, diagnosis, and years since diagnosis were 26.2 [4.9], 11.6 [5.4], and 14.5 [4.4] years, respectively). Fifty-seven percent reported a recent cancer-related visit, with lower rates reported among older survivors. Having insurance, more late effects, receipt of a written treatment summary, discussing long-term care needs with treating physician, knowledge of the need for long-term care, having a regular source of care, and higher health-care self-efficacy were statistically significantly associated with greater odds of recent follow-up care, whereas older age, Hispanic or Other ethnicity (vs non-Hispanic White), and years since diagnosis were associated with lower odds of recent care (all Ps < .05).ConclusionsAge and ethnic disparities are observed in receipt of follow-up care among young adult CCS. Potential intervention targets include comprehensive, ongoing patient education; provision of written treatment summaries; and culturally tailored support to ensure equitable access to and the utilization of care.

Multiple primary malignancies (MPM) are described as two or more primary tumors within the same individual. The impact of MPM on the tumor microenvironment among patients with melanoma is poorly understood. Here, we describe this unique group of patients who have both advanced melanoma and at least one other primary malignancy and report their survival outcomes. In this study, patients with advanced melanoma and a second primary malignancy were identified. Medical records were reviewed for cancer treatment history. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to derive survival curves and estimate overall survival (OS), and log-rank tests were used to compare OS. Among 11 MPM patients, the most common non-melanoma cancers were breast (n = 3) and thyroid (n = 3). Median OS was 153.5 months for all patients. Median OS for synchronous MPM (sMPM) and metachronous MPM (mMPM) were 83.1 and 196.7 months, respectively (p= 0.10). Median OS was not reached when melanoma was diagnosed first, and 153.5 months when diagnosed second (p= 0.45). For six patients receiving immunotherapy for melanoma, there was a 100% complete response rate. In conclusion, patients with melanoma are at risk of secondary malignancies, including breast and thyroid cancer. The timing of secondary malignancies may impact prognosis. Further study of the impact of immunotherapy on MPM is warranted.

Background: Obesity is a known modifiable risk factor associated with adverse outcomes in children with cancer. We sought to determine whether obesity during childhood cancer treatment increases risk for second malignant neoplasms (SMN). Methods: In this case–control study, cases (with SMN) and controls (with a single-primary cancer) were selected from the California Cancer Registry who had primary cancer diagnosed Results: A total of 59 cases and 130 controls were included. Median age at primary cancer diagnosis was 6 years, 64.5% were male, median time from primary cancer to SMN was 7.5 years, and 31.7% were obese or overweight. In matched multivariable analyses, there were elevated but nonsignificant associations between SMN and higher BMI Z-score at diagnosis [OR 1.27 (0.99–1.63)] and higher BMI categories at diagnosis [adjusted OR (aOR) overweight, 1.25 (0.55–2.52); aOR obese, 2.51 (1.00–6.29)]. There was a significantly increased risk for SMN among patients who were obese at both diagnosis and EOT [aOR, 4.44 (1.37–14.34)]. Conclusions: This study suggests that obesity during childhood cancer treatment may be associated with increased risk for SMNs, particularly among those obese throughout therapy. Impact: Additional studies to confirm these findings and to develop interventions have the potential to impact SMN development in children with cancer.

Background Clinicians are the standard source for adverse event (AE) reporting in oncology trials, despite the subjective nature of symptomatic AEs. The authors designed a pediatric patient-reported outcome (PRO) instrument for symptomatic AEs to support the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) (the Pediatric PRO-CTCAE). The current study developed a standardized algorithm that maps all possible Pediatric PRO-CTCAE response patterns to recommended CTCAE grades to improve the accuracy of AE reporting in pediatric oncology trials. Methods Two rounds of surveys were administered to experienced cancer clinicians across 9 pediatric hospitals. In round 1, pediatric oncologists assigned CTCAE grades to all 101 possible Pediatric PRO-CTCAE response patterns. The authors evaluated clinician agreement of CTCAE grades across response patterns and categorized each response pattern as having high or low agreement. In round 2, a survey was sent to a larger clinician group to examine clinician agreement among a select set of Pediatric PRO-CTCAE response patterns, and the authors examined how clinical context influenced grade assignment. Results A total of 10 pediatric oncologists participated in round 1. Of the 101 possible patterns, 89 (88%) had high agreement. The Light weighted kappa was averaged across the 10 oncologists (Light kappa = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.66-0.81). A total of 139 clinicians participated in round 2. High clinician agreement remained for the majority of generic response patterns and the clinical context did not typically change grades but rather improved agreement. Conclusions The current study provides a framework for integrating child self-reported symptom data directly into mandated AE reporting in oncology trials. Translating Pediatric PRO-CTCAE responses into clinically meaningful metrics will guide future cancer care and toxicity grading.

11026 Background: There are limited data on the extent of adolescent and young adult (AYA) education in pediatric and medical oncology fellowship programs. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and content of AYA-focused training during pediatric and medical oncology fellowship and identify knowledge gaps for targeted educational curricular development. Methods: An anonymous, web-based survey for educators and trainees was developed, piloted and optimized by a study team comprising pediatric and adult oncologists. The survey contained questions on respondent demographics, AYA curriculum, provider comfort in managing specific AYA care domains, and priorities for future AYA educational content. In October 2021, email invitations containing the survey link were sent to program directors (PDs) and associate program directors (APDs) at 251 hematology/oncology fellowship programs (with 119 pediatric and 178 adult PDs/APDs) identified through the American Medical Association’s Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access. PDs were asked to participate and also distribute the survey to current fellows. The survey remained open for 3 months. Fisher’s exact test was used to assess for associations between discrete variables including amount of current education vs level of importance and demographic groups. Results: Respondents represented 69 programs (27%). There were 130 respondents who completed curriculum and demographic questions and 112 who completed detailed topic questions. Respondents comprised 51 PDs/APDs (32 pediatric and 19 adult) and 58 fellows (33 pediatric and 25 adult). 85% of PDs (44/51) do not have a formal AYA curriculum. Of these, 80% (35/44) offer some topic-specific lectures, while 20% (9/44) provide little/no education in any topics. For nearly all topics, at least 45% of respondents reported little/no education. Although onco-fertility and survivorship are the most frequently taught topics, 36% and 42% of respondents, respectively, reported little/no education in these areas. Substance abuse is least commonly taught. Both PDs and fellows believe that AYA topics are more important for inclusion in future curricula despite how infrequently they are currently taught (very/extremely important for inclusion vs moderate/great deal of current amount of education, p = 0.0001 for all topics). Overall, respondents indicated the most important topics for inclusion in fellowship curriculum were onco-fertility (82%), survivorship (78%), and communication (77%). Conclusions: These data highlight the large gap in hematology/oncology fellowship education in AYA topics and a paucity of formal educational curricula. Efforts are needed to provide both medical and pediatric oncology fellows with the knowledge and skills required to provide optimal care for AYAs.

BACKGROUND Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma (ALL/LL) are at risk for cognitive dysfunction, but little is known about its relationship with language proficiency and sociodemographics. PROCEDURE In this cross-sectional cohort study of Latino survivors of childhood ALL/LL, English and Spanish language proficiency and cognitive and academic functioning were measured and their associations determined using paired t-tests, Pearson correlations, and linear regressions. RESULTS Participants (N = 57; 50.9% female) had mean ages (years ± SD) of 4.3 ± 2.6 at diagnosis and 10.6 ± 2.9 at testing (range 6-16); mean time post treatment was 3.7 ± 2.6 years. The majority (73.7%) had low socioeconomic status (SES). Most (78.8%) were dual-language learners in English and Spanish. English proficiency was graded as limited-to-fluent and was significantly higher than Spanish (p

BACKGROUND The Lansky Play-Performance Scale (LPPS) is often used to determine a child's performance status for cancer clinical trial eligibility. Differences between clinician and caregiver LPPS ratings and their associations with child-reported functioning have not been evaluated. METHODS Children aged 7 to 18 years who were receiving cancer treatment and their caregivers were recruited from 9 pediatric cancer centers. Caregivers and clinicians reported LPPS scores, and children completed Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pediatric functioning and symptom measures before treatment (time 1 [T1]) and after treatment (time 2 [T2]). t tests and mixed-linear models were used to assess differences in caregiver and clinician LPPS scores; polyserial correlations quantified associations between PROMIS and LPPS scores. RESULTS Of 482 children, 281 had matched caregiver- and clinician-reported LPPS T1/T2 scores. Caregivers rated children significantly worse on the LPPS than clinicians at both T1 (mean, 73.3 vs 87.4; P < .01) and T2 (mean, 67.9 vs 83.1; P < .01). These differences were not related to a child's age (P = .89), diagnosis (P = .17), or sex (P = .64) or to the time point (P = .45). Small to moderate associations existed between caregiver- and clinician-reported LPPS ratings and child-reported PROMIS scores for mobility (caregiver T1/T2 r = 0.51/0.45; P < .01; clinician T1/T2 r = 0.40/0.35; P < .01), fatigue (caregiver T1/T2 r = -0.46/-0.37; P < .01; clinician T1/T2 r = -0.26/-0.27; P < .01), and pain interference (caregiver T1/T2 r = -0.32/-0.30; P < .01; clinician T1/T2 r = -0.17/-0.31; P < .01). Caregivers and clinicians assigned significantly lower LPPS scores at T2 (caregiver Δ = -5.37; P < .01; clinician Δ = -4.20; P < .01), whereas child-reported PROMIS scores were clinically stable. CONCLUSIONS Significant differences between clinician and caregiver LPPS ratings of child performance were sustained over time; their associations with child reports were predominantly small to moderate. These data suggest that clinician-reported LPPS ratings by themselves are inadequate for determining clinical trial eligibility and should be supplemented by appropriate measures of a child's functional status reflecting the child and caregiver perspectives.

Background Although it is well documented that adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer have low participation in cancer clinical trials (CCTs), the underlying reasons are not well understood. We used the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) network to identify barriers and facilitators to AYA CCT enrollment, and strategies to improve enrollment at community-based and minority and/or underserved sites. Methods We performed one-on-one semistructured qualitative interviews with stakeholders (NCORP site principle investigators, NCORP administrators, physicians involved in enrollment, lead clinical research associates or clinical research nurses, nurse navigators, regulatory research associates, patient advocates) in the AYA CCT enrollment process. NCORP sites that included high and low AYA–enrolling affiliate sites and were diverse in geography and department representation (eg, pediatrics, medical oncology) were invited to participate. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Themes related to barriers and facilitators and strategies to improve enrollment were identified. Results We conducted 43 interviews across 10 NCORP sites. Eleven barriers and 13 facilitators to AYA enrollment were identified. Main barriers included perceived limited trial availability and eligibility, physician gatekeeping, lack of provider and research staff time, and financial constraints. Main facilitators and strategies to improve AYA enrollment included having a patient screening process, physician endorsement of trials, an “AYA champion” on site, and strong communication between medical and pediatric oncology. Conclusions Stakeholders identified several opportunities to address barriers contributing to low AYA CCT enrollment at community-based and minority and/or underserved sites. Results of this study will inform development and implementation of targeted interventions to increase AYA CCT enrollment.

Key Points Question In children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving oral mercaptopurine, can an intervention consisting of education and daily text message reminders to prompt directly supervised therapy result in a higher proportion of patients with mercaptopurine adherence 95% or higher, compared with education alone? Findings In this parallel-group, unblinded, randomized clinical trial including 444 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the proportion of patients with mercaptopurine adherence rates 95% or higher did not differ between the intervention and education groups. In exploratory analyses, children aged 12 years and older with baseline adherence less than 90% had higher mean adherence in the intervention group. Meaning This study provides evidence for limiting future trials to older children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who have low baseline adherence to oral mercaptopurine., This randomized clinical trial examines whether a multicomponent intervention results in a higher proportion of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia maintaining mercaptopurine adherence rates of 95% or higher compared with education alone., Importance Suboptimal adherence to oral mercaptopurine treatment in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) increases the risk of relapse. A frequently expressed barrier to adherence is forgetfulness, which is often overcome by parental vigilance. Objective To determine whether a multicomponent intervention, compared with education alone, will result in a higher proportion of patients with ALL who have mercaptopurine adherence rates 95% or higher, for all study participants and among patients younger than 12 years and vs those aged 12 years and older. Design, Setting, and Participants The adherence intervention trial was an investigator-initiated, multi-institutional, parallel-group, unblinded, randomized clinical trial conducted between July 16, 2012, and August 8, 2018, at 59 Children’s Oncology Group institutions in the US, enrolling patients with ALL diagnosed through age 21 years and receiving mercaptopurine for maintenance. The date of final follow-up was January 2, 2019. Data analysis was performed from February to October 2019. Interventions Patients were randomized 1:1 to education alone or the intervention package, which consisted of education and personalized text message reminders daily to prompt directly supervised therapy. Four weeks of baseline adherence monitoring were followed with a 16-week intervention. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was the proportion of patients with adherence rates 95% or higher over the duration of the intervention for all study participants, and for those younger than 12 years vs those aged 12 years and older. Results There were 444 evaluable patients (median age, 8.1 years; interquartile range, 5.3-14.3 years), including 230 in the intervention group and 214 in the education group. Three hundred two patients (68.0%) were boys, 180 (40.5%) were non-Hispanic White, 170 (38.3%) were Hispanic, 43 (9.7%) were African American, and 51 (11.5%) were Asian or of mixed race/ethnicity. The proportion of patients with adherence rates 95% or higher did not differ between the intervention vs education groups (65% vs 59%; odds ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.0-2.0; P = .08). Exploratory analyses showed that among patients aged 12 years and older, those in the intervention group had higher mean (SE) adherence rates than those in the education group (93.1% [1.1%] vs 90.0% [1.3%]; difference, 3.1%; 95% CI, 0.1%-6.0%; P = .04). In particular, among patients aged 12 years and older with baseline adherence less than 90%, those in the intervention group had higher mean (SE) adherence rates than those in the education group (83.4% [2.5%] vs 74.6% [3.4%]; difference, 8.8%; 95% CI, 2.2%-15.4%; P = .008). No safety concerns were identified. Conclusions and Relevance Although this multicomponent intervention did not result in an increase in the proportion of patients with ALL who had mercaptopurine adherence rates 95% or higher, it did identify a high-risk subpopulation to target for future adherence intervention strategies: adolescents with low baseline adherence. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01503632

OBJECTIVE: The Intensity of Treatment Rating (ITR) Scale condenses treatment and clinical characteristics into a single measure to study treatment effects on downstream health outcomes across cancer types. This rating was originally developed for clinicians to determine from medical charts. However, large studies are often unable to access medical charts for all study participants. We developed and tested a method of estimating treatment intensity (TI) using cancer registry and patient self-reported data. METHODS: We estimated two versions of TI for a cohort of pediatric cancer survivors-one utilized information solely available from cancer registry variables (TI(R)) and the other included registry and self-reported information (TI(S)) from survey participants. In a subset of cases (n=135) for whom the gold standard TI (TI(C)) was known, both TI(R) and TI(S) were compared to TI(C) by calculating percent agreement and weighted Cohen’s kappa, overall and within cancer subtypes. RESULTS: In comparison to TI(C), 71% of TI scores from both methods were in agreement (k = 0.61 TIR / 0.54 TI(S)). Among subgroups, agreement ranged from lowest (46% TI(R)/39% TI(S)) for non-defined tumors (e.g. “Tumor-other”), to highest (94% TI(R)/94% TI(S)) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). CONCLUSIONS: We developed a methodology to estimate TI for pediatric cancer research when medical chart review is not possible. High reliability was observed for ALL, the most common pediatric cancer. Additional validation is needed among a larger sample of other cancer subgroups. The ability to estimate TI from cancer registry data would assist with monitoring effects of treatment during survivorship in registry-based epidemiological studies.

Background Cisplatin-induced hearing loss (CIHL) is a common and debilitating toxicity for childhood cancer survivors. Understanding provider perspectives is crucial to developing otoprotection studies that are both informative and feasible. Two international trials (ACCL0431 and SIOPEL6) investigated the drug sodium thiosulfate (STS) as an otoprotectant, but definitive interpretation of the findings of these trials has been challenging. Adoption of STS has therefore been uneven, and provider perspectives on its role are unknown. Procedure The Children's Oncology Group (COG) Cancer Control and Supportive Care Neurotoxicity Subcommittee therefore conducted a survey of providers at COG institutions to determine perspectives on pediatric otoprotection practices and research surrounding three major themes: (1) prevalence of routine use of STS with cisplatin-based regimens, (2) application of audiometry to cisplatin therapy, and (3) preferred modalities for otoprotection research. Results Survey respondents (45%, 44/98 surveyed institutions) were of diverse institutional sizes, practice settings, and geographical locations primarily in the United States and Canada. Overall, respondents considered CIHL an important toxicity and indicated strong enthusiasm for future studies (98%, 40/41). Results indicated that while STS was the current or planned standard of care in a minority of responding institutions (36%, 16/44), most sites were receptive to its inclusion in appropriate study designs. Application of audiometry for ototoxicity monitoring varied widely across sites. For otoprotection research, systemic agents were preferred (68%, 28/41) as compared with intratympanic approaches. Conclusion These results suggest that pediatric otoprotection trials remain of interest to providers; the emphasis of these trials should remain on systemic and not intratympanic therapy.

Objective This study investigated profiles of emotional distress and growth in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. Clinical, demographic, and psychosocial factors were examined for their potential to distinguish these profiles and predict health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of AYAs with cancer. Method This was a multicenter, longitudinal study of AYAs diagnosed with cancer at 14-39 years of age. Participants were assessed 3 times over 24 months following a baseline survey administered at diagnosis. Four profiles (resilient, resilient growth, distressed, distressed growth) were derived using published cutoff points on standardized measures of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and posttraumatic growth. Mixed-effects models were used to examine profile correlates and the extent to which profiles were associated with HRQoL. Results Among 179 participants at Time 1, the proportion of profiles ranged from 18.8% for the resilient profile to 30.4% for the distressed-growth profile. These proportions remained consistent over time. Factors that appeared to distinguish these profiles included work or school status, sex, race, age at diagnosis, treatment status, prognosis, and personality characteristics. When compared to AYAs with resilient-growth profiles, HRQoL was significantly worse for AYAs reporting distressed and distressed-growth profiles, controlling for demographic, clinical, and social characteristics. Conclusion The current study found 4 patterns of psychological adjustment in AYAs with cancer. The resilient-growth profile was associated with better HRQoL, whereas distressed and distressed-growth profiles were associated with worse HRQoL. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The cover image is based on the Original Research Enrollment of adolescents and young adults onto SWOG cancer research network clinical trials: A comparative analysis by treatment site and era by Michael E. Roth et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.2891. Cover image © Wiley Images. [Image: see text]

Adolescents and young adults are a unique cancer patient population with distinctive health care needs and risks for long-term toxicity from cancer therapy and hematopoietic cell transplant. These patients fall between pediatric and older adult patients in their indications for transplant and reports of treatment side effects including higher rate of mucositis, osteonecrosis, and peripheral neuropathy. Interestingly adolescents and young adults also fall in an intermediate position for factors of transplant that worsen with age including infectious risks, veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, and graft-versus-host disease, faring worse than pediatric patients but better than older adults. Additional features to take into consideration regarding these patients are differences in drug metabolism during the physiologic changes of puberty, development of first-time comorbidities, issues with compliance, and potential psychological and caregiver conflicts during their development of independence. Palliative care has an important role in the care of adolescents and young adults requiring hematopoietic cell transplant considering their developmental changes, developing spirituality, and variable support systems dependent on patient age. There is a void in transplant research for this patient population and studies are needed in all areas including side effects of transplant, treatment of comorbidities, psychological impacts, long-term health, economical, and financial survival, caregiver needs, and end-of life care.

71 Background: The information needs of young adult (YA) cancer survivors have been described, however, the specific needs of YA colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors are not well-documented. Characterizing the distinct unmet needs of YA CRC survivors is important given their unique cancer experience which may include an ostomy, chronic bowel symptoms, and functional deficits. The purpose of this study was to examine CRC survivors’ unmet needs across general, clinical, and psychosocial domains. Methods: An online, cross-sectional survey was administered via Facebook in collaboration with a national YA CRC patient advocacy organization. Respondents (diagnosed 18-39) endorsed areas in which they required more information on aspects of their lives that may have been affected by their cancer experience. Needs were stratified by life stage (emerging [18-29 years] and young [30-39] adulthood). Results: Respondents (n=189) were colon (40.2%) and rectal (59.8%) cancer survivors with a mean current age of 32.2 years (SD=4.6) and a mean age of 30.2 years (SD=4.3) at diagnosis. Most endorsed items per domain included: nutrition and diet (52.1%), complementary and alternative treatments (45.4%), and talking about your cancer experience with family, friends, and co-workers (36.1%). Survivors in emerging adulthood (n=80), compared with those in young adulthood (n=109), endorsed notably greater needs in: staying physically fit (57.5% versus 38.5%), complementary and alternative treatments (57.5% versus 36.7%), and advice/help about dating and intimate relationships (18.8% versus 6.4%). Conclusions: Overall, half of respondents endorsed a desire for information on nutrition and diet, staying physically fit, and complementary and alternative treatments. Differing endorsement rates by age group indicate the importance of tailored approaches. Optimal counseling, resources, and referrals specific to life stage can mitigate the unmet needs of YA CRC survivors to improve health outcomes and quality of life.[Table: see text]

34 Background: Survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC) are at risk for late effects of therapy and recurrence of cancer. With recurrence rates ranging between 30-40% (Siegal et al., 2020), consistent, survivor-focused follow-up care is needed for early detection of late effects and recurrence (Jeffery et al., 2019). CRC-related care delivery has been significantly disrupted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, with decreases of 40% in CRC services in the United States between April 2020 and 2019 (Jammu, 2020). Consequentially, survivors may be left with fewer options for care, potentially causing increases in emergency room (ER) utilization. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the patterns of ER utilization during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic among young adult CRC survivors and assessed the relationship between self-reported care satisfaction and ER use. Eligible participants were diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer between 18-39 years, between 6-36 months from diagnosis/relapse, English speaking, and based in the United States. Questions on care satisfaction were Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) questions. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to assess the association between patient satisfaction and ER utilization, adjusting for factors related to the pandemic. Covariates for this analysis were chosen based on a significance of p < 0.1 at the univariate level, as well as general clinical significance. Results: The overall sample was N = 196, mean age (SD) was 32.1 years (4.5), and 116 survivors (59%) were male. Tumor location was colon or rectal in 42% and 57%, respectively, and the majority (56%) were diagnosed with stage 2 disease; 42.6% reported relapsed disease, and 20% had an ostomy. The majority of survivors (72.5%) had between 1-4 visits to an emergency room in the last 12 months and were categorized as normal users. Approximately 24.7% of the sample had greater than 4 visits to the ER in the last 12 months and were categorized as super-utilizers (Johnson et al., 2015). Colorectal cancer survivors that reported a delay in their follow-up cancer care as a result of the pandemic were two times (OR: 2.05, 95% CI 0.99, 4.24) more likely to be super-utilizers of the ER. Higher self-reported satisfaction with overall care was associated with a 13.7% (OR: 0.86, 95%CI: -0.68, 1.09) lower likelihood of being a super-utilizer. Conclusions: This study found strong associations between delays in care, self-reported care satisfaction, and being a super-utilizer of the ER during the pandemic among young adult CRC survivors off treatment. Increasing patient satisfaction and minimizing care interruptions amongst this vulnerable population may aid in mitigating over-utilization in the ER during an ongoing pandemic.

Background Cancer survival among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) was previously reported as showing little or no improvement compared to younger or older counterparts. The role of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the AYA survival deficit has not been evaluated. Methods Using cancer registry data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (SEER 9), we examined sex-specific 5-year relative survival trends for children (0-14 years old), AYAs (15-39 years old), and older adults (40 years and older) diagnosed with cancer during 1973-2009 and followed through the end of 2014. The analysis was conducted with and without Kaposi sarcoma (KS) and lymphomas, and by two time periods: 1973-1977 (before the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [HIV/AIDS] epidemic) and 2005-2009 (after the HIV/AIDS epidemic waned). Results A total of 3 209 721 invasive cancer cases were included in the study (27 646 children, 213 930 AYAs, and 2 968 145 older adults; 24 803 children, 178 741 AYAs, and 2 844 062 older adults when KS and lymphoma cases were excluded). We found that 5-year relative survival for AYAs exceeded that of children and older adults before the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic (eg, during 1973-1979, 0.58-0.67 among male AYAs as compared with 0.47-0.61 for male children and 0.36-0.42 for male older adults; among female AYAs, the numbers were 0.73-0.77 as compared with 0.51-0.65 for female children and 0.52-0.55 for female older adults); substantially declined during 1983-1997 when HIV/AIDS lacked effective treatment among male AYAs; and returned to be higher than most age groups by the late 1990s after HIV/AIDS was controlled. Nonetheless, comparison of survival improvement between 1973-1977 and 2005-2009 demonstrated less progress in AYAs than other age groups, which was due to AYAs' better baseline survival and larger survival gains among children and older adults in recent years. Conclusions Apart from the temporary impact of HIV/AIDS, survival among AYA cancer patients has shown sustained improvement and superiority relative to other age groups. However, these encouraging findings do not negate the distinctive challenges in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship faced by AYAs.

BACKGROUND: For several types of cancer, biological differences and outcome disparities have been documented in adolescents/young adults (AYAs, 15–39 years old) versus children. This study compared clinicopathological features and survival between younger AYAs and children with low-grade glioma (LGG), a common brain tumor among AYAs. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of Children’s Oncology Group legacy study CCG-9891/POG-9130, which enrolled participants 0–21 years of age with newly-diagnosed LGG treated with surgery alone. For analysis, participants were categorized as children (0–14 years old) or early AYAs (eAYAs, 15–21 years old) and compared on demographics, clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, surgical outcomes, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Among 468 children and 50 eAYAs, more eAYAs presented with seizures (34.0% vs 19.2%; p=0.015), without other significant differences in clinicopathological features. Five-year PFS rates for children and eAYA were 80.2% (95% Confidence Interval [95%CI], 76.1–83.7) and 83.0% (95%CI, 68.8–91.1), respectively; 5-year OS rates were 97.3% (95%CI, 95.2–98.5) and 95.4% (95%CI, 82.7–98.8), respectively. Multivariable analysis including all participants showed presence of residual tumor to be an independent predictor of PFS (

BACKGROUND: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) are underrepresented in cancer clinical trials (CCTs). Limited trial enrollment slows progress in improving survival rates and prevents the collection of valuable biospecimens. A systematic literature review was conducted to assess barriers and facilitators to AYA enrollment onto CCTs and identify opportunities to improve enrollment. METHODS: PubMed Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsychInfo databases were searched to identify studies relevant to AYA CCT enrollment. Eligibility criteria included qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation of barriers and facilitators to AYA enrollment. RESULTS: One-hundred and fifty-five unique manuscripts were identified; 13 manuscripts were included in the final analysis. Barriers to AYA enrollment on CCTs included lack of existing trials applicable to the patient population, limited access to available CCTs, and lack of physician awareness of relevant trials. Facilitators to enrollment included optimization of research infrastructure, improving awareness of available CCTs amongst providers, and enhancing communication about CCTs between providers and patients. CONCLUSIONS: The limited available research reports institution- and patient-level barriers and facilitators to AYA CCT enrollment. Given persistent disparities in AYA enrollment, there is an urgent need to further identify the barriers and facilitators to AYA CCT enrollment to determine actionable areas for intervention.

Ethnic and sex variations in depressive symptoms and quality of life (QOL) among adolescent and young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors were explored among a sample of Latino and non-Latino childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) (n = 194) treated at hospitals in Los Angeles County. Latinos scored higher in depressive symptoms and lower in QOL when compared with non-Latinos. Males had higher depressive symptoms. Among Latinos, higher levels of acculturation were associated with depression and a poorer QOL, and we found that more acculturated Latino males were more likely to have meaningful levels of depression than less acculturated males or females. Interventions addressing depressive symptoms may be most needed for Hispanic male CCSs.

138 Background: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are often impacted by cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), requiring long-term follow-up care. It is unknown whether survivors reporting CRCI are at higher likelihood to suffer from adverse lifestyle behaviors such as smoking and vaping. Using the Project Forward cohort, we analyzed the prevalence of CRCI and its association with substance abuse. Methods: The Project Forward study surveyed adolescent and young adult CCS between 2015 to 2018 to evaluate the quality of cancer follow-up care. Associations between self-reported CRCI and adverse lifestyle behaviors were examined in multivariable logistic regressions, adjusting for covariates: cancer type, treatment intensity, race/ethnicity, gender, and age at diagnosis. Stratified analysis by recency of latest cancer follow-up care was performed to examine its impact on the risk of substance abuse among CRCI patients. Results: The cohort comprised 1,106 CCS, with median ages of 25.5 years (IQR: 22, 29) at survey completion and 13 years (IQR: 7, 16) at diagnosis, with over half (n = 570, 51.5%) were being Hispanic. A total of 144 (13%) patients self-reported CRCI, with the highest prevalence observed among brain cancer (25.4%) and leukemia (13.3%) survivors. Cancer-related follow-ups were more frequently observed among survivors reporting CRCI, comparing to non-CRCI survivors (66.7% vs 56.9%, p = 0.030). After adjusting for confounders, survivors reporting CRCI were at higher odds to vape with e-cigarettes than those without CRCI (OR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.24–4.09, p = 0.008). Among those who did not engage any recent cancer follow-up care (n = 455), CRCI was associated with 2.9 times the odds of vaping with e-cigarettes (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.07–7.88, p = 0.037). No association was observed between CRCI and the use of cigarettes, alcohol, or marijuana. Conclusions: Vaping is more prevalent among CCS reporting CRCI, especially those who are less likely to attend follow-up care. Our data suggests the importance of encouraging long-term follow-ups to monitor adverse lifestyle behaviors in CCS experiencing cognitive symptoms and provide timely interventions.

Simple Summary Young adult survivors of colorectal cancer often undergo intensive and multimodal cancer therapy and may experience impairments in health-related quality of life. However, knowledge regarding the impacts of colorectal cancer on the quality of life of young adults is limited. This study aimed to characterize overall health-related quality of life among young adult colorectal cancer survivors within 36 months of their diagnosis or relapse, to compare those who are shorter versus longer time from initial diagnosis or relapse, and to examine correlates across the distinct domains of quality of life. Such information can inform the development of life stage-appropriate counseling and interventions to maintain and improve health-related quality of life following a colorectal cancer diagnosis for this at-risk patient population. Abstract The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is rising among young adults. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in survivorship is not well-described in this population. We assessed HRQoL among young adult CRC survivors diagnosed from age 18–39 (AYAs) to examine differences by time from diagnosis, and to identify key correlates. A cross-sectional online survey was administered in collaboration with a national patient advocacy organization. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-C) was used to measure HRQoL, which assesses HRQoL globally and across 4 domains: emotional, physical, social, and functional. T-tests were conducted to compare HRQoL between survivors who were 6–18 months versus 19–36 months from diagnosis or relapse and multiple linear regression was conducted to identify correlates. The sample (n = 196) had a mean age of 32.2(SD ± 4.5); 116 (59.9%) were male; and the self-reported tumor location was colon (39.3%) or rectal (60.7%). The majority (56.4%) were diagnosed with stage 2 disease; 96.9% were non-metastatic. The mean global HRQoL score was 67.7 out of a possible score of 136. Across domains, mean scores were low. Emotional and physical well-being were significantly higher among survivors who were 19–36 months from diagnosis/relapse compared to those 6–18 months from diagnosis/relapse. Longer time from diagnosis and older current age were associated with higher HRQoL, while more intensive treatment and higher clinical disease stage were negatively associated, particularly in the emotional and physical domains. Overall, HRQoL was low in this population, and further research is needed to inform age-appropriate interventions to improve HRQoL for AYA CRC survivors.

BACKGROUND Cancer-related sexual dysfunction has been reported among adolescents and young adults (AYAs); however, its prevalence over time has not been examined. This longitudinal study investigated sexual dysfunction in AYAs over the course of 2 years after the initial diagnosis. METHODS Young adult patients (18-39 years old) completed the Medical Outcomes Study Sexual Functioning Scale within the first 4 months of their diagnosis (n = 123) and again 6 (n = 107) and 24 months later (n = 95). An ordered multinomial response model analyzed changes in the probability of reporting sexual dysfunction over time and the independent effects of demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables. RESULTS More than half of the participants reported sexual functioning to be problematic at each assessment. The probability of reporting sexual dysfunction increased over time (P < .01) and was greater for cancer patients who were female (P < .001), older (P < .01), married or in a committed relationship (P < .001), treated with chemotherapy (P < .05), and reporting comorbid psychological distress (P < .001) and lower social support (P < .05). For women, being in a relationship increased the likelihood of reporting sexual problems over time; for men, the likelihood of reporting sexual problems increased regardless of their relationship status. CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of young adults report ongoing problems with sexual functioning in the first 2 years after their cancer diagnosis. These findings justify the need to evaluate and monitor sexual functioning throughout a continuum of care. Cancer 2018;124:398-405. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Background Poor enrollment of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) (ages 15-39 years) onto cancer clinical trials (CCTs) may contribute to inferior survival gains compared with children. In this study, the authors assessed whether differences in CCT availability would explain lower CCT enrollment for early AYAs (eAYAs) (ages 15-21 years). Methods This prospective, observational cohort study was conducted at a single academic children's hospital. For consecutive patients who were newly diagnosed with cancer over a 13-month period, it was determined whether an appropriate CCT existed nationally or was available locally and whether enrollment on that CCT occurred. The proportions of eAYAs versus children in each category were compared using the chi-square test. The impact of age and other factors on enrollment status was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results Among 216 patients, 58 were eAYAs, and 158 were children. There was no difference in the proportion of eAYAs versus children who had an existing CCT (28 of 58 eAYAs [48.3%] vs 85 of 158 children [53.8%]; P = .47) or an available CCT (23 of 58 eAYAs [39.7%] vs 75 of 158 children [47.5%]; P = .31). However, significantly fewer eAYAs were enrolled when a CCT was available (7 of 23 eAYAs [30.4%] vs 50 of 75 children [67.7%]; P = .002). In multivariable analysis, eAYAs were significantly less likely than children to be enrolled in an available CCT (adjusted odds ratio, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.62). Conclusions Equal proportions of children and eAYAs had CCTs available, but significantly fewer eAYAs were enrolled. These findings suggest that, for eAYAs, factors other than CCT availability are important enrollment barriers and should be addressed. Cancer 2018;124:983-90. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Context The National Cancer Institute created the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) to allow direct input on symptomatic adverse events (AEs) from adult patients in oncology trials. Objectives This study sought to determine the youngest age to complete the PRO-CTCAE, evaluated comprehension of PRO-CTCAE among adolescents, tested new items not currently in PRO-CTCAE, and tested a parent-proxy version. Methods From seven pediatric cancer hospitals, 51 adolescents (13–20 years) receiving cancer treatment participated, along with 40 parent proxies. We evaluated 55 AEs from the PRO-CTCAE library (97 questions) and seven new AEs not in PRO-CTCAE that assess symptom frequency, severity, interference, or presence. Questions were distributed across three forms to reduce burden. Cognitive interviews with retrospective probing were completed in age groups of 13–15 and 16–20 year olds. Proxies were interviewed independently. Results In general, the 16–20 year olds and the parent proxies were able to understand and complete the PRO-CTCAE and newly designed AE questions. Five PRO-CTCAE terms (bloating of the abdomen, anxiety, flashing lights in front of your eyes, hot flashes, and bed sores) and the wording of the questions about AE severity were challenging for a few adolescents and proxies. The 13–15 year olds had greater challenges completing the PRO-CTCAE. Conclusion This study extends use of the adult PRO-CTCAE for adolescents as young as 16 years and proposes new questions for seven new symptomatic AEs and a parent-proxy version of PRO-CTCAE. Additional testing of the new questions and alternative language for more challenging PRO-CTCAE items is recommended in adults.

Adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) develop osteopenia early in therapy, potentially exacerbated by high rates of concurrent Vitamin D deficiency. We conducted a randomized clinical trial testing a Vitamin D-based intervention to improve Vitamin D status and reduce bone density decline. Poor adherence to home supplementation necessitated a change to directly observed therapy (DOT) with intermittent, high-dose Vitamin D3 randomized versus standard of care (SOC). Compared to SOC, DOT Vitamin D3 successfully increased trough Vitamin 25(OH)D levels (p = .026) with no residual Vitamin D deficiency, 100% adherence to DOT Vitamin D3, and without associated toxicity. However, neither Vitamin D status nor supplementation impacted bone density. Thus, this adherence-optimized intervention is feasible and effective to correct Vitamin D deficiency in adolescents during ALL therapy. Repletion of Vitamin D and calcium alone did not mitigate osteopenia, however, and new, comprehensive approaches are needed to address treatment-associated osteopenia during ALL therapy.

Purpose Optimal assessment methods and criteria for reporting hearing outcomes in children who receive treatment with cisplatin are uncertain. The objectives of our study were to compare different ototoxicity classification systems, to evaluate the feasibility of including otoacoustic emissions and extended high frequency audiometry, and to evaluate a central review mechanism for audiologic results for cisplatin-treated children in the cooperative group setting. Patients and Methods Eligible participants were 1 to 30 years, with planned cisplatin-containing treatment. Hearing evaluations were conducted at baseline, before each cisplatin cycle, and at the end of therapy. Audiologic results were assessed and graded by the testing audiologist and by two central review audiologists using the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Ototoxicity Criteria (ASHA), Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3.0 (CTCAE), and Brock Ototoxicity Grades (Brock). One central reviewer also used the International Society of Pediatric Oncology Ototoxicity Scale (SIOP). Results At the end of treatment, the prevalence of any degree of ototoxicity ranged from 40% to 56%, and severe ototoxicity ranged from 7% to 22%. Compared with CTCAE, SIOP detected significantly more ototoxicity ( P = .004), whereas Brock criteria detected significantly fewer patients with any or severe ototoxicity ( P < .001 for both). SIOP detected ototoxicity earlier than did the other scales. Agreement between the central reviewers and the institutional audiologist was almost perfect for ASHA and Brock, whereas the poorest agreement occurred with CTCAE. Conclusion The SIOP scale may be superior to ASHA, Brock, and CTCAE scales for classifying ototoxicity in pediatric patients who were treated with cisplatin. Future studies should evaluate inter-rater reliability of the SIOP scale.

Summary Background Sodium thiosulfate is an antioxidant shown in preclinical studies in animals to prevent cisplatin-induced hearing loss with timed administration after cisplatin without compromising the antitumour efficacy of cisplatin. The primary aim of this study was to assess sodium thiosulfate for prevention of cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children and adolescents. Methods ACCL0431 was a multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial that enrolled participants at 38 participating Children's Oncology Group hospitals in the USA and Canada. Eligible participants aged 1–18 years with newly diagnosed cancer and normal audiometry were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive sodium thiosulfate or observation (control group) in addition to their planned cisplatin-containing chemotherapy regimen, using permuted blocks of four. Randomisation was initially stratified by age and duration of cisplatin infusion. Stratification by previous cranial irradiation was added later as a protocol amendment. The allocation sequence was computer-generated centrally and concealed to all personnel. Participants received sodium thiosulfate 16 g/m 2 intravenously 6 h after each cisplatin dose or observation. The primary endpoint was incidence of hearing loss 4 weeks after final cisplatin dose. Hearing was measured using standard audiometry and reviewed centrally by audiologists masked to allocation using American Speech-Language-Hearing Association criteria but treatment was not masked for participants or clinicians. Analysis of the primary endpoint was by modified intention to treat, which included all randomly assigned patients irrespective of treatment received but restricted to those assessable for hearing loss. Enrolment is complete and this report represents the final analysis. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00716976. Findings Between June 23, 2008, and Sept 28, 2012, 125 eligible participants were randomly assigned to either sodium thiosulfate (n=61) or observation (n=64). Of these, 104 participants were assessable for the primary endpoint (sodium thiosulfate, n=49; control, n=55). Hearing loss was identified in 14 (28·6%; 95% CI 16·6–43·3) participants in the sodium thiosulfate group compared with 31 (56·4%; 42·3–69·7) in the control group (p=0·00022). Adjusted for stratification variables, the likelihood of hearing loss was significantly lower in the sodium thiosulfate group compared with the control group (odds ratio 0·31, 95% CI 0·13–0·73; p=0·0036). The most common grade 3–4 haematological adverse events reported, irrespective of attribution, were neutropenia (117 [66%] of 178 participant cycles in the sodium thiosulfate group vs 145 [65%] of 224 in the control group), whereas the most common non-haematological adverse event was hypokalaemia (25 [17%] of 149 vs 22 [12%] of 187). Of 194 serious adverse events reported in 26 participants who had received sodium thiosulfate, none were deemed probably or definitely related to sodium thiosulfate; the most common serious adverse event was decreased neutrophil count: 26 episodes in 14 participants. Interpretation Sodium thiosulfate protects against cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children and is not associated with serious adverse events attributed to its use. Further research is needed to define the appropriate role for sodium thiosulfate among emerging otoprotection strategies. Funding US National Cancer Institute.

OBJECTIVE: This case-control study compared substance use behaviors between Hispanic adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancers (cases) and a community sample of participants without cancer (controls). METHODS: A total of 100 cases (mean age at survey 19.9, SD=2.8), were matched 1-1 by ethnicity, age, and sex to controls (200 participants). Differences in self-reported prior 30-day use of tobacco, alcohol, binge drinking of alcohol, and marijuana were examined using conditional multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The odds of tobacco, alcohol, binge drinking, and marijuana use were significantly lower for cases than controls (all p’s

Despite ototoxicity being a prevalent consequence of cisplatin chemotherapy, little guidance exists on interventions to prevent this permanent and progressive adverse event. To develop a clinical practice guideline for the prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in children and adolescents with cancer, we convened an international, multidisciplinary panel of experts and patient advocates to update a systematic review of randomised trials for the prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. The systematic review identified 27 eligible adult and paediatric trials that evaluated amifostine, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate or disulfiram, systemic sodium thiosulfate, intratympanic therapies, and cisplatin infusion duration. Regarding systemic sodium thiosulfate, the panel made a strong recommendation for administration in non-metastatic hepatoblastoma, a weak recommendation for administration in other non-metastatic cancers, and a weak recommendation against its routine use in metastatic cancers. Amifostine, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, and intratympanic therapy should not be routinely used. Cisplatin infusion duration should not be altered as a means to reduce ototoxicity. Further research to determine the safety of sodium thiosulfate in patients with metastatic cancer is encouraged.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs, 15–39 years old) are an ideal population to benefit from the ever-expanding number and variety of cancer information and health resources available via the Internet and other digital platforms. However, the ability of individual AYAs to fully utilize such resources depends on their degree of health literacy. Across the trajectory of cancer care, an important role for the oncology clinician is assisting AYAs and caregivers in accessing quality health information consistent with their level of health literacy. Working from the premise that all AYAs with cancer and their caregivers deserve to be empowered with maximal knowledge about their condition, this review provides information to assist oncology clinicians in (1) understanding the variety of contemporary online resources that are currently available, including their strengths and limitations; (2) evaluating the quality of health information; and (3) recommending specific health information resources to their AYA patients.

Background Although landmark studies in the 1990s demonstrated that adolescents and young adults (AYAs, ages 15–39 years) with cancer had lower survival improvement compared to other ages, therapeutic advances warrant reappraisal of those observations. We utilized more recent data to study site-specific AYA survival trends and disparities and gain a more contemporary understanding of this problem. Methods Using California Cancer Registry data from 1988 to 2014, we calculated 1) 5-year overall survival improvement for AYAs compared to other age groups; 2) hazard ratios (HRs) of death for AYAs comparing 2001–2014 with 1988–2000 stratified by site, stage, sex, age group, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES); and 3) site-specific adjusted HRs (aHRs) for AYA risk groups and interaction analyses by time period. Results For all cancers combined, AYAs demonstrated survival improvement that exceeded all other age groups, largely due to reduced mortality in human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related cancers. The strongest predictor of death was cancer stage (aHR = 6.32 for distant vs localized, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.20 to 6.45). The aHR of death was statistically significantly higher for blacks (1.46, 95% CI = 1.42 to 1.50), Asian and Pacific Islanders (1.12, 95% CI = 1.09 to 1.15), and Latino whites (1.06, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.08) compared to non-Latino whites, and was statistically significantly higher for low SES compared to high (1.31, 95% CI = 1.29 to 1.34). Survival disparities by stage, race and ethnicity, and SES worsened over time. Conclusions For AYAs in aggregate, the historical cancer survival improvement gap has been closed. However, the growing survival disparities in AYA subsets reported here, including advanced stage disease, racial and ethnic minorities, and low SES, highlight new priorities in need of increased attention, including inequities in cancer care and delivery within this vulnerable population.