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Purpose: Breast cancer and cardiovascular (CV) diseases often share the same risk factors. It is increasingly important to identify risk factors for CV events in patients with high-risk breast cancer and explore optimal treatment regimens. Experimental Design: Early HER2-positive breast cancer patients at our institution between January 1998 and October 2009 were reviewed. Primary outcome was late-severe-CV-event-free survival, and late severe CV events were defined as cardiovascular death, cardiomyopathy, symptomatic heart failure, and myocardial infarction developing 2+ years after breast cancer diagnosis. Kaplan–Meier plots, Cox proportional hazard regressions, and restricted mean survival time were used to evaluate outcomes. Results: We identified 2,448 consecutive eligible patients with a median follow-up time of 111.0 months (interquartile range, 52.0–151.8 months). One hundred and thirty-six patients had late severe CV events and 752 died of any cause [533 (70.9%) died of primary breast cancer; 12 (1.6%) died of cardiovascular disease]. Hypertension [HR, 1.546; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.030–2.320; P = 0.036] and history of coronary artery disease (CAD; HR, 3.333; 95% CI, 1.669–6.656; P < 0.001) were associated with worse late-severe-CV-event-free survival. Anthracycline-containing regimens (HR, 1.536; 95% CI, 0.979–2.411; P = 0.062) was not a significant risk factor for CV events in multivariate analysis. Regimens containing both anthracycline and anti-HER2 therapy were prognostic for better OS (HR, 0.515; 95% CI, 0.412–0.643; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Hypertension and CAD history were independent prognostic factors for late severe CV events. Adding anti-HER2 agents to anthracycline-containing regimens did not substantially increase the risk for late severe cardiotoxicity and conferred better overall survival.

Weight loss and cachexia are common problems in colorectal cancer patients; thus, parenteral and enteral nutrition support play important roles in cancer care. However, the impact of nonessential amino acid components of nutritional intake on cancer progression has not been fully studied. In this study, we discovered that gastrointestinal cancer patients who received cysteine as part of the parenteral nutrition had shorter overall survival (P SESN2 transcription via the GCN2-ATF4 axis, resulting in mTORC1 activation. mTORC1 inhibitors Rapamycin and Everolimus block cystine-induced cancer cell proliferation. In addition, cystine confers resistance to oxaliplatin and irinotecan chemotherapy by quenching chemotherapy-induced reactive oxygen species via synthesizing glutathione. We demonstrated that dietary deprivation of cystine suppressed colon cancer xenograft growth without weight loss in mice and boosted the antitumor effect of oxaliplatin. These findings indicate that cyst(e)ine, as part of supplemental nutrition, plays an important role in colorectal cancer and manipulation of cyst(e)ine content in nutritional formulations may optimize colorectal cancer patient survival.

Background We aimed to determine whether hypomagnesemia predicts osteoradionecrosis development in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx and oral cavity who received platinum-based concurrent chemoradiation with or without induction therapy. Methods We reviewed data from patients with head and neck cancers who had undergone chemoradiation with weekly cisplatin/carboplatin between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014 at our institution. Pathologic features, laboratory test results, disease stage, and social histories were recorded. The association between hypomagnesemia and osteoradionecrosis was analyzed controlling for known confounding factors. Results Hypomagnesemia during cancer treatment was associated with osteoradionecrosis development (HR = 2.72, P = .037) independent of total radiation dose (HR = 1.07, P = .260) and smoking history (HR = 2.05, P = .056) among the patients who received platinum-based induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation. Conclusions Hypomagnesemia was predictive of the development of osteoradionecrosis in patients with cancers of the oropharynx and oral cavity receiving platinum-based induction followed by concurrent chemoradiation.

BACKGROUND: Prior research has confirmed that persistent hypomagnesemia was predictive of shorter survival among patients with ovarian cancer who received carboplatin-based chemotherapy. In the current retrospective study, the authors examined the association between hypomagnesemia and survival in patients with head and neck cancer who received concurrent chemoradiation with weekly infusions of cisplatin and/or carboplatin. METHODS: Patients with head and neck cancers who had undergone chemoradiation with cisplatin and/or carboplatin between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014, were included. Patients were aged ≥18 years with pathology of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, oral cavity, or oropharynx who had received at least 30 fractions of radiotherapy with concurrent weekly cisplatin and/or carboplatin. Pathology features, laboratory results, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, social histories, and survival were recorded. The association between hypomagnesemia and survival was analyzed controlling for known prognostic factors. RESULTS: The final cohort consisted of 439 patients with a median age of 59 years. A greater frequency of hypomagnesemia during the treatment course was found to be significantly associated with shorter survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; P = .033) independent of age (HR, 1.65; P = .042), cancer site (nonoropharynx vs oropharynx: HR, 2.15 [P = .003]), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (>1 vs ≤1: HR, 2.64 [P < .001]), and smoking history (smoker vs nonsmoker: HR, 1.88 [P = .012]). In addition, more severe hypomagnesemia was associated with shorter survival compared with the milder form. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency and severity of hypomagnesemia during treatment are prognostic of survival for patients with head and neck cancers who are receiving concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin and/or carboplatin. A prospective study is needed to investigate the impact of the prevention of hypomagnesemia on survival in this patient population.

PURPOSE: Emergency department observation units (EDOUs) have been shown to decrease length of stay and improve cost effectiveness. Yet, compared with noncancer patients, patients with cancer are placed in EDOUs less often. In this study, we aimed to describe patients who were placed in a cancer center's EDOU to discern their clinical characteristics and outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study that included all patients age 18 years and older who presented to our emergency department (ED) and were placed in the EDOU between March 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020. The patients' electronic medical records were queried for demographics, comorbidities, diagnosis at the time of placement in the EDOU, length of stay, disposition from the EDOU, ED return within 72 hours after discharge from the EDOU, and mortality outcomes at 14 and 30 days. RESULTS: A total of 2,461 visits were eligible for analysis. Cancer-related pain was the main reason for observation in more than one quarter of the visits. The median length of stay in the EDOU was approximately 23 hours, and 69.6% of the patients were discharged. The ED return rate for unscheduled visits at 72 hours was 1.9%. The 14- and 30-day mortality rates were significantly higher for patients who were admitted than for those who were discharged (14 days: 1.7% v 0.3%, P < .001; 30 days: 5.9% v 1.8%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that placing patients with cancer in EDOUs is safe, reduces admissions, and reserves hospital resources for patients who can receive the most benefit without compromising care.

Central venous catheters raise the risk of catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) in patients with cancer, typically affecting the upper extremity. Management of CRT involves catheter removal and anticoagulation. However, robust evidence is lacking on the optimal timing of anticoagulation relative to catheter removal.Our goal is to provide a better understanding of the factors that increase the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in these patients.We conducted a retrospective chart review of all consecutive patients with cancer in our hospital affected by CRT between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017. We measured recurrence of VTE as thrombosis in any vascular bed or pulmonary embolism, for up to 2 years after diagnosis. Logistic and competing risk regression analyses were used to determine the association between different clinical factors and any VTE recurrence in patients with cancer and CRT.Of the 257 individuals meeting the inclusion criteria, 80.2% had their catheter removed; of these, 50.5% did not receive anticoagulation before the removal. Patients who did not receive anticoagulation before the removal had increased 3-month and 1-year risks of recurrent VTE (odds ratio, 5.07 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-23.18]; and hazard ratio, 3.47 [95% CI, 1.34-9.01]), respectively.Our study supports the use of anticoagulants before catheter removal in patients with CRT. Randomized clinical trials are recommended to establish stronger evidence pertaining to the long-term risk of VTE recurrence and the effect of catheter reinsertion.

Objective Knowledge about the impact of metabolic disturbances and parenteral nutrition (PN) characteristics on the survival of cancer patients receiving PN is limited. We aimed to assess the association between clinical and PN characteristics and survival in colorectal-cancer patients receiving PN support. Methods Our study included 572 consecutive colorectal-cancer patients who had received PN support between 2008 and 2013. Patient characteristics, body mass index, weight, medical/surgical history, indication for PN, PN data and survival were recorded. Associations between clinical and PN characteristics and survival were analysed with important confounding factors. Results The final cohort included 437 evaluable patients, with a mean age of 57 years. Eighty-one percent of the study population had advanced stage of colorectal cancer. Unstable weight (weight change ≥2.5%) prior to PN initiation [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.41, P = 0.023] was adversely associated with survival after adjusting for multiple factors including cancer stage. Bowel obstruction (HR = 1.75, P = 0.017) as a PN indication was associated with worse survival when compared with without bowel obstruction. Higher PN amino acid by ideal body weight (g•kg−1) (HR = 0.59, P = 0.029) was associated with longer survival, whereas a higher percentage of non-PN intravenous calories (HR = 1.04, P = 0.011) was associated with shorter survival independently of confounding factors. Conclusions Body mass index and weight stability can be useful nutritional indices for survival prediction in cancer patients receiving PN. PN planning should take into account of non-PN calories to achieve optimal energy support and balance. Future research is needed to define optimal PN amino-acid requirement and energy balance.

BACKGROUND: Accurate and expeditious diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism in cancer patients improves patient outcomes. D-dimer is often used to rule out pulmonary embolism. However, this test is less accurate in cancer patients, and it is unclear whether cancer patients with normal D-dimer levels can present with pulmonary embolism. METHODS: All consecutive patients who presented to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, USA, between May 2009 and November 2015 who underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiography and plasma D-dimer level measurement were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with suspected pulmonary embolism and normal D-dimer levels were identified. RESULTS: Among the 8023 cancer patients identified, 1156 (14%) had pulmonary embolism. Only 35 patients with pulmonary embolism (3%) had normal plasma D-dimer levels. Twenty-six of these patients had acute pulmonary embolism and the other nine had subacute or chronic pulmonary embolism. Thirteen of the 26 acute cases were in patients with hematological cancer. Most patients (23/35, 66%) had subsegmental or segmental pulmonary embolism. Only one patient had pulmonary embolism in the main pulmonary arteries. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Although it is uncommon (3%), cancer patients with radiologic evidence of pulmonary embolism can present with normal D-dimer levels. Recognizing the possibility of this uncommon occurrence is critical in the decision process for ordering diagnostic tests for evaluation of suspected pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND. Hypomagnesemia is a known side effect of several antineoplastic agents, but its impact on outcomes of patients with cancer is not well understood. We examined whether magnesium abnormalities affect survival in patients with ovarian cancer who receive chemotherapy containing carboplatin. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We included patients with advanced ovarian cancer who had undergone surgery and chemotherapy between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2014, at our institution. Inclusion criteria were age 18 years or older, pathology of high‐grade serous carcinoma, first treatment (surgery or chemotherapy) within 60 days of diagnosis, and chemotherapy containing carboplatin. The final cohort consisted of 229 patients. Vital signs and laboratory tests were recorded at baseline and during the treatment course. The associations between magnesium abnormalities (and other clinical characteristics) and survival were analyzed. RESULTS. The median patient age was 64 years. Higher baseline heart rate (beats per minute; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.02, p = .002) and greater frequency of hypomagnesemia during the treatment course (HR = 1.05, p = .002) were significantly associated with shorter survival independent of completeness of tumor reduction (HR = 1.60, p = .02), and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage (HR = 1.63, p = .01). CONCLUSION. Baseline heart rate and the frequency of hypomagnesemia episodes during treatment are prognostic of survival for patients with advanced ovarian cancer receiving carboplatin‐containing chemotherapy and tumor reductive surgery. Future research is needed for strategies to detect and prevent hypomagnesemia in this patient population. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE. Despite standard laboratory tests and intravenous magnesium replacement prior to each cycle of chemotherapy, hypomagnesemia remains a common side effect of platinum‐based chemotherapy. This study revealed that frequent occurrence of hypomagnesemia during the course of treatment including carboplatin‐containing chemotherapy and tumor reductive surgery was strongly predictive of shorter survival in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Strategies to effectively mitigate hypomagnesemia, such as more frequent detection, dietary recommendations, and timely replacement, should be considered in the overall cancer treatment plan for these patients.

Pain remains an undertreated complication of cancer, with poor pain control decreasing patients’ quality of life. Traditionally, patients presenting to an emergency department with pain have only had two dispositions available to them: hospitalization or discharge. A third emerging healthcare environment, the emergency department observation unit (EDOU), affords patients access to a hospital’s resources without hospitalization. To define the role of an EDOU in the management of cancer pain, we conducted a retrospective study analyzing patients placed in an EDOU with uncontrolled cancer pain for one year. Patient characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics and predictors of disposition from the EDOU and were identified with univariate and multivariate analyses. Most patients were discharged home, and discharged patients had low 72-hour revisit and 30-day mortality rates. Significant predictors of hospitalization were initial EDOU pain score (odds ratio (OR) = 1.12; 95% CI 1.06–1.19; p < 0.001) and supportive care (OR = 2.04; 95% CI 1.37–3.04; p < 0.001) or pain service (OR = 2.67; 95% CI 1.63–4.40; p < 0.001) consultations. We concluded that an EDOU appears to be the appropriate venue to care for a subsegment of patients presenting to an emergency department with cancer pain, with patients receiving safe care as well as appropriate consultation and admission when indicated.

Incidental venous thromboembolism (VTE) is common in cancer patients and identifying factors associated with these events can improve the management plan. We studied the characteristics of concomitant deep vein thrombosis (C-DVT) in cancer patients presenting with unsuspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and the association of C-DVT with VTE recurrence and survival outcomes. Patients presenting to our emergency department with confirmed unsuspected/incidental PE between 1 January 2006 and 1 January 2016, were identified. Radiologic reports were reviewed to confirm the presence or absence of C-DVT. Logistic regression analyses and cox regression modeling were used to determine the effect of C-DVT on VTE recurrence and survival outcomes. Of 904 eligible patients, 189 (20.9%) had C-DVT. Patients with C-DVT had twice the odds of developing VTE recurrence (odds ratio 2.07, 95% confidence interval 1.21–3.48, p = 0.007). The mortality rates among C-DVT were significantly higher than in patients without. C-DVT was associated with reduced overall survival in patients with unsuspected PE (hazard ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.09–1.63, p = 0.005). In conclusion, C-DVT in cancer patients who present with unsuspected PE is common and is associated with an increased risk of VTE recurrence and poor short- and long-term survival. Identifying other venous thrombi in cancer patients presenting with unsuspected PE is recommended and can guide the management plan. For patients with isolated incidental subsegmental pulmonary embolism and concomitant deep vein thrombosis, initiating anticoagulants if no contraindications exist is recommended.

Introduction: Intracranial hemorrhage is a devastating complication of cancer and its treatment.Objective: To evaluate the characteristic, risk factors and clinical outcomes in cancer patients with intracranial hemorrhage presenting to the emergency department. Methods: We collected a decade of retrospective data on all patients with the diagnosis of ICH who visited The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center emergency department. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between clinical variables and various outcomes.Results: 704 confirmed acute ICH cases were identified. Of these, 576 (81.8%) were spontaneous. In-hospital, 7-day, and 30-day mortality rates were 15.1%, 11.4%, and 25.6%, respectively. Hypertension was most predictive of prolonged hospital stay ( [OR]=4.77, 95% [CI]=1.30-22.70, P=0.045) and intensive care unit admission (OR=1.52, 95% CI=1.09-2.12, P=0.013). Low platelet count was associated with both in-hospital mortality (OR=0.96, 95% CI=0.94-0.99, P=0.008) and 30-day mortality (OR=0.98, 95% CI=0.96-1.00, P=0.016). Radiologic findings especially herniation and hydrocephalus, were strong predictors of short-term mortality. Patients with intratumor bleeding had substantially lower short-term mortality rates, but this did not reach statistical significance.Conclusions: Intracranial hemorrhage remains an uncommon complication in cancer patients. The risk factors most helpful in predicting outcomes were hypertension, low platelet count, and hydrocephalus or herniation on imaging.

Cancer patients have increased risk of infections, and often present to emergency departments with infection-related problems where physicians must make decisions based on a snapshot of the patient’s condition. Although C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and lactate are popular biomarkers of sepsis, their use in guiding emergency care of cancer patients with infections is unclear. Using these biomarkers, we created a prediction model for short-term mortality in cancer patients with suspected infection. We retrospectively analyzed all consecutive patients who visited the emergency department of MD Anderson Cancer Center between 1 April 2018 and 30 April 2019. A clinical decision model was developed using multiple logistic regression for various clinical and laboratory biomarkers, coefficients were used to generate a prediction score stratifying patients into four groups according to their 14-day mortality risk. The prediction score had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value of 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.85–0.91) in predicting 14-day mortality. The prediction score also accurately predicted intensive care unit admission and 30-day mortality. Our simple new scoring system for mortality prediction, based on readily available clinical and laboratory data, including procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and lactate, can be used in emergency departments for cancer patients with suspected infection.

Background: Acupuncture intervention in actual practice is rarely reported and may be different from that applied in acupuncture research. Objectives: To review acupuncture practice in an integrative medicine clinic and characterize the association between targeted symptoms, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis, and acupoint selection. Methods: We reviewed outpatient acupuncture records from March 2016 to April 2018. Statistical analyses were applied to characterize referral symptoms and associated TCM diagnosis as well as acupoint selection. Results: The final analysis included 5393 acupuncture records (1264 patients). Twelve TCM diagnosis components were identified in the referral symptoms of pain, neuropathy, xerostomia, and hot flashes. Pain was associated with 78 different TCM diagnoses (combinations of TCM diagnosis components). Total of 217 different acupoints were used in the acupuncture treatments (1739) for neuropathy. The acupoint yintang was used in 73.8% of the visits for neuropathy, yet only in 26.5% ( P < .001) of the treatments when patients had a TCM diagnosis of qi deficiency, qi stagnation, and blood stagnation. Similarly, both consistencies and variations were seen in acupoint selection with each targeted symptom and its associated TCM diagnoses. Conclusions: TCM diagnosis was not homogeneous among acupuncture treatments for a single referral symptom. In contrast to most of the research on acupuncture for symptom control, there were considerable variations in acupoint selection among treatments for the same symptom in a clinical setting. Future research is needed to examine the clinical relevance of a fixed intervention structure in acupuncture research and the value of individualized acupuncture treatment.

Consultation to palliative care (PC) services in hospitalized patients is frequently late after admission to a hospital. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of in-hospital mortality and timing of palliative care consultation in cancer patients admitted through the emergency department (ED) of MD Anderson Cancer Center. Institutional databases were queried for unique medical admissions over a period of 1 year. Primary cancer type, ED versus direct admission, length of stay (LOS), presenting symptoms, and in-hospital mortality were reviewed; patient data were analyzed, and risk factors for in-hospital mortality were identified. The association of early palliative care consultation (within 3 days of admission) with these outcomes was studied. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression model were used. Equal numbers of patients were admitted directly versus through the ED (7598 and 7538 respectively). However, of all patients who died in the hospital, 990 (88%) were admitted through the ED, compared with 137 admitted directly (P

Rapid advances in cancer immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors have led to significantly improved survival. Rapid identification of the toxicity syndromes associated with these therapeutic agents is very important for emergency physicians because the population of patients diagnosed with cancer is increasing and cancer therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors have become the first‐line treatment for more and more types of cancer. The emergency medicine literature lags behind rapid advances in oncology, and oncology guidelines for rapid recognition and management of these emerging toxicity syndromes are not familiar to emergency physicians. In this review article, we discuss the clinical presentation and management of immune‐related adverse effects during the critical first hours of emergency care. We also suggest a workflow for the recognition and treatment of emergencies arising from serious immune‐related adverse effects, including but not limited to colitis, adrenal crisis, myocarditis, pneumonitis, myasthenic crisis, diabetic ketoacidosis, bullous pemphigus, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Rapid advances in cancer therapy are bringing new diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to emergency providers, and therefore it is crucial to raise awareness and provide guidelines for the management of new treatment‐related toxicities.

The accurate detection of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) can avoid unnecessary diagnostic imaging or laboratory tests.We sought to determine clinical and cancer-related risk factors of VTE that can be used as predictors for oncology patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with suspected VTE.We retrospectively analyzed all consecutive patients who presented with suspicion of VTE to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ED between January 1, 2009, and January 1, 2013. Logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors that were associated with VTE. The ability of these factors to predict VTE was externally validated using a second cohort of patients who presented to King Hussein Cancer Center ED between January 1, 2009, and January 1, 2016.Cancer-related covariates associated with the occurrence of VTE were high-risk cancer type (odds ratio [OR] 3.64 [95% confidence interval {CI} 2.37-5.60], p 0.001), presentation within 6 months of the cancer diagnosis (OR 1.92 [95% CI 1.62-2.28], p 0.001), active cancer (OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.10-1.65], p = 0.003), advanced stage (OR 1.40 [95% CI 1.01-1.94], p = 0.044), and the presence of brain metastasis (OR 1.73 [95% CI 1.32-2.27], p 0.001). When combined, these factors along with other clinical factors showed high prediction performance for VTE in the external validation cohort.Cancer risk group, presentation within 6 months of cancer diagnosis, active and advanced cancer, and the presence of brain metastases along with other related clinical factors can be used to predict VTE in patients with cancer presenting to the ED.

Incidental pulmonary embolisms (IPEs) are common in cancer patients. Examining the characteristics and outcomes of IPEs in cancer patients can help to ensure proper management, promoting better outcomes. To determine the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of IPEs for cancer patients, we conducted a 1:2 ratio case-control study and identified all consecutive patients with IPE who visited the emergency department at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between 1 January 2006 and 1 January 2016. Each IPE case was matched with 2 controls using a propensity score obtained using logistic regression for IPE status with other factors affecting overall survival. A total of 904 confirmed cases were included in the analysis. IPE frequently occurred during the first year after cancer diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 2.79; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.37-3.29; P < .001). Patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy had a nearly threefold greater risk of developing IPE (OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 2.42-3.40; P < .001). In-hospital mortality was 1.9%. The 7- and 30-day mortality rates among the cases were 1.8% and 9.9%, respectively, which was significantly higher than in the control groups: 0.2% and 3.1%, respectively (P < .001). IPE was associated with reduced overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.93; 95% CI, 1.74-2.14; P < .001). Concurrent incidental venous thromboembolism was identified in 189 of the patients (20.9%) and was also associated with reduced overall survival (HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.21-2.25; P = .001). Our results show that IPE events are associated with poor outcomes in cancer patients. Proper management plans similar to those of symptomatic pulmonary embolisms are essential.

Supplemental material, Supplemental_data for Association Between Acupoint Selection, Target Symptoms, and Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis in Real-Time Clinical Practice in a Comprehensive Cancer Center by Wenli Liu, Aiham Qdaisat, Gabriel Lopez, Santhosshi Narayanan, Susan Underwood, Michael Spano, Akhila Reddy, Ying Guo, Sai-Ching Yeung, Eduardo Bruera and Lorenzo Cohen in Integrative Cancer Therapies

Background: Acupuncture is a recognized integrative modality for managing hot flashes. However, data regarding predictors for response to acupuncture in cancer patients experiencing hot flashes are limited. We explored associations between patient characteristics, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis, and treatment response among cancer patients who received acupuncture for management of hot flashes. Methods: We reviewed acupuncture records of cancer outpatients with the primary reason for referral listed as hot flashes who were treated from March 2016 to April 2018. Treatment response was assessed using the hot flashes score within a modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (0-10 scale) administered immediately before and after each acupuncture treatment. Correlations between TCM diagnosis, individual patient characteristics, and treatment response were analyzed. Results: The final analysis included 558 acupuncture records (151 patients). The majority of patients were female (90%), and 66% had breast cancer. The median treatment response was a 25% reduction in the hot flashes score. The most frequent TCM diagnosis was qi stagnation (80%) followed by blood stagnation (57%). Older age ( P = .018), patient self-reported anxiety level ( P = .056), and presence of damp accumulation in TCM diagnosis ( P = .047) were correlated with greater hot flashes score reduction. Conclusions: TCM diagnosis and other patient characteristics were predictors of treatment response to acupuncture for hot flashes in cancer patients. Future research is needed to further explore predictors that could help tailor acupuncture treatments for these patients.

Background Accurate risk stratification of pulmonary embolism (PE) can reduce unnecessary imaging. We investigated the extent to which the American College of Physicians (ACP) guideline for evaluation of patients with suspected PE could be applied to cancer patients in the emergency department of a comprehensive cancer center. Materials and Methods Data from cancer patients who underwent CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) between August 1, 2015, and October 31, 2015, were collected. We assessed each patient’s diagnostic workup for its adherence to the ACP guideline in terms of clinical risk stratification and age-adjusted d -dimer level and the degree to which these factors were associated with PE. Results Of the 380 patients identified, 213 (56%) underwent CTPA indicated per the ACP guideline, and 78 (21%) underwent CTPA not indicated per the guideline. Only one of the patients who underwent nonindicated CTPA had a PE. Fifty-seven patients underwent unnecessary d- dimer evaluation, and 71 patients with negative d -dimer test results underwent nonindicated CTPA. PEs were found in 6 of 108 (6%) low-risk patients, 22 of 219 (10%) intermediate-risk patients, and 13 of 53 (25%) high-risk patients. The ACP guideline had negative predictive value of 99% (95% confidence interval: 93%-100%) and sensitivity of 97% (95% confidence interval: 86%-100%) in predicting PE. Conclusion The ACP guideline has good sensitivity for detecting PE in cancer patients and thus can be applied in this population. Compliance with the ACP guideline when evaluating cancer patients with suspected PE could reduce the use of unnecessary imaging and laboratory studies.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the major cause in almost 99.7% of cervical cancer. E6 oncoprotein of HPV and E6-associated protein (E6AP) are critical in causing p53 degradation and malignancy. Understanding the E6AP regulation is critical to develop treating strategy for cervical cancer patients. The COP9 signalosome subunit 6 (CSN6) is involved in ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. We found that both CSN6 and E6AP are overexpressed in cervical cancer. We characterized that CSN6 associated with E6AP and stabilized E6AP expression by reducing E6AP poly-ubiquitination, thereby regulating p53 activity in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Mechanistic studies revealed that CSN6-E6AP axis can be regulated by EGF/Akt signaling. Furthermore, inhibition of CSN6-E6AP axis hinders cervical cancer growth in mice. Taken together, our results indicate that CSN6 is a positive regulator of E6AP and is important for cervical cancer development.

Background The impact of noncancerous factors on the morbidity and mortality of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has not been well studied. Using a large surgical cohort, we examined the association between multiple clinical characteristics and postoperative morbidities and survival in patients with GBM. Materials and Methods The study included 404 consecutive GBM patients who underwent initial tumor resection at MD Anderson Cancer Center between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014. Data about clinical characteristics, treatments, and postoperative complications were collected. The associations between clinical parameters and postoperative complications and survival were analyzed. Results Charlson Comorbidity Index was positively related to a higher incidence of postoperative total (odds ratio [OR] = 1.20; p = .002) and neurological (OR = 1.18; p = .011) complications. Preoperative systolic blood pressure (SBp) over 140 mmHg was associated with a higher incidence of postoperative intracranial hemorrhage (OR = 4.42; p = .039) and longer hospital stay (OR = 2.48; p = .015). Greater postoperative fluctuation of SBp (OR = 1.14; p = .025) and blood glucose (mmol/L; OR = 1.48; p = .023) were related to a higher incidence of neurological complications, whereas higher postoperative blood glucose (OR = 0.64; p Conclusion Short-term SBp and blood glucose levels and fluctuations are associated with postoperative complications in GBM patients. Their long-term optimization may impact survival of these patients. Future clinical trials are needed to confirm the benefit of optimizing medical comorbidities on GBM patients' outcomes. Implications for Practice Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most feared cancer diagnoses because of its limited survival and treatment. This study revealed significant associations of noncancerous factors on the morbidity and mortality of GBM. The complexity of medical comorbidities, as well as short-term postoperative levels and fluctuations of blood pressure and blood glucose, was associated with postoperative complications, but not overall survival. However, long-term levels of these common clinical parameters were significantly associated with survival. Optimization of medical conditions may be critical for reducing the morbidity and mortality of GBM patients. Future clinical trials are needed to validate the observed associations in an independent cohort.

Study objective Cancer immunotherapy is evolving rapidly and is transforming cancer care. During the last decade, immune checkpoint therapies have been developed to enhance the immune response; however, specific adverse effects related to autoimmunity are increasingly apparent. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap related to the spectrum of immune-related adverse effects among cancer patients visiting emergency departments (EDs). Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients treated with immune checkpoint therapy who visited the ED of a comprehensive cancer center between March 1, 2011, and February 29, 2016. Immune-related adverse effects from the ED visits were identified and profiled. We analyzed the association of each immune-related adverse effect with overall survival from the ED visit to death. Results We identified 1,026 visits for 628 unique patients; of these, 257 visits (25.0%) were related to one or more immune-related adverse effects. Diarrhea was the most common one leading to an ED visit. The proportions of ED visits associated with diarrhea, hypophysitis, thyroiditis, pancreatitis, or hepatitis varied significantly by immune checkpoint therapy agent. Colitis was significantly associated with better prognosis, whereas pneumonitis was significantly associated with worse survival. Conclusion Cancer patients treated with ipilimumab, nivolumab, or pembrolizumab may have a spectrum of immune-related adverse effects that require emergency care. Future studies will need to update this profile as further novel immunotherapeutic agents are added.

Background Xerostomia is a common symptom in cancer patients undergoing radiation to the head and neck region and/or those undergoing systemic chemotherapy. Acupuncture has been recognized as an effective integrative modality for managing xerostomia, but data about predicting treatment response to acupuncture are limited. We explored patient characteristics and treatment response among patients who received acupuncture for xerostomia. Methods We reviewed acupuncture records with a primary referral for xerostomia in an outpatient environment from March 2016 to April 2018. Treatment response was assessed using Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS; 0-10 scale) performed pre and post each acupuncture treatment. Bivariate associations between patient characteristics and treatment response were analyzed. Results A total of 781 acupuncture treatment records (139 patients) were identified. Majority were male (63%) and 59 (42%) with head and neck cancer. The median treatment response was 11% (IQR: 0-33) reduction in xerostomia score. BMI ≥ 35 and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) Conclusions Using the current approach, acute pre-post treatment response of xerostomia to acupuncture was low. Features of patient clinical characteristics may be predictive of treatment response. More research is needed to further explore these associations and examine the impact of optimization of clinical conditions on acupuncture treatment response in symptom management for cancer patients. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background Ipilimumab (a monoclonal antibody against CTLA-4) and nivolumab (a humanized antibody against PD-1) target these immune checkpoint pathways and are used for treatment of melanoma and an increasing number of other cancers. However, they may cause immune-related adverse effects (IRAEs). Although many endocrinopathies are known to be IRAEs, primary hypoparathyroidism with severe hypocalcemia has never been reported. This is the first case of hypoparathyroidism as an IRAE presenting to an Emergency Department with acute hypocalcemia. Case description A 73-year-old man with metastatic melanoma presented to the Emergency Department for the chief complaints of imbalance, general muscle weakness, abdominal pain and tingling in extremities. He had wide spread metastasis, and begun immunotherapy with concurrent ipilimumab and nivolumab 1.5 months ago. At presentation, he had ataxia, paresthesia in the hands and feet, and abdominal cramping. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was unremarkable. He was found to be hypocalcemic with undetectable plasma parathyroid hormone. He was admitted for treatment of symptomatic hypocalcemia and was diagnosed with primary hypoparathyroidism. Shortly afterwards, he had thyrotoxicosis manifesting as tachycardia and anxiety, followed by development of primary hypothyroidism. At 4 months after the Emergency Department visit, his parathyroid function and thyroid function had not recovered, and required continued thyroid hormone replacement and calcium and vitamin D treatment for hypocalcemia. Conclusions Primary hypoparathyroidism caused by ipilimumab and nivolumab may acute manifest with severe symptomatic hypocalcemia. Emergency care providers should be aware of hypoparathyroidism as a new IRAE in this new era of immuno-oncology.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in the United States. Metaphase-based cytogenetic tests, such as G-Band karyotyping, are among the most effective to detect CLL and provide significant prognostic information. However, the use of metaphase cytogenetics is currently problematic due to the low mitotic index of most CLL cells in vitro cultures. Even when metaphases can be generated in the presence of traditional B-cell mitogen LPS, the quality is often poor and aberrations escape detection.We hypothesized that immuno-stimulatory interleukin-2(IL-2) plus cytosine-phosphodiester-guanine oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN) can work as a novel B-cell mitogen to stimulate bone marrow cultures which result in a higher mitotic index than regular standard bone marrow cultures stimulated with LPS. This will increase the clonal chromosomal aberration detection rate in patients with CLL.Bone marrow samples from CLL patients were divided and parallel cultures were set up using LPS and CpG Oligonucleotide/ IL-2 (IL-2/CpG) as mitogens, respectively. Mitotic index was read under the microscope blindly by three different readers (SQ, LV, RM). G-banding, and Spectral Karyotyping (SKY) were performed to confirm and compare abnormalities.The readings showed that mitotic index in IL-2/CpG stimulated bone marrow cultures was seven times higher than that of standard LPS bone marrow cultures with an average standard deviation of "0.92'" and CI of 95%, p less than 0.05. G-Banding and Spectral Karyotyping (SKY) showed the same abnormalities in IL-2/CpG found in LPS Bone marrow cultures.According to the results, IL-2/CpG cultures should be used in the cytogenetic lab for chromosomal analysis instead of LPS due to the higher mitotic index that helps in reducing false negative results. Further research should be done in order to lower false negative CLL detection results.

201 Background: Survival of glioblastoma remains grim. Identifying survival-associating factors may provide actionable targets for future research and clinical intervention to improve patient outcomes. Our study examined the association between multiple clinical and biochemical indices and survival in glioblastoma patients. Methods: 265 consecutive glioblastoma patients who received tumor resection between 1/1/2010 – 12/31/2014 were reviewed. Data about treatments (extent of tumor resection, radiation therapy, and use of temozolamide), medical history, vital signs, weight, and lab tests were collected. Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was calculated with ICD-9 codes. Lab and vital signs data within 30 days of surgery were excluded from the analysis. Cox regression for survival analysis was performed. Results: The mean age of the population was 57.5 years, with 78% death rate. The median survival was 19.1 months. Systolic blood pressure, blood glucose, and serum albumin were significant factors for survival while adjusting for known predictors, such as age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), extent of tumor resection, and treatments (See Table). Conclusions: Optimization of medical comorbidities and nutritional status may have significant impact on the survival of glioblastoma patients aside from cancer specific treatments. The target range of systolic blood pressure, blood glucose, and serum albumin will need to be determined in future research. [Table: see text]

10078 Background: PN is a major tool in managing nutritional challenges in cancer patients. However, a clear set of clinical and biochemical indices to determine PN application in cancer patients has not been developed. We assessed the association between PN related nutritional parameters and survival in a large group of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients. Methods: 1197 consecutive GI cancer patients who received PN support between 08/01/08 – 08/01/13 were reviewed. Height, weight, plasma glucose (baseline and within 48 hours after PN initiation), surgical history, and pharmacy data including PN contents (dextrose, amino acids, and fat) and non-PN dextrose or fat in drug administration were recorded. Body mass index (BMI), Ideal body weight (IBW), PN and non-PN Calorie, and nitrogen were calculated for analysis. Data were entered into a multivariate analysis controlling for age, gender, cancer site, and medical comorbidities. Results: Median BMI was 25.4. 70% of the patients had unsteady weight ( > 2.5% change) before PN initiation. The magnitude of weight change was inversely related to survival (HR 1.02), P < 0.001). Patients with BMI > 25 and < 7.5% weight change prior to PN initiation had the most favorable survival. Glycemic instability (maximum plasma glucose variation > 100mg/dL) was independently related to shorter survival (HR 1.53, P < 0.001). Total calorie by IBW (kcal/kg/day) (HR 0.97, P < 0.001), non-PN calorie % (HR 1.04, P < 0.001), and calorie to nitrogen ratio (kcal:g) (HR 1.02, P < 0.001) were all independently associated with overall survival. Conclusions: Lower BMI, weight instability, and glycemic instability were adversely associated with survival. Higher total PN calorie and amino acid support were associated with better survival. Higher non-PN calorie % was adversely related to survival. Future studies must focus on developing a set of indices incorporating independent prognostic clinical and biochemical factors in determining PN application and monitoring in cancer patients. Optimum calorie and amino acids in PN support for cancer patients also require further investigation.