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Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the existence of subsets of patients with (quasi)identical, stereotyped B-cell receptor (BcR) immunoglobulins. Patients in certain major stereotyped subsets often display remarkably consistent clinicobiological profiles, suggesting that the study of BcR immunoglobulin stereotypy in CLL has important implications for understanding disease pathophysiology and refining clinical decision-making. Nevertheless, several issues remain open, especially pertaining to the actual frequency of BcR immunoglobulin stereotypy and major subsets, as well as the existence of higher-order connections between individual subsets. To address these issues, we investigated clonotypic IGHV-IGHD-IGHJ gene rearrangements in a series of 29 856 patients with CLL, by far the largest series worldwide. We report that the stereotyped fraction of CLL peaks at 41% of the entire cohort and that all 19 previously identified major subsets retained their relative size and ranking, while 10 new ones emerged; overall, major stereotyped subsets had a cumulative frequency of 13.5%. Higher-level relationships were evident between subsets, particularly for major stereotyped subsets with unmutated IGHV genes (U-CLL), for which close relations with other subsets, termed “satellites,” were identified. Satellite subsets accounted for 3% of the entire cohort. These results confirm our previous notion that major subsets can be robustly identified and are consistent in relative size, hence representing distinct disease variants amenable to compartmentalized research with the potential of overcoming the pronounced heterogeneity of CLL. Furthermore, the existence of satellite subsets reveals a novel aspect of repertoire restriction with implications for refined molecular classification of CLL. Key Points: • In a series of 29 856 CLL patients, the incidence of BcR stereotypy peaked at 41%. • Higher-order relations exist between stereotyped subsets, particularly for those from U-CLL, for which satellite subsets were identified. © 2021 American Society of Hematology

Background We performed a qualitative study to investigate the experiences of participants in a multicentre randomized controlled trial on a home-based palliative approach (HPA) for adults with severe multiple sclerosis (MS) and their caregivers. Our aim was to explore the strengths and challenges of the intervention, and circumstances that may have influenced its efficacy. Methods Participants to the qualitative study were the patients, their caregivers, patient referring physicians, and the teams who delivered the HPA intervention. We performed semi-structured one-on-one interviews with 12 patients and 15 informal caregivers chosen using a maximum variation strategy, two focus group meetings with patient referring physicians (4 participants each), and one with the HPA teams (9 participants). Results From data analysis (framework method) 38 sub-categories emerged, which were grouped into 10 categories and 3 themes: 'expectations,' 'met and unmet needs', and 'barriers’. Intervention benefits were improved control of symptoms and reduced sense of isolation of the patient-caregiver dyads. Limitations were: factors related to experimental design (difficulty of dyads in identifying examiner and team roles, additional burden for caregivers); team issues (insufficient team building /supervision, competing priorities); limitations of the intervention itself (insufficient length, lack of rehabilitation input); and external factors (resource limitations, under-responsive services/professionals). The referring physician focus groups provided little experiential data. Conclusions The HPA reduced patient symptoms and sense of isolation in patients and caregivers. The indirect role of the HPA teams, and insufficient length of the intervention were key limitations. The experimental design imposed additional burdens on the dyads. Key barriers were the paucity of available services, the demanding administrative procedures, and lack of networking facilities. These findings suggest that two major requirements are necessary for home palliative care to be effective in this patient population: HPA teams well-connected with MS rehabilitation services, and care delivered over the long-term, with variable intensity. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN73082124 (Registered 19/06/2014).

Background: Evidence on the efficacy of palliative care in persons with severe multiple sclerosis (MS) is scarce. Objective: To assess the efficacy of a home-based palliative approach (HPA) for adults with severe MS and their carers. Methods: Adults with severe MS-carer dyads were assigned (2:1 ratio) to either HPA or usual care (UC). At each center, a multi-professional team delivered the 6-month intervention. A blind examiner assessed dyads at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Primary outcome measures were Palliative care Outcome Scale-Symptoms-MS (POS-S-MS) and Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life-Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW, not assessed in severely cognitively compromised patients). Results: Of 78 dyads randomized, 76 (50 HPA, 26 UC) were analyzed. Symptom burden (POS-S-MS) significantly reduced in HPA group compared to UC ( p = 0.047). Effect size was 0.20 at 3 months and 0.32 at 6 months, and statistical significance was borderline in per-protocol analysis ( p = 0.062). Changes in SEIQoL-DW index did not differ in the two groups, as changes in secondary patient and carer outcomes. Conclusion: HPA slightly reduced symptoms burden. We found no evidence of HPA efficacy on patient quality of life and on secondary outcomes.

Background About 30% of cases of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) carry quasi-identical B-cell receptorimmunoglobulins and can be assigned to distinct stereotyped subsets. Although preliminary evidence suggeststhat B-cell receptor immunoglobulin stereotypy is relevant from a clinical viewpoint, this aspect has never beenexplored in a systematic manner or in a cohort of adequate size that would enable clinical conclusions to be drawn.Methods For this retrospective, multicentre study, we analysed 8593 patients with CLL for whom immunogeneticdata were available. These patients were followed up in 15 academic institutions throughout Europe (in CzechRepublic, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK) and the USA, and data were collectedbetween June 1, 2012, and June 7, 2013. We retrospectively assessed the clinical implications of CLL B-cell receptorimmunoglobulin stereotypy, with a particular focus on 14 major stereotyped subsets comprising cases expressingunmutated (U-CLL) or mutated (M-CLL) immunoglobulin heavy chain variable genes. The primary outcome ofour analysis was time to fi rst treatment, defi ned as the time between diagnosis and date of fi rst treatment.Findings 2878 patients were assigned to a stereotyped subset, of which 1122 patients belonged to one of 14 majorsubsets. Stereotyped subsets showed signifi cant diff erences in terms of age, sex, disease burden at diagnosis,CD38 expression, and cytogenetic aberrations of prognostic signifi cance. Patients within a specifi c subset generallyfollowed the same clinical course, whereas patients in diff erent stereotyped subsets—despite having the sameimmunoglobulin heavy variable gene and displaying similar immunoglobulin mutational status—showedsubstantially diff erent times to fi rst treatment. By integrating B-cell receptor immunoglobulin stereotypy (forsubsets 1, 2, and 4) into the well established Döhner cytogenetic prognostic model, we showed these, whichcollectively account for around 7% of all cases of CLL and represent both U-CLL and M-CLL, constituted separateclinical entities, ranging from very indolent (subset 4) to aggressive disease (subsets 1 and 2).Interpretation The molecular classifi cation of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia based on B-cell receptorimmunoglobulin stereotypy improves the Döhner hierarchical model and refi nes prognostication beyondimmunoglobulin mutational status, with potential implications for clinical decision making, especially withinprospective clinical trials.Funding European Union; General Secretariat for Research and Technology of Greece; AIRC; Italian Ministry ofHealth; AIRC Regional Project with Fondazione CARIPARO and CARIVERONA; Regione Veneto on ChronicLymphocytic Leukemia; Nordic Cancer Union; Swedish Cancer Society; Swedish Research Council; and NationalCancer Institute (NIH).

Background: Few studies have investigated wellbeing and burden in carers of peoplewith severe multiple sclerosis (PwSMS). Objectives: To assess the impact of providing care to PwSMS, and explore variables associated with perceived carer burden. Methods: Cross-sectional assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), mood symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), and perceived carer burden (22-item Zarit Burden Interview, ZBI) in 78 PwSMS carers. Multivariate linear regression explored carer and PwSMS factors associated with ZBI score. Results: Carers (61%women, mean age 60.2 years, 53% spouse/partner) had significantly lower HRQOL (all SF-36 scales) than the norm, especially for Role Limitation Emotional/Physical, and Emotional Wellbeing. Sixty-eight percent had pathologic (≥8) Anxiety, and 44% had pathologic Depression scores on HADS. Nonetheless, perceived carer burdenwas only moderate (mean ZBI score 35.6, SD 14.3). High carer anxiety (p < 0.0001), low household income (p= 0.009), and living with the PwSMS (p= 0.02) were independent predictors of perceived burden. Conclusions: Caring for PwSMS has a detrimental effect on HRQOL and psychological wellbeing. High carer anxiety, loweconomic status, and living in predict higher burden. It is crucial to recognize PwSMS carers as full partners in the provision of care, and to respond to their own needs.

An unresolved issue in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is whether IGHV3-21 gene usage, in general, or the expression of stereotyped B-cell receptor immunoglobulin defining subset #2 (IGHV3-21/IGLV3-21), in particular, determines outcome for IGHV3-21-utilizing cases. We reappraised this issue in 8593 CLL patients of whom 437 (5%) used the IGHV3-21 gene with 254/437 (58%) classified as subset #2.Within subset #2, immunoglobulin heavy variable (IGHV)-mutated cases predominated, whereas non-subset #2/IGHV3-21 was enriched for IGHV-unmutated cases (P = .002). Subset #2 exhibited significantly shorter time-to-first-treatment (TTFT) compared with non-subset #2/IGHV3-21 (22 vs 60 months, P = .001). No such difference was observed between non-subset #2/IGHV3-21 vs the remaining CLL with similar IGHV mutational status. In conclusion, IGHV3-21 CLL should not be axiomatically considered a homogeneous entity with adverse prognosis, given that only subset #2 emerges as uniformly aggressive, contrasting non-subset #2/IGVH3-21 patients whose prognosis depends on IGHV mutational status as the remaining CLL. © 2015 by The American Society of Hematology 10.1182/blood-2014-09-600874.