Marina Sehovic

Chemotoxicity recurrence in older patients: Risk factors and effectiveness of preventive strategies—a prospective study

The National Cancer Institutes Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and adjustment rules after severe toxicity are derived by consensus, but to the authors’ knowledge little is known regarding the determinants of toxicity recurrence, especially in the elderly.

Impact of chemotherapy on medium-term physical function and activity of older breast cancer survivors, and associated biomarkers

OBJECTIVE Chemotherapy is less often prescribed in older individuals due to concerns about post-treatment morbidity and quality of life. We evaluated the physical performance of breast cancer survivors treated with and without adjuvant chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a case-control study in 56 estrogen receptor positive breast cancer survivors (BCS) on adjuvant aromatase inhibitors 1-2years after definitive surgery. Cases had received adjuvant chemotherapy (n=27; age 70.5±3.6years) versus age-matched controls who had not (n=29; age 70.0±4.3years). Measures of grip strength, physical activity and performance, walking speed, fatigue, and self-reported physical function were collected. Biological correlates of inflammation, frailty and markers of DNA and RNA oxidation were compared. RESULTS Grip strength (controls: 21±7.4 vs. CASES 29.7±5.0kg, p=0.20), physical activity (5403±3204 vs. 6801±9320steps/day, p=0.45), physical performance (short physical performance battery score: 10.1±1.8 vs. 10.4±1.1, p=0.52) and long-distance walking speed (1.2±0.21 vs. 1.3±0.41m/s, p=0.17) were similar between the two groups. Self-reported physical function was marginally lower in cases than controls (controls: 72±24 vs. CASES 57±34AU, p=0.07). Fatigue disruptiveness was not different between groups (controls: 11.1±13.0 vs. CASES 15.7±16.2AU, p=0.24). Similarly, the inflammation, oxidation, and frailty markers did not present a significant difference between groups, except for vitamin D levels (p=0.04). CONCLUSION Older women who received chemotherapy reported having slightly lower physical function, but a similar physical performance compared to women who did not. These data suggest that older BCS treated with chemotherapy recover to an extent similar to survivors who only received hormonal therapy.

Hypomethylating Agents Versus Intensive Chemotherapy in Older Patients (Age ≥ 70) with Acute Myeloid Leukemia with High White Blood Cell Count

patients who achieved CR significantly decreased at the time of response compared to that at the diagnosis (P 1⁄4 0.02), whereas those who achieved PR or mR did not (P 1⁄4 0.06). Conclusions: Our data showed the clinical efficacy and tolerability of decitabine for patients with eAML in real-word setting. In addition, the possible role of WT-1 as a surrogate marker to predict outcomes or estimate the response by decitabine is suggested.

Using heat maps to assess the multidimensional association of comorbidities with survival in older cancer patients treated with chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE To date, most comorbidity studies have analyzed either a subgroup of frequent diseases, or used summary instruments such as the Charlson score or the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-Geriatric (CIRS-G). Yet, comorbidity is a multidimensional construct and impacts function, treatment tolerance, and survival. We assessed how heat maps can unveil specific patterns of comorbidities associated with overall survival (OS) in older cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS We reviewed four trials that prospectively evaluated comorbidities using CIRS-G. Eligible patients were 65years or older and had solid tumors with 30 or more patients per tumor site. Heat maps were constructed based on CIRS-G scores and correlated with OS. RESULTS Among 818 patients accrued, 399 were eligible: Median follow-up was 53.4months and median OS was 19.6months (95% CI: 16.5-24.2). In the univariate model for OS, patients with a severe CIRS-G score in 6 organ categories (3-4 in heart, hematopoietic, respiratory, and musculoskeletal-integument and 2-4 in upper GI and liver) had statistically worse OS than those with lower scores. According to a total risk score (TRS) based on hazard ratios for OS, OS of the low risk group (N=309, TRS<2) was significantly higher (24.3m vs. 10.8m, HR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.58-2.66). TRS was a predictor for OS independently from stage, primary site, prior chemotherapy, ECOG performance status, and IADL (HR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.47-2.57). CONCLUSIONS High TRS was a predictor of poor survival. Comorbidity heat maps appear promising to identify diseases most affecting the OS of older cancer patients.