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PURPOSE It remains unknown whether or not short-term androgen deprivation (STAD) improves survival among men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (IRPC) treated with dose-escalated radiotherapy (RT). METHODS The NRG Oncology/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 0815 study randomly assigned 1,492 patients with stage T2b-T2c, Gleason score 7, or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value >10 and ≤20 ng/mL to dose-escalated RT alone (arm 1) or with STAD (arm 2). STAD was 6 months of luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone agonist/antagonist therapy plus antiandrogen. RT modalities were external-beam RT alone to 79.2 Gy or external beam (45 Gy) with brachytherapy boost. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points included prostate cancer–specific mortality (PCSM), non-PCSM, distant metastases (DMs), PSA failure, and rates of salvage therapy. RESULTS Median follow-up was 6.3 years. Two hundred nineteen deaths occurred, 119 in arm 1 and 100 in arm 2. Five-year OS estimates were 90% versus 91%, respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.65 to 1.11]; P = .22). STAD resulted in reduced PSA failure (HR, 0.52; P CONCLUSION STAD did not improve OS rates for men with IRPC treated with dose-escalated RT. Improvements in metastases rates, prostate cancer deaths, and PSA failures should be weighed against the risk of adverse events and the impact of STAD on quality of life.

This exploratory study sought to characterize the anal microbiome and explore associations among the anal microbiome, risk factors for anal cancer, and clinical factors. A pilot sample of 50 HIV infected and high-risk HIV negative women were recruited from the former Women's Interagency HIV Study. Microbiome characterization by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and datasets were analyzed using QIIME 2™. Composition of the anal microbiome and its associations with anal cancer risk factors and clinical factors were analyzed using linear decomposition model and permutational multivariate analysis of variance. Composition of the anal microbiome among HIV positive and high-risk negative women was dominated by Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Campylobacter. The overall taxonomic composition and microbial diversity of the anal microbiome did not significantly differ by HIV status. However, the abundance of Ruminococcus 1 belonging to the Rumincoccaceae family was associated with HIV status (q = .05). No anal cancer risk factors were associated with the anal microbiome composition. Clinical factors marginally associated with the anal microbiome composition included body mass index (BMI; p = .05) and hepatitis C virus (HCV; p = .05). Although HIV and risk factors for anal cancer were not associated with the composition of the anal microbiome in this pilot sample, other clinical factors such as BMI and HCV, may be worth further investigation in a larger study. Future research can build on these findings to explore the role of the microbiome and HIV comorbidities in women.

BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that intravaginal practices (IVPs) women use to cleanse their vagina or enhance sexual pleasure may be associated with unhealthy changes in the vaginal microbiome (VM). However, the effects of these practices in postmenopausal women are unknown. OBJECTIVES The objective of this pilot study was to characterize the VM communities of postmenopausal women, identify types and frequency of IVPs, and explore associations between the VM and IVPs in postmenopausal women. METHODS We analyzed the VM data of 21 postmenopausal women in Atlanta, Georgia, from vaginal swabs collected at a routine gynecological visit. 16S rRNA gene sequencing in the V3-V4 region was used to characterize the VM. In addition, we described the IVPs of these women, identified by using our newly developed instrument: the Vaginal Cleansing Practices Questionnaire. The associations between the VM and IVPs were explored by comparing the alpha diversities, beta diversities, and the relative abundances at both the community level and individual genus level. RESULTS The most abundant known bacterial genus found in the VM samples was Lactobacillus (35.7%), followed by Prevotella (21.4%). Eleven women (52%) reported using at least one type of IVP since menopause. The most common type of IVP was soap and water to clean inside the vagina. The use of IVPs was not associated with any alpha diversity metric, including Shannon index, inverse Simpson index, and Chao1 index; beta diversity metric, including Bray-Curtis and Jaccard distances; nor relative abundances at the community and individual genus level. Sociodemographic factors were also not associated with any alpha diversity metric. DISCUSSION Clinicians must assess IVPs and other vaginal and sexual hygiene practices of women of all ages to educate and promote healthy behaviors. More than half of the postmenopausal women in this pilot study use IVPs. Understanding the reasoning behind participants' use of IVPs and their perceptions of the possible effects of these practices will require further research. Although the small sample did not show associations with the VM, more extensive studies are warranted.

BACKGROUND The authors measured epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) during and after cancer treatment and its association with inflammation and fatigue, which is a debilitating symptom in patients with cancer. METHODS Patients who had head and neck cancer without distant metastases were assessed before, immediately after, and at 6 months and 12 months postradiotherapy. Blood DNA methylation was assessed using a proprietary bead chip (the Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChip). EAA was calculated using the Levine epigenetic clock (DNAmPhenoAge), adjusted for chronological age. Fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20. Inflammatory markers were measured using standard techniques. RESULTS Most patients (N = 133) were men, White, had advanced disease, and received concurrent chemoradiation. EAA changes over time were significant, with the largest increase (4.9 years) observed immediately after radiotherapy (P < .001). Increased EAA was associated with elevated fatigue (P = .003) over time, and patients who had severe fatigue experienced 3.1 years higher EAA than those who had low fatigue (P < .001), which was more prominent (5.6 years; P = .018) for patients who had human papillomavirus-unrelated disease at 12 months posttreatment. EAA was also positively associated with inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), over time (P < .001), and patients who had high CRP and IL-6 levels exhibited increases of 4.6 and 5.9 years, respectively, in EAA compared with those who had low CRP and IL-6 levels (P < .001). CRP and IL-6 mediated the association between EAA and fatigue (CRP: 95% CI, 0.060-0.279; IL-6: 95% CI, 0.024-0.220). CONCLUSIONS Patients with head and neck cancer experienced increased EAA, especially immediately after treatment completion. EAA was associated with greater fatigue and inflammation, including 1 year after treatment. Inflammation may be a target to reduce the impact of age acceleration on poor functional outcomes.

PURPOSE The aim of this joint guideline is to provide evidence-based recommendations to practicing physicians and other health care providers on integrative approaches to managing pain in patients with cancer. METHODS The Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO convened an expert panel of integrative oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, palliative oncology, social sciences, mind-body medicine, nursing, and patient advocacy representatives. The literature search included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials published from 1990 through 2021. Outcomes of interest included pain intensity, symptom relief, and adverse events. Expert panel members used this evidence and informal consensus to develop evidence-based guideline recommendations. RESULTS The literature search identified 227 relevant studies to inform the evidence base for this guideline. RECOMMENDATIONS Among adult patients, acupuncture should be recommended for aromatase inhibitor–related joint pain. Acupuncture or reflexology or acupressure may be recommended for general cancer pain or musculoskeletal pain. Hypnosis may be recommended to patients who experience procedural pain. Massage may be recommended to patients experiencing pain during palliative or hospice care. These recommendations are based on an intermediate level of evidence, benefit outweighing risk, and with moderate strength of recommendation. The quality of evidence for other mind-body interventions or natural products for pain is either low or inconclusive. There is insufficient or inconclusive evidence to make recommendations for pediatric patients. More research is needed to better characterize the role of integrative medicine interventions in the care of patients with cancer. Additional information is available at https://integrativeonc.org/practice-guidelines/guidelines and www.asco.org/survivorship-guidelines .

To determine if limiting the doses delivered to the penile bulb (PB) and corporal bodies (CB) with IMRT preserves erectile function compared to standard IMRT in men with prostate cancer.117 patients with low-intermediate risk, clinical T1a-T2c prostate adenocarcinoma were enrolled to a single-institution, prospective, single blind, phase III randomized trial. All received definitive IMRT to 74-80 Gy in 37-40 fractions and standard IMRT (s-IMRT) or erectile tissue sparing IMRT (ETS-IMRT), which placed additional planning constraints that limited the D90 to the PB and CB to ≤ 15 Gy and ≤ 7 Gy, respectively. Erectile potency was assessed with components of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and PDE5 medication records.62 patients received ETS-IMRT and 54 received s-IMRT; 1 patient did not receive radiation therapy. Prior to treatment, all patients reported erectile potency. No patients received androgen deprivation therapy. In the intention-to-treat analysis, treatment arms did not differ in potency preservation at 24 months (37.1% ETS-IMRT vs 31.5% s-IMRT, p=0.53). Of 85 evaluable patients with IIEF and PDE5 medication follow-up, erectile potency was seen in 47.9% of patients in the ETS-IMRT arm and 46.0% of patients in the s-IMRT arm (p=0.86). PDE5 inhibitors were initiated in 41.7% of ETS-IMRT patients and 35.1% of s-IMRT patients (p=0.54). Among all patients enrolled, there was no difference in freedom from biochemical failure between those treated with ETS-IMRT and s-IMRT (5-yr 91.8% vs 90.7%, respectively, p=0.77) with a median follow-up of 7.4 years. There were no differences in acute or late GI or GU toxicity. An unplanned per-protocol analysis demonstrated no differences in potency preservation or secondary endpoints between patients who exceeded erectile tissue-sparing constraints and those who met constraints, though power was limited by attrition and unplanned dosimetric crossover.Erectile tissue sparing IMRT that strictly limits dose to the penile bulb and corporal bodies is safe and feasible. Use of this planning technique did not show an effect on potency preservation outcomes at 2 years, though power to detect a difference was limited.

Current expert recommendations suggest anal cytology followed by high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) for biopsy and histological confirmation may be beneficial in cancer prevention, especially in people living with HIV (PLWH). Guided by the social ecological model, the purpose of this study was to examine sociodemographic and clinical variables, individual-level factors (depression, HIV/AIDS-related stigma, and health beliefs) and interpersonal-level factors (social support) related to time to HRA follow-up after abnormal anal cytology. We enrolled 150 PLWH from a large HIV community clinic, with on-site HRA availability, in Atlanta, GA. The median age was 46 years (interquartile range of 37–52), 78.5% identified as African American/Black, and 88.6% identified as born male. The average length of follow-up to HRA after abnormal anal cytology was 380.6 days (standard deviation = 317.23). Only 24.3% (n = 39) of the sample had an HRA within 6 months after an abnormal anal cytology, whereas 57% of the sample had an HRA within 12 months. HIV/AIDS-related stigma [odds ratio (OR) 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33–0.90] and health motivation (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.67–0.95) were associated with time to HRA follow-up ≤6 months. For HRA follow-up ≤12 months, we found anal cytology [high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions/atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance cannot exclude HSIL (HSIL/ASCUS-H) vs. low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) OR = 0.05, 95% CI 0.00–0.70; atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) vs. LSIL OR = 0.12, 95% CI 0.02–0.64] and health motivation (OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.65–0.99) were associated. Findings from this study can inform strategies to improve follow-up care after abnormal anal cytology at an individual and interpersonal level in efforts to decrease anal cancer morbidity and mortality.

PURPOSE There is increasing interest in implementing digital systems for remote monitoring of patients’ symptoms during routine oncology practice. Information is limited about the clinical utility and user perceptions of these systems. METHODS PRO-TECT is a multicenter trial evaluating implementation of electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) among adults with advanced and metastatic cancers receiving treatment at US community oncology practices (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03249090 ). Questions derived from the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) are administered weekly by web or automated telephone system, with alerts to nurses for severe or worsening symptoms. To elicit user feedback, surveys were administered to participating patients and clinicians. RESULTS Among 496 patients across 26 practices, the majority found the system and questions easy to understand (95%), easy to use (93%), and relevant to their care (91%). Most patients reported that PRO information was used by their clinicians for care (70%), improved discussions with clinicians (73%), made them feel more in control of their own care (77%), and would recommend the system to other patients (89%). Scores for most patient feedback questions were significantly positively correlated with weekly PRO completion rates in both univariate and multivariable analyses. Among 57 nurses, most reported that PRO information was helpful for clinical documentation (79%), increased efficiency of patient discussions (84%), and was useful for patient care (75%). Among 39 oncologists, most found PRO information useful (91%), with 65% using PROs to guide patient discussions sometimes or often and 65% using PROs to make treatment decisions sometimes or often. CONCLUSION These findings support the clinical utility and value of implementing digital systems for monitoring PROs, including the PRO-CTCAE, in routine cancer care.

PURPOSE: To assess the reasons why patients do not consent to patient-reported outcome (PRO) and electronic PRO data capture components of clinical trials and potential selection bias by having a separate consent. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Selected NRG Oncology trials were included based on disease site and inclusion of PROs and electronic PRO data capture via VisionTree Optimal Care as separate consent questions. Reasons for not participating were assessed. Pretreatment characteristics between patients who did and did not consent were tested using χ(2) and t tests for univariate comparisons and logistic regression for multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Ten trials were selected in head and neck, prostate, gynecologic, breast, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers, with 4 of these trials having electronic PRO data capture. Most patients consented to the PRO component (75.3%) but not electronic PRO data capture (37.8%). More white patients consented to PROs than nonwhite patients across all trials (odds ratio [OR], 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45-0.63; P < .001), and more patients with education after high school consented compared with those with less education (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.46-2.02; P < .001). Patients who are younger (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.47-0.85; P = .002), white (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.44-0.82; P = .001), and a never or former smoker (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.41-0.78; P = .001) are more likely to participate in electronic PRO data capture. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a patient’s race, age, and education can affect whether a patient chooses to consent or is offered to participate in PRO or electronic PRO data capture components. More investigation is needed, but this analysis provides support for making PROs integrated in the trial.

Over a quarter of chemotherapy regimens now include oral agents. Individuals living with cancer are now responsible for administering this lifesaving therapy at home by taking every dose as prescribed. One type of oral chemotherapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), is the current recommended treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia. This targeted therapy has markedly improved survival but comes with significant side effects and financial costs. In the study described in this protocol, the investigators seek to understand the dynamic nature of TKI adherence experienced by individuals diagnosed with CML. Using a mixed method approach in this prospective observational study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, we seek to describe subjects’ adherence trajectories over one year. We aim to characterize adherence trajectories in individuals taking TKIs using model-based cluster analysis. Next, we will determine how side effects and financial toxicity influence adherence trajectories. Then we will examine the influence of TKI adherence trajectories on disease outcomes. Additionally, we will explore the experience of patients taking TKIs by interviewing a subset of participants in different adherence trajectories. The projected sample includes 120 individuals taking TKIs who we will assess monthly for 12 months, measuring adherence with an objective measure (Medication Event Monitoring System- MEMS(®)). Identifying differential trajectories of adherence for TKIs is important for detecting subgroups at the highest risk of nonadherence and will support designing targeted interventions. Results from this study can potentially translate to other oral agents to improve care across different types of cancer.

Background While the importance of commensal microbes in vaginal health is well appreciated, little is known about the effects of gynecological cancer (GynCa) and radiation therapy (RT) on the vaginal microbiome (VM) of postmenopausal women. Methods We studied women with GynCa, pre‐ (N = 65) and post‐RT (N = 25) and a group of healthy controls (N = 67) by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene from vaginal swabs and compared the diversity and composition of VMs between the three groups accounting for potential confounding factors in multivariate analysis of variance. Results Comparisons of cancer vs healthy groups revealed that Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have significantly higher relative abundance in the healthy group, while the cancer group was enriched in 16 phylogroups associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and inflammation, including Sneathia, Prevotella, Peptoniphilus, Fusobacterium, Anaerococcus, Dialister, Moryella, and Peptostreptococcus. In our sample, RT affected the α‐diversity and correlated with higher abundance of typically rare VM species, including several members of the Lacnospiraceae family, a taxon previously linked to vaginal dysbiosis. In addition to cancer and treatment modalities, age and vaginal pH were identified as significant parameters that structure the VM. Conclusions This is among the first reports identifying VM changes among postmenopausal women with cancer. RT alone seems to affect several phylogroups (12 bacterial genera), while gynecological cancer and its treatment modalities are associated with even greater significant shifts in the vaginal microbiota including the enrichment of opportunistic bacterial pathogens, which warrants further attention., Vaginal microbial communities in postmenopausal women undergoing gynecologic cancer treatments have small but detectable differences compared to healthy controls, including higher diversity and abundance of opportunistic bacterial pathogens. Radiation therapy alone seems to affect several phylogroups (12 bacterial genera), while gynecological cancer and its treatment modalities (surgery and chemotherapy) are associated with even greater significant shifts in the vaginal microbiota including the enrichment of opportunistic bacterial pathogens, which warrants further attention.

PURPOSE In oncology trials, the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) is the standard tool for reporting adverse events (AEs), but it may underreport symptoms experienced by patients. This analysis of the NRG Oncology RTOG 1203 compared symptom reporting by patients and clinicians during radiotherapy (RT). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with cervical or endometrial cancer requiring postoperative RT were randomly assigned to standard 4-field RT or intensity-modulated RT (IMRT). Patients completed the 6-item patient-reported outcomes version of the CTCAE (PRO-CTCAE) for GI toxicity assessing abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence at various time points. Patients reported symptoms on a 5-point scale. Clinicians recorded these AEs as CTCAE grades 1 to 5. Clinician- and patient-reported AEs were compared using McNemar’s test for rates > 0%. RESULTS Of 278 eligible patients, 234 consented and completed the PRO-CTCAE. Patients reported high-grade abdominal pain 19.1% ( P < .0001), high-grade diarrhea 38.5% ( P < .0001), and fecal incontinence 6.8% more frequently than clinicians. Similar effects were seen between grade ≥ 1 CTCAE toxicity and any-grade patient-reported toxicity. Between-arm comparison of patient-reported high-grade AEs revealed that at 5 weeks of RT, patients who received IMRT experienced fewer GI AEs than patients who received 4-field pelvic RT with regard to frequency of diarrhea (18.2% difference; P = .01), frequency of fecal incontinence (8.2% difference; P = .01), and interference of fecal incontinence (8.5% difference; P = .04). CONCLUSION Patient-reported AEs showed a reduction in symptoms with IMRT compared with standard RT, whereas clinician-reported AEs revealed no difference. Clinicians also underreported symptomatic GI AEs compared with patients. This suggests that patient-reported symptomatic AEs are important to assess in this disease setting.

Objective Fatigued cancer patients often have high peripheral inflammation; however, the biological mechanisms of this association remain unclear. We examined whether decreased sensitivity of immune cells to the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids may contribute to inflammation and fatigue in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients during treatment. Methods HNC patients without distant metastasis and with curative intent (n = 77) were studied 1 week before intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and 1 month after IMRT. At each time point, fatigue was measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 along with plasma inflammation markers and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) sensitivity as determined by in vitro dexamethasone suppression of lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin 6. Linear regression models were used. Results In contrast to our hypothesis, GR sensitivity increased during treatment; however, increased fatigue was associated with a lesser increase in GR sensitivity from baseline to 1 month after IMRT (unstandardized estimate = 4.07, p = .02). This effect was more prominent in human papillomavirus-unrelated HNCs (unstandardized estimate = 8.22, p = .002). Lower increases in GR sensitivity were also associated with increased inflammation at 1 month after IMRT as represented by C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor α. Addition of inflammation markers to models of GR sensitivity predicting fatigue indicated that these inflammation markers were stronger predictors of fatigue than GR sensitivity. Conclusions Lower increases in GR sensitivity during HNC treatment were significantly predictive of increased fatigue and inflammation markers. Inflammation markers in turn predicted fatigue above and beyond levels of GR sensitivity. Our findings indicate that HNC patients with cancer-related fatigue may exhibit a decreased capacity for glucocorticoids to regulate inflammatory processes, as evidenced by a lower increase in GR sensitivity. Larger studies are necessary to verify the findings.

PURPOSE Radiation dose to the neuroregenerative zone of the hippocampus has been found to be associated with cognitive toxicity. Hippocampal avoidance (HA) using intensity-modulated radiotherapy during whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is hypothesized to preserve cognition. METHODS This phase III trial enrolled adult patients with brain metastases to HA-WBRT plus memantine or WBRT plus memantine. The primary end point was time to cognitive function failure, defined as decline using the reliable change index on at least one of the cognitive tests. Secondary end points included overall survival (OS), intracranial progression-free survival (PFS), toxicity, and patient-reported symptom burden. RESULTS Between July 2015 and March 2018, 518 patients were randomly assigned. Median follow-up for alive patients was 7.9 months. Risk of cognitive failure was significantly lower after HA-WBRT plus memantine versus WBRT plus memantine (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.95; P = .02). This difference was attributable to less deterioration in executive function at 4 months (23.3% v 40.4%; P = .01) and learning and memory at 6 months (11.5% v 24.7% [ P = .049] and 16.4% v 33.3% [ P = .02], respectively). Treatment arms did not differ significantly in OS, intracranial PFS, or toxicity. At 6 months, using all data, patients who received HA-WBRT plus memantine reported less fatigue ( P = .04), less difficulty with remembering things ( P = .01), and less difficulty with speaking ( P = .049) and using imputed data, less interference of neurologic symptoms in daily activities ( P = .008) and fewer cognitive symptoms ( P = .01). CONCLUSION HA-WBRT plus memantine better preserves cognitive function and patient-reported symptoms, with no difference in intracranial PFS and OS, and should be considered a standard of care for patients with good performance status who plan to receive WBRT for brain metastases with no metastases in the HA region.

Background: Children with cancer (CWC) receiving chemotherapy (chemo) report significant suffering from a cluster of psychoneurological symptoms (PNS), including pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Continuous or severe PNS reduce a child’s quality of life. Chemo can disturb the gut microbiome (GM), which is associated with PNS based on the gut-brain axis. This study aimed to examine associations of GM with PNS and the PNS cluster in CWC undergoing chemo. Methods: An observational prospective study was conducted in 21 CWC enrolled from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Children with at least 1 cycle of chemo were consented pre-cycle 2 chemo (T1) and followed at the end of chemo (T2). At T1, parents reported children’s demographics; at T1 and T2, PNS (pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, cognitive dysfunction) were reported by children by the Pediatric PROMIS scales and fecal specimens were collected for GM. T-score of the PROMIS scales was computed; an average of T-scores of the five PNS was computed for the PNS cluster. T-score >50 indicates a significant symptom or symptom cluster. 16S rRNA V4 gene from fecal specimens was sequenced for GM. QIIME 2 was used to examine associations of α- and β-diversity with PNS. Linear discriminant analysis effect size identified microbial taxa associated with each PNS and the PNS cluster. Results: We analyzed 21 CWC with a mean age of 13 years, 67% male, and 67% white. Children at T2 had higher fatigue (54% vs. 43%), cognitive dysfunction (69% vs. 43%), depressive symptoms (23% vs. 19%), and multiple PNS (62% vs. 48%), but lower pain interference (31% vs. 38%) and anxiety (23% vs. 38%) than those at T1. No association was found for α-diversity at T1; higher α-diversity was associated with lower cognitive dysfunction (Faith’s phylogenetic diversity, p=0.04) and anxiety (Pielou’s_e, p=0.08) at T2; β-diversity (Jaccard distance) showed the GM dissimilarities by levels of pain interference (moderate vs. severe, p=0.02) and levels of anxiety (mild vs. moderate, p=0.07). After controlling for study timepoint, children with low pain interference had an enriched Bacteroides; those with low fatigue had enriched Bacteroides and Turicibacter; those with normal cognitive function had enriched Parasutterella, UBA1819, NK4A214, Sellimonas, and Ruminococcaceae. Children without the PNS cluster had enriched Bacteroides, while those with the PNS cluster had enriched Enterobacteriaceae. Children without multiple PNS had enriched UCG_003. Conclusions: Children with low PNS showed a higher α-diversity and a higher abundance of taxa involved in nutrition and vitamin metabolism (eg, Bacteroides), reducing inflammation (eg, Turicibacter), and producing short chain fatty acids (eg, Ruminococcaceae). These findings provide potential solutions to treat PNS. Further work is needed to corroborate these associations in CWC. Citation Format: Jinbing Bai, Melissa Martin, Kathryn S. Sutton, Christie Powell, Thomas Olson, Hye In Noh, Maria C. Swartz, Deborah Watkins Bruner. Gut microbiome associated with the psychoneurological symptom cluster among children with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 6731.

PURPOSE Transitioning from two-dimensional to three-dimensional treatment planning requires developing contouring skills. Contouring atlases are excellent resources, but they do not provide users active feedback. Developing countries may not have many radiation oncologists experienced in three-dimensional planning to provide training. We sought to develop a standardized self-guided educational module with integrated feedback to teach contouring skills. METHODS AND MATERIALS All 18 oncology residents at Black Lion Hospital/Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia were trained to contour the level II lymph node station. Residents took a baseline pretest quiz, survey, and contouring evaluation. Residents then watched an instructional contouring lecture and performed three additional cases with integrated feedback by comparing their contours to gold-standard contours. Residents then took a post-training quiz, survey, and contouring evaluation. Paired t tests and analysis of variance were used for analysis. RESULTS Before training, the average number of total cases ever contoured was 2.4 and the average number of head and neck cases contoured was 0.5. Comfort with contouring improved from being “not at all comfortable” to “quite comfortable” after the 3-hour training ( P < .001). The standard deviation between the resident contours and gold standard improved from 72.6 cm3 (pretest) to 7.4 cm3 (post-test). The average percentage overlap with the gold-standard contours and Dice similarity coefficient improved with each case performed, from 27.7% and 0.26 (pretest) to 80.1% and 0.77 (post-test), respectively ( P < .001). After training, 16 of 18 (88.9%) residents produced a Dice similarity coefficient greater than 0.7, the threshold generally accepted for excellent agreement. CONCLUSION This self-guided teaching module was an effective tool for developing level II lymph node contouring skills by providing active feedback and resulted in improved user confidence and accuracy compared with a gold standard. This module can be expanded to other disease sites and countries to further facilitate transitioning to three-dimensional treatment planning in developing countries.

Problem statement To define the Oncology Nursing Society Research Agenda for 2019-2022. Design Multimethod, consensus-building approach by members of the Research Agenda Project Team. Data sources Expert opinion, literature review, surveys, interviews, focus groups, town hall, and review of research priorities from other cancer care organizations and funding agencies. Analysis Content analysis and descriptive statistics were used to synthesize research priority themes that emerged. Findings Three priority areas for scientific development were identified. Implications for nursing The Research Agenda can be used to focus oncology nurses' research, scholarship, leadership, and health policy efforts to advance quality cancer care, inform research funding priorities, and align initiatives and resources across the ONS enterprise.

Background and PurposeTo compare the effects of missing-data imputation techniques, mean imputation, group mean imputation, regression imputation, and multiple imputation (MI), on the results of exploratory factor analysis under different missing assumptions.MethodsMissing data with different missing assumptions were generated from true data. The quality of imputed data was examined by correlation coefficients. Factor structures were compared indirectly by coefficients of congruence and directly by factor structures.ResultsMI had the best quality and matching factor structure to the true data for all missing assumptions with different missing rates. Mean imputation had the least favorable results in factor analysis. The imputation techniques revealed no important differences with 10% of data missing.ConclusionMI showed the best results, especially with larger proportions of missing data.

Objective Women with endometrial or cervical cancer at risk for recurrence receive postoperative radiation therapy (RT). A patient reported outcomes (PRO) instrument to assess bowel and urinary toxicities is the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC), which has been validated in men with prostate cancer. As this instrument specifically measures bowel toxicity and the degree to which this is a problem, it was used in NRG Oncology/RTOG 1203 to compare intensity modulated RT (IMRT) to standard RT. This paper reports on the expanded validation of EPIC for use in women receiving pelvic RT. Methods In addition to the EPIC bowel domain, urinary toxicity (EPIC urinary domain), patient reported bowel toxicities (PRO-CTCAE) and quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)) were completed before, during and after treatment. Sensitivity, reliability and concurrent validity were assessed. Results Mean bowel and urinary scores among 278 women enrolled were significantly worse during treatment and differed between groups. Acceptable to good reliability for bowel and urinary domain scores were obtained at all time points with the exception of one at baseline. Correlations between function and bother scores within the bowel and urinary domains were consistently stronger than those across domains. Correlations between bowel domain scores and PRO-CTCAE during treatment were stronger than those with the FACT. Conclusion Correlations within and among the instruments indicate EPIC bowel and urinary domains are measuring conceptually discrete components of health. These EPIC domains are valid, reliable and sensitive instruments to measure PRO among women undergoing pelvic radiation.

Emerging evidence highlights the roles the gut microbiome and the immune system, integral parts of the gut-brain axis, play in developing various symptoms in cancer patients. The purpose of this systematic review was to describe the roles of inflammatory markers and the gut microbiome, as well as to describe their associations with psychoneurological symptoms and gastrointestinal toxicities in women with gynecologic cancers.A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from January 2000 to February 2021. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were utilized to screen the found articles. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Mixed Method Assessment Tool. In the included studies, various inflammatory markers and gut microbiome diversity and patterns were measured.Sixteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this systematic review. While there were discrepancies in the associations between various inflammatory markers and symptoms, most of the studies showed positive correlations between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and cancer-related psychoneurological symptoms and gastrointestinal toxicities in gynecologic cancer patients. Although there was no consensus in alpha diversity, studies showed significant dissimilarity in the microbial communities (beta diversity) in patients with gastrointestinal toxicities compared with patients without symptoms or healthy controls. Studies also reported inconsistent findings in the abundance of bacteria at different taxonomic levels. Radiation enteritis-derived microbiota could stimulate TNF-α and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) secretion.Alteration of inflammatory markers, the gut microbiome, and their associations show emerging evidence in the development of psychoneurological symptoms and gastrointestinal toxicities in women with gynecologic cancers. More studies on the interactions between the immune system and the gut microbiome, two integral parts of the gut-brain axis, are required to shed light on the roles they play in symptom development.

Background: Malnutrition is a common complication in children with cancer. Cancer treatment and malnutrition can disrupt gut microbiome diversity and composition. This study aims to compare the dietary intakes between children with solid tumors post-chemotherapy and healthy controls, and investigate associations between the dietary intakes and the gut microbiome. Procedure: Children (7-18 years) with solid tumors were recruited during year 1 after the completion of chemotherapy from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia. Healthy controls were recruited via flyers. Children completed the Block Kids Food Screener for dietary intakes in the past week. Fecal specimens were collected and processed for the gut microbiome. QIIME2 and Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted to answer the research questions. Results: Forty-nine children (25 cancers vs 24 controls) were analyzed. Two groups had no differences in age, race, sex, and body mass index. Children with solid tumors reported significantly higher mean daily intakes of macronutrients: calories, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and fiber, and antioxidant nutrients (vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium) than controls. Children with adequate vitamin B6 had a higher Chao1 diversity index than children with inadequate or excessive intake (P = 0.0004). Children with excessive selenium intake had a trend of higher Pielou’s_e index than children with inadequate intake (P = 0.091). Conclusion: Children with cancer reported significantly higher intakes of macronutrients and antioxidant nutrients than healthy children, but no differences in major energy ratios. Macronutrients, particularly antioxidant nutrients, were associated with disruptions of the gut microbiome in children with solid tumors.

Background: Metabolic differences between human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and smoking-associated HNSCC may partially explain differences in prognosis. The former relies on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) while the latter relies on glycolysis. These differences have not been studied in blood. Methods: We extracted metabolites using untargeted liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry from pretreatment plasma in a cohort of 55 HPV-associated and 82 smoking-associated HNSCC subjects. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed metabolites produced pathway-based signatures. Significant pathways (P < 0.05) were reduced via principal component analysis and assessed with overall survival via Cox models. We classified each subject as glycolytic or OXPHOS phenotype and assessed it with survival. Results: Of 2,410 analyzed metabolites, 191 were differentially expressed. Relative to smoking-associated HNSCC, bile acid biosynthesis (P < 0.0001) and octadecatrienoic acid beta-oxidation (P = 0.01), were upregulated in HPV-associated HNSCC, while galactose metabolism (P = 0.001) and vitamin B6 metabolism (P = 0.01) were downregulated; the first two suggest an OXPHOS phenotype while the latter two suggest glycolytic. First principal components of bile acid biosynthesis [HR = 0.52 per SD; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.38–0.72; P < 0.001] and octadecatrienoic acid beta-oxidation (HR = 0.54 per SD; 95% CI, 0.38–0.78; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with overall survival independent of HPV and smoking. The glycolytic versus OXPHOS phenotype was also independently associated with survival (HR = 3.17; 95% CI, 1.07–9.35; P = 0.04). Conclusions: Plasma metabolites related to glycolysis and mitochondrial OXPHOS may be biomarkers of HNSCC patient prognosis independent of HPV or smoking. Future investigations should determine whether they predict treatment efficacy. Impact: Blood metabolomics may be a useful marker to aid HNSCC patient prognosis.

PURPOSE: Epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) is robustly linked with mortality and morbidity. This study examined risk factors of EAA and its association with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and quality of life (QOL) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) receiving radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients without distant metastasis were enrolled and followed before and end of radiotherapy, and 6-months and 12-months post-radiotherapy. EAA was calculated with DNAmPhenoAge at all four times. Risk factors included demographics, lifestyle, clinical characteristics, treatment-related symptoms, and blood biomarkers. Survival data were collected until August 2020; QOL was measured using Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–HNC. RESULTS: Increased comorbidity, HPV-unrelated, and severer treatment-related symptoms were associated with higher EAA (p=0.03 to

Purpose The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) is the most commonly used patient reported outcome (PRO) tool in prostate cancer (PC) clinical trials, but health utilities associated with the different health states assessed with this tool are unknown, limiting our ability to perform cost-utility analyses. This study aimed to map EPIC tool to EuroQoL-5D-3L (EQ5D) to generate EQ5D health utilities. Methods and materials This is a secondary analysis of a prospective, randomized non-inferiority clinical trial, conducted between 04/2006 and 12/2009 at cancer centers across the United States, Canada, and Switzerland. Eligible patients included men >18 years with a known diagnosis of low-risk PC. Patient HRQoL data were collected using EPIC and health utilities were obtained using EQ5D. Data were divided into an estimation sample (n = 765, 70%) and a validation sample (n = 327, 30%). The mapping algorithms that capture the relationship between the instruments were estimated using ordinary least squares (OLS), Tobit, and two-part models. Five-fold cross-validation (in-sample) was used to compare the predictive performance of the estimated models. Final models were selected based on root mean square error (RMSE). Results A total of 565 patients in the estimation sample had complete information on both EPIC and EQ5D questionnaires at baseline. Mean observed EQ5D utility was 0.90±0.13 (range: 0.28–1) with 55% of patients in full health. OLS models outperformed their counterpart Tobit and two-part models for all pre-determined model specifications. The best model fit was: “EQ5D utility = 0.248541 + 0.000748*(Urinary Function) + 0.001134*(Urinary Bother) + 0.000968*(Hormonal Function) + 0.004404*(Hormonal Bother)– 0.376487*(Zubrod) + 0.003562*(Urinary Function*Zubrod)”; RMSE was 0.10462. Conclusions This is the first study to identify a comprehensive set of mapping algorithms to generate EQ5D utilities from EPIC domain/ sub-domain scores. The study results will help estimate quality-adjusted life-years in PC economic evaluations.

Purpose/objective(s) Established risk factors for head and neck cancer recurrence include clinical and tumor features assessed prior to treatment. We report the first use of DNA methylation in peripheral blood before and after radiotherapy (RT) to further improve risk stratification. Materials/methods Peripheral blood samples were obtained from patients with non-metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck for methylation analysis, 1 week before initiation and 1 month after completion of RT. Patients were randomized to a discovery cohort or validation cohort. In the discovery cohort, associations between methylation change at 807,100 genomic sites (post-treatment minus pre-treatment) and progression-free survival (PFS) as well as overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Cox regression, adjusted for clinicopathologic covariates. A risk score (RS) was then constructed from methylation levels at the top associated sites, filtered for residing within regulatory elements of genes that are predominantly expressed in bone marrow, lymphoid tissue, or blood cells. The prognostic value of RS was separately assessed in the discovery cohort and validation cohort. Results Between December 2013 and September 2018, 115 patients enrolled in this study (Table) and consist of mostly males (72%) with locally advanced disease (91%). HPV negative status, oral cavity cancer, PEG tube insertion, and higher neutrophil count before RT were associated with shorter PFS and OS (P 10, P = 0.016) and OS (HR > 10, P = 0.017) in the discovery cohort, independent of the aforementioned risk factors. These findings were further replicated in the validation cohort where high RS also independently conferred poorer PFS (HR > 10, P = 0.002) and OS (HR 6.3, P = 0.015). Conclusion We successfully trained and validated a signature of DNA methylation in peripheral blood before and after RT that stratified outcomes among patients with head and neck SCC, implicating the potential for genomics-tailored consolidation treatment and surveillance. Efforts toward methylation analysis at additional post-treatment time points are ongoing.

Purpose NRG/RTOG 0841 assessed the feasibility of a depression screening procedure in patients receiving radiation therapy (RT). As a secondary endpoint, availability and barriers to psychosocial care data were collected in hopes of providing recommendations for improved psychosocial care among patients receiving RT. Methods and Materials Patients starting RT were prospectively recruited and assessed with self-reported distress screening tools. Patients exceeding a validated cutoff and a sample of patients who screened negative received the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) mood disorder modules via telephone. During that SCID evaluation, patients completed a validated scale ranking interview on barriers to psychosocial care and interest in various psychosocial intervention modalities. Results A total of 463 patients from 35 community-based and 2 academic RT oncology sites were recruited. Of the 455 eligible, 75 (16%) exceeded screening cutoffs for depressive symptoms. From this group, 78 patients completed the SCID; most were female (76%), white (88%), and had breast cancer (55%). Overall, the most common barriers to treatment, regardless of insurance, were costs (58%), daily responsibilities (44%), and physical health symptoms (38%). Patients from RT facilities without mental health services were significantly more likely to report difficulty with physical health problems, specifically serious illness and walking, compared with those treated at RT facilities with services (P = .013 and P = .039, respectively). Overall, there was interest in obtaining psychosocial services with face-to-face counseling at the cancer center and printed educational materials as the most commonly preferred interventions. Patients with difficult barriers to psychosocial interventions were significantly less interested in support away from the cancer center (P = .016), telephone and Internet counseling (P = .0062 & P = .011), and Internet support (P = .0048). Conclusion Radiation oncology patients are interested in obtaining psychosocial services but face barriers to access to mental health services including cost, debilitating symptoms, and time constraints that prevent adequate care.

PURPOSE: Recent evidence supports a key role of gut microbiome in brain health. We conducted a pilot study to assess associations of gut microbiome with cancer-related fatigue and explore the associations with DNA methylation changes. METHODS: Self-reported Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and stool samples were collected at pre-radiotherapy and one-month post-radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer. Gut microbiome data were obtained by sequencing the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene. DNA methylation changes in the blood were assessed using Illumina Methylation EPIC BeadChip. RESULTS: We observed significantly different gut microbiota patterns among patients with high vs. low fatigue across time. This pattern was characterized by low relative abundance in short-chain fatty acid—producing taxa (family Ruminococcaceae, genera Subdoligranulum and Faecalibacterium, all p < 0.05), with high abundance in taxa associated with inflammation (genera Family XIII AD3011 and Erysipelatoclostridium; all p < 0.05) for high-fatigue group. We identified nine KEGG Orthology pathways significantly different between high- vs. low-fatigue groups over time (all p < 0.001), including pathways related to fatty acid synthesis and oxidation, inflammation, and brain function. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed on the top differentially methylated CpG sites that were associated with the taxa and fatigue. All biological processes from the GSEA were related to immune responses and inflammation (FDR < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest different patterns of the gut microbiota in cancer patients with high vs. low fatigue. Results from functional pathways and DNA methylation analyses indicate that inflammation is likely to be the major driver in the gut-brain axis for cancer-related fatigue.

Simple Summary Patients with head and neck cancers (HNCs) report a cluster of psychoneurological symptoms (i.e., the PNS cluster), including pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, depressive symptoms, and cognitive dysfunction across different treatments. The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine associations between the gut microbiome and the PNS cluster in 13 patients with HNCs pre- and post-radiotherapy. Patients with the high PNS cluster showed a greater decrease in microbial evenness than those with the low PNS cluster from pre- to post-radiotherapy. The high and low PNS clusters showed significant gut microbiome dissimilarities. Patients with the high PNS cluster had higher abundances of Bacteroidetes, Ruminiclostridium9, Tyzzerella, Eubacterium_fissicatena, and DTU089. Patients with the low PNS cluster had higher abundances in Lactococcus, Phascolarctobacterium, and Desulfovibrio. Glycan metabolism and vitamin metabolism were different between the high and low PNS clusters pre- and post-radiotherapy. Abstract Cancer patients experience a cluster of co-occurring psychoneurological symptoms (PNS) related to cancer treatments. The gut microbiome may affect severity of the PNS via neural, immune, and endocrine signaling pathways. However, the link between the gut microbiome and PNS has not been well investigated in cancer patients, including those with head and neck cancers (HNCs). This pilot study enrolled 13 patients with HNCs, who reported PNS using the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAEs). Stool specimens were collected to analyze patients’ gut microbiome. All data were collected pre- and post-radiation therapy (RT). Associations between the bacterial abundances and the PNS clusters were analyzed using the linear discriminant analysis effect size; functional pathway analyses of 16S rRNA V3-V4 bacterial communities were conducted using Tax4fun. The high PNS cluster had a greater decrease in microbial evenness than the low PNS cluster from pre- to post-RT. The high and low PNS clusters showed significant differences using weighted UniFrac distance. Those individuals with the high PNS cluster were more likely to have higher abundances in phylum Bacteroidetes, order Bacteroidales, class Bacteroidia, and four genera (Ruminiclostridium9, Tyzzerella, Eubacterium_fissicatena, and DTU089), while the low PNS cluster had higher abundances in family Acidaminococcaceae and three genera (Lactococcus, Phascolarctobacterium, and Desulfovibrio). Both glycan metabolism (Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis) and vitamin metabolism (folate biosynthesis and lipoic acid metabolism) were significantly different between the high and low PNS clusters pre- and post-RT. Our preliminary data suggest that the diversity and abundance of the gut microbiome play a potential role in developing PNS among cancer patients.

PURPOSE: NRG Oncology, part of the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network, took efforts to increase patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) completion and institutional data submission rates within clinical trials. Lack of completion diminishes power to draw conclusions and can be a waste of resources. It is hypothesized that trials with automatic email reminders and past due notifications will have PROM forms submitted more timely with higher patient completion. METHODS: Automatic emails sent to the research associate were added to selected NRG Oncology trials. Comparisons between trials with and without automatic emails were analyzed using Chi-square tests with respect to patient completion and timeliness of form submission rates. Multivariable analyses were conducted using repeated measures generalized estimating equations. If PROMs were not completed, a form providing the reason why was submitted and counted towards form submission. RESULTS: For both disease sites, form submission was significantly higher within one month of the form’s due date for the studies with automatic emails vs. those without (prostate: 79.7% vs. 75.7%, p

The purpose of this project was to develop and test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a video about cancer clinical trials (CCTs) developed for breast cancer patients. We developed 2 brief 7-min videos that focused on breast cancer patients describing their experiences participating in CCTs, supplemented with doctors and research staff explaining key research concepts. One video was culturally tailored to Black patients and the other to White patients. To assess feasibility study, participants and their care providers completed a survey to evaluate their satisfaction with the video. Eligibility criteria for the study included ≥ 21 years of age, English-speaking, no prior experience participating in a CCT, and being potentially eligible for breast CCT enrollment. Preliminary efficacy was evaluated with a pretest-posttest design using a single item asking about intent to enroll in a clinical trial. The mean age of the patient sample (n = 50) was 53.0 years, and 50.0% were Black. Participants reported that the video was in the right length, useful, and easy to understand. Providers’ evaluation (n = 5) revealed that viewing the video helped prepare patients for further CCT discussion. Preliminary efficacy showed no statistically significant difference in participant interest in CCT enrollment pre- and post-video. Changes in patients’ intent in enrollment were associated with age and education. Culturally adapted video interventions can be helpful in supporting both patients and providers throughout the CCT education process but additional work is needed to improve enrollment into clinical trials.

Objective The study sought to describe patient-entered supplemental information on symptomatic adverse events (AEs) in cancer clinical research reported via a National Cancer Institute software system and examine the feasibility of mapping these entries to established terminologies. Materials and Methods Patients in 3 multicenter trials electronically completed surveys during cancer treatment. Each survey included a prespecified subset of items from the National Cancer Institute’s Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE). Upon completion of the survey items, patients could add supplemental symptomatic AE information in a free text box. As patients typed into the box, structured dropdown terms could be selected from the PRO-CTCAE item library or Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA), or patients could type unstructured free text for submission. Results Data were pooled from 1760 participants (48% women; 78% White) who completed 8892 surveys, of which 2387 (26.8%) included supplemental symptomatic AE information. Overall, 1024 (58%) patients entered supplemental information at least once, with an average of 2.3 per patient per study. This encompassed 1474 of 8892 (16.6%) dropdowns and 913 of 8892 (10.3%) unstructured free text entries. One-third of the unstructured free text entries (32%) could be mapped post hoc to a PRO-CTCAE term and 68% to a MedDRA term. Discussion Participants frequently added supplemental information beyond study-specific survey items. Almost half selected a structured dropdown term, although many opted to submit unstructured free text entries. Most free text entries could be mapped post hoc to PRO-CTCAE or MedDRA terms, suggesting opportunities to enhance the system to perform real-time mapping for AE reporting. Conclusions Patient reporting of symptomatic AEs using a text box functionality with mapping to existing terminologies is both feasible and informative.

Objectives: To characterize the vaginal microbiome using QIIME 2™ (Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology 2) in women with gynecologic cancer. Sample & Setting: 19 women with gynecologic cancer before and after radiation therapy at a comprehensive cancer center in Atlanta, Georgia. Methods & Variables: This pilot study analyzed vaginal microbiome communities using a microbiome analysis pipeline, beginning with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and processing through use of a bioinformatics pipeline to downstream microbial statistical analysis. Results: The findings showed the methods to be robust, and most women with gynecologic cancer showed depletion of Lactobacillus. Compared to those pre–radiation therapy, women post–radiation therapy showed higher abundances of Mobiluncus, Atopobium, and Prevotella but lower abundances of Lactobacillus, Gardnerella, and Peptostreptococcus, which are associated with bacterial vaginosis. Implications for Nursing: This study presents the fundamentals of human microbiome data collection and analysis methods to inform nursing science. Assessing the vaginal microbiome provides a potential pathway to develop interventions to ameliorate dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome.

On March 11, 2020, with the declaration of a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, an unplanned slowdown of academic research activities has taken place. While this is not an ideal situation for nurse scientists, it presents a number of unique opportunities for researchers to shift their focus in the short-term, which may actually lead to more productivity in the long-term. This commentary explores ways nurse scientists can stay on track without derailing their plans for career advancement under unprecedented circumstances.

Background This study evaluated the association between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and cognition in patients receiving memantine for prevention of cognitive dysfunction during whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Methods Adult patients with brain metastases received WBRT and were randomized to receive placebo or memantine, 20 mg per day, within 3 days of initiating radiotherapy, for 24 weeks. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain module (FACT-Br) and Medical Outcomes Scale-Cognitive Functioning Scale (MOS-C) were completed in coordination with serial standardized tests of cognitive function. Results Of the 508 eligible patients, 442 (87%) consented to participate in the HRQOL portion and contributed to baseline analyses. Evaluable patients at 24 weeks (n = 246) included surviving patients completing FACT-Br, MOS-C, and objective cognitive assessments (n = 146, 59%) and patients alive at time of missed assessment (n = 100, 41%). Baseline cognitive function correlated significantly with FACT-Br and MOS-C self-reports. All domains of objective cognitive function showed declines over time. Neither FACT-Br nor MOS-C differed between the treatment arms. Emotional and functional well-being subscales of the FACT improved over time while the remainder of the FACT-Br domains remained stable. MOS-C scores declined over time. Conclusion Baseline cognitive function correlated significantly with FACT-Br and MOS-C scores. No by-arm differences in HRQOL were observed despite differences in objective cognitive function. Patient attrition and poor testing compliance remain significant problems in studies of cognitive function of brain metastases patients and further effort is needed to improve compliance with testing and sensitivity of patient-reported measures.

BACKGROUND Anal cancer in the United States is generally rare; however, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals are 28 times more likely to be given a diagnosis of anal cancer than the general population. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the rates and sociodemographic predictors of anal cancer screening and follow-up anoscopy in a sample of HIV-infected individuals. METHODS Data for this study (n = 200) were derived from a retrospective chart review of randomly selected HIV-infected individuals. Data analyses included Pearson's correlation coefficient statistic to examine bivariate associations and logistic regression modeling for prediction of anal Papanicolaou test screening and follow-up anoscopy. RESULTS Screening rates and follow-up after an abnormal anal Pap test were low. Women were less likely to be screened for anal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 0.244; P = .007). Men who have sex with men were almost 4 times more likely to be screened for anal cancer (OR, 3.7; P = .02). Men who have sex with men were 6 times more likely to have follow-up after an abnormal anal Pap test compared with heterosexual men or women of any sexual orientation (OR, 6.88; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS High-risk groups for anal cancer should be targeted for preventative measures as part of a cancer prevention plan to decrease the personal and clinical burden associated with anal cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Cancer prevention is a multistep process that requires screening and follow-up efforts, where healthcare providers play a vital role in these efforts. Findings from this study can inform strategies to improve screening and follow-up rates in HIV-infected individuals.

BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has contributed to an increased incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Fatigue is a major side effect of SCCHN and its treatment. However, to the authors' knowledge, the association between HPV and fatigue has not been examined to date, nor is it known whether HPV influences biological mechanisms of fatigue, including inflammation. METHODS Patients with SCCHN who were without distant metastasis were assessed at baseline (pre-radiotherapy) and 1 month and 3 months postradiotherapy. Fatigue was measured using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Peripheral inflammation was assessed by plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2), and IL-6. Mixed effect models were used to examine associations. RESULTS A total of 94 patients who were newly diagnosed were enrolled; 53% had HPV-related tumors. Patients with HPV-unrelated tumors had higher fatigue and higher plasma CRP, sTNFR2, and IL-6 over time, especially at baseline and 3 months after intensity-modulated radiotherapy compared with those with HPV-related tumors (all P

Background Vaginal brachytherapy, a common treatment of endometrial cancer, is associated with high rates of vaginal stenosis. Recommendations for vaginal dilator use to minimize stenosis generally include 3 times per week for approximately 10 minutes per use. However, adherence rates range widely and are generally well less than 50%. Objectives The aims of this study were to assess feasibility of recruitment to a study of dilator use and test a theoretically driven enhanced educational program (EEP) to increase adherence. Methods Eligibility included women treated with postoperative vaginal brachytherapy for stage I to IIIc endometrial cancer. Patients were randomized to either nurse-delivered standard institutional instruction or EEP. Results Of eligible patients, 76% consented, 42 were randomized, and 69% completed the 6-month assessment. Mean age was 58.2 years; 48% were sexually active. There was no difference in adherence between arms. Overall, 20% and 8.3% were adherent to the prescribed use of 3 times per week, and 64% and 16% were adherent to use at least once per week at 6 weeks and 6 months, respectively. Adherence was greater among those motivated by vaginal health and having lower body mass index. Nonadherence was significantly higher among those who are college educated, in the EEP group, and with higher weight. Conclusions Feasibility of recruitment into a study of vaginal dilator use was high. Adherence was low, and there was no difference between groups. Adherence to vaginal dilator use requires novel interventions to test. Implications for practice Nursing education that includes how dilators may maintain vaginal health may improve use because it was a motivator for adherence in this study.

Objectives: Gynecologic cancer survivors may live for decades with clinically significant, often persistent symptoms/toxicities including pain, dyspareunia, sexual dysfunction and fatigue. The vaginal microbiome (VM) plays a crucial role in women's health and has been previously associated with vaginal symptoms related to menopause (ie dryness). Our previous work showed that gynecologic cancer patients exhibit distinct VM profiles from healthy women with low abundance of lactobacilli and prevalence of multiple opportunistic pathogenic bacteria. Here we explore the association of the vaginal microbiome with the persistence of vaginal toxicities, one year upon completion of cancer therapies while controlling for clinical and sociodemographic factors. Methods: We studied 20 women that received pelvic radiation therapy in parallel with a group of 27 age and race matched healthy women. We obtained VM data during 4 sampling times (pre-therapy, after 2, 6, and 12 months post-therapy) by amplicon 16S rRNA gene sequencing. For each sampling we recorded vaginal toxicities as measured by clinician/patient-reported validated instruments, including PRO-CTCAE, CTCAE, and FSFI, as well as lifestyle behaviors (use of estrogen, sexual activity, etc). Results: We observed differences among the VM profiles of cancer and healthy women at all time points assessed, but differences were further exacerbated with the progression of time. Cancer patients exhibit higher diversity VMs and a variety of vaginal community state types (CST) that are not dominated by Lactobacilli, with extensive VM variation -between individuals. Additionally, cancer patients exhibit highly unstable VMs (average Bray-Curtis distances) compared to healthy controls (Kruskal-Wallis, p=0.004). Vaginal symptoms prevalent in cancer patients included vaginal pain (40%), hemorrhage (35%), vaginismus (28%), and inflammation (20%), while symptoms such as dryness (45%), lack of lubrication (33%), and dyspareunia (32%) were equally or more prominent in healthy women. However, among the symptomatic subjects, 24% of cancer patients experienced persistent symptoms at all time points, as opposed to 12% of healthy women. Symptom persistence was strongly inversely correlated with VM stability, for example, patients with persistent dryness and/or abnormally high pH have the most unstable microbiomes (Fisher's exact test, p=0.014 and 0.002). Associations were identified between vaginal symptoms and individual bacterial taxa, including Prevotella with vaginal dryness (p=0.0004), Delftia with pain following vaginal intercourse (p=0.0006), and Gemillaceaea with low levels of lubrication during intercourse (p=0.0002). Download : Download high-res image (337KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions: Differences in the VM among healthy and gynecologic cancer patients are more prominent a year after completion of cancer therapies, including enrichment of opportunistic bacterial pathogens. Highly unstable microbiomes are typical in cancer patients and were associated with symptom persistence which warrants further attention.

Radiation (RT) dose to the central nervous system (CNS) has been implicated as a contributor to treatment-related fatigue in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT). This study evaluates the association of RT dose to CNS structures with patient-reported (PRO) fatigue scores in a population of HNC patients.At pre-RT (baseline), 6th week of RT, and 1-month post-RT time points, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) scores were prospectively obtained from 124 patients undergoing definitive treatment for HNC. Medulla, pons, midbrain, total brainstem, cerebellum, posterior fossa, and pituitary dosimetry were evaluated using summary statistics and dose-volume histograms, and associations with MFI-20 scores were analyzed.Maximum dose (Dmax) to the brainstem and medulla was significantly associated with MFI-20 scores at 6th week of RT and 1-month post-RT time points, after controlling for baseline scores (p0.05). Each 1Gy increase in medulla Dmax resulted in an increase in total MFI-20 score over baseline of 0.30 (p=0.026), and 0.25 (p=0.037), at the 6th week of RT and 1-month post-RT, respectively. Each 1Gy increase in brainstem Dmax resulted in an increase in total MFI-20 score over baseline of 0.30 (p=0.027), and 0.25 (p=0.037) at the 6th week of RT, 1-month post-RT, respectively. Statistically significant associations were not found between dosimetry for the other CNS structures and MFI-20 scores.In this analysis of PRO fatigue scores from a population of patients undergoing definitive RT for HNC, maximum dose to the brainstem and medulla was associated with a significantly increased risk of acute patient fatigue.

349527 Background: Symptoms are common during cancer care but often go undetected. Digital systems that elicit patient-reported outcomes (PRO) surveys may detect symptoms early and prompt clinicians to intervene, thereby alleviating suffering and averting complications. Methods: In a cluster-randomized trial, U.S.-based community oncology practices were randomized 1:1 to digital symptom monitoring with PRO surveys, or to usual care control. Patients receiving systemic treatment for metastatic cancer were eligible. At PRO practices, participants were invited to complete a weekly survey via web or automated telephone system for up to one year, including questions about nine common symptoms, performance status, and falls. Severe or worsening symptoms triggered electronic alerts to care team nurses, and reports showing longitudinal symptom data were available to oncologists at visits. Pre-specified secondary outcomes included impact on physical function, symptom control, and health-related quality of life (HRQL). The primary outcome of survival is not yet mature. Results: At 52 practices, 1,191 patients were eligible and enrolled (593 PRO; 598 control). Clinically meaningful benefits were experienced in physical function by 13.8% more patients with PRO versus control (P=0.009); symptom control by 16.1% (P=0.003); and HRQL by 13.4% (P=0.006). Mean changes from baseline were superior with PRO versus control for physical function (mean difference 2.47, 95% CI 0.41-4.53; P=0.02), symptom control (2.56, 0.95-4.17; P=0.002), and HRQL (2.43, 0.90-3.96; P=0.002). Patients completed 20,565/22,486 (91.5%) of expected weekly PRO surveys. Conclusions: Digital symptom monitoring during cancer treatment confers clinical benefits. Clinical trial information: NCT03249090.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) To report the PROs of a phase III randomized trial evaluating TAS combined with dose-escalated RT for patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer. MATERIALS/METHODS Eligible patients had intermediate risk prostate cancer defined as harboring ≥ 1 of these risk factors: clinical stage T2b-T2c, Gleason score 7, or PSA > 10 to ≤ 20 ng/mL. Patients were randomized to dose-escalated RT alone (Arm 1) or RT plus TAS (Arm 2) consisting of LHRH agonist/antagonist with oral antiandrogen for 6 months. Validated PROs included the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC-50) and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Fatigue short form. PRO change scores, calculated for each patient as the follow-up score minus baseline score (at end of RT, 6, 12, and 60 months from start of RT) were compared between treatment arms using a two-sample t test. An effect size (ES) of 0.50 SD (standard deviation) of the baseline measure was considered clinically meaningful. For the PRO sample size, 200 patients per arm would provide 90% statistical power to detect an ES < 0.50 if the completion rate was only 60%. Mixed effect regression models were also utilized. Clinical outcomes are reported in a separate abstract. RESULTS Of the 402 initial planned subset of trial patients who completed baseline PROs, PRO compliance was approximately 96%, 89%, 86% and 87% at end of RT, 6, 12 and 60 months, respectively. There were no significant differences between these 402 patients and the remaining patients on this trial with respect to age, race, performance status, # risk factors, or comorbidity score. While EPIC urinary and bowel scores decreased significantly by the end of RT in both arms, no clinically meaningful differences between arms were detected over time. For the EPIC hormonal and sexual domains, however, there were clinically meaningful differences between the two arms with greater (P < 0.0001) deficits in the RT + TAS arm. These differences improved over time, with ∼50% resolution by one year after treatment and no clinically meaningful differences by 5 years between arms. PROMIS-fatigue scores increased from baseline in both arms and were significantly higher in arm 2 at the end of RT (P = 0.016), though slightly lower at 12 and 60 months. CONCLUSION The addition of TAS to dose-escalated RT demonstrated significant clinically meaningful declines in the EPIC hormonal and sexual domains, and increases in the PROMIS-fatigue scores, compared to RT alone. These scores gradually improved over time, with no clinically meaningful differences between arms in fatigue by one year, or in hormonal and sexual domains by 5 years. Beyond the clinical outcomes, these PRO results directly from patients provide added value to help patients make informed decisions among treatment options.

Purpose/Objective(s) Androgen suppression can improve outcomes when added to radiotherapy (RT) for intermediate risk prostate cancer, but no study to date has reported its utility in the context of contemporary, dose-escalated RT. Herein, the clinical outcomes of a phase III prospective trial evaluating the utility of total androgen suppression (TAS) combined with dose-escalated RT for patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer are reported. Materials/Methods Eligible patients had intermediate risk prostate cancer defined as harboring ≥ 1 of the following risk factors: clinical stage T2b-T2c, Gleason score 7, or PSA value > 10 and ≤ 20 ng/mL. Patients with all three risk factors and ≥ 50% of biopsy cores positive were ineligible. After stratification by number of intermediate risk factors (single vs. multiple), RT boost modality, and baseline comorbidity (ACE-27 comorbidity index ≥ vs. Results The study completed its accrual objective. Between 2009 and 2016, 1538 patients were randomized. There were 750 eligible patients on Arm 1 and 742 on Arm 2 comprising the modified intent-to-treat population. 67% had a single intermediate risk factor. 88% were treated with EBRT with the remainder receiving EBRT plus brachytherapy boost. 33% had an ACE-27 score ≥ grade 2. With a median follow up of 6.2 years, 219 deaths occurred, 119 in Arm 1 and 100 in Arm 2, yielding 5-year overall survival estimates of 90% vs. 91%, respectively [HR 0.85 (95% CI 0.65-1.11); P = 0.22]. 193 patients experienced PSA failure, 125 in Arm 1 and 68 in Arm 2 [HR 0.52 (0.39-0.70); P Conclusion While the addition of TAS to dose-escalated RT did not improve overall survival for men with intermediate risk prostate cancer, significant improvements in rates of metastases, deaths due to prostate cancer, and PSA failures support the continued use of combination dose-escalated RT and TAS. Benefits will need to be weighed against the increased risk of adverse events and the patient reported outcomes analysis.

BACKGROUND NRG-CC001 sought to evaluate the neuro-protective effects of avoiding the peri-hippocampal stem cell niche using intensity-modulated radiotherapy during WBRT. METHODS Patients with brain metastasis were stratified by RPA class and prior radiosurgery/surgery and randomized to WBRT+M or HA-WBRT+ Memantine (M) (30Gy in 10 fractions). Standardized NCF tests and the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory Brain Tumor (MDASI-BT) were obtained at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 12 months (mos). The primary endpoint was NCF failure defined using the reliable change index. Pre-specified secondary endpoints included patient-reported symptoms using the MDASI-BT. Time to NCF was reported as cumulative incidence (with death without NCF failure as a competing risk); between-arms differences were tested using Gray’s test. Deterioration at discrete time-points were tested using chi-square tests. MDASI-BT symptom burden, interference, and cognitive and neurologic burden were analyzed using mixed effects models and t-tests within the model using Hochberg’s multiplicity adjustment. RESULTS A total of 518 patients were randomized from 7/2016 to 3/2018. Median follow-up for alive patients was 12.1 mos, with no difference between arms in terms of toxicity, overall survival or intracranial progression-free survival. HA-WBRT+M was associated with lower risk of NCF failure (adjusted HR=0.739, 95% CI: 0.577–0.945, p=0.0.016), with differences first noted at 4 mos in Trail Making Test Part-B (23.3% vs. 40.4% deteriorated, p=0.012). Age did not dilute treatment effect. HA-WBRT+M was associated with reduced cognitive symptom burden in an imputed model (estimate=-0.29, p=0.0425), and also reduced overall symptom burden (p< 0.0001) and interference (p< 0.0016) at 6 mos. CONCLUSIONS The addition of HA to WBRT+M preserved NCF and reduced patient reported cognitive symptom burden, overall symptom burden and symptom interference and should be considered standard of care for any patient fit enough to have WBRT. Supported by grants UG1CA189867 (NCORP), U10CA180868 (NRG Oncology Operations), DCP from the National Cancer Institute.