Adherence and persistence to drug therapies for multiple sclerosis: A population-based study

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to estimate the prevalence and predictors of optimal adherence and persistence to the disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS) in 3 Canadian provinces.

METHODS

We used population-based administrative databases in British Columbia (BC), Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. All individuals receiving DMT (interferon-B-1b, interferon-B-1a, and glatiramer acetate) between 1-January-1996 and 31-December-2011 (BC), 31-March-2014 (Saskatchewan), or 31-March-2012 (Manitoba) were included. One-year adherence was estimated using the proportion of days covered (PDC). Persistence was defined as time to DMT discontinuation. Regression models were used to assess predictors of adherence and persistence; results were pooled using random effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

4830 individuals were included. When results were combined, an estimated 76.4% (95% CI: 69.1-82.4%) of subjects exhibited optimal adherence (PDC ≥80%). Median time to discontinuation of the initial DMT was 1.9 years (95% CI: 1.6-2.1) in Manitoba, 2.8 years (95% CI: 2.5-3.0) in BC, and 4.0 years (95% CI: 3.5-4.6) in Saskatchewan. Age, sex and socioeconomic status were not associated with adherence or persistence. Individuals who had ≥4 physician visits during the year prior to the first DMT dispensation were more likely to exhibit optimal adherence compared to those with fewer (0-3) physician visits.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed adherence that is higher than what has been reported for other chronic diseases, and other non-population-based MS cohorts. Closer examination as to why adherence appears to be relatively better in MS and how adherence influences disease outcomes could contribute to our understanding of MS, and prove useful in the management of other chronic diseases.

Examining the effects of comorbidities on disease-modifying therapy use in multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE

Comorbidities are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and adversely affect health outcomes. However, the effect of comorbidity on treatment decisions in MS remains unknown. We aimed to examine the effects of comorbidity on initiation of injectable disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and on the choice of the initial DMT in MS.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational analysis using population-based health administrative and linked clinical databases in 3 Canadian provinces. MS cases were defined as any individual with ≥3 diagnostic codes for MS. Cohort entry (index date) was the first recorded demyelinating disease-related claim. The outcomes included choice of initial first-line DMTs and time to initiating a DMT. Logistic and Cox regression models were used to examine the association between comorbidity status and study outcomes, adjusting for sex, age, year of index date, and socioeconomic status. Meta-analysis was used to estimate overall effects across the 3 provinces.

RESULTS

We identified 10,698 persons with incident MS, half of whom had ≥1 comorbidities. As the total number of comorbidities increased, the likelihood of initiating a DMT decreased. Comorbid anxiety and ischemic heart disease were associated with reduced initiation of a DMT. However, patients with depression were 13% more likely to initiate a DMT compared to those without depression at the index date (adjusted hazard ratio 1.13; 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.27).

CONCLUSIONS

Comorbidities are associated with treatment decisions regarding DMTs in MS. A better understanding of the effects of comorbidity on effectiveness and safety of DMTs is needed.

Abstract S1-08: High risk premenopausal luminal A breast cancer patients derive no benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy: Results from DBCG77B randomized trial

Aim: To determine the predictive value of intrinsic subtypes for response to adjuvant chemotherapy using specimens from a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Several studies have shown distinct clinical profiles of intrinsic breast cancer subtypes. The Luminal A subtype has a favorable prognosis with higher survival rate and lower recurrence in comparison to other breast cancer subtypes (luminal B, HER2 and basal-like). In addition, there is mounting evidence suggesting that intrinsic breast cancer subtypes differ in their responsiveness to adjuvant chemotherapy. Based on these data, we hypothesized that Luminal A breast cancer patients derive no benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy whereas other intrinsic subtypes do. Randomized breast cancer trials with a no chemotherapy arm and available tissues are rare, but represent the best materials to test for markers predicting chemotherapy benefit. The 77B clinical trial from the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG) offers a unique opportunity to test such hypotheses as it randomized 1146 premenopausal women, who had positive axillary lymph nodes or tumors >5 cm, to two chemotherapy arms (single-agent oral cyclophosphamide, or cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-fluorouracil (CMF)), and two no chemotherapy arms (levamisole, or no agent). All arms included radiotherapy but no endocrine therapy.

Methods: We performed a full intrinsic subtype analysis on the 709 breast cancers available from DBCG77B on tissue microarrays using previously published, locked-down immunohistochemical (IHC) methods and intrinsic subtype definitions based on ER, PR, HER2, Ki67 and basal markers (Prat et al. JCO 2014). Biomarker scoring was performed in Vancouver by researchers with no access to the clinical database. A full statistical plan was prespecified in the Material Transfer Agreement and executed accordingly by the DBCG Statistical Office. 10-year invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) was the primary end point in DBCG77B; overall survival was also a predefined endpoint. The primary hypothesis was to assess interaction between benefit of chemotherapy (chemotherapy yes vs no) and subtype (Luminal A vs non-luminal A). This was analyzed in multivariate Cox proportional hazards models using the Wald test for interaction.

Results: 709 patients had tissue available and completed IHC intrinsic subtyping. The effect of chemotherapy in this subset of patients was similar to the original trial: hazard ratio 0.56, favoring chemotherapy for 10-yr IDFS. IHC classified 165 as luminal A, 319 luminal B, 58 HER2E and 91 as triple negative (including 82 core basal). Patients with luminal A breast tumors did not benefit from chemotherapy (HR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.53-2.14, p = 0.86), whereas patients with non-luminal A subtypes did (HR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.38-0.66, p < 0.001). This heterogeneity was statistically significant (p=0.048). A similar trend for 25-yr OS was seen, although not significant.

Conclusions: In a formal prospective-retrospective analysis of the DBCG 77B study randomizing women to adjuvant cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy vs. no chemotherapy arms, patients with non-luminal A breast tumors (defined by IHC), but not luminal A tumors, benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Citation Format: Nielsen TO, Jensen [lrm] M-B, Gao D, Leung S, Burugu S, Liu S, Tykjær Jørgensen CL, Balslev E, Ejlertsen B. High risk premenopausal luminal A breast cancer patients derive no benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy: Results from DBCG77B randomized trial. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr S1-08.

Differences in the burden of psychiatric comorbidity in MS vs the general population

Objective:

We aimed to compare the incidence and prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in the multiple sclerosis (MS) population and in controls matched for age, sex, and geographic area.

Methods:

Using population-based administrative health data from 4 Canadian provinces, we identified 2 cohorts: 44,452 persons with MS and 220,849 controls matched for age, sex, and geographic area. We applied validated case definitions to estimate the incidence and prevalence of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia from 1995 to 2005. We pooled the results across provinces using meta-analyses.

Results:

Of the MS cases, 31,757 (71.3%) were women with a mean (SD) age at the index date of 43.8 (13.7) years. In 2005, the annual incidence of depression per 100,000 persons with MS was 979 while the incidence of anxiety was 638, of bipolar disorder was 328, and of schizophrenia was 60. The incidence and prevalence estimates of all conditions were higher in the MS population than in the matched population. Although the incidence of depression was higher among women than men in both populations, the disparity in the incidence rates between the sexes was lower in the MS population (incidence rate ratio 1.26; 95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.49) than in the matched population (incidence rate ratio 1.50; 95% confidence interval: 1.21–1.86). Incidence rates were stable over time while prevalence increased slightly.

Conclusions:

Psychiatric comorbidity is common in MS, and more frequently affected the MS population than a matched population, although the incidence was stable over time. Men with MS face a disproportionately greater relative burden of depression when they develop MS than women.

Determination of the optimal case definition for the diagnosis of end-stage renal disease from administrative claims data in Manitoba, Canada

INTRODUCTION

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a major public health problem with increasing prevalence and costs. An understanding of the long-term trends in dialysis rates and outcomes can help inform health policy. We determined the optimal case definition for the diagnosis of ESRD using administrative claims data in the province of Manitoba over a 7-year period.

METHODS

We determined the sensitivity, specificity, predictive value and overall accuracy of 4 administrative case definitions for the diagnosis of ESRD requiring chronic dialysis over different time horizons from Jan. 1, 2004, to Mar. 31, 2011. The Manitoba Renal Program Database served as the gold standard for confirming dialysis status.

RESULTS

During the study period, 2562 patients were registered as recipients of chronic dialysis in the Manitoba Renal Program Database. Over a 1-year period (2010), the optimal case definition was any 2 claims for outpatient dialysis, and it was 74.6% sensitive (95% confidence interval [CI] 72.3%-76.9%) and 94.4% specific (95% CI 93.6%-95.2%) for the diagnosis of ESRD. In contrast, a case definition of at least 2 claims for dialysis treatment more than 90 days apart was 64.8% sensitive (95% CI 62.2%-67.3%) and 97.1% specific (95% CI 96.5%-97.7%). Extending the period to 5 years greatly improved sensitivity for all case definitions, with minimal change to specificity; for example, for the optimal case definition of any 2 claims for dialysis treatment, sensitivity increased to 86.0% (95% CI 84.7%-87.4%) at 5 years.

CONCLUSION

Accurate case definitions for the diagnosis of ESRD requiring dialysis can be derived from administrative claims data. The optimal definition required any 2 claims for outpatient dialysis. Extending the claims period to 5 years greatly improved sensitivity with minimal effects on specificity for all case definitions.

A clinically applicable molecular-based classification for endometrial cancers

BACKGROUND

Classification of endometrial carcinomas (ECs) by morphologic features is inconsistent, and yields limited prognostic and predictive information. A new system for classification based on the molecular categories identified in The Cancer Genome Atlas is proposed.

METHODS

Genomic data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) support classification of endometrial carcinomas into four prognostically significant subgroups; we used the TCGA data set to develop surrogate assays that could replicate the TCGA classification, but without the need for the labor-intensive and cost-prohibitive genomic methodology. Combinations of the most relevant assays were carried forward and tested on a new independent cohort of 152 endometrial carcinoma cases, and molecular vs clinical risk group stratification was compared.

RESULTS

Replication of TCGA survival curves was achieved with statistical significance using multiple different molecular classification models (16 total tested). Internal validation supported carrying forward a classifier based on the following components: mismatch repair protein immunohistochemistry, POLE mutational analysis and p53 immunohistochemistry as a surrogate for 'copy-number' status. The proposed molecular classifier was associated with clinical outcomes, as was stage, grade, lymph-vascular space invasion, nodal involvement and adjuvant treatment. In multivariable analysis both molecular classification and clinical risk groups were associated with outcomes, but differed greatly in composition of cases within each category, with half of POLE and mismatch repair loss subgroups residing within the clinically defined 'high-risk' group. Combining the molecular classifier with clinicopathologic features or risk groups provided the highest C-index for discrimination of outcome survival curves.

CONCLUSIONS

Molecular classification of ECs can be achieved using clinically applicable methods on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples, and provides independent prognostic information beyond established risk factors. This pragmatic molecular classification tool has potential to be used routinely in guiding treatment for individuals with endometrial carcinoma and in stratifying cases in future clinical trials.

Effect of comorbidity on mortality in multiple sclerosis

Objective:

We aimed to compare survival in the multiple sclerosis (MS) population with a matched cohort from the general population, and to evaluate the association of comorbidity with survival in both populations.

Methods:

Using population-based administrative data, we identified 5,797 persons with MS and 28,807 controls matched on sex, year of birth, and region. We estimated annual mortality rates. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we evaluated the association between comorbidity status and mortality, stratifying by birth cohort, and adjusting for sex, socioeconomic status, and region. We compared causes of death between populations.

Results:

Median survival from birth in the MS population was 75.9 years vs 83.4 years in the matched population. MS was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio 2.40; 95% confidence interval: 2.24–2.58). Several comorbidities were associated with increased hazard of death in both populations, including diabetes, ischemic heart disease, depression, anxiety, and chronic lung disease. The magnitude of the associations of mortality with chronic lung disease, diabetes, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease was lower in the MS population than the matched population. The most common causes of death in the MS population were diseases of the nervous system and diseases of the circulatory system. Mortality rates due to infectious diseases and diseases of the respiratory system were higher in the MS population.

Conclusion:

In the MS population, survival remained shorter than expected. Within the MS population, comorbidity was associated with increased mortality risk. However, comorbidity did not preferentially increase mortality risk in the MS population as compared with controls.

Spatial auditory regularity encoding and prediction: Human middle-latency and long-latency auditory evoked potentials

By encoding acoustic regularities present in the environment, the human brain can generate predictions of what is likely to occur next. Recent studies suggest that deviations from encoded regularities are detected within 10-50ms after stimulus onset, as indicated by electrophysiological effects in the middle latency response (MLR) range. This is upstream of previously known long-latency (LLR) signatures of deviance detection such as the mismatch negativity (MMN) component. In the present study, we created predictable and unpredictable contexts to investigate MLR and LLR signatures of the encoding of spatial auditory regularities and the generation of predictions from these regularities. Chirps were monaurally delivered in an either regular (predictable: left-right-left-right) or a random (unpredictable left/right alternation or repetition) manner. Occasional stimulus omissions occurred in both types of sequences. Results showed that the Na component (peaking at 34ms after stimulus onset) was attenuated for regular relative to random chirps, albeit no differences were observed for stimulus omission responses in the same latency range. In the LLR range, larger chirp-and omission-evoked responses were elicited for the regular than for the random condition, and predictability effects were more prominent over the right hemisphere. We discuss our findings in the framework of a hierarchical organization of spatial regularity encoding. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Prediction and Attention.

Detection of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiencies by immunohistochemistry can effectively diagnose the microsatellite instability (MSI) phenotype in endometrial carcinomas

BACKGROUND

A proportion of endometrial carcinomas (ECs) are associated with deficient DNA mismatch repair (MMR). These tumors are characterized by high levels of microsatellite instability (MSI). Identification of MSI is important in identifying women who should be tested for Lynch syndrome and identifying a phenotype that may have specific prognostic and predictive implications. Genomic characterization of ECs has shown that MSI tumors form a distinct subgroup. The two most common methodologies for MSI assessment have not been compared in EC.

METHODS

Pentaplex mono and di-nucleotide PCR for MSI testing was compared to MMR IHC (presence/absence of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2) in a cohort of patients with EC. Concordance, Kappa statistic, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were obtained on the cross-tabulation of results.

RESULTS

Comparison of both MSI and MMR status was complete for 89 cases. Overall agreement between methods (concordance) was 93.3% (95% CI[85.9%-97.5%]). A one-sided test to determine whether the accuracy is better than the "no information rate," which is taken to be the largest class percentage in the data, is significant (p<0.00001). Unweighted Kappa was 0.84, along with the sensitivity (88.5%), specificity (95.2%), PPV (88.5%), and NPV (95.2%). The balanced accuracy (i.e. the average between sensitivity and specificity) was 92%.

DISCUSSION

We show the equivalence of MSI testing and MMR IHC. We advocate the implementation of MMR IHC in future EC classification schemes, enabling stratification of cases for future clinical trials as well as assisting identification of Lynch syndrome, so that screening and risk reducing interventions can be undertaken.

Heterogeneity in risk of pelvic inflammatory diseases after chlamydia infection: a population-based study in Manitoba, Canada

BACKGROUND

The association between chlamydia infection and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a key parameter for models evaluating the impact of chlamydia control programs. We quantified this association using a retrospective population-based cohort.

METHODS

We used administrative health data sets to construct a retrospective population-based cohort of women and girls aged 12-24 years who were resident in Manitoba, Canada, between 1992 and 1996. We performed survival analysis on a subcohort of individuals who were tested for chlamydia to estimate the risk of PID diagnosed in a primary care, outpatient, or inpatient setting after ≥ 1 positive chlamydia test.

RESULTS

A total of 73 883 individuals contributed 625 621 person years of follow-up. Those with a diagnosis of chlamydia had an increased risk of PID over their reproductive lifetime compared with those who tested negative (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-1.70). This risk increased with each subsequent infection: the AHR was 1.17 for first reinfection (95% CI, 1.06-1.30) and 1.35 for the second (95% CI, 1.04-1.75). The increased risk of PID from reinfection was highest in younger individuals (AHR, 4.55 (95% CI, 3.59-5.78) in individuals aged 12-15 years at the time of their second reinfection, compared with individuals older than 30 years).

CONCLUSIONS

There is heterogeneity in the risk of PID after a chlamydia infection. Describing the progression to PID in mathematical models as an average rate may be an oversimplification; more accurate estimates of the cost-effectiveness of screening may be obtained by using an individual-based measure of risk. Health inequalities may be reduced by targeting health promotion interventions at sexually active girls younger than 16 years and those with a history of chlamydia.

Secular trends in end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis in Manitoba, Canada: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis is expensive and is associated with disproportionately poor health outcomes and quality of life. Understanding regional long-term secular trends in the incidence and prevalence of dialysis will allow for the alignment of appropriate and efficient delivery of care. The primary objective of this study was to describe long-term secular and geographic trends in ESRD over a 22-year period in a single-provider Canadian health care setting.

METHODS

Using a previously validated case definition, we described the annual incidence and prevalence of ESRD in Manitoba from 1989 to 2010, stratified by age, sex and geographic location within the province.

RESULTS

We searched more than 1.2 million records within the Manitoba Health repository. We identified 9489 patients in the Manitoba Health Physician Claims database with at least 1 claim for dialysis from 1989 through Mar. 31, 2010. Using the case definition of any 2 dialysis treatment claims, the total annual incidence of ESRD increased 2.5-fold from 15.8 to 40.2 per 100 000 during the study period. Of note, the northern rural portions of the province saw a 12-fold unadjusted increase in ESRD, from 8.1 per 100 000 in 1989 to 96.3 per 100 000 in 2009.

INTERPRETATION

The incidence and prevalence of ESRD is increasing in Manitoba, most notably in the north of the province. Innovative interventions, such as primary screening and treatment initiatives, should specially target northern rural regions.

Baclofen for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence and Possible Role of Comorbid Anxiety

AIM

To conduct a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of baclofen in the treatment of alcohol dependence.

METHODS

Out of 69 participants consecutively screened, 42 alcohol-dependent patients were randomized to receive placebo, baclofen 30 mg/day or baclofen 60 mg/day for 12 weeks. All subjects were offered BRENDA, a structured psychosocial therapy for alcohol dependence that seeks to improve motivation for change, enhance strategies to prevent relapse and encourage compliance with treatment.

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat analyses revealed that alcohol consumption (heavy drinking days, drinks per drinking day) significantly reduced across all three groups during the treatment period. There were no statistically significant advantages to treatment on time to first heavy drinking day (relapse) (P = 0.08), nor time to first drink (lapse) (P = 0.18). A post hoc analysis stratifying according to whether there had been a comorbid anxiety disorder, revealed a beneficial effect of baclofen 30 mg/day versus placebo on time to lapse and relapse (P < 0.05). There was also a beneficial effect for baclofen 60 mg/day relative to placebo on time to relapse in this comorbid group (P < 0.05). Both doses of baclofen were well tolerated. There were no serious adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

In spite of the small sample for a 3-arm clinical trial, this study suggests a specific role of baclofen in alcohol-dependent individuals with comorbid anxiety. Replication in larger, fully-powered studies is required.

Prevalence and incidence of ischemic heart disease in multiple sclerosis: A population-based validation study

BACKGROUND

Studies suggest an altered risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in multiple sclerosis (MS), but data are limited. We aimed to validate and apply administrative case definitions to estimate the incidence and prevalence of IHD in MS.

METHODS

Using administrative data we identified persons with incident MS (MSPOP) and a matched general population (GPOP) cohort. We developed case definitions for IHD using ICD-9/10 codes and prescription claims, compared them to medical records, then applied them to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of IHD.

RESULTS

Agreement between medical records and the administrative definition using ≥1 hospital or ≥2 physician claims over 5 years was moderate (kappa=0.66; 95% CI: 0.42-0.90). In 2005, the age-standardized prevalence of IHD was 6.77% (95% CI: 5.48-8.07%) in the MSPOP and 6.11% (95% CI: 5.56-6.66%) in the GPOP. The prevalence of IHD was higher in the MSPOP than the GPOP among persons aged 20-44 years (prevalence ratio 1.87; 95% CI: 1.65-2.12) and aged 45-59 years (prevalence ratio 1.21; 95% CI: 1.08-1.35). The incidence of IHD was also higher in the MSPOP (incidence rate ratio 1.24; 95% CI: 0.97-1.59).

CONCLUSIONS

More than 5% of the MSPOP has IHD. The incidence of IHD was higher than expected in persons aged <60 years. Further evaluation of this issue is warranted.

Mental comorbidity and multiple sclerosis: validating administrative data to support population-based surveillance

Background

While mental comorbidity is considered common in multiple sclerosis (MS), its impact is poorly defined; methods are needed to support studies of mental comorbidity. We validated and applied administrative case definitions for any mental comorbidities in MS.

Methods

Using administrative health data we identified persons with MS and a matched general population cohort. Administrative case definitions for any mental comorbidity, any mood disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia were developed and validated against medical records using a a kappa statistic (k). Using these definitions we estimated the prevalence of these comorbidities in the study populations.

Results

Compared to medical records, administrative definitions showed moderate agreement for any mental comorbidity, mood disorders and depression (all k ≥ 0.49), fair agreement for anxiety (k = 0.23) and bipolar disorder (k = 0.30), and near perfect agreement for schizophrenia (k = 1.0). The age-standardized prevalence of all mental comorbidities was higher in the MS than in the general populations: depression (31.7% vs. 20.5%), anxiety (35.6% vs. 29.6%), and bipolar disorder (5.83% vs. 3.45%), except for schizophrenia (0.93% vs. 0.93%).

Conclusions

Administrative data are a valid means of surveillance of mental comorbidity in MS. The prevalence of mental comorbidities, except schizophrenia, is increased in MS compared to the general population.

Abstract P6-07-10: Luminal A vs. Basal-like Breast Cancer: time dependent changes in the risk of relapse in the absence of treatment

Background: Numerous retrospective analyses of prospective randomized clinical trials of patients treated with adjuvant tamoxifen and chemotherapy have demonstrated that the breast cancer intrinsic subtype Luminal A tumors generally have favorable early initial outcomes, while basal-like tumors are associated with a marked risk of early relapse. To determine the extended natural history of the intrinsic subtypes across two decades of follow up the PAM50 “non-commercial open source bioinformatics” qPCR assay was conducted on node negative tumors accrued through the Cooperative Breast Cancer Tissue Registry (CBCTR) from patients who did not receive systemic therapy.

Methods: Intrinsic subtype calls were obtained from 331 CBCTR cases treated with local interventions only. Tumors were classified into Luminal A (LumA), Luminal B (LumB), HER2-enriched (HER2-E) and Basal-like (BLBC), and correlated relapse-free (RFS). Patient survival and hazard rate were estimated using Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank test. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to determine the significance of the intrinsic subtypes, adjusted with standard clinicopathological variables including tumor size, age at diagnosis, grade, radiation therapy treatment, centralized reviewed estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor 2 status measured by immunohistochemistry. Patients were diagnosed from 1978 to 1992, with a mean follow-up time of 13 years (range 0.5–31).

Results: Of the 331 tumors tested, 51% of cases were classified as LumA, 18% as LumB, 11% as HER2-E and 20% as BLBC. Although LumA was associated with the best outcome for the first 10-year of follow-up, the final number of RFS events were eventually comparable with those observed for BLBC with prolonged follow up (Table 1). In the multivariable Cox model, only BLBC tumors were associated with worse prognosis than LumA with borderline significance (Hazard ratio: 2.0 (95% CI 0.9–5), p = 0.07). BLBC had the highest hazard rates for the first 5 years (7% at first year to 5% at 5 yr), consistent with previous observations. Interestingly, in the absence of treatment, the slow growing LumA subtype had a gradual increase of hazard for an RFS event from 3% at 5 yrs to 4% at 10 yrs to 7% at 20 yrs. The hazard rates of LumA cross with those of BLBC at 10 years.

Detailed deletion mapping on the short arm of chromosome-3 in nasopharyngeal carcinomas

Allelic loss on the short arm of chromosome 3 is one of the most consistent molecular genetic alterations observed in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Detailed mapping of the region of common deletion on chromosome 3p will help to locate the site of candidate tumor suppressor gene(s) involved in the pathogenesis of NPC. We have examined allelic deletion in 27 primary undifferentiated NPC at 11 chromosomal loci (spanning from 3p13-3p25) using microsatellite polymorphic markers. Allelic loss was observed in 18 of 27 primary tumors (67%) when comparing tumor DNA with normal constitutional DNA of the same patient. Among these 18 cases, 10 showed allelic loss in all informative loci of chromosome 3p and 8 showed partial or interstitial deletion, The highest frequency of allelic loss was found in three loci, D3S1038 (52%), D3S1228 (50%) and D3S659 (50%). In 5 of the 8 cases with partial deletion of chromosome 3p, a common deletion region within 3p13 to 3p14.3, flanked by two loci, D3S1079 (3p13) proximally and D3S1228 (3p14.1-14.3) distally, was identified. These results suggest strongly the presence of tumor suppressor gene(s) within the 3p13 to 3p14.3 region, the deletion of which represent a critical event in the development of NPC. In the remaining 3 cases with partial chromosomal deletion, the pattern of allelic loss suggests the presence of two other regions of deletion distal to the commonly deleted region (3p13-14.3) identified. The presence of multiple deleted regions on chromosome 3p in NPC suggests that more than one tumor suppressor gene on 3p may be involved in the development of NPC.

The incidence and prevalence of thyroid disease do not differ in the multiple sclerosis and general populations: a validation study using administrative data

BACKGROUND

Prior studies of a possible increased risk of autoimmune thyroid disease (AIT) in multiple sclerosis (MS) are inconsistent. We aimed to validate and apply administrative case definitions for the surveillance of AIT in MS.

METHODS

We used administrative health data to identify 4,192 persons with MS and an age-, sex- and geographically matched general population cohort (n = 20,940). We developed case definitions for AIT using International Classification of Disease-9/10 codes and prescription claims, compared them to medical records and applied them to estimate the incidence and prevalence of AIT.

RESULTS

When compared to medical records, the administrative case definition using ≥1 hospital or ≥2 physician or ≥2 prescription claims had a sensitivity of 73.5% and specificity of 98.4%. In 2005, the age-adjusted prevalence of AIT was 9.51% [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.46-10.6] in the MS population and 8.56% (95% CI 8.11-9.02) in the general population. The age-adjusted incidence of AIT per 100,000 persons per year was 422.8 (95% CI 204.4-641.3) in the MS population and 407.7 (95% CI 308.5-506.9) in the general population. From 1996 to 2005, the prevalence of AIT rose in both populations.

CONCLUSION

Administrative data can be used for surveillance of AIT in MS. The incidence and prevalence of thyroid disease are similar in the MS and general populations.