Abstract B85: Racial differences in the risk of serrated polyps and conventional adenomas in a younger aged, uninsured population in South Carolina

Compared to European Americans (EA), African Americans (AA) have higher colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and are diagnosed with CRC at younger ages. The reasons for these disparities are poorly understood, but one contributing factor could be reduced access to high-quality preventative care. To address CRC disparities, this study assessed whether a racial difference in risk of large bowel polyps (precursors to most CRC) persists within a younger-aged, uninsured population in South Carolina (SC) undergoing screening colonscopy. We analyzed data from a multi-site statewide CRC screening program in SC to explore the risk of large bowel polyps among AA and EA. Eligible patients were uninsured, asymptomatic, had no personal history of colorectal neoplasia, and were between the ages 45-64 years (AA) or 50-64 years (EA). Using generalized linear regression, we estimated risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) as measures of the association between race and risk for one or more conventional adenomas or serrated polyps adjusting for age, sex, family history of CRC, and clinical site. Serrated polyps (SP) were defined as one or more hyperplastic polyps, sessile serrated adenomas, traditional serrated adenomas, and mixed adenomatous polyps. SP were first classified in a single category since not all project pathologists used up-to-date pathologic terminology and there was a high-level of variability among clinical sites in use of newer SP categories (i.e., sessile, traditional adenomas). Serrated adenomas included any SP with serrated adenomatous features (sessile, traditional, or mixed). Advanced SP were defined as SP with large size (an estimated ≥ 1 cm). Conventional adenomas (CA) were defined as tubular, tubulovillous, or villous polyps. Advanced CA were defined as adenomas with at least 25% villous component (TVA), high-grade dysplasia (HGD), or large size. We also stratified polyps separately according to colonic region (proximal or distal colorectum), large size, and advanced CA histology (TVA, HGD). Of the 237 subjects enrolled (127 AA, 91 EA, 19 other), 233 had a complete exam (i.e., to the cecum). Our results suggested a lower risk of SP among AA compared to EA: any SP (RR 0.50 (95% CI 0.30-0.84)), any serrated adenoma (RR 0.35 (95% CI 0.11-1.14)), and any large SP (RR 0.27 (95% CI 0.09-0.85)). Although not always statistically significant, the trend in the results indicate that the risk of CA was higher in AA compared to EA: any CA 1.17 (95% CI 0.77-1.79), large CA 2.16 (95% CI 0.70-6.66), proximal large CA 4.24 (95% CI 1.0-18.01), and any advanced CA 1.38 (95% CI 0.55-3.42). In patients under 55 years of age (median age), AA compared to EA had higher risk of advanced CA histology lesions RR 4.11 (95% 1.05 -16.11), but otherwise risks were similar in the age groups. Overall, our findings suggest that it is important to consider type of polyp and age when assessing risk in different racial groups. Our results in this unique study population are consistent with an earlier study showing that AA have a lower risk of metachronous SP and among younger patients, an increased risk of conventional adenomas, especially advanced lesions. The persistence of these observations within a study population comprised of all medically underserved individuals implies that the unique features of the epidemiology of colorectal neoplasia in AA cannot be completely attributed to access to care barriers.

Citation Format: Kristin Wallace, Anthony Alberg, Bridgette Blankenship, Heather Brandt, Renay Caldwell, James Dunn, Patricia Hegedus, Brenda Hoffman, Courtney Marsh, March Seabrook, Marylou Stinson, Annie Thibault, Franklin Berger. Racial differences in the risk of serrated polyps and conventional adenomas in a younger aged, uninsured population in South Carolina. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B85.

Psycho-oncology assessment in Chinese populations: a systematic review of quality of life and psychosocial measures

This systematic review describes psychosocial and quality of life (QOL) measures used in psycho-oncology research with cancer patients and caregivers in China. Medline and PsycINFO databases were searched (1980-2014). Studies reviewed met the following criteria: English language; peer-reviewed; sampled Chinese cancer patients/caregivers; developed, validated or assessed psychometric properties of psychosocial or QOL outcome measures; and reported validation data. The review examined characteristics of measures and participants, translation and cultural adaptation processes and psychometric properties of the measures. Ninety five studies met review criteria. Common characteristics of studies reviewed were they: assessed primarily QOL measures, sampled patients with breast, colorectal, or head and neck cancer, and validated existing measures (>80%) originating in North America or Europe. Few studies reported difficulties translating measures. Regarding psychometric properties of the measures >50% of studies reported subscale reliabilities <α = 0.70, <50% reported test-retest reliability, and <30% reported divergent validity. Few reported sensitivity, specificity or responsiveness. Improved accuracy and transparency of reporting for translation, cultural adaptation and psychometric testing of psychosocial measures is needed. Developing support structures for translating and validating psychosocial measures would enable this and ensure Chinese psycho-oncology clinical practice and research keeps pace with international focus on patient reported outcome measures and data management.

PD-L1 protein expression in breast cancer is rare, enriched in basal-like tumours and associated with infiltrating lymphocytes

BACKGROUND

Expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in solid tumours has been shown to predict whether patients are likely to respond to anti-PD-L1 therapies. To estimate the therapeutic potential of PD-L1 inhibition in breast cancer, we evaluated the prevalence and significance of PD-L1 protein expression in a large collection of breast tumours.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Correlations between CD274 (PD-L1) copy number, transcript and protein levels were evaluated in tumours from 418 patients recruited to the METABRIC genomic study. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect PD-L1 protein in breast tumours in tissue microarrays from 5763 patients recruited to the SEARCH population-based study (N = 4079) and the NEAT randomised, controlled trial (N = 1684).

RESULTS

PD-L1 protein data was available for 3916 of the possible 5763 tumours from the SEARCH and NEAT studies. PD-L1 expression by immune cells was observed in 6% (235/3916) of tumours and expression by tumour cells was observed in just 1.7% (66/3916). PD-L1 was most frequently expressed in basal-like tumours. This was observed both where tumours were subtyped by combined copy number and expression profiling [39% (17/44) of IntClust 10 i.e. basal-like tumours were PD-L1 immune cell positive; P < 0.001] and where a surrogate IHC-based classifier was used [19% (56/302) of basal-like tumours were PD-L1 immune cell positive; P < 0.001]. Moreover, CD274 (PD-L1) amplification was observed in five tumours of which four were IntClust 10. Expression of PD-L1 by either tumour cells or infiltrating immune cells was positively correlated with infiltration by both cytotoxic and regulatory T cells (P < 0.001). There was a nominally significant association between PD-L1 and improved disease-specific survival (hazard ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.26-1.07; P = 0.08) in ER-negative disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Expression of PD-L1 is rare in breast cancer, markedly enriched in basal-like tumours and is correlated with infiltrating lymphocytes. PD-L1 inhibition may benefit the 19% of patients with basal-like tumours in which the protein is expressed.

NEAT CLINICALTRIALSGOV

NCT00003577.

Natural History of Colonization with Gram-Negative Multidrug-Resistant Organisms among Hospitalized Patients

Objective.

To determine the anatomic sites and natural history of colonization with gram-negative multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).

Design.

Prospective, longitudinal cohort study.

Setting.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center, a 236-bed tertiary care center in Washington, DC.

Patients.

Deployed subjects (ie, inpatients medically evacuated from Iraq or Afghanistan) or nondeployed subjects admitted to the same hospital.

Methods.

Consenting patients had 6 anatomic sites cultured every 3 days for 2 weeks and then weekly. Gram-negative organisms resistant to 3 or more classes of antibiotics were considered MDROs. Isolates were genotyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Clinical data, data on antibiotic use, and clinical culture results were collected.

Results.

Of 60 deployed subjects, 14 (23%) were colonized with an MDRO at admission, and 13 (22%) had incident colonization during hospitalization. The groin was the most sensitive anatomic site for detecting MDRO colonization, and all but one subject remained colonized for the duration of their hospitalization. Sixty percent of subjects with incident Acinetobacter colonization and 25% of subjects with incident Klebsiella colonization had strains that were related to those isolated from other subjects. Of 60 nondeployed subjects, 5 (8%) were colonized with an MDRO at admission; all had recent healthcare contact, and 1 nondeployed subject had an isolate related to a strain recovered from a deployed subject.

Conclusions.

Colonization with gram-negative MDROs is common among patients with war-related trauma admitted to a military hospital and also occurs among nondeployed patients with recent healthcare contact. The groin is the most sensitive anatomic site for active surveillance, and spontaneous decolonization is rare.

Development of a ten inch manipulators-based, flexible, broadband two-crystal spectrometer

We have developed and implemented a broadband X-ray spectrometer with a variable energy range for use at the Atomic Weapons Establishment's Orion Laser. The spectrometer covers an energy bandwidth of ∼1-2 keV using two independently mounted, movable Bragg diffraction crystals. Using combinations of cesium hydrogen pthlate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, and pentaerythritol crystals, spectra covering the 1.4-2.5, 1.85-3.15, or 3.55-5.1 keV energy bands have been measured. Image plate is used for detection owing to its high dynamic range. Background signals caused by high energy X-rays and particles commonly produced in high energy laser experiments are reduced by a series of tantalum baffles and filters installed between the source and crystal and also between the crystals and detector.

Psychological wellness and health-related stigma: a pilot study of an acceptance-focused cognitive behavioural intervention for people with lung cancer

People with lung cancer experience health-related stigma that is related to poorer psychosocial and quality of life outcomes. The present Phase 1 study applied mixed methods to test the acceptability of an acceptance-focused cognitive behavioural intervention targeting stigma for this patient group. Fourteen lung cancer patients completed a 6-week Psychological Wellness intervention with pre- and post-test outcome measures of psychological and cancer-specific distress, depression, health-related stigma and quality of life. In-depth interviews applying interpretative phenomenological analysis assessed participants' experiences of the intervention. Moderate to large improvements were observed in psychological (ηp (2)  = 0.182) and cancer-specific distress (ηp (2)  = 0.056); depression (ηp (2)  = 0.621); health-related stigma (ηp (2)  = 0.139). In contrast, quality of life declined (ηp (2)  = 0.023). The therapeutic relationship; self-management of distress; and relationship support were highly valued aspects of the intervention. Barriers to intervention included avoidance and practical issues. The lung cancer patients who completed the Psychological Wellness intervention reported improvements in psychological outcomes and decreases in stigma in the face of declining quality of life with patients reporting personal benefit from their own perspectives. A randomised controlled trial is warranted to establish the effectiveness of this approach.

Adaptive designs for clinical trials assessing biomarker-guided treatment strategies

BACKGROUND

The Biomarker Strategy Design has been proposed for trials assessing the value of a biomarker in guiding treatment in oncology. In such trials, patients are randomised to either receive the standard chemotherapy treatment or a biomarker-directed treatment arm, in which biomarker status is used to guide treatment.

METHODS

Motivated by a current trial, we consider an adaptive design in which two biomarkers are assessed. The trial is conducted in two stages. In the first stage, patients in the biomarker-guided arm are assessed using a standard and an alternative cheaper biomarker, with the standard biomarker guiding treatment. An analysis comparing biomarker results is then used to choose the biomarker to use for the remainder of the trial. The new biomarker is used if the results for the two biomarkers are sufficiently similar.

RESULTS

We show that in practical situations the first-stage results can be used to adapt the trial without type I error rate inflation. We also show that there can be considerable cost gains with only a small loss in power in the case where the alternative biomarker is highly concordant with the standard one.

CONCLUSIONS

Adaptive designs have an important role in reducing the cost and increasing the clinical utility of trials evaluating biomarker-guided treatment strategies.

Abstract P3-08-09: Is it me or is it hot in here? Hot flushes (or flashes): An unmet need. UK NCRI breast clinical studies group working party on symptom management (vasomotor)

Hot Flushes or Flashes are a serious problem. They impact significantly on daily life and sleep quality, affecting employment, relationships and quality of life. The only effective treatment for hot flushes is oestrogen which is contraindicated in 75% of breast cancer patients. An estimated 550,000 people now live in the UK with a diagnosis of breast cancer and up to 70% women experience disabling hot flushes which can continue for years after treatment. Studies have shown that up to 50% of patients stop taking their life-saving antioestrogen drugs before 5 years1 quite probably due to unacceptable side-effects

On the initiative of the patient advocate members of the NCRI Breast Clinical Studies Group, a Working Party on Symptom Management has been established. Members of the group have a particular interest in hot flushes and include representatives from patients, oncology, psychology, gynaecology, acupuncture and the voluntary not-for-profit sector

The Working Party audited current UK clinical practice for hot flushes in cancer with a short questionnaire circulated to the UK Breast Intergroup mailing list (about 800 breast cancer health professionals) and to the Breast Cancer Care Nursing Network (about 850 clinical nurse specialists/breast care nurses). The full results of the questionnaire will be presented

Briefly, a small number of people were prescribed hormone replacement therapy or Progesterone (Megestrol acatate), more Clonidine and Gabapentin and many selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Although SSRIs have some effect in reducing the intensity of hot flushes, they have significant side effects including sexual dysfunction, in a group of women, many of whom are already suffering sexual problems due to anti-oestrogen drugs or premature menopause. In addition, available treatments (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological) varied across the UK.

The majority (95%) of respondents to our questionnaire agreed or strongly agreed that treatment and management of hot flushes is an unmet need. The questionnaire also demonstrated inequality of access to treatment in the UK.

An exploration of the US National Cancer Institute and UK clinical trials databases revealed very few studies working in this area. 21 studies in the UK, Europe and the USA since 2006. Most trials investigate non pharmacological approaches and combinations and new versions of existing approaches.

There are no agreed guidelines for managing hot flushes after breast cancer, which may limit the access and availability of appropriate interventions. It is clear from our survey that clinicians are left making individual decisions based on personal experience and availability of local services, which has led to a patchy and inequitable position on the management of this troubling problem. There is a need for research to understand the physiology of flushing and to develop and test new interventions to address this intractable problem, which continues to be a cause of considerable distress to many women after breast cancer.

1. Makubate B et al Cohort study of adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy, breast cancer recurrence and mortality.Br J Cancer. 2013;108:1515-24.

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) Programme (project number 10/34/01). The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the HTA programme, NIHR, NHS or the Department of Health.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P3-08-09.

Abstract P2-18-17: Breast cancer surgery for the elderly - Are we meeting a growing need?

Background≤br≥Between 2002 and 2011, in the UK, the number of people aged 90 increased by 26%. By 2034 the number of people aged 85 and over, is projected to be 2.5 times larger than in 2009. Life expectancy of 80 year old woman is now 9.4 years.

These population statistics bring challenges to the provision of healthcare in general and Breast Cancer Services will see a significant increase in the number of very elderly patients.

Prior to 2009 it was common place to treat patients aged over 80 with endocrine therapy alone, avoiding surgery, however as the general life expectancy for this age group has improved this is no longer recommended management.

NICE guidelines issued in February 2009 recommend surgery for breast cancer where possible over endocrine treatment

We aim to review the proportion of patients presenting with breast cancer aged over 80, assess their management and survival during a 12 year period and audit patients presenting after 2009 against NICE guideline to explore reasons for noncompliance.

Methods

We have conducted a retrospective audit of all patients presenting with breast cancer to a single high-volume center from 2000-2012.

Patients were identified from a comprehensive departmental database recording patient demographics as well as treatment modality.

For patients treated after 2009, case records were accessed to assess the reasons for omitting surgery.

One-tailed Fisher's Exact Test used throughout to calculate p-values.

Results≤br≥5446 patients were treated at our unit from 2000-2012 with the over 80's comprising 6.0-8.7% p.a.

This age group increased over time by 29% from 6.5% in 2000-2003 to 8.4% (p = 0.0001) in 2009-2012. The population aged 90 or over increased by around 50% from 1.7% to 2.6% (p = 0.06) in the same period.

The table below shows changes in the proportion of patients offered surgery before and after the 2009 guidelines.

Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer SurgeryPatients aged 80-89Patients aged 90 and over2000- 20082009-2012p-value2000-20082009-2012p-value267/396 (67%)172/230 (75%)0.0318/64 (28%)21/47 (44%)0.05

Following introduction of regional anaesthesia without General Anasthesia in 2011, the proportion of patients aged over 90 having surgery, increased further to 16/25 (64% p-0.0031).

In the 10 year period from 2001-2010 the mastectomy rate was 60% in the over 80's and 45% in the over 90 year old, however this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.29).

We have accurate survival data for 396 patients who died during follow up. No patients died within 12 months of surgery. The median survival was 40 months following surgery and 27 months for patients treated with primary endocrine therapy.

16/218 patients aged 80-89 and 2/111 patients aged over 90 at diagnosis required resectional surgery after relapse on primary endocrine therapy.

Of patients not having surgery after 2009, 48 were deemed unfit and 36 declined surgery.

Conclusions≤br≥The elderly is a growing part of our population of breast cancer patients.

We have increased the proportion of elderly patient having surgery in line with NICE guidance, partly due regional anaesthesia for breast surgery and modification of care pathways. The relapse rate following primary endocrine therapy was very low in the most elderly patients.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P2-18-17.

Single-shot soft x-ray laser linewidth measurement using a grating interferometer

The linewidth of a 14.7 nm wavelength Ni-like Pd soft x-ray laser was measured in a single shot using a soft x-ray diffraction grating interferometer. The instrument uses the time delay introduced by the gratings across the beam to measure the temporal coherence. The spectral linewidth of the 4d1S0-4p1P1 Ni-like Pd lasing line was measured to be Δλ/λ=3×10(-5) from the Fourier transform of the fringe visibility. This single shot linewidth measurement technique provides a rapid and accurate way to determine the temporal coherence of soft x-ray lasers that can contribute to the development of femtosecond plasma-based soft x-ray lasers.

A multicenter study to standardize reporting and analyses of fluorescence-activated cell-sorted murine intestinal epithelial cells

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is an essential tool for studies requiring isolation of distinct intestinal epithelial cell populations. Inconsistent or lack of reporting of the critical parameters associated with FACS methodologies has complicated interpretation, comparison, and reproduction of important findings. To address this problem a comprehensive multicenter study was designed to develop guidelines that limit experimental and data reporting variability and provide a foundation for accurate comparison of data between studies. Common methodologies and data reporting protocols for tissue dissociation, cell yield, cell viability, FACS, and postsort purity were established. Seven centers tested the standardized methods by FACS-isolating a specific crypt-based epithelial population (EpCAM+/CD44+) from murine small intestine. Genetic biomarkers for stem/progenitor (Lgr5 and Atoh 1) and differentiated cell lineages (lysozyme, mucin2, chromogranin A, and sucrase isomaltase) were interrogated in target and control populations to assess intra- and intercenter variability. Wilcoxon's rank sum test on gene expression levels showed limited intracenter variability between biological replicates. Principal component analysis demonstrated significant intercenter reproducibility among four centers. Analysis of data collected by standardized cell isolation methods and data reporting requirements readily identified methodological problems, indicating that standard reporting parameters facilitate post hoc error identification. These results indicate that the complexity of FACS isolation of target intestinal epithelial populations can be highly reproducible between biological replicates and different institutions by adherence to common cell isolation methods and FACS gating strategies. This study can be considered a foundation for continued method development and a starting point for investigators that are developing cell isolation expertise to study physiology and pathophysiology of the intestinal epithelium.

Observations of the effect of ionization-potential depression in hot dense plasma

The newly commissioned Orion laser system has been used to study dense plasmas created by a combination of short pulse laser heating and compression by laser driven shocks. Thus the plasma density was systematically varied between 1 and 10  g/cc by using aluminum samples buried in plastic foils or diamond sheets. The aluminum was heated to electron temperatures between 500 and 700 eV allowing the plasma conditions to be diagnosed by K-shell emission spectroscopy. The K-shell spectra show the effect of the ionization potential depression as a function of density. The data are compared to simulated spectra which account for the change in the ionization potential by the commonly used Stewart and Pyatt prescription and an alternative due to Ecker and Kröll suggested by recent x-ray free-electron laser experiments. The experimental data are in closer agreement with simulations using the model of Stewart and Pyatt.