Centralized patient-reported outcome data collection in transplantation is feasible and clinically meaningful

Relationship between patient-reported health-related quality of life as measured with the SF-36 or SF-12 and their mortality risk in patients with diverse cancer type: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as measured with the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) or Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12) and mortality risk in patients with diverse types of cancer.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus databases to collect articles published before December 2022. Of these, observational studies that examined the association between HRQOL and mortality risk in patients with various cancer types were extracted. A subgroup analysis with a focus on the timing when HRQOL assessment was performed.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies were included in the final analysis. Through overall analysis of the timing of HRQOL measurements, most domains were found to be significantly associated with the mortality risk, irrespective of the timing of assessment, but HRQOL assessed in pre-treatment and palliative phases had particularly strong association.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present review, the physical functioning domain of HRQOL was found to be associated with mortality risk in a diverse group of cancer patients. This suggests the need for supportive care to improve HRQOL in cancer patients.

Global quality of life and mortality risk in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the impact of global quality of life (QOL) on mortality risk in patients with cancer, considering cancer type and timepoint of QOL assessment.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted using Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus databases from inception to December 2022. Observational studies that assessed QOL and examined mortality risk in patients with cancer were extracted. Subgroup analyses were performed for cancer types and timepoints of QOL assessment.

RESULTS

Overall, global QOL was significantly associated with mortality risk (hazard ratio: 1.06, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.07; p < 0.00001). A subgroup analysis based on cancer type demonstrated that lung, head and neck, breast, esophagus, colon, prostate, hematologic, liver, gynecologic, stomach, brain, bladder, bone and soft tissue, and mixed type cancers were significantly associated with mortality risk; however, melanoma and pancreatic cancer were not significantly associated with mortality risk. Additionally, global QOL was associated with mortality risk at all timepoints (pretreatment, posttreatment, and palliative phase); pretreatment QOL had the largest impact, followed by posttreatment QOL.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide evidence that QOL is associated with mortality risk in patients with cancer at any timepoint. These results indicate the importance of evaluating the QOL and supportive interventions to improve QOL in any phase.

Patient engagement in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cell therapy: a survey by the EBMT patient engagement task force & transplantation complications working party

The EBMT (European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Society) aims to connect patients, the scientific community, and other stakeholders to improve hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy outcomes. We performed a cross-sectional online survey to understand the perceptions regarding Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) and Patient Active Involvement in Research (PAIR) in over 800 stakeholders (n = 813). Patients (n = 278) and health care professionals (HCPs) (n = 351) were compared. We observed high openness for EBMT PRO collection (n = 680, 84.5% across stakeholders' groups; patients n = 256, 93.1% versus HCPs n = 273, 78.4% [p < 0.001]) and PAIR (n = 702, 87.3% across stakeholder groups; patients n = 256, 92.4% versus HCPs n = 296, 85.8% [p = 0.009]), with a significantly higher proportion of patients expressing interest compared to HCPs. Priority domains for PROs data-collection identified were the assessment of symptom experience, psychosocial and cognitive functioning. The most important issues for patients specifically were the data-collection of PROs reflecting cognitive function, the option of reporting data at home, the importance of identifying actionable targets to improve their recovery, and receiving feedback on their input when participating in research projects. Our multistakeholder approach suggests an added value to embracing patient engagement in the development of meaningful research and service design within the transplantation and cellular therapy community.

Patient-reported physical well-being predicts good long-term survival of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

AIM

This study aimed to explore the association between patient-reported items at different time points after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and long-term survival.

METHODS

We conducted a study with 144 allogeneic HSCT patients, following them for 5 years post-transplantation. Data from the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT) questionnaire were collected before transplantation and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 36, and 60 months after transplantation. Demographic characteristics and survival status were also assessed.

RESULTS

Among the 144 cases, the 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), non-relapse mortality (NRM), and graft-versus-host disease-free (GRFS) rates were 65%, 48%, 17%, and 36% respectively. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) showed a fluctuating pattern over 5 years. Using a latent class mixed model, patients were classified into two groups based on their physical well-being (PWB) scores during the 60-month follow-up. Class 1 had initially lower PWB scores, which gradually increased over time. In contrast, Class 2 maintained higher PWB scores with slight increases over time. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that Class 1 had better OS (70.9% vs. 52.9%, p = 0.021), PFS (60.5% vs. 41.2%, p = 0.039), and GRFS (35.1% vs. 29.3%, p = 0.035) compared to Class 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who had higher initial PWB scores after HSCT demonstrated improved long-term survival outcomes. The PWB score could serve as a valuable predictor for the prognosis of HSCT.

International recommendations for screening and preventative practices for long-term survivors of transplantation and cellular therapy: a 2023 update

As hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy expand to new indications and international access improves, the volume of HCT performed annually continues to rise. Parallel improvements in HCT techniques and supportive care entails more patients surviving long-term, creating further emphasis on survivorship needs. Survivors are at risk for developing late complications secondary to pre-, peri- and post-transplant exposures and other underlying risk-factors. Guidelines for screening and preventive practices for HCT survivors were originally published in 2006 and updated in 2012. To review contemporary literature and update the recommendations while considering the changing practice of HCT and cellular therapy, an international group of experts was again convened. This review provides updated pediatric and adult survivorship guidelines for HCT and cellular therapy. The contributory role of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) to the development of late effects is discussed but cGVHD management is not covered in detail. These guidelines emphasize special needs of patients with distinct underlying HCT indications or comorbidities (e.g., hemoglobinopathies, older adults) but do not replace more detailed group, disease, or condition specific guidelines. Although these recommendations should be applicable to the vast majority of HCT recipients, resource constraints may limit their implementation in some settings.

Incorporating patient-reported outcome data into a predictive calculator for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients

BACKGROUND

The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) provides a 1-year overall survival calculator to estimate outcomes for individual patients before they undergo allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) to inform risk. The calculator considers pre-HCT clinical and demographic characteristics, but not patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Because pre-HCT PRO scores have been associated with post-HCT outcomes, the authors hypothesized that adding PRO scores to the calculator would enhance its predictive power.

METHODS

Clinical data were obtained from the CIBMTR and the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network. The PRO measures used were the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation. One thousand thirty-three adult patients were included.

RESULTS

When adjusted for clinical characteristics, the SF-36 physical component score was significantly predictive of 1-year survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81-0.95; p = .0015), whereas the mental component score was not (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.95-1.10; p = 0.6396). The baseline single general health question on the SF-36 was also significantly associated with mortality (HR, 1.91 for those reporting fair/poor health vs. good, very good, or excellent health; 95% CI, 1.33-2.76; p = .0005). The addition of PRO scores to the calculator did not result in a significant change in the model's predictive ability. Self-reported pre-HCT scores were strongly predictive of self-reported health status (odds ratio, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.66-6.75; p = .0007) and quality of life (odds ratio, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.93-5.41; p < .0001) after HCT.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors confirmed the significant, independent association of pre-HCT PRO scores with overall survival, although adding PRO scores to the survival calculator did not improve its performance. They also demonstrated that a single general health question was as accurate as the full measure for predicting survival, an important finding that may reduce respondent burden and promote its inclusion in routine clinical practice. Validation of these findings should be performed.

International Recommendations for Screening and Preventative Practices for Long-Term Survivors of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy: A 2023 Update

As hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy expand to new indications and international access improves, the number of HCTs performed annually continues to rise. Parallel improvements in HCT techniques and supportive care entails more patients surviving long term, creating further emphasis on survivorship needs. Survivors are at risk for developing late complications secondary to pretransplantation, peritransplantation, and post-transplantation exposures and other underlying risk factors. Guidelines for screening and preventive practices for HCT survivors were originally published in 2006 and then updated in 2012. An international group of experts was convened to review the contemporary literature and update the recommendations while considering the changing practices of HCT and cellular therapy. This review provides updated pediatric and adult survivorship guidelines for HCT and cellular therapy. The contributory role of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) to the development of late effects is discussed, but cGVHD management is not covered in detail. These guidelines emphasize the special needs of patients with distinct underlying HCT indications or comorbidities (eg, hemoglobinopathies, older adults) but do not replace more detailed group-, disease-, or condition-specific guidelines. Although these recommendations should be applicable to the vast majority of HCT recipients, resource constraints may limit their implementation in some settings.

Tripartite prehabilitation of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes during intensive chemotherapy before allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (COHABILIT): protocol for an innovating prospective multicentre study

OBJECTIVES

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are often treated with intensive chemotherapy followed by allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The pretransplant treatment results in a general deterioration of the patient's health and quality of life. Furthermore, allo-HSCT can be responsible for significant toxicity with risks of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Developing strategies to prevent physical deconditioning, undernutrition and psychological distress could help maintain a satisfactory general state of health before transplantation and thus limit these deleterious effects. This protocol evaluates the feasibility and adherence to a personalised prehabilitation programme, which can be modulated and assisted by connected objects, provided from the diagnosis to the allo-HSCT.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This multicentre interventional study will include 50 patients treated for AML or high-risk MDS with intensive chemotherapy and eligible for allo-HSCT. The intervention consists of a coached, supervised or self-directed physical activity programme, organised during the hospitalisation phases and periods at home. At the same time, patients will receive a weekly dietary follow-up. The whole intervention is controlled and modulated through the use of a dedicated application and connected objects allowing adaptation and individualisation. The rate of participation in the prescribed physical activity sessions will assess the feasibility of this study. In addition, the evolution of physical capacities (Short Physical Performance Battery, grip and quadriceps strengths), psychosocial parameters (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Leukaemia, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Fatigue, subjective well-being, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, self-efficacy, Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire, interviews) and clinical status (weight, lean body mass, survival rate, number of infections, days of hospitalisation, GvHD) will be evaluated.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study procedures have been approved by the National Ethics Committee (21.00223.000003). Consent is given in person by each participant. The information collected on the participants contains only a non-identifiable study identifier. The results of this protocol will be published in a scientific paper and communicated to the medical staff of the medical centre.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03595787.

Integration of Daily Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation

Patients' reports of their health status are increasingly used in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) to better understand the negative impact on symptom burden and quality of life. Little is known regarding the implementation in routine clinical care, particularly how it can be used to improve supportive care. We sought to the evaluate feasibility of capturing daily patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in the acute phase of SCT to measure physical and psychosocial symptom burden. In this single-center prospective observational study, we assessed daily PRO from conditioning to neutrophil engraftment in children (age 1 to 18 year) who underwent allogeneic or autologous SCT for malignant and nonmalignant disease. The most common acute adverse effects of chemotherapy (pain, nausea, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, and physical performance impairment) were reported daily via ePROtect, a web-based program designed to integrate health responses. From February 2021 to March 2023, 20 children undergoing allogeneic (allo-) SCT (n = 11) or autologous (auto-) SCT (n = 9) and their proxies consented to participation, all of whom were included in this analysis. A total of 359 PRO questionnaires were completed, corresponding to a median daily completion rate of 72.7% (interquartile range, 60.4% to 83.6%). After conditioning, pain perception anticipated the rise of infectious parameters and the development of mucositis, thus initiating supportive treatment. Patients reported the strongest symptom burden at a median of 8.5 days post-transplantation. At 4 weeks post-transplantation, baseline values were restored for all symptoms. There were no significant differences between auto-SCT and allo-SCT, except for nausea and loss of appetite after administration of antithymocyte globulin in allo-SCT. This study empirically documents the daily health status of children undergoing SCT and proposes an attractive modus operandi on how continuous feedback on health-related symptoms can be integrated into daily clinical practice.

Psychosocial assessment practices for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a national survey study

Psychosocial health predicts and contributes to medical outcomes for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Yet, there are no standards for psychosocial assessments or support for both patients and caregivers across the care continuum. To examine the current state of psychosocial care, clinicians were sent a survey of their psychosocial assessment practices for patients and caregivers undergoing HSCT via the Listservs of professional organizations. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were performed to summarize the findings. While 96% of participants reported routine pre-HSCT psychosocial assessment of patients, only 10.6% routinely used a validated transplant risk-assessment measure. Just 27% routinely performed follow-up psychosocial assessments. In contrast, only 47% of participants routinely assessed the psychosocial needs of family caregivers pre-HSCT, and 13% routinely performed follow-up assessments for caregivers. Most (90%) reported social workers were the primary providers of assessments. While patient-report measures were used for evaluation, the majority of assessments were clinical interviews. No significant differences were found between programs that treated adult and pediatric patients versus those only treating adult patients. Our findings highlight the lack of standard psychosocial practices for patients and family caregivers undergoing HSCT and we offer recommendations to fill this gap.

Unfavorable transcriptome profiles and social disadvantage in hematopoietic cell transplantation: a CIBMTR analysis

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) capture subjective social determinants of health (SDOHs), which can affect health outcomes through the stress response pathway. The conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA) is a stress-mediated proinflammatory transcriptomic pattern that has been linked to adverse hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) outcomes. This study examined the association of pretransplant CTRA with patient-reported SDOHs in allogeneic HCT recipients. In this cross-sectional study, pre-HCT SDOH-related PROs included the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT). CTRA was assessed by RNA sequencing of whole blood specimens, with mixed effects linear regression models relating CTRA expression to PRO scores while controlling for age, sex, race, disease, and performance status. Among 121 patients, the median age was 54 years, 42% were female, and 91% were White. CTRA was elevated in participants reporting lower scores on the FACT-BMT (P = .003), including the general (P = .003) and BMT-specific (P = .014) components. Effects were driven by the social well-being domain (P = .0001). This corresponded to an 8% to 15% difference in CTRA RNA expression across a 4 standard deviation range in patient-reported SDOHs. Ancillary bioinformatics analyses confirmed the association of well-being with reduced proinflammatory transcription pathway activity [cyclic AMP response element-binding protein, (CREB), NF-κB, and activating protein-1 (AP-1)]. In conclusion, HCT-treated patients who experience unfavorable social conditions show elevated CTRA expression in pretransplant blood samples. These data highlight the biologic sequelae of social well-being and community context and suggest a potential molecular mechanism for the impact of social gradients in HCT outcomes. Targeting this pathway could optimize outcomes in this high-risk population.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Double Umbilical Cord Blood versus Haploidentical Marrow Transplantation: A Quality of Life Analysis Report of BMT CTN 1101

The Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network study 1101 (BMT CTN 1101; ClinicaTrials.gov identifier NCT01597778) was a multicenter phase III randomized trial comparing the clinical outcomes and quality of life (QoL) of patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing double umbilical cord blood transplantation (dUCBT) or HLA-haploidentical bone marrow transplantation (haplo-BMT) after reduced-intensity conditioning. At a 5-year follow-up, there were no significant differences in progression- free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) between the 2 cohorts. The impact of alternative donor source on QoL is unknown, however. English- and Spanish-speaking patients completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), Short Form 36 (SF-36), EuroQoL-5 Dimensions EQ-5D, and Global QoL patient-reported outcome (PRO) assessments pretransplantation and at 12 and 24 months post-transplantation. We compared longitudinal QoL measures between the dUCBT and haplo-BMT cohorts and investigated the association of QoL and clinical outcomes using an inverse probability weighted-independent estimating equations method, accounting for missingness and baseline variables. We found no significant differences between the 2 cohorts in any of the QoL scores pretransplantation and at 12 and 24 months post-transplantation. Pretransplantation scores were the only significant predictors of post-transplantation QoL scores. Relapse and grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were associated with significant declines in mean FACT-BMT and SF-36 Physical Component scores, and chronic GVHD was associated with a decline in mean EQ-5D utility scores. There were no significant associations between pretransplantation QoL scores and OS or PFS. Donor type did not impact post-transplantation QoL. Pretransplantation QoL scores and clinical events of GVHD and relapse were the only predictors of post-transplantation QoL. QoL was not associated with survival in either treatment arm. PROs may be valuable tools in pretransplantation risk assessment strategies to improve QoL outcomes.

Psychosocial Assessment Practices for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A National Survey Study

Psychosocial health predicts and contributes to medical outcomes for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Yet, there are no standards for psychosocial assessments or support for both patients and caregivers across the care continuum. To examine the current state of psychosocial care, clinicians were sent a survey of their psychosocial assessment practices for patients and caregivers undergoing HSCT via the Listservs of professional organizations. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were performed to summarize the findings. While 96% of participants reported routine pre-HSCT psychosocial assessment of patients, only 10.6% routinely used a validated transplant risk-assessment measure. Just 27% routinely performed follow-up psychosocial assessments. In contrast, only 47% of participants routinely assessed the psychosocial needs of family caregivers pre-HSCT, and 13% routinely performed follow-up assessments for caregivers. Most (90%) reported social workers were the primary providers of assessments. While patient-report measures were used for evaluation, the majority of assessments were clinical interviews. No significant differences were found between programs that treated adult and pediatric patients versus those only treating adult patients. Our findings highlight the lack of standard psychosocial practices for patients and family caregivers undergoing HSCT and we offer recommendations to fill this gap.

Worldwide sources of data in haematology: Importance of clinician-biostatistician collaboration

The field of haematology has benefitted greatly from registry-based observational research. Medical and technical advances, changes in regulations and events such as the global pandemic is changing the landscape for registries. This review describes features of high-quality registries, statistical approaches and study design needed, an overview of worldwide hematologic registries, and how registries are evolving and expanding. The importance of collaborations between biostatisticians and haematologists in designing and conducting registry-related research is highlighted.

Long-term survivors demonstrate superior quality of life after haploidentical stem cell transplantation to matched sibling donor transplantation

BACKGROUND

It has been well-documented that haplo-identical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HID-HSCT) can provide outcomes comparable to conventional matched sibling donor (MSD) HSCT, however, little is known about the effects on quality of life (QoL) in long-term survivors. This study is to investigate the differences in longitudinal performance of QoL between HID and MSD HSCT using a comprehensive assessment system.

METHODS

This prospective study enrolled consecutive patients who had received allogenic-HSCT (allo-HSCT) between January 2018 and December 2019 in our center. All patients were informed to complete QoL questionnaires including the Mos 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT, version 4), using an online applet, before transplantation and at scheduled time points after transplantation. The linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the variation trend of different dimensions of both SF-36 and FACT-BMT with different follow-up times.

RESULTS

Of the 425 participants, recipients of HID and MSD who survived more than 1 year (n = 230) were included in the final analysis of QoL (median age [range]: 36, [15, 66]). The 3 year overall survival (OS) of HID and MSD was 82.42% and 86.46%, respectively. QoL was assessed using both SF-36 and FACT-BMT and there was longitudinal recovery with clinical significance in the cohort. Compared to MSD-HSCT patients, HID-HSCT recipients demonstrated superior QoL performance in some subscales describing physical and mental wellness. Specifically, the difference in physical performance is more remarkable using FACT-BMT whereas that in mental wellness is more significant using SF36. In the subsequent stratified analysis, patients with a history of aGVHD or CMV reactivation demonstrated inferior QoL.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term survivors of HID HSCT achieved better QoL in some sub-scales compared to MSD HSCT. In addition, SF-36 and FACT-BMT demonstrated different performance thus combination of both improved capacity of the evaluation system.

Sickle Cell Transplantation Evaluation of Long-term and Late Effects Registry (STELLAR) to Compare Long-term Outcomes After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation to Those in Siblings Without Sickle Cell Disease and in Nontransplanted Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease: Design and Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND

There are sparse data on the long-term and late effects of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for sickle cell disease (SCD).

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to establish an international registry of long-term outcomes post-HCT for SCD and demonstrate the feasibility of recruitment at a single site in the United States.

METHODS

The Sickle Cell Transplantation Evaluation of Long-Term and Late Effects Registry (STELLAR) was designed to enroll patients with SCD ≥1 year post-HCT, their siblings without SCD, and nontransplanted controls with SCD to collect web-based participant self-reports of health status and practices by using the Bone Marrow Transplant Survivor Study (BMTSS) surveys, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Profile-25 or Pediatric Profile-29 survey, chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) using the symptom scale survey, daily pain using an electronic pain diary, the economic impact of HCT using the financial hardship survey, sexual function using the PROMIS Sexual Function SexFSv2.0 survey, and economic productivity using the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). We also piloted retrieval of clinical data previously submitted to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR); recorded demographics, height, weight, blood pressure, waist and hip circumferences, timed up and go (TUG) test, and handgrip test; and obtained blood for metabolic screening, gonadal function, fertility potential, and biorepository of plasma, serum, RNA, and DNA.

RESULTS

Of 100 eligible post-HCT patients, we enrolled 72 (72%) participants aged 9-38 (median 17) years. We also enrolled 19 siblings aged 5-32 (median 10) years and 28 nontransplanted controls with SCD aged 4-46 (median 22) years. Of the total 119 participants, 73 (61%) completed 85 sets of surveys and 41 (35%) contributed samples to the biorepository. We completed ATUS interviews of 28 (24%) participants. We successfully piloted retrieval of data submitted to the CIBMTR and expanded recruitment to multiple sites in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria.

CONCLUSIONS

It is feasible to recruit subjects and conduct study procedures for STELLAR in order to determine the long-term and late effects of HCT for SCD.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/36780.

Important questions for the malignant hematologist to consider when designing or evaluating a study with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), which are measures of symptom burden, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and therapy effectiveness have become increasingly important in clinical research. They are unique in that they are reported directly from the patient, without clinician interpretation, thereby avoiding clinician bias. With an increased focus on the patient at the center of health care, PROMs have been increasingly incorporated into clinical research, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines. Despite the recognition of the importance of including PROMs into clinical haematologic cancer research, barriers have prevented their integration into cancer research. This review highlights the value of including PROMs into clinical haematologic cancer research and addresses the methodological challenges in using and evaluating PROMs. We propose important questions for the malignant haematologist to consider when designing or evaluating a study that includes PROMs.

Implementing patient-reported outcomes in routine clinical care for diverse and underrepresented patients in the United States

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are used increasingly in routine clinical care and inform policies, reimbursements, and quality improvement. Less is known regarding PRO implementation in routine clinical care for diverse and underrepresented patient populations.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to identify studies of PRO implementation in diverse and underrepresented patient populations, elucidate representation of clinical specialties, assess implementation outcomes, and synthesize patient needs, concerns, and preferences.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched September 2021 for studies aiming to study PRO implementation in diverse and underrepresented patient populations within the United States. Studies were screened and data extracted by three independent reviewers. Implementation outcomes were assessed according to Proctor et al. taxonomy. A descriptive analysis of data was conducted.

RESULTS

The search yielded 8,687 records, and 28 studies met inclusion criteria. The majority were observational cohort studies (n = 21, 75%) and conducted in primary care (n = 10, 36%). Most studies included majority female (n = 19, 68%) and non-White populations (n = 15, 54%), while fewer reported socioeconomic (n = 11, 39%) or insurance status (n = 9, 32.1%). Most studies assessed implementation outcomes of feasibility (n = 27, 96%) and acceptability (n = 19, 68%); costs (n = 3, 11%), penetration (n = 1, 4%), and sustainability (n = 1, 4%) were infrequently assessed.

CONCLUSION

PRO implementation in routine clinical care for diverse and underrepresented patient populations is generally feasible and acceptable. Research is lacking in key clinical specialties. Further work is needed to understand how health disparities drive PRO implementation outcomes.

Adding Centralized Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Data Collection to an Established International Clinical Outcomes Registry

The importance of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in cellular therapies, including hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is highlighted in this study. Longitudinal collection of PROs in a registry is recommended for several reasons, yet to date, PROs are not routinely collected from HCT patients to augment clinical registry data. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of electronic PRO data collection by a national clinical outcomes registry, by assessing differences between who does and does not report PROs. We conducted a cross-sectional pilot collection of PROs from HCT recipients after treatment using computer-adapted tests from the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS). We implemented centralized data collection through the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) among patients who underwent HCT for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), were at least 6 months post-HCT, and spoke English or Spanish. The main objective was identifying patient, disease, and transplant-related differences associated with completion of electronic PROs. Patients were excluded from analysis if they were determined to be ineligible (deceased, did not speak English or Spanish, refused to be contacted by the CIBMTR). A total of 163 patients were contacted and potentially eligible to participate; of these, 92 (56%) enrolled and 89 (55%) completed the PRO assessment. The most frequent reason for incomplete surveys was inability to contact patients (n = 88), followed by declining to participate in the study (n = 37). There were no sociodemographic or age differences between those who completed the PRO survey (n = 89) and eligible nonresponders (n = 155). Patient scores were within 3 points of the US average of 50 for all symptoms and functioning except physical functioning. Responders and nonresponders did not exhibit meaningfully different sociodemographic characteristics. Difficulty contacting patients posed the greatest barrier and also provided the greatest opportunity for improvement. Once enrolled, survey completion was high. These results support standardizing centralized PRO data collection through the CIBMTR registry.

What else do I need to worry about when treating graft-versus-host disease?

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors. Patients with acute and chronic GVHD often endure substantial symptom burden and quality of life (QOL) and functional impairments. Living with GVHD affects multiple domains of patient-reported QOL, physical functioning, and psychological well-being. Patients describe living with GVHD as a life-altering "full-time job" requiring unique knowledge, personal growth, and resilient coping strategies. Managing the supportive care needs of patients living with GVHD must include (1) monitoring of patient-reported QOL and symptom burden; (2) routine screening for psychological distress and implementing therapeutic strategies to treat depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms; (3) a systematic review of care needs by a multidisciplinary team experienced in managing transplant-related complications and organ-specific GVHD symptoms; and (4) ensuring optimal prevention and management of infection complications in this highly immunocompromised population. Improving the QOL in patients with GVHD requires a multidisciplinary approach with emphasis on aggressive symptom management, psychological coping, and promoting physical activity and rehabilitation in this population living with immense prognostic uncertainty and struggling to adapt to this difficult and unpredictable illness.

What intensive care registries can teach us about outcomes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Critical care registries are synonymous with measurement of outcomes following critical illness. Their ability to provide longitudinal data to enable benchmarking of outcomes for comparison within units over time, and between units, both regionally and nationally is a key part of the evaluation of quality of care and ICU performance as well as a better understanding of case-mix. This review aims to summarize literature on outcome measures currently being reported in registries internationally, describe the current strengths and challenges with interpreting existing outcomes and highlight areas where registries may help improve implementation and interpretation of both existing and new outcome measures.

RECENT FINDINGS

Outcomes being widely reported through ICU registries include measures of survival, events of interest, patient-reported outcomes and measures of resource utilization (including cost). Despite its increasing adoption, challenges with quality of reporting of outcomes measures remain. Measures of short-term survival are feasible but those requiring longer follow-ups are increasingly difficult to interpret given the evolving nature of critical care in the context of acute and chronic disease management. Furthermore, heterogeneity in patient populations and in healthcare organisations in different settings makes use of outcome measures for international benchmarking at best complex, requiring substantial advances in their definitions and implementation to support those seeking to improve patient care.

SUMMARY

Digital registries could help overcome some of the current challenges with implementing and interpreting ICU outcome data through standardization of reporting and harmonization of data. In addition, ICU registries could be instrumental in enabling data for feedback as part of improvement in both patient-centred outcomes and in service outcomes; notably resource utilization and efficiency.

Biobehavioral Research and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Expert Review from the Biobehavioral Research Special Interest Group of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is a potentially curative treatment for many hematologic conditions. Despite advances in conditioning and supportive measures, however, there remain significant comorbidities that threaten survivorship. Adverse effects of stress-related biobehavioral processes-defined here as the interactions of behavioral, psychological, and socioenvironmental factors with biology-impact immune recovery and function and are particularly salient in the HCT context, given the importance of immune reconstitution for improved survivorship. However, biobehavioral processes have been underinvestigated in this vulnerable group compared with other cancer populations. Here the Biobehavioral Research Special Interest Group (SIG) of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy provides an expert review to inform research directions explicating the biological correlates of behavioral symptoms and evaluate the impact of these on HCT outcomes. The goal of this expert review is to provide a foundation for advancing science that effectively integrates behavioral and biological processes to optimize quality of life and improve clinical outcomes for HCT recipients.

Association Between Baseline Patient-Reported Outcomes and Complications of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a potentially curative therapy for hematologic malignancies, but it often results in significant toxicities and impaired quality of life (QOL). Although the value of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is increasingly recognized in HCT, data are limited regarding the relationship between PROs and HCT complications. We conducted a secondary data analysis of 250 patients who were hospitalized for autologous or allogeneic HCT at Massachusetts General Hospital from 2011 through 2016. We assessed QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General), mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and fatigue (FACT-Fatigue) at baseline. We abstracted from the Electronic Health Record (1) hospitalization during the first 100 days after HCT, (2) days alive and out of the hospital in the first 100 days after HCT, and (3) cumulative incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) among allogeneic HCT recipients. We assessed the association of baseline PROs with HCT complications using multivariable models adjusting for patient and transplant characteristics. Overall, 44.4% (111/250) of patients underwent an autologous HCT, 25.2% (63/250) received a myeloablative allogeneic HCT, and 30.4% (76/250) underwent a reduced-intensity allogeneic HCT. In multivariable logistic regression, higher anxiety (odds ratio [OR] = 1.14, P = .004) was associated with higher likelihood of rehospitalization within 100 days after HCT. In multivariable Poisson regression, lower fatigue (β = 0.003, P = .015) was associated with increased days alive and out of the hospital in the first 100 days post-HCT. In multivariable logistic regression, lower baseline QOL (OR = 0.97, P = .034), higher fatigue (OR = 0.95, P = .004), and higher depression (OR = 1.15, P = .020) were associated with increased likelihood of acute GVHD. Baseline PROs are associated with health care utilization after HCT and risk of acute GVHD in allogeneic HCT recipients. These findings underscore the potential utility of pretransplantation PROs as important prognostic factors for HCT.

The GIMEMA-ALLIANCE Digital Health Platform for Patients With Hematologic Malignancies in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Postpandemic Era: Protocol for a Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Study

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised unprecedented challenges in the management of patients with cancer and has increased the demands for digital health tools that, for example, could facilitate remote monitoring of patients. Based on this, the Gruppo Italiano Malattie Ematologiche dell’Adulto (GIMEMA) has recently developed a digital health tool dedicated to patients with hematologic malignancies: the GIMEMA-ALLIANCE platform.

Objective

The main objectives of this web-based platform are to generate relevant data to better understand quality of life, symptoms, and medication adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic and postpandemic era; to develop a prospective real-life registry on outcomes of patients with hematologic cancer, with or without a diagnosis of COVID-19; and to facilitate patient-centered care in routine practice.

Methods

The platform consists of physician- and patient-secure portals and enables electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) assessments with real-time graphical presentation to physicians of individual patient symptoms and quality-of-life outcomes. Automated alerts are sent to treating hematologists based on the following predetermined criteria: presence of clinically important problems and symptoms, problems with adherence to therapy, and risk of COVID-19 diagnosis. The platform also allows physicians to set up video consultations. Clinical information regarding disease and treatment as well as clinical and survival outcomes are also prospectively collected.

Results

Recruitment of participants started in December 2020. As of April 2021, a total of 116 patients have been enrolled in this study. Use of this platform may help to improve patient-physician communication and help hematologists in the early recognition of clinically important problems and symptoms of their patients. More than 20 community and university-based hospitals have currently agreed to participate. In addition to patient-reported outcome data, the prospective collection of disease- and treatment-related information, as well as data on possible COVID-19 diagnosis and COVID-19 vaccination, will allow the development of a large database to also identify subgroups of patients at risk of poor outcomes.

Conclusions

Data generated via this platform will help to answer clinically relevant questions for patients with hematologic malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic and postpandemic era. The use of the GIMEMA-ALLIANCE platform in routine practice may also contribute to enhancing patient-centered care.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04581187; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04581187

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/25271

Health-related quality of life predicts length of hospital stay and survival rates for pediatric patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

PURPOSE

We examined the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of pediatric patients during hospitalization for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and length of hospital stay, and 1-year survival.

METHODS

Primary family caregivers were proxy-assessors for the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) Stem Cell Transplant Module at three time points: 5-days pre-HCT (T0); 14-days post-HCT (engraftment, T1); and 1-week before hospital discharge (T2). Cox regression analyses determined predictors of the overall 1-year survival after allogeneic HCT.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine eligible caregivers completed all assessments. The mean age of the pediatric patients was 9.07 years (SD = 5.2). PedsQL Stem Cell Transplant Module scores decreased from 71.33 (SD = 13.26) at T0 to 55.41(SD = 13.05) at T1 (p < 0.001) and increased to 68.46 (SD = 13.97) at T2 (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between scores at T0 and T2. Longer length of hospital stay was associated with children who were younger and had greater relative changes in scores on the caregiver-proxy PedsQL Stem Cell Transplant Module from T0 to T1. PedsQL Stem Cell Transplant Module scores ≥ 58.07 at T2 were associated with higher 1-year survival rates (Hazard Ratio = 0.12, 95% Confidence Interval = 0.02-0.78; p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that assessment of HRQoL during early HCT can add prognostic value beyond demographic and HCT factors. Understanding the HRQoL status during hospitalization for HCT could help identify pediatric patients with low prospects of 1-year survival in order to provide support interventions to improve HRQoL and survival rates.

Trajectory of Symptoms in Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple Myeloma: A Population-Based Cohort Study of Patient-Reported Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is an established treatment for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Understanding the symptom burden associated with ASCT may be an important consideration for patients with NDMM when selecting treatment options.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a population-based study of patients who underwent an ASCT for NDMM in Ontario, Canada, between 2007 and 2018. The patient-reported outcome, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) score, which captures nine common cancer-associated symptoms and is routinely collected at all outpatient visits, was linked to provincial administrative healthcare data. The monthly prevalence of moderate or severe symptoms (ESAS ≥ 4) each month in the first year following ASCT was analyzed. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with moderate to severe symptoms.

RESULTS

In our final cohort of 1969 patients who had undergone an ASCT, a total of 12,820 unique assessments were captured. Symptom burden was highest at 1 month post-ASCT, with moderate to severe tiredness and impaired well-being being the two most common symptoms. Symptom burden substantially improved by 3 months post-ASCT, reaching a new baseline for the year following. On multivariable analysis, female sex, increased co-morbidities, earlier year of diagnosis, and myeloma-related end-organ damage (specifically, bone and kidney disease) were associated with a higher odds of reporting moderate to severe symptoms.

CONCLUSION

In this large population-based study using patient-reported outcomes, there was a substantial burden of symptoms noted among NDMM patients 1 month post-ASCT, which improved over time. Tailored supportive care interventions should focus on strategies to optimize management of identified symptoms.

Late Effects after Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell Therapy for Lymphoid Malignancies

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell [CAR T] therapy has changed the treatment landscape of relapsed/refractory lymphoid malignancies. With an expanding pool of post CAR T-cell therapy survivors, prevention and management of late toxicities is emerging as an important component of survivorship care. This review summarizes the current state of evidence on late toxicities after CAR T-cell therapy in lymphoid malignancies. Late effects that are well described in clinical trials and observational studies include hypogammaglobulinemia, prolonged cytopenias, late infections, neurologic and neuropsychiatric effects, immune-related late effects, and subsequent malignancies. Hypogammaglobulinemia is the most common late effect in the setting of CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy, which necessitates immunoglobulin replacement. Common determinants of late toxicities are age, underlying tumor type, prior therapy, CAR construct, and acute toxicities. Among currently approved indications, the incidence of hypogammaglobulinemia and prolonged cytopenia is higher in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia compared to aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Patient-reported physical and mental quality of life in long-term survivors is comparable to general population, albeit, with limited data thus far. This review provides an overview of the incidence, known risk-factors, and strategies for prevention and management of late toxicities in this population. Further research is needed to characterize the trajectory of late effects from population-based registries and long-term follow-up of ongoing clinical trials.

Role of Physical Activity and Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a standard treatment for several malignancies, and >50,000 HSCT are performed annually worldwide. As survival after HSCT improves, cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors have gained importance as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this cohort. In this article, we detail the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and their impact in patients undergoing HSCT. Additionally, we critically review the data on the impact of physical exercise in patients undergoing HSCT. Although limited by significant heterogeneity in methodologies, small sample sizes, attrition, and lack of long-term cardiovascular follow-up, most of these studies reinforce the beneficial effects of physical activity and exercise in this patient population. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a structured exercise and lifestyle modification program that is typically instituted in patients who experience acute cardiovascular events. We review the data on CR in the oncologic and nononcologic populations with an aim of building a framework for use of CR in HSCT patients.

A Practical Guide for Navigating the Design, Build, and Clinical Integration of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes in the Radiation Oncology Department

The development and integration of electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) into the radiation oncology clinic workflow provide novel opportunities, accompanied by unique design considerations and implementation challenges. The processes required for implementation of ePROs are entirely distinct from standard paper-based surveys, with the majority of time devoted to conception and design before initiating questionnaire build, detailed workflow process mapping including development of new workflows, comprehensive communication of the vision between providers and the information technology team, and quality assurance. Based on our experience with implementation of ePROs in our radiation oncology department, we developed a stepwise framework for approaching ePRO conceptual design, build, workflow integration, and the electronic health record interface. Here, we provide a guide for the numerous considerations, decision points, and solutions associated with the implementation of ePROs in the radiation oncology department setting. Although various ePRO tools and electronic health record capabilities impose different requirements, opportunities, and limitations, the conceptual processes and many of the electronic build considerations are broadly applicable.

Lessons learned from a pilot randomized clinical trial of home-based exercise prescription before allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is a life-saving technology that can cure otherwise incurable diseases, but imposes significant physiologic stress upon recipients. This stress leads to short-term toxicity and mid- to long-term physical function impairment in some recipients. Exercise interventions have demonstrated preliminary efficacy in preserving physical function in HCT recipients, but the role of these interventions prior to HCT (prehabilitative) is less known. We tested a 5- to 12-week, prehabilitative higher intensity home-based aerobic exercise intervention in a randomized study of alloHCT candidates. Of 113 patients screened, 34 were randomized to control or intervention groups, 16 underwent pre- and post-intervention peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) testing, and 12 underwent pre- and post-intervention 6-min walk distance (6MWD) testing. No significant differences in VO2peak or 6MWD were seen pre- to post-intervention between intervention and control groups, but final numbers of evaluable participants in each group were too small to draw inferences regarding the efficacy of the intervention. We conclude that the design of our prehabilitative intervention was not feasible in this pilot randomized study, and make recommendations regarding the design of future exercise intervention studies in alloHCT.

Development of a patient-reported outcome questionnaire for aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PRO-AA/PNH)

BACKGROUND

The introduction of new therapy modalities has significantly improved the outcome of aplastic anemia (AA) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) patients. However, relatively little is known about the exact disease burden of AA/PNH since standardized assessments of symptoms including health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are frequently missing or inadequately designed for this rare patient group. We aimed to develop AA/PNH-specific questionnaires for self-reporting of symptoms, which could be included in electronic platforms for data collection and patient care.

METHODS

By scoping review, we extracted any reported symptoms in AA/PNH and their prevalence from the literature (Phase I). Consensus rounds with patients and medical experts were conducted to identify core symptoms reported in the literature and to add missing items (Phase II). Ultimately, AA/PNH-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires including the selected measures were designed (Phase III).

RESULTS

AA symptoms from 62 and PNH symptoms from 45 observational studies were extracted from the literature. Twenty-four patients and seven medical experts identified 11 core symptoms including HRQoL issues after three consensus rounds. Significant differences in the symptom ranking of patients versus medical experts could be observed. Therefore, patient- as well as expert-centered PRO questionnaires in AA and PNH were created following the concepts of validated instruments.

CONCLUSION

The development of symptom self-reporting questionnaires for AA and PNH was feasible and the disease-specific PRO questionnaires can now be validated within a web-based workflow in a subsequent feasibility study.

Feasibility and delivery of patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice among racially diverse bladder and prostate cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of enrollment and collecting patient-reported outcome (PRO) data as part of routine clinical urologic care for bladder and prostate cancer patients and examine overall patterns and racial variations in PRO use and symptom reports over time.

SUBJECTS/PATIENTS AND METHODS

We recruited 76 patients (n = 29 Black and n = 47 White) with prostate or bladder cancer at a single, comprehensive cancer center. The majority of prostate cancer patients had intermediate risk (57%) disease and underwent either radiation or prostatectomy. Over half (58%) of bladder cancer patients had muscle invasive disease and underwent cystectomy. Patients were asked to complete PRO symptom surveys using their preferred mode [web- or phone-based interactive voice response (IVR)]. Symptom summary reports were shared with providers during visits. Surveys were completed at 3 time points and assessed urinary, sexual, gastrointestinal, anxiety/depression, and sleep symptoms. Feasibility of enrollment and survey completion were calculated, and linear mixed effects models estimated differences in outcomes by race and time.

RESULTS

Sixty three percent of study participants completed all PRO measures at all 3 time points. Black patients were more likely to select IVR as their survey mode (40% vs. 13%, P < 0.05), and less likely to complete all surveys (55% vs. 74%, P = 0.13). Patients using IVR were also less likely to complete all surveys (41% vs. 69%, P = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS

Reported preferences for survey mode and completion rates differ by race, which may influence survey completion rates and highlight potential obstacles for equitable implementation of PROs into clinical care.

Prevalence of decisional regret among patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and associations with quality of life and clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHCT) is potentially curative but with known negative effects on quality of life. In the current study, the authors investigated whether patients expressed regret after undergoing HCT and the relationships between clinical outcomes and quality of life.

METHODS

Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research data from 184 adults who completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT) before undergoing alloHCT and at day 100 were used. Additional time points were 6 months and 12 months. Regret was measured using a FACT-BMT item not included in scoring: "I regret having the bone marrow transplant." The authors evaluated FACT-BMT scores and regret using Student t-tests. Covariance pattern models were used to determine predictors of regret over time, including baseline characteristics and post-alloHCT outcomes (acute or chronic graft-versus-host-disease, disease recurrence).

RESULTS

At 100 days, 6 months, and 12 months, approximately 6% to 8% of patients expressed regret; a total of 15% expressed regret at any time point. Regret was found to be associated with lower FACT-BMT scores at 6 months and 12 months (P < .001). Higher baseline FACT-BMT and social well-being scores were associated with a reduced risk of expressing regret. The risk of regretting transplantation was 17.5 percentage points (95% confidence interval, 5.5-29.7 percentage points) greater in patients who developed disease recurrence after HCT compared with patients who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients who underwent alloHCT and lived to 100 days, the majority did not report regretting their transplantation. Regret was found to be related to disease recurrence. Social connectedness may serve as a protective factor against later regret. Future work should explore regret in other patient groups and use qualitative methods to inform best practices for reducing regret.

Liberal Versus Restrictive Red Blood Cell Transfusion Thresholds in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Randomized, Open Label, Phase III, Noninferiority Trial

PURPOSE

Evidence regarding red blood cell (RBC) transfusion practices and their impact on hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) outcomes are poorly understood.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a noninferiority randomized controlled trial in four different centers that evaluated patients with hematologic malignancies requiring HCT who were randomly assigned to either a restrictive (hemoglobin [Hb] threshold < 70 g/L) or liberal (Hb threshold < 90 g/L) RBC transfusion strategy between day 0 and day 100. The noninferiority margin corresponds to a 12% absolute difference between groups in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT) score relative to baseline. The primary outcome was health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measured by FACT-BMT score at day 100. Additional end points were collected: HRQOL by FACT-BMT score at baseline and at days 7, 14, 28, 60, and 100; transplantation-related mortality; length of hospital stay; intensive care unit admissions; acute graft-versus-host disease; Bearman toxicity score; sinusoidal obstruction syndrome; serious infections; WHO Bleeding Scale; transfusion requirements; and reactions to therapy.

RESULTS

A total of 300 patients were randomly assigned to either restrictive-strategy or liberal-strategy treatment groups between 2011 and 2016 at four Canadian adult HCT centers. After HCT, mean pre-transfusion Hb levels were 70.9 g/L in the restrictive-strategy group and 84.6 g/L in the liberal-strategy group (P < .0001). The number of RBC units transfused was lower in the restrictive-strategy group than in the liberal-strategy group (mean, 2.73 units [standard deviation, 4.81 units] v 5.02 units [standard deviation, 6.13 units]; P = .0004). After adjusting for transfusion type and baseline FACT-BMT score, the restrictive-strategy group had a higher FACT-BMT score at day 100 (difference of 1.6 points; 95% CI, -2.5 to 5.6 points), which was noninferior compared with that of the liberal-strategy group. There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the transfusion strategies.

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing HCT, the use of a restrictive RBC transfusion strategy threshold of 70 g/L was as effective as a threshold of 90 g/L and resulted in similar HRQOL and HCT outcomes with fewer transfusions.

Patient Reported Outcomes Have Arrived: A Practical Overview for Clinicians in Using Patient Reported Outcomes in Oncology

Ensuring that the patient's voice is routinely incorporated in all aspects of health care in oncology is essential to provide quality care. Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are standardized measures that are used to obtain the patient's perspective and are increasingly used in all aspects of health care to ensure optimal delivery of patient-centered care. The US Food and Drug Administration encourages that PROs be used in studies for label indications. There are no uniform standardized methods to use PROs nor is there consensus on which PROs are best for regulatory approval, comparative effectiveness research, toxicity assessment, health-related quality of life, or symptom monitoring. For this review, we conducted a literature search using PubMed and Google Scholar, and herein summarize the evidence related to the use of PROs in clinic care and research. Using valid, reliable, and easily interpretable PROs developed in comparable populations will provide the most useful results. Various ways that PROs can be used successfully in oncology have been exemplified in this overview to provide clinicians and researchers practical guidance.

Functional Status as Measured by Geriatric Assessment Predicts Inferior Survival in Older Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) has been increasingly offered to older adults with hematologic malignancies. However, optimal methods to determine fitness for alloHCT have yet to be defined. We evaluated the ability of a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) to predict post-alloHCT outcomes in a single-center prospective cohort study of patients age 50 years and older. Outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). A total of 148 patients were included, with a median age of 62 years (range, 50 to 76 years). In multivariate regression analysis, several CGA measures of functional status were predictive of post-alloHCT outcomes, after adjusting for traditional prognostic factors. Any deficit in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was associated with inferior OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 to 3.08; P = .03) and PFS (HR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.99; P = .01). A Medical Outcomes Study Physical Health scale (MOS-PH) score <85 was associated with inferior OS (HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.13 to 3.40; P = .02), PFS (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.88; P = .03), and increased NRM (subdistribution HR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.12 to 5.92; P = .03). MOS-PH score was also associated with the number of non-hematologic grade ≥3 adverse events within the first 100 days after alloHCT (rate ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.49; P = .03). These findings support previous work suggesting that IADL is an important prognostic tool prior to alloHCT. MOS-PH is newly identified as an additional metric to identify older patients at higher risk of poor post-alloHCT outcomes, including toxicity and NRM.

A Conceptual Framework and Key Research Questions in Educational Needs of Blood and Marrow Transplantation Patients, Caregivers, and Families

Patient, caregiver, and family education and support was 1 of 6 key areas of interest identified by the National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match 2-year project to prioritize patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) goals for the blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) community. PCOR focuses on research to help patients and their caregivers make informed decisions about health care. Therefore, each area of interest was assigned to a working group with broad representation, including patients, caregivers, and clinicians. Each working group was charged with identifying gaps in knowledge and making priority recommendations for critical research to fill those gaps. The report from this working group presents a conceptual framework to address gaps in knowledge regarding patient and caregiver education in BMT and recommendations for priority research questions on this topic.

Female Sex is Associated With Poor Health-related Quality of Life in Children at 12 Months Post-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

To study the factors associated with poorer health-related quality of life at 1-year post-allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT), a secondary analysis of a prospective feasibility study was performed. Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory questionnaires were collected in 76 children undergoing alloHCT at baseline (within 30 d before transplantation), day 100, 6 months, and 12 months posttransplantation. The global score improved post-HCT (baseline: 67.1, 12 mo: 76.6). Females (odds ratio, 6.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.002-42.17; P=0.04) and patients with low baseline scores (odds ratio, 7.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-48.63; P=0.04) had lower scores at 12 months post-HCT and suggest a target group for early interventions such as physical exercise, stress management, and cognitive behavior therapy.

Patient-Reported Outcomes with Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy: Challenges and Opportunities

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are an important tool to assess the impact of a new therapy on symptom burden and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapies have been approved for use in relapsed or refractory leukemia and lymphoma based on promising efficacy in clinical trials. However, data are lacking on patient-reported toxicity and impact on HRQoL. This review provides an overview of the incorporation of PROs in CAR-T cell therapy and the specific challenges in this context. The first step is to demonstrate feasibility of PRO monitoring in the acute phase after CAR-T cell infusion. Apart from core PRO domains like physical functioning, disease-related symptoms, and symptomatic adverse effects, important measures to consider are cognitive functioning and financial toxicity. Because there are no validated PRO instruments in the setting of CAR-T cell therapy, universally validated measures like Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) could be considered, which is also recommended in the setting of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Given the timeline of toxicities with CAR-T cell therapy, PRO instruments should be administered at baseline and at least weekly in the first 30 days. Subsequently, frequent monitoring of PROs in the first year might be helpful in identifying short- and intermediate-term toxicities, functional limitations, and neuropsychiatric effects. The major potential challenge in acute phase would be missing data when patients develop severe cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity. Designing a strategy for handling missing data is crucial. The long-term safety of CAR-T cell therapy is not well characterized because of short follow-up in most studies reported thus far. PROs should be measured at least yearly after the first year to identify potential late effects like cognitive deficit or autoimmune manifestations. Collaboration between institutions performing cellular therapy and engagement with patients, clinicians, and statisticians with expertise in PROs are crucial for setting a comprehensive agenda on integration of PROs with CAR-T cell therapy.