Value of a multidisciplinary geriatric oncology committee on patient care in a community-based, academic cancer center

INTRODUCTION

The heterogeneity in health and functional ability among older patients makes the management of cancer a unique challenge. The Geriatric Oncology Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (BWMC) was created to optimize cancer management for older patients. This study aimed to assess the benefits of the implementation of such a program at a community-based academic cancer center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed patients aged ≥80 years presenting to the Geriatric Oncology Program between 2017 and 2022. A multidisciplinary team of specialists collectively reviewed each patient using geriatric-specific domains and stratified each patient into one of three management groups- Group 1: those deemed fit to receive standard oncologic care (SOC); Group 2: those recommended to receive optimization services prior to reassessment for SOC; and Group 3: those deemed to be best suited for supportive care and/or hospice care.

RESULTS

The study cohort consisted of 233 patients, of which 76 (32.6%) received SOC, 43 (18.5%) were optimized, and 114 (49.0%) received supportive care or hospice referral. Among the optimized patients, 69.8% were deemed fit for SOC upon re-evaluation following their respective optimization services. The Canadian Study of Health and Aging-Clinical Frailty Scale (CSHA-CFS) score was implemented in 2019 (n = 90). Patients receiving supportive/hospice care only had an average score of 5.8, while the averages for those in the optimization and SOC groups were 4.6 and 4.1, respectively (p ≤0.001). Patients receiving SOC had the longest average survival of 2.71 years compared to the optimization (2.30 years) and supportive care groups (0.93 years) (p ≤0.001). For all patients that underwent surgical interventions post-operatively, 23 patients (85%) were discharged home and four (15%) were discharged to a rehabilitation facility.

DISCUSSION

The present study demonstrates the profound impact that the complexities in health status and frailty among older individuals can have during cancer management. The Geriatric Oncology Program at BWMC maximized treatment outcomes for older adults through the provision of SOC therapies and optimization services, while also minimizing unnecessary interventions on an individual patient-centric level.

A multi-center, open-label study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pentostatin, cytoxan, and rituxan (PCR) in the treatment of previously untreated or treated, stage III or IV, low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) or bulky stage II lymphoma

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Background: The decision to treat indolent B-cell NHL is often based on progressive disease, worsening symptoms, and increasing hematological variations. When treatment is indicated, these lymphoproliferative disorders are very sensitive to combination chemotherapies. Combination therapy with these agents, pentostatin (P), a purine analog, cyclophosphamide (C), a DNA alkylator, and rituximab (R), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, represents a promising approach in the treatment of these patients. Most regimens have utilized fludarabine (F) as the purine analog but the myelosuppression and immunosuppression of (F) combinations frequently results in severe infections. Methods: Eligibility criteria allow previously treated and treatment-naïve patients diagnosed with bulky stage II or low-grade stage III/IV NHL (REAL classification) to be enrolled. Treatment consisted of intravenous infusions of P (4 mg/m2), C (600 mg/m2), and R (375 mg/m2) on day 1 of a 21-day cycle for a total of up to 10 cycles. Clinical evaluation was performed after cycles 2, 4, 6 and 8 and 10 (if necessary). Results: The intent-to-treat (ITT) population consisted of 87 NHL patients (median age 62.5, range 29–84) who received a total of 476 cycles (median 6 per patient). The ECOG status was 0 (62.4%), 1 (37.6%) and 2 (0%). The overall response rate of the 80 evaluable patients was 72.5% (CR 11.3%, Cru 12.5%, PR 48.8%). 14 cases of grade 4 and 17 cases of grade 3 neutropenia were documented. There were a total of 4 deaths due to acute myocardial infarction, NSCLC, a suspected cardiac event and 1 unknown cause of death. Conclusions: This immunochemotherapeutic regimen is active in indolent Grade III/IV NHL and the incidence of significant toxicities was low. Future trials evaluating the use of rituximab as maintenance therapy following this PCR regimen may also be warranted with a future goal towards possibly increasing the overall survival of patients with NHL. The presented results are preliminary and the study is currently on-going.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A multi-center, open-label study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pentostatin, cytoxan, and rituxan (PCR) in the treatment of previously untreated or treated, stage III or IV, low-grade B-Cell NHL

7591

Background: The decision to treat indolent B-cell NHL is often based on progressive disease, worsening symptoms, and increasing hematological derangement. When treatment is indicated, these lymphoproliferative disorders are very sensitive to combination chemotherapies. Combination therapy with these agents, pentostatin (P), a purine analog, cyclophosphamide (C), a DNA alkylator, and rituximab (R), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, represents a promising approach in the treatment of these patients. Most regimens have utilized fludarabine (F) as the purine analog but the myelosuppression and immunosuppression of (F) combinations frequently results in severe infections. Methods: Eligibility criteria allow previously treated and treatment-naïve patients diagnosed with low-grade stage III/IV NHL (REAL classification) to be enrolled. Treatment consisted of intravenous infusions of P (4 mg/m2), C (600 mg/m2), and R (375 mg/m2) on day 1 of a 21-day cycle for a total of 8 cycles. Clinical evaluation was performed after cycles 2, 4, 6 and 8. Patients were stratified by disease and by prior treatment status. Results: The intent-to-treat (ITT) population consisted of 54 NHL patients (median age 65, range 30–86) who received a total of 330 cycles (median 6 per patient). The ECOG status was 0 (31%), 1 (58%) and 2 (12%). The overall objective response rate was 71% (CR 15%, Cru 13%, PR 43%). Eight grade 4 neutropenias were documented along with a single grade 4 leukopenia. There were a total of 3 deaths which occurred within 30 days of the last dose. The first death was due to a second primary, NSCLC, diagnosed after treatment began. The second death occurred in an 81 year-old female, who had achieved PR, and her death was due to CHF. The last death, due to MI/CAD, occurred in an 84 year-old woman with SD. Conclusions: This immunochemotherapeutic regimen is active in indolent Grade III/IV NHL and the incidence of significant toxicities was low. Updated trial results will be presented at the ASCO annual meeting. Future trials evaluating the use of R as maintenance therapy following this PCR regimen may also be warranted with an eye toward increasing the overall survival of patients with NHL.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.