scholarly journals Therapeutic Advances Propelled by Deciphering Tumor Biology and Immunology—Highlights of the 8th Heidelberg Myeloma Workshop

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4135
Author(s):  
Raphael Lutz ◽  
Mirco Friedrich ◽  
Marc Steffen Raab ◽  
Niels Weinhold ◽  
Hartmut Goldschmidt
Keyword(s):  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Tumor Biology ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Opinion Leaders ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Current Clinical Trial

The diagnostics and treatment of newly diagnosed and relapsed MM are continuously evolving. While advances in the field of (single cell) genetic analysis now allow for characterization of the disease at an unprecedented resolution, immunotherapeutic approaches and MRD testing are at the forefront of the current clinical trial landscape. Here, we discuss research progress aimed at gaining a better understanding of this heterogenous disease entity, presented at the 8th Heidelberg Myeloma Workshop. We address the questions of whether biology can guide treatment decisions in MM and how assessment for measurable residual disease can help physicians in clinical decision-making. Finally, we summarize current developments in immunotherapeutic approaches that promise improved patient outcomes for MM patients. Besides summarizing key developments in MM research, we highlight perspectives given by key opinion leaders in the field.

Is the Deductive Falsification Approach a Better Basis for Clinical Trial Appraisal?

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 224-228
Author(s):  
Steffen Mickenautsch
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Inductive Reasoning ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Future Trial ◽  
Grading Systems ◽  
Component Scores ◽  
Current Clinical Trial

Background: Inductive reasoning relies on an infinite regress without sufficient factual basis and verification is at any time vulnerable to single contrary observation. Thus, appraisal based on inductive verification, as applied in current clinical trial appraisal scales, checklists or grading systems, cannot prove or justify trial validity. Discussion: Trial appraisal based on deductive falsification can identify invalid trials and give evidence for the recommendation to exclude these from clinical decision-making. Such appraisal remains agnostic towards corroborated trials that pass all appraisal criteria. The results of corroborated trials cannot be considered more robust than falsified trials since nothing within a particular set of complied trial criteria can give certainty for trial compliance with any other appraisal criterion in future. A corroborated trial may or may not reflect therapeutic truth and may thus be the basis for clinical guidance, pending results of any future trial re-appraisal. Conclusion: Trial grading following appraisal based on deductive falsification should be binary (0 = Invalid or 1 = Unclear) and single component scores should be multiplied. Appraisal criteria for the judgment of trial characteristics require a clear rationale, quantification of such rationale and empirical evidence concerning the effect of trial characteristics on trial results.

scholarly journals Assessing the utility and attitudes toward molecular testing in neuro-oncology: a survey of the Society for Neuro-Oncology members

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Fortin Ensign ◽  
Maya Hrachova ◽  
Susan Chang ◽  
Maciej M Mrugala
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Practice Patterns ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Molecular Testing ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Tumor Boards ◽  
Oncology Practice

Abstract Background Molecular testing (MT) is utilized in neuro-oncology with increasing frequency. The aim of this study was to determine clinical practice patterns to acquire this information, interpret and utilize MT for patient care, and identify unmet needs in the practical clinical application of MT. Methods We conducted a voluntary online survey of providers within the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) membership database between March and April 2019. Results We received 152 responses out of 2022 SNO members (7.5% of membership). 88.8% of respondents routinely order MT for newly diagnosed gliomas. Of those who do not, testing is preferentially performed in younger patients or those with midline tumors. 82.8% use MT in recurrent gliomas. Other common indications included: metastatic tumors, meningioma, and medulloblastoma. Many providers utilize more than one resource (36.0%), most frequently using in-house (41.8%) over commercially available panels. 78.1% used the results for clinical decision-making, with BRAF, EGFR, ALK, and H3K27 mutations most commonly directing treatment decisions. Approximately, half (48.5%) of respondents have molecular tumor boards at their institutions. Respondents would like to see SNO-endorsed guidelines on MT, organized lists of targeted agents available for specific mutations, a database of targetable mutations and clinical trials, and more educational programs on MT. Conclusion This survey was marked by several limitations including response rate and interpretation of MT. Among respondents, there is routine use of MT in Neuro-Oncology, however, there remains a need for increased guidance for providers to effectively incorporate the expanding genomic data resulting from MT into daily Neuro-Oncology practice.

scholarly journals ALK inhibitors, resistance development, clinical trials

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Rothenstein ◽  
N. Chooback
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Resistance Development ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Alk Positive ◽  
Emergence Of Resistance ◽  
Key Questions

The treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (nsclc) has undergone a paradigm shift since the early 2000s. The identification of molecular subtypes of the disease, based on oncogenic drivers, has led to the development of personalized medicine and the ability to deliver molecularly targeted therapies to patients. In the 10 years that have elapsed since the discovery of the ALK gene in a patient with nsclc, several active drugs have moved rapidly from bench to bedside, and multiple others are currently in clinical trials. Those developments have led to important improvements in patient outcomes, while simultaneously raising key questions about the optimal treatment for ALK-positive nsclc. The inevitable emergence of resistance to alk-directed therapy is central to ongoing research and daily clinical practice for affected patients. In the present review, we highlight the current treatment landscape, the available and emerging clinical trials, and the evolving clinical decision-making in ALK-positive nsclc, with a focus on Canadian practice.

scholarly journals Clinical value of measurable residual disease testing for assessing depth, duration, and direction of response in multiple myeloma

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (14) ◽  
pp. 3295-3301
Author(s):  
Joaquin Martinez-Lopez ◽  
Sandy W. Wong ◽  
Nina Shah ◽  
Natasha Bahri ◽  
Kaili Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Clinical Value ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Measurable Residual Disease

Abstract Few clinical studies have reported results of measurable residual disease (MRD) assessments performed as part of routine practice. Herein we present our single-institution experience assessing MRD in 234 multiple myeloma (MM) patients (newly diagnosed [NDMM = 159] and relapsed [RRMM = 75]). We describe the impact of depth, duration, and direction of response on prognosis. MRD assessments were performed by next-generation sequencing of immunoglobulin genes with a sensitivity of 10−6. Those achieving MRD negativity at 10−6, as well as 10−5, had superior median progression-free survival (PFS). In the NDMM cohort, 40% of the patients achieved MRD negativity at 10−6 and 59% at 10−5. Median PFS in the NDMM cohort was superior in those achieving MRD at 10−5 vs <10−5 (PFS: 87 months vs 32 months; P < .001). In the RRMM cohort, 36% achieved MRD negativity at 10−6 and 47% at 10−5. Median PFS was superior for the RRMM achieving MRD at 10−5 vs <10−5 (PFS: 42 months vs 17 months; P < .01). Serial MRD monitoring identified 3 categories of NDMM patients: (A) patients with ≥3 MRD 10−6 negative samples, (B) patients with detectable but continuously declining clonal numbers, and (C) patients with stable or increasing clonal number (≥1 log). PFS was superior in groups A and B vs C (median PFS not reached [NR], NR, 55 respectively; P < .001). This retrospective evaluation of MRD used as part of clinical care validates MRD as an important prognostic marker in NDMM and RRMM and supports its use as an endpoint in future clinical trials as well as for clinical decision making.

Combination chemotherapy versus temozolomide (TMZ) for patients with MGMT methylated (m-MGMT) glioblastoma (GBM): Results of cellworks omics biosimulation—MyCare-015.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e14501-e14501
Author(s):  
Michael Castro ◽  
Nirjhar Mundkur ◽  
Anusha Pampana ◽  
Aftab Alam ◽  
Aktar Alam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Drug Effects ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Experimental Therapy ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Current Standard

e14501 Background: UKT-03 evaluated TMZ plus Lomustine in a single arm phase II trial in newly diagnosed GBM patients. An overall survival of 23 months was a substantial improvement over historical experience. Patients with m-MGMT v. unmethylated tumors had a 2-yr survival of 75% and median survival not reached compared to 20% and 12.5 months, respectively. These data formed the basis for NOA-9, a randomized phase III trial in newly diagnosed, m-MGMT GBM which randomized 141 patients to standard therapy or experimental therapy with Lomustine and TMZ every 6 weeks. A superiority for the combination was observed: 48.1 v. 31.4 months for the standard arm in the ITT analysis. Nevertheless, many neurooncologists are reluctant to adopt this approach. The current standard of care uses single biomarker, m-MGMT, in contrast to comprehensive pathway analysis (CPA). We sought to determine if CPA could discriminate more effectively among each patient’s likelihood of benefiting from combination treatment. Methods: Cellworks Singula employs a novel Cellworks Omics Biology Model (CBM) to predict patient-specific biomarker and phenotype response of personalized GBM avatars to drug agents, radiation, and targeted therapies. The CBM was developed and validated using PubMed to generate protein network maps of patient-specific activated and inactivated disease pathways. CBM was used to simulate the TMZ and TMZ-Lomustine therapies for each patient in a TCGA cohort of 368 GBM patients. Omics data including methylation, whole exome sequencing, and copy number alterations were input into CBM. The Singula Composite Inhibition Score (CIS) was calculated based on the measured quantitative drug effects. Results: Though incremental gain from the combination was seen in all patients, CIS varied across the population with relative scores ranging from 32-82, with best responders have more than twice the benefit. Conclusions: CPA shows that m-MGMT is an excellent biomarker for determining the likelihood of benefit from TMZ and lomustine, with the caveat that CBM identifies 18% could be spared from TMZ exposure and would benefit from Lomustine alone. Otherwise, these data lend support for evolving the standard of care with combination therapy for patients with m-MGMT GBM and should help overcome a reluctance to employing combination therapy. Additionally, CBM has utility to individualize clinical decision making. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals A New Device to Automate the Monitoring of Critical Patients’ Urine Output

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham Otero ◽  
Andrey Apalkov ◽  
Roemi Fernández ◽  
Manuel Armada
Keyword(s):  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Urine Output ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Capacitive Sensor ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Therapeutic Goals ◽  
New Device ◽  
Improve Patient

Urine output (UO) is usually measured manually each hour in acutely ill patients. This task consumes a substantial amount of time. Furthermore, in the literature there is evidence that more frequent (minute-by-minute) UO measurement could impact clinical decision making and improve patient outcomes. However, it is not feasible to manually take minute-by-minute UO measurements. A device capable of automatically monitoring UO could save precious time of the healthcare staff and improve patient outcomes through a more precise and continuous monitoring of this parameter. This paper presents a device capable of automatically monitoring UO. It provides minute by minute measures and it can generate alarms that warn of deviations from therapeutic goals. It uses a capacitive sensor for the measurement of the UO collected within a rigid container. When the container is full, it automatically empties without requiring any internal or external power supply or any intervention by the nursing staff. In vitro tests have been conducted to verify the proper operation and accuracy in the measures of the device. These tests confirm the viability of the device to automate the monitoring of UO.

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