Machine learning model provides superior performance over specialist interpretations and could reliably predict metastatic disease in most patients with pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas

 A recently completed machine learning modelling study at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden, Germany indicates that incorporating "plasma methoxytyramine in machine learning models, along with other clinical features such as primary tumour location and size, provides a highly accurate, non-invasive approach to predict metastases in patients with pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas", which can guide customized management and follow-up strategies for patients. The modeling study indicated that plasma methoxytyramine could identify metastatic disease "at sensitivities of 52% and specificities of 85%", with the highest-rated machine learning model encompassing nine features: plasma methoxytyramine, metanephrine, normetanephrine, age, sex, previous history of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma, location and size of primary tumours, and presence of multifocal disease.  

To read more about this study, click here. 

Study mentioned: Pamporaki C, Berends AMA, Filippatos A, et al. Prediction of metastatic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: a machine learning modelling study using data from a cross-sectional cohort. The Lancet Digital Health; Published online 18 July 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(23)00094-8

Black cancer survivors face increased risk and mortality from heart disease; neighborhood socioeconomic status and insurance contributing factors

 A new report released by the American Cancer Society has found that "Black cancer survivors carry from 30% up to a three-fold higher mortality risk from cardiovascular disease", compared to White cancer survivors.  Notable racial differences were also observed in terms of neighborhood socioeconomic status and health insurance status, "explaining 12% to 31% of the excess cardiovascular death among Black versus White survivors." 

To learn more about this report, click here. 

Newly developed International Childhood Cancer Core Outcome Set represents physical, psychosocial, and neurocognitive outcomes for 17 common childhood cancer subtypes

 A recently completed International Childhood Cancer Outcome Project has resulted in the creation of 24 physical, psychosocial, and neurocognitive outcomes for childhood cancers. According to a joint international consensus statement created for measuring quality of survival among patients with childhood cancer, "most children and adolescents receiving modern cancer treatment survive at least 5 years beyond diagnosis...despite these promising results, survival rates remain poor for specific childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer types."  The study authors also caution that patient and provider reports, together with frequent communication of results "are crucial facilitators for the adoption of these core sets in clinical practice and the subsequent initiation of quality improvement efforts." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Study mentioned: van Kalsbeek RJ, Hudson MM, Mulder RL, … & the International Childhood Cancer Outcome Project participants. A joint international consensus statement for measuring quality of survival for patients with childhood cancer. Nature Medicine 2023;29:1340-1348.

Beginning the journey into the spirit world: First Nations, Inuit and Métis approaches to palliative and end-of-life care in Canada.

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) recently launched Beginning the Journey into the Spirit World: First Nations, Inuit and Metis Approaches to Palliative and End-of-Life Care in Canada. This resource "summarizes factors contributing to palliative and end-of-life care experiences, highlights areas for action in palliative and end-of-life care based on priorities, gaps, challenges, and needs, and identifies innovative and Indigenous community-based models of care and person-centred approaches to palliative and end-of-life care" for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples and communities. 

To learn more about Beginning the Journal into the Spirit World, click here.   

Stopping treatment Is a reasonable strategy for patients with advanced NSCLC who are progression-free to front-line ICI at 2 years

 Recent findings from a retrospective cohort study conducted within the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania found no difference in overall survival between fixed 2-year vs. indefinite duration front-line treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.  Following extensive analysis of 1091 patients on ICI treatment 2 years after diagnosis, overall survival from 760 days was 79% in the fixed-duration group compared to 81% in the infinite duration group.  The study authors therefore determined there was no statistically significant difference in overall survival and thus determined that their study "supports treatment discontinuation at 2 years as a valid approach that does not appear to compromise survival outcomes." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

Sun L, Bleiberg B, Hwang W-T, et al. Association Between Duration of Immunotherapy and Overall Survival in Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. JAMA Oncology; Published online 4 June 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.1891

West H(J). Clinical Decision Making in the Real World—The Perfect as the Enemy of the Good. JAMA Oncology; Published online 4 June 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.1811