bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abstract PO-062: Early impact of COVID-19 in cancer care: The experience of a Brazilian outpatient clinic
Authors: Sternberg Cinthya , Vivas Bianca , Andrade Thamine Lessa , Nova Ana Paula Vila , Fernandes Ana Paula , Alves Camila , Alvez Adriana , Hizumi Lise , Dias Simone , Nobre Pablicio , Calabrich Aknar , Coutinho Anelisa , Pimenta Alex 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The first confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Latin America was reported on February 25th, 2020, in Brazil. As COVID19 disease incidence escalated in the country, management of cancer patients required immediate action and oncology clinics were urged to establish a contingency plan. We were the first oncology clinic in Brazil to install a COVID-19 Management Committee to elaborate and implement best practices to assist cancer outpatients as well as to provide a safe environment for clinical staff and other employees at the outpatient clinics. We started monitoring our staff and employees on March 13th, a day after we installed a contingency plan for COVID-19 management and WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. So far, out of 1,022 staff and employees of our group, we have registered 12.3% suspected and 3.8% confirmed COVID-19 cases, and only 1 case severe enough to require hospitalization. As COVID-19 testing is not widely available, not all patients were tested and/or we did not have access to results, as tests might have been conducted somewhere other than the clinic. Out of 98 patients with suspected COVID-19 being monitored by SCIA (ranging from 29 to 90yo), 68% were tested and 43% of these were positive. As for the monitored population (n=98), 62.6% were undergoing treatment, 31.8% tested positive, and 9.9% died due to COVID-19 (31% of the confirmed cases, matching literature data). All deaths by COVID-19 (n=9) occurred in patients above 68yo, and 77% (n=6) were undergoing cancer treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of COVID-19 incidence in cancer patients in Brazil. The challenges of cancer treatment in the midst of a global pandemic highlight the importance of a rapid response by institutions, where organizational structure, strategic planning, agility in guidelines implementation, and alternative ways to protect and support clinical staff, employees, and patients may be the keys to mitigate pandemic effects.
Citation Format: Cinthya Sternberg, Bianca Vivas, Thamine Lessa Andrade, Ana Paula Vila Nova, Ana Paula Fernandes, Camila Alves, Adriana Alvez, Lise Hizumi, Simone Dias, Pablicio Nobre, Aknar Calabrich, Anelisa Coutinho, Alex Pimenta. Early impact of COVID-19 in cancer care: The experience of a Brazilian outpatient clinic [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-062.
Abstract PO-070: What kills patients with severe Covid-19 might also kill patients with terminal cancer
Authors: Zhang Lingbing 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Introduction: As a prominent clinical feature of severe Covid-19, cytokine storm has attracted enormous attention recently. It is generally believed that cytokine storm might be the underlying force leading to health exacerbation and death from severe Covid-19. However, the role of cytokine storm in terminal cancer has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the role of cytokine storm in a murine tumor model that mimics the disease progression of terminal cancer. We found that cytokine storm develops in terminal cancer and leads to cachexia, which is a prevalent and lethal syndrome of terminal cancer.
Methods: 7-week old BALB/c mice were inoculated with 1 x106 C26 tumor cells subcutaneously. Mice body weight and health condition were monitored starting 7 days after tumor inoculation. At various time points, serum cytokines were measured, immune cells were analyzed with flow cytometry, and multiple organs were collected and processed for histopathologic assessment.
Results: Growth of subcutaneously inoculated tumors without metastasis progressively induces host body weight loss and overall health deterioration. Cytokine storm characterized by elevated expression of multiple proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-a in blood develops accompanying the health deterioration. In parallel with cytokine storm development, massive infiltration of Gr-1 positive cells occurs in vital organs (lung and liver) and brings severe tissue damage. Histopathologic check ruled out any tumor metastasis to these organs, which suggests that the inflammatory response is the cause of the multiple organ damage. Importantly, suppression of the inflammatory response with interventions can completely reverse the cachexia syndrome and increase survival.
Conclusions and Implication: Cytokine storm develops and plays an important role in the health exacerbation of terminal cancer. Therefore, calming the cytokine storm with interventions that can suppress the inflammatory response might represent a new and promising approach to the treatment of terminal cancer. This approach may have the potential to save many patients from imminent deaths, which are often not directly caused by organ occupation.
Citation Format: Lingbing Zhang. What kills patients with severe Covid-19 might also kill patients with terminal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-070.
Abstract PO-072: Doctors and nurses during COVID19 pandemic: A different perception of cancer care
Authors: Bastianelli Lucia , Merloni Filippo , Ranallo Nicoletta , Cantini Luca , Mariotti Lorenzo , Lucarelli Alessandra , Ballatore Zelmira , Berardi Rossana 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: The spread of coronavirus disease brought the need to reorganize clinical activity in oncology. Cancer patients are very vulnerable, and it is well known that their treatment has to be strictly planned. The most critical considerations still relate to the entry of the virus into hospitals, the heart of health care, where cancer patients are protected. Instead, during the COVID19 pandemic the oncologic department had to limit access to care to protect patients from a more dangerous disease for them, witnessing a paradox of health care. This brought with it worries in oncologic health care professionals in replanning activities in order to guarantee therapeutic continuity and quality of care. It is well known that physicians and nurses have different role concepts and role expectations. The purpose of our study was to investigate doctors’ and nurses' perception of cancer patient reorganization during the COVID19 pandemic in a sample of Italian health care professionals in oncology.
Methods: We submitted a survey to oncologic health care workers (physicians and nurses) of Italian National Health Care System during the pandemic to investigate clinical activity reorganization and cancer patient management through 12 closed questions. The survey promoted by Clinica Oncologica, AOU Riuniti di Ancona-Università Politecnica delle Marche was electronic and anonymous.
Results: A total of 383 oncology health workers completed the survey, 60 nurses (15%) and 323 physicians (85%). 60% of interviewed physicians perceived qualitatively lower than usual the therapeutic path of patients taken in charge in this historical moment, while 45% of nurses declared it was the same (P&lt;0.01). The continuity of the multidisciplinary team was defined as guaranteed for 68% of oncologists, while almost 40% of nurses declared to not know it. Almost all physicians (95%) answered that their clinical activity was reorganized, compared to a lower portion of nurses (80%) who replanned their care role (p&lt;0.01). Deferring treatments caused fear and anxiety in 62% of physicians and 46% of nurses (P=0.027).
Conclusion: The survey underlined the need to integrate skills and involve all professional figures in planning cancer patients’ treatment to guarantee optimal therapeutic strategies and a global take in charge in all its details, even during emergencies.
Citation Format: Lucia Bastianelli, Filippo Merloni, Nicoletta Ranallo, Luca Cantini, Lorenzo Mariotti, Alessandra Lucarelli, Zelmira Ballatore, Rossana Berardi. Doctors and nurses during COVID19 pandemic: A different perception of cancer care [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-072.
Abstract S07-02: Patient-reported outcomes of breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 outbreak in the epicenter of China: A cross-sectional survey study
Authors: Li Juanjuan , Santa-Maria Cesar Augusto , Feng Hongfang , Wang Lingcheng , Zhang Pengcheng , Xu Yuangbing , Tan Yuyan , Liu Zhongchun , Du Bo , Lan Meng , Yang Qingfeng , Yao Feng , Tu Yi , Sun Shengrong , Li Xingrui , Chen Chuang 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Purpose: We aimed to analyze the psychological status of breast cancer (BC) patients in the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patients and Methods: A total of 658 individuals were recruited from multiple breast cancer centers in Hubei Province. Online questionnaires were conducted and included demographic information, clinical features, and four patient-reported outcomes (PROs) scales (GAP-7, PHQ-9, ISI, and IES-R). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was designed to identify potential factors on mental health outcomes.
Results: Questionnaires were collected from February 16 to 19, 2020, the peak time point of COVID-19 outbreak in China. 46.2% of BC patients had to modify planned necessary anticancer treatment during the outbreak. 8.9% and 9.3% of patients reported severe anxiety and severe depression, respectively. 20.8% and 4.0% of patients showed severe distress and insomnia, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated poor general condition, shorter duration after BC diagnosis, aggressive BC molecular subtypes, and close contact with COVID-19 patients as independent factors associated with anxiety. Poor general condition and CVC (central venous catheter) flushing delay were factors independently associated with depression. In terms of insomnia, poor general condition was the only associated independent factor. Poor physical condition and treatment discontinuation were underlying risk factors for distress based on multivariable analysis.
Conclusion: High rates of anxiety, depression, distress, and insomnia were observed in patients with breast cancer during the COVID-19 outbreak. Special attention should be paid to the psychological status of breast cancer patients, especially those with poor general condition, treatment discontinuation, aggressive molecular subtypes, and metastatic breast cancer.
Citation Format: Juanjuan Li, Cesar Augusto Santa-Maria, Hongfang Feng, Lingcheng Wang, Pengcheng Zhang, Yuangbing Xu, Yuyan Tan, Zhongchun Liu, Bo Du, Meng Lan, Qingfeng Yang, Feng Yao, Yi Tu, Shengrong Sun, Xingrui Li, Chuang Chen. Patient-reported outcomes of breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 outbreak in the epicenter of China: A cross-sectional survey study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr S07-02.
Abstract S09-04: Unemployment and cancer screening: Baseline estimates to inform health care provision in the context of COVID-19 economic distress
Authors: Fedewa Stacey A. , Yabroff K. Robin , Zheng Zhiyuan , Bandi Priti , Sauer Ann Goding , Smith Robert A. , Nargis Nigar , Drope Jeffrey , Jemal Ahmedin 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate has sharply risen from 3.5% in February 2020 to 13.3% in May 2020, a level not seen since the Great Depression. There are an estimated 21.0 million unemployed adults in the United States. Employers are the most common source of health insurance among working-aged adults and their families. Thus, job loss may lead to loss of insurance and reduce access to cancer screening, which can detect cancer at earlier, more treatable stages, and reduce cancer mortality. In this study, we examined sequential associations between unemployment, health insurance, and cancer screening to inform COVID’s potential longer-lasting impacts on early cancer detection.
Methods: Up-to-date (UTD) and recent (past-year) breast (BC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening prevalence were computed among respondents aged 50-64 years in 2000-2018 National Health Interview Survey data. Respondents were grouped as unemployed (not working but looking BC n=852; CRC n=1,747) and employed (currently working BC n=19,013; CRC n= 36,566). A series of logistic regression models with predicted marginal probabilities were used to estimate unemployed vs. employed unadjusted (PR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and corresponding 95% Confidence Intervals (CI).
Results: Unemployed adults were four times as likely to be uninsured as employed adults (41.4% v 10.0%, p-value &lt;0.001). Unemployment was associated with lower UTD breast (67.8% vs 77.5%, p-value&lt;0.001, PR=0.82, 95%CI 0.77,0.87) and colorectal (49.4% and 60.1%, p-value&lt;0.001, PR=0.86, 95%CI 0.80, 0.92) cancer screening prevalence. These differences remained after adjusting for race/ethnicity, age, and sex, but were eliminated after accounting for health insurance. Patterns and magnitudes of PR and aPRs were similar for past-year CRC and BC screening prevalence.
Conclusion: Unemployment was adversely associated with guideline-recommended and potentially life-saving breast and colorectal cancer screening. Compared to the employed, the unemployed disproportionately lacked health insurance, which accounted for their lower cancer screening utilization. Expanding and ensuring health insurance coverage after job loss may mitigate COVID-19’s economic impacts on cancer screening.
Citation Format: Stacey A. Fedewa, K. Robin Yabroff, Zhiyuan Zheng, Priti Bandi, Ann Goding Sauer, Robert A. Smith, Nigar Nargis, Jeffrey Drope, Ahmedin Jemal. Unemployment and cancer screening: Baseline estimates to inform health care provision in the context of COVID-19 economic distress [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr S09-04.
Epigenetic Trajectories of the Premalignant-to-Malignant Transition of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Rossi Davide 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Summary:
Kretzmer and colleagues show that the transition to altered methylome occurs very early in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and once acquired, it is a clonal and extremely stable change. However, the precise time point when the leukemic clone starts deviating significantly from the normal B-cell differentiation trajectory is still elusive.
See related article by Kretzmer et al., p. 54.
Abstract IA17: CAR T cells for T-cell lymphoma
Authors: Mamonkin Maksim 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Development of CAR T-cell therapies for T-cell lymphoma has been hampered by a limited range of targetable antigens. Shared expression of most T-lineage antigens between malignant and normal T cells promotes fratricide of CAR T cells and increases the risk of T-cell aplasia. We developed a CAR targeting CD5, a pan-T cell antigen commonly expressed in T-cell lymphoma. CD5 CAR T cells evade fratricide by rapidly downregulating CD5 protein expression and retain high cytotoxicity against T-cell lymphoma. An ongoing phase I clinical trial demonstrates curative potential of autologous CD5 CAR T cells in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma. CD5 CAR T-cell infusions were well tolerated and did not produce prolonged ablation of endogenous T cells. Other CAR T cell-based approaches for T-cell lymphoma will also be discussed.
Citation Format: Maksim Mamonkin. CAR T cells for T-cell lymphoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: Advances in Malignant Lymphoma; 2020 Aug 17-19. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Blood Cancer Discov 2020;1(3_Suppl):Abstract nr IA17.
Abstract IA23: The role of EZH2 gain-of-function mutations in lymphoma
Authors: Béguelin Wendy 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Follicular lymphomas (FLs) are slow-growing, indolent tumors containing extensive follicular dendritic cell (FDC) networks and recurrent EZH2 gain-of-function mutations. Paradoxically, FLs originate from highly proliferative germinal center (GC) B cells with proliferation strictly dependent on interactions with T follicular helper cells. Herein, we show that EZH2 mutations initiate FL by attenuating GC B-cell requirement for T-cell help and driving slow expansion of GC centrocytes that become enmeshed with and dependent on FDCs. By impairing T-cell help, mutant EZH2 prevents induction of proliferative MYC programs. Thus, EZH2 mutation fosters malignant transformation by epigenetically reprograming B cells to form an aberrant immunologic niche that reflects characteristic features of human FLs, explaining how indolent tumors arise from GC B cells.
Citation Format: Wendy Béguelin. The role of EZH2 gain-of-function mutations in lymphoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: Advances in Malignant Lymphoma; 2020 Aug 17-19. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Blood Cancer Discov 2020;1(3_Suppl):Abstract nr IA23.
Abstract IA29: Genome-estimated African ancestry is associated with distinct tumor mutations and poorer survival in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Flowers Christopher R. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Significant differences have been observed in the incidence, age of onset, and clinical outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) by race in the United States. However, it remains unclear what factors underlie these differences and whether genomic differences contribute to these disparities. In this talk Dr. Flowers will address the identified differences in baseline clinical characteristics for black and white patients with DLBCL and the relationships between race, sociodemographic factors, and outcomes. To understand the influences of genetic ancestry on tumor genomic alterations, in a recent paper (Lee et al., Cancer 2020), we estimated the genetic ancestry of 1,001 previously described patients with DLBCL (Reddy et al., Cell 2017) using unsupervised model-based Admixture global ancestry analysis applied to exome sequencing data and examined the mutational profile of 150 DLBCL driver genes in tumors obtained from this cohort. Global ancestry prediction identified 619 patients with &gt;90% European ancestry, 81 patients with &gt;90% African ancestry, and 50 patients with &gt;90% Asian ancestry. Compared with patients with DLBCL with European ancestry, patients with African ancestry were aged &gt;10 years younger at the time of diagnosis and were more likely to present with B symptoms, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase, extranodal disease, and advanced stage disease. Patients with African ancestry demonstrated worse overall survival compared with patients with European ancestry (median, 4.9 years vs. 8.8 years; P = .04). Recurrent mutations of MLL2 (KMT2D), HIST1H1E, MYD88, BCL2, and PIM1 were found across all ancestry groups, suggesting shared mechanisms underlying tumor biology. The authors also identified 6 DLBCL driver genes that were more commonly mutated in patients with African ancestry compared with patients with European ancestry: ATM (21.0% vs. 7.75%; P &lt; .001), MGA (19.7% vs. 5.33%; P &lt; .001), SETD2 (17.3% vs. 5.17%; P &lt; .001), TET2 (12.3% vs. 5.82%; P = .029), MLL3 (KMT2C) (11.1% vs. 4.36%; P = .013), and DNMT3A (11.1% vs. 4.52%; P = .016). Distinct prevalence and patterns of mutation highlight an important difference in the mutational landscapes of DLBCL arising in different ancestry groups. This characterization of genetic alterations among patients with African descent who are diagnosed with DLBCL provides a roadmap for future studies in other lymphoid malignancies and a pathway for drug development in areas where these genetic alterations are found to be associated with worse clinical outcomes.
Citation Format: Christopher R. Flowers. Genome-estimated African ancestry is associated with distinct tumor mutations and poorer survival in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: Advances in Malignant Lymphoma; 2020 Aug 17-19. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Blood Cancer Discov 2020;1(3_Suppl):Abstract nr IA29.
Abstract PO-01: Transcriptional dimensions provide a framework for describing tumor heterogeneity in CLL
Authors: Feusier Julie E. , Waller Rosalie G. , Madsen Michael J. , Avery Brian , Camp Nicola J. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Our goal is to define multiple informative transcriptome variables that capture sources of heterogeneity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, for flexible modeling in epidemiology and clinical studies. CD19+/CD5+ B-cells were sorted from whole blood of 227 CLL patients and RNA was sequenced on the HiSeq4000 or NovaSeq platforms as part of the ORIEN Avatar Initiative. Transcript-based read counts were generated from FASTQ files using Salmon. High-quality genes were selected and read counts internally normalized and corrected for batch effects using ComBat. Preprocessing resulted in a final set of 8,716 quality-controlled, autosomal, protein-coding genes. PCA was performed and, using a scree test, we selected 14 dimensions that represented 55.9% of the total variance across the CLL patients' transcriptomes. Fourteen quantitative, orthogonal CLL dimension variables were calculated for all 227 patients. By design, these CLL dimensions capture transcriptome variance and provide novel multi-gene expression biomarkers. We assessed whether these CLL transcriptome dimensions captured known clinically relevant molecular differences. First, we investigated associations with IGVH mutational status (determined using MiXCR). CLL dimension variables 1, 5, 6, and 8 predicted IGHV mutational status (p=4.6x10-16). Next, we investigated associations with ZAP70 and CD38 biomarkers, calculated by their expression in the RNA sequencing data using a separate pipeline and correcting for batch effects by ComBat (neither gene was in the 8,716 genes retained for PCA). CLL dimension variables 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 significantly predicted Zap70 expression (p=1.6x10-38). CLL dimension variables 2, 3, 5, and 6 significantly predicted CD38 expression (p=3.1x10-31). Transcriptome dimension variables provide a flexible intrinsic framework to describe heterogeneity across CLL patients. We have shown that our transcriptome dimensions capture IGHV mutational status and ZAP70 and CD38 expression, all biomarkers for prognosis. Future work will include exploring the ability of the 14 dimensions to capture other known important molecular markers for CLL, including somatic deletion of 17p deletion, somatic mutational patterns, microsatellite instability, and previously described expression-based subgroups. Transcriptome dimensions are designed for utility as predictor variables, alongside other covariates, in parametric modeling, and have the potential to improve both epidemiology and clinical studies.
Citation Format: Julie E. Feusier, Rosalie G. Waller, Michael J. Madsen, Brian Avery, Nicola J. Camp. Transcriptional dimensions provide a framework for describing tumor heterogeneity in CLL [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: Advances in Malignant Lymphoma; 2020 Aug 17-19. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Blood Cancer Discov 2020;1(3_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-01.