Background Supportive oncology practice can be enhanced by integrating brief and validated electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) assessment into the electronic health record (EHR) and clinical workflow. Methods 636 women receiving gynecologic oncology outpatient care received instructions to complete clinical assessments through Epic MyChart, the EHR patient communication portal. PROMIS computer adaptive tests (CATs) were administered to assess fatigue, pain interference, physical function, depression, and anxiety. Checklists identified psychosocial concerns, informational and nutritional needs, and risk factors for inadequate nutrition. Assessment results, including PROMIS T-scores with documented severity thresholds, were immediately populated in the EHR. Clinicians were notified of clinically elevated symptoms through EHR messages. EHR integration was designed to provide automated triage to social work providers for psychosocial concerns, health educators for information, and dietitians for nutrition-related concerns. Results Of 4,042 MyChart messages sent, 3,203 (79%) were reviewed by patients. The assessment was started by 1,493 (37%) patients, and once started 93% completed (1,386 patients). Using first assessments only, 49.8% of patients who reviewed the MyChart message completed the assessment. Mean PROMIS CAT T-scores indicated a lower level of physical function and elevated anxiety compared to the general population. Fatigue, pain, and depression scores were comparable to the general population. Impaired physical functioning was the most common basis for clinical alerts, occurring in 4% of patients. Conclusions We used PROMIS CATs to measure common cancer symptoms in routine oncology outpatient care. Immediate EHR integration facilitated the use of symptom reporting as the basis for referral to psychosocial and supportive care.

A B S T R A C T PurposeThere is no consensus on the best regimen for the primary treatment of low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). Patients and MethodsTwo commonly used single-drug regimens were compared with respect to the proportion of patients meeting the criteria for a complete response (CR) in a randomized phase III trial conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group. Eligibility was purposefully broad to maximize the generalizability of the results and included patients with a WHO risk score of 0 to 6 and patients with metastatic disease (limited to lung lesions Ͻ 2 cm, adnexa, or vagina) or choriocarcinoma. ResultsTwo hundred forty women were enrolled, and 216 were deemed eligible. Biweekly intravenous dactinomycin 1.25 mg/m 2 was statistically superior to weekly intramuscular (IM) methotrexate 30 mg/m 2 (CR: 70% v 53%; P ϭ .01). Similarly, in patients with low-risk GTN as defined before the 2002 WHO risk score revisions (risk score of 0 to 4 and excluding choriocarcinoma), response was 58% and 73% in the methotrexate and dactinomycin arms, respectively (P ϭ .03). Both regimens were less effective if the WHO risk score was 5 or 6 or if the diagnosis was choriocarcinoma (CR: 9% and 42%, respectively). There were two potential recurrences; one at 4 months (dactinomycin) and one at 22 months (methotrexate). Not all patients completed follow-up. Both regimens were well tolerated. ConclusionThe biweekly dactinomycin regimen has a higher CR rate than the weekly IM methotrexate regimen in low-risk GTN, a generally curable disease. J Clin

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Continuous-infusion BSO is relatively nontoxic and results in depletion of tumor glutathione.

These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on the major updates to the 2013 NCCN Guidelines for Ovarian Cancer. Four updates were selected based on recent important updates in the guidelines and on debate among panel members about recent clinical trials. The topics include 1) intraperitoneal chemotherapy, 2) CA-125 monitoring for ovarian cancer recurrence, 3) surveillance recommendations for less common ovarian histopathologies, and 4) recent changes in therapy for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. These NCCN Guidelines Insights also discuss why some recommendations were not made. (JNCCN 2013;11:1199-1209 Ovarian Cancer, Version 2.2013 1200 NCCN Guidelines Insights CE ©

Intraoperative use of epidural anesthesia was associated with an increased time to tumor recurrence after surgery in ovarian cancer patients. This may be a result of preservation of the immune system function.

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