Context The terms “actively dying,” “end of life,” “terminally ill,” “terminal care,” and “transition of care” are commonly used but rarely and inconsistently defined. Objectives We conducted a systematic review to examine the concepts and definitions for these terms. Methods We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and CINAHL for published peer-reviewed articles from 1948 to 2012 that conceptualized, defined, or examined these terms. Two researchers independently reviewed each citation for inclusion and then extracted the concepts/definitions when available. We also searched 10 dictionaries, four palliative care textbooks, and 13 organization Web sites, including the U.S. Federal Code. Results One of 16, three of 134, three of 44, two of 93, and four of 17 articles defined or conceptualized actively dying, end of life, terminally ill, terminal care, and transition of care, respectively. Actively dying was defined as “hours or days of survival.” We identified two key defining features for end of life, terminally ill, and terminal care: life-limiting disease with irreversible decline and expected survival in terms of months or less. Transition of care was discussed in relation to changes in 1) place of care (e.g., hospital to home), 2) level of professions providing the care (e.g., acute care to hospice), and 3) goals of care (e.g., curative to palliative). Definitions for these five terms were rarely found in dictionaries, textbooks, and organizational Web sites. However, when available, the definitions were generally consistent with the concepts discussed previously. Conclusion We identified unifying concepts for five commonly used terms in palliative care and developed a preliminary conceptual framework toward building standardized definitions.

Our preliminary results suggest that testosterone and CRP may be additive or synergistic as markers for survival in male patients and could be useful in future prognostic models.

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Increased awareness of potential interactions between targeted agents and radiation to the brain is crucial.

In patients with advanced cancer, elevated random cortisol levels were associated with pain and opioid use, although abnormally low levels of cortisol were found to be infrequent. Patients on higher opioid therapy (MEDD >30) had increased cortisol levels, and male patients had lower testosterone levels. Our study suggests that opioid therapy in patients with advanced cancer may inhibit gonadal function while sparing the adrenal axis. Future studies are needed.

CNS involvement by CLL is a rare occurrence, usually happening in the context of a transformation to a more aggressive lymphoma in what is known as Richter's transformation. We report a patient with active CLL who developed confusion and was found to have West Nile encephalitis that initially mimicked CNS involvement by CLL. The patient recovered with supportive treatment and later restarted ibrutinib therapy. This case illustrates the importance of maintaining a broad differential among cancer patients with new onset confusion as well as that of questioning malignant infiltration of CNS when there is concomitant active CNS infection.

Introduction : CLL is the most common chronic leukemia in the US, with nearly 20,000 new cases expected annually. Novel agents, such as ibrutinib, idelalisib, and venetoclax, have been approved in recent years and provide oral options for CLL. However, there is limited data regarding real-world treatment patterns with these novel agents. This study describes dose reduction and discontinuation rates, reasons for both, and outcomes, including overall survival (OS) and duration of therapy (DOT), in CLL patients treated with novel agents. Methods : This is an analysis of a large retrospective cohort study of adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with CLL, treated with novel agents in the VHA from 10/01/2013 to 3/31/2018. Historical data were examined for up to 20 years prior to the enrollment period (10/01/1993 to 9/30/2013). Index date was defined as the date of novel agent initiation. The follow-up period was a minimum of 6 months post index date. Variables, collected via a structured EMR database, included patient demographics, and clinical and treatment characteristics. CLL diagnosis, molecular profiles, and reasons for dose reduction and discontinuation were abstracted by chart review. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes. Results: A total of 1205 CLL patients were included in this analysis. Of these, in first observed line, 328 (27%) patients received ibrutinib; in relapsed/refractory observed line (r/r), 741(62%) patients received ibrutinib, 49 (4%) patients on idelalisib, and 87 (7%) patients on venetoclax. Ibrutinib patients in first observed line had a median (range) age of 73 (48-96) years and a median follow-up of 23 (3-54) months after treatment initiation. Dose reduction (n=83, 25%) and discontinuation (n=108, 33%) were frequently due to adverse events (AEs) (93% and 64%). Median DOT to ibrutinib discontinuation was 8 months. The most common AEs leading to dose reduction were major bleed (15%) and rash (15%). The most common AEs leading to discontinuation were atrial fibrillation (20%), major bleed (19%), and infection (11%). The calculated median OS from initiation was 31 (14-49) months. R/R ibrutinib patients had a median age of 72 (45-96) years and had 31 (2-85) months of follow-up after treatment initiation. Dose reduction (n=242, 33%) and discontinuation (n=263, 35%) were frequently due to AEs (89% and 63%). Median DOT to ibrutinib discontinuation was 12 months. The most common AEs leading to dose reduction were thrombocytopenia (13%), arthralgia/myalgia (13%), and infection (12%). The most common AEs leading to discontinuation were atrial fibrillation (19%), infection (15%), and major bleed (11%). the calculated median OS from initiation was 39 (9-57) months. R/R idelalisib patients (n=49) had a median age of 72 (55-93) years and had 27 (3-53) months of follow-up after treatment initiation. Dose reduction (n=8, 16%) and discontinuation (n=41, 84%) were frequently due to AEs (100% and 54%). Median DOT to idelalisib discontinuation was 5 months. The most common AE leading to dose reduction was neutropenia (50%). The most common AEs leading to discontinuation were infection (27%) and pneumonia (18%). R/R venetoclax patients (n=87) had a median age of 72 (47-90) years and had 9 (0-35) months of follow-up after treatment initiation. Dose reduction (n=24, 28%) and discontinuation (n=27, 31%) were frequently due to AEs (100% and 41%). Median DOT to venetoclax discontinuation was 5 months. The most common AEs leading to dose reduction were neutropenia (27%) and thrombocytopenia (27%). The most common AEs leading to discontinuation were neutropenia (36%), thrombocytopenia (18%), and infection (18%). There was not enough follow-up time to have a meaningful OS in this cohort. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the largest EMR/chart review study among CLL patients initiating treatments in the real-world setting. This study provides evidence regarding patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes among patients initiating novel agents for the treatment of CLL in the national VHA population. Dose reduction and discontinuation were frequent across all novel agents, with AEs as the most common reason. These data highlight the significant difference in real world data compared with clinical trial data and indicate the unmet need for more tolerable treatment options for CLL patients. Disclosures Frei: AstraZeneca: Research Funding. Le:AstraZeneca: Employment, Other: Stocks. McHugh:AstraZeneca: Employment. Elesinmogun:AstraZeneca: Employment, Equity Ownership. Obodozie-Ofoegbu:UT Austin: Employment.

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