Multinational Association Of Supportive Care In Cancer Score Research Articles

The predictive value of the MASCC score in patients with febrile neutropenia.

e23059 Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a life-threatening complication in patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy. Guidelines classify FN as a one-time oral temperature of greater than 38.3°C or sustained temperature greater than 38°C for ≥ 1 hour with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of less than 500 cells/μL or an ANC expected to decrease to less than 500 cells/μL within a 48-hour period. This condition has a high rate of hospitalization and mortality. Currently, the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk score is used to classify patients as high or low risk. The current study outlines the predictive role of MASCC scoring in risk stratifying patients with FN at our institution. Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective observational study. IRB approval was obtained for this study. Electronic medical record data was reviewed to record mortality, length of stay (LOS), and antimicrobial use as primary outcomes with age at time of admission, sex, race, type of malignancy, any confirmed infection diagnosis, MASCC risk score, and subspecialist consultation as predictors of outcomes. Results: 220 records of possible FN episodes were screened, 160 were excluded leaving a total of 60 patients for review. The median age was 72.5 with 28 males and 32 females. Overall mortality rate was 10%.33 patients (55%) did not have an identifiable source of infection. Among the 27 patients with confirmed infection, 7 were associated with COVID-19, 12 had gram negative rod (GNR) sepsis and 8 were other bacterial infections. Patients with GNR sepsis had the highest mortality risk in which 4 of the 12 (33%) died. LOS was also significantly longer in patients with GNR sepsis. Lower MASCC scores were associated with identification of GNR sepsis. Of the patients with MASCC score of < 24, significantly more patients 7/20 (35%) developed GNR sepsis compared to 5/40 (12.5%) of those with MASCC score of 24 or greater (p = .004). Patients with GNR sepsis received a mean 5.7 days of broad spectrum antibiotics compared to 3 days in those without, (p < 0.001). Those with no identified infection had significantly lower LOS (4.5 days) compared to the groups with GNR sepsis (11.1 days) or other bacterial infections (10.1 days). Conclusions: Febrile neutropenia is a complication of cytotoxic chemotherapy that warrants special attention due to high mortality rates. We found lower MASCC scores were associated with GNR sepsis and that in the setting of FN these patients had higher mortality rates and longer LOS. This highlights the importance of risk stratification with MASCC index scoring as early recognition and treatment of high risk patients could lead to improved patient outcomes.

Can MASCC and CISNE scores predict delays of lung cancer chemotherapy after febrile neutropenia?

Febrile neutropenia (FN) during cancer chemotherapy can lead to morbidity and mortality. The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and clinical index of stable febrile neutropenia (CISNE) scores have been widely used to predict the risk of severe medical complications in patients with FN; however, there are few tools for predicting chemotherapy delays or discontinuation after FN. Patients admitted to two university hospitals between 2014 and 2018 with a FN diagnosis during the first cycle of chemotherapy for lung cancer were reviewed retrospectively. Among 539 patients who received 813 courses of chemotherapy for lung cancer, 49 (9%) developed FN during the first treatment cycle. Although all the patients recovered from their primary infection, 19 patients (38.8%) developed serious medical complications, 11 (22.4%) were unable to resume chemotherapy and one (2.0%) declined to resume chemotherapy, and nine (18.4%) died within 90 days. Patients who failed to resume chemotherapy had a lower MASCC score (median 8.5 vs. 17, p < 0.01) and a higher CISNE score (median 3 vs. 1, p < 0.01) at the onset of FN. The specificity to predict the patient who failed to resume chemotherapy was 90% or more with MASCC score ≤9 or CISNE score ≥3, with the sensitivity of 61%. MASCC score ≤ 16 can also be a sensitive indicator with the sensitivity and specificity of 89 and 52%, respectively. The MASCC and CISNE scores are useful in identifying lung cancer patients who are unable to resume chemotherapy as scheduled after the onset of FN.

Predictive and risk factor analysis for bloodstream infection in high-risk hematological patients with febrile neutropenia: post-hoc analysis from a prospective, large-scale clinical study

Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a frequent complication observed in patients with febrile neutropenia (FN). BSI risk factors and incidence vary depending on chemotherapy types and prophylactic antimicrobial agents. We clarified these issues by post-hoc analysis of a prospective clinical trial cohort for severe FN in hematological malignancy. We performed an intention-to-treat analysis of 413 high-risk patients and 1272 blood culture sets. Overall, 356 patients (86.2%) developed FN, and 20.8% had BSI complications. Prophylactic antimicrobials did not prevent complications of FN and BSI, but the incidence of BSIs of Gram-negative (GN) bacteria was lower than in the non-prophylaxis group (23.8% vs. 56.7%). Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) scores < 20 were significantly correlated with the incidence of BSI, whereas MASCC scores > 21 were not (41.7% vs. 17.2%). The only significant risk factors were hypotension and dehydration. axillary temperatures were higher in GN-caused BSIs than in Gram-positive-caused BSIs and in patients with negative blood culture results (38.7°C vs. 38.2°C vs. 38.0°C). The higher the fever, the higher the incidence of BSI and GN bacteremia. MASCC score and axillary temperature are strong predictors of BSI. Non-administration of prophylactic antimicrobials and GN-caused BSI are correlated. UMIN00010411.

A questionnaire survey on evaluation for penetration and compliance of the Japanese Guideline on Febrile Neutropenia among hematology-oncology physicians and surgeons

PurposeThe Japanese Society of Medical Oncology published a guideline (GL) on febrile neutropenia (FN) in 2017. The study’s purpose is to reveal how widely GL penetrated among physicians and surgeons providing chemotherapy.MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted with SurveyMonkey™ for members of the Japanese Association of Supportive Care in Cancer and relevant academic organizations. Each question had four options (always do, do in more than half of patients, do in less than half, do not at all) and a free description form. Responses were analyzed with statistical text-analytics.ResultA total of 800 responses were retrieved. Major respondents were experts with more than 10-year experience, physicians 54%, and surgeons 46%. Eighty-seven percent of respondents knew and used GL. Forty-eight percent assessed FN with Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score “always” or “more than half.” Eighty-one percent chose beta-lactam monotherapy as primary treatment in high-risk patients. Seventy-seven percent did oral antibacterial therapy in low-risk patients ambulatorily. Seventy-eight percent administered primary prophylactic G-CSF (ppG-CSF) in FN frequency ≥ 20% regimen. Fifty-nine percent did ppG-CSF for high-risk patients in FN frequency 10–20% regimen. Ninety-seven percent did not use ppG-CSF in FN frequency < 10% regimen. The medians of complete and complete plus partial compliance rates were 46.4% (range 7.0–92.8) and 77.8% (range 35.4–98.7). The complete compliance rates were less than 30% in seven recommendations, including the MASCC score assessment.ConclusionGL is estimated to be widely utilized, but some recommendations were not followed, presumably due to a mismatch with actual clinical practices in Japan.

Prognostic Value of Serum Procalcitonin Levels in Patients With Febrile Neutropenia Presenting to the Emergency Department.

Various risk-stratification scores have been developed to identify low-risk febrile neutropenia (FN). The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score is a commonly used validated scoring system, although its performance varies due to its subjectivity. Biomarkers like procalcitonin (PCT) are being used in patients with FN to detect bacteremia and additional complications. Our objective was to compare the performance of MASCC score with PCT in predicting adverse outcomes in patients with FN. This was a prospective observational study that included chemotherapy-induced FN in hematologic or solid malignancy. The MASCC score, PCT levels, and blood cultures were taken at the first point of contact, and patient treatment was managed according to routine institutional protocol. The primary outcome was mortality at 30days. A total of 100 patients were recruited, of which 92 had hematologic malignancy and 8 had solid malignancy. Forty-six patients were classified as low risk by MASCC score (≥21). The PCT threshold, 1.42ng/mL, was taken as a cutoff value, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.664 (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.55 to 0.77) for predicting mortality. AUROC for MASCC was 0.586 (95% CI 0.462 to 0.711). PCT is a useful marker with better prognostic efficacy than MASCC score in patients with FN and can be used as an adjunct to the score in risk-stratifying patients with FN.

Early switch from intravenous to oral antibiotic therapy in patients with cancer who have low-risk neutropenic sepsis (the EASI-SWITCH trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundNeutropenic sepsis remains a common treatment complication for patients receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment. The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have not recommended switching from empirical intravenous antibiotics to oral antibiotics within 48 h for patients assessed as low risk for septic complications because of uncertainty about whether this would achieve comparable outcomes to using intravenous antibiotics for longer. The UK National Institute for Health Research funded the EASI-SWITCH trial to tackle this uncertainty.MethodsThe trial is a pragmatic, randomised, non-inferiority trial that aims to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of early switching from intravenous to oral antibiotics in cancer patients with low-risk neutropenic sepsis. Patients ≥ 16 years, receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment (acute leukaemics/stem cell transplants excluded), with a temperature of > 38 °C, neutrophil count ≤ 1.0 × 109/L, MASCC (Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer) score ≥ 21 and receiving IV piperacillin/tazobactam or meropenem for less than 24 h are eligible to participate. Patients are randomised 1:1 either (i) to switch to oral ciprofloxacin and co-amoxiclav within 12–24 h of commencing intravenous antibiotics, completing at least 5 days total antibiotics (intervention), or (ii) to continue intravenous antibiotics for at least 48 h, with ongoing antibiotics being continued at the physician’s discretion (control). Patients are discharged home when their physician deems it appropriate. The primary outcome measure is a composite of treatment failures as assessed at day 14. The criteria for treatment failure include fever persistence or recurrence 72 h after starting intravenous antibiotics, escalation from protocolised antibiotics, hospital readmission related to infection/antibiotics, critical care support or death. Based on a 15% treatment failure rate in the control group and a 15% non-inferiority margin, the recruitment target is 230 patients.DiscussionIf the trial demonstrates non-inferiority of early switching to oral antibiotics, with potential benefits for patient quality of life and resource savings, this finding will have significant implications for the routine clinical management of those with low-risk neutropenic sepsis.Trial registrationISRCTN: 84288963. Registered on the 1 July 2015. https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN84288963.EudraCT: 2015-002830-35.

Retrospective study of the evaluation and management of febrile neutropenia in cancer patients in a tertiary center.

e19100 Background: Febrile neutropenia is a medical emergency often managed by internists, but adherence to guidelines has not been well-described. We aimed to describe care and outcomes of a retrospective cohort of patients hospitalized with febrile neutropenia at a single tertiary care hospital. Methods: We included adults ≥18 years old who had a cancer diagnosis and required hospital admission for a principal diagnosis of fever and neutropenia (ANC &lt; 500) from October 2015 - April 2019. We reviewed records to identify demographics, cancer diagnosis and stage, and outcomes, including death. Results: We included 193 patients; all were cared for by hospitalists. About half (52%) were classified as high risk [ &lt; 21 Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)score], but only 1 patient had a documented MASCC score in hospital progress notes. The majority of patients were female (55%) and white (84%). Twenty-three percent had a stage IV diagnosis. Most (89.1%) patients were within their first chemotherapy cycle, and 23% received GCSF. Approximately half (47%) had solid tumors; the remainder had hematologic malignancies. About one quarter (27%) had positive blood cultures (of these, 43.4 % were gram positive cocci (GPC); 49.1% were gram negative rods (GNR)). Most patients received empiric coverage for GPC and GNR: 82% received cefepime and 42% received empiric MRSA coverage. Few patients had cultures positive for resistant organisms such as MRSA (n = 3) or pseudomonas (n = 4). Hematology/Oncology was consulted for most (82%) cases. Inpatient mortality occurred in 12% of patients. Compared to those who survived, patients who died had lower MASCC score 13.9 (vs. 19.1) and were more likely to receive critical care therapies during hospitalization (70% vs. 14%). Few patients (n = 24, 12%) had documented goals of care (GOC) discussions. Conclusions: Although MASCC is predictive of outcomes, internists caring for patients with fever and neutropenia do not document this score. Hospitalist-focused education efforts about MASCC score could improve care. Few patients had documented GOC discussions. Oncologists should maintain good communication with internal medicine colleagues, who may be hesitant to address GOC in patients receiving chemotherapy.

Accuracy of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and Clinical Index of Stable Febrile Neutropenia (CISNE) scores for predicting serious complications in adult patients with febrile neutropenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We compared the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and Clinical Index of Stable Febrile Neutropenia (CISNE) scores for identifying serious complications in febrile neutropenia patients. We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception to March 19, 2019. Two reviewers independently screened citations, extracted data, and assessed quality. We included 26 studies, totalling 6617 patients. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for MASCC < 21 was 55.6 % (95 % CI: 46.2 %-64.5%) and 86.0 % (95 % CI: 81.3 %-89.7 %), respectively. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for CISNE ≥ 3 was 78.9 % (95 % CI: 65.3 %-88.1 %) and 64.9 % (95 % CI: 49.6 %-77.7 %), respectively. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for CISNE ≥ 1 was 96.7 % (95 % CI: 93.6 %-98.3 %) and 22.2 % (95 % CI: 15.6 %-30.4 %), respectively. The CISNE score had higher sensitivity and may be more useful than the MASCC score in the acute setting.

Predictive performance of the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score as a screening tool for sepsis, mortality, and intensive care unit admission in patients with febrile neutropenia.

In Sepsis-3, the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score was developed as criteria to use for recognizing patients who may have poor outcomes. This study was performed to evaluate the predictive performance of the qSOFA score as a screening tool for sepsis, mortality, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in patients with febrile neutropenia (FN). We also tried to compare its performance with that of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria and Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score for FN. We used a prospectively collected adult FN data registry. The qSOFA and SIRS scores were calculated retrospectively using the preexisting data. The primary outcome was the development of sepsis. The secondary outcomes were ICU admission and 28-day mortality. Of the 615 patients, 100 developed sepsis, 20 died, and 38 were admitted to ICUs. In multivariate analysis, qSOFA was an independent factor predicting sepsis and ICU admission. However, compared to the MASCC score, the area under the receiver operating curve of qSOFA was lower. qSOFA showed a low sensitivity (0.14, 0.2, and 0.23) but high specificity (0.98, 0.97, and 0.97) in predicting sepsis, 28-day mortality, and ICU admission. Performance of the qSOFA score was inferior to that of the MASCC score. The preexisting risk stratification tool is more useful for predicting outcomes in patients with FN.

C-reactive protein and the MASCC risk index identify high-risk patients with febrile neutropenia and hematologic neoplasms.

The objective of this study is to assess the prognostic usefulness of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk score in association with the value of C-reactive protein (CRP) to identify high-risk patients with febrile neutropenia and hematologic neoplasms. A retrospective cohort study in which the MASCC score and the CRP values were used to assess the mortality risk at 30 days among patients with febrile neutropenia and hematologic malignancies was performed. Two hundred thiry-seven patients with febrile neutropenia were analyzed; the mortality rate within 30 days was 9 %. High-risk patients according to the MASCC score were significantly more likely to experience adverse outcomes, such as being transferred to the intensive care unit (RR 3.55; CI 95 % 2.73-6.62, p < 0.001) and death (RR 2.21; CI 95 % 1.74-2.79, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed a strong association between the high-risk group identified by the MASCC score (HR 3.0; CI 95 % 1.12-13.54, p = 0.032) and the mean levels of CRP (HR 17; CI 95 % 2.21-136.48, p = 0.007) and survival. The survival rate within 30 days was 100 % for the patients with a low-risk MASCC score and a mean CRP less than 15 mg/dL. This rate was only 64 % for high-risk patients with a mean CRP greater than 15 mg/dL. The MASCC risk score combined with the mean CRP value successfully identifies patients with febrile neutropenia and hematological malignancies and a high risk of death.

Growth factor therapy may have a clinical benefit for patients with cancer with established febrile neutropenia

Growth factor therapy may have a clinical benefit for patients with cancer with established febrile neutropenia

Independent factors for prediction of poor outcomes in patients with febrile neutropenia.

BackgroundFebrile neutropenia (FN) is a life-threatening condition that requires urgent management in the emergency department (ED). Recent progress in the treatment of neutropenic fever has underscored the importance of risk stratification. In this study, we aimed to determine independent factors for prediction of poor outcomes in patients with FN.Material/MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 200 chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenic patients who visited the ED. Upon arrival at the ED, clinical data, including sex, age, vital signs, underlying systemic diseases, laboratory test results, estimated GFR, blood cultures, CRP, radiologic examinations, and Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score of all febrile neutropenic patients were obtained. Outcomes were categorized as “poor” if serious complications during hospitalization, including death, occurred.ResultsThe platelet count <50 000 cells/mm3 (OR 3.90, 95% CI 1.62–9.43), pulmonary infiltration (OR 3.45, 95% CI 1.48–8.07), hypoproteinemia <6 g/dl (OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.27–8.56), respiratory rate >24/min (OR 8.75, 95% CI 2.18–35.13), and MASCC score <21 (OR 9.20, 95% CI 3.98–21.26) were determined as independent risk factors for the prediction of death. The platelet count <50 000 cells/mm3 (OR 3.93, 95% CI 1.42–10.92), serum CRP >50 mg/dl (OR 3.80, 95% CI 1.68–8.61), hypoproteinemia (OR 7.81, 95% CI 3.43–17.78), eGFR ≤90 ML/min/1.73 m2 (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.13–8.26), and MASCC score <21 (OR 3.45, 95% CI 1.53–7.79) were determined as independent risk factors for the prediction of poor clinical outcomes of FN patients. Platelet count, protein level, respiratory rate, pulmonary infiltration, CRP, MASCC score, and eGFR were shown to have a significant association with outcome.ConclusionsThe results of our study may help emergency medicine physicians to prevent serious complications with proper use of simple independent risk factors besides MASCC score.

Management of febrile neutropenia in malignancy using the MASCC score and other factors: Feasibility and safety in routine clinical practice.

The current standards for empirical broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic (AB) treatment, combined with hospitalization, are cautious and safe, but lead to over-treatment of a substantial group of patients. We need to validate parameters to identify these low-risk febrile-neutropenia (FN) patients, who could then be safely treated in an outpatient setting with minimal/no AB treatment. A retrospective analysis for validation of a risk-assessment model in FN patients was done on a patient population from January 2007 to December 2008. Inclusion criteria were a histological diagnosis of malignancy, FN secondary to chemotherapy, absolute-neutrophil-count of ≤ 500/μl, axillary temperature of ≥ 38°C, and age ≥ 14 years. Other clinical and laboratory parameters were explored for risk stratification during the FN episodes. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were used to find the threshold value, an Chi-square analysis was done to find the association between the outcome and the parameters. A total of 178 FN episodes were documented; 22 in solid tumors and 156 in hematolymphoid malignancies. Culture positivity was documented in 59 episodes; peripheral blood was the most common source, with Escherichia coli being the most common organism identified. Risk stratification was done using the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk-index score. The association between the MASCC score and risk stratification could not be established (P = not significant) at a score of ≤ 21; however, it was found to be significant at a score of ≤ 18. The total number of complications was 23 (sepsis 22, mortality 23). Other factors found to be significantly associated with a high risk of complications in the univariate analysis were, mucositis (P = 0.03), maximum temperature ≥ 103°F (P = 0.01), tachycardia (P < 0.001), tachypnea (P = <0.001), age (P = 0.006), high dose of steroid (P < 0.001), total duration of fever (≥ 2.5 days (for which sensitivity (S) and specificity (Sp) were 87 and 81%, respectively), serum-creatinine (≥ 0.45 mg%, S = 100%, Sp = 97%), serum-bilirubin (≥ 0.5 mg/dl, S = 100%. Sp = 90%), requirement of second-line antibiotics (P = 0.02), intensive-care (P ≤ 0.001), ventilatory support (P < 0.001), and requirement of packed cell (PC) transfusion (P = 0.02). In the multivariate analysis, mucositis (P = 0.02), HD steroid use (P = 0.026), and PC requirement (0.026) were identified as independent variables. The MASCC risk-index score was found to be meaningful at a score of ≤ 18. Other clinical and laboratory parameters were found to have a strong association with risk stratification in cancer patients during FN episodes.

Adding procalcitonin to the MASCC risk-index score could improve risk stratification of patients with febrile neutropenia

Infectious complication could be life-threatening in patients with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN). The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk-index score is used to predict the complications of these patients, and it has been focused on identifying low-risk patients who may be candidates for outpatient management. In this study, we evaluated procalcitonin (PCT) and the MASCC score in predicting bacteremia and septic shock in patients with FN. From November 2010 to October 2011, 355 patients with FN were prospectively enrolled. Clinical and laboratory findings, including procalcitonin, and the MASCC score were analyzed and correlated with the infectious complications of FN. Of the 355 patients, 35 (9.9 %) had bacteremia, and 25 (7.0 %) developed septic shock. PCT ≥ 0.5 ng/mL (OR 3.96, 95 % CI 1.51-10.40), platelet count <100 × 10(3)/mm(3) (OR 2.50, 95 % CI 1.10-5.66), and MASCC score <21 (OR 2.45, 95 % CI 1.03-5.85) were independently predictive of bacteremia, and PCT ≥ 1.5 ng/mL (OR 29.78, 95 % CI 9.10-97.39) and MASCC score <21 (OR 9.46, 95 % CI 3.23-27.72) were independent factors of septic shock. In 306 patients with low-risk FN classified by the MASCC score, 52 had PCT ≥ 0.5 ng/mL and 31 had PCT ≥ 1.5 ng/mL. Of the 52 patients with PCT ≥ 0.5 ng/mL, 12 (23.1 %) had bacteremia, and of the 31 patients with PCT ≥ 1.5 ng/mL, 7 (22.6 %) developed septic shock. Implicating PCT as a routine use in clinical practice along with the MASCC score could improve risk stratification of patients with FN.

Elevation of serum C-reactive protein predicts failure of the initial antimicrobial treatment for febrile neutropenia with lung cancer

Febrile neutropenia frequently develops after chemotherapy, and the prompt administration of antimicrobial agents is required for treatment. In the present study, we searched for predictive factors for the failure of the initial antimicrobial agents used for febrile neutropenia (FN) in patients with lung cancer. Sixty FN patients treated in our ward from June 2005 to May 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. The definition of FN and the response to antimicrobial agents were determined by the Japanese guidelines. We divided the FN patients into two groups by their response to the initial antimicrobial agents. Next, the characteristics of the two groups were compared. The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score did not differ between the two groups. The non-responder group demonstrated significant elevation of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that a CRP level higher than 10mg/dl is an independent risk factor for the failure of initial antimicrobial agents for FN with lung cancer (OR 11.0, 95% CI 1.635-74.5). When the CRP score was added to the MASCC score, the scoring system could more precisely predict the failure of initial antimicrobial agents in patients with lung cancer who developed febrile neutropenia.

Predictive factors of poor prognosis in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia

We intended to determine the predictive factors of poor prognosis in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN). From January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008, 396 episodes of FN in 346 cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and laboratory findings and Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk-index score were analyzed and correlated with outcome. Of the 396 episodes, 73 (18.4%) had serious medical complications including 15 (3.8%) deaths. There was significant difference between unfavorable and favorable outcomes in age, gender, hypotension, tachypnea, duration of fever ≤24 h before admission (44.4% vs. 61.3%), interval of ≤7 days since last chemotherapy (34.2% vs. 16.1%), and duration of neutropenia ≥4 days (34.2% vs. 15.8%; P < 0.05 each), as did C-reactive protein (CRP; 15.0 vs. 7.5 mg dL(-1)) and platelet count (66.4 × 10(3) vs. 123.7 × 10(3) mm(-3);P < 0.001 each). MASCC score was significantly lower in unfavorable outcomes than favorable outcomes (19.0 vs. 24.6, P < 0.001). However, prophylactic antibiotics, treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and history of FN were not associated with outcome. On multivariate analysis, MASCC risk-index score (OR 23.2, 95% CI 10.48-51.37), tachypnea (OR 3.61, 95% CI 1.44-9.08), thrombocytopenia (OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.69-6.89), increased CRP (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.62-6.45), and prolonged neutropenia (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.21-5.25) were independent predictors of unfavorable outcomes. MASCC risk-index score <21, tachypnea, thrombocytopenia, increased CRP, and prolonged neutropenia may be strongly associated with poor outcomes in cancer patients with FN.

Performance of MASCC score and other factors for identifying low-risk febrile-neutropenic cancer patients.

e19533 Background: The standard empirical broad-spectrum-intravenous-antibiotic (AB) treatment and hospitalisation though safe lead to over-treatment of substantial group of patients. Validation of parameters to identify low-risk febrile neutropenia (FN) that can be safely treated in an outpatient setting with minimal/no AB treatment needed. Methods: A retrospective analysis to validate risk assessment model in FN patients from January 2007 to December 2008 done. Inclusion criteria were histologic diagnosis of malignancy, FN secondary to chemotherapy, absolute neutrophil count of ≤500/μl, axillary temperature of ≥38° C and age ≥ 14years. Other clinical and lab parameters were explored for risk stratification during FN episodes .Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to find the thresholdvalue and Chisquare analysis was done to find association between outcome and the parameters. Results: A total of 178 FN episodes were documented; 22 in solid tumors while 156 in haematolymphoid malignancies. Cultures were positive in 59 episodes with Escherichia-coli being the commonest organism. Risk stratification was done by Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk index score. The association between MSACC score and risk stratification could not be established (p = not significant).The total no of complications were 23 (Sepsis 22, Mortality 23). Other factors found to be significantly associated with high risk of complications were mucositis (p = 0.03), maximum temperature ≥ 103°F (p = 0.01), tachycardia (p<0.001),tachypnoea (p = <0.001), age (p = 0.006), high dose of steroid (p<0.001), total duration of fever (≥2.5 days (for which Sensitivity(S) and specificity (Sp) 87% and 81% respectively), serum creatinine (≥0.45mg%, S = 100%, Sp = 97%), bilirubin (≥0.5, S = 100%. Sp = 90%) requirement of second line antibiotics (p = 0.02), intensive care (p = <0.001), ventilatory support (p<0.001) and requirement of packed cell transfusion (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The MASCC risk index score could not be validated in this population while other clinical and lab parameters were found to have strong association in risk stratification of cancer patients during FN episodes. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Oral moxifloxacin or intravenous ceftriaxone for the treatment of low-risk neutropenic fever in cancer patients suitable for early hospital discharge

Patients with low-risk neutropenic fever as defined by the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score might benefit from ambulatory treatment. Optimal management remains to be clearly defined, and new oral antibiotics need to be evaluated in this setting. Cancer patients with febrile neutropenia and a favorable MASCC score were randomized between oral moxifloxacin and intravenous ceftriaxone. All were fit for early hospital discharge. The global success rate was related to the efficacy of monotherapy, as well as to the success of ambulatory monitoring. The trial was closed prematurely because of low accrual. Ninety-six patients were included (47 in the ceftriaxone arm and 49 in the moxifloxacin arm). A total of 65% were women, 30.2% had lymphoma, 34.4% had metastatic, and 35.4% had non-metastatic solid tumors. The success rates of home antibiotics were 73.9% and 79.2% for ceftriaxone and moxifloxacin, respectively. Seven patients were not discharged, and 14 required re-hospitalization. There were 17% of microbiologically documented infections that were, in most cases, susceptible to oral monotherapy. These results suggest that MASCC is a valid and useful tool to select patients for ambulatory treatments and that oral moxifloxacin monotherapy is safe and effective for the outpatient treatment of cancer patients with low-risk neutropenic fever.

Prediction of outcome in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia: comparison of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer risk-index score with procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, and interleukins-1β, -6, -8 and -10

The primary objective of the study was to compare the predictive potential of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10, with that of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk-index score in cancer patients on presentation with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN). Seventy-eight consecutive FN episodes in 63 patients were included, and MASCC scores, as well as concentrations of CRP, SAA, PCT, and IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10, and haematological parameters were determined on presentation, 72 h later and at outcome. Multivariate analysis of data revealed the MASCC score, but none of the laboratory parameters, to be an accurate, independent variable (P < 0.0001) for prediction of resolution with or without complications and death. Of the various laboratory parameters, PCT had the strongest association with the MASCC score (r = -0.51; P < 0.0001). In cancer patients who present with FN, the MASCC risk-index score is a useful predictor of outcome, while measurement of PCT, CRP, SAA, or IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10, is of limited value.

Procalcitonin (PCT) as an adjunct to the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk-index score in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia

8120 Background: The majority of cancer patients who present with febrile neutropenia experience uncomplicated and speedy recovery. Nevertheless, the frequency of complications remains unacceptably high, with a reported mortality rate by all major cooperative groups of approximately 10%. Infections are the major cause of morbidity/mortality in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. In this setting, there is a critical requirement for the development of strategies, such as the MASCC risk- index, which enables early identification of patients at high risk for serious infective complications, who would benefit from hospitalization and prompt, aggressive antimicrobial therapy. Methods: The objective was to determine the value of combining PCT, a selective, systemic marker of severe bacterial infection, measured in cancer patients on presentation with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia, with the MASCC score, as a strategy to distinguish between patients with serious infection and those with less serious infection, or non-infective causes of pyrexia. Patients, who experienced 78 febrile neutropenic episodes were classified, into groups with low (<0.5 ng/ml) or high (≥0.5 ng/ml) initial circulating levels of PCT and these groups were compared with MASCC scores, neutrophil and monocyte counts Results: Sixty four % of patients (all survived), presented with low-risk MASCC scores and low PCT values. 19.2%, presenting with high-risk MASCC scores and high PCT values, (46.7% of whom died, p <0.0001), was considered to be at extremely high risk. The remaining patients (16.8%) were classified either as low-risk MASCC score/high PCT (all survived) or high-risk MASCC/low PCT (1 died). By using the MASCC score in conjunction with measurement of PCT, it was possible to categorize around 83% of patients into those at low risk and those at extremely high risk for severe infection and death. Conclusions: PCT values measured on presentation with febrile neutropenia, combined with the MASCC score, distinguish patients with severe infection, who are at high risk of death, from those with less severe infection and non-infective causes of pyrexia. No significant financial relationships to disclose.