Neoplasms Commons^™

Cord Blood-Derived Invariant Natural Killer T Cells As A Platform For Allogeneic Chimeric Antigen Receptor Cell Therapy, Maison Grefe

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have revolutionized the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies achieving >50% complete response rates in numerous refractory/relapsed B cell malignancies. However, there are challenges that hinder CAR-T efficacy and bar the broader use of this therapy in patients. One approach to address these challenges is to create a safe allogeneic CAR cell product by using cells that do not cause graft versus host disease (GvHD). Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are an ideal candidate as they are restricted to the monomorphic CD1d protein in contrast to HLA restricted αβ-T cells and therefore are safe in …

Evidenced-Based Strategies To Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Rates, Tuong Cat Vo Bsn-Rn, Nada Salloukh Bsn-Rn, Tatiana Elena Swanson Bsn-Rn, Xiao Mie Cindy Zhu Bsn-Rn, Laura Taylor Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer affecting women worldwide (Staley et al., 2021). With cervical cancer being a preventable disease, an effective method of reducing healthcare costs and mortality is primary prevention, such as screenings. Financial burdens and barriers to accessing medical care may result due to the lack of proper cervical cancer screenings. Detecting cervical cancer includes screening women 21 to 65 years old with a Papanicolaou (PAP) test every three years. Women aged 30 to 65 years old can extend the screening of cervical cancer by having a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test along with …

Paradigm Shift: A Meta-Narrative Review Of The Intricacies And Complications That Led To Changes In Standard Protocols For Primary Human Papillomavirus Screenings, Hillary L. Campbell, Sara N. Fernandez, Elysse S. Hodges, Jonathan J. Del Real, Mary Coolbaugh-Murphy Phd, Denise M. Juroske Short Phd

Research Methods Poster Session 2024

Objective:

To evaluate cervical cancer screening modalities and assess the reasoning that has led to primary HPV being the preferred target for screening.

Background:

History of HPV infection has been found to be correlated with cervical cancer precursor cells. Early detection of the infection is advantageous in decreasing the risk for women of reproductive age acquiring cervical cancer. The general consensus places an emphasis on implementing HPV testing in accordance with cervical cancer protocol.

Methods:

Six methodical reviews of cervical cancer screenings were done through PubMed and the M.D. Anderson Research library. Each article was evaluated to include recently published …

Typhlitis In A Neutropenic Patient, Alice He Bs, Wern Lynn Ng Md, Lay She Ng Md, Si Yuan Khor Md, Chandi Garg Md

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome And The Benefits Of Annual Comprehensive Screening: A Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Case, Alice He Bs, Wern Lynn Ng Md, Faith Seltun Do, Lay She Ng Md, Si Yuan Khor Md, Elham Nasrollahi Md, Chandi Garg Md, Rong Rong Ge Md

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Real World Clinical Experience Using Daily Intelligence-Assisted Online Adaptive Radiotherapy For Head And Neck Cancer, Philip Blumenfeld, Eduard Arbit, Robert Den, Ayman Salhab, Tal Falick Michaeli, Marc Wygoda, Yair Hillman, Raphael Pfeffer, Marcel Fang, Yael Misrati, Noam Weizman, Jon Feldman, Aron Popovtzer

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Revolutionizing Feature Selection: A Breakthrough Approach For Enhanced Accuracy And Reduced Dimensions, With Implications For Early Medical Diagnostics, Shabia Shabir Khan, Majid Shafi Kawoosa, Bonny Bannerjee, Subhash C. Chauhan, Sheema Khan

Research Symposium

Background: The system's performance may be impacted by the high-dimensional feature dataset, attributed to redundant, non-informative, or irrelevant features, commonly referred to as noise. To mitigate inefficiency and suboptimal performance, our goal is to identify the optimal and minimal set of features capable of representing the entire dataset. Consequently, the Feature Selector (Fs) serves as an operator, transforming an m-dimensional feature set into an n-dimensional feature set. This process aims to generate a filtered dataset with reduced dimensions, enhancing the algorithm's efficiency.

Methods: This paper introduces an innovative feature selection approach utilizing a genetic algorithm with an ensemble crossover operation …

Novel Strategy To Make Kras Targeted Therapies More Effective For Pdac Treatment, Ana I. Martinez Bulnes, Melissa Elizondo, Orlando Garcia, Poornima Devi Shaji, Swathi Holla, Nirnoy Dan, Anupam Dhasmana, Swati Dhasmana, Shabnam Malik, Murali Yallapu, Stephen Behrman, Subhash Chauhan, Sheema Khan

Research Symposium

Introduction: Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients exhibit extremely poor prognosis. KRAS mutation on codon-12 is present in 70–95% of PDAC cases and it drives PDAC growth and progression. Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is present in both PDAC and stromal cells, being involved in tumor microenvironment, immune cell activation and metastasis. Therefore, this study discusses the efficiency of combined inhibition of mutated KRASG12D and Gal-1 inhibition to effectively suppress PDAC growth and progression. For this we have delivered KRASG12D inhibiting siRNA (siKRASG12D) using a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) and a galectin inhibitor.

Methods: SPION nano-formulation was used to deliver siKRASG12D and investigate …

Metagenomic Analysis Unveils The Microbial Landscape Of Pancreatic Tumors, Sheema Khan, Goutam Banerjee, Saini Setua, Daleniece Jones, Anupam Dhasmana, Bhavin Chauhan, Pratik Banerjee, Murali M. Yallapu, Stephen Behrman, Subhash Chauhan

Research Symposium

Background: The composition of resident microbes in the human body is linked to various diseases and their treatment outcomes. Although studies have identified pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) associated bacterial communities in the oral and gut samples, herein we hypothesize the prevalence of microbiota in pancreatic tumor tissues is different as compared to their matched adjacent, histologically normal appearing tissues and these microbial molecular signatures can be highly useful for PDAC diagnosis/prognosis.

Methods: In this study, we performed comparative profiling of bacterial populations in pancreatic tumors and their respective adjacent normal tissues using 16S rRNA-based metagenomics analysis.

Results: This study …

Improving Health And Sustainability In Construction Through The Use Of Ai-Based Models For Prediction And Mitigation Of Environmental Cancer Risks, Sana Khan, Asif Shah

Research Symposium

Introduction: Sustainable construction practices face significant challenges in eliminating toxic building materials, driven by a lack of awareness among professionals and economic influences shaping regulatory decisions. This study proposes a solution to address these challenges through the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) models capable of analyzing vast datasets to predict material toxicity, with a particular focus on identifying carcinogenic materials. The objective is to provide real-time insights to architects and civil engineers, fostering environments free from harmful building materials and preventing potential health hazards, including cancer. The presence of carcinogenic materials in construction processes poses severe health risks. Asbestos, a …

Emotion Recognition As A Novel Indicator For Assessing Brain Health: A Machine Learning Approach, Nayarah Shabir, Parveen Lehana

Research Symposium

Background: Emotion is being referred to as a person’s mental state, since it relates to their ideas, feelings, and actions. There is a lot of evidence that health affects the emotion. Therefore, the nature of emotions ought to reveal the health of a person. The emotions are represented by facial expressions controlled by muscular motor actions. Brain health may affect the working of the muscles leading to the emotional changes extracted from the facial images.

Methods: A dataset of facial images annotated with matching emotion labels is the first step in using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for facial …

Emergency Total Proctocolectomy In An Uninsured Hispanic Man With Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Secondary To Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Barbara Malaga-Espinoza, Diana Othon, Yilen K. Ng-Wong, Vamsikalyan Borra, Aramide Tijani, Fatimah Bello

Research Symposium

Background: FAP is a rare genetic disorder classically inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which affects about 1 in 8 300 individuals (1). The Hispanic population has limited data regarding the spectrum of FAP mutation and clinical manifestation, although there is significant anecdotal evidence that the prevalence might be higher, with one only known Hispanic familial cancer registry in Puerto Rico (2).

Case Presentation: We are reporting the case of a 25-year-old Hispanic gentleman with a strong family history of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and Colorectal Cancer (CRC) who presented for evaluation of abdominal pain, recurrent bloody stools, and profound …

Development Of Solitary Keratoacanthoma From A Cutaneous Wart, Joshua M. Ninan, Veronica Salazar

Research Symposium

Background: Common cutaneous warts, referred to in medicine as verrucae vulgaris, are proliferative lesions caused by human papillomavirus. These lesions are mostly benign and usually resolve without incident, except in the case of the patient mentioned in this report. Our patient developed a solitary keratoacanthoma, currently accepted as a clinical variant of squamous cell carcinoma, as a result of several risk factors and traumatic exposure. The current literature does not have an established association of HPV with solitary keratoacanthomas. This case report explores the presentation and pathogenesis of solitary keratoacanthomas within the setting of HPV.

Case Presentation: 48-year-old Caucasian female …

A Representative Clinical Course Of Progression, With Molecular Insights, Of Hormone Receptor-Positive, Her2-Negative Bone Metastatic Breast Cancer, Elizabeth Magno, Karen M. Bussard

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Despite treatment advances, breast cancer remains a leading cause of death of women in the United States, mostly due to metastatic disease. Bone is a preferential site for breast cancer metastasis, and most metastatic breast cancer patients experience bone involvement at the time of death. The majority of patients with bone metastatic breast cancer are first diagnosed with and treated for early-stage disease, and from development of early-stage breast cancer to the recurrence of cancer in the bones, up to 30 years may elapse. Throughout this timeframe, a typical patient undergoes many treatments that have effects on the bone microenvironment. …

Case Of Rosai Dorfman Disease In A Patient With Newly Diagnosed Hodgkin Lymphoma, Liza Salloum, Jennifer Rojas Huen, Ricardo Serna, Alisha Valdez

Research Symposium

Background: Rosai Dorfman Disease (RDD, also known as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis, classified into nodal (classic) and extranodal disease. Most patients present with non-tender cervical lymphadenopathy, although other sites including the inguinal and axillary regions have been reported. Extranodal disease (~43% of cases) can involve any organ system. RDD is more common in children, but cases have been reported in patients in their 70s. The prognosis of nodal RDD can correlate with the number of nodal groups involved. Many cases can be managed only with observation, although surgery, chemotherapy, corticosteroids, and immunomodulators have …

Antibody Mediated Targeted Drug Delivery Approach For Pancreatic Tumors, Nirnoy Dan, Saini Setua, Murali Yallapu, Stephen Behrman, Subhash Chauhan, Sheema Khan

Research Symposium

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, originating from the epithelial cell lining of ducts, account for approximately 95% of tumors in this category, showcasing a survival rate of less than 5-7%. Unfortunately, little progress has been seen in the outcomes of patients with PDAC as tumor develops high desmoplasia and chemo-resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, such as gemcitabine (Gem). The therapies are unable to penetrate to the fibrotic tumors leading to insufficient availability of the therapeutic drugs at the tumor site. We and others have shown that MUC13 is aberrantly expressed in pancreatic tumors but not in normal pancreas, which makes MUC13 as …

The Effects Of Curcumin On Erα, P53, And P21 In The Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line, Samantha E. Pfiffner, Mia Morse, Erin Hallman, Kaylin Whittaker, Aisha Zanib, Sumi Dinda Ph.D.

Medical Student Research Symposium

Curcumin is a golden-yellow flavonoid compound derived from the turmeric plant root that has been used in Chinese and Indian medicine for centuries. Curcumin has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and because of this, has been gaining traction in the field of cancer research. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, and is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, next to lung cancer. Because of the prevalence and mortality of breast cancer, possible therapeutics must be investigated. Due to the beneficial properties of curcumin and pervasiveness of breast cancer, we have …

Immunotherapy Resistance In Solid Tumors: Mechanisms And Potential Solutions, Daniel Lefler, Steven Manobianco, Babar Bashir

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

While the emergence of immunotherapies has fundamentally altered the management of solid tumors, cancers exploit many complex biological mechanisms that result in resistance to these agents. These encompass a broad range of cellular activities - from modification of traditional paradigms of immunity via antigen presentation and immunoregulation to metabolic modifications and manipulation of the tumor microenvironment. Intervening on these intricate processes may provide clinical benefit in patients with solid tumors by overcoming resistance to immunotherapies, which is why it has become an area of tremendous research interest with practice-changing implications. This review details the major ways cancers avoid both natural …

Radio-Histopathological Presentation And Multidisciplinary Treatment Of Adolescent Paratesticular Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Case Report, Troy Nguyen, Joseph Hatem, Abhijit Datir, Joel Thompson

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma (PRMS) is a rare condition predominantly affecting the pediatric and adolescent population. In this case report, we discuss a 17-year-old male with a slow-growing, painless scrotal mass, ultimately diagnosed as embryonal PRMS — the most common and favorable rhabdomyosarcoma subtype. The report underscores the typical clinico-radiological presentation of PRMS and the pivotal part of histopathological evaluation in establishing a definitive diagnosis. Multidisciplinary intervention including surgery and chemoradiotherapy resulted in total remission. Therefore, this report underlines the significance of prompt diagnosis and comprehensive management in ensuring a favorable prognosis of PRMS.

Development Of A Portable And Rapid Decalcification Device For Oral Hard Tissue Specimens, Upasana Das, Vijayalakshmi Bhat, Taniya Feroz, Sowmya Sv, Dominic Augustine

Annual Research Symposium

Decalcification is a routinely carried out procedure by oral pathologists, as the lesions involving the pulp can only be seen and identified through decalcified sections. The present methods involve usage of chemical agents, either with inorganic acids which dissolves the calcium to form soluble calcium salts or with chelating agents. Even though the chelating agents preserve the tissue morphology and show excellent microscopic picture, it has less diagnostic efficacy, as the time taken for it to decalcify the specimens is considerably high. It becomes important for us to develop a decalcification technique which will be faster and will maintain the …

Pancreatic Cancer Tumor Microenvironment Is A Major Therapeutic Barrier And Target, Conner Hartupee, Bolni Marius Nagalo, Chiswili Y. Chabu, Mulu Z. Tesfay, Joycelynn Coleman-Barnett, John T. West, Omeed Moaven

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is projected to become the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Limitations in early detection and treatment barriers contribute to the lack of substantial success in the treatment of this challenging-to-treat malignancy. Desmoplasia is the hallmark of PDAC microenvironment that creates a physical and immunologic barrier. Stromal support cells and immunomodulatory cells face aberrant signaling by pancreatic cancer cells that shifts the complex balance of proper repair mechanisms into a state of dysregulation. The product of this dysregulation is the desmoplastic environment that encases the malignant cells leading to a dense, hypoxic …

Lung Cancer In Ever- And Never-Smokers: Findings From Multi-Population Gwas Studies, Yafang Li, Xiangjun Xiao, Jianrong Li, Younghun Han, Chao Cheng, Gail F. Fernandes, Shannon E. Slewitzke, Susan M. Rosenberg, Meng Zhu, Jinyoung Byun, Yohan Bossé, James D. Mckay, Demetrios Albanes, Stephan Lam, Adonina Tardon, Chu Chen, Stig E. Bojesen, Maria T. Landi, Mattias Johansson, Angela Risch, Heike Bickeböller, H-Erich Wichmann, David C. Christiani, Gad Rennert, Susanne M. Arnold, Gary E. Goodman, John K. Field, Diptasri Mandal, Et Al

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Clinical, molecular, and genetic epidemiology studies displayed remarkable differences between ever- and never-smoking lung cancer. METHODS: We conducted a stratified multi-population (European, East Asian, and African descent) association study on 44,823 ever-smokers and 20,074 never-smokers to identify novel variants that were missed in the non-stratified analysis. Functional analysis including eQTL colocalization and DNA damage assays, and annotation studies were conducted to evaluate the functional roles of the variants. We further evaluated the impact of smoking quantity on lung cancer risk for the variants associated with ever-smoking lung cancer. RESULTS: Five novel independent loci, GABRA4, inter-genic region 12q24.33, LRRC4C, LINC01088, …

The Impact Of Lung Cancer Screening Education On Knowledge And Screening Rates In A Kentucky Cancer Survivorship Clinic, Alexandra Isler

DNP Projects

Background: Lung cancer is a significant problem in Kentucky, which ranks fourth in the nation in adults who currently smoke. Early detection, through lung cancer screening, can prevent untimely deaths. Several barriers to screening exist including lack of knowledge and awareness among patients regarding lung cancer screening. By increasing knowledge, at risk patients can take the necessary steps to decrease incidence of late stage diagnoses.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate patients’ knowledge of lung cancer screening and referral and screening rates before and after one-on-one patient education.

Methods: This was a quality improvement project that used …

A Rare Case Of Invasive Adenocarcinoma Of The Duodenum And A Bovel Biliary Stent: A Case Report, Sabastiana Sanz, Nasima Mehraban, Bradley Gustafson, Amjad Awan

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Adenocarcinoma of the duodenum is a rare but aggressive malignancy making up less than 0.5% of gastrointestinal cancer cases (Tuan et al., 2023), (Cloyd, 2016). We present a rare case of invasive adenocarcinoma of the first part of the duodenum and major papilla that required complex biliary stenting. A 72-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for further workup of gastrointestinal bleeding and 30-pound weight loss. Through imaging it was noted he had lymphadenopathy and biliary dilation. Patient underwent multiple gastrointestinal procedures and was endoscopically found to have a circumferential mass within the ampulla. After unsuccessful cannulation during endoscopic retrograde …

A Case Report Of Florid Liver Failure Responding Favorably To Targeted Therapy With Cetuximab And Encorafenib Following Treatment With Irinotecan And Bevacizumab In Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, Maryam Fallahi, Omar Garcia, Joseph Kim

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Introduction: Colorectal cancer, commonly known as colon cancer, is a globally widespread and formidable malignancy originating from the epithelial cells lining the colon and rectum. This disease, demonstrating geographical and demographic variations, particularly prevails in Western countries. The progression of colon cancer typically spans years, initiated by the development of adenomatous polyps, presenting an opportune timeframe for early detection and intervention. The substantial morbidity and mortality rates associated with colon cancer underscore its significance as a public health concern. Various risk factors, such as age, family history, genetic predisposition, inflammatory bowel diseases, and lifestyle factors like diet and physical activity, …

Screening For Colon Cancer In Adults Under And Over 50: Effects On Mortality Rates, Lauren M. Dean, Eve Daries, Ethan Grover, Morgan Howes, Kayla Loughman

Non-Thesis Student Work

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of adults under the age of 50 who are diagnosed with colon cancer, and many of these adults are diagnosed with stage III or IV. In 2018, the recommended age for initial colon cancer screening through colonoscopies decreased from age 50 to 45. Despite this, there are rising concerns about the effectiveness of current screening mechanisms and the recommended age for screening. These authors pose the question: among adults under the age of 50, how does colon cancer screening impact mortality rates compared to those over the age of 50? A …

Next Top Model: An Overview Of Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Models, Pooja Agrawal, Carolyn Audet, Laura Ernst, Katie Lang, Sonya Reid, Katie Davis, Rebecca Selove, Maureen Sanderson, Lucy Spalluto

Gulf Coast Division Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Screen It Out! Improving Colon Cancer Screening Among Kingwood Clinic Patients, Daniel J. Avila Castillo, Bhavin Patel, Dhruv Patel, Rajeev Raghavan, Zuhair Ali

Gulf Coast Division Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Colon Adenocarcinoma Mimicking Acute Appendicitis In A 28-Year-Old, Bridget Kowalczyk, Edward Pingenot, Vivek Bansal

Gulf Coast Division Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Obstructive Esophageal Mass In A 40-Year Old Female Presenting As Intractable Vomiting And Early Dka: A Case Report, Caroline Andrews, Rachel Hogan

Gulf Coast Division Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.