Digital Commons Network^™

Dosimetric Comparison Of 3d Conformal And Vmat With Dibh For Right Breast Cancer, Lundie Cervantes

Masters Projects

This study explores the use of the Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) technique in radiotherapy for right-sided breast cancer, comparing the dosimetric outcomes of 3D conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Using a retrospective design, ten patients with prior left breast DIBH scans were analyzed to assess right breast radiation dose distributions to critical organs at risk (OARs), including the heart, lungs, liver, and contralateral breast. Each patient’s treatment plan was developed for both VMAT and 3DCRT using Varian Eclipse software.

The results show that 3DCRT significantly lowered mean heart dose (0.56 Gy vs. 1.26 Gy, …

Obesity And Outcomes In Adoptive Cellular Therapy In Solid Tumors, Derrick L Tao, Mirella Nardo, Cheuk Hong Leung, Heather Y Lin, Lei Kang, Hung Le, Ecaterina E Dumbrava, David S Hong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This cohort study investigates the association of obesity with adoptive cell therapy outcomes in patients with solid tumors.

Intrapartum And 30-Day Postpartum Complications In Patients With Antenatal Covid-19 Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Sriya Donthi, Jacqueline Kloos, Kelly S. Gibson, David C. Kaelber

Student Scholarship

Objective: The study was aimed at comparing intrapartum and postpartum outcomes between pregnant patients with and without antenatal COVID-19 infection using aggregated, deidentified electronic health record (EHR) data. Design and Setting: This retrospective cohort study included data from over 80 health care organizations within the TriNetX Analytics Research Network. Population: Individuals admitted for delivery from Jan 2020 to May 2023 were studied. Methods: We studied individuals with ICD-10 codes for delivery, COVID-19 diagnosis, and primary outcomes. We compared the incidence of adverse intrapartum and 30-day postpartum outcomes in those with and without antenatal COVID-19. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcomes …

Nerve Injury Inhibits Oprd1 And Cnr1 Transcription Through Rest In Primary Sensory Neurons, Ashok Subedi, Asieh Etemad, Aadhya Tiwari, Yuying Huang, Biji Chatterjee, Samantha M Mcleod, Yungang Lu, Diangelo Gonzalez, Krishna Ghosh, Mario Sirito, Sanjay K Singh, Elisa Ruiz, Sandra L Grimm, Cristian Coarfa, Hui-Lin Pan, Sadhan Majumder

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The transcription repressor REST in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is upregulated by peripheral nerve injury and promotes the development of chronic pain. However, the genes targeted by REST in neuropathic pain development remain unclear. The expression levels of four opioid receptor genes (Oprm1, Oprd1, Oprl1 and Oprk1) and the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (Cnr1) gene in the DRG regulate nociception. In this study, we determined the role of REST in controlling their expression in the DRG induced by spared nerve injury (SNI). SNI induced chronic pain hypersensitivity in wild-type mice and was accompanied by increased levels of Rest transcript and …

Post-Artesunate Delayed Hemolysis In Pediatric Malaria Patients In The United States, Sesh A Sundararaman, Karen L Hanze Villavicencio, Brianne Roper, Ziyi Wang, Amy K F Davis, Jonathan A Mayhew, Michelle L Wang, Nina L Tang, Vijaya L Soma, Gail F Shust, Margaret E Feeney, Indi Trehan, Jill E Weatherhead, Chandy C John, Jeffrey S Gerber, Audrey R Odom John

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Post-artesunate delayed hemolysis (PADH) occurred in 6 of 24 children treated with artesunate for severe malaria in the United States; however, severe hemolysis requiring hospitalization or transfusion was rare. In children in the United States treated with artesunate, counseling, and symptom monitoring may be preferred to weekly laboratory surveillance for PADH.

Characterization Of Driver Mutations Identifies Gene Signatures Predictive Of Prognosis And Treatment Sensitivity In Multiple Myeloma, Jian-Rong Li, Abinand Krishna Parthasarathy, Aravind Singaram Kannappan, Shahram Arsang-Jang, Jing Dong, Chao Cheng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In multiple myeloma (MM), while frequent mutations in driver genes are crucial for disease progression, they traditionally offer limited insights into patient prognosis. This study aims to enhance prognostic understanding in MM by analyzing pathway dysregulations in key cancer driver genes, thereby identifying actionable gene signatures. We conducted a detailed quantification of mutations and pathway dysregulations in 10 frequently mutated cancer driver genes in MM to characterize their comprehensive mutational impacts on the whole transcriptome. This was followed by a systematic survival analysis to identify significant gene signatures with enhanced prognostic value. Our systematic analysis highlighted 2 significant signatures, TP53 …

Transport Of Β-Amyloid From Brain To Eye Causes Retinal Degeneration In Alzheimer’S Disease, Qiuchen Cao, Shige Yang, Xiaowei Wang, Huaiqing Sun, Weijie Chen, Yuliang Wang, Junying Gao, Yanchi Wu, Qiuhua Yang, Xue Chen, Songtao Yuan, Ming Xiao, Maiken Nedergaard, Yuqing Huo, Qinghuai Liu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The eye is closely connected to the brain, providing a unique window to detect pathological changes in the brain. In this study, we discovered β-amyloid (Aβ) deposits along the ocular glymphatic system in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 5×FAD transgenic mouse model. Interestingly, Aβ from the brain can flow into the eyes along the optic nerve through cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), causing retinal degeneration. Aβ is mainly observed in the optic nerve sheath, the neural axon, and the perivascular space, which might represent the critical steps of the Aβ transportation from the brain to the eyes. Aquaporin-4 facilitates the influx …

Sevelamer-Induced Gastrointestinal Mucosal Injury: A Critical Review For Clinicians, Lefika Bathobakae, Phenyo Phuu, Saif Yasin, Rammy Bashir, Jessica Escobar, Ruhin Yuridullah, Gabriel Melki, Mohamed Elagami, Yana Cavanagh, Walid Baddoura

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Sevelamer is a non-absorbable polymer used to treat hyperphosphatemia in individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis. The deposition of sevelamer crystals in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially in the colon, can cause mucosal inflammation, pseudopolyps, ulceration, ischemia, or necrosis. Owing to its rarity and lack of physician awareness, the actual incidence and prevalence of sevelamer-induced gastrointestinal mucosal injury (SIGMI) remain unknown. The current evidence is retrospective, in the form of observational studies. This systematic review of case reports provides an overview of SIGMI, with a focus on its etiology, signs and symptoms, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. Electronic databases, …

Tak1 Blockade Plus Azacitidine Induces Apoptosis, Augments Cytarabine, And Ablates Clonogenicity In Mll-Af9+ Human Aml Cell Lines, Austin P. Runde, Cameron Lewis, Peter Breslin Sj, Jiwang Zhang

School of Medicine

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) encompasses a diverse group of cancers that originate in the blood-forming tissues of the bone marrow [1]. Aside from the PML-RARA⁺ subtype, AML carries a 5-year survival rate of 28% for patients 20+ years of age. AML is the most common cancer of the hematopoietic system and is slightly more common in biological males; the average age at diagnosis is 68 years. Standard frontline treatment for AML is a two-phase regimen of intensive chemotherapy (CTx) employing daunorubicin and cytarabine; etoposide may also be added in select regimens. Despite 60-70% of patients achieving complete remission (CR), …

Protein Consumption And Risk Of Cvd Among Us Adults: The Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis (Mesa), Ji Yun Tark, Ruosha Li, Bing Yu, Alexis C Wood, Nikhil S Padhye, Marcia C De Oliveira Otto

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Although some randomized trials have reported beneficial effects of protein intake on cardiometabolic risk factors, evidence from prospective studies have not supported a strong link between protein intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It is also unclear whether diversity in protein intake plays a role in CVD risk.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated prospective associations of (1) protein intake, overall and by food source and (2) diversity of protein sources with risk of CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke.

METHODS: In a multi-ethnic cohort of 5879 U.S. adults (45-84 years), who were free of CVD at baseline, protein intake was …

Using Patient-Reported Experiences To Inform The Use Of Foam Dressings For Hard-To-Heal Wounds: Perspectives From A Wound Care Expert Panel, Kevin Woo, Nick Santamaria, Dimitri Beeckman, Paulo Alves, Breda Cullen, Amit Gefen, José Luis Lázaro-Martínez, Hadar Lev-Tov, Bijan Najafi, Andrew Sharpe, Terry Swanson

Center on Aging Staff Publications

Caring for patients with hard-to-heal (chronic) wounds requires a multifaceted approach that addresses their diverse needs, which can contribute to the complexity of care. Wound care providers must have a comprehensive understanding of the patient's comorbid conditions and psychosocial issues to provide personalised and effective treatment. Key quality indicators for effective wound care involves not only selecting appropriate local wound care products, such as foam dressings, but also addressing individual patient experiences of wound-related pain, odour, itch, excessive wound drainage, and self-care needs. The purpose of this review is to inculcate the wound care practice community, research scientists and healthcare …

Psychosis And Personality Changes Following Traumatic Brain Injury, David Hanna, Sonya Priven, Nathan Carroll, Heba Ekladios, Adriana Fitzsimmons

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Psychotic disorders following traumatic brain injury (TBI) are a significant concern in psychiatry, with chronic sequelae often overlooked. The pathophysiology of post-TBI psychosis involves neuroplasticity and neuronal remodeling, potentially exacerbating vulnerabilities to chronic psychotic disorders. Differentiating post-TBI psychosis from primary schizophrenia and other psychotic conditions is crucial for appropriate treatment. This case report discusses a 63-year-old male with a history of TBI from a gunshot wound sustained in adolescence, who later developed schizophrenia. The report explores the patient's psychiatric symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, personality changes, and imaging findings. The report examined the complex relationship between TBI and psychotic symptoms, considering genetic, …

Act With Cf: A Randomized Trial Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Vs Supportive Psychotherapy For Adults With Cystic Fibrosis, C. Virginia O'Hayer, Patrick J. Smith, Christopher F. Drescher, Heather Bruschwein, Chelsi N. Nurse, Hallie M. Kushner, Krista Ingle, Michael J. Stephen, Jeffrey B. Hoag

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, is common among adults with CF, associating with poor quality of life, lung function, and healthcare utilization. This 3-year, multi-site, telehealth-delivered randomized trial sought to determine whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT with CF) is superior to supportive psychotherapy (SP), in improving psychological functioning for adults with CF.

METHODS: One hundred twenty-four adults with CF and elevated anxiety and/or depressive symptoms were recruited coincident with the first COVID lockdown, from Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, University of Virginia, Augusta University, Duke University Medical Center, and social media. Participants were randomized to 6 weeks of …

Roflumilast Cream, 015%, For Atopic Dermatitis In Adults And Children: Integument-1 And Integument-2 Randomized Clinical Trials, Eric L Simpson, Lawrence F Eichenfield, Javier Alonso-Llamazares, Zoe D Draelos, Laura K Ferris, Seth B Forman, Melinda Gooderham, Mercedes E Gonzalez, Adelaide A Hebert, Leon H Kircik, Mark Lomaga, Angela Moore, Kim A Papp, Vimal H Prajapati, Diane Hanna, Scott Snyder, David Krupa, Patrick Burnett, Erin Almaraz, Robert C Higham, David H Chu, David R Berk

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Safe, effective, and well-tolerated topical treatment options available for long-term use in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are limited and associated with low adherence rates.

Objective: To evaluate efficacy and safety of once-daily roflumilast cream, 0.15%, vs vehicle cream in patients with AD.

Design, setting, and participants: Two phase 3, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials (Interventional Trial Evaluating Roflumilast Cream for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis 1 and 2 [INTEGUMENT-1 and INTEGUMENT-2]), included patients from sites in the US, Canada, and Poland. Participants were 6 years or older with mild to moderate AD based on Validated Global Assessment for Atopic …

Dementia Risk Reduction In The African Context: Multi-National Implementation Of Multimodal Strategies To Promote Healthy Brain Aging In Africa (The Africa-Fingers Project), Chinedu Momoh, Rachel Maina, Lukoye Atwoli, Karen Blackmon, Edna Bosire, Gloria Chemutai, Linda Khakali, Sylvia Mbugua, Zul Merali, Olivera Nesic Taylor,, Anthony Ngugi, Cyprian Mostert, Eunice Muthoni, Roselyter Riang’A, Mansoor Saleh, Shahin Sayed, Jasmit Shah

Brain and Mind Institute

Dementia prevention in Africa is critically underexplored, despite the continent's high prevalence of modifiable risk factors. With a predominantly young and middle-aged population, Africa presents a prime opportunity to implement evidence-based strategies that could significantly reduce future dementia cases and mitigate its economic impact. The multinational Africa-FINGERS program offers an innovative solution, pioneering culturally sensitive, multidomain interventions tailored to the unique challenges of the region. Leveraging insights from landmark global studies such as Worldwide-FINGERS and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, the program employs a multideterminant precision prevention framework, grounded in community based systems dynamics. Africa-FINGERS further integrates cutting-edge state-of-the-art multimodal biomarker …

Anti-Egfr Aptamer Exhibits Direct Anti-Cancer Effects In Nsclc Cells Harboring Egfr L858r Mutations, Brian J. Thomas, Sania Z. Awan, Trupti Joshi, Mark A. Daniels, David Porciani, Donald H. Burke

Biomedical Sciences

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Activating mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the oncogene epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are responsible for ~10–50% of all LUAD cases. Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been effective in prolonging patient survival and quality of life, acquired resistance and disease progression are inevitable, presenting a clear unmet need for alternative or adjuvant therapeutics. Here we show that an anti-EGFR aptamer (EGFRapt) decreases viability and tumor growth of LUAD cell lines harboring the L858R ± T790M mutation in EGFR. Additionally, we elucidate …

Key Insights Into Cannabis-Cancer Pathobiology And Genotoxicity, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Whilst mitochondrial inhibition and micronuclear fragmentation are well established features of the cannabis literature mitochondrial stress and dysfunction has recently been shown to be a powerful and direct driver of micronucleus formation and chromosomal breakage by multiple mechanisms. In turn genotoxic damage can be expected to be expressed as increased rates of cancer, congenital anomalies and aging; pathologies which are increasingly observed in modern continent-wide studies. Whilst cannabinoid genotoxicity has long been essentially overlooked it may in fact be all around us through the rapid induction of aging of eggs, sperm, zygotes, foetus and adult organisms with many lines of …

Enterococcus Faecium: Evolution, Adaptation, Pathogenesis And Emerging Therapeutics, Yahan Wei, Dennise Palacios Araya, Kelli L. Palmer

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

The opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus faecium colonizes humans and a wide range of animals, endures numerous stresses, resists antibiotic treatment and stubbornly persists in clinical environments. The widespread application of antibiotics in hospitals and agriculture has contributed to the emergence of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium, which causes many hospital-acquired infections. In this Review, we explore recent discoveries about the evolutionary history, the environmental adaptation and the colonization and dissemination mechanisms of E. faecium and vancomycin-resistant E. faecium. These studies provide critical insights necessary for developing novel preventive and therapeutic approaches against vancomycin-resistant E. faecium and also reveal the intricate interrelationships …

Outcomes And Genetic Dynamics Of Acute Myeloid Leukemia At First Relapse, Alex Bataller, Hagop Kantarjian, Alexandre Bazinet, Tapan Kadia, Naval Daver, Courtney D Dinardo, Gautam Borthakur, Sanam Loghavi, Keyur Patel, Guilin Tang, Koji Sasaki, Nicholas J Short, Musa Yilmaz, Ghayas C Issa, Yesid Alvarado, Guillermo Montalban-Bravo, Abhishek Maiti, Hussein A Abbas, Koichi Takahashi, Sherry Pierce, Elias Jabbour, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Farhad Ravandi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) experience dismal outcomes. We performed a comprehensive analysis of patients with relapsed AML to determine the genetic dynamics and factors predicting survival. We analyzed 875 patients with newly diagnosed AML who received intensive treatment or low-intensity treatment. Of these patients, 197 subsequently relapsed. Data were available for 164 of these patients, with a median time from complete remission/complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery to relapse of 6.5 months. Thirty-five of the 164 patients (21%) experienced relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. At relapse, mutations in genes involved in pathway signaling tended …

Impact Of Gut Microbiota And Its Metabolites On Immunometabolism In Colorectal Cancer, Madison Flory, Paloma Bravo, Asfaqul Alam

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is highly prevalent, accounting for approximately one-tenth of cancer cases and deaths globally. It stands as the second most deadly and third most common cancer type. Although the gut microbiota has been implicated in CRC carcinogenesis for the last several decades, it remains one of the least understood risk factors for CRC development, as the gut microbiota is highly diverse and variable. Many studies have uncovered unique microbial signatures in CRC patients compared with healthy matched controls, with variations dependent on patient age, disease stage, and location. In addition, mechanistic studies revealed that tumor-associated bacteria produce diverse …

Deoxycholic Acid Injections As A Nonsurgical Treatment For Lipomas In Adiposis Dolorosa (Dercum Disease), Zvi Schwartz, Kayla Brockmeyer, Neda Nikbakht

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Adiposis dolorosa (Dercum disease) is a rare condition characterized by diffuse and recurring painful lipomas on the trunk and extremities. Patients are typically middle-aged females with an elevated BMI presenting with chronic pain. Physical examination reveals soft subcutaneous nodules and masses, tender to palpation. The associated pain significantly impacts quality of life and requires therapeutic intervention. The most common treatment option is surgical excision. Alternative options should be considered for patients with numerous lipomas where surgical management is not practical or is not desired. Deoxycholic acid injections are a viable alternative non-surgical technique. We present a case of a 55-year-old …

Drug-Induced Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematous From Cenobamate: Case Presentation And Review Of The Literature, Safiyyah Bhatti, Daniel Joffe, Timothy Webster, Jason Lee, Neda Nikbakht

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

A 68-year-old woman with a history of seizures on cenobamate presented with an itchy rash all over her body. The rash started about one month prior to her presentation to the dermatology clinic. The rash was initially treated with topical triamcinolone with improvement at one-month follow-up. However, four months later the rash flared and there was concern that cenobamate was the cause. Biopsy was performed showing vacuolar interface dermatitis with atrophy, suggestive of subacute lupus erythematosus. Blood work revealed positive antinuclear antibody, anti-ribonucleoprotein antibody, Sjogren Anti-SS-A and positive histone antibody. Given the worsening rash, positive labs, and cenobamate as the …

Fetal Sex Effects On Maternal Health Can Now Be Tested Via Randomization: A First-In-Class Illustration In Cows On Glucoregulatory Outcomes, Aridany Suarez-Trujillo, Colby J Vorland, Griffin T Nicholls, Daniella E Chusyd, Chelsie Parker, Lilian Golzarri-Arroyo, Sophia Swann, Bethany J Funnell, Kara R Stewart, David B Allison

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: The maternal-offspring relationship, such as whether fetal sex influences maternal health, is essential to explore to advance prenatal and maternal health. While associations exist between fetal sex and maternal health outcomes, it is unclear whether these reflect a causal relationship.

Objective: To demonstrate that fetal sex can be randomly assigned to test the causal effect of fetal sex on maternal outcomes.

Methods: Holstein dairy cows were stratified and randomized using sealed opaque envelopes to be artificially inseminated with either X- or Y-sorted bull semen until 40 cows became pregnant. Monthly body weight measurements were recorded, and an intravenous glucose …

Trends In The Use Of Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis And Recently Diagnosed Colorectal, Lung, Or Prostate Cancer, Maria E Suarez-Almazor, Juan I Ruiz, Xiudong Lei, Chi-Fang Wu, Hui Zhao, Suja S Rajan, Sharon H Giordano

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) are often discontinued when a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is diagnosed with cancer. Our aim was to determine trends in bDMARD utilization in patients with RA and recently diagnosed cancer.

METHOD: We examined two national claims databases to identify adults with RA and recently diagnosed colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer (Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database 2008-2022, and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) Medicare-linked 2008-2017). We determined time trends in bDMARD and tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) prescriptions during the first 3 years after cancer with Cochram-Armitage tests and multivariable logistic …

History Of Incarceration And Dental Care Use Among Older Adults In The United States, Alexander Testa, Dylan B Jackson, Carmen Gutierrez, Chantal Fahmy, Vahed Maroufy, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Ana C Neumann

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Dental care is a critical component of healthy aging; however, emerging evidence suggests that having been previously incarcerated is a risk factor for not using dental care services. This study investigates the relationship between prior incarceration and dental care among older adults and assesses whether wealth and dental insurance explain this relationship.

METHODS: Data are from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults in the United States, collected in 2012 and 2014. Multivariable logistic regression is used to assess the relationship between a history of incarceration and dental care. Mediation analyses were conducted …

A Novel Statistical Framework For Meta-Analysis Of Total Mediation Effect With High-Dimensional Omics Mediators In Large-Scale Genomic Consortia, Zhichao Xu, Peng Wei

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Meta-analysis is used to aggregate the effects of interest across multiple studies, while its methodology is largely underexplored in mediation analysis, particularly in estimating the total mediation effect of high-dimensional omics mediators. Large-scale genomic consortia, such as the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program, comprise multiple cohorts with diverse technologies to elucidate the genetic architecture and biological mechanisms underlying complex human traits and diseases. Leveraging the recent established asymptotic standard error of the R-squared (R2)-based mediation effect estimation for high-dimensional omics mediators, we have developed a novel meta-analysis framework requiring only summary statistics and allowing inter-study heterogeneity. Whereas the proposed …

The Association Of Migration-Related Stress With Poor Mental Health Among Recently Resettled Afghan Refugees, Munjireen Sifat, Sarah Kenney, Venera Bekteshi, Shawn Chiang, Motolani Ogunsanya, Laili Boozary, Adam Alexander, Darla Kendzor

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The resettlement of Afghan refugees in Oklahoma City, OK, provides a critical context for examining the mental health challenges faced by this population due to post-migration stressors.

METHODS: This study utilized online surveys to recently resettled Afghan refugees in Oklahoma City, with support provided by bilingual research assistants to accommodate low literacy rates. Surveys, initially in English, were professionally translated into Dari and Pashto and validated through back-translation.

RESULTS: Participants (N = 348) were majority of Pashtun ethnicity. High rates of mental health issues were evident, with 62.1 % of participants screening positive for depression and 20.1 % …

A Phase I Dose Escalation Study Of The Lrp5 Antagonist Bi 905681 In Patients With Advanced And Metastatic Solid Tumors, D. R. Spigel, J. S. Wang, L. Pronk, B. Muskens, M. Teufel, Babar Bashir, H. Burris

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The Wnt pathway is involved in proliferation and tissue homeostasis. Aberrant activation promotes cancer cell proliferation and survival. Inhibition of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5/6 (LRP5/6) coreceptors that regulate Wnt signaling could prevent cancer cell proliferation. BI 905681 is a novel LRP5 antagonist that has demonstrated potent in vivo antitumor activity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a phase I, dose escalation study (NCT04147247) evaluating BI 905681 in patients with advanced solid tumors over two dosing schedules (schedule A: every 3 weeks, 3-week cycles and schedule B: every 2 weeks, 4-week cycles). The primary endpoint was the maximum tolerated …

Survival In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis And Early Breast Cancer Treated With Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors, Juan I Ruiz, Xiudong Lei, Wu Chi-Fang, Sharon H Giordano, Hui Zhao, Suja S Rajan, Heather Lin, Maria E Suarez-Almazor

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There have been concerns about the use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) for autoimmune disease in patients with recently diagnosed cancer. We assessed the survival of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and newly diagnosed early breast cancer (BC) treated with TNFi in the first two years after BC diagnosis.

Methods: We identified patients in two datasets: (1) Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database (CDM), (2) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (SEER) and Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) Medicare-linked cohort. We grouped patients according to whether they received TNFi, conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) only, or no DMARDs …

Impact Of Racial, Ethnic, And Socioeconomic Disparities On Presentation And Survival Of Hcc: A Multicenter Study, Nicole E Rich, Patricia D Jones, Hong Zhu, Tanushree Prasad, Amy Hughes, Sandi Pruitt, Caitlin C Murphy, Karim Seif-El-Dahan, Darine Daher, Gloria Figueroa, Stephanie Castaneda, Lisa Quirk, Michael Gonzales, Osiris Carranza, Samantha Bourque, Nargis Baset, Adam C Yopp, Amit G Singal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic disparities have been reported for HCC prognosis, although few studies fully account for clinically important factors and social determinants of health, including neighborhood socioeconomic status.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients newly diagnosed with HCC from January 2010 through August 2018 at 4 large health systems in the United States. We used multivariable logistic regression and cause-specific Cox proportional hazard models to identify factors associated with early-stage HCC presentation and overall survival.

RESULTS: Of 2263 patients with HCC (37.6% non-Hispanic White, 23.5% non-Hispanic Black, 32.6% Hispanic, and 6.4% Asian/other), 42.0% of patients …