Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Inflammatory Breast Carcinoma In The Rio Grande Valley: A Case Report, Miguel A. Lopez, Maria Villegas, Thomas Davis

Research Symposium

Inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of invasive breast cancer found in a small percentage of patients in the United States. The Rio Grande Valley is a region of Texas with pockets of low socioeconomic status and increased rates of obesity, a large risk factor for IBC. The cutaneous presentation of IBC is a tender, erythematous patch or plaque that surrounds hair follicles (referred to as peau d’orange) and is frequently edematous. Diagnosis requires a high clinical index of suspicion supported by a thorough patient history and pathology consistent with invasive carcinoma. This case study discusses …

Hypermetabolic Lymphadenopathy Following The Administration Of Covid-19 Vaccine And Immunotherapy In A Lung Cancer Patient: A Case Report, Shreya Tripathy, Nathaniel Alvarez, Shubham Jaiswal, Ryan Williams, Munaf Al-Khadimi, Sarah Hackman, William Phillips, Supreet Kaur, Sherri Cervantez, William Kelly, Josephine Taverna

Research Symposium

Background: Given the current climate of the pandemic, lung cancer patients are especially vulnerable to complications from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. As a high-risk population group, these patients are strongly advised to receive coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination in accordance with Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to minimize morbidity and mortality. In recent years, immunotherapy has taken a preeminent role in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with dramatic improvement in overall survival. Reactive lymphadenopathy following the administration of a coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination can confound the radiographic interpretation of positron emission tomography-computed tomography or …

The Role Of Divergent Noncoding Gene In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Barbara Yang, Melina J. Sedano, Shrikanth S. Gadad

Research Symposium

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in women after lung cancer. Breast cancer is grouped into different molecular subtypes; triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 20%. TNBC is a highly aggressive histologic subtype; the lack of unique therapeutic targets makes it harder to treat. Recent studies have implicated genes involved in cancers that are transcribed using a process known as divergent transcription. The expression of these genes is tightly regulated; however, many escape regulation and become aberrantly expressed in tumors. Interestingly, our genomic analysis suggests that several of these genes encode noncoding transcripts. Analysis of transcriptome …

The Role Of A Cancer Testis-Antigen In Regulating Tumor Growth And Oncogenic Pathways In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer., Melina J. Sedano, Alana L. Harrison, Victoria Reid, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani, Shrikanth S. Gadad

Research Symposium

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, after lung cancer. Unfortunately, it is the primary cause of death among Hispanic women. Approximately 10-20% of breast cancers are classified as basal (triple-negative) subtypes, which are challenging to treat due to the absence of specific targets. Triple-negative breast cancer is a highly aggressive and lethal type of tumor, particularly among Hispanic women, with a poor prognosis compared to other breast cancer subtypes. Therefore, it is crucial to identify new molecules with therapeutic and prognostic values to treat this evolving disease. Multiple studies have demonstrated that X-linked genes …

Role Of Trpv6 In Mitigating Alcohol-Induced Disruption Of Tight Junctions, Barrier Function, And Hepatic Injury, Avtar S. Meena, Radhakrishna K. Rao

Research Symposium

Background: Persistent alcohol consumption is widely recognized as a precursor to alcoholic liver disease. However, the intriguing observation persists that only a minority, approximately 20%, of individuals with alcohol use disorder succumb to this liver ailment. The factors contributing to this variability remain elusive. Studies indicate that individuals with alcoholic liver disease exhibit endotoxemia, with endotoxins primarily originating from colonic microflora. Moreover, these patients manifest disruptions in epithelial tight junctions, leading to compromised barrier function in the gastrointestinal tract. In this context, the transient receptor vanilloid receptor 6 (TRPV6) emerges as a crucial regulator of calcium absorption and transport, particularly …

Optimization And Characterization Of One-Step Multi-Functionalization Of Virus-Like Particles For Multimodality Nanoplatforms, Andrea Dorado Baeza, Prakhar Sengar, Rafael Vázquez-Duhalt, Kanchan Chauhan

Research Symposium

Background: Multimodality platforms integrating targeting, therapeutic and diagnostic modalities are gaining attention in the area of smart nanomedicines for cancers. However, their multi-step synthesis strategies are the major bottleneck for large-scale production with high reproducibility. Isocyanide-based multi-component reactions (IMCRs) have become popular in modern chemistry and have offered effective access to highly diverse and complex final products in a single step. Herein, isocyanide-based 4-component (4CRs) UGI reaction is optimized on virus-like particles (VLPs) to develop multimodal nanoplatforms more efficiently.

Methods: In this work, biocatalytic P22CYP nanoreactors were multifunctionalized with: (i) enzyme Glucose Oxidase (GOx) to obtain a cascade enzymatic activity …

Novel Therapeutic Strategy For Cervical Cancer Treatment, Mohammed Sikander, Shabnam Malik, John Apraku, Sonam Kumari, Parvez Khan, Daniel Zubieta, Hassan Mandil, Aditya Ganju, Bhavin Chauhan, Maria C. Bell, Man Mohan Singh, Sheema Khan, Murali M. Yallapu, Fathi T. Halaweish, Meena Jaggi, Subhash C. Chauhan

Research Symposium

Aberrant activation of β-catenin signaling is strongly associated with cancer proliferation, invasion, migration, and metastasis, thus small molecules that can inhibit this pathway might have great clinical significance. Our molecular modeling studies suggest that Ormeloxifene (ORM), a triphenylethylene molecule docks with β-catenin, and its brominated analogue (Br-ORM) bind more effectively with relatively less energy (-7.6 kcal/mol) to the active site of β-catenin as compared to parent ORM. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a Br-ORM by NMR and FTIR, as well as its anti-cancer potential in cervical cancer models in vitro and in vivo. Br-ORM treatment effectively inhibited …

Moringin, An Isothiocyanate Improves The Susceptibility Of Breast Cancer Cells To Doxorubicin, Ankit Srivastava, Anusmita Shekher, Subash Chandra Gupta

Research Symposium

Background: Breast cancer has become the most frequent tumor worldwide and is expected to have a large impact on cancer fatalities globally. Thus, the development of precise molecular diagnosis and prognosis is essential for the effective treatment of breast cancer patients. Doxorubicin (DOXO) is the widely accepted chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of breast cancer. However, the primary challenge with current chemotherapy drugs is their toxic effects on healthy tissues. Moringin (MG), an Isothiocyanate (ITC) is produced from the seeds of Moringa oleifera. It is produced from the myrosinase-catalyzed hydrolysis of glucomoringin. Chemosensitization is a strategy used in cancer treatment …

Metabolic Reprogramming In Breast Cancer Patients As Revealed By 1h Nmr Spectroscopy, Anusmita Shekher, Ankit Srivastava, Puneet, Nikee Awasthee, Dinesh Kumar, Subash Chandra Gupta

Research Symposium

Background: Breast cancer is a global health concern among women. Several metabolic pathways are dysregulated in breast cancer cells, including alterations in energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Reprogramming of metabolic pathways may facilitate inappropriate proliferation of cancer cells and adaptation to the tumor microenvironment. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important regulatory targets in the process of tumorigenesis. However, the role of lncRNAs in the process of metabolic reprogramming is not properly known. Exploring metabolic alterations and its association with lncRNAs expression might be helpful for developing new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer management.

Objectives: …

Lncrna Malat1 As A Novel Stress Related Factor In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Amayrani Sanchez, Kyle Doxtater, Mohammad Shabir Hussain, Sophia M. Leslie, Subhash C. Chuahan, Elias George, Manish Kumar Tripathi

Research Symposium

As a result of the fast life pace, stress, and a major dietary shift toward preserved food, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence and mortality are on rising trend, thus posing severe concerns. Texas is expected to have the second highest number of deaths related to liver cancer, with Hispanics having the highest mortality rate. HCC accounts for 85% to 90% of liver cancers. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) region, where a predominantly (~90%) Latino/Hispanic population resides, has ~4-fold higher prevalence of liver cirrhosis and is a major hotspot of HCC in the nation. In addition, it was found to be positively …

Clinical Significance Of Targeting Ribosome Biogenesis In Pancreatic Cancer Therapy, Mudassier Ahmad, Sahir Sultan Alvi, Haider Ahsan, Carlos Perez, Muhammad Bangash, Andrew Massey, Emmanuel Anning, Aun A. Bangash, Manu Sebastian, Manish Tripathi, Dae Joon Kim, Subhash C. Chauhan, Bilal B. Hafeez

Research Symposium

Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States with limited therapeutic options available. Gemcitabine (GEM), a deoxycytidine nucleoside analog is currently considered the most effective therapy for PanCa. However, it shows only a marginal survival benefit of six months. Aberrant ribosome biogenesis occurs in most tumor types. We observed that PanCa cells are addicted to ribosome biogenesis (RiBi), which supports their highly aggressive metastatic phenotypes. Thus, strategically targeting RiBi process could be one of the ideal strategies for the prevention and treatment of PanCa. In this study, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms of …

Ceacam7 Emerges As A Promising Early Detection Biomarker In Pancreatic Cancer., Anupam Dhasmana, Swati Dhasmana, Iris A. Enriquez-Perez, Sheema Khan, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan

Research Symposium

Background: According to the key statistics from the American Cancer Society in 2021, Pancreatic Cancer (PanCa) impacts approximately 60,430 individuals annually in the U.S., affecting 31,950 men and 28,480 women. Diagnosis and treatment of PanCa pose significant challenges. It stands as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths, boasting a mere 9% 5-year survival rate and an overall grim prognosis. Adenocarcinomas, particularly PDAC, constitute the majority (around 85-90%) of PanCa cases, contributing to its highly aggressive nature and low survival rates. The absence of an early tumor-specific biomarker for PDAC underscores the urgent need for a novel strategy to enhance …

Antidiabetic Drug Jardiance (Empagliflozin) Effectively Attenuated The Weight Gain Induced By The Antipsychotic Drug Zyprexa (Olanzapine) In Female Wistar Rats, Ghulam Md Ashraf

Research Symposium

Atypical antipsychotic drugs are commonly associated with undesirable side effects including body weight gain (BWG) and metabolic deficits. Many pharmacological interventions have been tested to minimize or prevent these side effects. Preliminary evidence suggested that antidiabetic drugs may be effective in attenuating the BWG induced by antipsychotic drugs. In the first phase, we carried out a 28-day study to standardize the correlated effective dosage of the antidiabetic drug empagliflozin (EMPA) and the antipsychotic drug olanzapine (Ola). Rats were divided into control (vehicle), Ola-4 and Ola-8 (4 and 8 mg/kg/OD, IP, respectively), and EMPA-10 and EMPA-20 (10 and 20 mg/kg/OD, IG, …

Analysis Of Serum Cytokines-Chemokines In Association With Prostate Cancer Disparity., Dev Karan

Research Symposium

Background: Cancer health disparities represent a significant public health concern in the United States. Prostate cancer is one such disease with a higher incidence and death rate in African American (AA) men than in Whites. This study aimed to understand the role of systemic inflammation in association with prostate cancer disparity among AA and White men.

Methods: We used a 40-plex human chemokine assay kit to determine the differential level of cytokines-chemokines associated with prostate cancer disparity among AA and White men. A total of 211 serum samples from prostate cancer patients and healthy donors were tested. Differential expression …

Translational Impact Of Ubtf In Developing New Therapeutic Strategy For Pancreatic Cancer Treatment, Mudassier Ahmad, Sahir Sultan Alvi, Haider Ahsan, Muhammad Bangash, Genaro A. Ramírez-Correa, Dae Joon Kim, Subhash C. Chauhan, Bilal B. Hafeez

Research Symposium

Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. It shows only a marginal survival benefits of 6 months with the available therapeutics. Thus, to understand the biology of PanCa and discovery of new molecular targets will help in designing the new therapeutic strategies for the management of advanced PanCa. Aberrant ribosome biogenesis is the hallmark of many cancers and has been associated with poor prognosis. Cancer cells show significantly high demand of protein synthesis and to meet this demand modify ribosomal machinery at genetic and epigenetic level. The UBTF (upstream binding transcription factor, …

The Fortify Resilience Initiative, Maria Hernandez, Yvette Cantu

Research Symposium

The Fortify Resilience Initiative focuses on building and sustaining a culture of wellbeing for Residents and Fellows (R/Fs) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine’s (SOM) Graduate Medical Education (GME) residency and fellowship programs. In order to address the multitude of threats to physician wellness and to mitigate the silent, but pernicious effects of burnout on these physician learners serving in the RGV, this Initiative from the Office of GME will strengthen existing wellbeing pathways while expanding additional solutions that will work to sustain wellbeing. Utilizing a combination of prevention, promotion, and intervention strategies targeted …

The Carcinogenic Effect Of Heavy Metals And Its Association With Epigenetic Changes In Urothelial Bladder Cancer Patients, Ganesh Kumar Verma, A. Sen, S. Saha, A. Mirza, A. Atif

Research Symposium

Background: According to Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCON) 2020, urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) is the 17th most common malignancy in India, and bladder cancer represents a significant health problem due to the potential morbidity and mortality. UBC is commonly associated with industrialized regions and the most accountable risk factors have been tobacco smoke along with occupational chemical exposures including heavy metals. A massive increase in human exposure to heavy metals has been noticed due to industrial activities since last century and an emerging understanding of the carcinogenic effects of certain heavy metals is now being considered as causative agents for UBC. …

Smoking And Drinking Activate Nf-Κb /Il-6 Axis To Promote Inflammation During Cervical Carcinogenesis, Vivek Kumar Kashyap

Research Symposium

Background: High-risk strains of HPV are known to cause cervical cancer. Multiple clinical studies have emphasized that smoking and drinking are critical risk factors for cervical cancer and its high-grade precursors. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in the interplay of smoking and/or drinking with HPV infectivity and defined a systematic therapeutic approach for their attenuation in cervical cancer.

Methods: The impact of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and/or ethanol (EtOH) exposure on cervical cancer cells was assessed by measuring changes in their biophysical, cell migration, and invasion characteristics. Expression of HPV16 E6/E7, NF-κB, cytokines, and inflammation mediators was …

Primary Care Behavioral Health Partnerships Advancing & Transforming Health Sciences (Pcbh Paths), Mayrin Perez, Maria Hernandez

Research Symposium

Primary Care Behavioral Health Partnerships Advancing & Transforming Health Sciences (PCBH PATHS) is a workforce development pipeline project aimed at permanently augmenting UTRGV’s institutional capacity to address shortage of an Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) competent workforce locally, regionally and nationally. Our initiative, aligned with UTRGV strategic priorities and key initiatives, will integrate basic(model specific strategy and operational elements), mid-level (role identity and profession specific behavioral competencies specific to each health profession), and advanced (behavioral medicine clinical skills) applications of the evidence based PCBH model of delivery. A PCBH focused delivery system (clinical and educational), in which primary care providers (PCPs) …

P22 Viral Capsid Nanocomposites For Enzyme Prodrug Therapy Of Breast Cancer, Astrid Rebeca Luna Rios

Research Symposium

Background: Current treatment strategies against breast cancer have limitations due to lack in selectivity. Most drugs, such as tamoxifen, require metabolic activation by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes to perform greater anticancer effects. However, the concentration of CYP varies and is low in tumor cells, resulting in side-effects. In enzyme prodrug therapy (EPT), enzymes are targeted to the tumor cells for prodrug transformation, involving the sequential delivery of the enzyme followed by prodrug. However, differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are a major hindrance. Thus, co-delivery of prodrug and enzyme is essential to ensure their favorable interaction at target site.

Results: This …

Novel Nanoformulation Of Sabizabulin (Veru-111) For Pancreatic Cancer Therapy, Vivek Kumar Kashyap

Research Symposium

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in the United States due to very limited therapeutic options. Thus, developing novel therapeutic strategies will help for the management of this disease. We recently identified VERU-111, a novel synthetic molecule which showed potent anti-cancer effect against PanCa via targeting clinically important βIII and βIV tubulin isoforms. In this study, we synthesized and characterized its novel nanoformulation (MNP-VERU) and evaluated its therapeutic effects in vitro and xenograft mouse model.

Methods: MNPs were prepared by chemical precipitation method and loaded with VERU-111 using diffusion method. This formulation was …

Muc13- A Novel Cancer Biomarker For Early Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis And Imaging, Sheema Khan, Anupam Dhasmana

Research Symposium

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a very poor survival rate due to late diagnosis. Therefore, identification approaches that aid in early diagnosis are highly desirable. MUC13 is a recently identified high molecular weight glycoprotein that is aberrantly expressed in PDAC and allows its progression via alterations of multiple tumor signaling pathways. Overexpression of MUC13 in PDAC cells leads to enhanced tumorigenic and metastatic phenotypes. These characteristics of PDAC cells are mediated by physical interactions between MUC13 and HER2/Neu. This study elucidates significance of MUC13, as a diagnostic and imaging marker of PDAC. Additionally, a collaborative effort has commenced to investigate the …

Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary And Behavioral Healthcare (I2pbh) Initiative, John Ronnau, Deepu George, Maria Hernandez, Salvador Arellano Iii, Myrna Ruiz

Research Symposium

Purpose: The Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary and Behavioral Healthcare (I2PBH) Initiative will train University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) mental health graduates to deliver high quality, evidence-based Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) services in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) – a high-need, high-demand, medically underserved Hispanic region along the US-Mexico border. Specifically, the I2PBH initiative will train 24 UTRGV mental health graduates annually to deliver high-quality IBH clinical services through the evidence based Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model. With a training emphasis on basic/advanced theory and clinical skills in the PCBH model, students will serve as Behavioral Health Consultants (BHC) …

Integrative Transcriptomics Data Analysis Of Trpv1 In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Vivek Kumar Kashyap, Bhuvnesh Sharma, Himanshu Narayan Singh, Deepak Verma, Deepak Parashar, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan

Research Symposium

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a nonselective Ca2+ channel protein that is widely expressed and plays a significant role in cancer initiation and progression. However, the biological significance of TRPV1 in HCC has not been systematically and comprehensively investigated. Using deep data mining and transcriptomics analyses, in this study, we described the significance of TRPV1 expression and its association with HCC prognosis.

Methods: TRPV1 mRNA expression in HCC was examined using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Genotype Tissue Expression Atlas (GTEx), the Tumor Immune Estimation …

Icg-Loaded Mesoporous Nanohybrid (Nd-Doped Hydroxyapatite/Fe3o4) For Photonic/Magnetic Hyperthermia And Photodynamic Therapy, Prakhar Sengar, K. Chauhan, A. G. Rodríguez-Hernández, G. A. Hirata

Research Symposium

Background: Multimodality nanoplatforms play a crucial role in advancing medical interventions by integrating multiple functionalities into a single system. However, issues like intricate production processes and biocompatibility persist. Herein, a facile synthesis of a biomaterial-based mesoporous nanocarrier, HAp:Nd+SPIONs@mSiO2, loaded with the near-infrared (NIR) emitting dye indocyanine green (ICG) is reported.

Methods: HAp:Nd nanoparticles were synthesized via combustion methods. Thereafter, commercial SPIONs and HAp:Nd were integrated within a mesoporous silica via a modified Stöber approach. HAp:Nd+SPIONs@mSiO2 nanoplatform was characterized for particle size, porosity, and luminescence using TEM, BET, and luminescence spectroscopy. The synthesized nanoplatform was further loaded with ICG dye and …

Integrated Cancer Research Core (Icrc) At The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Iris Enriquez

Research Symposium

Background: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley-School of Medicine (UTRGV-SOM) has founded the South Texas Centre of Excellence in Cancer Research to address disproportionate cancer related health issues in the Valley. UTRGV-SOM intends to establish an Integrated Cancer Research Core (ICRC) Facility at the UTRGV campus to provide cutting-edge technologies to support cancer research investigators of the Rio Grande Valley.

Methods: The ICRC will house most recent technologies (Flow Cytometry, Image Stream Flow, Droplet Digital PCR, molecular imaging, microPET/CT imaging, etc) to support flow cytometric analyses in cell suspension and tissues, cell sorting, analysis of tumor immune components, microbiome …

Graphene Nanoparticles For Microrna Delivery, Eswara Naga Hanuma Kumar Ghali

Research Symposium

Background: Graphene (G) has been established as an exciting prospect for a broad range of applications owing to its remarkable properties. As the molecular structure of G itself is achiral thus introducing chirality in G by simple attachment of a functional group (a chiral ligand) on the G nanosheet may result in more diverse applications. The recent innovations of G chiral nanosystems have been extended to drug delivery. Herein, we have developed a novel and facile synthesis method for producing chiral G for its application in chirality-dependent microRNA delivery.

Methods: L-graphene and D-graphene were produced in a single step by …

Exploring The Role Of Mucin 13 In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Shabnam Malik, Mohammed Sikander, Daniel Zubieta

Research Symposium

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis due to ineffective therapeutic modality and lack of early diagnostic marker. Accumulating studies have shown that elevated expression of mucin 13 as potential oncogene and predictive biomarker for various cancer. However, very little is known about its expression and function for development and progression of HCC.

Objective: To investigate mucin 13 expression in chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma model.

Methodology: Diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) and 2-Acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) induced method was employed for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in Male Wistar rats. Serum and tissues were collected at regular intervals of time and routinely validated …

Evaluating Who, Cci, And Cfs Performance In Predicting Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Survival In Finland: Insights Beyond Concord-3, Ville Paappanen

Research Symposium

Background: Set against the backdrop of the 2018 CONCORD-3 study, our research focuses on Finland's lung cancer survival rates. Despite similar tax-funded and public healthcare systems, these rates lag behind those of other Nordic countries, prompting an investigation into the underlying causes. This research aims to unravel these disparities, particularly in the context of Finland's success in other cancer domains, contributing to broader efforts to elevate lung cancer outcomes to the level of other Nordic cancer success stories.

Study objective: Our study focuses on evaluating clinical performance classification systems like WHO Score, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and Clinical Frailty Scale …

Embolic Protection During Radical Nephrectomy With Inferior Vena Cava Thrombectomy Using The Protrieve Sheath, Mia Rose Schmolze

Research Symposium

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is complicated by inferior vena cava (IVC) involvement in 4-10% of cases with intraoperative tumor embolization associated with 60-75% mortality. Currently, there is no high-level evidence demonstrating which surgical techniques provide optimal outcomes. The Protrieve SheathTM (Inari Medical®) has been used in the vascular setting for complex deep vein thrombosis(DVT) and non-tumor IVC thrombectomy cases. We aim to describe its first use in the setting of RCC with IVC thrombectomy to help prevent intraoperative tumor embolization. The Protrieve SheathTM successfully provided potentially life-saving protection from clot embolization when performing radical nephrectomy with IVC thrombectomy.