Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

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.

Financial Toxicity In Genitourinary Cancer: Insights From Cdc National Health Interview Survey, Steven Leonard Bs, Emma Helstrom Bs, Andres Correa Md, Mohit Sindhani, Nicole Uzzo, Angela Y. Jia Md Phd, Alexander Kutikov Md, Robert Uzzo Md Mba, Sarah P. Psutka Md, Adam Calaway Md Mph, Zachary Klaassen Md, Michael Staehler Md Phd, Marc Smaldone Md Mshp, Christopher Jd Wallis Md Phd, Laura Bukavina Md Mph Msc

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Temporal Considerations In Brain Metastases Radiation Therapy: The Intersection Of Chronobiology And Patient Profiles, Nicolas Nelson, Sara Burke, Louis Cappelli, Lauren Matlack, Alexandria Smith, Noelle Francois, Joseph Lombardo, Yash Shah, Kuang-Yi Wen, Ayesha A Shafi, Nicole Simone

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

The circadian system, a vital temporal regulator influencing physiological processes, has implications for cancer development and treatment response. Our study assessed circadian timing’s impact on whole-brain radiotherapy outcomes in brain metastases for personalized cancer therapy insights. The aim of the study was to evaluate circadian influence on radiation treatment timing and its correlation with clinical outcomes and to identify patient populations benefiting from interventions synchronizing circadian rhythms, considering subgroup differences and potential disparities. An IRB-approved retrospective analysis of 237 patients undergoing whole-brain radiotherapy for brain metastases (2017–2021), receiving over 80% of treatments in the morning or afternoon, was performed. Survival …

Effects Of Chaplain Care On Coping With Cancer, Sarah Battiston, Scott L. Baughan

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical case decision report using:

Piderman KM, Radecki CR, Jenkins SM, et al. Hearing and heeding the voices of those with advanced illnesses. Journal of Palliative Care. 2020;35(4):248-255. https://doi.org/10.1177/0825859720928623

for a patient having difficulty coping with cancer

Flash Radiation Ultra-High Dose Rate Radiation With Potential For Sensitization By Platinum, Abigail A. Jaczkowski, Stephen Brown Ph.D.

Medical Student Research Symposium

External beam radiation therapy, a cornerstone in cancer treatment for 50% of patients, poses challenges due to its toxicity to both cancer and healthy cells. Seeking to mitigate side effects, the emerging FLASH radiation technology employs ultra-high dose rates, promising quicker treatments with reduced impact on surrounding normal tissue. Platinum, recognized as a radiation sensitizer, enhances the effectiveness of radiation therapy by increasing sensitization at higher energy levels through pair-production.

This study explores the hypothesis that Cisplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapy agent, will exhibit a synergistic effect when combined with FLASH radiation. Using A549 cells from non-small cell lung cancer, the …

Integrating Primary Care, Shared Decision Making, And Community Engagement To Facilitate Equitable Access To Multi-Cancer Early Detection Clinical Trials, Cheryl L. Thompson, Adam H. Buchanan, Ronald E. Myers, David S. Weinberg

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Effective implementation of cancer screening programs can reduce disease-specific incidence and mortality. Screening is currently recommended for breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancer. However, initial and repeat adherence to screening tests in accordance with current guidelines is sub-optimal, with the lowest rates observed in historically underserved groups. If used in concert with recommended cancer screening tests, new biospecimen-based multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests could help to identify more cancers that may be amendable to effective treatment. Clinical trials designed to assess the safety and efficacy of MCED tests to assess their potential for reducing cancer mortality are needed and many …

Social Needs Risk And Patient Outcomes With Supportive Oncology Care, Rebecca Cammy, Lcsw, Joshua Banks, Ma

Department of Medical Oncology Posters

Objective

This study utilized social risk data in the electronic heath record collected in routine clinical practice and examined relationships with supportive oncology care contacts and patient outcomes.

Quality Of Life Among Cancer Survivors: Comparison Of Multiple Cancers Using Icare2, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway, Rachael L. Schmidt, Kendra Ratnapradipa, Kristin Dickinson, Abbey Fingeret, Whitney Goldner

Manuscripts: Epidemiology

Background: The number of cancer survivors continues to increase due to dramatic improvements in cancer treatment, accounting for approximately 5% of the entire population. As cancer survivors continue to live longer, it is important to understand their quality of life (QoL) in order to maximize supportive care efforts.

Objectives: In this study, the quality of life (QoL) among patients with different types of cancer was examined. The objectives were to: 1) compare patient-reported outcome measures of QoL using the Short-Form (SF-36) Health Survey scores among patients of different cancer types and 2) identify demographic, oncologic, and clinical factors that are …

Addressing Burden In Caregivers Of Older Adults With Cancer, Lora Rhodes, Lcsw, Kristine Swartz, Md, Caroline Glavin, Lsw, Charlotte Zuber, Kuang-Yi Wen, Phd

Department of Medical Oncology Posters

Background

Forty-two million adults in the United States are providing unpaid care for a family member or friend over the age of 50. For approximately 2.5 million of these caregivers, cancer is the primary illness or disability of their care recipient (National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, 2020). As baby boomers continue to age, and the number of cancer survivors continues to increase, the need for informal caregivers will expand exponentially.

While Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is recommended for older patients with cancer and distress screening is recommended for all cancer patients, there are currently no recommendations regarding screening for …

Nutritional Support For Oncology Patients: Role For The Pcp, Annabelle S. Feist

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Adequate nutrition is a key prognostic factor in the treatment outcomes of patients with cancer diagnoses. Despite the increased morbidity and mortality of malnutrition, the importance of nutrition for oncology patients is often not well communicated and not well understood by patients. Part of this issue stems from the limited information most patient can absorb at any given doctors appointment, especially regarding their cancer. Primary care providers hold a unique position to fill this gap and have the information be heard and retained given their usual role in addressing overall health. This project compiles resources in an easily accessible and …

Evaluating The Symptoms And Treatment-Related Knowledge Of Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy In A Tertiary Care Hospital, Kiran Nawaz Ali

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Cancer has become the leading source of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Its prevalence is rising and high-risk behaviours are being adopted by the people in society. Knowledge about cancer and its management helps in adjusting the resource allocations and in terms of public health policy. Moreover, patient education about symptoms, treatment, and side effects is crucial and must be addressed.
Knowledge about cancer, its side effects, and the possible treatment outcomes is essential, as it helps in deciding about adherence to the treatment. It is observed that many oncology patients have information gaps related to cancer and chemotherapy. However, …

Cancer Disparities In Southeast Asia: Intersectionality And A Call To Action, Erin Jay G. Feliciano, Frances Dominique V. Ho, Kaisin Yee, Joseph A. Paguio, Michelle Ann B. Eala, Janine Patricia G. Robredo, Kenrick Ng, Jasmine Lim, Khin Thuzar Pyone, Catherine A. Peralta, Jerickson Abbie Flores, J. Seth Yao, Patricia Mae G. Santos, Christian Daniel U. Ang, Gideon Lasco, Jeffrey Shi Kai Chan, Gary Tse, Enrico D. Tangco, T. Peter Kingham, Imjai Chitapanarux, Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy, Gerardo D. Legaspi, Edward Christopher Dee

Einstein Health Papers

No abstract provided.

Mediators And Moderators Of Active Music Engagement To Reduce Traumatic Stress Symptoms And Improve Well-Being In Parents Of Young Children With Cancer., Sheri L. Robb, Kristin Stegenga, Susan M. Perkins, Timothy E. Stump, Karen M. Moody, Amanda K. Henley, Jessica Maclean, Seethal A. Jacob, David Delgado, Paul R. Haut

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: This trial examined the effects of proximal/distal mediators and moderators of an Active Music Engagement (AME) intervention on young child/parent distress, quality of life, and family function outcomes.

METHODS: Child/parent dyads (n = 125) were randomized to AME or Audio-storybooks attention control condition. Each group received 3 sessions with a credentialed music therapist for 3 consecutive days with data collection at baseline, post-intervention (T2), and 30-days later (T3). Potential proximal mediators included within session child and parent engagement. Potential distal mediators included changes in perceived family normalcy, parent self-efficacy, and independent use of play materials. Potential moderators included parent/child …

A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Adverse Childhood Experience Exposure On Cancer Diagnosis Utilizing The 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey Data, Emma Zipperer

Capstone Experience

Objective: To determine the association between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and cancer diagnosis based on ACE exposure levels.

Methods: We utilized data collected in the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. The study population (n=54,148) was restricted to states that reported on the optional model of experiencing ACEs and those who responded about cancer diagnosis. A univariate analysis, bivariate analysis and a multivariate logistic regression were performed. Odds of cancer diagnosis among those with differing ACE exposure levels were calculated.

Results: High ACE exposure had 20% higher odds of cancer diagnosis when compared to low ACE exposure. White, …

Improving Oncofertility Discussions And Referrals: Implementation Of A Formal Fertility Preservation Program, Mackenzie Danielle Browning, Melissa Marie Hessock

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

BACKGROUND: Impaired fertility is a risk of life-saving cancer treatment in adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Despite this known risk and clinical practice guidelines that stress their importance, treatment-associated fertility risk education and preservation referrals are often neglected in this population.

LOCAL PROBLEM: The site of this evidence-based practice improvement project is an outpatient hematology-oncology clinic serving adults with varying cancer diagnoses. The site did not have a standardized approach to ensure treatment-associated fertility risk education and fertility preservation referrals were provided to AYAs with newly diagnosed cancer. The purpose of this project was to implement a formal fertility preservation …

Editorial: Resilience, Quality Of Life And Psychosocial Outcomes Of Cancer Patients And Their Caregivers, Nida Zahid, Nargis Asad, Ashraf El-Metwally

Department of Surgery

No abstract provided.

Social Determinants Of Health And Lung Cancer Surgery: A Qualitative Study, Dede K. Teteh, Betty Ferrell, Oluwatimilehin Okunowo, Aidea Downie, Loretta Erhunmwunsee, Susanne B. Montgomery, Dan J. Raz, Rick Kittles, Jae Y. Kim, Virginia Sun

Health Sciences and Kinesiology Faculty Articles

Introduction: Social determinants of health (SDOH) are non-clinical factors that may affect the outcomes of cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to describe the influence of SDOH factors on quality of life (QOL)-related outcomes for lung cancer surgery patients.

Methods: Thirteen patients enrolled in a randomized trial of a dyadic self-management intervention were invited and agreed to participate in semi-structured key informant interviews at study completion (3 months post-discharge). A conventional content analysis approach was used to identify codes and themes that were derived from the interviews. Independent investigators coded the qualitative data, which were subsequently …

Distinct Nrf2 Signaling Thresholds Mediate Lung Tumor Initiation And Progression, Janine M. Deblasi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

NRF2 is a redox-responsive transcription factor the directs the antioxidant program and several critical metabolic processes. Mutations in NRF2 or its negative regulator KEAP1 occur in up to one third of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and are often associated with resistance to therapy and poor outcomes. In the present studies, murine alleles of the Keap1 and Nrf2 mutations found in human NSCLC were developed and I comprehensively investigated their impact on tumor initiation and progression. I observed that chronic Nrf2 stabilization by Keap1 loss-of-function or Nrf2 activating mutation was not sufficient to cause lung tumor initiation, even when p53 …

Characterization Of Oral Cavity And Oropharyngeal Cancer In The Texas Rio Grande Valley, Jared A. Sperling, Rachel Giese

Research Symposium

Background: Cancers of the oral cavity (OC) and oropharynx (OP) account for 3% of cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. A primary cause of death among the Hispanic population in the United States is cancer, accounting for 20% of annual mortality. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a medically-underserved area of South Texas with a large Hispanic population facing health disparities. In this study, we examine the incidence and mortality of OC and OP cancer in the RGV.

Methods: CDC population-level incidence and mortality rate per 100,000 of OC/OP cancer among patients in the RGV counties of Hidalgo …

An Ngqd Based Diagnostic Tool For Pancreatic Cancer, Ryan Ketan Ajgaonkar, Bong Lee, Alina Valimukhametova, Anton Naumov, Giridhar Akkaraju

Research Symposium

Background: Pancreatic cancer remains difficult to detect at early stages which contributes to a poor five-yearsurvival rate. Therefore, early detection approaches based on novel technologies should be explored to address this critical health issue. Nanomaterials have recently emerged as frontrunners for diagnostic applications due to their small size in the 1-100 nm range, which facilitates one-on-one interactions with a variety of biomolecules like oligonucleotides and makes them suitable for a plethora of detection and delivery applications. In this work, the presence of specific pancreatic cancer miRNA (pre-miR-132) is detected utilizing the fluorescence properties of highly biocompatible nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots …

Barriers And Facilitators Of Family Rules And Routines During Pediatric Cancer Treatment., Carolyn R. Bates, Isabella K. Pallotto, Rachel Moore, Lynne Covitz, Meredith Dreyer

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric nurses work closely with families of children with new cancer diagnoses and can provide essential supports to promote coping and adjustment. This cross-sectional qualitative study aimed to gather caregiver perspectives on barriers and facilitators to adaptive family functioning during the early phases of cancer treatment, with a focus on family rules and routines.

METHODS: Caregivers (N = 44) of a child diagnosed with cancer and receiving active treatment completed a semi-structured interview about their engagement in family rules and routines. Time since diagnosis was abstracted from the medical record. A multi-pass inductive coding strategy was utilized to extract …

Leser-Trélat Sign As A Marker For Underlying Pancreatic Cancer, Kalpit Modi, Richard Chen, Layla Abubshait

Einstein Health Papers

Case Presentation: Early diagnosis and rapid treatment of cancer is essential for good clinical outcomes for patients. In this case, an 85-year-old man presented with failure to thrive and was noted to have rapid-onset, multiple seborrheic keratoses (Leser-Trélat sign) on his chest and back. He was ultimately diagnosed with pancreatic cancer using computed tomography.

Discussion: Leser-Trélat sign is a rare cutaneous marker for underlying malignancy. Identification of this sign can help guide diagnostic imaging and lab work to identify an occult internal malignancy, resulting in more rapid diagnosis, earlier treatment, and potentially better clinical outcomes.

Abstracts From The 2023 Health Care Systems Research Network (Hcsrn) Annual Conference, Denver, Colorado

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The Health Care Systems Research Network (HCSRN) is comprised of 20 learning health systems with embedded population-based research units. The network’s annual conference serves as a forum for research teams from member institutions to disseminate project findings, explore scientific collaborations, and share insights about conducting research in real-world care delivery settings. Abstracts presented at HCSRN 2023 are published in this issue supplement of Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, the journal of record for HCSRN’s annual conference proceedings.

African American Males Have More Distress During Cancer Treatment Than White Males, Stephanie Kjelstrom, Charis Wynn, Sharon Larson

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

African American (AA) males have a higher incidence and mortality rate for some cancers than other races and sexes, which could be associated with distress during treatment, medical mistrust, and health disparities. We hypothesize distress in AA males during treatment is higher than in other races and sexes. We assessed effect modification of moderate to severe (≥ 4) distress scores during cancer treatment by race and sex, age, and socioeconomic status (SES). National Comprehensive Cancer Network's distress thermometer (scale 0-10) and characteristics for 770 cancer patients were collected from a Philadelphia hospital. Variables included age, sex, race, smoking status, marital …

Covid-19 Severity And Cardiovascular Outcomes In Sars-Cov-2-Infected Patients With Cancer And Cardiovascular Disease, Melissa Y.Y. Moey, Cassandra Hennessy, Benjamin French, Jeremy L. Warner, Matthew D. Tucker, Daniel J. Hausrath, Dimpy P. Shah, Jeanne M. Decara, Ziad Bakouny, Chris Labaki, Toni K. Choueiri, Susan Dent, Nausheen Akhter, Roohi Ismail-Khan, Lisa Tachiki, David Slosky, Tamar S. Polonsky, Joy A. Awosika, Audrey Crago, Trisha Wise-Draper, Nino Balanchivadze, Clara Hwang, Leslie A. Fecher, Cyndi Gonzalez Gomez, Brandon Hayes-Lattin, Michael J. Glover, Sumit A. Shah, Dharmesh Gopalakrishnan, Elizabeth A. Griffiths, Daniel H. Kwon, Vadim S. Koshkin, Sana Mahmood, Babar Bashir, Taylor Nonato, Pedram Razavi, Rana R. Mckay, Gayathri Nagaraj, Eric Oligino, Matthew Puc, Polina Tregubenko, Elizabeth M. Wulff-Burchfield, Zhuoer Xie, Thorvardur R. Halfdanarson, Dimitrios Farmakiotis, Elizabeth J. Klein, Elizabeth V. Robilotti, Gregory J. Riely, Jean-Bernard Durand, Salim S. Hayek, Lavanya Kondapalli, Stephanie Berg, Timothy E. O'Connor, Mehmet A. Bilen, Cecilia Castellano, Melissa K. Accordino, Blau Sibel, Lisa B. Weissmann, Chinmay Jani, Daniel B. Flora, Lawrence Rudski, Miriam Santos Dutra, Bouganim Nathaniel, Erika Ruíz-García, Diana Vilar-Compte, Shilpa Gupta, Alicia Morgans, Anju Nohria

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Data regarding outcomes among patients with cancer and co-morbid cardiovascular disease (CVD)/cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) after SARS-CoV-2 infection are limited.

OBJECTIVES: To compare Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related complications among cancer patients with and without co-morbid CVD/CVRF.

METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of patients with cancer and laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2, reported to the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) registry from 03/17/2020 to 12/31/2021. CVD/CVRF was defined as established CVD

RESULTS: Among 10,876 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients with cancer (median age 65 [IQR 54-74] years, 53% female, 52% White), 6253 patients (57%) had co-morbid CVD/CVRF. Co-morbid CVD/CVRF was associated with higher COVID-19 severity …

Immunometabolic Reprogramming, Another Cancer Hallmark, Vijay Kumar, John H. Stewart

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Molecular carcinogenesis is a multistep process that involves acquired abnormalities in key biological processes. The complexity of cancer pathogenesis is best illustrated in the six hallmarks of the cancer: (1) the development of self-sufficient growth signals, (2) the emergence of clones that are resistant to apoptosis, (3) resistance to the antigrowth signals, (4) neo-angiogenesis, (5) the invasion of normal tissue or spread to the distant organs, and (6) limitless replicative potential. It also appears that non-resolving inflammation leads to the dysregulation of immune cell metabolism and subsequent cancer progression. The present article delineates immunometabolic reprogramming as a critical hallmark of …

Guaranteed Income And Financial Treatment Trial (Gift Trial Or Giftt): A 12-Month, Randomized Controlled Trial To Compare The Effectiveness Of Monthly Unconditional Cash Transfers To Treatment As Usual In Reducing Financial Toxicity In People With Cancer Who Have Low Incomes, Meredith Doherty, Jonathan Heintz, Amy Leader, David Wittenburg, Yonatan Ben-Shalom, Jessica Jacoby, Amy Castro, Stacia West

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Cancer-related financial hardship (i.e., financial toxicity) has been associated with anxiety and depression, greater pain and symptom burden, treatment nonadherence, and mortality. Out-of-pocket healthcare costs and lost income are primary drivers of financial toxicity, however, income loss is a pronounced risk factor for cancer patients with low incomes. There has been little progress in developing an income intervention to alleviate financial toxicity cancer patients with low incomes. Unconditional cash transfers (UCT), or guaranteed income, have produced positive health effects in experiments with general low-income populations, but have not yet been evaluated in people with cancer. The Guaranteed Income and Financial …

Rare Presentation Of Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma In The Finger: Case Report And Review Of Literature, F. Rhana Mousavi, Bassem Bekheit, Emon Alavi, Nick A. Hirad, Abanoub Gabra

Research Day

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary tumor of the liver that primarily develops in the setting of chronic liver disease. HCC is difficult to diagnose due to it requiring the use of multiple imaging modalities with the goal to detect tumors when they are less than or equal to 2 cm in size to allow all possible treatment options to be used. Herein, we discuss a 69-year-old male with stage IV liver cancer residing in hospice presenting with left middle finger osteomyelitis and extreme pain. Radiology revealed a destructive lesion but pathology provided the diagnosis of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma in …

Meditation-Type Exercise For The Management Of Chemotherapy Related Cognitive Impairment In Breast Cancer Patients, Christine Cain

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), or “chemobrain”, is one of the most troublesome side effects of chemotherapy (Dijkshoorn et al., 2020). Ongoing CRCI may negatively affect relationships, confidence, sleep, fatigue, anxiety, and the ability to return to work activities leading to a decreased quality of life (Johns et al., 2016; Gokal et al., 2018). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to assess the efficiency of a meditation-type exercise intervention, chair yoga, on decreasing perceived cognitive impairment (PCI) in breast cancer patients. The PICOT question for this project was: In breast cancer patients with chemotherapy related cognitive impairment (P), …

Highlights From The Second Choosing Wisely Africa Conference: A Roadmap To Value-Based Cancer Care In East Africa (9–10 February 2023, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania), Rugengamanzi Eulade, Godwin Abdiel Nnko, Jerry Ndumbalo, Nazima Dharsee, Larry O. Akoko, Christian Ntizimira, Beda Likonda, Harrison Chuwa, Salum Lidenge, Verna Vanderpuye, Nazik Hammad, Sikudhani Muya, Rubagumya Rubagumya

Internal Medicine, East Africa

The ecancer Choosing Wisely conference was held for the second time in Africa in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from the 9th to 10th of February 2023. ecancer in collaboration with the Tanzania Oncology Society organised this conference which was attended by more than 150 local and international delegates. During the 2 days of the conference, more than ten speakers from different specialties in the field of oncology gave insights into Choosing Wisely in oncology. Topics from all fields linked to cancer care such as radiation oncology, medical oncology, prevention, oncological surgery, palliative care, patient advocacy, pathology, radiology, clinical trials, research …