Neoplasms Commons^™

Comparisons Of Oral, Intestinal, And Pancreatic Bacterial Microbiomes In Patients With Pancreatic Cancer And Other Gastrointestinal Diseases, Mei Chung, Naisi Zhao, Richard Meier, Devin C. Koestler, Guojun Wu, Erika De Castillo, Bruce J. Paster, Kevin Charpentier, Jacques Izard, Karl T. Kelsey, Dominique S. Michaud

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Background: Oral microbiota is believed to play important roles in systemic diseases, including cancer. Methods: We collected oral samples (tongue, buccal, supragingival, and saliva) and pancreatic tissue or intestinal samples from 52 subjects, and characterized 16S rRNA genes using high-throughput DNA sequencing.

Results: Bray–Curtis plot showed clear separations between bacterial communities in the oral cavity and those in intestinal and pancreatic tissue samples. PERMANOVA tests indicated that bacterial communities from buccal samples were similar to supragingival and saliva samples, and pancreatic duct samples were similar to pancreatic tumor samples, but all other samples were significantly different from each …

Bypassing The Blood-Brain Barrier: A Physical And Pharmacological Approach For The Treatment Of Metastatic Brain Tumors, Samuel A. Sprowls

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation (a) provided an in depth literature review of methods to disrupt the BBB/BTB and improve therapeutic distribution to brain tumors, (b) evaluated the use of azacitidine as a single agent therapy for the treatment of brain metastasis of breast cancer and a potential molecular mechanism by which brain tropic cells are sensitized to hypomethylating agents, (c) determined the impact cannabidiol has on P-glycoprotein mediated efflux at the blood-brain barrier and its potential for use as a single agent treatment for metastatic brain tumors, (d) developed a preclinical radiation therapy protocol for use in small animals and in vitro …

Mucins, Gut Microbiota, And Postbiotics Role In Colorectal Cancer, Ramesh Pothuraju, Sanjib Chaudhary, Satyanarayana Rachagani, Sukhwinder Kaur, Hemant K Roy, Michael Bouvet, Surinder K Batra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

An imbalance in the crosstalk between the host and gut microbiota affects the intestinal barrier function, which results in inflammatory diseases and colorectal cancer. The colon epithelium protects itself from a harsh environment and various pathogenic organisms by forming a double mucus layer, primarily comprising mucins. Recent studies are focusing on how dietary patterns alter the gut microbiota composition, which in turn regulates mucin expression and maintains the intestinal layers. In addition, modulation of gut microbiota by microbiotic therapy (involving fecal microbiota transplantation) has emerged as a significant factor in the pathologies associated with dysbiosis. Therefore, proper communication between host …

Safety And Efficacy Of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation To Treat And Prevent Recurrent Clostridioides Difficile In Cancer Patients, Hiba Ali, Shruti Khurana, Weijie Ma, Yuanzun Peng, Zhi-Dong Jiang, Herbert Dupont, Hao Chi Zhang, Anusha S Thomas, Pablo Okhuysen, Yinghong Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Cancer patients are at increased risk of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) due to malignancy itself, cancer therapy, and frequent antibiotic use and have a lower response rate to standard oral antibiotics. There are limited data on the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating rCDI in cancer patients. We aim to describe our experience of using FMT to treat rCDI at a tertiary cancer center.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of cancer patients who underwent FMT for rCDI at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from June 2017 through January 2020. Baseline …

Glycemic Variability In Patients With Stage Ii-Iii Colon Cancer, Natalie Mandolfo

Theses & Dissertations

Patients with cancer experience metabolic changes such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and glycemic variability; collectively termed malglycemia. Glycemic variability, defined as fluctuations in glucose, is a marker of metabolic instability. Higher glycemic variability is associated with adverse health outcomes in the general population and in those with diabetes. Little is known about glycemic variability in patients with cancer, especially those with solid tumor malignancies. Glycemic variability is associated with increased infection, shorter periods of remission, and higher mortality in patients with hematological cancer. This body of work describes the concept and measurement of glycemic variability to assess glycemic control in patients …

The Cancer Patient And Cardiology, José Luis Zamorano, Christer Gottfridsson, Riccardo Asteggiano, Dan Atar, Lina Badimon, Jeroen J Bax, Daniela Cardinale, Antonella Cardone, Elizabeth A M Feijen, Péter Ferdinandy, Teresa López-Fernández, Chris P Gale, John H Maduro, Javid Moslehi, Torbjørn Omland, Juan Carlos Plana Gomez, Jessica Scott, Thomas M Suter, Giorgio Minotti

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Advances in cancer treatments have improved clinical outcomes, leading to an increasing population of cancer survivors. However, this success is associated with high rates of short- and long-term cardiovascular (CV) toxicities. The number and variety of cancer drugs and CV toxicity types make long-term care a complex undertaking. This requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes expertise in oncology, cardiology and other related specialties, and has led to the development of the cardio-oncology subspecialty. This paper aims to provide an overview of the main adverse events, risk assessment and risk mitigation strategies, early diagnosis, medical and complementary strategies for prevention and …

Beyond The Skin: A Case Report Of Vaginal Melanoma, Brittany Gilbert, Wm Tanner Gilbert, Ardeshir Hakam, Lynne J. Goebel

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Mucosal melanomas are rare, accounting for only 1.4% of all melanomas. Only 18% of mucosal melanomas are vulvovaginal in origin, making it exceedingly rare. Mucosal melanomas typically carry a worse prognosis than those arising from cutaneous sites with a higher risk of recurrence and disseminated disease. We report a rare case of vaginal melanoma presenting as postmenopausal bleeding and discuss management of this disease.

Long Non-Coding Rna (Lncrna) As A New Biomarker For Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Hcc) Progression And Drug Resistance, Areeb Masood, Sanjaya Satapathy, Manish Tripathi

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignant liver tumor that commonly occurs as a progression of chronic liver inflammation due to long-standing viral hepatitis infection, toxins, metabolic conditions, and congenital disorders. In 2018, HCC was the 4th leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, accounting for approximately 780,000 deaths in total.

HCC’s prognosis is directly correlated with early detection. Unfortunately, HCC has an asymptomatic pattern of growth in the early stages of the disease which makes early detection challenging. When HCC progresses to advanced stages, it leaves clinicians with limited therapeutic and curative options, leading to high rates of morbidity and …

A History Of #Bcsm And Insights For Patient-Centered Online Interaction And Engagement, Matthew S. Katz, Alicia C. Staley, Deanna J. Attai

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Participation in cancer support groups can provide a sense of community and may better prepare patients for interactions with their health care team. Online interactions may overcome some barriers to in-person support group participation. #BCSM (breast cancer social media), the first cancer support community established on Twitter, was founded in 2011 by two breast cancer survivors. The aims of this study are to describe the growth and changes in this community and to discuss future directions and lessons that may apply to other online support communities.

Methods: Symplur Signals was used to obtain all #BCSM Twitter data from January …

Validation Of An Endometrial Tumor Diameter Model For Risk Assessment In The Absence Of Lymph Node Mapping, Mckayla J. Riggs, Callie M. Cox Bauer, Caela R. Miller, James K. Aden, Scott A. Kamelle

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the optimal tumor diameter for predicting lymphatic metastasis and to determine intraoperatively the need for lymph node dissection in patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer.

Methods: Military beneficiaries diagnosed with stage I–III endometrioid endometrial cancer during 2003–2016 who had at least 7 pelvic and/or paraaortic lymph nodes removed during the time of hysterectomy were studied. Tumor diameter was compared against the presence of positive nodes, using the prior models of 20 mm (ie, Mayo model) and 50 mm (ie, Milwaukee model), to determine the false-negative rate of each threshold. A separate analysis was completed to …

Evaluation Of A Mobile Health Intervention To Improve Wellness Outcomes For Breast Cancer Survivors, Jamie Cairo, Laurie Williams, Lisa Bray, Katrina Goetzke, Ana Cristina Perez

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Breast cancer survivors are at increased risk of cancer recurrence, second malignancies, and other comorbid conditions. This study examined if use of a convenient, commercially available, $65 per month app that gives breast cancer survivors access to a health and wellness coach is more effective than a self-guided toolkit and one-time health education session at achieving the following goals: 1) improving adherence to a plant-based diet, 2) increasing physical activity, 3) assisting with weight loss and reduction in body mass index, 4) reducing elevated depression and fatigue scores, and 5) leading to sustained adherence to lifestyle and wellness plan …

Action Items For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Deanna J. Attai

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

This special issue introduction provides a brief history of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and focuses on patient populations often omitted from annual marketing campaigns. The importance of research is emphasized as a means to improve the outcomes of people with metastatic breast cancer and male breast cancer as well as to address health care inequities related to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Cole Relaxation Frequency As A Prognostic Parameter For Breast Cancer, William D. Gregory, Shahila Mehboob Christie, John Shell, Georges J. Nahhas, Maharaj Singh, Wendy Mikkelson

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

We previously reported successful classification of breast cancer versus benign tissue using the Cole relaxation frequency measured on tissue excised during breast surgery as part of a study at two urban hospitals in the U.S. Midwest. Using that health system’s cancer registry, we have discovered retrospectively that outcomes for patients who participated in the initial study can be classified correctly in 3 well-differentiated categories: nonrecurrent (NR); recurrent with no metastasis (RNM); and recurrent with metastasis (RM). As Cole relaxation frequency increases, the classification moves from NR to RNM and finally to RM. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association of “time-cancer-free” …

Risk Prediction Rule For Advanced Neoplasia On Screening Colonoscopy For Average-Risk Individuals, Ala I Sharara, Ali El Mokahal, Ali H Harb, Natalia Khalaf, Fayez S Sarkis, Mustapha M El-Halabi, Nabil M Mansour, Ahmad Malli, Robert Habib

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: In resource-limited countries, risk stratification can be used to optimize colorectal cancer screening. Few prospective risk prediction models exist for advanced neoplasia (AN) in true average-risk individuals.

AIM: To create and internally validate a risk prediction model for detection of AN in average-risk individuals.

METHODS: Prospective study of asymptomatic individuals undergoing first screening colonoscopy. Detailed characteristics including diet, exercise and medications were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to elucidate risk factors for AN (adenoma ≥1 cm, villous histology, high-grade dysplasia or carcinoma). The model was validated through bootstrapping, and discrimination and calibration of the model were assessed.

RESULTS: …

Investigation Of A Peculiar Case Of Childhood Lymphadenopathy, Chade Aribo, Alonso Al, Allison Woodall, Tommy Y. Kim

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction: Lymphadenopathy is a common physical finding often associated with an infectious etiology. We present a case of a patient with generalized cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy diagnosed with a rare malignancy. Health care providers should be aware of some uncommon historical or physical examination findings that warrant further investigation.

Clinical Findings: A 16-year-old female presented to the emergency department with 3 days of a fever, congestion and sore throat with swelling around the jaw. Her physical examination findings included bilateral mandibular swelling and generalized cervical lymphadenopathy with palpable supraclavicular lymph nodes.

Outcomes: Complete blood count showed pancytopenia with a white …

Impact Of Immunotherapy On The Survival Of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Patients: An Analysis Of The National Cancer Database, Saber A. Amin

Theses & Dissertations

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents 7.2% of all cancer deaths, and by 2030, it will become the second leading cause of death due to cancer. The median overall survival (OS) is 17-23 months in resectable and 4-6 months in metastatic PC [8-9]. The 5-year survival of resectable PC is 22%, and unresectable PC is 8%. A majority of patients treated with standard treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy eventually succumb to the disease due to widespread micrometastases at the time of diagnosis. Due to the minimal effect of the current treatments, novel treatment strategies such as immunotherapeutics have been …

Investigating The Metabolic Progression Of Glioblastoma With Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance, Travis Salzillo

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Rapid diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of aggressive diseases such as glioblastoma (GBM) can improve patient survival by providing physicians the time to optimally deliver treatment. This includes early in development, while the tumor is still manageable, or following initial therapy, when alternative treatments should be considered. The main goal of this project was to determine whether metabolic imaging with hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) could detect changes in tumor progression more rapidly than conventional anatomic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patient-derived GBM murine models. To comprehensively capture the dynamic nature of cancer metabolism, in vivo pyruvate-to-lactate conversion with hyperpolarized MRI, …

Post-Registration Experience Of Nivolumab In Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An International Study, Petros Fessas, Ahmed Kaseb, Yinghong Wang, Anwaar Saeed, David Szafron, Tomi Jun, Sirish Dharmapuri, Abdul Rafeh Naqash, Mahvish Muzaffar, Musharraf Navaid, Uqba Khan, Chiehju Lee, Anushi Bulumulle, Bo Yu, Sonal Paul, Neil Nimkar, Dominik Bettinger, Francesca Benevento, Hannah Hildebrand, Tiziana Pressiani, Yehia I Abugabal, Nicola Personeni, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Lorenza Rimassa, Celina Ang, Thomas Marron, David J Pinato

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Nivolumab is Food and Drug Administration approved in sorafenib-experienced, advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Post-registration data of treatment in a real-world setting is lacking.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed an international, multicenter observational study to confirm safety and efficacy of nivolumab in 233 patients treated outside clinical trials from eight centers in North America, Europe and Asia.

RESULTS: Patients received nivolumab for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C (n=191, 92.0%) and Child-Pugh (CP) A (n=158, 67.8%) or B (n=75, 32.2%) HCC as first (n=85, 36.5%) or second to fourth systemic therapy line …

Knowledge Of Breast Cancer And Screening Methods Among Rural Women In Southwest Nigeria, Rowland Edet, Oluwayimika Ekundina

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to assess the awareness of rural women on breast cancer and its screening methods in Southwest Nigeria. Descriptive cross-sectional survey design with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire was used to generate data among 422 rural women in selected communities in Egbeda local government area of Ibadan. The qualitative data was generated through in-depth interviews among rural women and key informant interviews among health workers in the communities. The study revealed that only 63.7% were aware of breast cancer screening methods compared to 31.6% who were not aware. The commonly known screening method among …

Association Analysis Of Driver Gene-Related Genetic Variants Identified Novel Lung Cancer Susceptibility Loci With 20,871 Lung Cancer Cases And 15,971 Controls, Yuzhuo Wang, Olga Y Gorlova, Ivan P Gorlov, Meng Zhu, Juncheng Dai, Demetrius Albanes, Stephen Lam, Adonina Tardon, Chu Chen, Gary E Goodman, Stig E Bojesen, Maria Teresa Landi, Mattias Johansson, Angela Risch, Heunz-Erich Wichmann, Heike Bickeboller, David C Christiani, Gad Rennert, Susanne M Arnold, Paul Brennan, John K Field, Sanjay Shete, Loïc Le Marchand, Olle Melander, Hans Brunnstrom, Geoffrey Liu, Rayjean J Hung, Angeline S Andrew, Lambertus A Kiemeney, Shanbeh Zienolddiny, Kjell Grankvist, Mikael Johansson, Neil E Caporaso, Penella J Woll, Philip Lazarus, Matthew B Schabath, Melinda C Aldrich, Victoria L Stevens, Hongxia Ma, Guangfu Jin, Zhibin Hu, Christopher I Amos, Hongbing Shen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: A substantial proportion of cancer driver genes (CDG) are also cancer predisposition genes. However, the associations between genetic variants in lung CDGs and the susceptibility to lung cancer have rarely been investigated.

METHODS: We selected expression-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (eSNP) and nonsynonymous variants of lung CDGs, and tested their associations with lung cancer risk in two large-scale genome-wide association studies (20,871 cases and 15,971 controls of European descent). Conditional and joint association analysis was performed to identify independent risk variants. The associations of independent risk variants with somatic alterations in lung CDGs or recurrently altered pathways were investigated using data …

Combined Lenvatinib And Pembrolizumab As Salvage Therapy In Advanced Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma, Sara Bedrose, Kevin Charles Miller, Lina Altameemi, Mohamed S Ali, Sameh Nassar, Naveen Garg, Marilyne Daher, Keith D Eaton, Jeffrey Thomas Yorio, Davey B Daniel, Matthew Campbell, Keith C Bible, Mabel Ryder, Ashish V Chintakuntlawar, Mouhammed Amir Habra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: There is no effective systemic therapy for metastatic adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy. The efficacies of single-agent oral multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) or salvage immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) have been very limited. It is unknown whether combining CPIs, such as pembrolizumab (PEM), with other therapies, such as MKIs, could yield higher response rates in ACC, yet this combination has shown promise in other cancers. Herein, we describe the first case series using PEM in combination with the MKI lenvatinib (LEN) in patients with progressive, metastatic ACC.

METHODS: A retrospective case series describing the use of LEN/PEM …

Integrating Geriatric Assessment And Genetic Profiling To Personalize Therapy Selection In Older Adults With Acute Myeloid, Vijaya R. Bhatt

Theses & Dissertations

Integrating geriatric assessment for patient profiling and genetic profiling of leukemic cells represents an innovative approach to personalize therapy selection in older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We report results of a pre-planned interim analysis of a pragmatic phase II trial that utilized this strategy to personalize therapy. Patients ≥60 years with a new diagnosis of AML underwent geriatric assessment prior to initiation of treatment. Geriatric assessment of physical function, cognitive function and comorbidity burden were used to determine fitness for chemotherapy. Patients with good or intermediate-risk AML received intensive chemotherapy such as anthracycline and cytarabine (7+3) if determined …

Development Of Fluorescent Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles For Intraoperative Tumor Detection, Nicholas E. Wojtynek

Theses & Dissertations

Surgical resection remains to be the primary treatment for the majority of solid tumors, including breast cancer. The complete removal of the primary tumor, local metastases, and metastatic lymph nodes dramatically improve a patient’s treatment outcome and prognosis. Nevertheless, surgeons are limited to tactile and visual cues in distinguishing malignant and healthy tissue. This can result in a positive surgical margin (PSM), which occurs when tumor goes undetected and is left behind in the surgical cavity. PSMs decreases a patient’s prognosis and necessitate additional treatment in the form of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. An emerging imaging modality, known as fluorescence-guided …

How Can We Stop Cancer?, Joseph R. Current

The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research

Cancer is a disease that humans have been struggling to combat for centuries. It originates from the accumulation of several mutations over the life of a cell that causes it to evade cell death and multiply rapidly. It can affect any tissue in the body and can spread to other parts of the body through metastasis. Cancer comes in numerous shapes and sizes with different levels of aggression, growth speeds, and health risks. Many treatments for cancer exist today, three of the most popular being surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, which can be used in combinations with other treatments to …

Evaluating Awareness Of Low-Dose Computerized Tomography For Lung Cancer Screening, Roshni Leboutillier, Bansi Savla, Vincent Wu, Zia Khan, Erick Mejia, Leah Tehranchi, My Myers, Khine Min, Jennifer Broyles, Stacy Chase

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

In the U.S., excluding melanoma, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.¹
Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor and is linked to 80-90% of lung cancer deaths.²
Low-dose Computerized Tomography has been shown to reduce lung cancer deaths by 20% in randomized control trials and observational studies.⁴
The U.S. Preventative Task Force recommends annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT) in adults ages 55-80 years of age who:

• Have a 30 pack-year smoking history and
• Currently smoke or
• Have quit within the past 15 years.

Can Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predict Pathologic Findings For Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer?, Elizabeth L. Dickson Michelson, Jessica J. F. Kram, Kayla Heslin, David Baugh, Vikram Bamra, Jiahao Hu, Abhishek Shukla, Scott A. Kamelle

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of precisely measuring tumor diameter and myometrial invasion in patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) using preoperative contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Adult patients with confirmed diagnosis of complex hyperplasia with atypia or EEC were included. Three radiologists separately measured tumor diameter and myometrial invasion. Basic descriptive statistics were used to describe patient characteristics and to compare radiology- and pathology-measured tumor diameter and myometrial invasion. Using the pathology results for tumor diameter as the gold standard for comparison, at least 1 radiologist was able to predict largest tumor diameter within 5 mm …

Genetic Relationships And Therapeutic Options For Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Hailie Shertzer

Senior Honors Theses

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of cancer among children and can be lethal to the adult population. Though 80% of patients with ALL reach complete remission after treatment, about 20% of those diagnosed fail to remain cancer-free. Genetic rearrangements are the hallmark of relapsed ALL, but the mechanism by which these rearrangements occur is still unclear. Recent research suggests these mutations may be detectable during initial diagnosis. If researchers are able to accurately assess the probability of relapse during diagnosis by analyzing the genome of the leukemic cells, the likelihood of administering effective therapy would increase. …

Atrx Loss In Pediatric Glioma Results In Epigenetic Dysregulation Of G2/M Checkpoint Maintenance And Sensitivity To Atm Inhibition, Brendan Mullan, Tingting Qin, Ruby Siada, Carla Danussi, Jacqueline Brosnan-Cashman, Drew Pratt, Taylor Garcia, Viveka Nand Yadav, Xinyi Zhao, Meredith Morgan, Sriram Venneti, Alan Meeker, Alnawaz Rehemtulla, Pedro Lowenstein, Maria Castro, Carl Koschmann

Medical Student Research Symposium

ATRX is a histone chaperone protein recurrently mutated in pediatric glioma. The mechanism which mediates the proliferative advantage of ATRX loss in pediatric glioma remains unexplained. Recent data revealed a distinct pattern of DNA binding sites of the ATRX protein using ChIP-seq in mouse neuronal precursor cells (mNPCs). Using the ATRX peaks identified in p53^-/- mNPCs, we confirmed that ATRX binding sites were significantly enriched in gene promoters (p < 0.0001) and CpG islands (p < 0.0001) compared with random regions. Gene set enrichment (GSE) analysis identified that cell cycle and regulation of cell cycle were among the most significantly enriched gene sets (p=2.52e-16 and 1.61e-9, respectively). We found that ATRX loss resulted in dysfunction of G2/M checkpoint maintenance: (1) ATRX-deficient pediatric glioblastoma (GBM) cells exhibited a seven-fold increase in mitotic index at 16 hours after sub-lethal radiation, and (2) murine GBM cells with ATRX knockdown demonstrated impaired pChk1 signaling on western blot at multiple time points after radiation compared to controls (p=0.0187). Notably, the ATM signaling (pChk2) remained intact in those cells, suggesting a potential therapeutic target. ATRX-deficient mouse cells were uniquely sensitive to ATM inhibitors at 1 uM alongside 8 Gy radiation compared to controls with intact ATRX (AZD0156: p=0.0027 and AZD01390: p=0.0436). Mice intra-cranially implanted with ATRX-deficient GBM cells showed improved survival (n=10, p=0.0018) when treated with AZD0156 combined with radiation. Our findings suggest that ATRX loss in glioma results in unique sensitivity to ATM inhibition via epigenetic dysregulation of G2/M checkpoint maintenance.

Adjuvant Therapy In Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Reflections And Future Directions, Sara Bedrose, Marilyne Daher, Lina Altameemi, Mouhammed Amir Habra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy with high risk of recurrence despite macroscopically complete surgical resection. The main predictors of ACC recurrence include advanced disease stage, incomplete surgical resection, cortisol production, certain genetic alterations, and high proliferation rate (Ki-67 proliferation index). Mitotane has been the mainstay adjuvant therapy of ACC. However, the use of mitotane is based on retrospective and occasionally conflicting evidence. As mitotane levels can take a few months before reaching therapeutic levels, there is an emerging practice of combining platinum-based chemotherapy with mitotane in the adjuvant setting. Retrospective data indicate that radiotherapy is an …

Anxiety-Related Issues In Cancer Survivorship, Maresi A. Berry-Stoelzle, Anna C. Mark, Peter Kim, Jeanette M. Daly

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine patient opinions about anxiety in cancer survivorship, particularly the role of the primary care provider in management of anxiety related to the trajectory of long-term cancer survivorship.

Methods: Respondents to a mass email (N = 22,000) were invited to participate in 1 of 3 institutional review board-approved focus group meetings. Inclusion criteria were being an adult patient older than 25 years of age, having any type of cancer diagnosis, and being at least 18 months from treatment. The following specific issues were discussed: role of the primary care provider …