Medical Specialties Commons^™

Photon Irradation And Cisplatin Enrich Cancer Stem Cells In Ovarian Cancer, Ashley Antonissen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) has a 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest gynecological diseases and the 7th most common female cancer worldwide. Ovarian cancer patients generally have a poor prognosis despite the relatively successful treatments. When conventional cancer treatments, such as cisplatin chemotherapy and photon irradiation, are administered, residual cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) can survive, leading to CSC enrichment. CSCs are a small population of cancer cells that exhibit stem-like characteristics: quiescence (slowing of the cell cycle), differentiation, proliferation, and self-renewal to regenerate new CSCs. We hypothesized that providing cancer …

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

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 …

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 …

Examining The Role Of Metabolic Pathways As Therapeutic Modalities For Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Jeremy Andrew Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) comprises 15-20% of breast cancers, affects a younger patient population than other subtypes, and is very aggressive. TNBC is comprised of a diverse group of tumors that have proven refractory to targeted therapy and can be difficult to treat. Patients generally receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), surgery, and radiotherapy. The standard of care for NAC includes a taxane, an anthracycline, and/or cyclophosphamide, and administration of NAC has resulted in pathological complete response (pCR) in 30-40% of patients. However, a majority of TNBC patients will not reach pCR and instead have residual disease (RD), which is associated …

Dual Therapy Treatment Of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With Blinotumomab And A Standard Chemotherapy Regimen, Tori I. Scheffler

Selected Honors Theses

Leukemia is the number one cancer affecting children in the nation, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia being the most prevalent classification.1 While new and innovative treatment protocols have greatly increased the success rate of primary cancer patients, those who face relapse receive a much more dismal prognosis. Recent studies have shown that patients who relapse quite frequently have developed drug-resistant clones of the original cancer cells, leading to a need for various secondary treatment options. The drug-resistance is due to clonal mutations that take place within the cancer cell, most often because of an outside pressure or stress within the environment …

Electrophysiological Biomarkers Of Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Impairment In Hematological Malignancy Patients, David E. Anderson

Theses & Dissertations

Multiple cancer populations frequently report cognitive impairment following treatment with chemotherapy agents (“chemo-brain”). Impaired neuropsychological performance is commonly reported in cognitive domains of attention and executive function. Understanding neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairments is essential to developing prevention and rehabilitation strategies. Brain imaging studies frequently show chemotherapy-related impairments within the attentional control network, which is comprised of a constellation of cortical regions that govern reportedly impaired cognitive functions. In the current dissertation research, I developed a novel electrophysiology battery aimed at recording near-instantaneous neural activity within the attentional control network during cognitive task performance. Cancer patients diagnosed with hematological malignancy …

A Cytotoxic Evaluation Of A Chalcone Derivative Library On A549 Cells, Mary Elaine Kuo

Undergraduate Theses

Chalcones, a precursor to flavonoids, are chemical compounds found naturally in plants. The chalcones’ structure consists of a ketone bridge attached to two aromatic rings. Varying substituents on the aromatic rings allow for different affects, including anti-cancer properties. As a Michael acceptor, chalcones interact with pathways that cause inhibition of the initiation, promotion, and progression of cancer tumors. We have screened 32 compounds for growth inhibition in lung cells that vary the flexibility and confirmation of the 3 carbon bridge between the two aromatic rings as well as the effects of electronic modifications to the aromatic ring. We have found …

Cancer Stem Cells In The Screening Of Anticancer Drugs For Central Nervous System Tumors, Sarah Elizabeth Daron-Mathis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

There is a growing need (in the medical field) to design personalized therapy for cancer patients. Decades of cancer research have found no silver bullet that can cure all or even most patients. This study evaluated four patients affected by central nervous system (CNS) tumors (Ependymoma and Glioblastoma), and found that tumors with the same histology had unique responses to treatment. Each sample presented different levels of heterogeneity in expressed biomarkers and responded to drugs at varying levels.

Oncologists conventionally treat cancer patients with drugs tested in large clinical trials. However, often patients do not experience positive outcomes following treatments …

The Pathophysiology Of Tumor Lysis Syndrome In Oncology Patients, Jessica Richardson

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Patients with oncological conditions are at an increased risk of developing a wide variety of complications from chemotherapy that they would not otherwise be exposed too. One such life threatening complication is tumor lysis syndrome, which is an oncology emergency that frequently lands patients in the intensive care unit. Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) occurs most frequently after the initiation of chemotherapy or other chemotoxic drugs during the patients’ treatment course [8]. It causes faster than normal tumor cell breakdown and release of intracellular contents into the general circulation. [8]. This leads to a very predictable development of electrolyte imbalances to …

Does The Addition Of Muramyl Tripeptide To Chemotherapy Improve Overall Survival For Patients With Osteosarcoma?, Jennifer Jones

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does the addition of muramyl tripeptide to chemotherapy improve overall survival for patients with osteosarcoma?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled trials published between 2005 and 2009.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized controlled trials evaluating the addition of muramyl tripeptide (MTP) to chemotherapy for patients with osteosarcoma were found using Medline/PubMed databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival were the outcome measures used to determine the effectiveness of the additional chemotherapy treatment in osteosarcoma patients. EFS was defined as …