Medical Specialties Commons^™

Next-Gen Tools In Cancer Neuroscience, Vera Thiel, Debpali Sur, Caroline C Picoli, Tamara Mcerlain, Katalina Couto, David J Simon, Yuan Pan, Karen Olivia Dixon, Rajan P Kulkarni, Sebastien Talbot, Alexander Birbrair

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The emerging field of cancer neuroscience is rapidly evolving, driven by novel technologies and tools. These include advances in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics; genetic mouse models paired with automated high-throughput; and innovative optical electrophysiological approaches, optogenetics, chemogenetics, engineered viruses, and new methods for visualizing neuronal activity. Collectively, these technologies are revolutionizing how we investigate, manipulate, and characterize distinct components that contribute to the nervous system-cancer interface. In the present review, we discuss the key technologies that are closing the gap between oncology and neuroscience, highlighting the innovations that are propelling the cancer neuroscience field forward.

Rna/Dna-Binding Protein Tdp43 Regulates Dna Mismatch Repair Genes With Implications For Genome Stability, Vincent E Provasek, Albino Bacolla, Suganya Rangaswamy, Manohar Kodavati, Joy Mitra, Issa O Yusuf, Vikas H Malojirao, Velmarini Vasquez, Gavin W Britz, Guo-Min Li, Zuoshang Xu, Sankar Mitra, Ralph M Garruto, John A Tainer, Muralidhar L Hegde

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

TDP43 is an RNA/DNA-binding protein increasingly recognized for its role in neurodegenerative conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). As characterized by its aberrant nuclear export and cytoplasmic aggregation, TDP43 proteinopathy is a hallmark feature in over 95% of ALS/FTD cases, leading to detrimental cytosolic aggregates and a reduction in nuclear functionality in neurons. Building on our prior work linking TDP43 proteinopathy to the accumulation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in neurons, the present investigation uncovers a novel regulatory relationship between TDP43 and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene expression. Here, we show that TDP43 depletion or overexpression …

Understanding Cancer Survivorship Care Needs Using Amazon Reviews: Content Analysis, Algorithm Development, And Validation Study, Liwei Wang, Qiuhao Lu, Rui Li, Taylor B Harrison, Heling Jia, Ming Huang, Heidi Dowst, Rui Zhang, Hoda Badr, Jungwei W Fan, Hongfang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Complementary therapies are being increasingly used by cancer survivors. As a channel for customers to share their feelings, outcomes, and perceived knowledge about the products purchased from e-commerce platforms, Amazon consumer reviews are a valuable real-world data source for understanding cancer survivorship care needs.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to highlight the potential of using Amazon consumer reviews as a novel source for identifying cancer survivorship care needs, particularly related to symptom self-management. Specifically, we present a publicly available, manually annotated corpus derived from Amazon reviews of health-related products and develop baseline natural language processing models using deep …

Successful Management Of High-Risk Gestational Choriocarcinoma With Choriocarcinoma Syndrome: A Case Report, Ava R. Hansen, Hannah Daley, Priyanka Raju, Jonathan Buerger

Transformative Medicine

Introduction: Choriocarcinoma is a rare and highly malignant gestational trophoblastic neoplasia that is treatable with timely and appropriate intervention. However, choriocarcinoma may lead to life-threatening complications, such as choriocarcinoma syndrome (CCS), a rare type of tumor lysis manifesting as hemorrhage at metastatic sites of advanced tumors.

Case Description: This case involves a 30-year-old woman, gravida 3 para 0, with high-risk choriocarcinoma and a WHO score of 11, indicating high risk. Initial management comprised Etoposide, Methotrexate, Actinomycin D, Cyclophosphamide and Vincristine (EMA/CO) chemotherapy until multisystem complications arose, including the development of CCS which resulted in an abdominal compartment syndrome. An exploratory …

Clinical Outcomes Of Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy Vs. Chemoradiotherapy In Operable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Tal Sherman, Nikta Nair, Marli Meller, Raleigh Anderson, Guillermo Jimenez, Elizaveta Flevora, Charalambos Solomides, Rita Axelrod, Sarah Gordon, Ida Micaily, Maria Werner-Wasik, Sung Whang, Tyler Grenda, Olugbenga Okusanya, Nathaniel R. Evans, Iii, Nilanjan Haldar, Erik Blomain

Department of Radiation Oncology Posters

Introduction

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for ~85% of lung cancers and remains the leading cause of cancer death.
• Surgery is curative for early-stage disease, but recurrence rates remain high.
• CheckMate-816 trial established neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy (chemo-IO) as a new standard for resectable NSCLC, demonstrating improved pathologic response and event-free survival.
• PACIFIC trial showed the survival benefit of consolidative immunotherapy after chemoradiotherapy (chemo-RT) in unresectable stage III NSCLC, highlighting the synergy between radiation and immune checkpoint blockade.
• Despite these advances, there is little comparative data on the role of chemo-IO versus chemo-RT in the neoadjuvant, operable setting.
• Objective: To compare …

Anatomically Accurate, Low-Cost 3d-Printed Nasopharynx Simulator For Nasolaryngoscopy Training, Tal Sherman, Robert Walker, Voichita Bar-Ad, Firas Mourtada

Department of Radiation Oncology Posters

Introduction

- Flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscopy (NPL) is a core diagnostic and procedural skill in otolaryngology, radiation oncology, and related specialties. Early mastery is essential for safe patient care, but traditional training is limited by:

• Reliance on patient encounters, which may cause discomfort and restrict practice opportunities.
• High cost of commercial simulators(often $3,000–$5,000), restricting access across many programs.
• Lack of anatomical accuracyin available models, limiting their educational value.

- Gap: There is currently no accessible, anatomically faithful, and affordable tool for widespread trainee use.

- Objective: To design, fabricate, and validate a low-cost, anatomically accurate 3D-printed simulator for training in flexible NPL

Impacts Of The Conductive Networks On Solid-State Battery Operation, Shimao Deng, Yixian Wang, Tianxiao Sun, Wenlong Li, Mingyuan Ge, Jian Wang, Peter Cloetens, Piero Pianetta, David Mitlin, Yijin Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The micromorphology of composite cathodes is known to play a vital role in determining all‐solid‐state battery (ASSB) performance. However, much of our current understanding is derived from empirical observations, lacking a deeper mechanistic foundation. The “rocking chair” concept of battery chemistry requires maintaining charge neutrality, emphasizing the necessity of examining electrode micromorphology from the perspective of conductive networks. This study systematically investigates the microscopic electrochemical impacts of conductive network micromorphology by varying the Li+‐to‐e− channel ratio in cathodes comprising LiNbO3‐coated LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, Li6PS5Cl, and carbon fibers. Utilizing multiscale synchrotron‐based spectro‐microscopy, we unravel that unbalanced Li+ and e− conducting channels intensify charge …

Anticonvulsant Use In Older Age Bipolar Disorder In A Global Sample From The Global Aging And Geriatric Experiments In Bipolar Disorder Project: Utilisation D'Anticonvulsivants Pour Le Traitement Des Troubles Bipolaires Du Sujet Âgé Auprès D'Un Échantillon Mondial Provenant Du Projet Gage-Bd, Katie C Bodenstein, Myriam Lesage, Paola Lavin, Sigfried Schouws, Melis Orhan, Alexandra Beunders, Osvaldo P Almeida, Kursat Altinbas, Vicent Balanzá-Martínez, Izabela G Barbosa, Hilary P Blumberg, Farren B S Briggs, Cynthia V Calkin, Orestes V Forlenza, Brent Forester, Ariel G Gildengers, Benno C M Haarman, Tomas Hajek, Beny Lafer, Paula V Nunes, Benoit Mulsant, Andrew T Olagunju, Regan E Patrick, Joquim Radua, Kaylee Sarna, Christian Simhandl, Jair C Soares, Ashley N Sutherland, Nicole Fiorelli, Antonio L Teixeira, Shangying Tsai, Eduard Vieta, Joy Yala, Lisa Eyler, Annemiek Dols, Martha Sajatovic, Soham Rej

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background:

Anticonvulsants are an essential treatment for bipolar disorder; however, there is relatively little known about their use in older age bipolar disorder (OABD). In this paper, which leverages a large international dataset, we aim to 1) describe the use of anticonvulsants in OABD compared to younger age bipolar disorder (YABD; ages < 50 years old) and 2) explore any demographic/clinical correlates.

Methods:

A secondary analysis was conducted on the international data from the Global Aging and Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder project. The main objective was to report the prevalence of anticonvulsant use in OABD over 50 years old (mean age = 62.27) and the most prescribed anticonvulsant. Additional …

Artificial Intelligence In The Management Of Leukemia, Stephanie Koo, Austin P. Runde, Melvin Speisman

School of Medicine

BACKGROUND: Recently, given the demonstrated ability of AI to accurately characterize complex pathologies, AI has been proposed to be of use in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of leukemias given their genetic complexity and subtype heterogeneity, array of treatments, and need for relapse detection. AI has several potential applications in the management of leukemia. First, it can be used to detect leukemia; using AI to detect nuances in lab values can ensure these deadly cancers are never missed. Second, AI can be used to risk-stratify patients and personalize treatments; leukemias are among the most genetically complex cancers with well-characterized risk …

Comparison Of Cytology And Histology Diagnosis Methods In Metastatic Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, Phyllis Yang, John Nicholas Cauba, Shizue Mito

Research Colloquium

Background: Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and extremely aggressive form of thyroid cancer that presents as a rapidly enlarging neck mass with compressive symptoms. Its malignancy and mortality rates approach nearly 90% and is a feared transformation of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). A contributor to its increased mortality is its predilection for metastasis, which by nature, is less documented in medical literature. The study of ATC’s diagnostic algorithm, which classically utilizes cytological and histological confirmation, is crucial in enhancing early recognition and atypical presentations.

Methods: This systematic review catalogs the diagnosis, clinical properties, and metastasis sites of anaplastic …

Tc-Ptp Enhances Cordycepin-Induced Apoptosis In Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells, Olivia Samaie, Rodrigo Vidales, Lindsey Shim, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan, Mushfiq Hassan Shaikh, Dae Joon Kim

Research Colloquium

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy marked by early metastasis, dense desmoplastic stroma, and profound resistance to conventional therapies. Despite the development of combination regimens such as gemcitabine and FOLFIRINOX, outcomes remain dismal, with median survival under one year for metastatic cases. This underscores the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches that target multiple pathways simultaneously. T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TC-PTP) is one of nonreceptor PTPs that negatively regulates oncogenic signaling pathways, particularly STAT3 and AKT, both of which are constitutively active in many solid tumors. Cordycepin, a nucleoside analogue derived from Cordyceps militaris, has …

Disruption Of Β-Catenin Signaling As A Strategy To Suppress Emt In Cervical Cancer, Mohammed Sikander, Shabnam Malik, Sonam Kumari, John Apraku, Theresa M. Biju, Fathi T. Halaweish, Murali Yallapu, Meena Jaggi, Subhash Chauhan

Research Colloquium

Cervical cancer (CxC) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among women worldwide. Current chemotherapeutic agents for CxC have shown systemic toxicity in CxC patients. Ormeloxifene (ORM) is a non-toxic and non-steroidal drug with well-defined pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties in humans. In this study, we introduce a new analogue of ormeloxifene, Bromo-ormeloxifene (Br-ORM), which demonstrates enhanced therapeutic efficacy against CxC in both in vitro and in vivo models. We investigated Br-ORM's effects on CxC cell growth through colony formation and MTS assays, alongside molecular docking studies with βcatenin using AutoDock4. Furthermore, we analyzed the influence of Br-ORM on the …

From Imaging To Impact: A Multi-Disciplinary T32 Program Framework And Initial Insights For Training In Image-Guided Cancer Therapy, Kari J. Brewer Savannah, Stephen Y. Lai, Clifton D. Fuller, Kristy K. Brock

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

As multi-disciplinary image-guided assessment and therapies become increasingly important for precision oncology, the need for comprehensive training opportunities that effectively prepare the next generation of clinician-scientists and scientists is evident. We present an innovative, evidence-based research training framework that integrates the following critical features: 1) intentional and personalized mentoring and career development, 2) immersive research in image-guided cancer therapy, 3) strategic mentored clinical exposure, 4) structured didactic learning and professional development opportunities, and 5) mentored grant writing. Designed to foster scientific rigor, translational thinking, and multi-disciplinary collaboration, the Image-Guided Cancer Therapy T32 Training Program (IGCT-T32) aims to prepare postdoctoral fellows …

Human Cerebral Organoids Model Tumor Initiation And Infiltration In An Autologous Astrocyte-Supported Setting, Esther Schickel, Tamara Bender, Leon Kaysan, Simone Hufgard, Margot Mayer, David R Grosshans, Christiane Thielemann, Insa S Schroeder

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Efforts to efficiently target brain tumors are constrained by the dearth of appropriate models to study tumor behavior toward treatment approaches as well as potential side effects to the surrounding normal tissue. We established a reproducible cerebral organoid model of brain tumorigenesis in an autologous setting by overexpressing

Metabolic Shifts In Murine Inner Ears Mimicking Erythrocytes And Plasma Reveal Diagnostics And Early Predictors For Age-Related Hearing Loss, Qi Guo, Zhenjiang Li, Cheng Luo, Changhan Chen, Xi Long, Yidan Wang, Qingfen Qiang, Fang Yu, Wuping Liu, Yujin Zhang, Rodney E Kellems, Yang Xia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a major public health concern, driven by the interplay of multiple factors. Here, we reveal spatiotemporal metabolic shifts in murine inner ears mirroring erythrocytes and plasma. Isotope-labeled glucose tracing demonstrates a metabolic rerouting favoring glycolysis over the pentose phosphate pathway, alongside downregulation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, indicating impaired energy production and redox homeostasis. Accumulation of medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines further exacerbates lipotoxicity. Notably, age-dependent depletion of arginine, lysine, proline, and glycine disrupts the arginine-polyamine-urea cycle. Translationally, UK Biobank plasma metabolomics links omega-6 fatty acids, linoleic acid, glycine, and albumin to ARHL resilience, while branched-chain …

The South Texas Center Of Excellence In Cancer Research Core Facilities, Bianca Jimenez, Joel De Los Santos, Lindsey Shim, Iris Enriquez, Subhash Chauhan, Murali Yallapu

Research Colloquium

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 established an Integrated Cancer Research Core (ICRC, CPRIT/UT System), Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine Core (DDNC, CPRIT), and Research Capacity (RCMI) Facilities at the UTRGV campus to provide cutting-edge technologies to support cancer research investigators of the Rio Grande Valley. The ICRC will house technologies like Flow Cytometry, CyTOF, Image Stream Flow, Droplet Digital PCR, molecular and microPET/CT imaging. Our expertise and focus on this presentation will be …

The Intersection Of Obesity And Breast Cancer In South Texas: Clinical Implications And Regional Disparities, Aura M. C. Calderon, Ivan Mogollon, Luis Salcedo, Jose Loayza, Diane Nguyen

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Breast cancer continues to be the most frequently identified malignancy among females in both Texas and the broader United States. Although South Texas presents a marginally diminished incidence rate overall, the area persists in confronting significant disparities in terms of disease burden and health outcomes. These discrepancies are particularly pronounced among Hispanic women residing in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), who encounter heightened probabilities of receiving diagnoses at advanced stages despite a lower general incidence rate. Structural inequities, such as restricted access to healthcare services, socioeconomic deprivation, and inadequate health literacy, interact with obesity-associated biological risk factors, thereby engendering …

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (Pres) Secondary To B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case Report, Aura M. C. Calderon, Luis Salcedo, Ivan Mogollon, Jeyilis Carmona, Juan Pablo Gomez

Research Colloquium

Background: Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) represents a rare and potentially reversible neurotoxic disorder, distinguished by the presence of acute neurological manifestations and vasogenic edema, frequently detected through neuroimaging techniques. Although traditionally linked to hypertensive crises, renal insufficiency, and cytotoxic therapies, a growing body of evidence suggests that hematological malignancies, specifically acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), should be regarded as an independent risk factor.

Case Presentation: A 73-year-old Hispanic female with a medical history significant for hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis, and Parkinson’s disease presented with a progressive decline in strength and altered cognitive status. Upon …

Connecting Innovation And Trust Through Translational Sciences – A Need For A Community Focus And Effective Education Strategiess, Filipa Godoy-Vitorino, Michelle Borrero, Josué Pérez-Santiago, Rubén García-García, Candelaria Gomez-Manzano

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Report of a conference held in Puerto Rico, this article highlights how interdisciplinary translational science-anchored in education, public trust, and equity-can accelerate innovation in cancer therapy while empowering underserved communities through inclusive training, collaboration, and research participation.

Predictors Of All-Cause In-Hospital Mortality In Patients With Malignant Well-Differentiated Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors, Elvis Obomanu, Tarfa Verinumbe, Tinsae Anebo, Colton Jones, Claudia Dourado

Einstein Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Factors influencing in-hospital mortality in patients with well-differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) remain understudied, highlighting gaps in optimizing acute clinical outcomes. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic and clinical predictors of all-cause in-hospital mortality in this population.

METHODS: Using 2016 - 2020 data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), patients with malignant well-differentiated GEP-NETs were identified via the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Sociodemographic and clinical variables (heart failure (HF), malnutrition, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and tumor site) were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS: Among 5,642 patients (mean age …

Salvage Therapies For First Relapse Of Shh Medulloblastoma In Early Childhood., Craig Erker, Martin Mynarek, Marie Simbozel, Brandon T. Craig, Virginia L. Harrod, Andrea M. Cappellano, Kenneth J. Cohen, Vicente Santa-Maria Lopez, Andres Morales La Madrid, Chantel Cacciotti, Lorena Baroni, Ralph Salloum, Ashley S. Margol, George Michaiel, Dolly Aguilera, Claire M. Mazewski, Cassie N. Kline, Jonathan L. Finlay, Mohamed S. Abdelbaki, Jeffrey C. Murray, Kathleen Dorris, Bruce Crooks, Kevin Ginn, Nisreen Amayiri, Stephan Tippelt, Gudrun Fleischhack, Svenja Tonn, Nicolas U. Gerber, Alvaro Lassaletta, Jordan R. Hansford, Sara Khan, Stephen W. Gilheeney, Lindsey M. Hoffman, Michal Zapotocky, Valérie Larouche, Shafqat Shah, Vijay Ramaswamy, Amar Gajjar, Sébastien Perreault, Sabine Mueller, Juliette Hukin, Sylvia Cheng, Zhihong J. Wang, Kara Matheson, Simon Bailey, Eric Bouffet, Steven C. Clifford, Giles Robinson, Christelle Dufour, Stefan Rutkowski, Lucie Lafay-Cousin

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Sonic hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma is the most common molecular group of infant and early childhood medulloblastoma (iMB) and has no standard of care at relapse. This work aimed to evaluate the post-relapse survival (PRS) and explore prognostic factors of patients with nodular desmoplastic (ND) and/or SHH iMB.

METHODS: This international retrospective study included 147 subjects diagnosed with relapsed ND/SHH iMB between 1995 and 2017, < 6 years old at original diagnosis, and treated without initial craniospinal irradiation (CSI). Univariable and multivariable Cox models with propensity score analyses were used to assess PRS for those in the curative intent cohort.

RESULTS: The 3-year PRS was 61.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52.2-69.6). The median age at relapse was 3.4 years (interquartile range [IQR], 2.6-4.1). Those with local relapse (40.8%) more often received salvage treatment with surgery …

Artificial Intelligence In Head And Neck Cancer: Towards Precision Medicine., Jacob Hagen, Logan Hornung, William Barham, Supratik Mukhopadhyay, Ada Bess, Kevin Contrera, Kevin Contrera, Devraj Basu, Vlad Sandulache, Guillaume Spielmann, Sagar Kansara

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Simple Summary: This review was conducted to highlight current and potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the care of patients with head and neck cancer, the barriers to its clinical implementation, and the relative scarcity of research in this field. While AI has demonstrated success in other areas of oncology, its role in head and neck cancer remains limited, with progress slowed by technical, ethical, and logistical challenges. Nevertheless, integrating AI with multiomics approaches presents a promising opportunity to advance precision medicine in this patient population. The findings presented in this manuscript may encourage further multi-institutional studies aimed at …

Elevated Nr2f1 Underlies The Persistence Of Invasive Disease After Treatment Of Braf-Mutant Melanoma, Manoela Tiago, Timothy J Purwin, Casey D Stefanski, Renaira Oliveira Da Silva, Mitchell E Fane, Yash Chhabra, Jelan I Haj, Jessica Lf Teh, Rama Kadamb, Weijia Cai, Sheera R Rosenbaum, Vivian Chua, Nir Hacohen, Michael A Davies, Jessie Villanueva, Inna Chervoneva, Ashani T Weeraratna, Dan A Erkes, Claudia Capparelli, Julio A Aguirre-Ghiso, Andrew E Aplin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite the success of targeted inhibitors in cutaneous melanoma, therapeutic responses are limited by the aged tumor microenvironment and drug-tolerant residual cells. Given the similarities between drug tolerance and cellular dormancy, we studied the dormancy marker, nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 1 (NR2F1), in response to BRAF-V600E inhibitors (BRAFi) plus MEK inhibitors (MEKi) in BRAF-mutant melanoma models. Transcriptomic analysis of melanoma patient samples treated with BRAFi + MEKi showed increased NR2F1. NR2F1 was highly expressed in the drug-tolerant invasive cell state of minimal residual disease in patient-derived and mouse-derived xenografts on BRAFi + MEKi. NR2F1 over-expression was sufficient …

33 Unresolved Questions In Nanoscience And Nanotechnology, Chad A Mirkin, Sarah Hurst Petrosko, Natalie Artzi, Koray Aydin, Austin Biaggne, C Jeffrey Brinker, Katherine E Bujold, Y Charles Cao, Rachel R Chan, Chaojian Chen, Peng-Cheng Chen, Xiaodong Chen, Olivier J G L Chevalier, Chung Hang Jonathan Choi, Richard M Crooks, Vinayak P Dravid, Jingshan S Du, Sasha B Ebrahimi, Hongyou Fan, Omar K Farha, C Adrian Figg, Tanner D Fink, Connor M Forsyth, Harald Fuchs, Franz M Geiger, Nathan C Gianneschi, Kyle J Gibson, David S Ginger, Sishi Guo, Justin S Hanes, Liangliang Hao, Jin Huang, Bryan M Hunter, Fengwei Huo, Jeongmin Hwang, Rongchao Jin, Shana O Kelley, Thomas J Kempa, Youngeun Kim, Sergej Kudruk, Sneha Kumari, Kaitlin M Landy, Ki-Bum Lee, Noel J Leon, Jun Li, Yuanwei Li, Zhiwei Li, Bin Liu, Guoliang Liu, Xiaogang Liu, Luis M Liz-Marzán, Jochen H Lorch, Taokun Luo, Robert J Macfarlane, Jill E Millstone, Milan Mrksich, Catherine J Murphy, Rajesh R Naik, Andre E Nel, Christopher Oetheimer, Jenny K Hedlund Orbeck, So-Jung Park, Benjamin E Partridge, Nicholas A Peppas, Michelle L Personick, Arindam Raj, Namrata Ramani, Michael B Ross, Stacey Barnaby Ross, Edward H Sargent, Tanushri Sengupta, George C Schatz, Dwight S Seferos, Tamar Seideman, Soyoung Eileen Seo, Bo Shen, Wooyoung Shim, Donghoon Shin, Ulrich Simon, Andrew J Sinegra, Peter T Smith, Alexander M Spokoyny, Peter J Stang, Alexander H Stegh, J Fraser Stoddart, Dayne F Swearer, Weihong Tan, Michelle H Teplensky, C Shad Thaxton, David R Walt, Mary X Wang, Zhe Wang, Wei David Wei, Paul S Weiss, Peter H Winegar, Younan Xia, Yi Xie, Xiaoyang Xu, Peidong Yang, Yiming Yang, Zihao Ye, Kuk Ro Yoon, Cuizheng Zhang, Hua Zhang, Ke Zhang, Liangfang Zhang, Xiaoyu Zhang, Ye Zhang, Zijian Zheng, Wenjie Zhou, Shengshuang Zhu, Wei Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Significant advances in science and engineering often emerge at the intersections of disciplines. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are inherently interdisciplinary, uniting researchers from chemistry, physics, biology, medicine, materials science, and engineering. This convergence has fostered novel ways of thinking and enabled the development of materials, tools, and technologies that have transformed both basic and applied research, as well as how we address critical societal challenges. In this Nano Focus, we pose and explore 33 questions whose answers could profoundly impact fields such as energy, electronics, the environment, optics, and medicine. These questions highlight the need for deeper foundational understanding, improved tools …

Artificial Intelligence In Head And Neck Cancer: Towards Precision Medicine, Jacob Hagen, Logan Hornung, William Barham, Supratik Mukhopadhyay, Adam Bess, Kevin Contrera, Devraj Basu, Vlad Sandulache, Guillaume Spielmann, Sagar Kansara

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Over the past 20 years, the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) have gained significant interest. While AI has been implemented to various degrees in several disciplines, its unique applications in head and neck cancer (HNC) remain underdeveloped. This narrative review examines the existing body of literature regarding the use of AI in HNC. Studies to date have demonstrated AI’s utility across multiple phases of the HNC treatment continuum. Despite its promise, integrating AI into clinical practice faces several challenges, including concerns about system integrity, generalizability, privacy, and bias. In this review, we address these challenges and offer insights into future …

Setd2 Suppresses Tumorigenesis In A Krasg12c-Driven Lung Cancer Model, And Its Catalytic Activity Is Regulated By Histone Acetylation, Ricardo J Mack, Natasha M Flores, Geoffrey C Fox, Hanyang Dong, Metehan Cebeci, Simone Hausmann, Tourkian Chasan, Jill M Dowen, Brian D Strahl, Pawel K Mazur, Or Gozani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Histone H3 trimethylation at lysine 36 (H3K36me3) is a key chromatin modification that regulates fundamental physiological and pathological processes. In humans, SETD2 is the only known enzyme that catalyzes H3K36me3 in somatic cells and is implicated in tumor suppression across multiple cancer types. While there is considerable crosstalk between the SETD2-H3K36me3 axis and other epigenetic modifications, much remains to be understood. Here, we show that Setd2 functions as a potent tumor suppressor in a KRASG12C-driven lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) mouse model, and that acetylation enhances SETD2 in vitro methylation of H3K36 on nucleosome substrates. In vivo, Setd2 ablation accelerates lethality in …

Bayesian Clustering Prior With Overlapping Indices For Effective Use Of Multisource External Data, Xuetao Lu, J Jack Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The use of external data in clinical trials offers numerous advantages, such as reducing enrollment, increasing study power, and shortening trial duration. In Bayesian inference, information in external data can be transferred into an informative prior for future borrowing (i.e. prior synthesis). However, multisource external data often exhibits heterogeneity, which can cause information distortion during the prior synthesizing. Clustering helps identifying the heterogeneity, enhancing the congruence between synthesized prior and external data. Obtaining optimal clustering is challenging due to the trade-off between congruence with external data and robustness to future data. We introduce two overlapping indices: the overlapping clustering index …

Preclinical Perspectives On Disorders Of The Temporomandibular Joint: Tracing The Past, Navigating The Present, And Shaping The Future, John K Neubert, Kyle Allen, Tamara Alliston, Alejandro J Almarza, Kyriacos A Athanasiou, Basak Donertas-Ayaz, Bruna Balbino De Paula, Roxanne Bavarian, Nidhi Bhutani, Brian E Cairns, Robert M Caudle, Yang Chai, Jian-Fu Chen, Yong Chen, Glenn T Clark, Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, Alexandre F Dasilva, Paul L Durham, Airam Vivanco Estela, Millie Embree, Roger Fillingim, Fernando Guastaldi, Shruti Handa, Sunil D Kapila, David Keith, Keith L Kirkwood, Phillip Kramer, Katherine T Martucci, Niall P Murphy, Andrea G Nackley, Richard Ohrbach, Benedikt Sagl, Shad B Smith, Feng Tao, Beth Winkelstein, Hai Yao, Simon Young, Michael S Gold

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are complex conditions characterized by orofacial pain and dysfunction, affecting a significant portion of the population. TMDs may involve joint and/or muscle pain, dysfunction (e.g., noise, limited or altered jaw movements), or both, leading to a marked decrease in quality of life. Patients often experience functional limitations that hinder eating, speaking, and daily activities. Additionally, TMDs are frequently associated with psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, which further impacts overall well-being. Despite the profound individual and societal impact of TMDs, effective therapies remain elusive, partly due to deficiencies in translational research. A primary limitation in the TMD …

Development And Validation Of An Ai-Based Lung Lobe Auto-Contouring Tool Using Radiation Therapy Planning Free-Breathing Images, Peter Ciaccio, Joseph Lombardo, Andrew Fuquay, Soroush Pahlavian, Rachel Grimm, Jun Kang, Wookjin Choi, Paul Sullivan, Yevgeniy Vinogradskiy

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary toxicity can occur during radiation therapy of the lungs. Dose metrics evaluated at the lobar level can improve the ability to predict toxicity. Contouring lung lobes is challenging and time consuming. Currently there are limited dosimetry studies evaluating the dose to lung lobes. The purpose of this work was to develop and validate an artificial intelligence (AI) lung lobe auto-contouring algorithm using radiation therapy planning images.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty lung cancer patients from two institutions were analyzed, and a clinician contoured all five lung lobes [left upper lobe (LUL), left lower lobe (LLL), right upper lobe (RUL), …

A Novel Sialylation Pathway Mediated By Extracellular Vesicles In Aggressive Prostate Cancer, Camila A. Bach, Md Niamat Hossain, Ishan J. Chaudhari, Cecilia E. Verrillo, Nicole M. Naranjo, Isabella Amoroso, Anna Testa, Samuel Sey, W. Kevin Kelly, Susan L. Bellis, Aurelio Lorico, Ada G. Blidner, Gabriel A. Rabinovich, Lucia R. Languino

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Altered cell surface glycosylation is a hallmark of cancer; among aberrant glycan structures, hypersialylated proteins contribute to disease progression. The enzyme ST6 β-galactoside α2,6-sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1) mediates α2,6-linked sialylation of N-glycosylated proteins and is upregulated in many cancers, including prostate cancer (PrCa). We propose that ST6GAL1 may be released by cancer cells in small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in the PrCa tumor microenvironment to potentially modulate cell surface sialylation in recipient cells. We isolated sEVs from PrCa cells by density gradient separation and characterized them by nanoparticle tracking analysis using ZetaView and immunoblotting analysis. We identified ST6GAL1 in both its membrane-bound …