Medical Specialties Commons^™

From Survival To Survivorship: Late Side Effects Become An Issue In High-Grade Glioma., Yaacov R Lawrence, Wenyin Shi, Adam P Dicker

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

“For many patients, controlling neurological symptoms, preventing cognitive dysfunction and maintaining functional independence are just as important as prolonging survival.”

The Human In 3d: Advanced Morphometric Analysis Of High-Resolution Anatomically Accurate Computed Models, Summer J. Decker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Computed virtual models of anatomical structures are proving to be of increasing value in clinical medicine, education and research. With a variety of fields focused on craniofacial and pelvic anatomy there is a need for accurate anatomical models. Recent technological advancements in computer and medical imaging technologies have provided the tools necessary to develop three-dimensional (3D) functional models of human anatomy for use in medicine (surgical planning and education), forensics and engineering (computer-aided design (CAD) and finite element analysis).

Traditionally caliper methodologies are used in the quantitative analysis of human anatomy. In order for experts in anatomy and morphometrics to …

The Biogeochemistry Of Submerged Coastal Karst Features In West Central Florida, Keith Michael Garman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

West Central Florida is a complex karst environment with numerous sinkholes, springs, and submerged cave systems. Many of these karst features are anchialine, located within the subterranean estuary where freshwater and saltwater mix. Water quality data and/or fauna data were obtained from twenty-one karst features and their associated cave systems. The anchialine karst environment of the study area has a wide range of habitats with measured salinities ranging from freshwater at <0.2 ppt to sulfidic, hypersaline water at 38.5 ppt and measured pH readings ranging from 6.39 in water impacted by sulfur oxidizing bacteria to 10.3 in an isolated room of a cave. Stygobitic crustaceans were identified in conduits extending beneath the Gulf of Mexico supporting the hypotheses that freshwater crustaceans could survive higher sea levels in freshwater conduits beneath saltwater. The fauna associated with the anchialine cave systems included Sabellidae and Polychaeta worms, hydroids, cnidarians and hydrobiid snails. Jewfish Sink, like other anaerobic marine basins that were submarine springs, has four zones: oxic zone, transition zone, upper anoxic zone and anoxic bottom water. The upper zones have seasonal water quality variations from winter cooling and sinking of surface water and changes in the microbial communities. Activity of sulfate reducing bacteria is carbon limited in the anoxic zones, where sulfate reduction is the major metabolic process, and primary production is phosphate limited in the oxic zones. Organic input from the Gulf of Mexico drives the bacterial anaerobic ecosystem, resulting in a “sulfide pump”, in which sulfide percolates upward removing oxygen from the overlying sediment.

Using Hospital Discharge Abstract Data To Identify Incident Breast Cancer Cases And Assess Quality Of Care, Elaine J. Yuen, Daniel Z. Louis, Carol Rabinowitz, Vittorio Maio, L. Cisbani, R. Depalma, R. Grilli

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Oncolog Volume 55, Number 09, September 2010, Sunita Patterson, John Lebas

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Tiny Particales, vast Potential-Coming soon to the clinic: nanoparticles that deliver therapy straight to tumor cells, bypassing normal cells and many toxic effects
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas: Targeted Therapies Leading Treatment Advances
• HOUSE CALL: Writing for Wellness: Keeping a Journal
• INBRIEF: Study Shows Abnormal Cells in Blood Increase with Lung Cancer Stage

Prediction And Testing Of Biological Networks Underlying Intestinal Cancer, Vishal N. Patel, Gurkan Bebek, Mark R. Chance

Faculty Scholarship

Colorectal cancer progresses through an accumulation of somatic mutations, some of which reside in so-called "driver" genes that provide a growth advantage to the tumor. To identify points of intersection between driver gene pathways, we implemented a network analysis framework using protein interactions to predict likely connections - both precedented and novel - between key driver genes in cancer. We applied the framework to find significant connections between two genes, Apc and Cdkn1a (p21), known to be synergistic in tumorigenesis in mouse models. We then assessed the functional coherence of the resulting Apc-Cdkn1a network by engineering in vivo single node …

One Year Survival With Poorly Differentiated Metastatic Pancreatic Carcinoma Following Chemoembolization With Gemcitabine And Cisplatin., Daniel B Brown, Carin F Gonsalves, Charles J Yeo, Agnes K Witkiewicz, Brian I Carr

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

While hepatic arterial chemoembolization is efficacious for a number of malignancies, there is scant data regarding treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We report a complete radiographic response at one year from diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic carcinoma. Gemcitabine/cisplatin based chemoembolization may be of potential benefit for patients with liver-dominant metastases from pancreatic carcinoma. Given the typical survival of 6 months or less in this patient group with standard therapies, further research is warranted.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Subsequent To Temozolomide Use In A 26-Year-Old Man: A Case Report., Asim Jamal Shaikh, Nehal Masood

Section of Haematology/Oncology

Introduction: We report the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a Patient in whom temozolomide was used for the treatment of a brain tumor. Unlike that of other alkylating agents, the leukemogenic potential of temozolomide is considered to be very low, and very rarely are such cases reported. Case Presentation: A 26-year-old Pakistani man who was treated for glioblastoma with temozolomide in an adjuvant setting was diagnosed to have acute lymphoblastic leukemia one year after stopping temozolomide. Conclusion: Temozolomide is a highly active agent, used in the management of high-grade brain neoplasms. The agent is generally regarded to be safe, …

Survival Associated Pathway Identification With Group Lp Penalized Global Auc Maximization., Zhenqiu Liu, Laurence S Magder, Terry Hyslop, Li Mao

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

It has been demonstrated that genes in a cell do not act independently. They interact with one another to complete certain biological processes or to implement certain molecular functions. How to incorporate biological pathways or functional groups into the model and identify survival associated gene pathways is still a challenging problem. In this paper, we propose a novel iterative gradient based method for survival analysis with group Lp penalized global AUC summary maximization. Unlike LASSO, Lp (p < 1) (with its special implementation entitled adaptive LASSO) is asymptotic unbiased and has oracle properties 1. We first extend Lp for individual gene identification to group Lp penalty for pathway selection, and then develop a novel iterative gradient algorithm for penalized global AUC summary maximization (IGGAUCS). This method incorporates the genetic pathways into global AUC summary maximization and identifies survival associated pathways instead of individual genes. The tuning parameters are determined using 10-fold cross validation with training data only. The prediction performance is evaluated using test data. We apply the proposed method to survival outcome analysis with gene expression profile and identify multiple pathways simultaneously. Experimental results with simulation and gene expression data demonstrate that the proposed procedures can be used for identifying important biological pathways that are related to survival phenotype and for building a parsimonious model for predicting the survival times.

Cav1 Inhibits Metastatic Potential In Melanomas Through Suppression Of The Integrin/Src/Fak Signaling Pathway., Casey Trimmer, Diana Whitaker-Menezes, Gloria Bonuccelli, Janet N Milliman, Kristin M Daumer, Andrew E Aplin, Richard G Pestell, Federica Sotgia, Michael P Lisanti, Franco Capozza

Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Caveolin-1 (CAV1) is the main structural component of Caveolae which are plasma membrane invaginations that participate in vesicular trafficking and signal transduction events. Although, evidence has recently accumulated describing the function of CAV1 in several cancer types, its role in melanoma tumor formation and progression remains poorly explored. Here, by employing B16F10 melanoma cells as an experimental system, we directly explore the function of CAV1 in melanoma tumor growth and metastasis. We first show that CAV1 expression promotes proliferation while it suppresses migration and invasion of B16F10 cells in vitro. When orthotopically implanted in the skin of mice, B16F10 cells …

Synthesis Of Novel Aromatic Quinols For Colon And Renal Cancers, Bradley J. Davey, Tae Soo Jo, Pradip K. Bhowmik

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Colon Cancer: The third most common cancer in USA. More than 1 million Americans currently living with colon cancer. 148,810 new cases expected in 2010. 50,000 deaths annually.

Renal Cancer: Approximately 58,000 people diagnosed in USA annually. Seventh most common cancer and tenth most common cause of cancer related death in men.

Aromatic quinols have demonstrated in vitro antitumor activity. Three heteroaromatic quinols show antitumor activity.

Oncolog Volume 55, Number 08, August 2010, Bryan Tutt, John Lebas

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Therapeutic Vaccines against Cancer: Clinical trials of thrapeutic vaccines in cancer patients yield positive results
• Findings Could Altere Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Treatment: Phase III trials show newer drugs yield better responses than imatinib
• INBRIEF: Vandetanib Shows Benefit When Combined with Docetaxel for Lung Cancer/ HPV-Positive Tumor Status Indicates Better Prognosis in Patients with Oropharyngeal Cancer
• HOUSE CALL: Understanding the Benefits and Risks of Massage

Is There An Optimal Management For Localized Prostate Cancer?, Jaspreet Singh, Edouard J. Trabulsi, Leonard G. Gomella

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

Widespread screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has led to a significant increase in the detection of early stage, clinically localized prostate cancer (CaP). Various treatment options for localized CaP are discussed in this review article including active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and cryotherapy. The paucity of high-level evidence adds a considerable amount of controversy when choosing the "optimal" intervention, for both the treating physician and the patient. The long time course of CaP intervention outcomes, combined with continuing modifications in treatments, further complicate the matter. Lacking randomized trials that compare treatment options, this review article attempts to summarize the …

Macrophages Loaded With Gold Nanoshells For Photothermal Ablation Of Glioma: An In Vitro Model, Amani Riad Makkouk

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The current median survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common type of glioma, remains at 14.6 months despite multimodal treatments (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy). This research aims to study the feasibility of photothermal ablation of glioma using gold nanoshells that are heated upon laser irradiation at their resonance wavelength. The novelty of our approach lies in improving nanoshell tumor delivery by loading them in macrophages, which are known to be recruited to gliomas via tumor-released chemoattractive agents. Ferumoxides, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles, are needed as an additional macrophage load in order to visualize macrophage accumulation in …

Benchmarking And Implementation Of A New Independent Monte Carlo Dose Calculation Quality Assurance Audit To Ol For Clinical Trials, Scott E. Davidson

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Introduction Commercial treatment planning systems employ a variety of dose calculation algorithms to plan and predict the dose distributions a patient receives during external beam radiation therapy. Traditionally, the Radiological Physics Center has relied on measurements to assure that institutions participating in the National Cancer Institute sponsored clinical trials administer radiation in doses that are clinically comparable to those of other participating institutions. To complement the effort of the RPC, an independent dose calculation tool needs to be developed that will enable a generic method to determine patient dose distributions in three dimensions and to perform retrospective analysis of radiation …

An Innovative Phase I Trial Design Allowing For The Identification Of Multiple Potential Maximum To Lerated Doses With Combination Therapy Of Targeted Agents, Sarina A. Piha-Paul

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Treatment for cancer often involves combination therapies used both in medical practice and clinical trials. Korn and Simon listed three reasons for the utility of combinations: 1) biochemical synergism, 2) differential susceptibility of tumor cells to different agents, and 3) higher achievable dose intensity by exploiting non-overlapping toxicities to the host. Even if the toxicity profile of each agent of a given combination is known, the toxicity profile of the agents used in combination must be established. Thus, caution is required when designing and evaluating trials with combination therapies. Traditional clinical design is based on the consideration of a single …

Optimal Slice Thickness For Cone-Beam Ct With On-Board Imager., Kyt Seet, A Barghi, Slav Yartsev, Jacob Van Dyk

Oncology Publications

PURPOSE: To find the optimal slice thickness (Δτ) setting for patient registration with kilovoltage cone-beam CT (kVCBCT) on the Varian On Board Imager (OBI) system by investigating the relationship of slice thickness to automatic registration accuracy and contrast-to-noise ratio.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: Automatic registration was performed on kVCBCT studies of the head and pelvis of a RANDO anthropomorphic phantom. Images were reconstructed with 1.0 ≤ Δτ (mm) ≤ 5.0 at 1.0 mm increments. The phantoms were offset by a known amount, and the suggested shifts were compared to the known shifts by calculating the residual error. A uniform cylindrical phantom …

Lung Carcinoma: Its Profile And Changing Trends, Saad Siddiqui, Mohammed Usman Ali, Mahrukh Ayesha Ali, Noreen Shah, Shagufta Nasreen

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

BACKGROUND: Lung Carcinoma is the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide with an incidence of 1.3 million cases per year. This study was undertaken to determine prevalence of various histological types of lung carcinoma and to analyse their changing trends with time.

METHODS: This is a retrospective analytical study. A total of 330 cases of lung carcinoma were analysed from 2003 to 2008. Cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) were included in this study. Furthermore, only cases of lung carcinoma were considered while other malignancies were excluded.

RESULTS: Squamous Cell carcinoma was found in 42.7% …

Oncolog Volume 55, Number 07, July 2010, Joe Munch, Sunni Hoseman

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Refining Approaches to Thyroid Cancer: Time-proven treatments and newer biologic agents offer hope, particularly for patirnts with advanced disease.
• Thyroid Cancer in Children.
• Compass Summer 2010: Locoregional Cancer of the Esophagus: Timimg Surgery and Other Therapies for Resectable Disease.
• HOUSE CALL: Understanding Clinical Trials

Ros Accumulation And Igf-Ir Inhibition Contribute To Fenofibrate/Pparalpha -Mediated Inhibition Of Glioma Cell Motility In Vitro, Justyna Drukala, Katarzyna Urbanska, Anna Wilk, Maja Grabacka, Ewa Wybieralska, Luis Del Valle, Zbigniew Madeja, Krzysztof Reiss

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Glioblastomas are characterized by rapid cell growth, aggressive CNS infiltration, and are resistant to all known anticancer regimens. Recent studies indicate that fibrates and statins possess anticancer potential. Fenofibrate is a potent agonist of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) that can switch energy metabolism from glycolysis to fatty acid beta-oxidation, and has low systemic toxicity. Fenofibrate also attenuates IGF-I-mediated cellular responses, which could be relevant in the process of glioblastoma cell dispersal. METHODS: The effects of fenofibrate on Glioma cell motility, IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) signaling, PPARalpha activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, mitochondrial potential, and ATP production were …

Knowledge And Awareness About Cervical Cancer And Its Prevention Amongst Interns And Nursing Staff In Tertiary Care Hospitals In Karachi, Pakistan., Syed Faizan Ali, Samia Ayub, Nauman Fazal Manzoor, Sidra Azim, Muneeza Afif, Nida Akhtar, Wassi Ali Jafery, Imran Tahir, Syed Farid-Ul-Hasnian, Najam Uddin

Community Health Sciences

Background and Objective: Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality amongst the gynecological cancers worldwide, especially in developing countries. It is imperative for at least health professionals in developing countries like Pakistan to have a sound knowledge about the disease. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer and its prevention amongst health professionals in tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods and Design: A cross-sectional, interview based survey was conducted in June, 2009. Sample of 400 was divided between the three tertiary care centers. Convenience sampling was applied …

Pulmonary Hypertension Is A Frequent Event In Patients With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treated With Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, Sameh Gaballa, Aref Al-Kali, Hagop Kantarjian, Elias Jabbour, Alfonso Quintas-Cardama, Mohamad Ayoubi, Gautam Borthakur, S. M. O'Brien, J. E. Cortes

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Poster presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago Illinois.

Background:  Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are the current standard therapy for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Fluid retention and pleural effusions have been reported in patients treated with TKIs, particularly with dasatinib. Although TKIs have been shown to reverse pulmonary hypertension (PH) in animal models, there have been some reports of development of reversible PH with dasatinib.

Methods:  We conducted a retrospective analysis on 401 patients diagnosed with CML in chronic phase (CP) who were treated with TKIs (imatinib, dasatinib, or nilotinib) as initial therapy for CML and …

Mitochondria-Centric Activation Induced Cell Death Of Cytolytic T Lymphocytes And Its Implications For Cancer Immunotherapy, Arvind Chhabra

UCHC Articles - Research

Premature death of the adoptively transferred cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) by means of activation induced cell death (AICD) represents one of the major constraints in devising an effective anti-cancer immune intervention strategy. Understanding the mechanism of AICD is, therefore, critical for developing methods to interfere with this death process. Although the existing paradigm on AICD centers around the initiation of the cascade of events originating from the engagement of death receptors leading to the activation of effector caspases and eventually resulting in cell death, recent findings have questioned the universal role of caspases as the cell death executioners. We here …

Notch1 Functions As A Tumor Suppressor In A Model Of K-Ras–Induced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Linda Hanlon, Jacqueline L Avila, Renée M Demarest, Scott Troutman, Megan Allen, Francesca Ratti, Anil K Rustgi, Ben Z Stanger, Fred Radtke, Volkan Adsay, Fenella Long, Anthony J Capobianco, Joseph L Kissil

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

K-ras is the most commonly mutated oncogene in pancreatic cancer and its activation in murine models is sufficient to recapitulate the spectrum of lesions seen in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Recent studies suggest that Notch receptor signaling becomes reactivated in a subset of PDACs, leading to the hypothesis that Notch1 functions as an oncogene in this setting. To determine whether Notch1 is required for K-ras-induced tumorigenesis, we used a mouse model in which an oncogenic allele of K-ras is activated and Notch1 is deleted simultaneously in the pancreas. Unexpectedly, the loss of Notch1 in this model resulted in increased …

Oncolog Volume 55, Number 06, June 2010, John Lebas

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• The BATTLE Results Are IN: Phase II trial reveals molecular signatures in lung cancer that may guide treatment decisions.
• Endoscopic Repair of Colon Perforations: Nonsurgical techniques for closing gestrointestinal defects may yiels benefits for patients undergoing colonoscopy.
• INBRIEF: Stem Cells Seen Repairing Heart Attack Damage Over Time/Additional Blood Data May Improve Pediatric Leukemia Predictions/Pediatric Patients with Rare Tumor May benefit from Heated Chemotherapy/New Findings Refute Link Between UVA, Melanoma.
• HOUSE CALL: Skin Cancer Screening: What is It and Who Should Get It ?: Types of skin cancer/Who should be screened ?/What to expect/Self-examination: Check your skin regularly and tell your …

Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetics Of Molecular Imaging Nanoparticles For Mrna Detection Determined In Tumor-Bearing Mice., Armin W Opitz, Eric Wickstrom, Mathew L Thakur, Norman J Wagner

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Disease detection and management might benefit from external imaging of disease gene mRNAs. Previously we designed molecular imaging nanoparticles (MINs) based on peptide nucleic acids complementary to cancer gene mRNAs. The MINs included contrast agents and analogs of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Analysis of MIN tumor uptake data showed stronger binding in tumors than in surrounding tissues. We hypothesized that MINs with an IGF-1 analog stay in circulation by binding to IGF-binding proteins. To test that hypothesis, we fit the tissue distribution results of several MINs in xenograft-bearing mice to a physiological pharmacokinetics model. Fitting experimental tissue distribution data …

Splenic Infarction: An Update On William Osler's Observations., Yaacov R Lawrence, Ma Mbbs Mrcp, Russell Pokroy, Mb Bch, Daniel Berlowitz, Mb Bch, Dvora Aharoni, Md, Daniel Hain, Md, Gabriel S Breuer, Md

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Osler taught that splenic infarction presents with left upper abdominal quadrant pain, tenderness and swelling accompanied by a peritoneal friction rub. Splenic infarction is classically associated with bacterial endocarditis and sickle cell disease.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the contemporary experience of splenic infarction.

METHODS: We conducted a chart review of inpatients diagnosed with splenic infarction in a Jerusalem hospital between 1990 and 2003.

RESULTS: We identified 26 cases with a mean age of 52 years. Common causes were hematologic malignancy (six cases) and intracardiac thrombus (five cases). Only three cases were associated with bacterial endocarditis. In 21 cases the splenic …

Regulation Of Pim1 Under Hypoxia In Prostate Cancer, Eva Sahakian

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A defining characteristic of solid tumors is the capacity to divide and spread under conditions of nutrient deprivation and limited oxygen availability. These microenvironmental stresses arise from structural abnormalities in tumor vessels that lead to aberrant microcirculation. Hypoxia acts as a physiological “selection pressure” in the progression of cancer by activating pathways and enhancing the expression of specific genes in tumor cells which eventually diminish their apoptotic potential. Ultimately, hypoxic microenvironment functions as a “stress factor”, selecting cells with the ability to survive and divide under anoxic conditions. The members of the PIM family of cytoplasmic serine threonine kinases are …

Assessment Of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (Egfr) Expression In Human Meningioma., A Gabriella Wernicke, Adam P Dicker, Michal Whiton, Jana Ivanidze, Terry Hyslop, Elizabeth H Hammond, Arie Perry, David W Andrews, Lawrence Kenyon

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: This study explores whether meningioma expresses epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and determines if there is a correlation between the WHO grade of this tumor and the degree of EGFR expression.

METHODS: Following institutional review board approval, 113 meningioma specimens from 89 patients were chosen. Of these, 85 were used for final analysis. After a blinded review, immunohistochemical stains for EGFR were performed. Staining intensity (SI) was scored on a scale 0-3 (from no staining to strong staining). Staining percentage of immunoreactive cells (SP) was scored 1-5 (from the least to the maximum percent of the specimen staining). Immunohistochemical …

Organic Cation Transporter Preferentially Expressed In Hematopoietic Cells And Leukemias And Uses Thereof, Jeffrey A. Moscow, Xin Lu, Craig Jordan

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Patents

A novel organic cation transporter (OCT) gene, OCT 6, and use thereof is described. The OCT6 gene is preferentially expressed in human hematopoietic tissues, including CD34+ cells and leukemia cells. Its narrow tissue distribution, substrate specificity, and close homology to other cell membrane transporters make OCT6 an attractive target for the treatment of myeloid diseases.