Medical Specialties Commons^™

Dedifferentiated Liposarcomas Treated With Immune Checkpoint Blockade: The Md Anderson Experience, Madeline B Torres, Cheuk Hong Leung, Marianne Zoghbi, Rossana Lazcano, Davis Ingram, Khalida Wani, Emily Z Keung, M Alejandra Zarzour, Christopher P Scally, Kelly K Hunt, Anthony Conley, Andrew J Bishop, B Ashleigh Guadagnolo, Ahsan Farooqi, Devarati Mitra, Alison K Yoder, Michael S Nakazawa, Dejka Araujo, Andrew Livingston, Ravin Ratan, Shreyaskumar Patel, Vinod Ravi, Alexander J Lazar, Christina L Roland, Neeta Somaiah, Elise F Nassif Haddad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) is one of the most common types of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) characterized by liposarcomatous differentiation and a predilection for the retroperitoneum. Despite the growing number of histology-specific immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) trials in STS, it is still difficult to identify the radiographic objective response rate (ORR) for DDLPS in the real world setting. This study aimed to evaluate the ORR and survival of patients with DDLPS treated with ICB at a single center.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 31 patients with pathologically confirmed DDLPS treated with ICB at MD Anderson Cancer Center between …

A Plain Language Summary Of The Final Analysis Of The Griffin Study Of Daratumumab Plus Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, And Dexamethasone For People With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma, Peter M Voorhees, Douglas W Sborov, Jacob Laubach, Jonathan L Kaufman, Brandi Reeves, Cesar Rodriguez, Rebecca Silbermann, Luciano J Costa, Larry D Anderson, Nitya Nathwani, Nina Shah, Naresh Bumma, Yvonne A Efebera, Sarah A Holstein, Caitlin Costello, Andrzej Jakubowiak, Tanya M Wildes, Robert Z Orlowski, Kenneth H Shain, Andrew J Cowan, Shira Dinner, Katharine S Gries, Huiling Pei, Annelore Cortoos, Sharmila Patel, Thomas S Lin, Saad Z Usmani, Paul G Richardson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Grape-Pi: Graph-Based Neural Networks For Enhanced Protein Identification In Proteomics Pipelines, Chunhui Gu, Seyyed Mahmood Ghasemi, Yining Cai, Johannes F Fahrmann, James P Long, Hiroyuki Katayama, Chong Wu, Jody Vykoukal, Jennifer B Dennison, Samir Hanash, Kim-Anh Do, Ehsan Irajizad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Motivation: Protein identification via mass spectrometry (MS) is the primary method for untargeted protein detection. However, the identification process is challenging due to data complexity and the need to control false discovery rates (FDR) of protein identification. To address these challenges, we developed a graph neural network (GNN)-based model, Graph Neural Network using Protein-Protein Interaction for Enhancing Protein Identification (Grape-Pi), which is applicable to all proteomics pipelines. This model leverages protein-protein interaction (PPI) data and employs two types of message-passing layers to integrate evidence from both the target protein and its interactors, thereby improving identification accuracy.

Results: Grape-Pi achieved significant …

A Critical Assessment Of Artificial Intelligence In Magnetic Resonance Imaging Of Cancer, Chengyue Wu, Meryem Abbad Andaloussi, David A Hormuth, Ernesto A B F Lima, Guillermo Lorenzo, Casey E Stowers, Sriram Ravula, Brett Levac, Alexandros G Dimakis, Jonathan I Tamir, Kristy K Brock, Caroline Chung, Thomas E Yankeelov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Given the enormous output and pace of development of artificial intelligence (AI) methods in medical imaging, it can be challenging to identify the true success stories to determine the state-of-the-art of the field. This report seeks to provide the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) community with an initial guide into the major areas in which the methods of AI are contributing to MRI in oncology. After a general introduction to artificial intelligence, we proceed to discuss the successes and current limitations of AI in MRI when used for image acquisition, reconstruction, registration, and segmentation, as well as its utility for assisting …

Inhibition Of Nitric Oxide Synthase Transforms Carotid Occlusion-Mediated Benign Oligemia Into De Novo Large Cerebral Infarction, Ha Kim, Jinyong Chung, Jeong Wook Kang, Dawid Schellingerhout, Soo Ji Lee, Hee Jeong Jang, Inyeong Park, Taesu Kim, Dong-Seok Gwak, Ji Sung Lee, Sung-Ha Hong, Kang-Hoon Je, Hee-Joon Bae, Joohon Sung, Eng H Lo, James Faber, Cenk Ayata, Dong-Eog Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy Or Ipilimumab In Gastroesophageal Cancer: Exploratory Biomarker Analyses Of A Randomized Phase 3 Trial, Kohei Shitara, Yelena Y. Janjigian, Jaffer Ajani, Markus Moehler, Jin Yao, Xuya Wang, Aparna Chhibber, Dimple Pandya, Lin Shen, Marcelo Garrido, Carlos Gallardo, Lucjan Wyrwicz, Kensei Yamaguchi, Tomasz Skoczylas, Arinilda Bragagnoli, Tianshu Liu, Michael Schenker, Patricio Yañez, Ruben Kowalyszyn, Michalis Karamouzis, Thomas Zander, Kynan Feeney, Elena Elimova, Parul Doshi, Mingshun Li, Ming Lei

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

First-line nivolumab-plus-chemotherapy demonstrated superior overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival versus chemotherapy for advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma with programmed death ligand 1 combined positive score ≥ 5, meeting both primary end points of the randomized phase 3 CheckMate 649 trial. Nivolumab-plus-ipilimumab provided durable responses and higher survival rates versus chemotherapy; however, the prespecified OS significance boundary was not met. To identify biomarkers predictive of differential efficacy outcomes, post hoc exploratory analyses were performed using whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing. Nivolumab-based therapies demonstrated improved efficacy versus chemotherapy in hypermutated and, to a lesser degree, Epstein–Barr virus-positive tumors compared with chromosomally unstable and …

Heterogeneous Clustering Of Multiomics Data For Breast Cancer Subgroup Classification And Detection, Joseph Pateras, Musaddiq Lodi, Pratip Rana, Preetam Ghosh

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The rapid growth of diverse -omics datasets has made multiomics data integration crucial in cancer research. This study adapts the expectation–maximization routine for the joint latent variable modeling of multiomics patient profiles. By combining this approach with traditional biological feature selection methods, this study optimizes latent distribution, enabling efficient patient clustering from well-studied cancer types with reduced computational expense. The proposed optimization subroutines enhance survival analysis and improve runtime performance. This article presents a framework for distinguishing cancer subtypes and identifying potential biomarkers for breast cancer. Key insights into individual subtype expression and function were obtained through differentially expressed gene …

Benchmarking Batch-Effect Correction Methods Towards The Construction Of A Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Atlas, Peter Scheible, Amy H. Tang, Jing He, Jiangwen Sun

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) requires detailed cellular mapping given its aggressive nature, immense tumor heterogeneity and genetic diversity. We integrated 156,794 cells from six scRNA-seq datasets—including tumors, metastases, and cell lines—to build a TNBC scRNA cell atlas, focusing on batch effect mitigation while maintaining biological and molecular details. Preprocessing f ilters noise, normalizes data, and leverages PCA for integration readiness. We utilized scANVI, a semi-supervised tool, to align datasets, preserving TNBC’s complex tumor heterogeneity via marker annotations [1]. UMAPs demonstrate biological clustering in integrated data, contrasted with datasetdriven unintegrated patterns. Assessments verifying effective batch correction. This method aligns with NASA’s …

Multi-Modal Mri Based Segmentation Of Brain Metastases Using Adaptive Self-Attention, Evan Savaria

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Brain metastases (BMs) are the most common adult central nervous system malignancy, affecting 20–40% of cancer patients. Accurate segmentation of metastatic lesions in multi-modal MRI is essential for treatment planning and prognosis however, manual delineation is time consuming and prone to variability. Traditional deep learning models such as U-Net, have improved segmentation accuracy but capture limited long-range dependencies and struggle with variations in metastasis size, shape, and distribution. This study introduces the Adaptive Integrated Multi-modal Segmentation (AIMS) model, an adaptive self-attention framework within a hybrid U-Net and Transformer architecture to enhance BM segmentation by leveraging multi-modal MRI integration. The proposed …

Intake Of Total, Classes, And Subclasses Of (Poly)Phenols And Risk Of Lymphoid Neoplasms: A Prospective Analysis In The Epic Cohort, Enrique Almanza-Aguilera, David Guananga-Álvarez, Yolanda Benavente, Alexandra Nieters, Caroline Besson, Fatemeh Saberi Hosnijeh, Cecilie Kyrø, Nicola P. Bondonno, Christina C. Dahm, Elisabete Weiderpass, Therese Truong, Mariem Louati-Hajji, Xuan Ren, Verena Katzke, Matthias B. Schulze, Fabrizio Pasanisi, Claudia Vener, Giovanna Masala, Maria Teresa Giraudo, Rosario Tumino, Amaia Aizpurua, Maria Jose Sánchez, José María Huerta, Marcela Guevara, Cristina Lasheras, Paolo Vineis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Existing epidemiological evidence regarding the potential role of (poly)phenol intake in lymphoma development is limited. Methods: We investigated the associations between the intake of total and individual classes and subclasses of (poly)phenols and the risk of lymphoma, including main frequent subtypes in the EPIC cohort using multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. Results: During a mean 14-year follow-up (time frame: from 1990–1994 to 2008–2013), 2394 incident lymphoma cases were diagnosed from a total of 367,463 individuals. No significant associations were observed between total intakes of (poly)phenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids and overall lymphoma risk. Total (poly)phenols, phenolic acid and hydroxycinnamic …

Exercise In Cancer Care For People With Lung Cancer: A Narrative Synthesis, Kellie Toohey, David Mizrahi, Nicolas H. Hart, Ben Singh, Pedro Lopez, Maddison Hunter, Robert U. Newton, Kathryn H. Schmitz, Diana Adams, Lara Edbrooke, Sandi Hayes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: Lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed worldwide, resulting in significant physical and psychological consequences. In this narrative review, we explore the role of exercise as an adjunct therapy to counteract health issues experienced by people before, during and after treatment for lung cancer, and offer recommendations for exercise prescription and future research. Design: Narrative cornerstone review. Methods: A narrative review was conducted to explore the role of exercise in cancer care for people diagnosed with lung cancer. Results: Improvements in fitness, strength and quality of life have been demonstrated in people with lung cancer following participation …

Feasibility And Psychometric Quality Of Smartphone Administered Cognitive Ecological Momentary Assessments In Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer, Ashley M. Henneghan, Emily W. Paolillo, Kathleen M. Van Dyk, Oscar Y. Franco-Rocha, Soyeong Bang, Rebecca Tasker, Tara Kaufmann, Darren Haywood, Nicolas H. Hart, Raeanne C. Moore

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is associated with burdensome side effects, including cognitive changes that require ongoing monitoring. Cognitive ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) allow for assessment of individual cognitive functioning in natural environments and can be administered via smartphones. Accordingly, we sought to establish the feasibility, reliability, and validity of a commercially available cognitive EMA platform. Methods: Using a prospective design, clinical cognitive and psychosocial assessments (cognitive batteries; patient reported outcomes) were collected at baseline, followed by a 28-day daily EMA protocol that included self-ratings for symptoms and mobile cognitive tests (memory, executive functioning, working memory, processing speed). Satisfaction and …

Neoadjuvant Anti-Pd-1 Alone Or In Combination With Anti-Tigit Or An Oncolytic Virus In Resectable Stage Iiib–D Melanoma: A Phase 1/2 Trial, Reinhard Dummer, Caroline Robert, Richard A. Scolyer, Janis M. Taube, Michael T. Tetzlaff, Alexander M. Menzies, Andrew Hill, Jean Jacques Grob, David C. Portnoy, Celeste Lebbe, Muhammad A. Khattak, Jonathan Cohen, Gil Bar-Sela, Inderjit Mehmi, Ronnie Shapira-Frommer, Nicolas Meyer, Andrea L. Webber, Yixin Ren, Mizuho Fukunaga-Kalabis, Clemens Krepler, Georgina V. Long

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Neoadjuvant immunotherapies have shown antitumor activity in melanoma. Substudy 02C of the global, rolling-arm, phase 1/2, adaptive-design KEYMAKER-U02 trial is evaluating neoadjuvant pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1) alone or in combination, followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab, for stage IIIB–D melanoma. Here we report results from the first three arms: pembrolizumab plus vibostolimab (anti-TIGIT), pembrolizumab plus gebasaxturev (coxsackievirus A21) and pembrolizumab monotherapy. Pathologic complete responses occurred in 10 of 26 patients (38%) with pembrolizumab plus vibostolimab, 7 of 25 (28%) with pembrolizumab plus gebasaxturev and 6 of 15 (40%) with pembrolizumab monotherapy. Major pathologic responses occurred in 13 (50%), 10 (40%) and 7 (47%) patients, …

Effect Of Exercise On Bone-Related Outcomes In Patients With Cancer Affected By Bone Metastases Or Bone Loss: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Anita Borsati, Gloria Adamoli, Diana Giannarelli, Lorenzo Belluomini, Andrea Trevisan, Piero Schenal, Francesco Bettariga, Anna M. Markarian, Federico Schena, Michele Milella, Robert U. Newton, Sara Pilotto, Alice Avancini

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise interventions on bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone turnover markers in patients with cancer and compromised bone health. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search of four electronic databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of exercise intervention compared to supplementation or bone-targeted agents only on BMD, BMC and bone turnover markers. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models to calculate effect sizes (ES) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Eighteen studies were included, involving 1,478 patients with mainly breast and …

Faculty Of Radiation Oncology 2022 Workforce Census, Hon Trinh, Nathan Stevens, Gerard Adams, Raphael Chee, Tuan Ha, Marcel Knesl, Jack Mitchell, Sakshi Nagpal, Edward Sia, Daniel Xing

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: This paper reports the key findings of the Faculty of Radiation Oncology 2022 workforce census. This is the first census since the COVID-19 pandemic and questions have been updated to assess the impact on RANZCR trainees and fellows. This report focuses on the analysis of respondents from Australia, New Zealand and overseas members, with a separate paper to follow focusing exclusively on New Zealand respondents. Method: The census was conducted in mid-late 2022 with many questions repeated from previous censuses. New questions were asked about theranostics, working remotely, hypofractionation and the impact of COVID-19 on work practices. Results: The …

Nuclear Destabilisation – A Possible Genesis Of Cancer?, Daniel D. Scott, Francesco Bettariga, Marco Ventin, Chris Bishop, Britta Stordal

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This review examines the increasingly prominent role of mechanics within cancer formation and progression. The extremely varied and contradictory genetic landscape of cancer is in stark contrast to the seemingly universal mechanical characteristics of cancer cells and their tumour microenvironment, and mechanics may be a principal unifying trait of this disease. The tight regulation of innate cell mechanical properties raises the possibility that destabilisation of the cell drives tumour formation in an attempt to restore cell mechanical homeostasis. With losses in cell stiffness more pronounced at the cell nucleus, we hypothesise that destabilisation occurs within the nucleus, likely within the …

Prognostic And Predictive Value Of Gastric Acid Suppressants In The Eortc 1325/Keynote-054 Randomized Phase Iii Trial Of Pembrolizumab Vs Placebo In Resected Stage Iii Melanoma, Emanuel Bührer, Nina Glassee, Michal Kicinski, Oliver J. Kennedy, Christian U. Blank, Georgina V. Long, Victoria G. Atkinson, Stéphane Dalle, Andrew M. Haydon, Andrey Meshcheryakov, Adnan Khattak, Matteo S. Carlino, Shahneen Sandhu, James Larkin, Susana Puig, Paolo A. Ascierto, Piotr Rutkowski, Dirk Schadendorf, Marye Boers-Sonderen, Anna Maria Di Giacomo, Alfonsus J.M. Van Den Eertwegh, Jean Jacques Grob, Ralf Gutzmer, Rahima Jamal, Alexander C.J. Van Akkooi, Sara Gandini

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in regulating immunity. Gastric acid suppressants (GAS) are known to alter the gut microbiome and might therefore modify response to immunotherapy in cancer patients. We estimated associations of GAS with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in the EORTC 1325/KEYNOTE-054 trial. Methods: Patients with resected stage III melanoma were randomized to receive 200 mg of pembrolizumab or placebo. Pembrolizumab prolonged RFS and DMFS (reported elsewhere). We used Cox models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for the association between GAS at baseline, and RFS and …

Prognostic Value Of Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-To-Lymphocyte Ratio, And Lactate Dehydrogenase Level In Melanoma Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Wynne Wijaya, Muhammad Adnan Khattak, Afaf Abed, Tarek Meniawy, Michael Millward, Elin Gray, Oliver Oey

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Metastatic melanoma carries a poor prognosis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved outcomes, but responses remain variable, highlighting the need for simple prognostic biomarkers. Inflammatory markers such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) reflect tumour burden and inflammation, though their clinical utility is unstandardised. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 103 metastatic melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 monotherapy at two centres in Western Australia (2014–2020). Baseline NLR, PLR, and LDH were assessed within 30 days pre-treatment. Outcomes included clinical benefit, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: Poor ECOG performance status (PS ≥2) (RR 2.39, …

Towards Equitable Cancer Outcomes For Rural And Remote Communities: Reflections, Lessons And Recommendations, Anna Ugalde, Hannah Jongebloed, Charlene Wright, Helena Rodi, Anna Chapman, Skye Marshall, Drew Aras, Rebecca J. Bergin, Sophie Boffa, Anna Boltong, Michele Conlin, Fiona Crawford–Williams, Carl De Wet, Wasek Faisal, Lan Gao, Harry Gasper, Kate Gunn, Nicolas H. Hart, Theresa Hayes, Florian Honeyball, Elizabeth A. Johnston, Deme Karikios, Nicole Kiss, Lucy Leigh, Patricia M. Livingston, Carmel O'Kane

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

People living in rural and remote areas continue to face significant inequities in cancer outcomes compared to their metropolitan counterparts. Despite advances in cancer control, these disparities persist across the cancer trajectory. This personal view consolidates findings from our Equitable Cancer Outcomes for Rural and Remote Communities series, highlighting survival disadvantages, challenges in measuring and reporting rurality, barriers to implementing evidence-based interventions, and shortcomings in historical policy. We argue for place-based, system-level reform that genuinely partners with rural communities, leverages local strengths, and embeds rural voices in research, policy, and service delivery. Key recommendations include adopting a formal partnership position …

Feasibility And Impact Of Knowledge-Based Automated Radiotherapy Treatment Planning In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Awusi Kavuma, Solomon Kibudde, Yao Hao, Baozhou Sun

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and purpose: A high-quality treatment planning process is crucial in advanced radiotherapy techniques to ensure adequate dose to the target volume (TV) and sparing of organs at risk (OARs). This process often requires intensive labor, creating barriers for deployment in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to establish the feasibility of implementing knowledge-based auto-planning to facilitate clinical efficiency and increase patient throughput in an LMIC.

Materials and methods: We evaluated 60 randomly selected VMAT manual plans (VMPs), including 10 for each of the following sites: head and neck, oesophagus, breast, prostate, cervical, and rectal cancers. Using the same …

Accounting For Unmet Needs Resulting From Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment, Darren Haywood, Alexandre Chan, Raymond J. Chan, Evan Dauer, Haryana M. Dhillon, Ashley M. Henneghan, Maryam B. Lustberg, Moira O’Connor, Janette L. Vardy, Susan L. Rossell, Nicolas H. Hart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) causes a wide range of unmet needs for cancer survivors. It is unknown which clinical, demographic, cognitive, and psychological factors underpin and account for these various unmet needs. This study aimed to (a) identify factors associated with CRCI-related unmet needs, and (b) establish the most pertinent factors that account for CRCI-related unmet needs. Methods: Four hundred and fifty-six (n = 456) cancer survivors responded to a range of demographic and clinical questions, as well as measures of CRCI-related unmet needs (MASCC COG-IMPACT), perceived cognitive impairment (PROMIS-COG), and psychological distress (DASS-21). Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and …

Activity Behaviours And Quality Of Life In Patients With Malignant Pleural Effusion, Bianca M. Iacopetta, David C.L. Lam, Jenny C.L. Ngai, Johnny W.M. Chan, Fifian Chiang, Macy M.S. Lui, W. L. Law, Ken K.P. Chan, Joanne Mcveigh, Carolyn J. Peddle-Mcintyre, Y. C.Gary Lee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and objective Accelerometery is used to measure activity behaviours in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). This study aimed to evaluate physical activity and sedentary behaviour profiles of patients with MPE in Hong Kong, and to explore relationships between activity behaviours and quality of life (QoL). We also compared clinician-recorded performance status measures with objective measures of activity levels. Methods Participants wore an Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer continuously for 7 consecutive days. The EuroQoL 5 Dimensions 5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L) was used to assess five dimensions of QoL and correlate with activity behaviours. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status …

Bone Mineral Density In Childhood Cancer Survivors During And After Oncological Treatment: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Anna Maria Markarian, Dennis R. Taaffe, Francesco Bettariga, Hao Luo, Daniel A. Galvão, Jodie Cochrane Wilkie, Carolyn J. Peddle-Mcintyre, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Osteoporosis poses a significant concern for childhood cancer survivors (CCS). While recommendations for surveillance and management of bone mineral density (BMD) exist, no systematic review and meta-analysis has been undertaken to quantify BMD Z-scores in childhood cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment and survivors who have completed treatments. Accordingly, we conducted a systematic review with a 3-level mixed-effects meta-analysis to examine the course of BMD Z-scores in childhood cancer patients and survivors and identified possible moderators using meta-regression models. A systematic search was conducted in CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases from inception to November 2023. We included …

Molecular Testing Of Lung Cancer In Australia: Consensus Best Practice Recommendations From The Royal College Of Pathologists Of Australasia In Collaboration With The Thoracic Oncology Group Of Australasia, Wendy A. Cooper, Benhur Amanuel, Caroline Cooper, Stephen B. Fox, Jon W.A. Graftdyk, Peter Jessup, Sonja Klebe, Wei Sen Lam, Trishe Y.M. Leong, Zarnie Lwin, Rachel Roberts-Thomson, Benjamin J. Solomon, Rebecca Y. Tay, Rebecca Trowman, Janney L. Wale, Nick Pavlakis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Molecular testing plays a critical role in guiding optimal treatment decisions for lung cancer patients across a variety of clinical settings. While guidelines for biomarker testing exist in other jurisdictions, to date no best practice guidelines have been developed for the Australian setting. To address this need, the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia collaborated with the Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia to identify state-based pathologists, oncologists and consumer representatives to develop consensus best practice recommendations. Sixteen recommendations were established encompassing appropriate biomarkers, lung cancer subtype, tumour stage, specimen types, assay selection and quality assurance protocols that can inform and …

Proximity To Cancer Rehabilitation And Exercise Oncology By Geography, Race, And Socioeconomic Status, Kathryn H. Schmitz, Kathryn Demanelis, Mary E. Crisafio, Mary A. Kennedy, Anna L. Schwartz, Anna Campbell, Jessica Gorzelitz, Kelley C. Wood, Christopher M. Wilson, Raymond L. Scalise, Alex Vincent

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Cancer rehabilitation and exercise oncology (CR/EO) have documented benefits for people living with and beyond cancer. The authors examined proximity to CR/EO programs across the United States with respect to population density, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and cancer incidence and mortality rates.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022–2023. Online searches were initiated to identify CR/EO programs. Geocoding was used to obtain latitudinal and longitudinal geospatial coordinates. Demographic data were abstracted from the 2020 5-year American Community Survey. Cancer incidence and mortality data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. US 2013 Rural-Urban Continuum …

Quality Cancer Survivorship Care: A Modified Delphi Study To Define Nurse Capabilities, Gemma Mcerlean, Heidi Hui, Fiona Crawford-Williams, Nicolas H. Hart, Meinir Krishnasamy, Bogda Koczwara, Thomas Walwyn, Mahesh Iddawela, Rebecca Mcintosh, Raymond J. Chan, Michael Jefford

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: To establish capabilities required by nurses to deliver quality cancer survivorship care in Australia. Methods: A two-round online modified Delphi involving Australian cancer nurses. Initial domains and capability statements were based on the Quality of Cancer Survivorship Care Framework and supplemented by national and international nursing frameworks. In Round 1 (R1), experts categorised the applicability of 53 capabilities for cancer nurses, across eight domains, in relation to Australian National Professional Development Framework for Cancer Nursing (EdCaN) groups: ‘All’, ‘Many’, ‘Some’, and ‘Few’ nurses, or not relevant. In Round 2 (R2), experts rated agreement with capabilities allocated to the nurse …

Clinical Impact Of Sub-Clonal Ras/Braf Alterations In Liquid Biopsies From Patients With Advanced Or Metastatic Crc, Peter Gibbs, Khalid Abubaker, Danyi Wang, Zheng Feng, Jawad Hamad, Jiemin Liao, Christopher Stroh, Soetkin Vlassak, Kathrin Heinrich, Adnan Khattak, Juergen Scheuenpflug

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC), a global health concern, requires effective treatments. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) monoclonal antibodies are used for RAS wild-type and BRAFV600 mutation-negative metastatic CRC (mCRC) but are not indicated for RAS mutant CRC. Evidence suggests CRC patients with sub-clonal RAS/BRAF mutations in tumor tissue may benefit from anti-EGFRs. We assessed the outcomes of patients with sub-clonal RAS/BRAF mutated advanced/mCRC receiving anti-EGFRs using liquid-based GuardantINFORM real-world clinical-genomic analysis. Patients and Methods: GuardantINFORM analyzed US patients with advanced CRC with BRAFV600/KRAS/NRAS mutations who received anti-EGFR therapies within 90 days after a Guardant360 test. Primary endpoints were time-to-next treatment …

Survival After Cessation Of Immunotherapies In Melanoma: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Kristine E. Mayer, Lydia Warburton, Anne Zaremba, Sarah Preis, Yannick Foerster, Tilo Biedermann, Oana Diana Persa

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy elicits durable responses in a subset of patients with advanced melanoma. However, the appropriate timing for treatment cessation remains an unresolved issue. Moreover, some patients are required to discontinue therapy due to the occurrence of severe adverse events. Upon treatment cessation, a subset of patients maintains a durable response, while some patients relapse and require rechallenge with ICI. Criteria for a safe stop of ICI have not been established. Objectives: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the durability of response in melanoma patients who discontinued ICI therapy. Furthermore, the outcome …

Electrochemical Detection Of Prostate Cancer—Associated Mirna-141 Using A Low-Cost Disposable Biosensor, Alexander Hunt, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States. The early detection of aggressive forms is critical. Current diagnostic methods, including PSA testing and biopsies, are invasive and often yield false results. MicroRNA-141 (miRNA-141) has emerged as a promising non-invasive biomarker due to its elevated levels in the urine of patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Here, a low-cost, paper-based electrochemical biosensor for the sensitive detection of miRNA-141 in synthetic urine is reported. The device employs inkjet-printed gold electrodes on photopaper, functionalized with thiolated single-stranded DNA-141 capture probes for specific target recognition. The biosensor …

The Human Spinothalamic Tract: Lessons From Cordotomy, Anthony K Allam, Michael Benjamin Larkin, Ishan A Patel, Mohammed Hasen, David Mears, Patrick Dougherty, Ashwin Viswanathan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The spinothalamic tract has long been known as a primary conductor of nociceptive information, with its anatomical and physiological understanding evolving over centuries of research. This comprehensive review traces the history of the spinothalamic tract beginning with Brown-Sequard’s 1860 report of contralateral analgesia following a hemisection of the spinal cord. As clinical and surgical interventions, such as cordotomies have advanced, so did our understanding of the spinothalamic tract’s function and anatomy. The spinothalamic tract’s role as a crossed pathway conducting pain and temperature sensations was solidified by the mid-20th century. However, intricate details of its somatotopic arrangement, anatomical distributions and …