Oncology Commons^™

Providing End-Of-Life Counseling: A Narrative Inquiry, Carol Hecht, Sibyl West

Adultspan Journal

This qualitative study aimed to address the gap in the research related to end-of-life counseling by exploring the experiences of counselors working with clients at end of life. While counseling literature and education are lacking regarding end of life, many counselors will work alongside clients approaching death. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to better understand the nuanced experiences of counselors providing end-of-life counseling and (b) to explore the supports and preparations helpful for counselors to provide end-of-life counseling. A narrative approach, using the Listening Guide (Gilligan, 2015), was employed to analyze and present the stories of three …

Considerations Of Medicare Telehealth Services With Older Adults, Sonah Kho, Amanda Dediego

Adultspan Journal

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion a rapid expansion of mental health services offered via telehealth. With this rapid expansion came the need to examine how policy and practice should be shaped in a future where telehealth is considered common in counseling practice. For counselors to understand how to support older adult clients in using telehealth services, they must understand telehealth policy. Following the eligibility of licensed counselors to participate in Medicare, counselors need to stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding restrictions and regulations on use of telehealth for mental and behavioral health services, including video and …

Design, Synthesis, And Evaluation Of Oleyl-Wrh Peptides For Sirna Delivery, Mrigank Shekhar Rai, Muhammad Imran Sajid, Jonathan Moreno, Keykavous Parang, Rakesh Kumar Tiwari

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Delivering nucleic acid therapeutics across cell membranes is a significant challenge. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) containing arginine (R), tryptophan (W), and histidine (H) show promise for siRNA delivery. To improve siRNA delivery and silence a model STAT3 gene, we hypothesized that oleyl acylation to CPPs, specifically (WRH)n, would enhance STAT3 silencing efficiency in breast and ovarian cancer cells. Using Fmoc/tBu solid-phase peptide chemistry, we synthesized, purified, and characterized the oleyl-conjugated (WRH)n (n = 1–4) peptides. The peptide/siRNA complexes were non-cytotoxic at N/P 40 (~20 μM) against MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, SK-OV-3, and HEK-293 cells after 72 h incubation. All peptide/siRNA complexes showed serum …

High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C Combined With Docetaxel In Men With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Phase Ii Trial, Channing Paller, Marianna Zahurak, Adel Mandl, Nicole Metri, Aliya Lalji, Elisabeth Heath, William Kelly, Christopher Hoimes, Pedro Barata, Jason Taksey, Dominique Garrison, Kartick Patra, Ginger Milne, Nicole Anders, Julie Nauroth, Jennifer Durham, Catherine Marshall, Mark Markowski, Mario Eisenberger, Emmanuel Antonarakis, Michael Carducci, Samuel Denmeade, Mark Levine

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

UNLABELLED: High-dose intravenous vitamin C (HDIVC) administered to produce pharmacologic concentrations shows promise in preclinical models and small clinical trials, but larger prospective randomized trials are lacking. We evaluated the clinical benefit of combining HDIVC with docetaxel in patients with progressive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In this double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial, 47 patients were randomized 2:1 to receive docetaxel (75 mg/m2 i.v.) with either HDIVC (1 g/kg) or placebo. Coprimary endpoints were PSA50 response and adverse event rates. Secondary endpoints included overall survival, radiographic progression-free survival, and quality of life measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate …

Application Of Geographic Information Systems (Gis) In The Study Of Prostate Cancer Disparities: A Systematic Review, Christiane J. El Khoury

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Introduction: PCa is one of the cancers that exhibits the widest disparity gaps. Geographical place of residence has been shown to be associated with healthcare access/utilization and PCa outcomes. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are widely being utilized for PCa disparities research, however, inconsistencies in their application exist. This systematic review will summarize GIS application within PCa disparities research, highlight gaps in the literature, and propose alternative approaches. Methods: This paper followed the methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and the criteria set of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Articles published in peer-reviewed journals were searched through …

Association Of High Fibrinogen To Albumin Ratio With Long-Term Mortality In Patients With Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Shiping Chen, Yu Zhang, Yangchun Xiao, Xin Cheng, Liyuan Peng, Yixin Tian, Tiangui Li, Jialing He, Pengfei Hao, Weelic Chong, Yang Hai, Chao You, Fang Fang

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The association between fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) and in-hospital mortality in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been established. However, the association with long-term mortality in spontaneous ICH remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between FAR and long-term mortality in these patients.

METHODS: Our retrospective study involved 3,538 patients who were diagnosed with ICH at West China Hospital, Sichuan University. All serum fibrinogen and serum albumin samples were collected within 24 h of admission and participants were divided into two groups according to the FAR. We conducted a Cox proportional hazard analysis to evaluate the association …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Well-Being In Cancer Survivorship: Implications For Counselors, Hallie M. Sylvestro, Lindsey K. Umstead, Heather Delgado, Christopher Lawrence, Keith Mobley, Kelly L. Wester, Andrew Wood

Adultspan Journal

Adult cancer survivors represent an important–and growing–population that could benefit from counseling services. This study employed consensual qualitative research to examine the well-being experiences of eight cancer survivors. Findings suggest a broad range of changes to individual well-being following cancer diagnosis and treatment, and indicate counseling can provide an ideal setting for processing such changes. Recommendations for counseling practice and future research are provided.

T-Cell Redirecting Bispecific Antibodies: A Review Of A Novel Class Of Immuno-Oncology For Advanced Prostate Cancer, Julia Palecki, Amman Bhasin, Andrew Bernstein, Patrick Mille, William Tester, William Kelly, Kevin Zarrabi

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Novel T-cell immunotherapies such as bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) are emerging as promising therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer. BiTEs are engineered bispecific antibodies containing two distinct binding domains that allow for concurrent binding to tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) as well as immune effector cells, thus promoting an immune response against cancer cells. Prostate cancer is rich in tumor associated antigens such as, but not limited to, PSMA, PSCA, hK2, and STEAP1 and there is strong biologic rationale for employment of T-cell redirecting BiTEs within the prostate cancer disease space. Early generation BiTE constructs employed in clinical study have demonstrated meaningful antitumor …

Emotion Regulation Strategies And Perceived Emotional Intelligence: The Effect Of Age., Iwanna Sepiadou

Adultspan Journal

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. We also investigated the possible effects of age on the aforementioned variables. The total sample consisted of 379 people (158 men, 220 women, 1 unreported). Across participants, 273 were young (20-39 years old) and 106 were middle-aged (40-65 years old). We found statistically significant positive correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and negative primarily correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of …

A Rare Presentation: Intracranial Hemorrhage As A Symptom Of Acute Leukemic Transformation In A 23-Year Old Male, Kelsey M. Murray, Kishan Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

This case highlights the urgency of considering acute leukemic transformation in young patients presenting with neurological deficits, emphasizing the importance of prompt evaluation and management to optimize patient outcomes. The case depicted is a tragic complication of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and its acute blast crisis. Remarkably, the patient exhibited none of the typical constitutional symptoms associated with CML.

Comparative Analysis Of Health Outcomes In Gastric Cancer: Robotic Vs. Laparoscopic Gastrectomy, Maftuna Kurbonnazarova

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Exploring the most effective surgical approach for gastrectomy is crucial for determining superior health outcomes in patients. This research compares robotic and laparoscopic techniques with the aim of pinpointing the optimal method, offering valuable insights for improved postoperative well-being.

Resection And Reconstruction Of Ewing Sarcoma Of The Cuboid Utilizing Vascularized Fibular Autograft: A Case Report, Brandon Cunha, Alexandre Arkader

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Ewing Sarcoma (EWS) rarely presents in the bones of the foot, and particularly in the cuboid, making it an exceedingly rare occurrence. We present the case of a 7-year-old female diagnosed with EWS of the right cuboid, detailing the management and outcomes of this rare presentation. The patient, now almost 5 years post-initial local control, exhibits restored foot function, a normalized gait, and no evidence of disease recurrence. This case underscores the potential for preserving lower extremity function and improving postoperative quality of life in rare presentations of EWS through innovative reconstruction strategies.

An Unexpected Finding During A Breast Excisional Biopsy: A Case Report, Emily Forester, Anjeanette Brown

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Pacemaker leads within the breast are rare. Although it is infrequent, there are some reports of implanted cardiac devices or wires migrating into breast tissue or through the chest wall. To the best of our knowledge, there are no current reports of pacemaker leads within the breast tissue of a patient with concurrent breast cancer. This case aims to detail the surgical management of this rare phenomenon.

Case Presentation: A pacemaker-dependent, female patient presented to the operating room for a left breast excisional biopsy. Intraoperatively, two epicardial leads were unexpectedly found within the center of the patient’s breast tissue. …

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Referrals In Cancer Patients, Bhumik Patel, Venkateswar Venkataraman, Deanna Janora, Jack Goldberg

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) can address functional limitations in various conditions, including cancer. Cancer rehabilitation aims to address functional impairments resulting from both the disease itself and its treatments, striving to optimize physical, social, psychological, and vocational functioning. Existing literature indicates that PM&R services significantly benefit cancer patients by improving their overall quality of life. Studies have found that optimal utilization of PM&R services can increase the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) in cancer patients. Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Cancer Society guidelines emphasize the importance of incorporating PM&R services into oncology care to enhance the function and …

Cost-Effectiveness And Outcomes Of Utilizing Tisagenlecleucel Therapy (Car T-Cell) In Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia In Comparison To Standard Of Care (Soc) Therapies: A Scoping Review, Andrew Atschinow, Evangeline Attota, Warren Chan, Pooja Kasarapu, Priyal Shah, Karina Vizzoni

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Aims

This review aims to assess the correlations between outcomes and cost of treatment methods for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, specifically comparing CAR T-cell therapy and Standard-of-Care (SoC) therapy. The socioeconomic background of patients will also be taken into consideration to see if there are differences in their outcomes.

Methods

Peer-reviewed publications were collected from PubMed and Web of Science. The keyword strings used were “acute lymphoblastic leukemia,” “pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia,” “pediatric,” “CAR T-cell therapy,” and “cost-effectiveness.” 27 citations were obtained. Titles were screened by 6 authors. Articles met the inclusion criteria including potential Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) …

Neoadjuvant Versus Adjuvant Therapy For Stage Iiib-Iiid Melanoma, Bhumik Patel, Sangnya Upadhyaya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The treatment landscape for advanced stage melanoma is rapidly evolving due to advancements in our understanding of melanoma biology and the emergence of novel therapies. This necessitates a comprehensive review to guide clinicians in adopting evidence based and patient centric approaches to treat stage IIIB-IIID melanoma. A literature review was conducted to synthesize current information on the most optimal treatment available. Data available from different clinical trials found that neoadjuvant therapy was a more effective treatment compared to adjuvant therapies alone. Furthermore, neoadjuvant therapy with combination therapy was more efficacious in producing a complete pathological response compared to monotherapy. A …

Sdrnas Participate In The Maintenance And Onset Of Prostate Cancer, Neil Chaudhary

Poster Presentations

What is an sdRNA? Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) is a class of RNA that includes microRNA (miRNA) and small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA). Fragments excised from ncRNAs are known as noncodingderived RNA (ndRNA). A certain class of ndRNAs that are derived from snoRNAs have been denoted as Small Nucleolar Derived RNAs (sdRNAs). Our lab has previously hypothesized and demonstrated that sdRNAs display regulatory functions on target genes, similar to the functions of miRNAs. sdRNAs are almost identical to microRNAs and differ mainly in their source of origin.

Our lab has shown that sdRNA-93 is frequently misexpressed in breast cancer cell lines and …

Evidenced-Based Strategies To Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Rates, Tuong Cat Vo Bsn-Rn, Nada Salloukh Bsn-Rn, Tatiana Elena Swanson Bsn-Rn, Xiao Mie Cindy Zhu Bsn-Rn, Laura Taylor Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer affecting women worldwide (Staley et al., 2021). With cervical cancer being a preventable disease, an effective method of reducing healthcare costs and mortality is primary prevention, such as screenings. Financial burdens and barriers to accessing medical care may result due to the lack of proper cervical cancer screenings. Detecting cervical cancer includes screening women 21 to 65 years old with a Papanicolaou (PAP) test every three years. Women aged 30 to 65 years old can extend the screening of cervical cancer by having a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test along with …

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome And The Benefits Of Annual Comprehensive Screening: A Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Case, Alice He Bs, Wern Lynn Ng Md, Faith Seltun Do, Lay She Ng Md, Si Yuan Khor Md, Elham Nasrollahi Md, Chandi Garg Md, Rong Rong Ge Md

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Harnessing Exosomes As A Platform For Drug Delivery In Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review For In Vivo And In Vitro Studies, Abdulwahab Teflischi Gharavi, Saeed Irian, Azadeh Niknejad, Keykavous Parang, Mona Salimi

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Breast cancer remains a significant global health concern, emphasizing the critical need for effective treatment strategies, especially targeted therapies. This systematic review summarizes the findings from in vitro and in vivo studies regarding the therapeutic potential of exosomes as drug delivery platforms in the field of breast cancer treatment. A comprehensive search was conducted across bibliographic datasets, including Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, using relevant queries from several related published articles and the Medical Subject Headings Database. Then, all morphological, biomechanical, histopathological, and cellular-molecular outcomes were systematically collected. A total of 30 studies were identified based on the Preferred …

Prevención Del Cáncer De Cuello Uterino, Mary Luz Monroy Rubiano, Claudia Viviana Jiménez Ángel, Sandra Patricia Urueña Carmona

Ciencias de la Salud

Este libro es una estrategia de promoción de la salud y prevención del cáncer de cuello uterino, desarrollada por los grupos de investigación SATTWA y TATAMASALUD. Basado en un proyecto realizado en Girardot, ofrece a las mujeres herramientas para identificar los aspectos clave del cáncer de cuello uterino, subraya la importancia del autocuidado y proporciona información básica para su prevención. Con estadísticas alarmantes sobre su prevalencia y mortalidad en Colombia, esta guía presenta información científica de manera accesible e ilustrada, permitiendo a las lectores compartir y difundir este conocimiento en sus comunidades. Unidas en una meta común, es posible reducir …

Nanoparticles For Applications In Specific Diagnostics And Precision Medicine, Naxhije Berisha

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Heterogeneity is common in the expression of cancer and treatment response. Precision medicine enables healthcare providers to tailor medical care to an individual's distinct genetic and environmental makeup. This customization has the potential to result in more efficient treatments while minimizing side effects. We believe that by studying the interface of nanotechnology and cancer medicine we can elucidate innovative solutions that address the challenges of disease heterogeneity. This includes advancements in drug delivery, formulations development, and diagnostic sensing. We highlight three studies that use nanotechnology for applications in precision medicine. In Chapter 2, we highlight design optimization of drug formulations …

Cd133-Dependent Activation Of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase /Akt/Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin Signaling In Melanoma Progression And Drug Resistance, Naji Kharouf, Thomas W. Flanagan, Abdulhadi A. Alamodi, Youssef Al Hmada, Sofie Yasmin Hassan, Hosam Shalaby, Simeon Santourlidis, Sarah Lilly Hassan, Youssef Haikel, Mossad Megahed, Robert T. Brodell, Mohamed Hassan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Melanoma frequently harbors genetic alterations in key molecules leading to the aberrant activation of PI3K and its downstream pathways. Although the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR in melanoma progression and drug resistance is well documented, targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway showed less efficiency in clinical trials than might have been expected, since the suppression of the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway-induced feedback loops is mostly associated with the activation of compensatory pathways such as MAPK/MEK/ERK. Consequently, the development of intrinsic and acquired resistance can occur. As a solid tumor, melanoma is notorious for its heterogeneity. This can be expressed in the form of genetically divergent …

Mechanisms Of Melanoma Progression And Treatment Resistance: Role Of Cancer Stem-Like Cells, Youssef Al Hmada, Robert T. Brodell, Naji Kharouf, Thomas W. Flanagan, Abdulhadi A. Alamodi, Sofie Yasmin Hassan, Hosam Shalaby, Sarah Lilly Hassan, Youssef Haikel, Mosaad Megahed, Simeon Santourlidis, Mohamed Hassan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Melanoma is the third most common type of skin cancer, characterized by its heterogeneity and propensity to metastasize to distant organs. Melanoma is a heterogeneous tumor, composed of genetically divergent subpopulations, including a small fraction of melanoma-initiating cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) and many non-cancer stem cells (non-CSCs). CSCs are characterized by their unique surface proteins associated with aberrant signaling pathways with a causal or consequential relationship with tumor progression, drug resistance, and recurrence. Melanomas also harbor significant alterations in functional genes (BRAF, CDKN2A, NRAS, TP53, and NF1). Of these, the most common are the BRAF and NRAS oncogenes, with 50% …

Classification Of Colorectal Cancer Using Resnet And Efficientnet Models, Abhishek Ranjan, Priyanshu Srivastva, B Prabadevi, R Sivakumar, Rahul Soangra, Shamala K. Subramaniam

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction:

Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases from children to elderly adults. This will be deadly if not detected at an earlier stage of the cancerous cell formation, thereby increasing the mortality rate. One such cancer is colorectal cancer, caused due to abnormal growth in the rectum or colon. Early screening of colorectal cancer helps to identify these abnormal growth and can exterminate them before they turn into cancerous cells.

Aim:

Therefore, this study aims to develop a robust and efficient classification system for colorectal cancer through Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) on histological images.

Methods:

Despite challenges in …

The Unequal Distribution Of Social Risk For Black Men Across The Life-Span. A Novel Framework., Waleed Y. Sami

Adultspan Journal

This conceptual overview offers a comprehensive overview of systemic pathways that negatively impact the mental health of Black Men throughout their lives. Our argument highlights the importance for counselors and mental health professionals to utilize a thorough social risk assessment that considers these pathways in order to effectively address the mental health needs of Black Men while fostering positive working relationships. This overview strongly advocates for the use of context and structural determinants when evaluating mental health symptoms. Without an appropriate understanding of social risk and determinants, counselors may inadvertently perpetuate disparities by decontextualizing symptomology, and reproducing racist discourse.