Oncology Commons^™

Oncolog, Volume 47, Number 12, December 2002, Dawn Chalaire, Karen Stuyck, Raymond Sawaya Md

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

• Advances in Imaging Lead to More Targeted Radiation Treatments
• Imaging Techniques Follow the Movements of Tumors During and Between Radiation Treatments
• Evolution of Conformal Radiation Therapy Continues: IMRT Called 'the Next Level of Conformality'
• DiaLog: The Caregiver: An Unsung Hero, by Raymond Sawaya, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Neurosurgery
• Support Groups, Classes Teach Caregivers How to Care for Patients and Themselves

Cancer Patterns In Quetta (1998-1999), Yasmin Bhurgri, Hadi Bhurgri, A. Ajam, Shahid Pervez, S. H. Hasan, A. Usman, J. A. Khan, Q. Kasi, I. Kasi, A. G. Rasool, A. Bhurgri, N. Faridi, J. Malik

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Introduction: Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan, is located at latitude 30,25; longitude 67.00. It has a population of 759,245; 425,474 males (56%) and 333,771 females (44%); Census 1998. The majority of residents are Persian or Baluchi speaking Baluchs.

Methodology: The cancer cases from Quetta reported to the Karachi Cancer Registry were reviewed. The data included cases from the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Pathology Department (Quetta collection point) and health care facilities in Karachi. The residents of Baluchistan were ascertained and cancer cases residents of Quetta identified with the help of recorded addresses and retraceable telephone numbers.

Results: During a …

Implementation Of Gy-Eq For Deterministic Effects Limitation In Shield Design, John W. Wilson, Myung-Hee Y. Kim, Giovanni De Angelis, Francis A. Cucinotta, Nobuaki Yoshizawa, Francis F. Badavi

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

The NCRP has recently defined RBE values and a new quantity (Gy-Eq) for use in estimation of deterministic effects in space shielding and operations. The NCRP's RBE for neutrons is left ambiguous and not fully defined. In the present report we will suggest a complete definition of neutron RBE consistent with the NCRP recommendations and evaluate attenuation properties of deterministic effects (Gy-Eq) in comparison with other dosimetric quantities.

Subsets More Likely To Benefit From Surgery Or Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation After Chemoradiation For Localized Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer, Bruce Keith, Mark Vincent, Larry Stitt, Anna Tomiak, Richard Malthaner, Edward Yu, Pauline Truong, Richard Inculet, Michael Lefcoe, A. Dar, Walter Kocha, Ian Craig

Edward Yu

After chemoradiation for localized non-small-cell lung cancer, surgery and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) have been used as additional therapies. Less than a third of patients develop brain recurrences, or have local recurrence as their sole initial site of recurrence; these are groups that would benefit from PCI or surgery, respectively. Pretreatment identification of patients more likely to benefit from surgery or PCI would be useful. A retrospective analysis of 80 patients was performed to determine prognostic factors for such patterns of failure. Twenty-nine patients were subsequently selected for surgery in a nonrandomized manner. Seventeen patients had isolated local initial recurrence …

Oncolog, Volume 47, Number 11, November 2002, Mariann Crapanzano, Kerry L. Wright, Frank A. Morello Jr. Md

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

• Diagnosis Based on Nonsurgical Biopsy: A Cooperative Effort
• Benign Care: Young Patients with a Variety of Noncancerous Conditions Find Treatment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Cognitive Interventions Are Crucial for Many Patients with Neurofibromatosis
• FNA Clinic Streamlines Biopsy Diagnosis of Palpable Lesions
• "Is This Going to Hurt?", by Frank A. Morello Jr., MD, Assistant Professor, Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
• House Call: Answers to Common Questions about the Use of Radioisotopes for Diagnosis

Electrically Mediated Delivery Of Vector Plasmid Dna Elicits An Antitumor Effect, L. Heller, D. Coppola

Bioelectrics Publications

In vivo electroporation is an efficient means of increasing plasmid DNA delivery to normal tissues, such as skin and muscle, as well as directly to tumors. In the experiments described here, plasmid DNA was delivered by in vivo electroporation to B16 mouse melanomas using two very different pulsing protocols. Reporter expression increased 21- or 42-fold, respectively with electroporation over injection alone. The growth of experimental melanomas with an approximate diameter of 4 mm on the day of treatment was monitored after electroporation delivery of reporter plasmid DNA. Remarkably, short-term complete regressions using one of these pulsing protocols occurred in up …

Electric Field Enhanced Plasmid Delivery To Liver Hepatocellular Carcinomas, Richard Gilbert, Mark J. Jaroszeski, Loree Heller, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Electric field enhanced molecular delivery for cancer research and treatment is a new technology that has demonstrated its effectiveness in clinical trials using bleomycin or cisplatin (Heller, R., Gilbert, R., Jaroszeski, M. J. Clinical applications of electrochemotherapy, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 35,119-129, 1999), as chemotherapeutic agents. The technology is being investigated in research applications for applicability as a method to enhance gene expression in a target tumor. Success is predicated on an appropriate effective electric field mediated delivery protocol that triggers significant appropriate gene expression duration and levels. An electric field mediated delivery protocol includes a set of conditions …

Oncolog, Volume 47, Number 10, October 2002, Sunni Hosemann, Mariann Crapanzano, Stephen P. Tomasovic Phd

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

• A Natural Progression: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Promotes the Study and Integration of Complementary Therapies
• New AJCC Staging System for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Reflects Patient Prognosis After Surgical Resection
• DiaLog: Complementary Medicine: Research, Education, and Communication, by Stephen P. Tomasovic, PhD, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Oncology and Vice President for Educational Programs
• House Call: Making the Cancer Journey Easier

Oncolog, Volume 47, Number 09, September 2002, Kerry L. Wright, Dawn Chalaire, Karyn Hede, Martin L. Smith Std, Anne J. Flamm Jd

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

• Is Hormone Replacement Therapy an Option for Women with a History of Breast Cancer?
• Breast Cancer Survivor Devotes Life to Helping Those at High Risk for Hereditary Cancers
• "I Have Something to Tell You." Counselors Support Family Communication about Genetic Susceptibility to Cancer
• DiaLog: Bigger than a Blood Test: Ethical Cautions about Genetic Testing, by Martin L. Smith, STD, and Anne J. Flamm, JD
• House Call: Just a Phase: Understanding Clinical Trials
• Discovery Sheds Light on How Breast Cancer Cells Progress to More Aggressive Forms

Transitional Cell Carcinomas Of The Urinary Bladder. A Histopathological Study, Z. Ahmed, S. Muzaffer, M. Khan, N. Kayani, Shahid Pervez, A. S. Husseini, S H. Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective:

To determine the histological grading and muscle invasion in Transitional Cell Carcinomas of the Urinary Bladder; and to evaluate whether any correlation exists between tumour grade and muscle invasion.

Method:

A Retrospective study of all consecutive cases of Transitional Cell Carcinomas of the Urinary Bladder diagnosed at Aga Khan University Hospital between 1st Jan 1997 and 31st Dec 2000.

Results:

This study included 495 cases of Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder. M: F ratio was 4:1. Ages of patients ranged from 30 years to 87 years. Mean age in males was 59.1 years and in females 58.8 …

Regulation Of Retinoic Acid Receptor Α By Protein Kinase C In B16 Mouse Melanoma Cells, Goran Boskovic, Dinakar Desai, Richard M. Niles

Biochemistry and Microbiology

We have previously found that retinoic acid stimulates the expression of protein kinase Cα (PKC) in B16 mouse melanoma cells. Because it has been reported that PKC can phosphorylate retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and alter its function, we determined whether changes in the level and/or activity of PKC could affect the expression or function of the RAR in B16 melanoma. Using in vivophosphorylation and band shift techniques, we could not demonstrate that altering PKC activity and/or protein level changed thein vivo phosphorylation of RARα. However activation of PKC resulted in increased RARα protein. Increased receptor protein correlated with …

Role Of Lipid Peroxidation And Antioxidant Enzymes In Omega 3 Fatty Acids Induced Suppression Of Breast Cancer Xenograft Growth In Mice, W. Elaine Hardman, Jesus Munoz Jr., Ivan L. Cameron

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Background:

Supplementing mice with high levels of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) increases the n-3 PUFAs in cell membranes, increases the susceptibility of the cells for lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decreases the growth rate of mammary and other tumors. However, the results of an earlier study indicated that a factor in addition to LPO was involved in the reduction in tumor growth in n-3 PUFAs fed mice. Athymic mice bearing MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma xenografts, were fed fish oil concentrate (FOC) or control diets, with and without supplemental Vitamin E (2000 IU /kg diet) and were sacrificed both before …

Oncolog, Volume 47, Number 07-08, July-August 2002, Don Norwood, Sunni Hosemann, Martin N. Raber Md

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

• New Agents and Strategies Help Oncologists Balance Benefits and Risks of Chemotherapy
• House Call: Exercise Improves Quality of Life for Patients with Cancer
• Intravenous Administration of Busulfan Reveals a Therapeutic Window
• Studies Look for Better Ways to Treat Infections in Patients with Cancer
• DiaLog: Why Refer Patients to a Major Cancer Center?, by Martin N. Raber, MD, Professor of Medicine
• Prevention, Early Diagnosis, and Effective Therapies Are Keys to Controlling Infections in Patients with Cancer

Improving The Consistency In Cervical Esophageal Target Volume Definition By Special Training, Patricia Tai, Jake Van Dyk, Jerry Battista, Edward Yu, Larry Stitt, Jon Tonita, Olusegun Agboola, James Brierley, Rashid Dar, Christopher Leighton, Shawn Malone, Barbara Strang, Pauline Truong, Gregory Videtic, C. Wong, Rebecca Wong, Youssef Youssef

Edward Yu

PURPOSE: Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy requires the precise definition of the target volume. Its potential benefits could be offset by the inconsistency in target definition by radiation oncologists. In a previous survey of radiation oncologists, a large degree of variation in target volume definition of cervical esophageal cancer was noted for the boost phase of radiotherapy. The present study evaluated whether special training could improve the consistency in target volume definitions. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A pre-training survey was performed to establish baseline values. This was followed by a special one-on-one training session on treatment planning based on the RTOG 94-05 …

Modular Machine Learning Methods For Computer-Aided Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer, Mia Kathleen Markey '94

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to improve breast cancer diagnosis by reducing the number of benign biopsies performed. To this end, we investigated modular and ensemble systems of machine learning methods for computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) of breast cancer. A modular system partitions the input space into smaller domains, each of which is handled by a local model. An ensemble system uses multiple models for the same cases and combines the models' predictions.

Five supervised machine learning techniques (LDA, SVM, BP-ANN, CBR, CART) were trained to predict the biopsy outcome from mammographic findings (BIRADS™) and patient age based on a …

Effect Of Electrically Mediated Intratumor And Intramuscular Delivery Of A Plasmid Encoding Ifn Α On Visible B16 Mouse Melanomas, Loree C. Heller, Stephanie F. Ingram, M. Lee Lucas, Richard A. Gilbert, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Interferon α may be used as a single agent therapy for metastatic malignant melanoma or as an adjuvant to chemotherapy. Delivery of interferon α by gene therapy offers an alternative to recombinant protein therapy. Electrically mediated delivery enhances plasmid expression in a number of tissues, for instance skin, liver, muscle and tumors including melanomas. Here we compare the effect of delivery of a plasmid encoding mouse interferon α on growth of visible B16 mouse melanomas following electrically mediated delivery to muscle or directly to the tumor. Intratumoral delivery of interferon α plasmid not only slows melanoma growth, but induces complete, …

Cancer Patterns In Karachi Division (1998-1999), Y. Bhurgri, S. Naseeruddin, S. A. H. Zaidi, A. Bhurgri, Z. A. Zaidi, S. H. Hasan, A. Usman, N. Faridi, K. Z. Hashmi, H. Ahsan, J. Malik, M. Khurshid, Shahid Pervez, Naila Kayani, S. M. H. Zaidi, I. Bashir, Z. Isani, F. Sethna, S. M. Aiam

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: A minimal cancer incidence data for Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan, is being presented here, for the years 1998-1999. The city has a population of 9,802,134; males 5,261,712 (52.6%) and females 4,540,422 (47.4%); census 19981.

Methodology: A predominantly mixed (passive and active) registration system has evolved in Karachi, the data sources being the hospitals within the Karachi Division. The reported/retrieved cancer data sets at the Karachi Cancer Registry are checked, coded, computerised in an analytical format and analysed.

Results: The incident cancer cases registered in Karachi, during the 2-year period, 1st January 1998 to 31st December 1999 were …

Oncolog, Volume 47, Number 06, June 2002, Kate O'Suilleabhain, Dawn Chalaire, Shellie M. Scott Bs

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

• Drug Development Program Paves the Way for FDA Approval of New Agents
• Pediatric New Agents Working Group Advances the Study of Novel Treatments in Young Patients
• DiaLog: Patients and Physicians: Partners in Health Care, by Shellie M. Scott, BS, Physician Assistant, Department of Urology
• House Call: Taking a More Active Role in Your Own Health Care
• As Population of Cancer Survivors Grows, Studies of Long-Term Health Effects Become More Critical, Researchers Say

Clinical, Pathological And Molecular Factors Predicting Axillary Node Involvement In Primary Breast Cancer In Pakistani Women, T. Siddiqui, A. Salam, S. Khan, N. Kayani, Shahid Pervez

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:

Axillary lymph node involvement in primary breast cancer is one of its most important prognostic features. Thus any factors that may predict axillary lymph node involvement in this setting could be potentially helpful in treatment planning and other interventions.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical, pathological and immuno-histochemical markers in univariate and multivariate analysis, which may be helpful predictors of axillary lymph node involvement in breast cancer.

Method:

A retrospective analysis of 555 cases. Of these 58% had axillary nodal positivity and 42% were negative.

Conclusion:

Factors of no significance included patient’s age, height, weight, …

Oncolog, Volume 47, Number 05, May 2002, Kerry L. Wright, Ann Sutton, Carmelita Escalante Md

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

• Tobacco Research and Treatment Progra Studies Include Ways to Prevent and Treat Nicotine Dependence in Special Populations
• Emergency Center Provides Specialized Care for M. D. Anderson Patients Experiencing Oncologic Emergencies
• DiaLog: M. D. Anderson's Emergency Center, by Carmelita Escalante, MD, Associate Professor and Ad Interim Chair, Department of General Internal Medicine, Ambulatory Treatment, and Emergency Care
• House Call: Depression and Cancer
• Smoking Cessation Studies Blend Computer Technology with Behavioral Therapy

Mexican-Descent Latinas’ Compliance With Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines, Evelinn A. Borrayo, Awilda Reyes

University Libraries Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Role Of Disulphide Bond Formation In Folding, Secretion, And Assembly Of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Subunits., Elliott Bedows, Ryan J. Darling, Jason A. Wilken, Simon Sherman

Journal Articles: Eppley Institute

Ability of a glycoprotein hormone to fold and assemble correctly is an essential requirement for the attainment of its biological activity . Cells have a quality control system to assure that when proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum mi sfold or fail to assemble correctly they do not exit the cell. But human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is an exception to this rule as is illustrated by the following observations. First, both hCG subunits are secreted efficiently as unassembled monomers. Second, some mis(un)folded forms of hCG-β can be efficiently secreted from cells that do not facilitate the secretion of other misfolded proteins. …

Oncolog, Volume 47, Number 04, April 2002, Beth Notzon, Karen Stuyck, Felipe Samaniego Md

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

• Researchers Focus on Bioimmunotherap for Treatment of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas
• Protocols: Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Studies
• House Call: The First Cancer Prevention Vaccine
• DiaLog: The Viral Origins of Lymphomas, by Felipe Samaniego, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma
• Research Consortium Recruiting Volunteers to Study the Role of Genetics in Cancer Development and Patient Care

Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (Psma): Immunoassay Development And Characterization Of Transcriptional Regulation, Zhen Xiao

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Prostate cancer (PCA) is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of death among American men. The high mortality is greatly attributed to the lack of early detection tools and effective treatment for metastasis and relapses. Biomarkers that can discriminate benign from malignant tumor and signal the development of androgen independent and metastatic tumor are needed. A biomarker designated prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has the potential to fulfill this need. The objective of this study is to develop a clinically useful immunoassay for quantitation of serum PSMA and to study the molecular mechanism underlying the upregulation of …

Siva-1 Binds To And Inhibits Bcl-Xl-Mediated Protection Against Uv Radiation-Induced Apoptosis, Li Xue, Fei Chu, Yuan Cheng, Xiangjie Sun, Alip Borthakur, Manjunath Ramarao, Pramod Pandey, Mei Wu, Stuart F. Schlossman, Kanteti V. S. Prasad

Clinical & Translational Sciences

We previously cloned Siva-1 by using the cytoplasmic tail of CD27, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, as the bait in the yeast two-hybrid system. The Siva gene is organized into four exons that code for the predominant full-length Siva-1 transcript, whereas its alternate splice form, Siva-2, lacks exon 2 coding sequence. Various groups have demonstrated a role for Siva-1 in several apoptotic pathways. Interestingly, the proapoptotic properties of Siva-1 are lacking in Siva-2. The fact that Siva-1 is partly localized to mitochondria despite the absence of any mitochondrial targeting signal, it harbors a 20-aa-long putative amphipathic …

Prevention Of Radiation-Induced Skin Reactions In Breast Cancer External Irradiation, Cathy Ammerman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Radiation dermatitis is a common side effect of external beam radiation therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of applying an aloe vera based skin gel to the target area skin in preventing the development of radiation dermatitis to postlumpectomy/ mastectomy patients receiving external beam radiation therapy in an ambulatory radiation-oncology clinic in the southeastern region of the United States. In this descriptive correlational study, a convenience sample of willing participants (n=18) was followed from initial treatment through the one-month follow-up examination to assess the intensity of their skin reaction. Five research questions were examined pertaining …

Oncolog, Volume 47, Number 03, March 2002, Vickie J. Williams, Michael Worley, Noelle Heinze, Richard J. Babaian Md

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

• Largest-Ever Cancer Prevention Study to Examine the Effects of Selenium and Vitamin E on Prostate Cancer Occurrence
• Protocols: Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials
• House Call: Understanding Metastasis
• DiaLog: The Prostate--Specific Antigen Test: Reliability and Recommended Use, by Richard J. Babaian, MD, Professor, Department of Urology
• Trouble Spots: Early Detection Is Key to the Successful Treatment of Melanoma

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (Egfr) As A Prognostic Marker: An Immunohistochemical Study On 315 Consecutive Breast Carcinoma Patients, S. A. Aziz, Shahid Pervez, N. Kayani, M. H. Rahbar, S. Khan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To assess the independent and interdependent prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in carcinoma of breast in female population. The Type I family of growth factor receptors includes epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR also known as EGFRI).

Methods: The expression of EGFR protein was analysed immunohistochemically on 315 tumour specimens of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast. These patients also had axillary lymph nodes sampling.

Results: Overexpression and/or amplification of EGFR was observed in 70 (22.00%) tumours. Eleven (16%) were grade I, 43 (61%) grade II and 16 (23%) grade Ill tumours. Axillary lymph node metastasis had significant …

Oncolog, Volume 47, Number 02, February 2002, Kerry L. Wright, Charles F. Leverbeck Md

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

• Molecular Therapies Target Bone Metastasis
• "I'm Here to Help You" Patient Advocates Serve as Liaisons Between Patients and Care Centers
• DiaLog: Patient Advocates: Solving Problems and Building Bridges, by Charles F. Leverback, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Gynecologic Oncology
• House Call: Keeping the Heart Healthy in Patients with Cancer

Frequency Of Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine In Women With Breast Cancer, Cecile A. Lengacher, Mary Bennett, Kevin E. Kip, Rosemary Keller, Melisa S. Lavance, Lynette S. Smith, Charles E. Cox

Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.