Neoplasms Commons^™

Associations Between Social Drivers Of Health And Breast Cancer Stage At Diagnosis Among U.S. Black Women, Mollie Barnard, Bo Qin, Marc Emerson, Etienne Holder, Matthew Dunn, Shromona Sarkar, Nuo Xu, Yutong Li, Christine Ambrosone, Elisa Bandera, Julie Palmer, Melissa Troester, Terry Hyslop

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

U.S. Black women have disproportionately high breast cancer mortality, partly due to later-stage diagnoses. We examined how social drivers of health (SDOH) relate to stage at diagnosis by analyzing data from 4,995 breast cancer survivors in the Black Women's Health Study, Carolina Breast Cancer Study, and Women's Circle of Health Studies. SDOH were self-reported and stage was ascertained from medical records. We used polytomous logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for diagnosis at stages III/IV or II versus stage I (referent), adjusting for age, insurance status, and income. Meta-analyzed results indicated that underutilization of screening mammography (OR = 3.21, …

Nuak Kinases: Signaling Mechanisms And Therapeutic Applications, Nicole M. Cullen, Peter Rosston, Bakhtawar Tufail, Anne E. D'Armond, Ayushi Patel, Dara H. Khosravi, Bridgette M. Collins-Burow, Van T. Hoang, Elizabeth C. Martin, David H. Drewry, Matthew E. Burow, Suresh K. Alahari

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The novel (nua) kinases 1 and 2 are two of 12 AMP-activated protein–related kinases whose signaling pathways are involved in cancer progression, as well as neurologic, fibrotic, and inflammatory diseases. Currently, there are 80 Food and Drug Administration-approved kinase inhibitors which target roughly 24 of the 500+ known human kinases, leaving most kinases underexplored, including NUAK1 and NUAK2. Thus, there is a critical need for selective inhibition of NUAK1 and NUAK2 signaling. Here, we review the protein structure, known upstream regulators and downstream targets, and expression profiles of NUAK1 and NUAK2 in cancerous compared to noncancerous tissue. We also delineate …

Breast Cancer Survival Rates And Determinants In Ethiopia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Longitudinal Studies, Abenezer M. Tafese, Meseker T. Fentie, Beminate L. Seifu, Angwach A. Asnake, Bikiltu D. Dirbaba, Abdisa G. Jara, Elsabeth Tizazu Asare, Brandon George

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality among women in Ethiopia, accounting for 32% of new cancer cases and 17.6% of cancer deaths. Despite its growing burden, comprehensive data on survival rates and contributing factors remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize existing data on breast cancer survival in Ethiopia and identify key determinants influencing outcomes.

METHODS: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL to identify studies on breast cancer survival in Ethiopia published between January 2014 and August 2024. Eligible …

Efficacy Of Infliximab Versus Vedolizumab In The Management Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Colitis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis., Shreya Shambhavi, Harmanjeet Singh, Ganesh Ramaprasad, Murod Khikmatov, Varun Vankeshwaram, Kumar Ashish, Carlos Valladares, Tanushree Bhatt, Seth D Cohen

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can cause severe gastrointestinal immune-related adverse events (irAEs), often leading to treatment interruption and increased morbidity. Immune-mediated colitis (IMC) ranges from mild diarrhea to life-threatening colitis, sometimes requiring urgent intervention. While corticosteroids are the first-line treatment, selective immunosuppressive therapy (SIT) with either infliximab or vedolizumab is used for steroid-refractory or dependent cases. However, standardized practices are lacking, and treatment decisions are largely left to provider discretion. This study compares infliximab and vedolizumab for IMC, focusing on remission rates, recurrence, SIT dosing, and systemic steroid exposure duration.

METHODS: We identified six retrospective cohort studies that compared …

Detection Of Activity Cliffs Produced By Anti-Cancer Drugs And An Algorithm For Reliable Predictions In Affected Areas, Sarah Josephine Aurit

Department of Statistics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

An activity cliff (AC) occurs when drugs close in chemical space produce dissimilar biological results. We focus on developing an inferential procedure to detect the presence of ACs in a chemical landscape. If detected, we provide a distance-based procedure that can be used to identify regions of stability in the chemical landscape of interest and generate prediction with higher precision in those areas of stability. We conceptualize the chemical landscape as a spatial random field and use spatial models for prediction of efficacy for new drugs based on “distance” in chemical space. We argue that an AC manifests itself by …

Genotype Distribution Of Human Papillomavirus Among Women With Cervical Cancer Stratified By Hiv Status In Tanzania, Alita Mrema, Mamsau Ngoma, Emmanuel L. Lugina, Atukuzwe Kahakwa, Chacha Josiah Mwita, Salama Iddy, Eulade Rugengamizi, Kandali Samwel, John Ngowi, Salum J. Lidenge, Charles Wood, Julius Mwaiselage

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background Cervical cancer (CC) is the leading cancer among women in Tanzania, especially among those between the ages of 15 and 44. The prevalence of high-risk Human papillomavirus (HR-HPV)-16/18 women in the general population at any given time is 3.3%. HR-HPVs 16 or 18 are the primary cause of CC. The distribution of HPV genotypes among women with CC according to HIV status is unknown in Tanzania. This study aimed to determine the HPV genotype distribution according to HIV status among women with CC in Tanzania. Methods This cross-sectional study was done at Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in Tanzania …

Identifying And Breaking Barriers: Addressing Disparities In The Care Of Patients With Gynecologic Cancers, Bhavana Pothuri, Michele Muir, Jean Hurteau, John Farley, Michelle D. Lightfoot, Summer Dewdney, Tara Castellano, John K. Chan, Sharad Ghamande, Al Asante-Facey, Marina Stasenko, B J. Rimel, Electra D. Paskett

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Significant disparities exist in the care of patients with gynecologic malignancies. Higher incidences of gynecologic malignancies among underrepresented subpopulations (eg, racial, ethnic, and/or LGBTQAI+) and lack of representative enrollment within clinical trials have highlighted the need to improve healthcare equity. We aimed to identify barriers to equitable health care and clinical trial participation for specific diverse populations of patients with gynecologic malignancies and to identify potential solutions for overcoming these barriers. METHODS: A series of 4 live and 3 asynchronous advisory boards facilitated by GSK was conducted between January 2023 and July 2024; live advisory boards were population specific. …

Evolution Of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma From Precursor Lesion Stem Cells, Wa Xian, Shan Wang, Jingzhong Xie, Yusuke Yamamoto, Melina Khorrami, Yanting Zhang, Raul Caballero Montes, Caycel Desales, Melika Khorrami, Zaal Mory, Ashley Hoffman, Amber Su, Crystal Nguyen, Peter J A Davies, Clifford Stephan, Shuang Pan, Wengen Wu, Yuxin Liu, Jeremy Siegelman, Rebecca E Waters, William A Ross, Shumei Song, Mark Metersky, David G Beer, Christopher P Crum, Alexander J Stewart, Matthew Vincent, Richard Russell, Robert A Izard, Khek Yu Ho, Jack Hung-Sen Lai, William W Bachovchin, Jaffer A Ajani, Frank D Mckeon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background & aims: Metastatic cancers arise from a decades-long succession of increasingly virulent precursor lesions, each of which represents prospective targets for therapeutic intervention. This evolutionary process has been particularly vivid in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), as this cancer and associated precursor lesions, including Barrett's esophagus (BE), low-grade dysplasia (LGD), and high-grade dysplasia (HGD), coexist in an accessible, 2-dimensional pattern in esophageal mucosa. Given the durability of these precursor lesions, it is likely that they, like EAC, rely on stem cells for their regenerative growth. To assess the role of stem cells in the evolution of EAC, we apply technology that …

Effects Of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy On Hearing In Patients With Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Bryce Hambach, Anhelina Bilokon, John Lee, L. Noelle Allemang, Jennifer Chisholm, Chris K. Zalewski, Julie Christensen, Carmen C. Brewer, James L. Gulley, Clint T. Allen, Lisa L. Cunningham, Katharine A. Fernandez

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is a commonly used treatment modality for cancer with a growing list of oncologic indications. Ototoxicity is a potential immune-related adverse event of ICB treatment, but the risk of hearing loss after ICB remains unknown. This retrospective chart review sought to identify individuals who received ICB and had available audiometric data before and after treatment in order to identify clinically meaningful changes in hearing. This single center, institutional chart review examined hearing function data in patients who underwent audiometry before and after ICB treatment. Measures included pure tone thresholds, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), tympanometry, and …

Refinement Of Hyams Grading Criteria For Olfactory Neuroblastoma In An Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Predominant Cohort With Extended Follow-Up: Worth The Effort?, Stacey Gargano, Vincent Cracolici, Carl Snyderman, Eric Wang, Garret Choby, Aron Pollack, Paul Gardner, Diana Bell, Raja Seethala

Computational Medicine Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Hyams grading is considered prognostic in olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), but grading criteria are subjective and predate modern classification and surgical approach. We evaluate the application of granular grading criteria to an endoscopic surgery predominant cohort with extended follow-up.

METHODS: 78 ONB patients were identified (1994-2019) with original diagnoses dating to 1979. Original Hyams grade, Modified Hyams grade incorporating more detailed criteria and other histologic features (i.e. divergent differentiation, clear cell/oncocytic change, and spindling) were assessed if feasible, evaluated for distribution by grade and correlated with outcomes.

RESULTS: Original Hyams grade (n = 43) distribution was: I: 4 (9%), II: …

Mediation Analysis To Investigate Differences In Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Stage Through Environmental Risk Factors In Louisiana, Nubaira Rizvi, Randy Hamilton, Xiao-Cheng Wu, Michael D. Celestin, Tung-Sung Tseng, Qingzhao Yu

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men. In Louisiana (LA), Black men are disproportionately diagnosed at later stages compared to White men. This study explores environmental risk factors as potential intermediate variables linking race to cancer diagnosis stage. The Louisiana Tumor Registry data included 24,647 male patients diagnosed with PCa in LA between 2010 and 2018. Among them, 15,875 (64.40%) were Caucasian American (CA) and 8772 (35.59%) African American (AA). Mediation analysis using multiple additive regression trees (MART) identified possible intermediate variables that potentially explain the observed disparity. …

Uncharted Territory: The First Case Of Cardiac Myxoma In A Patient With Nf2, Muhammad Sabri, Zinya Talukder, Naila Ijaz, Joseph Neri

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Cardiac myxoma is a benign tumor, typically originating in the left atrium, and is often linked to Carney complex. In our literature review, there are no case reports of cardiac myxoma in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).

CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old man presented with dizziness and was found to have meningioma and vestibular schwannoma, consistent with NF2. Cardiac myxoma was incidentally diagnosed through echocardiography and confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and tissue pathology. The mass was surgically resected. The patient was offered genetic testing; however, he decided to not undergo further testing.

DISCUSSION: NF2 is an inherited …

Fractional Flow Reserve From Coronary Ct: Evidence, Applications, And Future Directions, Arta Kasaeian, Mohadese Ahmadzade, Taylor Hoffman, Mohammad Ghasemi-Rad, Anoop Padoor Ayyappan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has emerged as the leading noninvasive imaging modality for the assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD), offering high-resolution visualization of the coronary anatomy and plaque characterization. The development of fractional flow reserve derived from CCTA (FFR-CT) has further transformed the diagnostic landscape by enabling the simultaneous evaluation of both anatomical stenosis and lesion-specific ischemia. FFR-CT has demonstrated diagnostic accuracy comparable to invasive FFR. The combined use of CCTA and FFR-CT is now pivotal in a broad range of clinical scenarios, including the evaluation of stable and acute chest pain, assessment of high-risk and complex plaque …

Factors Associated With Self-Report Symptom Screening Adherence In Pediatric Cancer Patients, L. Lee Dupuis, Emily Vettese, Catherine Aftandilian, Vibhuti Agarwal, Christina Baggott, Scott M. Bradfield, Nicole Crellin-Parsons, David R. Freyer, Kara M. Kelly, Allison A. King, Wade Kyono, Ramamoorthy Nagasubramanian, Etan Orgel, Michael E. Roth, Farha Sherani, Lolie Yu, Allison C. Grimes, Melissa P. Beauchemin, Lisa M. Klesges, George A. Tomlinson, Lillian Sung

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Objective was to describe the association between baseline characteristics and the number of Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi) assessments completed over an 8-week period. Methods: This was a sub-analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial among 10 sites that were randomized to the intervention group. Participants were English- or Spanish-speaking pediatric patients 8–18 years of age newly diagnosed with cancer. Participants were prompted to complete SSPedi three times weekly for 8 weeks. The outcome was the number of SSPedi assessments completed during the 8-week period. Factors associated with the number of assessments were determined using mixed effects Poisson …

Investigating The Necessity Of Adaptive Radiotherapy In Tomotherapy Of Head And Neck Cancer Patients, Ali Chaparian, Mahsa Kianinia, Mahnaz Roayaei, Nadia Najafizade, Abolfazl Kanani, Leili Mahani, Hamidreza Nourzadeh

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Anatomical variations that occur during radiation therapy in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients can lead to significant dosimetric changes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate dosimetric and volume changes in key anatomical structures for different treatment sites in HNC patients, and to determine the percentage of patients who need adaptive radiotherapy (ART) per treatment site.

METHODS: A total of 1,740 megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) images from 58 HNC patients treated with helical tomotherapy (HT) were exported to the PreciseART™ (Accuray) software. Volume changes in the planning target volume (PTV) and the organs at risk (OARs) in …

Effects Of Maackia Amurensis Seed Lectin (Masl) On Oscc Cell Morphology, Pdpn Expression, Growth, And Motility In A Phase 1 Clinical Trial, Ariel C Yin, Cayla J Holdcraft, Tyler J Hellmig, Eamonn J Brace, David I Suster, Alan J Shienbaum, Dylan Roden, Evelyne Kalyoussef, Ghayoour Mir, Eugenio Capitle, Soly Baredes, Rabie M Shanti, Mika K Kaneko, Yukinari Kato, Hisataka Kobayashi, Aki Furusawa, Mahnaz Fatahzadeh, Gary S Goldberg

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Podoplanin (PDPN) has emerged as a functionally relevant biomarker and chemotherapeutic target expressed by OSCC cells. PDPN signaling can directly increase tumor cell invasion and metastasis, and also inhibit host lymphocyte activation and immune response. Accordingly, antibodies and Maackia amurensis seed lectin (MASL) can target the PDPN receptor to inhibit OSCC cell migration and viability. However, the effects of MASL on OSCC cells in oral cancer patients has not yet been reported.

METHODS: We conducted a Phase 1 human clinical trial to examine the effects of a single 100 mg oral dose of MASL on OSCC cell morphology, PDPN …

Secondary Malignancies In Patients With Meningioma: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, And End Results Data Analysis, Maxwell W. Pickles, Thomas Z. Rohan, Shreya Vinjamuri, Nikolaos Mouchtouris, Roger Murayi, David P. Bray, James J. Evans

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The risk of secondary primary malignancies (SPMs) in meningioma patients is not well understood. In this unidirectional analysis, we evaluated the risk of SPMs occurring following a primary diagnosis of meningioma.

METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER-17) database (2000-2020) was used to identify 124,769 meningioma patients from a total of 9,208,295 cancer cases. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated using SEER's statistical analysis package to evaluate SPM risk. Basic demographic and treatment information was collected as well.

RESULTS: Of the 124,769 patients, 11,411 (9.2%) received diagnoses of an SPM, which correlates to a higher risk than the …

Case Report: Solitary Adrenal Metastasis From Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Riddhi Machchhar, Ahmed Dawood Al Mahrizi, Fatima Mossolem, Mariam Abdeen, Ujjwala Jain, Jyotibala Jain, Prashant Desai

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

INTRODUCTION: Solitary adrenal metastasis from a primary esophageal malignancy is relatively rare. While there are case reports of aggressive treatment with esophagectomy and adrenalectomy providing long-term survival, the treatment paradigm is not well defined. Complications from esophageal adenocarcinoma and its treatment can significantly impact the patient's quality of life and prognosis.

CASE PRESENTATION: Our patient was treated with systemic therapy and, although he initially had a complete response, he later experienced local disease progression along with the development of additional metastatic sites. The patient began FOLFOX, a standard chemotherapy regimen for esophageal/gastric cancer. He experienced side effects such as fever, …

Current Trends In Clinical Trials For Merkel Cell Carcinoma (Mcc), Tilak Patel, Rachel Butz, Brian Boulmay, Vilija Vaitaitis

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine cutaneous malignancy with high rates of recurrence and metastasis. The treatment of MCC has historically involved surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy; however, current clinical trials are investigating immunotherapies, intratumoral injections, and combination therapies to improve outcomes. This review explores the current trends in clinical trials for MCC, highlighting recent advances in management.

Novel Piperidone And Bispidine Derivatives: A New Approach In Cancer Therapy, Lereen Khaled Youssry

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide. As a result, scientists have been trying to find novel therapeutic approaches that target specific metabolic pathways selective to tumor cells. In this study, two novel piperidone and bispidine derivatives, organic molecules that target polyamine metabolism, were synthesized, and their potential cytotoxic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were investigated. Polyamines are naturally occurring metabolites that were reported to be in excess at cancer cells and were accounted for tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Accordingly, the novel piperidone and bispidine derivatives were expected to disrupt tumor growth and progression via up-regulation of key …