Racial disparities in treatment and outcomes between Hispanic and non-Hispanic black women with triple-negative breast cancer.

Introduction: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer (BC) subtype with higher incidence and mortality rates in non-Hispanic Black (NHB) women than non-Hispanic Whites. Studies assessing disparities between NHB and Hispanic women, the two largest US racial/ethnic minorities, are lacking. This study evaluates disparities in the treatment and outcomes between NHB and Hispanic women with non-metastatic TNBC.

Effectiveness of Biologic Agents Among Hispanic Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Randomized clinical trials have defined the survival advantage with the addition of biologic drugs to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Under representation of Hispanics contributes to poorly defined outcomes in this group. We aim to determine whether the real-world benefit of biologics extends to Hispanics using a comparative effectiveness research approach.

Effect of Medicaid Expansion in Reducing Racial Disparities in Early Onset Colorectal Cancer.

Background: The burden of early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) falls disproportionately on minorities and individuals in specific geographic regions. While these disparities are likely multi-factorial, access to high-quality health care plays a significant role. We sought to determine if Medicaid expansion is associated with reducing racial disparities in EOCRC detection in Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB), compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW).

Equitable Access to Clinical Trials: How Do We Achieve It?

The mismatch between the study populations participating in oncology clinical trials and the composition of the targeted cancer population requires urgent amelioration. Regulatory requirements can mandate that trial sponsors enroll diverse study populations and ensure that regulatory revue prioritizes equity and inclusivity. A variety of projects directed at increasing accrual of underserved populations to oncology clinical trials emphasize best practices: broadened eligibility requirements for trials, simplification of trial procedures, community outreach through patient navigators, decentralization of clinical trial procedures and institution of telehealth, and funding to offset costs of travel and lodging.

Induction Chemotherapy With FOLFIRINOX Followed by Chemoradiation With Gemcitabine in Patients With Borderline-Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Perioperative therapy is standard for patients with borderline-resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (BR-PDAC); however, an optimal neoadjuvant regimen is lacking. We assessed the efficacy of FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy followed by gemcitabine-based chemoradiation as preoperative therapy.

Methods: Patients received 4 cycles of FOLFIRINOX, followed by 6-weekly gemcitabine with concomitant intensity-modulated radiation.

Comparative Effectiveness of Biologic Agents Among Black and White Medicare Patients in the US With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Importance: Randomized clinical trials have defined the survival benefit provided by the addition of biologic drugs to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, Black patients may be underrepresented in trial populations, and outcomes in this group remain poorly defined.

Objective: To determine whether the real-world benefit of biologic drugs in Black patients is consistent with the real-world benefit of biologic drugs in White patients using a comparative effectiveness research approach.

Whole-genome landscape of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an aggressive neoplasm immunophenotypically resembling regulatory T cells, associated with human T-cell leukemia virus type-1. Here, we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 150 ATL cases to reveal the overarching landscape of genetic alterations in ATL. We discovered frequent (33%) loss-of-function alterations preferentially targeting the CIC long isoform, which were overlooked by previous exome-centric studies of various cancer types.

Immune-Based Cancer Treatment: Addressing Disparities in Access and Outcomes.

Avoidable differences in the care and outcomes of patients with cancer (i.e., cancer care disparities) emerge or worsen with discoveries of new, more effective approaches to cancer diagnosis and treatment.

B7-H3 and PD-L1 Expression Are Prognostic Biomarkers in a Multi-racial Cohort of Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Immunotherapy has emerged as an effective and durable treatment modality for solid cancers. However, its use in colorectal cancer (CRC) is limited to deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) tumors. As such, assessing immune regulatory proteins from the B7-CD28 family, other than PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4, is critical.

Racial/ethnic disparities in early-onset colorectal cancer: implications for a racial/ethnic-specific screening strategy.

Introduction: Early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC) is a public health concern. Starting screening at 45 years has been considered, but there is discrepancy in the recommendations. Racial disparities in EO-CRC incidence and survival are reported; however, racial/ethnic differences in EO-CRC features that could inform a racial/ethnic-tailored CRC screening strategy have not been reported.

Case Fatality Rate of Cancer Patients with COVID-19 in a New York Hospital System.

Patients with cancer are presumed to be at increased risk from COVID-19 infection-related fatality due to underlying malignancy, treatment-related immunosuppression, or increased comorbidities. A total of 218 COVID-19-positive patients from March 18, 2020, to April 8, 2020, with a malignant diagnosis were identified. A total of 61 (28%) patients with cancer died from COVID-19 with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 37% (20/54) for hematologic malignancies and 25% (41/164) for solid malignancies.

World Health Organization (WHO) antibiotic regimen against other regimens for the treatment of leprosy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the World Health Organization antibiotic regimen for the treatment of paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) leprosy compared to other available regimens.

Methods: We performed a search from 1982 to July 2018 without language restriction. We included randomized controlled trials, quasi-randomized trials, and comparative observational studies (cohorts and case-control studies) that enrolled patients of any age with PB or MB leprosy that were treated with any of the leprosy antibiotic regimens established by the WHO in 1982 and used any other antimicrobial regimen as a controller.

Epidemiology and survival trend of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in the United States.

Background: Globally, 5 million to 10 million people are infected with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1, which causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) in 2% to 5% of the carriers. ATLL is a rare but extremely aggressive malignancy that can be challenging to diagnose. Very little data exist on the incidence patterns of ATLL in the United States.

High prevalence of pulmonary findings in computed tomographies of HTLV-1-infected patients with and without adult-T cell leukemia/lymphoma - implications for staging.

Lung involvement has been reported in HTLV-1 carriers and in patients with ATLL. Whether there are differences in the pattern of lung involvement between ATLL and HTLV carriers in North American patients is unknown. We aimed to compare CT pulmonary findings among patients with HTLV-1 infection with and without ATLL.

Barriers to Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Human T Cell Lymphotropic Virus 1-Associated Adult T Cell Lymphoma-Leukemia in the United States: Experience from a Large Cohort in a Major Tertiary Center.

In the United States adult T cell lymphoma-leukemia (ATLL) carries a dismal prognosis and mainly affects immigrants from human T cell lymphotropic virus 1 endemic areas. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT) can be effective and is recommended as an upfront treatment in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. We studied the barriers to alloHSCT in one of the largest ATLL populations in the United States.

Natural history and clinical outcomes in patients with portal vein thrombosis by etiology: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is an unusual-site thrombosis commonly encountered in patients with malignancies, cirrhosis, and acute abdominal inflammatory conditions (AIC). Current recommendations suggest that anticoagulation may improve recanalization rates but there is limited information on venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence rates and whether the etiologies of PVT respond similarly with anticoagulation.

Objective: To characterize the natural clinical course and outcomes of patients diagnosed with PVT based on etiology.

Perspectives, Decision Making, and Final Mode of Delivery in Pregnant Women With a Previous C-Section in a General Hospital in Peru: Prospective Analysis.

Unlabelled: Explore the perspectives, decision-making process, and final mode of delivery among pregnant women with a previous C-section (Cesarean section) in a general public sector hospital in Lima, Peru. A qualitative prospective study using semistructured interviews at two time points in the outpatient obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a public sector, university-affiliated reference hospital in Lima, Peru. Seventeen adult pregnant women with a prior C-section who were deemed by their attending obstetrician to be candidates for a trial of labor were interviewed.

Low HDL cholesterol as a cardiovascular risk factor in rural, urban, and rural-urban migrants: PERU MIGRANT cohort study.

Introduction: Whilst the relationship between lipids and cardiovascular mortality has been well studied and appears to be controversial, very little has been explored in the context of rural-to-urban migration in low-resource settings.

Objective: Determine the profile and related factors for HDL-c patterns (isolated and non-isolated low HDL-c) in three population-based groups according to their migration status, and determine the effect of HDL-c patterns on the rates of cardiovascular outcomes (i.e.

Adherence to pharmacotherapy and medication-related beliefs in patients with hypertension in Lima, Peru.

Objective: To characterize adherence to pharmacological medication and beliefs towards medication in a group of patients with hypertension in a large national hospital.

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional survey among patients with hypertension attending the outpatient clinic of a large national hospital. Exposure of interest was the patient's beliefs towards general medication and antihypertensive drugs, i.