Outcomes in biomarker-selected subgroups from the KESTREL study of durvalumab and tremelimumab in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Selective biomarkers may improve outcomes in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. We investigated three independent biomarkers for association with efficacy in the randomized, phase III KESTREL study (NCT02551159) of first-line durvalumab monotherapy or durvalumab plus tremelimumab versus the EXTREME regimen: programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immunohistochemistry, blood tumor mutational burden (bTMB) via circulating tumor DNA, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).

Methods: Tumor or blood samples from patients enrolled in the KESTREL study were analyzed for PD-L1, bTMB, and NLR.

Taken for Granted? Effects of Loan-Reduction Initiatives on Student Borrowing, Admission Metrics, and Campus Diversity.

In recent decades, several dozen colleges and universities have instituted loan-reduction initiatives (LRIs), such as "no-loan" programs. Institutions frequently cast such initiatives as efforts to increase socioeconomic diversity on campus. Using a difference-in-differences analytic strategy with national institution-level data, we examine the effect of LRI adoption at 54 institutions on three sets of outcomes: student borrowing, admission metrics, and campus diversity.

Clinical outcomes in men with prostate cancer who selected active surveillance using a clinical cell cycle risk score.

To evaluate active surveillance (AS) selection, safety and durability among men with low-risk prostate cancer assessed using the clinical cell cycle risk (CCR) score, a combined clinical and molecular score. Initial treatment selection (AS vs treatment) and duration of AS were evaluated for men with low-risk prostate cancer according to the CCR score and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Adverse events included biochemical recurrence and metastasis.

Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study of the Diagnostic Yield and Patient Experience of Multiplex Gene Panel Testing For Hereditary Cancer Risk.

Purpose: Multiplex gene panel testing (MGPT) allows for the simultaneous analysis of germline cancer susceptibility genes. This study describes the diagnostic yield and patient experiences of MGPT in diverse populations.

Patients And Methods: This multicenter, prospective cohort study enrolled participants from three cancer genetics clinics-University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, and Stanford Cancer Institute-who met testing guidelines or had a 2.

Identification of men with low-risk biopsy-confirmed prostate cancer as candidates for active surveillance.

Background: A combined clinical cell-cycle risk (CCR) score that incorporates prognostic molecular and clinical information has been recently developed and validated to improve prostate cancer mortality (PCM) risk stratification over clinical features alone. As clinical features are currently used to select men for active surveillance (AS), we developed and validated a CCR score threshold to improve the identification of men with low-risk disease who are appropriate for AS.

Methods: The score threshold was selected based on the 90th percentile of CCR scores among men who might typically be considered for AS based on NCCN low/favorable-intermediate risk criteria (CCR = 0.

Evidence of Skill and Strategy in Daily Fantasy Basketball.

Using hand-collected data from DraftKings.com, a major daily fantasy sports website, we analyze draft selections of thousands of participants in daily fantasy basketball (DFB). In our study, the first thorough examination of DFB, we show that DFB is a game in which skill is necessary for success.

The influence of a gene-expression signature on the treatment of diagnostically challenging melanocytic lesions.

Aim: The effect of a gene-expression-based test on treatment of melanocytic neoplasms by dermatologists was evaluated.

Patients & Methods: Pathologists submitted diagnostically challenging melanocytic neoplasms to a clinical laboratory for testing accompanied by pretest surveys documenting the intended treatment recommendations. The actual treatment rendered by dermatologists was then documented after testing.

The Limitations of the GRE in Predicting Success in Biomedical Graduate School.

Historically, admissions committees for biomedical Ph.D. programs have heavily weighed GRE scores when considering applications for admission.

Assessment of in silico protein sequence analysis in the clinical classification of variants in cancer risk genes.

Missense variants represent a significant proportion of variants identified in clinical genetic testing. In the absence of strong clinical or functional evidence, the American College of Medical Genetics recommends that these findings be classified as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). VUSs may be reclassified to better inform patient care when new evidence is available.

Increased Identification of Candidates for High-Risk Breast Cancer Screening Through Expanded Genetic Testing.

Purpose: Breast MRI screening is recommended for women with a >20% lifetime risk for breast cancer on the basis of estimates derived from risk models dependent largely on family history. Alternatively, a >20% lifetime risk can be established through genetic testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2, as well as a growing selection of other genes associated with inherited breast cancer risk. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of testing for genes other than BRCA1/2 and the extent to which mutation carriers in these genes would have been identified as candidates for enhanced screening on the basis of family history alone.

The influence of a gene expression signature on the diagnosis and recommended treatment of melanocytic tumors by dermatopathologists.

It is well documented that histopathologic examination is sometimes inadequate for accurate and reproducible diagnosis of certain melanocytic neoplasms. Recently, a 23-gene expression signature has been clinically validated as an adjunctive diagnostic test to differentiate benign nevi from malignant melanomas. This study aimed to quantify the impact of this test on diagnosis and treatment recommendations made by dermatopathologists.

Cell cycle progression score is a marker for five-year lung cancer-specific mortality risk in patients with resected stage I lung adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: The goals of our study were (a) to validate a molecular expression signature (cell cycle progression [CCP] score and molecular prognostic score [mPS; combination of CCP and pathological stage {IA or IB}]) that identifies stage I lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) patients with a higher risk of cancer-specific death following curative-intent surgical resection, and (b) to determine whether mPS stratifies prognosis within stage I lung ADC histological subtypes.

Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded stage I lung ADC tumor samples from 1200 patients were analyzed for 31 proliferation genes by quantitative RT-PCR. Prognostic discrimination of CCP score and mPS was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression, using 5-year lung cancer-specific mortality as the primary outcome.

Lynch Syndrome Patients with Limited Family History Identified in a Laboratory Setting: A Descriptive Study.

Objective: Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer before the age of 50 years are recommended for Lynch syndrome (LS) testing according to current clinical guidelines. However, many patients are not identified because of the stringent guidelines on existing diagnostic criteria. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the ability of existing criteria to adequately ascertain patients appropriate for LS genetic testing.

Erratum to: Incidence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 non-founder mutations in patients of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

In Table 2 of the original publication, the HGVS and legacy nomenclature were mismatched and the HGVS nomenclature did not correlate with data listed in the table. The corrected table is listed below.

Incidence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 non-founder mutations in patients of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

An estimated 1:40 individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) ancestry carry one of three common founder mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2, resulting in the inherited cancer condition, Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome. Targeted testing for these three mutations (BRCA1 187delAG, BRCA1 5385insC, and BRCA2 6174delT) is therefore recommended for all AJ breast and ovarian cancer patients, regardless of age of diagnosis or family history. Comprehensive analysis of both genes is recommended for a subset of AJ patients in whom founder mutations are not identified, but estimates of the yield from comprehensive analysis in this population vary widely.

Lessons learned from a data-driven college access program: The National College Advising Corps.

This chapter discusses the collaboration between a national college access program, the National College Advising Corps (NCAC), and its research and evaluation team at Stanford University. NCAC is currently active in almost four hundred high schools and through the placement of a recent college graduate to serve as a college adviser provides necessary information and support for students who may find it difficult to navigate the complex college admission process. The advisers also conduct outreach to underclassmen in an effort to improve the school-wide college-going culture.

Phase I trial of verubulin (MPC-6827) plus carboplatin in patients with relapsed glioblastoma multiforme.

Verubulin (MPC-6827) is a microtubule-destabilizing agent that achieves high concentrations in the brain. Verubulin disrupts newly formed blood vessels in xenografts. We determined the safety and tolerability of verubulin administered in combination with carboplatin in patients with relapsed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Phase I clinical trial of MPC-6827 (Azixa), a microtubule destabilizing agent, in patients with advanced cancer.

MPC-6827 (Azixa) is a small-molecule microtubule-destabilizing agent that binds to the same (or nearby) sites on β-tubulin as colchicine. This phase I study was designed to determine the dose-limiting toxicities (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and pharmacokinetics (PK) of MPC-6827 in patients with solid tumors. Patients with advanced/metastatic cancer were treated with once-weekly, 1- to 2-hour intravenous administration of MPC-6827 for 3 consecutive weeks every 28 days (1 cycle).

Relationship of initial hematocrit level to discharge destination and resource utilization after ischemic stroke: a pilot study.

Objective: To examine the association between initial hematocrit level at the time of ischemic stroke, discharge destination, and resource utilization.

Design: Case series.

Setting: University hospital.