Publications by authors named "D Spratt"
Purpose: To evaluate evidence on germline and somatic genomic testing for patients with metastatic prostate cancer and provide recommendations.
Methods: A systematic review by a multidisciplinary panel with patient representation was conducted. The PubMed database was searched from January 2018 to May 2024.
Background: Patients treated with RT and long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ltADT) for high-risk localized prostate cancer (HRLPC) with 1 high-risk factor (any of Gleason ≥8, PSA > 20 ng/mL, ≥cT3; "high-risk") have better outcomes than those with 2-3 factors and/or cN1 disease ("very high risk"). We evaluated whether this risk stratification could determine benefit from ltADT versus short-term (stADT).
Methods: The Intermediate Clinical Endpoints in Cancer of the Prostate (ICECaP) repository of randomized trials was queried to identify eligible patients and trials.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the impact of recent evidence favoring stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) over conventional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for treating metastatic spine disease on insurance approval rates.
- Before the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) included this evidence in their guidelines, 25% of trial-eligible patients faced SBRT insurance denials; after inclusion, that rate dropped to 12.5% among a smaller group.
- Although the reduction in denials is notable, the small sample size makes it statistically insignificant, underscoring the need for more research and timely updates to clinical guidelines.
Experimental approaches to investigate biophysical interactions between homeodomain transcription factors and DNA.
Biochim Biophys Acta Gene Regul Mech
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- Homeodomain transcription factors (TFs) bind to specific DNA sequences, influencing target gene expression, but their binding affinity and specificity remain largely unclear.
- Various qualitative methods like DNA footprinting and EMSAs are commonly used to study TF-DNA interactions, while bioinformatics also plays a role in discovering TF binding sites.
- The text highlights the pros and cons of these methods and suggests that more quantitative approaches, such as MITOMI and MST, could enhance our understanding of the biophysical aspects of TF-DNA binding and improve predictive models.