GD2 and its biosynthetic enzyme GD3 synthase promote tumorigenesis in prostate cancer by regulating cancer stem cell behavior.

While better management of loco-regional prostate cancer (PC) has greatly improved survival, advanced PC remains a major cause of cancer deaths. Identification of novel targetable pathways that contribute to tumor progression in PC could open new therapeutic options. The di-ganglioside GD2 is a target of FDA-approved antibody therapies in neuroblastoma, but the role of GD2 in PC is unexplored.

EHD1-dependent traffic of IGF-1 receptor to the cell surface is essential for Ewing sarcoma tumorigenesis and metastasis.

Overexpression of the EPS15 Homology Domain containing 1 (EHD1) protein has been linked to tumorigenesis but whether its core function as a regulator of intracellular traffic of cell surface receptors plays a role in oncogenesis remains unknown. We establish that EHD1 is overexpressed in Ewing sarcoma (EWS), with high EHD1 mRNA expression specifying shorter patient survival. ShRNA-knockdown and CRISPR-knockout with mouse Ehd1 rescue established a requirement of EHD1 for tumorigenesis and metastasis.

Lenalidomide maintenance following high-dose therapy and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in chemo-resistant or high-risk non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A phase I/II study.

Improved maintenance treatments are needed for patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive lymphomas after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Several studies with lenalidomide have been found to have activity in the treatment of relapsed/refractory aggressive lymphomas. In the present phase I/II, single-arm, open-label study, 59 patients with high-risk relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma received pretransplant BEAM chemotherapy and ASCT followed by 12 months of maintenance lenalidomide once daily on Days 1-21 (28-day cycles) beginning at post-transplantation Day 100.

GD2 and its biosynthetic enzyme GD3 synthase promote tumorigenesis in prostate cancer by regulating cancer stem cell behavior.

While better management of loco-regional prostate cancer (PC) has greatly improved survival, advanced PC remains a major cause of cancer deaths. Identification of novel targetable pathways that contribute to tumor progression in PC could open new therapeutic options. The di-ganglioside GD2 is a target of FDA-approved antibody therapies in neuroblastoma, but the role of GD2 in PC is unexplored.

EHD1-dependent traffic of IGF-1 receptor to the cell surface is essential for Ewing sarcoma tumorigenesis and metastasis.

Overexpression of EPS15 Homology Domain containing 1 (EHD1) has been linked to tumorigenesis but whether its core function as a regulator of intracellular traffic of cell surface receptors plays a role in oncogenesis remains unknown. We establish that EHD1 is overexpressed in Ewing sarcoma (EWS), with high EHD mRNA expression specifying shorter patient survival. ShRNA and CRISPR-knockout with mouse Ehd1 rescue established a requirement of EHD1 for tumorigenesis and metastasis.

EHD2 overexpression promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer by regulating store-operated calcium entry.

With nearly all cancer deaths a result of metastasis, elucidating novel pro-metastatic cellular adaptations could provide new therapeutic targets. Here, we show that overexpression of the EPS15-Homology Domain-containing 2 (EHD2) protein in a large subset of breast cancers (BCs), especially the triple-negative (TNBC) and HER2+ subtypes, correlates with shorter patient survival. The mRNAs for EHD2 and Caveolin-1/2, structural components of caveolae, show co-overexpression across breast tumors, predicting shorter survival in basal-like BC.

A general class of small area estimation using calibrated hierarchical likelihood approach with applications to COVID-19 data.

The direct estimation techniques in small area estimation (SAE) models require sufficiently large sample sizes to provide accurate estimates. Hence, indirect model-based methodologies are developed to incorporate auxiliary information. The most commonly used SAE models, including the Fay-Herriot (FH) model and its extended models, are estimated using marginal likelihood estimation and the Bayesian methods, which rely heavily on the computationally intensive integration of likelihood function.

Bloodstream Infections in Hematologic Malignancy Patients With Fever and Neutropenia: Are Empirical Antibiotic Therapies in the United States Still Effective?

Background: Rising antimicrobial resistance rates may impact the efficacy of empirical antibiotic treatment for febrile neutropenia in high-risk cancer patients. Lacking contemporary data about the epidemiology, antibiotic resistance patterns, and clinical outcomes from bloodstream infections (BSIs) in US cancer patients, it is unclear if current guidelines remain relevant.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 14 US cancer centers prospectively identified BSIs in high-risk febrile neutropenic (FN) patients, including those receiving chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Gender Differences in Recommended Treatment Decisions among Breast Cancer Patients: A Study Using the National Cancer Database.

Background: Previous studies have explored surgery refusal among female breast cancer patients. However, little attention has been given to other therapies in both females and males. The goal of this study was to determine the potential role of gender on recommended hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery refusal and to describe other determinants of refusal.

An assessment of factors associated with neurocognitive decline in people living with HIV.

Despite the widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (NCI) remains a health concern. However, limited research has been done to identify factors associated with neurocognitive decline. We assessed risk factors associated with neurocognitive decline in people living with HIV using a definition of decline that is statistically easy to adopt, is based on a commonly used neuropsychological cut-off and may be clinically relevant.

Comparison of Urban-Rural Readmission Rates After Colorectal Cancer Surgery: Findings From a Privately Insured Population.

Objectives: We assessed the 30-day readmission rate of a privately insured population diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) who had primary tumor resection in rural and urban communities.

Methods: Claims data of people aged <65 with a diagnosis of CRC between 2012 and 2016 and enrolled in a private health plan administered by BlueCross BlueShield of Nebraska were analyzed. Readmission was defined as the number of discharged patients who were readmitted within 30 days, divided by all discharged patients.

Bile acid indices as biomarkers for liver diseases II: The bile acid score survival prognostic model.

Background: Cholestatic liver diseases are characterized by an accumulation of toxic bile acids (BA) in the liver, blood and other tissues which lead to progressive liver injury and poor prognosis in patients.

Aim: To discover and validate prognostic biomarkers of cholestatic liver diseases based on the urinary BA profile.

Methods: We analyzed urine samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and investigated the use of the urinary BA profile to develop survival models that can predict the prognosis of hepatobiliary diseases.

Needs for Cancer Education In Oman Based on the Breast Cancer Screening Program.

Most breast cancers in Oman are diagnosed at advanced stages and therefore early detection is important. The Oman Cancer Association (OCA) initiated a mobile mammography program in 2009, but no studies have evaluated its impact. This study aimed at estimating the proportion and predictors of OCA-screened women who had repeated mammography (adherence) and the sensitivity and specificity of the program.

Bile acid indices as biomarkers for liver diseases I: Diagnostic markers.

Background: Hepatobiliary diseases result in the accumulation of toxic bile acids (BA) in the liver, blood, and other tissues which may contribute to an unfavorable prognosis.

Aim: To discover and validate diagnostic biomarkers of cholestatic liver diseases based on the urinary BA profile.

Methods: We analyzed urine samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and compared the urinary BA profile between 300 patients with hepatobiliary diseases 103 healthy controls by statistical analysis.

F-Fluorothymidine PET is an early and superior predictor of progression-free survival following chemoimmunotherapy of diffuse large B cell lymphoma: a multicenter study.

Purpose: To determine whether interim 3'-deoxy-3'-[F]fluorothymidine (iFLT) PET/CT is a superior predictor of progression-free survival (PFS) compared with interim F-fluorodeoxyglucose (iFDG) PET/CT in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) or rituximab, etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin (R-EPOCH).

Methods: Ninety-two prospectively enrolled patients with DLBCL underwent both FLT-PET/CT and FDG-PET/CT 18-24 days after two cycles of R-CHOP/R-EPOCH. Deauville-criteria, PERCIST1.

The impact of treatment facility type on the survival of brain metastases patients regardless of the primary cancer type.

Background: Cancer patients with brain metastases (BMs) require multidisciplinary care, and treatment facility may play a role. This study aimed to investigate the impact of receiving treatment at academic centers on the overall survival (OS) of cancer patients with brain metastases (BMs) regardless of the primary cancer site.

Methods: This retrospective analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) included patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, small-cell lung cancer, other types of lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, and kidney cancer and had brain metastases at the time of diagnosis.

Neurocognitive status and risk of mortality among people living with human immunodeficiency virus: an 18-year retrospective cohort study.

HIV-related neurocognitive impairment (NCI) may increase the risk of death. However, a survival disadvantage for patients with NCI has not been well studied in the post-combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) era. Specifically, limited research has been conducted considering the reversible nature and variable progression of the impairment and this area demands further evaluation.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake: Differences Between Rural and Urban Privately-Insured Population.

Earlier studies investigated rural-urban colorectal cancer (CRC) screening disparities among older adults or used surveys. The objective was to compare screening uptake between rural and urban individuals 50-64 years of age using private health insurance. Data were analyzed from 58,774 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska beneficiaries.

The impact of stereotactic body radiation therapy on the overall survival of patients diagnosed with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Background And Purpose: Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) has emerged as a standard treatment for inoperable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with remarkable local control. However, it is not clear if this local control translates to overall survival (OS). The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of SBRT on the OS of early-stage NSCLC patients and examine if the extent of this impact changes with the era of diagnosis, T stage, age, and comorbidity status.

The Association of the Sequence of Immunotherapy With the Survival of Unresectable Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Immunotherapy has shown great success in various malignancies. However, its efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a challenge, and the lack of understanding about the appropriate timing of immunotherapy with other standard-of-care cancer treatments may be one of the causes. The objective of the current study is to investigate the impact of the timing of immunotherapy with chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) on the overall survival (OS) of PDAC patients who did not receive surgical resection of the pancreatic tumor.

Association of Immunotherapy With Survival Among Patients With Brain Metastases Whose Cancer Was Managed With Definitive Surgery of the Primary Tumor.

Importance: Immunotherapy has shown significant control of intracranial metastases in patients with melanoma. However, the association of immunotherapy combined with other cancer treatments and overall survival (OS) of patients with brain metastases, regardless of primary tumor site, is unknown.

Objective: To explore the association of immunotherapy with OS in patients with cancer and brain metastases who received definitive surgery of the primary site.

The impact of immunotherapy on the survival of pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients who do not receive definitive surgery of the tumor.

Background And Purpose: Immunotherapy has shown great efficacy in many cancers, but its role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of immunotherapy on the overall survival of PDAC patients who did not receive definitive surgery of the pancreatic primary tumor site using the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

Materials And Methods: Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who did not receive surgery were identified from NCDB.