Publications by authors named "Kristen Whitaker"

Background: There is a shortage of equine veterinarians. Understanding what factors are associated with job satisfaction in equine veterinarians can inform interventions to increase retention in equine medicine.

Objective: To explore the prominent factors causing work dissatisfaction and burnout in equine veterinarians.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Underrepresented populations' participation in clinical trials remains limited, and the potential impact of genomic variants on drug metabolism remains elusive. This study aimed to assess the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacogenomics (PGx) of ribociclib in self-identified Black women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2) advanced breast cancer. LEANORA (NCT04657679) was a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study involving 14 Black women.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Underrepresented groups continue to face challenges in participating in clinical trials, specifically regarding the effects of genetic variations on how drugs are processed in the body.
  • This study focused on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics of the medication ribociclib in Black women with advanced breast cancer, revealing a mix of metabolizer types among participants.
  • No significant differences were found in drug exposure or adverse events across different metabolizer groups, highlighting the need for further research and inclusion of diverse populations in clinical trials for more equitable healthcare outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: To examine clinical characteristics, real-world treatment patterns, and health outcomes among patients with germline -mutated, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer (ABC).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using medical records from patients with HER2-negative ABC with mutation who received cytotoxic chemotherapy. Data were stratified into groups with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) or hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2-negative diagnoses.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: DESTINY B04 provided clinical meaning to a new classification of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) expression in breast cancer: HER2-low. Patients with germline breast cancer type 1 gene pathogenic variants (gBRCA1) often develop triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), but the proportion who could be classified as HER2-low and qualify for an additional targeted therapy option is unknown. This study aims to characterize the proportion of gBRCA1 or germline breast cancer type 2 gene pathogenic variants patients for whom these novel targeted therapies may be an option.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Prognosis for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is poor, but patients with gBRCAm mutations may benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy and olaparib maintenance therapy after 16 weeks without disease progression.
  • - Genetic testing for gBRCAm and other DNA damage response mutations is crucial for effective treatment, yet clinical pathways for testing often have issues that delay treatment and limit personalized care.
  • - Barriers to genetic testing include low physician referral rates, delays, cost, and patient concerns about implications, but solutions such as integrating testing into routine care and improving genetic counseling access could enhance testing uptake and treatment outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Black women in the USA have a higher incidence and mortality of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) than White women, while Hispanic women have lower rates. Previous studies have focused on first-line (1L) treatment, but little is known about racial differences in treatment beyond 1L and their impact on outcomes.

Methods: This analysis utilized data from an electronic health record derived de-identified database and included patients with HR+HER2- mBC initiating 2L treatment (including CDK4/6-inhibitor [CDKi]-based, endocrine monotherapy, everolimus combination therapy, and chemotherapy and other systemic therapies) between 2/3/2015 and 7/31/2021.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Recreational physical activity (RPA) is associated with improved survival after breast cancer (BC) in average-risk women, but evidence is limited for women who are at increased familial risk because of a BC family history or and pathogenic variants ( PVs).

Methods: We estimated associations of RPA (self-reported average hours per week within 3 years of BC diagnosis) with all-cause mortality and second BC events (recurrence or new primary) after first invasive BC in women in the Prospective Family Study Cohort (n = 4610, diagnosed 1993-2011, aged 22-79 years at diagnosis). We fitted Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for age at diagnosis, demographics, and lifestyle factors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Women at an elevated lifetime risk for breast cancer (BC), including carriers of pathogenic mutations in BC predisposition genes, are recommended intensified BC screening that includes annual mammography (MG) and annual breast MRI. Controversy exists regarding the clinical utility of MRI as a screening tool in high-risk women. This paper is intended to review recent advances and remaining areas of uncertainty in order to further facilitate the incorporation of breast MRI into an intensified BC screening protocol for women at high familial risk and BRCA carriers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Although physical activity is associated with lower breast cancer risk for average-risk women, it is not known if this association applies to women at high familial/genetic risk. We examined the association of recreational physical activity (self-reported by questionnaire) with breast cancer risk using the Prospective Family Study Cohort, which is enriched with women who have a breast cancer family history ( = 15,550). We examined associations of adult and adolescent recreational physical activity (quintiles of age-adjusted total metabolic equivalents per week) with breast cancer risk using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted for demographics, lifestyle factors, and body mass index.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To establish a cohort of high-risk women undergoing intensive surveillance for breast cancer. We performed dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI every 6 months in conjunction with annual mammography (MG). Eligible participants had a cumulative lifetime breast cancer risk ≥20% and/or tested positive for a pathogenic mutation in a known breast cancer susceptibility gene.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The advent of exponential growth of novel agents tested and approved for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has brought about a need for understanding of the mechanism of action, side-effects, and clinical efficacy of these drugs as they relate to these patients. This review will provide a synopsis of the treatment landscape in mCRPC as varying agents such as abiraterone acetate, cabazitaxel, sipuleucel-T, radium, and selected emerging agents are presented. A distinct focus on the utilization of enzalutamide, its mechanism of action, key pivotal trials that brought about its US Food and Drug Administration approval, as well as patient-focused perspectives and clinical implications are discussed herein.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF