Trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity.

Purpose/objectives: To review trastuzumab-related cardiotoxic effects in the breast cancer adjuvant setting, present a system for pretreatment screening for cardiovascular risk factors, describe monitoring recommendations, provide a tool to facilitate adherence to monitoring guidelines, and discuss implications for patient education.

Data Sources: Literature regarding cardiotoxicity and trastuzumab in breast cancer.

Data Synthesis: Trastuzumab was approved in 2006 for use in the adjuvant setting.

Measurement of the risk for substance use disorders: phenotypic and genetic analysis of an index of common liability.

The inability to quantify the risk for disorders, such as substance use disorders (SUD), hinders etiology research and development of targeted intervention. Based on the concept of common transmissible liability to SUD related to illicit drugs, a method enabling quantification of this latent trait has been developed, utilizing high-risk design and item response theory. This study examined properties of a SUD transmissible liability index (TLI) derived using this method.

Predictors of enrollment into a familial cancer registry by individuals at high risk for BRCA1/2.

Background: Registries of individuals at risk for hereditary cancer syndromes are an invaluable resource for cancer research, yet little is known about the predictors of enrollment in hereditary cancer registries. We sought to identify the factors that characterize individuals who enroll versus those who decline participation in a Familial Cancer Registry (FCR). We also sought to identify the factors associated with provision of a blood sample to the FCR.