The karyometric signature is altered in fallopian tubes with serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma.

Objective: Recent evidence suggests that the fimbriated end of the fallopian tube harbors the precursor cells for many high-grade ovarian cancers, opening the door for development of better screening methods that directly assess the fallopian tube in women at risk for malignancy. Previously we have shown that the karyometric signature is abnormal in the fallopian tube epithelium in women at hereditary risk of ovarian cancer. In this study, we sought to determine whether the karyometric signature in serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) is significantly different from normal, and whether an abnormal karyometric signature can be detected in histologically normal tubal epithelial cells adjacent to STIC lesions.

Progestin Significantly Inhibits Carcinogenesis in the Mogp-TAg Transgenic Mouse Model of Fallopian Tube Cancer.

Recent studies suggest that the fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) harbors the precursor for high-grade ovarian cancer, creating opportunities for targeting the FTE for ovarian cancer prevention. Preclinical evidence supports progestins as ovarian cancer preventives, but the effect of progestins on the FTE is not well characterized. The murine oviduct-specific glycoprotein promotor-driven simian virus 40 large T-Antigen (mogp-TAg) transgenic mouse model develops neoplastic lesions in the fallopian tube in a manner similar to that described in human fallopian tube and ovarian cancers.

Sub-millimeter endoscope demonstrates feasibility of in vivo reflectance imaging, fluorescence imaging, and cell collection in the fallopian tubes.

Significance: Most cases of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma originate as serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) lesions in the fallopian tube epithelium (FTE), enabling early endoscopic detection.

Aim: The cell-acquiring fallopian endoscope (CAFE) was built to meet requirements for locating potentially pathological tissue indicated by an alteration in autofluorescence or presence of a targeted fluorophore. A channel was included for directed scrape biopsy of cells from regions of interest.

Association between C-reactive protein and radiotherapy-related pain in a tri-racial/ethnic population of breast cancer patients: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Post-surgery adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) significantly improves clinical outcomes in breast cancer patients; however, some patients develop cancer or treatment-related pain that negatively impacts quality of life. This study examined an inflammatory biomarker, C-reactive protein (CRP), in RT-related pain in breast cancer.

Methods: During 2008 and 2014, breast cancer patients who underwent RT were prospectively evaluated for pre- and post-RT pain.

Effect of actionable somatic mutations on racial/ethnic disparities in head and neck cancer prognosis.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and minorities have the worst survival. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying survival disparities have not been elucidated.

Methods: In a retrospective study, we assessed association between HNSCC early death (<2 years) and 208 somatic mutations of 10 cancer-related genes in 214 patients: 98 non-Hispanic whites (46%), 72 Hispanic whites (34%), and 44 African Americans (20%).

Characterization of risk factors for adjuvant radiotherapy-associated pain in a tri-racial/ethnic breast cancer population.

Pain related to cancer or treatment is a critical quality of life issue for breast cancer survivors. In a prospective study of 375 patients with breast cancer (enrolled during 2008-2014), we characterized the risk factors for adjuvant radiotherapy (RT)-associated pain. Pain score was assessed at pre-RT and post-RT as the mean of 4 pain severity items (ie, pain at its worst, least, average, and now) from the Brief Pain Inventory with 11-point numeric rating scale (0-10).

Prospective evaluation of radiation-induced skin toxicity in a race/ethnically diverse breast cancer population.

We evaluated predictors of radiation-induced skin toxicity in a prospective study of a tri-racial/ethnic breast cancer population. We evaluated patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment variables in the first 392 patients in a prospective study assessing radiation-induced skin toxicity. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate potential predictors of skin toxicity.