Characteristics of cross-hybridization and cross-alignment of expression in pseudo-xenograft samples by RNA-Seq and microarrays.

Background: Exploring stromal changes associated with tumor growth and development is a growing area of oncologic research. In order to study molecular changes in the stroma it is recommended to separate tumor tissue from stromal tissue. This is relevant to xenograft models where tumors can be small and difficult to separate from host tissue.

Will periodic intravenous injections of conditioned bone marrow cells effectively reduce atherosclerosis?

Maintenance of healthy arteries requires a balance between injuries to the arterial wall and processes of intrinsic arterial repair. Such repair requires the availability of progenitor cells that are local to the wall itself. Progenitor cells from distant reservoirs like the bone marrow may also contribute to repair.

The role of SATB1 in breast cancer pathogenesis.

Background: SATB1 has been previously proposed as a key protein that controls the development and progression of breast cancer. We explored the potential of the SATB1 protein as a therapeutic target and prognostic marker for human breast cancer.

Methods: We used aggressive (MDA-MB-231 and BT549) and nonaggressive (SKBR3 and MCF7) breast cancer cell lines to investigate the potential of SATB1 as a therapeutic target.

Final results of a phase II study of nab-paclitaxel, bevacizumab, and gemcitabine as first-line therapy for patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

In order to examine the efficacy and safety of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-P) in combination with bevacizumab (B) and gemcitabine (G) for the first-line treatment of patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In this single-center, open-label phase II trial, patients with HER2-negative MBC received gemcitabine 1500 mg/m(2), nab-paclitaxel 150 mg/m(2), and bevacizumab 10 mg/kg (each administered intravenously) on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. The primary end point was progression free survival (PFS); secondary end points were overall response rate (ORR), complete (CR) and partial (PR) response rates, clinical benefit (ORR + stable disease), overall survival (OS), and safety.

Statistical expression deconvolution from mixed tissue samples.

Motivation: Global expression patterns within cells are used for purposes ranging from the identification of disease biomarkers to basic understanding of cellular processes. Unfortunately, tissue samples used in cancer studies are usually composed of multiple cell types and the non-cancerous portions can significantly affect expression profiles. This severely limits the conclusions that can be made about the specificity of gene expression in the cell-type of interest.

Geriatric oncology: past, present, future.

Efforts to integrate geriatric oncology principles in the training of all medical oncologists are underway.

Evaluation of agreement between physicians' notation of 'no evidence of disease' (NED) and patients' report of cancer status.

This study examines extent of agreement between oncologists' and cancer patients' reports of current cancer status. Participants with history of cancer were given a comprehensive geriatric assessment in which they were asked whether they had cancer at the present time. This was compared to cancer status concurrently recorded by their physicians in the chart.

Aging and cancer.

A substantial increase in the number of elderly people in the populations of developed nations in the coming years has been projected. Persons 65 years and older are at significantly higher risk of developing cancer when compared to younger individuals. There is a resulting increase in cancer incidence as well as mortality in this advanced age group.

The association between oral health and general health and quality of life in older male cancer patients.

Objectives: To describe the long-term effects of oral health problems on quality of life (QoL), functional status, pain, and general health in older male cancer patients.

Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective observational study.

Setting: Community dwelling cancer patients served by a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital.

Retinoic acid receptor-beta2 promoter methylation in random periareolar fine needle aspiration.

Methylation of the retinoic acid receptor-beta2 (RARbeta2) P2 promoter is hypothesized to be an important mechanism for loss of RARbeta2 function during early mammary carcinogenesis. The frequency of RARbeta2 P2 methylation was tested in (a) 16 early stage breast cancers and (b) 67 random periareolar fine needle aspiration (RPFNA) samples obtained from 38 asymptomatic women who were at increased risk for breast cancer. Risk was defined as either (a) 5-year Gail risk calculation > or = 1.

Effects of cancer history and comorbid conditions on mortality and healthcare use among older cancer survivors.

Background: Older cancer survivors use healthcare services to an increased extent relative to their counterparts who have no history of malignant disease. In the current study, the authors set out to assess the effects of cancer history and comorbid conditions on healthcare use and mortality.

Methods: Using information from the 1992 North Carolina Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly database, study participants were classified as having no history of malignant disease or as having a recent (cancer diagnosed < 1 year earlier), intermediate (cancer diagnosed 1-6 years earlier), or remote (cancer diagnosed > 6 years earlier) history of malignancy.

Assessing a prostate cancer brachytherapy technique using early patient-reported symptoms: a potential early indicator for technology assessment?

Brachytherapy for early prostate cancer can cause long-term urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunction. Modifying technique may mitigate complications, but definitive outcome assessment requires long-term follow-up. Although radiation dose plausibly mediates all treatment-related toxicity, short-term symptoms may indicate long-term outcomes.

Geriatric assessment and comorbidity.

Elderly persons, a rapidly growing population segment, have an increased incidence of cancer. The older cancer patient's clinical evaluation and treatment is influenced by conditions such as disabilities, comorbidity, and functional status, along with tumor type and stage. These conditions and other geriatric syndromes can be identified by comprehensive geriatric assessment to guide therapy and affect prognosis and quality of life.

Function in elderly cancer survivors depends on comorbidities.

Background: Factors associated with functional status in elderly cancer survivors, in particular, comorbidity, have been inadequately studied.

Methods: Of 4162 participants aged 65 and older enrolled in the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly study in 1986, 376 of the participants self-reported a diagnosis of cancer. Participants were divided into 2 comorbidity groups and 4 cancer groups.

Comprehensive assessment of the elderly cancer patient: the feasibility of self-report methodology.

Purpose: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) has aided the medical community greatly in understanding the quality-of-life issues and functional needs of older patients. With its professional team assessment approach, however, CGA may be time consuming and costly. The goal of the present study was to assess the ability of cancer patients to complete a self-administered CGA and then to characterize cancer patients across multiple domains and age groups.