Reduction of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in prostate cancer murine models and patients following white button mushroom treatment.

Background: In a previously reported Phase I trial, we observed therapy-associated declines in circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) with the administration of white button mushroom (WBM) tablets in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. These observations led us to hypothesise that WBM could mitigate PCa progression by suppressing MDSCs.

Methods: We performed bidirectional translational research to examine the immunomodulatory effects of WBM consumption in both syngeneic murine PCa models and patients with PCa participating in an ongoing randomised Phase II trial (NCT04519879).

Overcoming Delays in the Progress against Cancer: Identifying Tobacco Use among Cancer Patients Enrolled in Clinical Trials.

Though smoking causes adverse cancer treatment outcomes and smoking cessation can improve survival, prior literature demonstrates deficits in collecting tobacco use information in clinical trials. Results by Streck and colleagues represent a thorough structured assessment of tobacco use and alternative tobacco product use in patients enrolled in cooperative group trials. Among patients with predominantly non-tobacco related cancers, observations demonstrate that approximately 27% of patients reported using one or more forms of tobacco use after diagnosis.

Data envelopment analysis to evaluate the efficiency of tobacco treatment programs in the NCI Moonshot Cancer Center Cessation Initiative.

Background: The Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Moonshot Program that supports NCI-designated cancer centers developing tobacco treatment programs for oncology patients who smoke. C3I-funded centers implement evidence-based programs that offer various smoking cessation treatment components (e.g.

Integrating Tobacco Treatment Into Oncology Care: Reach and Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Tobacco Treatment Across National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers.

Purpose: Quitting smoking improves patients' clinical outcomes, yet smoking is not commonly addressed as part of cancer care. The Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I) supports National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers to integrate tobacco treatment programs (TTPs) into routine cancer care. C3I centers vary in size, implementation strategies used, and treatment approaches.

Does neighborhood or residence influence continued smoking among cancer patients: a spatial-ecological and descriptive analyses brief report.

Purpose: Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis is causally linked to cancer-specific and all-cause mortality. Additionally, smoking, in particular after a cancer diagnosis, increases risk for poor therapeutic outcomes, chronic disease and even COV19 infection.

Methods: In order to better understand and address continued smoking among cancer patients, this research applied geospatial mapping analysis to explore the potential association of dedicated smoke/vape shops density and smoking among cancer patients.

Increasing clinician participation in tobacco cessation by an implementation science-based tobacco cessation champion program.

Background: We designed a process to increase tobacco cessation in an academic center and its widely distributed network community sites using clinical champions to overcome referral barriers.

Methods: In 2020 a needs assessment was performed across the City of Hope Medical Center and its 32 community treatment sites. We reviewed information science strategies to choose elements for our expanded tobacco control plan, focusing on distributed leadership with tobacco cessation champions.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tobacco Treatment Program Implementation at National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted cancer screening and treatment delivery, but COVID-19's impact on tobacco cessation treatment for cancer patients who smoke has not been widely explored.

Aims And Methods: We conducted a sequential cross-sectional analysis of data collected from 34 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers participating in NCI's Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I), across three reporting periods: one prior to COVID-19 (January-June 2019) and two during the pandemic (January-June 2020, January-June 2021). Using McNemar's Test of Homogeneity, we assessed changes in services offered and implementation activities over time.

Tragic Triad of Tobacco Dependence, Cancer, and COVID-19 Pandemic: An Urgent Call for Attention by Health Care Systems and Professionals.

Tobacco smoke is a well-known carcinogen associated with multiple malignancies. Patients with cancer, as well as survivors, who continue to smoke are at a greater risk for poor cancer treatment outcomes. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is increased frequency and severity of the infection in patients with cancer.

Phase I/II trial of palbociclib, pembrolizumab and letrozole in patients with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Background: CDK4/6 inhibitors modulate immune response in breast cancer. This phase I/II trial was designed to test the safety and efficacy of palbociclib, pembrolizumab and letrozole in women with hormone receptor positive (HR) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2) metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Patients And Methods: Women with stage IV HR HER2 MBC were enrolled and treated with palbociclib, pembrolizumab and letrozole.

Phase II study of neratinib in older adults with HER2 amplified or HER2/3 mutated metastatic breast cancer.

Objective: The tolerability and efficacy of targeted therapy in older adults with cancer has not been adequately studied. Neratinib is a novel HER1, HER2, HER4 tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has recently been granted FDA approval for treatment of breast cancer. The major toxicity of neratinib is diarrhea, which affects up to 90% of patients.

Implementing Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention in Academic Centers, Affiliated Network Offices and Collaborating Care Sites.

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest and yet largely preventable neoplasms. Smoking cessation and lung cancer screening are effective yet underutilized lung cancer interventions. City of Hope Medical Center, a National Cancer Institute (NCI)- designated comprehensive cancer center, has 27 community cancer centers and has prioritized tobacco control and lung cancer screening throughout its network.

Strategies to Improve Participation of Older Adults in Cancer Research.

Cancer is a disease associated with aging. As the US population ages, the number of older adults with cancer is projected to dramatically increase. Despite this, older adults remain vastly underrepresented in research that sets the standards for cancer treatments and, consequently, clinicians struggle with how to interpret data from clinical trials and apply them to older adults in practice.

Application of a drug-induced apoptosis assay to identify treatment strategies in recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.

Background: A drug-induced apoptosis assay has been developed to determine which chemotherapy drugs or regimens can produce higher cell killing in vitro. This study was done to determine if this assay could be performed in patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer patients, to characterize the patterns of drug-induced apoptosis, and to evaluate the clinical utility of the assay. A secondary goal was to correlate assay use with clinical outcomes.

Correlation of the microculture-kinetic drug-induced apoptosis assay with patient outcomes in initial treatment of adult acute myelocytic leukemia.

Overall survival (OS) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains poor. Determining prognostic factors will help in selecting patients for appropriate treatments. Our aim was to determine whether the level of drug-induced apoptosis (chemosensitivity) demonstrated by the microculture-kinetic drug-induced apoptosis (MiCK) assay significantly predicted outcomes after standard AML induction therapy.

Correlation of pretreatment drug induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells with patient survival and clinical response.

Background: This study was performed to determine if a chemotherapy-induced apoptosis assay (MiCK) could predict the best therapy for patients with ovarian cancer.

Methods: A prospective, multi-institutional and blinded trial of the assay was conducted in 104 evaluable ovarian cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. The MiCK assay was performed prior to therapy, but treating physicians were not told of the results and selected treatment only on clinical criteria.

The microculture-kinetic (MiCK) assay: the role of a drug-induced apoptosis assay in drug development and clinical care.

A drug-induced apoptosis assay, termed the microculture-kinetic (MiCK) assay, has been developed. Blinded clinical trials have shown higher response rates and longer survival in groups of patients with acute myelocytic leukemia and epithelial ovarian cancer who have been treated with drugs that show high apoptosis in the MiCK assay. Unblinded clinical trials in multiple tumor types have shown that the assay will be used frequently by clinicians to determine treatment, and when used, results in higher response rates, longer times to relapse, and longer survivals.

Correlation of drug-induced apoptosis assay results with oncologist treatment decisions and patient response and survival.

Background: An observational prospective nonblinded clinical trial was performed to determine the effect of a drug-induced apoptosis assay results on treatments planned by oncologists.

Methods: Purified cancer cells from patient biopsies were placed into the MiCK (Microculture Kinetic) assay, a short-term culture, which determined the effects of single drugs or combinations of drugs on tumor cell apoptosis. An oncologist received the assay results before finalizing the treatment plan.

A copay foundation assistance support program for patients receiving intravenous cancer therapy.

Purpose: With the advent of newer cancer therapies (eg, biologic and cytotoxic), treatment is becoming increasingly expensive for patients with cancer. Patients enrolled in Medicare and commercial insurance plans often have large copay requirements with each treatment cycle. Often, these patients undergo significant financial hardship, and some patients decline treatment.

Endometrial carcinoma in vitro chemosensitivity testing of single and combination chemotherapy regimens using the novel microculture kinetic apoptosis assay: implications for endometrial cancer treatment.

Objective: The in vitro microculture kinetic (MiCK) apoptosis assay has been used to predict single or combination chemotherapy response in leukemia patients. This feasibility study addressed MiCK in endometrial cancer specimens.

Methods: Endometrial cancer specimens from total abdominal hysterectomies were processed at a central laboratory.

Aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia and/ or bone pain: frequency and characterization in non-clinical trial patients.

Background: The frequency of aromatase inhibitor (AI)-associated arthralgia and/or bone pain in clinical practice is not known.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-six consecutive patients with breast cancer not on clinical trials who were receiving AIs in a clinical practice were interviewed regarding occurrence of worsening or new arthralgia and/or bone pain after starting AI therapy. The occurrence, character, severity, and resolution of pain were evaluated.

Effects of weekly paclitaxel or paclitaxel plus carboplatin on functionality and symptoms of geriatric patients with cancer as measured by a brief geriatric oncology module: a pilot experience.

Background: To measure functionality, symptoms, and quality of life in elderly patients, a geriatric oncology module (GOM) was developed that could be rapidly and effectively administered in community oncology practices.

Methods: The GOM was validated by semi structured patient interviews. The authors tested 26 patients receiving chemotherapy with paclitaxel or paclitaxel plus carboplatin to determine the effect of drug treatment on functionality, symptoms, and quality of life (QOL).