Publications by authors named "Teresa G Hayes"

Reflexive testing, standardization of the mutation test ordering procedure and results reporting, and elimination of the preauthorization requirements could facilitate the utilization of targeted therapies.

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Background: Little is known about the brain mechanisms underlying cancer-associated weight loss (C-WL) in humans despite this condition negatively affecting their quality of life and survival. We tested the hypothesis that patients with C-WL have abnormal connectivity in homeostatic and hedonic brain pathways together with altered brain activity during food reward.

Methods: In 12 patients with cancer and 12 healthy controls, resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC, resting brain activity observed through changes in blood flow in the brain which creates a blood oxygen level-dependent signal that can be measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging) was used to compare three brain regions hypothesized to play a role in C-WL: the hypothalamus (homeostatic), the nucleus accumbens (hedonic), and the habenula (an important regulator of reward).

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Current national guidelines recommend genomic testing on all stage 4 non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) of adenocarcinoma histology. Mutations are most often found among young, Asian, females without a history of smoking. As these characteristics are uncommon in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patient population, we sought to understand oncologists' decision-making processes regarding utilization of genomic testing in the VHA.

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Background: Cancer-related weight loss is associated with increased inflammation and decreased survival. The novel inflammatory mediator growth differentiation factor (GDF)15 is associated with poor prognosis in cancer but its role in cancer-related weight loss (C-WL) remains unclear. Our objective was to measure GDF15 in plasma samples of cancer subjects and controls and establish its association with other inflammatory markers and clinical outcomes.

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Once-weekly administration of bortezomib has reduced bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy without affecting response rates, but this has only been demonstrated prospectively in three- and four- drug combinations. We report a phase II trial of alternate dosing and schedule of bortezomib and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who are not eligible for or refused autologous stem cell transplantation. Bortezomib 1·6 mg/m(2) intravenously was given once-weekly for six cycles, together with dexamethasone 40 mg on the day of and day after bortezomib.

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Background: The prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM) has improved in recent years. Therefore, second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) may become an issue for longer term survivors with MM. An increased incidence of second malignancies was reported in patients who received lenalidomide for relapsed or refractory myeloma.

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Background: Advanced colon cancer is associated with weight loss and decreased survival. Studies suggest that angiotensin and β-adrenergic blockade decrease colon cancer progression and ameliorate weight loss. This study aims to determine whether exposure to β-adrenoceptor blockers (BBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) is associated with decreased mortality, tumor progression, number of hospitalizations, or weight loss in colorectal cancer.

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Background: Given the immunogenicity of NY-ESO-1 peptides in prostate cancer, a phase I clinical trial was designed to evaluate HLA class-I and class-II restricted NY-ESO-1 peptides in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Methods: Patients with progressive mCRPC, Zubrod Performance Status ≤2, PSA ≥10 ng/ml who had appropriate HLA class I (A2) and class II haplotypes (DR4, DP4) were eligible. Three groups with 3 patients each received the vaccine subcutaneously every 2 weeks for 6 doses.

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Background: The androgen receptor (AR) AR-V7 splice isoform is a constitutively active outlaw transcription factor. Transition of prostate cancer (PC) to the castration-resistant phenotype correlates with AR-V7 accumulation, suggesting that PC progression in patients refractory to conventional therapy is due to the activity of this AR isoform. The mechanism of AR-V7 constitutive activation is not known.

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Background: Cancer can lead to weight loss, anorexia, and poor nutritional status, which are associated with decreased survival in cancer patients.

Methods: Male cancer patients (n = 136) were followed for a mean time of 4.5 years.

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Context: Male cancer patients suffer from fatigue, sexual dysfunction, and decreased functional performance and muscle mass. These symptoms are seen in men with hypogonadism and/or inflammatory conditions. However, the relative contribution of testosterone and inflammation to symptom burden in cancer has not been well-established.

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Unlabelled: Talactoferrin alfa (also known as recombinant human lactoferrin, rhLF) is a novel immunomodulatory protein that has previously demonstrated anti-tumor properties in animal models. Following a successful phase I trial, it was administered orally to patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a phase II trial conducted at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas, among other sites.

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Article Synopsis
  • GLIPR1 is a tumor suppressor gene that shows promise for treating prostate cancer and was evaluated for safety and efficacy through a phase I clinical trial involving intraprostatic injections before surgery.
  • The trial included 19 men with localized prostate cancer, observing various side effects like urinary tract infections and flu-like symptoms, but no complete remission was achieved.
  • While no patients experienced complete tumor remission, the treatment did exhibit some signs of antitumor activity and enhanced immune responses, making it a potentially safe option for future studies.
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Primary gastric chorioadenocarcinoma (PGC) is an exceedingly rare neoplasm which is often misdiagnosed as gastric adenocarcinoma at presentation. A markedly elevated serum beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (Beta HCG) level is a characteristic feature of this tumor. A 44 year old white male presented with generalized abdominal pain and fullness, tarry black stools and weight loss of 3 months duration.

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Splenosis, the heterotopic autotransplantion of splenic tissue, is a common benign condition among patients with a history of splenic trauma. Most cases of splenosis are intra-abdominal due to direct seeding of surrounding structures, although these ectopic rests may occur almost anywhere in the body, and its diffuse nature may raise the suspicion of metastatic cancer. Confirmation of splenic tissue can be made by technetium-99m (Tc-99m) sulfur colloid scintigraphy or with Tc-99m heat-damaged red blood cells; however, in some cases, biopsy may be required for definitive diagnosis.

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Background And Objectives: Breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) represents an important clinical challenge in the care of patients with cancer. This trial evaluated the efficacy and long-term tolerability of a sublingual formulation of the fast-acting opioid fentanyl, for the treatment of BTcP in opioid-tolerant patients with cancer.

Research Design And Methods: This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center, phase III trial, conducted in opioid-tolerant male and female patients (aged > or =17 years) with BTcP.

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Sarcomas make up 1%-2% of all malignant renal tumors in adults, and the incidence increases with advancing age. Renal sarcomas are less common, but more lethal than sarcomas of any other genitourinary site. The common clinical presentation of renal sarcomas in adults include a palpable mass, abdominal or flank pain, and hematuria, similar to those seen with large, rapidly growing renal cell carcinomas.

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Male breast cancer is an uncommon condition. It often occurs in settings in which there is an imbalance between androgens and oestrogens. Genetics plays an important role, as many cases are associated with mutations in BRCA2 or other genes.

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Purpose: We evaluated safety and activity of talactoferrin, a novel immunomodulatory protein in a phase IB trial of patients with refractory solid tumors.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with metastatic cancer who had progressed on, or were ineligible for, standard chemotherapy received single-agent oral talactoferrin. Following dose-escalation, with no DLTs , patients were randomized to 4.

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Purpose: To assess the safety of administering bortezomib to patients undergoing a radical prostatectomy, to assess pathologic changes induced by bortezomib in prostate cancer specimen, and to verify alterations by the drug in proteasome protein targets.

Experimental Design: Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor that has shown activity in vitro and in vivo in prostate cancer. We performed a neoadjuvant clinical trial of bortezomib in men with prostate cancer at high risk of recurrence.

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Background: Occult micrometastasis at the time of radical cystectomy leads predominantly to distant failures in patients with locally advanced, muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Objectives: Data supporting neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced bladder cancer are reviewed.

Results: Studies evaluating adjuvant chemotherapy have been limited by inadequate statistical power.

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Background: Talactoferrin (TLF), a recombinant form of human lactoferrin (hLF), is an immunomodulatory iron-binding glycoprotein first identified in breast milk. Its immunomodulatory functions include activation of natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer cells and enhancement of polymorphonuclear cells and macrophage cytotoxicity. Studies in animal models have shown promising anticancer activity, and clinical antitumor activity has been observed in nonsmall cell lung cancer and other tumor types.

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Purpose: Up-regulation of caveolin-1 (cav-1) is associated with virulent prostate cancer, and serum cav-1 levels are elevated in prostate cancer patients but not in benign prostatic hyperplasia. In this study, we evaluated the potential of high preoperative serum cav-1 levels to predict biochemical progression of prostate cancer. The value of the combined preoperative markers, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), biopsy Gleason score, and serum cav-1 for predicting biochemical recurrence was also investigated.

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Background: Patients with cancer often develop anorexia, fatigue, and decreased muscle mass. These signs and symptoms are nonspecific, and they frequently occur in other conditions, including hypogonadism.

Methods: The objectives of this study were 1) to measure testosterone levels in patients with cancer and 2) to examine the correlations between testosterone, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), ghrelin levels, and appetite in patients with cancer patients and in a noncancer control group.

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