Publications by authors named "Tonkin K"

The use of surface guided imaging in cranial stereotactic radiotherapy provides a non-ionising form of patient position verification that gives information on when patient position errors may require corrections to be applied. This work assessed the accuracy of Catalyst HD system for treatment geometries commonly used in cranial SRS. Average Catalyst reported error as a function of couch rotation agreed with measured kV and MV walkout within 0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Within this study, the researcher explored the effect that supervisors have on the availability and flexibility of bereavement leave for employees who have experienced the death of a loved one. A qualitative phenomenological approach was applied in Zoom interviews of 23 participants who provided detailed feedback on their overall experience of managing personal and professional responsibilities during bereavement based on the ways that formal and informal policies were applied. Barclay and Kang's bereavement at work model guided a series of semi-structured interviews, and questions were based upon Bauer's questionnaire about grief in the workplace.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There is growing interest in an occupational perspective when working with people experiencing chronic pain. The Activity Card Sort Australia (18-64) is a client-centered and occupation-centered tool that has not been explored with this population. The aim of this study was to explore the process and experience of completing the ACS-Aus (18-64) with people experiencing chronic pain.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Lung cancer screening saves lives, but implementation is challenging. We evaluated two approaches to early lung cancer detection-low-dose computed tomography screening (LDCT) and program-based management of incidentally detected lung nodules.

Methods: A prospective observational study enrolled patients in the early detection programs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Lung cancer management guidelines strive to improve outcomes. Theoretically, thorough staging promotes optimal treatment selection. We examined the association between guideline-concordant invasive mediastinal nodal staging, guideline-concordant treatment, and non-small cell lung cancer survival.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: We compared NSCLC treatment and survival within and outside a multidisciplinary model of care from a large community health care system.

Methods: We implemented a rigorously benchmarked "enhanced" Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Conference (eMTOC) and used Tumor Registry data (2011-2017) to evaluate guideline-concordant care. Because eMTOC was located in metropolitan Memphis, we separated non-MTOC patient by metropolitan and regional location.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The Most Significant Change is a story-based evaluation approach used in many international development programs. This practice review summarises practical experience with the approach in complex health interventions in ten countries, with the objective of making it more accessible in evaluation of other complex health interventions.

Results: Participatory research practitioners and trainees discussed five themes following brief presentations by each of the seven attendees who led the exercise: (i) sampling and recruitment; (ii) phrasing the questions to elicit stories; (iii) story collection strategies; (iv) quality assurance; and (v) analysis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The relevance of the MET/hepatocyte growth factor pathway in endometrial cancer tumor biology supports the clinical evaluation of cabozantinib in this disease.

Patients And Methods: PHL86/NCI#9322 (NCT01935934) is a single arm study that evaluated cabozantinib (60 mg once daily) in women with endometrial cancer with progression after chemotherapy. Coprimary endpoints were response rate and 12-week progression-free-survival (PFS).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Denosumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to, and inhibits, the receptor activator of RANKL (TNFSF11) and might affect breast cancer biology, as shown by preclinical evidence. We aimed to assess whether denosumab combined with standard-of-care adjuvant or neoadjuvant systemic therapy and locoregional treatments would increase bone metastasis-free survival in women with breast cancer.

Method: In this international, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study (D-CARE), patients were recruited from 389 centres in 39 countries.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Patients with recurrent ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) have limited effective options due to chemoresistance. A phase II study was designed to assess the activity of ENMD-2076, an oral multitarget kinase selective against Aurora A and VEGFR.

Patients And Methods: This multicenter phase II study included patients with recurrent OCCC who received prior platinum-based chemotherapy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer that is associated with significantly high mortality. In spite of advances in IBC diagnoses, the prognosis is still poor compared to non-IBC. Due to the aggressive nature of the disease, we hypothesize that elevated levels of inflammatory mediators may drive tumorigenesis and metastasis in IBC patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Importance: Based on evidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced immune evasion, immunotherapy may be an attractive strategy in cervical cancer. Ipilimumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), which acts to downregulate the T-cell immune response.

Objective: To assess the safety and antitumor activity of ipilimumab in recurrent cervical cancer.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose/objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of a web-based psychosocial supportive intervention entitled Male Transition Toolkit (MaTT). 
.

Design: Randomized, controlled trial, mixed methods, concurrent feasibility design.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The transition experience of male spouses of women with breast cancer is largely unknown. Ninety-one open-ended surveys of male spouses were analyzed using thematic analysis to understand the transition experience of this population when their partners were diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. While 10 participants indicated they experienced no changes, the majority experienced changes to their roles and relationships, their mental health, and their share of household work.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A1 Introduction to the 2nd synchronicity forum of GHRI/CHVI-funded Canadian and African HIV prevention and vaccine teams O1 Voluntary medical male circumcision for prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV in adult males in Soweto: What do indicators and incidence rate show? Hillary Mukudu, Neil Martinson, Benn Sartorius O2 Developing a peer-led community mobilization program for sex workers in Soweto: HIV risk and demographics Jenny Coetzee, Janan Dietrich, Kgaugelo Mokgatswana, Rachel Jewkes, Glenda E. Gray O3 Salient beliefs about adherence: A qualitative survey conducted as part of the demonstration study on "treatment as prevention" (TasP) and "pre-exposure prophylaxis" (PrEP) among female sex workers (FSWS) in Cotonou, Benin Marylène Dugas, Luc Béhanzin, Fernand A. Guédou, Marie-Pierre Gagnon, Michel Alary O4 Relative perception of risk as a driver of unsafe sexual practices among key populations: Cases of fisherfolk and women and their partners involved in multiple sexual partnerships in Uganda Rwamahe Rutakumwa, Martin Mbonye, Thadeus Kiwanuka, Sarah Nakamanya, Richard Muhumuza, Winfred Nalukenge, Janet Seeley O5 Exploring the acceptability of new biomedical HIV prevention technologies among MSM, adolescents and heterosexual adults in South Africa Millicent Atujuna, Melissa Wallace, Ben Brown, Linda Gail Bekker, Peter A.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Epirubicin is metabolized by uridine glucuronosyltransferase 2B7 (UGT2B7), an enzyme rich in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We studied whether the -161 C > T germline SNP in UGT2B7 was related to epirubicin metabolism and whether differences exist in the toxicity and efficacy of epirubicin-based chemotherapy among patients who were TT homozygotes, CT heterozygotes, and CC homozygotes.

Patients And Methods: A total of 132 women with non-metastatic breast cancer receiving FEC (5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m(2), epirubicin 100 mg/m(2), cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2)) were prospectively enrolled.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Zoledronic acid (ZA) or denosumab treatment reduces skeletal-related events; however, the safety of prolonged therapy has not been adequately studied. Here, we describe safety results of extended denosumab therapy in patients with bone metastases from the open-label extension phase of two phase 3 trials.

Methods: Patients with metastatic breast or prostate cancer received subcutaneous denosumab 120 mg Q4W or intravenous ZA 4 mg Q4W in a double-blinded fashion.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose/objectives: To (a) describe the types of transitions experienced by male spousal caregivers of women with breast cancer and the strategies used by male spouses to deal with these transitions and (b) examine factors related to their quality of life, including demographic variables, self-efficacy, caregiver guilt, hope, the quality of life of their partner with breast cancer, and transitions.

Design: Cross-sectional, transformational, mixed-methods approach.

Setting: Participants' homes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The efficacy of lapatinib versus trastuzumab combined with taxanes in the first-line setting of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -positive metastatic breast cancer (BC) is unknown.

Patients And Methods: The MA.31 trial compared a combination of first-line anti-HER2 therapy (lapatinib or trastuzumab) and taxane therapy for 24 weeks, followed by the same anti-HER2 monotherapy until progression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Metformin may improve metabolic factors (insulin, glucose, leptin, highly sensitive C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]) associated with poor breast cancer outcomes. The NCIC Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG) MA.32 investigates effects of metformin vs placebo on invasive disease-free survival and other outcomes in early breast cancer.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/serine-threonine kinase PI3K/AKT pathway is postulated to be central to cancer cell development. Activation of this pathway is believed to promote angiogenesis, protein translation and cell cycle progression. A large percentage of endometrial carcinomas have demonstrated mutations within this regulation pathway which result in constitutional activation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • This study tested the effectiveness and safety of intravenous aflibercept in patients with hard-to-treat ovarian cancer who had progressed after other treatments.
  • The participants were given either a 2 mg/kg or 4 mg/kg dose every two weeks, with the main goal of measuring the overall response rate (ORR) to the treatment.
  • The results showed low response rates, with only 0.9% in the 2 mg/kg group and 4.6% in the 4 mg/kg group, while significant side effects like hypertension and fatigue were noted.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF