Enhanced Specificity in Colorimetric LAMP Assay for Detection Using a Combination of Two Additives.

The genus comprises fungal species closely related to , with and being medically important. These species can cause infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. The current detection methods are limited, prompting the need for rapid and specific diagnostic tools.

Changes in Risk Tolerance for Ovarian Cancer Prevention Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Discrete Choice Experiment.

Background: Prior to COVID-19, little was known about how risks associated with such a pandemic would compete with and influence patient decision making regarding cancer risk reducing medical decision making. We investigated how the pandemic affected preferences for medical risk-reducing strategies among women at elevated risk of breast or ovarian cancer.

Methods: We conducted a discrete choice experiment.

Challenges and Opportunities in Developing an Oncology Clinical Trial Network in the United States Veterans Affairs Health Care System: The VA STARPORT Experience.

The United States Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System has a strong history of conducting impactful oncology randomized clinical trials (RCTs). We developed a phase II/III RCT to test the use of metastasis-directed therapy in Veterans with oligometastatic prostate cancer (OMPC)-the first VA RCT in OMPC that leverages novel imaging and advanced radiotherapy techniques. To accomplish this, we developed a clinical trial network to conduct the study.

Prostate Cancer Recurrence: Examining the Role of Salvage Radiotherapy Field and Risk Factors for Regional Disease Recurrence Captured on F-DCFPyL PET/CT.

Purpose: The role of elective pelvic nodal irradiation in salvage radiotherapy (sRT) remains controversial. Utilizing 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT, this study aimed to investigate differences in disease distribution after whole pelvic (WPRT) or prostate bed (PBRT) radiotherapy and to identify risk factors for pelvic lymph node (LN) relapse.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with PSA > 0.

Validation of Biomechanical Computed Tomography for Fracture Risk Classification in Metastatic Hormone-sensitive Prostate Cancer.

Background: Guidelines recommend dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening to assess fracture risk and benefit from antiresorptive therapy in men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). However, <30% of eligible patients undergo DXA screening. Biomechanical computed tomography (BCT) is a radiomic technique that measures bone mineral density (BMD) and bone strength from computed tomography (CT) scans.

Development and Validation of a Tool to Identify Patients Diagnosed With Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: Several novel therapies for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) have been approved with randomized phase III studies with continuing observational research either planned or ongoing. Accurately identifying patients with CRPC in electronic health care data is critical for quality observational research, resource allocation, and quality improvement. Previous work in this area has relied on either structured laboratory results and medication data or natural language processing (NLP) methods.

On-Site Nurse-Led Cancer Genetics Program Increases Cancer Genetic Testing Completion in Black Veterans.

Purpose: Telegenetics services can expand access to guideline-recommended cancer genetic testing. However, access is often not distributed equitably to all races and ethnicities. We evaluated the impact of an on-site nurse-led cancer genetics service in a diverse Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) oncology clinic on likelihood of germline testing (GT) completion.

Flutamide With or Without PROSTVAC in Non-metastatic Castration Resistant (M0) Prostate Cancer.

Background: Before 2018, there was no standard of care for non-metastatic (M0) castration resistant prostate cancer nmCRPC. Androgen receptor antagonists (ARAs) were commonly used sequentially nmCRPC.

Methods: This was a multicenter, randomized clinical trial comparing the ARA flutamide+/-PROSTVAC, a pox viral vaccine targeting PSA that includes T-cell co-stimulatory molecules.

Tumor testing and treatment patterns in veterans with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Introduction: In 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) began a partnership to improve access to testing. The primary objective of this analysis was to describe the use of tumor testing and treatment patterns in Veterans who progressed to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) from 2016 to 2021. Secondary objectives including identifying factors associated with receipt of tumor testing, and reporting HRR mutation results among a subset who were tested.

Effect of Androgen Suppression on Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized Men With COVID-19: The HITCH Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: SARS-CoV-2 entry requires the TMPRSS2 cell surface protease. Antiandrogen therapies reduce expression of TMPRSS2.

Objective: To determine if temporary androgen suppression induced by degarelix improves clinical outcomes of inpatients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Prostate Cancer Outcomes in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Importance: Prostate cancer (PCa) disproportionately affects African American men, but research evaluating the extent of racial and ethnic disparities across the PCa continuum in equal-access settings remains limited at the national level. The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Hospital Administration health care system offers a setting of relatively equal access to care in which to assess racial and ethnic disparities in self-identified African American (or Black) veterans and White veterans.

Objective: To determine the extent of racial and ethnic disparities in the incidence of PCa, clinical stage, and outcomes between African American patients and White patients who received a diagnosis or were treated at a VA hospital.

Long-term depression incidence and associated mortality among African American and White prostate cancer survivors.

Background: Depression is common after a diagnosis of prostate cancer and may contribute to poor outcomes, particularly among African Americans. The authors assessed the incidence and management of depression and its impact on overall mortality among African American and White veterans with localized prostate cancer.

Methods: The authors used the Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse to identify 40,412 African American and non-Hispanic White men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer from 2001 to 2013.

Results of a Real-world Study of Enzalutamide and Abiraterone Acetate With Prednisone Tolerability (REAAcT).

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in tolerability in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with enzalutamide (ENZA) or abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (AA+P).

Patients And Methods: This was a phase IV, prospective, open-label, multicenter, real-world study. Patients were prescribed ENZA or AA+P at the treating physician's discretion.

Multiple myeloma treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in the Latin America Haemato-Oncology (HOLA) Observational Study, 2008-2016.

Limited data are available regarding contemporary multiple myeloma (MM) treatment practices in Latin America. In this retrospective cohort study, medical records were reviewed for a multinational cohort of 1103 Latin American MM patients (median age, 61 years) diagnosed in 2008-2015 who initiated first-line therapy (LOT1). Of these patients, 33·9% underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

Comparative Survival Associated With Use of Targeted vs Nontargeted Therapy in Medicare Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Importance: Targeted therapies for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have shown increased tolerability and survival advantages over older treatments in clinical trials, but understanding of real-world survival improvements is still emerging.

Objective: To compare overall and RCC-specific survival associated with use of targeted vs nontargeted therapy for metastatic RCC.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data from 2000 to 2013 to examine patients with stage IV (distant) clear cell RCC at the time of diagnosis who received any targeted or nontargeted therapy.

Patient-Centered Preference Assessment to Improve Satisfaction With Care Among Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To study the effectiveness of the Patient Preferences for Prostate Cancer Care (PreProCare) intervention in improving the primary outcome of satisfaction with care and secondary outcomes of satisfaction with decision, decision regret, and treatment choice among patients with localized prostate cancer.

Methods: In this multicenter randomized controlled study, we randomly assigned patients with localized prostate cancer to the PreProCare intervention or usual care. Outcomes were satisfaction with care, satisfaction with decision, decision regret, and treatment choice.

Neoadjuvant Dose-dense Gemcitabine and Cisplatin in Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: Results of a Phase 2 Trial.

Background: Accelerated (also termed dose-dense, DD) chemotherapy regimens such as accelerated methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin have shown better efficacy and tolerability in the metastatic setting, and shortened the time to surgery in the neoadjuvant setting compared to standard-schedule regimens. We hypothesized that a DD schedule of gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) would shorten the time to surgery and yield similar pathologic complete response rates (pT0) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) compared with historical controls with standard GC.

Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant DDGC in MIBC.

Temporal trends and characteristics of clinical trials for which only one racial or ethnic group is eligible.

Background: Increasing diversity in clinical trials may be worthwhile. We examined clinical trials that restricted eligibility to a single race or ethnicity.

Methods: We reviewed 19,246 trials registered on ClinicalTrials.

Provider and patient burdens of obtaining oral anticancer medications.

Oral anticancer medications (OAMs) are frequently used to treat patients with cancer. Unlike intravenous chemotherapy, OAMs are covered by prescription drug plans. We examined barriers to initiation of OAMs in 116 patients with prostate or kidney cancer (149 unique prescriptions).

Treating Second Breast Events After Breast-Conserving Surgery for Ductal Carcinoma in Situ.

Because of screening mammography, the number of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) survivors has increased dramatically. DCIS survivors may face excess risk of second breast events (SBEs). However, little is known about SBE treatment or its relationship to initial DCIS care.

Patient-centered recruitment and retention for a randomized controlled study.

Background: Recruitment and retention strategies for patient-centered outcomes research are evolving and research on the subject is limited. In this work, we present a conceptual model of patient-centered recruitment and retention, and describe the recruitment and retention activities and related challenges in a patient-centered comparative effectiveness trial.

Methods: This is a multicenter, longitudinal randomized controlled trial in localized prostate cancer patients.

Association of high cost sharing and targeted therapy initiation among elderly Medicare patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

High out-of-pocket costs may limit access to oral therapies covered by patients' prescription drug benefits. We explored financial barriers to treatment initiation in patients newly diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) by comparing Medicare Part D patients with low out-of-pocket costs due to receipt of full low-income subsidies (LIS beneficiaries) to their counterparts who were responsible for more than 25% cost sharing during Medicare's initial coverage phase (non-LIS beneficiaries). We used 2011-2013 100% Medicare claims for non-LIS and LIS beneficiaries newly diagnosed with metastases in the liver, lung, or bone to examine targeted therapy treatment initiation rates and time to initiation for (1) oral medications (sorafenib, sunitinib, everolimus, pazopanib, or axitinib) covered under Medicare's prescription drug benefit (Part D); (2) injected or infused medications (temsirolimus or bevacizumab) covered by Medicare's medical benefit (Part B); and (3) any (Part D or Part B) targeted therapy.

National Study of Burnout and Career Satisfaction Among Physician Assistants in Oncology: Implications for Team-Based Care.

Purpose: A high rate of burnout has been reported in oncology physicians. Physician assistants (PAs) may also face similar risks of burnout. We sought to measure the personal and professional characteristics associated with burnout and career satisfaction and the potential impact on the oncology PA workforce.

Radium-223 Safety, Efficacy, and Concurrent Use with Abiraterone or Enzalutamide: First U.S. Experience from an Expanded Access Program.

Background: In the phase III ALSYMPCA trial, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients had few prior life-prolonging therapies. Following ALSYMPCA, which demonstrated radium-223 survival benefit, and before radium-223 U.S.