Pesticide exposure and risk of aggressive prostate cancer among private pesticide applicators.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among men in developed countries; however, little is known about modifiable risk factors. Some studies have implicated organochlorine and organophosphate insecticides as risk factors (particularly the organodithioate class) and risk of clinically significant PCa subtypes. However, few studies have evaluated other pesticides.

How do social media users process cancer prevention messages on Facebook? An eye-tracking study.

Objective: The quality of cancer-related information on social media (SM) is mixed, and exposure to inaccurate information may negatively affect knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. This study examines SM users' attention to simulated Facebook posts related to cancer and identifies message features associated with increased attention.

Methods: SM users (N = 53) participated in a mixed methods experimental study using eye-tracking technology, whereby participants' dwell time on message components was measured.

Moving Molecular Profiling to Routine Clinical Practice: A Way Forward?

Molecular profiling of a patient's tumor to guide targeted treatment selection offers the potential to advance patient care by improving outcomes and minimizing toxicity (by avoiding ineffective treatments). However, current development of molecular profile (MP) panels is often based on applying institution-specific or subjective algorithms to nonrandomized patient cohorts. Consequently, obtaining reliable evidence that molecular profiling is offering clinical benefit and is ready for routine clinical practice is challenging.

IFNL4: Notable variants and associated phenotypes.

Interferon lambda proteins activate the JAK-STAT signalling pathway, resulting in upregulation of genes with antiviral effects. The interferon lambda family was initially thought to be redundant to the interferon alpha family, which signals through the same pathway, except for the more limited expression of the IFNLR1 receptor. However, recent studies show that interferon lambdas uniquely protect tissue barriers against a wide range of important viral infections.

Increasing Incidence of Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality has been declining in the U.S. Despite success in reducing CRC incidence, incidence of early-onset CRC has increased markedly.

Meeting the Information and Support Needs of Blood Cancer Patients and Caregivers: A Longitudinal Study of a Model of Patient-Centered Information Delivery.

Access to reliable, up-to-date information and resources can assist individuals managing and living with cancer. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, through its Information Resource Center, provides personalized information and support to individuals affected by blood cancer. To examine its value and impact, we conducted qualitative interviews (n = 18) and an online survey of patients and caregivers (N = 515) after they talked with an Information Resource Center Information Specialist by phone, with a follow-up survey about 6 months later.

Embracing the complexity: Older adults with cancer-related cognitive decline-A Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology position paper.

Cancer-related cognitive decline (CRCD) may have particularly significant consequences for older adults, impacting their functional and physical abilities, level of independence, ability to make decisions, treatment adherence, overall quality of life, and ultimately survival. In honor of Dr. Hurria's work we explore and examine multiple types of screening, assessment and non-pharmacologic treatments for CRCD.

Publisher Correction: Shared heritability and functional enrichment across six solid cancers.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Phase I trial of belinostat in combination with 13-cis-retinoic acid in advanced solid tumor malignancies: a California Cancer Consortium NCI/CTEP sponsored trial.

Purpose: The reported maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of single-agent belinostat is 1000 mg/m given days 1-5, every 21 days. Pre-clinical evidence suggests histone deacetylase inhibitors enhance retinoic acid signaling in a variety of solid tumors. We conducted a phase I study of belinostat combined with 50-100 mg/m/day 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cRA) in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Association of transcriptional levels of folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism-related genes in cancer cell lines with drug treatment response.

Folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism is essential for growth and survival of cancer cells. We investigated whether the response of cancer cells to antitumor treatment may be partially influenced by variation in expression of one-carbon metabolism genes. We used cancer cell line information from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer resources to examine whether variation in pretreatment expression of one-carbon metabolism-related genes was associated with response to treatment.

Care experiences among dually enrolled older adults with cancer: SEER-CAHPS, 2005-2013.

Purpose: Given the associations between poverty and poorer outcomes among older adults with cancer, we sought to understand the effects of dual enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid-as a marker of poverty-on self-reported care experiences among seniors diagnosed with cancer.

Methods: Retrospective, observational study using cancer registry, Medicare claims, and care experience survey data (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results [SEER]-Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems [CAHPS®]) for a national sample of fee-for-service (FFS) and Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees aged 65 or older. We included people with one incident primary, malignant cancer diagnosed between 2005 and 2011, surveyed within 2 years after diagnosis (n = 9,800; 995 dual enrollees).

Identification of pharmacodynamic biomarkers and common molecular mechanisms of response to genotoxic agents in cancer cell lines.

Purpose: Genotoxic agents (GAs) including cisplatin, doxorubicin, gemcitabine, and topotecan are often used in cancer treatment. However, the response to GAs is variable among patients and predictive biomarkers are inadequate to select patients for treatment. Accurate and rapid pharmacodynamics measures of response can, thus, be useful for monitoring therapy and improve clinical outcomes.

Substitution of dietary protein sources in relation to colorectal cancer risk in the NIH-AARP cohort study.

Purpose: To evaluate the substitution effect of plant for animal protein with risk of CRC in the large prospective National Institutes of Health-AARP cohort study.

Methods: Protein intake was assessed at baseline using a food frequency questionnaire. HRs and 95% CIs were estimated using multivariable adjusted hazard ratios from Cox proportional hazards models.

Spatially varying age-period-cohort analysis with application to US mortality, 2002-2016.

Many public health databases index disease counts by age groups and calendar periods within geographic regions (e.g., states, districts, or counties).

Shared heritability and functional enrichment across six solid cancers.

Quantifying the genetic correlation between cancers can provide important insights into the mechanisms driving cancer etiology. Using genome-wide association study summary statistics across six cancer types based on a total of 296,215 cases and 301,319 controls of European ancestry, here we estimate the pair-wise genetic correlations between breast, colorectal, head/neck, lung, ovary and prostate cancer, and between cancers and 38 other diseases. We observed statistically significant genetic correlations between lung and head/neck cancer (r = 0.

Collaborating to conquer cancer: the role of partnerships in comprehensive cancer control.

Comprehensive cancer control celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2018. A dedicated group of national partners formed the Comprehensive Cancer Control National Partnership (CCCNP) at the same time that CDC's National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program was formed. The CCCNP has supported the development and growth of comprehensive cancer control from its inception.

Modeling groundwater nitrate exposure in private wells of North Carolina for the Agricultural Health Study.

Unregulated private wells in the United States are susceptible to many groundwater contaminants. Ingestion of nitrate, the most common anthropogenic private well contaminant in the United States, can lead to the endogenous formation of N-nitroso-compounds, which are known human carcinogens. In this study, we expand upon previous efforts to model private well groundwater nitrate concentration in North Carolina by developing multiple machine learning models and testing against out-of-sample prediction.

Gastric Cancer: an Evolving Disease.

Purpose Of Review: Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, the primary risk factor for gastric cancer, is declining globally. Paralleling this trend, gastric cancer incidence is also decreasing. Historically, the populations most affected by this neoplasia have been males, Asians, and groups with low socioeconomic status.

Associations of Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Gastric Adenocarcinoma with Circulating Mediators of Inflammation and Immune Response.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive gastric adenocarcinoma exhibits locally intense inflammation but systemic manifestations are uncertain. Our study examined whether circulating mediators of inflammation and immune response differ by tumor EBV status. From a Latvian series of 302 gastric cancer cases, we measured plasma levels of 92 immune-related proteins in the 28 patients with EBV-positive tumors and 34 patients with EBV-negative tumors.

Phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of tivantinib in men with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Background Tivantinib is a non-ATP competitive inhibitor of c-MET receptor tyrosine kinase that may have additional cytotoxic mechanisms including tubulin inhibition. Prostate cancer demonstrates higher c-MET expression as the disease progresses to more advanced stages and to a castration resistant state. Methods 80 patients (pts) with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic mCRPC were assigned (2:1) to either tivantinib 360 mg PO BID or placebo (P).

Drinking Water Nitrate and Human Health: An Updated Review.

Nitrate levels in our water resources have increased in many areas of the world largely due to applications of inorganic fertilizer and animal manure in agricultural areas. The regulatory limit for nitrate in public drinking water supplies was set to protect against infant methemoglobinemia, but other health effects were not considered. Risk of specific cancers and birth defects may be increased when nitrate is ingested under conditions that increase formation of -nitroso compounds.