A survey of patients with cancer and oncology health-care professionals about cannabis use during treatment.

Background: This study characterizes patient and health-care professional perspectives regarding medical cannabis use at a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center. Data evaluated included the prevalence and patterns of and reasons for cannabis use.

Methods: Patients with cancer undergoing treatment were recruited into a cross-sectional survey as part of a national National Cancer Institute-funded effort.

Loss of EGF receptor polarity enables homeostatic imbalance in epithelial-cell models.

The polarized distribution of membrane proteins into apical and basolateral domains provides the basis for specialized functions of epithelial tissues. The EGF receptor (EGFR) plays important roles in embryonic development, adult-epithelial tissue homeostasis, and growth and survival of many carcinomas. Typically targeted to basolateral domains, there is also considerable evidence of EGFR sorting plasticity but very limited knowledge regarding domain-specific EGFR substrates.

Associations of Racial and Ethnic Category, Age, Comorbidities, and Socioeconomic Factors on Concordance to NCCN Guidelines for Patients With High-Risk Biliary Tract Cancers After Surgery.

Background: Biliary tract cancers (BTC) have a limited prognosis even for localized cancers, emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary management. NCCN guidelines recommend adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) +/- radiotherapy (RT) for high-risk disease. We analyzed the association between racial and ethnic category along with other demographic factors and concordance to NCCN guidelines among patients following surgery for high-risk BTC.

Genetic Variations in the Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Pathway May Improve Predictive Power for Overall Survival in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a known immune suppressor, plays an important role in tumor progression and overall survival (OS) in many types of cancers. We hypothesized that genetic variations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TGF-β1 pathway can predict survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after radiation therapy. Fourteen functional SNPs in the TGF-β1 pathway were measured in 166 patients with NSCLC enrolled in a multi-center clinical trial.

Adoption of single agent anticancer therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and impact of facility type, insurance status, and income on survival: Analysis of the national cancer database 2004-2014.

Background: This study analyzes the pattern of use of single agent anticancer therapy (SAACT) in the treatment and survival of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) before and after sorafenib was FDA approved in 2007.

Methods: Adult patients diagnosed with HCC and treated with only ACT from 2004 - 2014 were identified in NCDB database. Patients were analyzed during three time frames: 2004-2006 (pre-sorafenib (PS)), 2007-2010 (early sorafenib (ES)) and 2011-2014 (late sorafenib (LS)).

Interest and Willingness to Pay for Integrative Therapies of Patients With Cancer and Caregivers.

Purpose: Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) services are more prevalent in cancer centers but continue to be underutilized by patients. This study examines perspectives from patients and caregivers about these services being offered at a comprehensive cancer center.

Methods: Patients and caregivers were surveyed about their familiarity, interest, and experience with five CIM therapies: acupuncture, massage, meditation, music therapy, and yoga.

-Induced Bronchoalveolar Lavage Gene Expression Signature in Latent Tuberculosis Infection Is Dominated by Pleiotropic Effects of CD4 T Cell-Dependent IFN-γ Production despite the Presence of Polyfunctional T Cells within the Airways.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a worldwide public health threat. Development of a more effective vaccination strategy to prevent pulmonary TB, the most common and contagious form of the disease, is a research priority for international TB control. A key to reaching this goal is improved understanding of the mechanisms of local immunity to , the causative organism of TB.

Perceptions of Prostate MRI and Fusion Biopsy of Radiation Oncologists and Urologists for Patients Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer: Results from a National Survey.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the prostate and fusion biopsy have been advanced to improve the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (PCa). Yet, frequency of their use and contemporary attitudes among radiation oncologists (ROs) and urologists (UROs) remain largely unknown.

Objective: We performed a national survey of UROs and ROs to assess the perceived attitudes towards and frequency of prostate MRI and fusion biopsy.