Quantifying muscle strength, size, and neuromuscular activation in adolescent and young adult survivors of musculoskeletal sarcoma: Identifying correlates and responses to functional strengthening.

Background: Medical and surgical treatment for musculoskeletal sarcoma (MSS) place survivors at risk for impairments in muscle properties including muscle strength, muscle size, and neuromuscular activation. The purpose of this study was to explore muscle properties, gross motor performance, and quality of life (QoL) and the changes in response to a 6-week functional strengthening intervention (PT-STRONG) in MSS survivors of childhood cancer (CCS).

Methods: Eight lower extremity MSS CCS (13-23 years old) performed baseline testing and three completed PT-STRONG.

Correlative Analyses of the SARC028 Trial Reveal an Association Between Sarcoma-Associated Immune Infiltrate and Response to Pembrolizumab.

Purpose: We recently reported a 17.5% objective RECIST 1.1 response rate in a phase II study of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced sarcoma (SARC028).

Focus on You: Cancer clinical trials perspectives.

Background: Clinical trials test new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat diseases. Researchers have found that minority patients are willing to participate in clinical trials, yet these patients have barriers which hinder their access to trials.

Methods: To explore African American women's participation in breast cancer clinical trials, eight focus groups were conducted with breast cancer patients, family members/care givers, religious leaders, and healthcare providers to gather information on the perspectives and opinions on the topic.

Detection of non-CLL-like monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis increases dramatically in the very elderly, while detection of CLL-like populations varies by race: findings in a multiethnic population-based cohort of elderly women.

Monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL) is both a marker of immune senescence and a potential precursor of B cell malignancy. Most MBL populations have a chronic lymphocytic leukemia-like (CLL-like) immunophenotype, but those that are CD5-negative (non-CLL-like) are also recognized and may represent a distinct diagnostic entity. To date, MBL studies have taken place in relatively homogenous populations, although risk of CLL varies across racial groups and geographic regions.

A critical review of the enrollment of black patients in cancer clinical trials.

Although clinical trials represent a vital opportunity for improvements in cancer treatment, data show that a small proportion of patients with newly diagnosed cancer participate in clinical research. Black patients continue to have a worse prognosis for most cancers compared with other patients of other races/ethnicities. Racial/ethnic- and age-related disparities in clinical trial accrual are also well documented.