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    Gerardo Colon-otero

    Palliative care services are not available in most outpatient oncology practices. A program training 11 mid-level providers from oncology practices on advanced directive discussions and supportive symptom assessment and management... more
    Palliative care services are not available in most outpatient oncology practices. A program training 11 mid-level providers from oncology practices on advanced directive discussions and supportive symptom assessment and management performed by palliative care specialists was completed. A follow-up session 9 months later identified barriers to implementation. Of the 11 mid-level providers, 8 participated in the follow-up session, and 9 of the 11 providers implemented advanced directive’s discussions and symptom assessment and management for patients with metastatic cancer. Main barriers included uncertainties about reimbursement, patients’ lack of knowledge about palliative care, and lack of access to supportive services. This program successfully promoted advanced directive discussions and supportive/palliative care symptom assessment and management to community oncology practices, which will hopefully translate into improved quality of life for patients with metastatic cancer.
    Background: It has been shown that t(14;18), a translocation involving IgH and BCL-2 genes that is present in over 80% of all cases of follicular lymphomas, is detectable in the peripheral blood of up to 52% of normal Caucasian patients... more
    Background: It has been shown that t(14;18), a translocation involving IgH and BCL-2 genes that is present in over 80% of all cases of follicular lymphomas, is detectable in the peripheral blood of up to 52% of normal Caucasian patients from Germany and up to 16% of normal individuals from Japan (Yasukawa et al, Blood 2001). The fact that follicular lymphoma is one of the two most common lymphomas in the USA and Germany and much less common in Japan, demonstrates that this molecular alteration is perhaps an early event in the development of this malignancy which is not sufficient for its causation. There have not been any studies evaluating the prevalence of this translocation in healthy African American (AA) subjects. We speculated that the prevalence of this translocation will be lower in healthy AA subjects given the findings of lower prevalence of IgH translocations in AA patients with multiple myeloma compared with Caucasian patients, which may explain the better outcome of myeloma in AA subjects (Baker et al, Blood 2013). This effort to evaluate the prevalence of t (14; 18) in AA subjects, was part of a pilot study in which we brought an educational program on the importance of cancer research together with concomitant access to a translational research project to AA churches utilizing a mobile research unit in an attempt to overcome some of the known barriers to AA subject participation in clinical research (Colon-Otero et al, Cancer2008; Colon-Otero et al, J Cancer Educ 2012). Methods: IRB approval of the project was obtained and peripheral blood samples collected from consented subjects during educational sessions in Northeast Florida AA Churches. Caucasian subjects were identified from the Mayo Clinic Bio-bank. DNA was isolated from the buffy coat fractions and a PCR quality control assay targeting a 293bp fragment of an HLA class II gene was used to determine acceptable DNA quality and quantity. Next, a two-step semi-nested PCR was performed on the t (14;18) major and minor breakpoint cluster regions using ~500ng of DNA for each assay. A consensus JH primer was used in combination with primers complementary to BCL-2 sequences for both, the major and minor breakpoint cluster regions. PCR products were run on a 1% agarose gel. In order to confirm the positive results, positive PCR products were analyzed by direct sequence by Sanger method and subsequently assembled to the human genome using BLAST tool. Results: A total of 110 blood samples from AA subjects were analyzed for the presence of t (14;18). A total of 13 of the samples were positive for the major breakpoint site (12%) and 4 were positive for the minor breakpoint site (4%), for a total of 17 positive samples (15%). In 167 Caucasian patients samples, a total of 22 (13%) were positive for the major breakpoint site and 5 (3%) were positive for the minor breakpoint site for a total of 27 positive samples (16%). All cases were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Conclusions: The prevalence of t(14;18) is not significantly different among African American and Caucasian subjects from the USA based on our findings. This represents the first report of the prevalence of t(14;18) in an African American population. The prevalence found in our Caucasian subjects is significantly lower than what had been described in previous population series. A plausible explanation is the high heterogeneity of approaches used across studies, significantly affecting the assay sensitivity. Additional studies with larger series may reveal minor differences in the prevalence of t(14;18) among these populations. Citation Format: Scott Van Wier, Gerardo Colon-Otero, Gregory Ahmann, Esteban Braggio, Monica Albertie, Sikander Ailawadhi, Rafael Fonseca. Similar prevalence of t(14,18) in African American and Caucasian subjects. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B48.
    Background: Disparities in MM survival among different racial groups persist despite improvements in overall survival (OS). We report a comprehensive review of the SEER Medicare database to elucidate the causes of differences in disease... more
    Background: Disparities in MM survival among different racial groups persist despite improvements in overall survival (OS). We report a comprehensive review of the SEER Medicare database to elucidate the causes of differences in disease presentation, management practices, cost of care and their relationships to outcomes among the MM patients (pts) from different racial groups. Methods: Pts diagnosed with MM between 1991-2010 with continuous Medicare coverage (1 year prior to diagnosis-date of death/end of 2012) were included. MM complications (MM-C); hypercalcemia (C), renal dysfunction (R), anemia (An), bone fractures (B), dialysis (D) occurring prior to/within 30 days of MM diagnosis (at diagnosis; AT-D), or any time later (after diagnosis; AF-D) were summarized. Demographics, survival (PEDSAF files) and disease characteristics, drug/stem cell transplant (SCT) utilization (NCH, OUTSAF, PDESAF files) were obtained. Trends in incidence of MM-C, treatment type over time (proportional...
    Background: As of 2013, approximately 558,340 people are living with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Outcome disparities have been reported in lymphoid malignancies but a comprehensive analysis, especially with expanding ethnic minorities is... more
    Background: As of 2013, approximately 558,340 people are living with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Outcome disparities have been reported in lymphoid malignancies but a comprehensive analysis, especially with expanding ethnic minorities is necessary. We undertook a large Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) based analysis to describe outcome disparities in different subgroups of T-cell and B-cell NHL patients (pts), with a focus on various ethnicities. Methods: The SEER 18 Registry data (1973-2011) was utilized for pts with a confirmed diagnosis of T-cell or B-cell NHL. Cases that received a diagnosis at death certificate or autopsy, no follow-up records, no documented age at diagnosis, sex, or race/ethnicity were excluded. Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for gender, age, race, year (yr) of diagnosis, and stratified by SEER registries were used to evaluate association between pt characteristics and survival. All statistical tests were two-sided and utilized the S...
    Background: Lenalidomide (Len) is clinically active in CLL patients (pts). Robust anti-leukemic immune response from Len is truncated by dysfunctional immune system in CLL and anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein. We hypothesized that therapeutic... more
    Background: Lenalidomide (Len) is clinically active in CLL patients (pts). Robust anti-leukemic immune response from Len is truncated by dysfunctional immune system in CLL and anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein. We hypothesized that therapeutic downregulation of Bcl-2 may help enhance the killing potential of immune effector cells that are activated by Len. AT-101 is a novel, orally active BH3-mimetic that binds to antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins (Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL) and induces CLL cell death ex vivo (Masood et al British Journal of Haematology 2012). Encouraging efficacy and safety results of AT-101 alone or in combination with rituximab in CLL have been reported in Phase I/II studies. We have previously demonstrated that bcl-2 downregulation in CLL cells enhanced the killing potential of Len-activated immune cells. Conversely, pretreatment of CLL cells with Len enhanced AT-101 cytotoxicity in an immune cell independent manner (Masood et al British Journal of Haematology 2012)....
    Background: Cost of cancer care is projected to reach $173 billion by 2020, a 39% increase from 2010. Several factors including psychiatric (psych) comorbidities contribute to this increase. Within the oncology setting, 29-38% of the... more
    Background: Cost of cancer care is projected to reach $173 billion by 2020, a 39% increase from 2010. Several factors including psychiatric (psych) comorbidities contribute to this increase. Within the oncology setting, 29-38% of the patients (pts) are reported to have mood disorders and 15% have major depression. Depression alone is associated with increased healthcare utilization in pts with breast, colon, lung and prostate cancers. A 2015 report noted that the presence of at least one psychiatric comorbidity in 300 Leukemia pts was associated with an extra $55,000 per pt in just one year. Similarly, in pts treated with systemic steroids, the incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders can be as high as 75%. However, no such data is available for MM, where more than 90% of pts are treated with steroids, likely increasing risk for mood problems and impacting treatment cost. As such, the aim of our study was to analyze the SEER-Medicare database for healthcare utilization trends and acu...
    Background: Outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) have significantly improved, leading to higher prevalence of this disease. Increasing efforts have been made by various agencies to educate patients (pts), manage quality of life (QoL) and... more
    Background: Outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) have significantly improved, leading to higher prevalence of this disease. Increasing efforts have been made by various agencies to educate patients (pts), manage quality of life (QoL) and survivorship. A global impact of these efforts including pt awareness, disease knowledge and participation in their care, as well as the physical and emotional impact of MM and its treatments (Rx) has not been assessed. We undertook an international, pt-reported survey to investigate these factors and understand any underlying disparities. Methods: A 61-question patient-reported questionnaire (MM-Q), addressing global aspects of MM pts care (components in Figure 1) was used. MM-Q was administered in collaboration with the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF). To limit responses by MM pt only, “SmartPatient” MM community members and IMF Support Group Leader list were invited to complete the survey. Some of the questions were mandatory, and those with ...
    Resected HER2 breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab and chemotherapy have superior survival compared to patients treated with chemotherapy alone. We previously showed that trastuzumab and chemotherapy induce... more
    Resected HER2 breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab and chemotherapy have superior survival compared to patients treated with chemotherapy alone. We previously showed that trastuzumab and chemotherapy induce HER2-specific antibodies which correlate with improved survival in HER2 metastatic breast cancer patients. It remains unclear whether the generation of immunity required trastuzumab and whether endogenous antibody immunity is associated with improved disease-free survival in the adjuvant setting. In this study, we addressed this question by analyzing serum anti-HER2 antibodies from a subset of patients enrolled in the NCCTG trial N9831, which includes an arm (Arm A) in which trastuzumab was not used. Arms B and C received trastuzumab sequentially or concurrently to chemotherapy, respectively. Pre-and post-treatment initiation sera were obtained from 50 women enrolled in N9831. Lambda IgG antibodies (to avoid detection of trastuzumab) to HER2 were measured and ...
    Pathogenic germline mutations in the CDKN2A tumor suppressor gene are rare and associated with highly-penetrant familial melanoma and pancreatic cancer (PC) in non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). To date, the prevalence and impact of CDKN2A rare... more
    Pathogenic germline mutations in the CDKN2A tumor suppressor gene are rare and associated with highly-penetrant familial melanoma and pancreatic cancer (PC) in non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). To date, the prevalence and impact of CDKN2A rare coding variants (RCV) in racial minority groups remain poorly characterized. We examined the role of CDKN2A RCVs on risk of PC among minority subjects. We sequenced CDKN2A in 220 African American (AA) PC cases, 900 non-cancer AA controls, and 183 Nigerian controls. RCV frequencies were determined for each group and compared with that of 1,537 NHW PC patients. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for both a case-case comparison of RCV frequencies in AAs versus NHWs, and case-control comparison between AA cases versus non-cancer AA controls plus Nigerian controls. Smaller sets of Hispanic and Native American cases and controls also were sequenced. One novel missense RCV and one novel frameshift RCV were found among AA p...
    Outcomes have improved significantly in multiple myeloma (MM), but racial disparities in health care access and survival exist. A comprehensive analysis exploring MM care and racial disparities is warranted. Patients with MM from 1991 to... more
    Outcomes have improved significantly in multiple myeloma (MM), but racial disparities in health care access and survival exist. A comprehensive analysis exploring MM care and racial disparities is warranted. Patients with MM from 1991 to 2010 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database were evaluated for racial trends in clinical myeloma-defining events (MDEs), the receipt of treatment (drugs and stem cell transplantation; [SCT]), the cost of care, and overall survival (OS). Among 35,842 patients, the frequency of all MDEs at diagnosis increased over time; whereas, in recent years (2006-2010), all MDEs with the exception of renal dialysis decreased. Blacks had highest rates for all MDEs except bone fractures, which were highest in whites. Over time, the proportion of patients who received any treatment, multiple agents, and SCT increased significantly, and the largest increase was observed in the receipt of immunomodulatory drugs and steroids. There was grea...
    Outcomes have improved considerably in multiple myeloma (MM), but disparities among racial-ethnic groups exist. Differences in utilization of novel therapeutics are likely contributing factors. We explored such differences from the... more
    Outcomes have improved considerably in multiple myeloma (MM), but disparities among racial-ethnic groups exist. Differences in utilization of novel therapeutics are likely contributing factors. We explored such differences from the SEER-Medicare database. A utilization analysis of lenalidomide, thalidomide, bortezomib, and stem cell transplant (SCT) was performed for patients diagnosed with MM between 2007 and 2009, including use over time, use by race, time-dependent trends for each racial subgroup, and survival analysis. A total of 5338 MM patients were included with median 2.4-year follow-up. Within the first year of MM diagnosis, utilization of lenalidomide, bortezomib, SCT, and more than one novel agent increased over time while utilization of thalidomide decreased. There was significantly lower utilization of lenalidomide among African-Americans (P < 0.01), higher thalidomide use among Hispanics and Asians (P < 0.01), and lower bortezomib use among Asians (P < 0.01). ...
    The major clinical side effect of the ERBB2-targeted breast cancer therapy, trastuzumab, is a decline in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Improved markers are needed to better identify patients susceptible to cardiotoxicity.... more
    The major clinical side effect of the ERBB2-targeted breast cancer therapy, trastuzumab, is a decline in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Improved markers are needed to better identify patients susceptible to cardiotoxicity. The NCCTG N9831 trial compared adjuvant doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by either weekly paclitaxel (arm A); paclitaxel then trastuzumab (arm B); or concurrent paclitaxel and trastuzumab (arm C) in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. A genome-wide association study was performed on all patients with available DNA (N=1446). We used linear regression to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with decline in LVEF, adjusting for age, baseline LVEF, antihypertensive medications, and the first two principle components. In total, 618 863 SNPs passed quality control and DNA from 1191 patients passed genotyping quality control and were identified as Whites of non-Hispanic origin. SNPs at six loci were associated with a d...
    Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB), also known as olfactory neuroblastoma, is a rare malignant neoplasm of the olfactory mucosa. Despite surgical resection combined with radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy, ENB often relapses with rapid... more
    Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB), also known as olfactory neuroblastoma, is a rare malignant neoplasm of the olfactory mucosa. Despite surgical resection combined with radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy, ENB often relapses with rapid progression. Current multimodality, nontargeted therapy for relapsed ENB is of limited clinical benefit. We queried whether comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) of relapsed or refractory ENB can uncover genomic alterations (GA) that could identify potential targeted therapies for these patients. CGP was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from 41 consecutive clinical cases of ENBs using a hybrid-capture, adaptor ligation based next-generation sequencing assay to a mean coverage depth of 593X. The results were analyzed for base substitutions, insertions and deletions, select rearrangements, and copy number changes (amplifications and homozygous deletions). Clinically relevant GA (CRGA) were defined as GA linked to drugs on the market ...
    To investigate the safety and efficacy of durvalumab, a human monoclonal antibody that binds programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), and the role of PD-L1 expression on clinical response in patients with advanced urothelial bladder cancer... more
    To investigate the safety and efficacy of durvalumab, a human monoclonal antibody that binds programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), and the role of PD-L1 expression on clinical response in patients with advanced urothelial bladder cancer (UBC). A phase 1/2 multicenter, open-label study is being conducted in patients with inoperable or metastatic solid tumors. We report here the results from the UBC expansion cohort. Durvalumab (MEDI4736, 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks) was administered intravenously for up to 12 months. The primary end point was safety, and objective response rate (ORR, confirmed) was a key secondary end point. An exploratory analysis of pretreatment tumor biopsies led to defining PD-L1-positive as ≥ 25% of tumor cells or tumor-infiltrating immune cells expressing membrane PD-L1. A total of 61 patients (40 PD-L1-positive, 21 PD-L1-negative), 93.4% of whom received one or more prior therapies for advanced disease, were treated (median duration of follow-up, 4.3 months). The...
    Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) is a rare malignancy, accounting for <1 % of all pancreatic neoplasms. Very few retrospective studies are available to help guide management. We previously reported the case of a patient with... more
    Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) is a rare malignancy, accounting for <1 % of all pancreatic neoplasms. Very few retrospective studies are available to help guide management. We previously reported the case of a patient with metastatic PACC who achieved prolonged survival following doxorubicin treatment. Personalized treatment was based on molecular and in vitro data collected from primary cells developed from their liver metastasis. We now report the characterization of a patient derived tumor xenograft (PDTX) mouse model that originated from this patient's PACC liver metastasis. Fragments of biopsy tissue (5 mm(3)) from PACC liver metastasis were implanted into athymic nude mice. Tumors were grown and passaged from the host mice into new mice to be tested for therapeutic response. Immuno-histochemical (IHC) biomarkers were used to confirm that the PDTX model represents human PACC. The antitumor activities of multiple drugs (5-FU, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, gemcitabine,...
    DMOT4039A, a humanized anti-mesothelin monoclonal antibody conjugated to the anti-mitotic agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), was given to patients with pancreatic and ovarian cancer every 3 weeks (0.2-2.8 mg/kg; q3w) or weekly... more
    DMOT4039A, a humanized anti-mesothelin monoclonal antibody conjugated to the anti-mitotic agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), was given to patients with pancreatic and ovarian cancer every 3 weeks (0.2-2.8 mg/kg; q3w) or weekly (0.8-1.2 mg/kg). A 3+3 design was used for dose escalation followed by expansion at the RP2D to evaluate safety and pharmacokinetics. Anti-tumor response was evaluated per RECIST 1.1 and serum CA19-9 or CA125 declines. Tumor mesothelin expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Seventy-one patients (40 pancreatic cancer; 31 ovarian cancer) were treated with DMOT4039A. For the q3w schedule (n=54), the MTD and RP2D was 2.4 mg/kg, with dose-limiting toxicities of Grade 3 hyperglycemia and Grade 3 hypophosphatemia at 2.8 mg/kg. For the weekly schedule (n=17) the maximum assessed dose was 1.2 mg/kg, with further dose escalations deferred due to toxicities limiting scheduled re-treatment in later cycles, and therefore the RP2D level for the weekly regime...
    Purpose Significant improvement in survival outcomes has been established with the addition of trastuzumab to adjuvant chemotherapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) –positive early breast cancer treatment. However,... more
    Purpose Significant improvement in survival outcomes has been established with the addition of trastuzumab to adjuvant chemotherapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) –positive early breast cancer treatment. However, trastuzumab may increase the risk of cardiac toxicity, and long-term evaluation of its incidence and risk factors are warranted. Methods NCCTG (Alliance) N9831 trial compared adjuvant doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by either weekly paclitaxel (arm A); paclitaxel then trastuzumab (arm B); or paclitaxel plus trastuzumab followed by trastuzumab alone (arm C) in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Cumulative incidence of cardiac events (CE) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were evaluated in 1,944 women who proceeded to post-AC therapy. Risk factors for trastuzumab-induced cardiac toxicity were identified by Cox regression models. Results The 6-year cumulative incidence of CE was 0.6% in arm A, 2.8% in arm B, and 3.4% in a...
    As of 2013, more than 550,000 people are living with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We undertook a large Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) based analysis to describe outcome disparities in different subgroups of aggressive... more
    As of 2013, more than 550,000 people are living with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We undertook a large Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) based analysis to describe outcome disparities in different subgroups of aggressive T-cell and B-cell NHL patients, with a focus on various ethnicities. The final analysis included 7662 patients with T-cell and 84,910 with B-cell NHL. Survival analysis revealed that male sex and increasing age were independent predictors of worse overall survival (OS; P < .001). For aggressive T-cell NHL, there was no significant improvement in median OS between 1973 and 2011 (P = .081), and ethnic minorities (Asians, Hispanics, and African Americans) had significantly worse OS than whites (P < .001). There were similar trends for age, sex, and race for diffuse large B-cell NHL, but a significant improvement in median OS was seen over time (P < .001). These results are the first to elicit outcomes in a broad classification of ethnic minorities and underscore the urgency for development of novel therapeutics, especially in T-cell NHL. In addition, in-depth studies of disease biology and health care utilization are required for better triage of health care resources, especially for ethnic minorities.
    Estrogen levels and their metabolites are higher in obese vs. lean postmenopausal women and obesity increases breast cancer risk. Quinone derivatives of 4-hydroxylated estrogen metabolites, independently of the estrogen receptor, cause... more
    Estrogen levels and their metabolites are higher in obese vs. lean postmenopausal women and obesity increases breast cancer risk. Quinone derivatives of 4-hydroxylated estrogen metabolites, independently of the estrogen receptor, cause depurination and impaired DNA repair ('genotoxic'). 16α-OH-E1, e.g., promotes tumor proliferation and 2-methoxy (MeO)-E2 may be chemoprotective. Childhood obesity increases breast cancer death risk in women, but levels of estrogen derivatives had not been previously studied in young children. To investigate if total and genotoxic estrogens are increased in prepubertal obese girls compared to lean controls. Stored sera from 12 lean and 23 obese pre-pubertal girls (Tanner Stage I breast and pubic hair) studied previously were assayed for estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and their multiple metabolites (12 steroids total) using highly sensitive LCMSMS. E2 concentrations were significantly higher in obese (3.45 (0.5, 4.65) pg/ml (median (Q1,Q3)) vs. le...
    Patients with problems of hemostasis are not uncommon in the primary care setting. The bleeding history provides critical information that helps in guiding evaluation of these patients. Results of frequently used screening tests of... more
    Patients with problems of hemostasis are not uncommon in the primary care setting. The bleeding history provides critical information that helps in guiding evaluation of these patients. Results of frequently used screening tests of coagulation can be abnormal in patients who have no significant hemostatic defect and can be normal in patients who do have one.
    To determine the maximum tolerated dose, toxicities, and potential antitumor activity of edatrexate (E), an antifolate agent with enhanced in vitro antitumor activity as compared with methotrexate (M), when given in combination with... more
    To determine the maximum tolerated dose, toxicities, and potential antitumor activity of edatrexate (E), an antifolate agent with enhanced in vitro antitumor activity as compared with methotrexate (M), when given in combination with vinblastine, doxorubicin, cisplatin, and filgrastim (G-CSF) to patients with advanced malignancies. Thirty-seven patients with advanced malignancies were treated with escalating doses of edatrexate in combination with vinblastine (V), doxorubicin (A), cisplatin (C), and filgrastim (EVAC/G-CSF) following three different subsequently developed schedules. Schedule 1 was patterned after the MVAC regimen, a combination chemotherapy program with activity against different epithelial malignancies, and consisted of E, 40 mg/m2/day, days 1/15/22; V, 3 mg/m2/day, days 2/15/22; A, 30 mg/m2/ day, day 2; C, 70 mg/m2/day, day 2; repeated every 28 days. Schedules 2 and 3 were designed to avoid observed dose-limiting toxicity on schedule 1 consisting of transient elevat...
    Immunofluorescent staining (immunofluorescence bone marrow aspirate) and immunoperoxidase staining (immunoperoxidase bone marrow biopsy) were compared in 26 patients with plasma cell dyscrasia and less than 10% marrow plasma cells. Their... more
    Immunofluorescent staining (immunofluorescence bone marrow aspirate) and immunoperoxidase staining (immunoperoxidase bone marrow biopsy) were compared in 26 patients with plasma cell dyscrasia and less than 10% marrow plasma cells. Their clinical diagnoses included monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (13 patients), treated multiple myeloma (four patients), multiple myeloma with less than 10% marrow plasma cells (two patients), primary systemic amyloidosis (two patients), monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance with neuropathy (two patients), angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia (two patients, all with the POEMS [polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, and skin changes] syndrome), and primary (amyloidosis) amyloid neuropathy (one patient). The percentage of plasma cells was greater than 5% in 23% of patients and less than or equal to 5% in 77% of patients. With immunofluorescence bone marrow aspirate and immunoperoxidase bone marr...
    The effects of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) ribosylation inhibitors on hematopoietic growth factor-induced proliferation were examined. Significant inhibition of interleukin-3 (IL-3), colony-stimulating factor 1, and lung conditioned... more
    The effects of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) ribosylation inhibitors on hematopoietic growth factor-induced proliferation were examined. Significant inhibition of interleukin-3 (IL-3), colony-stimulating factor 1, and lung conditioned media-induced clonal agar growth of normal murine hematopoietic cells by 10 mmol/L nicotinamide (NAM), 10 mmol/L 3-aminobenzamide (3AB), and 5 mmol/L N1-methylnicotinamide (1MN) was noted. Nicotinic acid, a related compound that does not inhibit ADP ribosylation, failed to inhibit the growth factor-mediated proliferation. NAM (10 mmol/L), 3AB (10 mmol/L), and 1MN (5 mmol/L) also prevented IL-3 and phorbol ester-stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation into the IL-3-responsive FDC-P1 cell line. Exposure of FDC-P1 cells to 10 mmol/L NAM led to a significant decrease in nuclear poly-(ADP-ribose) levels. Exposure of FDC-P1 cells to 5 mmol/L 1MN did not affect the interaction of the phorbol ester receptor, protein kinase-C (PK-C), with the cell membrane as deter...
    The most common causes of macrocytic anemias in the adults are (1) alcoholism, (2) liver diseases, (3) hemolysis or bleeding, (4) hypothyroidism, (5) folate or vitamin B12 deficiency, (6) exposure to chemotherapy and other drugs, and (7)... more
    The most common causes of macrocytic anemias in the adults are (1) alcoholism, (2) liver diseases, (3) hemolysis or bleeding, (4) hypothyroidism, (5) folate or vitamin B12 deficiency, (6) exposure to chemotherapy and other drugs, and (7) myelodysplasia. A carefully obtained history and examination with evaluation of a peripheral blood smear and reticulocyte count should be performed in most patients with macrocytosis. Serum vitamin B12 and folate levels, serum thyroid studies, liver function studies, and bone marrow aspirate and biopsy with cytogenetic analysis are frequently required to confirm a diagnosis suspected on the basis of the initial evaluation.
    The French-American-British classification scheme of myelodysplastic syndromes includes a category of refractory cytopenia that includes refractory thrombocytopenia (RTC). Because dysmegakaryopoiesis manifesting as an isolated cytopenia... more
    The French-American-British classification scheme of myelodysplastic syndromes includes a category of refractory cytopenia that includes refractory thrombocytopenia (RTC). Because dysmegakaryopoiesis manifesting as an isolated cytopenia can be difficult to identify morphologically and because it may be accompanied by megakaryocytic hyperplasia, RTC may be confused with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. A review of 1,220 cases of myelodysplastic syndromes at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and Mayo Clinic Rochester from 1979 to 1990 yielded 9 cases (0.7%) of isolated thrombocytopenia (RTC) associated with clonal chromosome abnormalities. Review of 319 marrow chromosome analyses performed at the cytogenetics laboratory at Mayo Clinic Rochester from 1979 to 1990 for patients with low platelet count yielded two additional cases of RTC (0.6%). Of the 11 RTC cases, 3 previously had been misdiagnosed as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. All patients had oval macrocytes in peripheral blood s...
    A prospective analysis of women with terminal breast cancer admitted to CHNE from November 2006-August 2007 evaluated anecdotal observations that African American (AA) women are likelier than Caucasian women to evidence loco-regional... more
    A prospective analysis of women with terminal breast cancer admitted to CHNE from November 2006-August 2007 evaluated anecdotal observations that African American (AA) women are likelier than Caucasian women to evidence loco-regional recurrences (LRR). Women with terminal breast cancer who were admitted to CHNE, a not-for-profit hospice serving over 90% of Northeast Florida hospice patients, were eligible for participation. 134 terminal breast cancer patients were assessed by hospice nurses for LRR presence via chest wall examination. 80% of them (107) were Caucasian, 17% (23) were AA and 3% (4) were of other ethnicities. Evidence of LRR were noted in 13% of the women (17/134). The proportion of patients with LRR was higher in AA women than Caucasian women (26% vs. 10%, 6/23 vs. 11/107, respectively), although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.08). The majority of Caucasian women with LRR consented to a medical record review, but a minority of AA women consent...

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