Nematomucin Antigen Expression Identification using Anti-Peptide Antibodies

Parasitic nematodes infect billions of humans and cost billions in crop damage. Their success may be due in part to surface protein alterations as the worm develops. Yet surface antigen expression on a molecular level is poorly understood. Using C. elegans as a model nematode, anti-peptide antibodies directed against peptide sequences derived from putative C. elegans surface protein genes were obtained. This project aims to better understand antigenic surface molecule expression using Western blotting. Antigenic surface proteins of mixed stage worms range from 35-52kDa

Promotion of Hospice and Homecare Programs in Thailand: A Framework for the Assessment of Costs and Benefits

Cancer is a leading cause of death in Thailand, yet the Mahavachiralongkorn Thanyaburi Cancer Center is the only facility utilizing hospice and homecare programs to address the needs of terminal cancer patients. Our project developed a Thai-specific patient quality of life survey to assess their program's benefits. Coupled with protocols to record and compile patient data, our project provided the Cancer Center with a framework for proving the value of their services and promoting them to the Thai medical community.

Baseline characteristics and predictors of outcome in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes living in Western Pennsylvania

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a collection of hematologic disorders that affect older adults, and whose baseline characteristics and risk factors for evolution to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and death have not been completely defined. We analyzed a large unselected cohort of 214 patients with MDS from the University of Pittsburgh Network Cancer Registry in Western Pennsylvania. Patients' follow-up was 22 months, at the end of which 72.9%% of patients were dead. Overall, the 36-month survival rate was 19.0%% (95%% CI: 14.0--24.5%%); 22.4%% (95%% CI: 16.4--29.0%%) for patients with lower-risk MDS; and 5.0%% (95%% CI: 0.1--14.8%%) for patients with higher-risk MDS (p aEuroS== aEuroS0.0007). During follow-up, 32.9%% of the patients developed AML. Family history of cancer and having aEuroS >= a parts per thousand yen5%% blasts at diagnosis were statistically significant predictors for progression to AML. A higher risk of death also was associated with age aEuroS > 70 years and previous diagnosis of another cancer. More than three cycles of chemotherapy sessions and a platelet count of >= a parts per thousand yen50 aEuroSxx aEuroS10<SU3</SU/mm<SU3</SU were inversely associated with death. This study suggests the need to incorporate laboratory results such as percentage blasts and platelet counts as well as epidemiologic data on family history of cancer in future outcome studies on MDS.</

Predictors of Outcome In Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes Living In Western Pennsylvania

Abstract Abstract 4971 Introduction: The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a collection of hematologic disorders that affect older adults. The baseline characteristics and risk factors for evolution to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and death in MDS have not been completely defined. To gain a better understanding of MDS disease progression, we analyzed data from a large unselected cohort of MDS patients from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Network Cancer Registry in Western Pennsylvania. Methods: Demographic and baseline clinical data, including MDS subtype, treatment, cytogenetics, and cytopenias were derived from both patients' medical charts and electronic medical records. The MDS subtypes were recorded according to the French-American-British classification system (FAB). The IPSS score was calculated by one of the study investigators using the following criteria: bone marrow blasts were scored as 0 for values of 3 abnormalities). The intermediate risk group included all other aberrations. Four risk groups were formed based on the scores; Low, Int-1, Int-2, and High. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were developed to assess factors associated with AML evolution and survival. Covariates in these models included gender, race, diagnosis, age, smoking status, alcohol history, family history of cancer, previous cancer, blast percentage, blood parameters, therapies, MDS subtypes, and International Prognostic Scoring System score (IPSS). Differences in survival were tested using the Wilcoxon Log-Rank test. Results: Of 214 MDS patients included in this study, 129 were male (60%), the majority were Caucasian, 34% were diagnosed after the age of 70 years. More than half of the patients (63%) had a history of smoking, while 44% reported alcohol use and roughly half of the population (49%) reported a family history of cancer. Patients were followed for an average of 22 months after diagnosis. At baseline, the median hemoglobin level for all patients was 9.4 g/dL, and median neutrophil count was 1.45 × 109/L, with no significant gender differences. The median platelet count was 88 × 109/mm3 with 26.1% of the patients presenting with a platelet count 70 years at diagnosis (aHR = 1.3; 95% CI = 0.9 – 1.8) and previous diagnosis of cancer other than MDS (aHR = 1.3; 95% CI = 0.9 – 1.9). Increasing numbers of chemotherapy sessions (3 or more sessions versus 1: aHR – 0.5; 95% CI = 0.3 – 0.8) and a platelet count of >50×103/mm3 (aHR = 0.8; 95% CI = 0.5 – 1.1) were inversely associated with death. Conclusions: This is one of the first studies to present the contribution of both demographic and clinical factors to survival and AML development in a large population-based cohort of MDS patients. Disclosures: Fryzek: MedImmune: Employment

Multi-institutional prostate cancer study of genetic susceptibility in populations of African descent.

International audienceProstate cancer disparities have been reported in men of African descent who show the highest incidence, mortality, compared with other ethnic groups. Few studies have explored the genetic and environmental factors for prostate cancer in men of African ancestry. The glutathione-S-transferases family conjugates carcinogens before their excretion and is expressed in prostate tissue. This study addressed the role of GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletions on prostate cancer risk in populations of African descent. This multi-institutional case-control study gathered data from the Genetic Susceptibility to Environmental Carcinogens (GSEC) database, the African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3) and Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate Consortium (MADCaP). The analysis included 10 studies (1715 cases and 2363 controls), five in African-Americans, three in African-Caribbean and two in African men. Both the GSTM1 and the GSTT1 deletions showed significant inverse associations with prostate cancer [odds ratio (OR): 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83-0.97 and OR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82-0.96, respectively]. The association was restricted to Caribbean and African populations. A significant positive association was observed between GSTM1 deletion and prostate cancer in smokers in African-American studies (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.01-1.56), whereas a reduced risk was observed in never-smokers (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.46-0.95). The risk of prostate cancer increased across quartiles of pack-years among subjects carrying the deletion of GSTM1 but not among subjects carrying a functional GSTM1. Gene-environment interaction between smoking and GSTM1 may be involved in the etiology of prostate cancer in populations of African descent