MUSTANG 3.3 Millimeter Continuum Observations of Class 0 Protostars

We present observations of six Class 0 protostars at 3.3 mm (90 GHz) using the 64-pixel MUSTANG bolometer camera on the 100-m Green Bank Telescope. The 3.3 mm photometry is analyzed along with shorter wavelength observations to derive spectral indices (S_nu ~ nu^alpha) of the measured emission. We utilize previously published dust continuum radiative transfer models to estimate the characteristic dust temperature within the central beam of our observations. We present constraints on the millimeter dust opacity index, beta, between 0.862 mm, 1.25 mm, and 3.3 mm. Beta_mm typically ranges from 1.0 to 2.4 for Class 0 sources. The relative contributions from disk emission and envelope emission are estimated at 3.3 mm. L483 is found to have negligible disk emission at 3.3 mm while L1527 is dominated by disk emission within the central beam. The beta_mm^disk <= 0.8 - 1.4 for L1527 indicates that grain growth is likely occurring in the disk. The photometry presented in this paper may be combined with future interferometric observations of Class 0 envelopes and disks.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, AJ accepted, in pres

From survival to survivorship: late side effects become an issue in high-grade glioma.

“For many patients, controlling neurological symptoms, preventing cognitive dysfunction and maintaining functional independence are just as important as prolonging survival.

Toxicity of Phase I Radiation Oncology Trials: Worldwide Experience

Introduction: Informed consent involves understanding the risks and benefits of trial enrollment. This is challenging in the phase I setting since true quantitative information is never known. We therefore performed an analysis of published radiation oncology (RO) phase I trials emphasizing patient outcomes. To our knowledge, no such systemic analysis has previously been published. American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 52nd Annual Meeting October 31 - November 4, San Diego, C

Effects of EGFR Expression on Anti-tumor Efficacy of Vandetanib or Cediranib Combined with Radiotherapy (RT) in U87 Human Glioblastoma (GBM) Xenografts

Introduction: Vandetanib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (RTKI) with activity against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Cediranib is a highly potent VEGF RTKI that inhibits all three VEGF receptors. In this study we investigated the effect of exogenous overexpression of EGFR on sensitivity of human GBM U87 xenografts to vandetanib or cediranib, alone or in combination with RT. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 101st Annual Meeting April 17-21, Washington, DC

Combination of Vorinostat with Whole-brain Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Brain Metastases

Background: A third of patients with solid malignancies develop brain metastases. Expected overall survival is 4-7 months depending on age, performance status, and extracranial disease. Standard treatment is controversial; however, the majority of patients receive wholebrain radiation therapy at some point. Vorinostat (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, SAHA), an FDA-approved HDAC inhibitor, has been demonstrated to radiosensitize tumor cells in vitro, as assessed by both radiation-induced DNA damage and clonogenic cell survival (Munshi et al. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 5, 1967-1974, 2006). We have shown that vorinostat downregulates key genes involved in double-strand DNA repair (Rad50, Rad51, XRCC2, XRCC3, XRCC6), as assessed by quantitative PCR. This suggests that the drug’s mechanism of radiosensitization is epigenetic coordinated inhibition of the DNA repair process. We hypothesize that the combination of vorinostat with whole-brain radiation therapy will be both safe and efficacious. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 46th Annual Meeting June 4-8, Chicago, IL

CMB observations with the Jodrell Bank - IAC interferometer at 33 GHz

The paper presents the first results obtained with the Jodrell Bank - IAC two-element 33 GHz interferometer. The instrument was designed to measure the level of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) fluctuations at angular scales of 1 - 2 degrees. The observations analyzed here were taken in a strip of the sky at Dec = +41 deg with an element separation of 16.7 lambda, which gives a maximum sensitivity to ~1.6 deg structures on the sky. The data processing and calibration of the instrument are described. The sensitivity achieved in each of the two channels is 7 micro K per resolution element. A reconstruction of the sky at Dec = +41 deg using a maximum entropy method shows the presence of structure at a high level of significance. A likelihood analysis, assuming a flat CMB spatial power spectrum, gives a best estimate of the level of CMB fluctuations of Delta Tl = 43 (+13,-12) micro K for the range l = 109 +/- 19; the main uncertainty in this result arises from sample variance. We consider that the contamination from the Galaxy is small. These results represent a new determination of the CMB power spectrum on angular scales where previous results show a large scatter; our new results are in agreement with the theoretical predictions of the standard inflationary cold dark matter models.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures. Web site at http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/research/cmb/ Accepted for publication in MNRA

Evolving Role of Vorinostat Combined with Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Brain Tumors, from the Lab to the Clinic

Purpose/Objective(s): Radiation therapy (RT) is a critical element in the treatment of both brain metastases and glioblastoma (GBM). Temozolomide (TMZ) has an established role in the upfront treatment of GBM. Down-regulated mismatch repair (MMR) is a known mechanism of resistance to TMZ. Vorinostat (SAHA), an HDAC inhibitor, has successfully been combined with a number of cytotoxic agents, including ionizing radiation (IR). We performed a series of preclinical and clinical studies to examine the role of SAHA in the treatment of brain tumors. American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 52nd Annual Meeting October 31 - November 4, San Diego, C