30 results on '"Jhalak Dholakia"'
Search Results
2. Early-career and fellow gynecologic oncologists perceive underpreparedness for the business of medicine: A Society of gynecologic oncology survey study
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Jhalak Dholakia, Leslie R. Boyd, Rinki Agarwal, Haley Moss, Emily M. Ko, Emeline Aviki, and Margaret I. Liang
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Gynecology and obstetrics ,RG1-991 ,Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,RC254-282 - Abstract
Objective: There is a research gap on the impact of payment, reimbursement, and academic productivity in career decision-making for early-career (EC) attendings in gynecologic oncology. We sought to assess gynecologic oncology fellows and EC attendings on their knowledge and perceptions regarding the business of medicine. Methods: An anonymous survey was electronically disseminated to fellow and EC SGO members. Key themes were the business of medicine, productivity, and compensation/negotiation. A 5-point Likert scale was utilized; descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS. Results: There was a 29 % response rate: 82 fellows and 102 EC attendings. Most were white (n = 143, 78 %) and female (n = 138, 75 %.) Most fellows (n = 67, 82 %) were interested in, and most EC (n = 82, 82 %) were employed in, academic/non-private practice. Fellows and EC attendings reported insufficient education on RVUs (relative value units) and reimbursement (80 %, n = 66; 81 %, n = 83) and did not feel prepared for the business aspect of practice (80 %, n = 66; 73 %, n = 75). Over 40 % of fellows did not understand how RVUs relate to practice. Thirty-three percent of EC attendings did not understand RVU assignments; 29 % were satisfied with methods used to determine productivity, and 17 % did not understand their compensation. Over 60 % of fellows felt unprepared to negotiate clinical productivity expectations. For EC attendings, 47 % were uncomfortable negotiating clinical expectations, 32 % negotiating academic expectations, and 52 % negotiating compensation changes. Female EC felt less prepared than male EC regarding the business of medicine (p = 0.02), RVU assignments (p
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- 2024
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3. Identifying a molecular profile to predict the risk of recurrence in high‐intermediate risk endometrial cancer
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Rebecca C. Arend, Carly B. Scalise, Jhalak Dholakia, Maahum Z. Kamal, Haley B. Thigpen, David Crossman, Warner K. Huh, and Charles A. Leath III
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biomarker ,endometrial cancer ,high‐intermediate risk ,mutations ,recurrence ,survival ,Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,RC254-282 - Abstract
Abstract Background Patients with high‐intermediate risk endometrial cancer (H‐IR EMCA) have an elevated risk of recurrence compared to low‐risk counterparts. Many H‐IR EMCA patients are treated with radiation or chemotherapy, but their overall survival is not significantly impacted by treatment. The objective of this study was to compare molecular profiles of H‐IR EMCA patients with disease recurrence to those without to identify characteristics that could better predict patient outcomes. Methods Tissue was acquired from H‐IR EMCA patients with disease recurrence (n=15) and without disease recurrence (n=15) who had not received adjuvant therapy and performed DNA and RNA analyses. Results In recurrent population, 5 patients had matchingrecurrent and initial tumor tissues. Of note, 5/7 (71%) African Americanpatients had disease recurrence compared to 10/23 (43%) White patients. Inaddition, several new mutations were found in individual patient’s recurrentcompared to initial tumors. Conclusions Currently the treatment ofendometrial cancer is rapidly changing with molecular profiling becoming partof the standard of care. Additionally, it and is being incorporated intoclinical trials in this group of patients. The specific gene mutations and RNAexpression signatures that were observed in our small cohort need to bevalidated in larger cohorts to determine their impact.
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- 2021
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4. Identity-related experiences of Asian American trainees in gynecologic oncology
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Jhalak Dholakia, Yeon Woo Lee, Karen H. Lu, Warner K. Huh, S. Diane Yamada, Katherine C. Fuh, Amanika S. Kumar, Margaret I. Liang, Navya Nair, and Kenneth H. Kim
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Gynecology and obstetrics ,RG1-991 ,Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,RC254-282 - Abstract
Background: Anti-Asian violence increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian American/Pacific Islanders (AAPI) represent a diverse population experiencing a long history of stereotyping and exclusionism; however, this group is often left out of diversity/inclusion conversations. In academic medicine, AAPI are under-represented in leadership. We characterized the personal/professional experiences of AAPI gynecologic oncology trainees and assessed the impact of a virtual panel discussion with leaders in the field. Methods: An anonymous survey was disseminated online to trainees in/interested in gynecologic oncology fellowship who identified as AAPI, using modified snowball sampling. A virtual session with AAPI leaders in gynecologic oncology discussed themes emerging from survey responses. Session attendees completed an anonymous follow-up survey. Results were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: 44/59 (75%) respondents participated in the pre-survey; 23 (39%) participated in the virtual session. All session participants (23/23, 100%) completed the post-session survey. Participants reported increased identity-related thoughts with the COVID-19 pandemic (88% during, 61% prior). Sixty-eight percent reported that identity-related thoughts/awareness changed during the pandemic. Presence of AAPI colleagues was associated with higher perceived identity-related support from their department. Of those without AAPI coworkers, none (0%) felt ‘moderately’ or ‘extremely well supported.’ Qualitative analysis demonstrated that the panel discussion created a sense of community and encouragement, combating previously reported isolation and self-consciousness. Participants reported more connection with their heritage and identified more personal/professional topics that might be related to their cultural backgrounds. Discussion: This intervention demonstrates the opportunity to provide a supportive network for mentorship and professional development in a culturally inclusive way.
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- 2022
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5. DKK1 is a predictive biomarker for response to DKN-01: Results of a phase 2 basket study in women with recurrent endometrial carcinoma
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Rebecca Arend, Jhalak Dholakia, Cesar Castro, Ursula Matulonis, Erika Hamilton, Camille Gunderson Jackson, Kristopher LyBarger, Howard M. Goodman, Linda R. Duska, Haider Mahdi, Adam C. ElNaggar, Michael H. Kagey, Amy Liu, Diane Piper, Lisa M. Barroilhet, William Bradley, Jasgit Sachdev, Cynthia A. Sirard, David M. O'Malley, and Michael Birrer
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Oncology ,Obstetrics and Gynecology - Published
- 2023
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6. Development of Delivery Systems for Local Administration of Cytokines/Cytokine Gene-Directed Therapeutics: Modern Oncologic Implications
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Jhalak Dholakia, Alexander C. Cohen, Charles A. Leath, Elizabeth T. Evans, Ronald D. Alvarez, and Premal H. Thaker
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Oncology ,Neoplasms ,Cytokines ,Humans ,Immunologic Factors ,Nanoparticles ,Immunotherapy - Abstract
In this review, we discuss modern cytokine delivery systems in oncologic care, focusing on modalities being developed in the clinical trials or currently in use. These include pegylation, immune-cytokine drug conjugates, cytokine-expressing plasmid nanoparticles, nonviral cytokine nanoparticles, viral systems, and AcTakines.Cytokine therapy has the potential to contribute to cancer treatment options by modulating the immune system towards an improved antitumor response and has shown promise both independently and in combination with other immunotherapy agents. Despite promising preliminary studies, systemic toxicities and challenges with administration have limited the impact of unmodified cytokine therapy. In the last decade, novel delivery systems have been developed to address these challenges and facilitate cytokine-based oncologic treatments. Novel delivery systems provide potential solutions to decrease dose-limiting side effects, facilitate administration, and increase the therapeutic activity of cytokine treatments in oncology care. The expanding clinical and translational research in these systems provides an opportunity to augment the armamentarium of immune oncology and may represent the next frontier of cytokine-based immuno-oncology.
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- 2022
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7. Systematic Next Generation Sequencing is feasible in clinical practice and identifies opportunities for targeted therapy in women with uterine cancer: Results from a prospective cohort study
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Nidhi Goel, Rebecca C. Arend, McKenzie E. Foxall, Brandon M. Roane, Angelina I. Londono, Charles A. Leath, Jaclyn A. Wall, Jhalak Dholakia, and Warner K. Huh
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Adult ,Oncology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Targeted therapy ,Uterine cancer ,Internal medicine ,Carcinosarcoma ,medicine ,Humans ,Molecular Targeted Therapy ,Prospective Studies ,Prospective cohort study ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,business.industry ,Incidence (epidemiology) ,High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Middle Aged ,Genes, p53 ,medicine.disease ,Black or African American ,DNA-Binding Proteins ,Clinical trial ,Mutation ,Uterine Neoplasms ,Cohort ,Female ,Personalized medicine ,business ,Transcription Factors - Abstract
Both incidence and mortality of uterine cancer are on the rise and mortality is higher for African American women. The aim of our study was to evaluate how Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) may facilitate identification of and intervention for treatment disparities when integrated into clinical workflows.Our cohort included 159 uterine cancer patients with recurrent/progressive and newly diagnosed advanced stage and/or high-risk histology. The most common tumor histological subtypes included EEC (n = 67), SEC (n = 34), UCS (n = 20), and mixed (n = 14). Black patients were most likely to present with aggressive histology: (SEC, 34.0%) and carcinosarcoma (UCS, 14.0%). The four most common mutations across all subtypes were TP53, PIK3CA, PTEN, and ARID1A. There was racial disparity between Black versus non-Black patients who were initiated on targeted therapy (28.2% vs. 38.2%, respectively) and clinical trial (15% vs. 22.6%, respectively). Compared to non-Black patients, Black patients had a significantly higher percentage TP53 mutations (p0.05) and a significantly lower percentage ARID1A mutations (p0.05).NGS for uterine malignancies provides actionable information for targetable mutations and/or clinical trial enrollment in most patients; further investigation is necessary to identify potentially modifiable factors contributing to current disparities that may improve targeted therapy uptake and clinical trial participation.
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- 2021
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8. EP108/#805 Racial disparities in endometrial cancer patients at a single academic institution
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Savannah Elrod, Alfonsus Harsono, Jaclyn Wall, Teresa Boitano, Jhalak Dholakia, Elizabeth Evans, Jennah Moore, Mckenzie Foxall, and Rebecca Arend
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- 2022
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9. Missing the target: The oncology care model treatment pricing scheme is prohibitively reductive for gynecologic malignancies
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Jhalak Dholakia, Margaret I. Liang, and Emeline M. Aviki
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Oncology ,Genital Neoplasms, Female ,Costs and Cost Analysis ,Humans ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Female ,Medical Oncology - Published
- 2022
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10. Guideline-concordant treatment is associated with improved survival among women with non-endometrioid endometrial cancer
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Elyse Llamocca, Ashley S. Felix, Jhalak Dholakia, Allison M. Quick, and Ritu Salani
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Adult ,0301 basic medicine ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Logistic regression ,Article ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Aged ,Proportional hazards model ,business.industry ,Endometrial cancer ,Uterus neoplasm ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Odds ratio ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Survival Analysis ,Confidence interval ,Endometrial Neoplasms ,030104 developmental biology ,Oncology ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Pacific islanders ,Population study ,Female ,business - Abstract
Background Among women diagnosed with non-endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EC), we investigated associations between race/ethnicity and receipt of guideline-concordant treatment (GCT), as well as relationships between GCT and survival. Methods We used the National Cancer Database and identified 21,177 non-Hispanic White (NHW), 6657 non-Hispanic Black (NHB), 1689 Hispanic, and 903 Asian/Pacific Islander (AS/PI) women diagnosed with non-endometrioid EC between 2004 and 2014. Year-specific National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines were used to classify GCT. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between race/ethnicity and GCT receipt. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazards ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for relationships between GCT and overall survival in the total study population and stratified by race/ethnicity. Results Overall, 43.8% of women with non-endometrioid EC received GCT. Compared to NHW women, NHB (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.95–1.07), Hispanic (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.91–1.12) and AS/PI women (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.96–1.26) did not have significantly different odds of receiving GCT. GCT was significantly associated with improved survival among NHW (HR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.80–0.87), NHB (HR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.80–0.91), and Hispanic women (HR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.72–0.98) but not among AS/PI women (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.78–1.19). Conclusions While more than half of women with non-endometrioid EC did not receive GCT, no difference in GCT receipt by race/ethnicity was observed. When received, GCT was associated with improved survival in almost all racial groups. Interventions to improve GCT adherence may improve survival for most women with non-endometrioid EC.
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- 2020
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11. A Rare Case of Atypical Placental Site Nodule With an Emerging Intermediate Trophoblastic Tumor
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Jhalak Dholakia, Wei Chen, David M. O'Malley, and Brigitte M. Ronnett
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Adult ,0301 basic medicine ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Proliferation index ,Trophoblastic Tumor ,Trophoblastic Neoplasms ,Endocervical curettage ,Pathology and Forensic Medicine ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Pregnancy ,medicine ,Trophoblastic neoplasm ,Atypia ,Humans ,Gestational Trophoblastic Disease ,Placental site trophoblastic tumor ,Epithelioid Trophoblastic Tumor ,business.industry ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,medicine.disease ,030104 developmental biology ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Uterine Neoplasms ,embryonic structures ,Female ,Placental site nodule ,business - Abstract
Placental site nodule (PSN) is a benign lesion composed of chorionic-type intermediate trophoblastic cells and is typically an incidental finding in uterine or endocervical curettage specimens. Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT) and placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) are intermediate trophoblastic neoplasms of chorionic and implantation site types, respectively. ETT is speculated to be the neoplastic counterpart of PSN. The term atypical placental site nodule (APSN) has been proposed for PSN-type lesions displaying one or more concerning features, including larger size/more abundant lesional tissue, more extensive plaque-like growth, increased cellularity with more cohesive nests and cords of cells, a greater extent/distribution of necrosis, increased atypia, mitotic activity, and/or a Ki-67 proliferation index greater than usually encountered in the typical PSN. It has been proposed that APSN is an intermediary lesion between PSN and intermediate trophoblastic tumors, more commonly ETT but also PSTT. We report a case of a 39-yr-old woman who developed abnormal uterine bleeding 44 mo after her last recognized pregnancy. An endometrial curettage specimen demonstrated an APSN with some features concerning for an intermediate trophoblastic tumor. A hysterectomy specimen demonstrated residual APSN with foci consistent with emerging PSTT and ETT. This case illustrates the earliest form of PSTT and ETT arising in association with an APSN and supports interpretation of APSN as an intermediary lesion between typical PSN and intermediate trophoblastic tumors.
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- 2020
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12. Assessing the rate of identification of financial hardship action items and completion of referrals for care (492)
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Jhalak Dholakia, Tavonna Kako, Maria Pisu, and Margaret Liang
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Oncology ,Obstetrics and Gynecology - Published
- 2022
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13. Peri-operative cardiac events in patient undergoing surgery for gynecologic malignancies are associated with long-term cardiovascular outcomes (489)
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Jhalak Dholakia, Kaitlyn Kincaid, Elizabeth Evans, Ashlynn Clark, Zachary Tugaoen, and Michael Straughn
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Oncology ,Obstetrics and Gynecology - Published
- 2022
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14. Sequential modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway enhances tumor-intrinsic MHC I expression and tumor clearance
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Selene Meza-Perez, Jhalak Dholakia, Lyse A. Norian, Ashwini A. Katre, Whitney N. Goldsberry, Carly Bess Scalise, Troy D. Randall, Rebecca C. Arend, and Lea Novak
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Genital Neoplasms, Female ,medicine.medical_treatment ,T cell ,Genes, MHC Class I ,Antineoplastic Agents ,Mice ,MHC class I ,Tumor Microenvironment ,CXCL10 ,Medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Wnt Signaling Pathway ,beta Catenin ,Tumor microenvironment ,biology ,business.industry ,Wnt signaling pathway ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Drug Synergism ,Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ,PORCN ,Mice, Inbred C57BL ,Disease Models, Animal ,Cytokine ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Oncology ,DKK1 ,biology.protein ,Cancer research ,Female ,Immunotherapy ,business - Abstract
Background Progress in immunotherapy use for gynecologic malignancies is hampered by poor tumor antigenicity and weak T cell infiltration of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Wnt/β-catenin pathway modulation demonstrated patient benefit in clinical trials as well as enhanced immune cell recruitment in preclinical studies. The purpose of this study was to characterize the pathways by which Wnt/β-catenin modulation facilitates a more immunotherapy-favorable TME. Methods Human tumor samples and in vivo patient-derived xenograft and syngeneic murine models were administered Wnt/β-catenin modulating agents DKN-01 and CGX-1321 individually or in sequence. Analytical methods included immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, multiplex cytokine/chemokine array, and RNA sequencing. Results DKK1 blockade via DKN-01 increased HLA/MHC expression in human and murine tissues, correlating with heightened expression of known MHC I regulators: NFkB, IL-1, LPS, and IFNy. PORCN inhibition via CGX-1321 increased production of T cell chemoattractant CXCL10, providing a mechanism for observed increases in intra-tumoral T cells. Diverse leukocyte recruitment was noted with elevations in B cells and macrophages, with increased tumor expression of population-specific chemokines. Sequential DKK1 blockade and PORCN inhibition decreased tumor burden as evidenced by reduced omental weights. Conclusions Wnt/β-catenin pathway modulation increases MHC I expression and promotes tumor leukocytic infiltration, facilitating a pro-immune TME associated with decreased tumor burden. This intervention overcomes common tumor immune-evasion mechanisms and may render ovarian tumors susceptible to immunotherapy.
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- 2021
15. Whole exome sequencing provides loss of heterozygosity (LoH) data comparable to that of whole genome sequencing (171)
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Elizabeth Evans, Jhalak Dholakia, Jim Abraham, Jian Zhang, Matthew Oberley, Phil Stafford, Thomas Herzog, David Spetzler, and Rebecca Arend
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Oncology ,Obstetrics and Gynecology - Published
- 2022
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16. Comparing financial hardship (FH) assessment tools among gynecologic cancer patients (491)
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Jhalak Dholakia, Tavonna Kako, Maria Pisu, and Margaret Liang
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Oncology ,Obstetrics and Gynecology - Published
- 2022
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17. Single-arm phase II trial of carboplatin and mirvetuximab soravtansine as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for advanced- stage ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer (EOC) who are folate receptor α positive (NCT04606914) (578)
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Tavonna Kako, Jhalak Dholakia, Charles Leath, and Rebecca Arend
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Oncology ,Obstetrics and Gynecology - Published
- 2022
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18. Trends in cardiology follow-up and long-term care for patients who experienced cardiac events after surgery for gynecologic malignancies (490)
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Jhalak Dholakia, Kaitlyn Kincaid, Elizabeth Evans, Ashlynn Clark, Zachary Tugaoen, and Michael Straughn
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Oncology ,Obstetrics and Gynecology - Published
- 2022
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19. Assessing Preclinical Research Models for Immunotherapy for Gynecologic Malignancies
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Rebecca C. Arend, Carly Bess Scalise, and Jhalak Dholakia
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0301 basic medicine ,Oncology ,Cancer Research ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Translational research ,Gynecologic oncology ,Review ,gynecologic oncology ,lcsh:RC254-282 ,03 medical and health sciences ,Preclinical research ,0302 clinical medicine ,Internal medicine ,Programmed cell death 1 ,medicine ,cancer ,Tumor microenvironment ,biology ,business.industry ,Translational medicine ,Treatment options ,Immunotherapy ,lcsh:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,preclinical models ,030104 developmental biology ,translational research ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,biology.protein ,immunotherapy ,business - Abstract
Simple Summary Novel treatments in immunotherapy for gynecologic oncology have not successfully developed from preclinical research to clinical trials. Preclinical models used to investigate immunotherapy agents are summarized in order to enhance understanding of the inherent limitations and areas of improvement necessary to optimize this research. It is necessary to develop and utilize appropriate preclinical models whose outcomes can be translated to clinical practice in order to identify novel treatments to improve outcomes in patients with gynecologic malignancies. Abstract Gynecologic malignancies are increasing in incidence, with a plateau in clinical outcomes necessitating novel treatment options. Immunotherapy and modulation of the tumor microenvironment are rapidly developing fields of interest in gynecologic oncology translational research; examples include the PD-1 (programmed cell death 1) and CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) axes and the Wnt pathway. However, clinical successes with these agents have been modest and lag behind immunotherapy successes in other malignancies. A thorough contextualization of preclinical models utilized in gynecologic oncology immunotherapy research is necessary in order to effectively and efficiently develop translational medicine. These include murine models, in vitro assays, and three-dimensional human-tissue-based systems. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of preclinical models for immunotherapy in gynecologic malignancies, including benefits and limitations of each, in order to inform study design and translational research models. Improved model design and implementation will optimize preclinical research efficiency and increase the translational value to positive findings, facilitating novel treatments that improve patient outcomes.
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- 2021
20. Prehabilitation for medically frail patients undergoing surgery for epithelial ovarian cancer: a cost-effectiveness analysis
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David E. Cohn, Sarah E. Dilley, Jhalak Dholakia, and J. Michael Straughn
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medicine.medical_specialty ,Cost effectiveness ,Cost-Benefit Analysis ,Frail Elderly ,Prehabilitation ,Psychological intervention ,Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial ,Medical Frailty ,Outcomes Research ,Healthcare Systems ,Health care ,Humans ,Medicine ,Prospective Studies ,Prospective cohort study ,health care economics and organizations ,Aged ,Ovarian Neoplasms ,Gynecologic Cancer ,business.industry ,Ovary ,Preoperative Exercise ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Health Care Costs ,General Medicine ,Cost-effectiveness analysis ,Ovarian Cancer ,Surgery ,Oncology ,Cohort ,Female ,Original Article ,Outcomes research ,business - Abstract
Objective To assess the potential cost-effectiveness of prehabilitation in medically frail patients undergoing surgery for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods We created a cost-effectiveness model evaluating the impact of prehabilitation on a cohort of medically frail women undergoing primary surgical intervention for EOC. Cost was assessed from the healthcare system perspective via (1) inpatient charges from 2018–2019 institutional Diagnostic Related Grouping data for surgeries with and without major complications; (2) nursing facility costs from published market surveys. Major complication and non-home discharge rates were estimated from the literature. Based on published pilot studies, prehabilitation was determined to decrease these rates. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for cost per life year saved utilized a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/life year. Modeling was performed with TreeAge software. Results In a cohort of 4,415 women, prehabilitation would cost $371.1 Million (M) versus $404.9 M for usual care, a cost saving of $33.8 M/year. Cost of care per patient with prehabilitation was $84,053; usual care was $91,713. When analyzed for cost-effectiveness, usual care was dominated by prehabilitation, indicating prehabilitation was associated with both increased effectiveness and decreased cost compared with usual care. Sensitivity analysis showed prehabilitation was more cost effective up to a cost of intervention of $9,418/patient. Conclusion Prehabilitation appears to be a cost-saving method to decrease healthcare system costs via two improved outcomes: lower complication rates and decreased care facility requirements. It represents a novel strategy to optimize healthcare efficiency. Prospective studies should be performed to better characterize these interventions in medically frail patients with EOC., Synopsis Prehabilitation cost-effectiveness analysis was performed for medically frail epithelial ovarian cancer patients undergoing surgery. It was cost-saving for the healthcare system via lower complication rates and discharge care requirements. Prehabilitation was cost effective up to a cost of $9,418/patient.
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- 2021
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21. Understanding the effect of mechanical forces on ovarian cancer progression
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Carly Bess Scalise, Alba Martinez, Rebecca C. Arend, Jhalak Dholakia, Joel L. Berry, David K. Crossman, Ashwini A. Katre, Michael J. Birrer, and Molly Buckley
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0301 basic medicine ,Cell type ,endocrine system diseases ,Mice, SCID ,Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial ,Mechanotransduction, Cellular ,Article ,Metastasis ,03 medical and health sciences ,Mice ,0302 clinical medicine ,In vivo ,Cell Movement ,Cell Line, Tumor ,Medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Mechanotransduction ,Neoplasm Metastasis ,Cell Proliferation ,Ovarian Neoplasms ,business.industry ,Cell growth ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,medicine.disease ,female genital diseases and pregnancy complications ,030104 developmental biology ,Oncology ,Cell culture ,Tumor progression ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Cancer research ,Disease Progression ,Heterografts ,Female ,Stress, Mechanical ,business ,Ovarian cancer - Abstract
Objective Mechanical forces including tension, compression, and shear stress are increasingly implicated in tumor progression and metastasis. Understanding the mechanisms behind epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) progression and metastasis is critical, and this study aimed to elucidate the effect of oscillatory and constant tension on EOC. Methods SKOV-3 and OVCAR-8 EOC cell lines were placed under oscillatory tension for 3 days and compared to cells placed under no tension. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were analyzed while RNAseq and Western Blots helped investigate the biological mechanisms underlying the increasingly aggressive state of the experimental cells. Finally, in vivo experiments using SCID mice assisted in confirming the in vitro results. Results Oscillatory tension (OT) and constant tension (CT) significantly increased SKOV-3 proliferation, while OT caused a significant increase in proliferative genes, migration, and invasion in this cell line. CT did not cause significant increases in these areas. Neither OT nor CT increased proliferation or invasion in OVCAR-8 cells, while both tension types significantly increased cellular migration. Two proteins involved in metastasis, E-cadherin and Snail, were both significantly affected by OT in both cell lines, with E-cadherin levels decreasing and Snail levels increasing. In vivo, tumor growth and weight for both cell types were significantly increased, and ascites development was significantly higher in the experimental OVCAR-8 group than in the control group. Conclusions This study found that mechanical forces are influential in EOC progression and metastasis. Further analysis of downstream mechanisms involved in EOC metastasis will be critical for improvements in EOC treatment.
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- 2020
22. Gynecologic oncology patients are ready for telemedicine in routine care: Results from a pre-COVID survey
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Jhalak Dholakia, Rebecca C. Arend, J. Kim, Margaret I. Liang, Haller J. Smith, Kerri S. Bevis, Charles A. Leath, Warner K. Huh, and John Michael Straughn
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Research Report ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Telemedicine ,Healthcare disparities ,education ,Disease ,Gynecologic oncology ,Pandemic ,Health care ,Rural healthcare ,medicine ,RC254-282 ,business.industry ,Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Health technology ,Gynecology and obstetrics ,Healthcare access ,Clinical trial ,Oncology ,Family medicine ,RG1-991 ,Rural area ,Healthcare technology ,business - Abstract
Highlights • Even prior to COVID-19, gynecologic oncology patients were interested in telemedicine as a component of their care. • The majority of patients have home internet and use the internet daily, reflecting high access. • Rural patients and those with difficulty attending appointments may benefit from telemedicine options. • Telemedicine may help decrease healthcare access disparities and improve patient outcomes. • Gynecologic oncologists should advocate for telemedicine as a standard component of care, even after the COVID-19 pandemic., Objectives To assess telemedicine readiness of gynecologic oncology patients, particularly those at risk for care access disparities (increased distance to care, rural populations.) Methods Patients at all disease/treatment stages completed an anonymous survey during in-person outpatient appointments at an academic comprehensive cancer center from 1/6/2020 to 2/28/2020, conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, before the introduction of telemedicine in this practice. Results Of 180 patients approached, 170 completed the survey (94.4%). Mean age was 59.6 years; 73.4% identified as White, 23.7% Black, and 2.9% other race. Ovarian cancer was most common (41.2%), followed by endometrial (27.1%), cervical (20.6%), and vaginal/vulvar (7.1%). Most patients traveled > 50 miles for appointments (63.8%); they were more likely from rural counties with significantly higher travel costs/visit ($60.77 vs $37.98, p = 0.026.) The majority expressed interest in using telemedicine (75.7%) or a smartphone app (87.5%) in their care. The majority of patients with difficulty attending appointments (88.9 vs 70.2%, p = 0.02) or from rural counties (88.7% vs 69.6%, p = 0.03) were interested in telemedicine; those with both characteristics reported 100% interest. The majority in both urban and rural counties had home internet access, and reported similarly high rates of daily use (79% vs 75%). Race and age were not associated with differences in internet access or use or telemedicine interest. Conclusions Telemedicine is attractive to the majority of patients and may offer financial/logistical advantages. Patients have high internet use rates and comfort with using technology for healthcare. Telemedicine should be incorporated into standard practice beyond the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce healthcare access disparities.
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- 2021
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23. Perceptions of barriers to patient financial hardship screening differ by provider role within gynecologic oncology outpatient care
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Margaret I. Liang, Warner K. Huh, Maria Pisu, and Jhalak Dholakia
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Finance ,Cancer Research ,Gynecologic malignancy ,Oncology ,Ambulatory care ,business.industry ,Best practice ,Provider role ,Medicine ,Gynecologic oncology ,business - Abstract
317 Background: Although approximately half of patients with gynecologic malignancy experience financial hardship (FH) during treatment, best practices to identify and assist patients with FH are lacking. To develop such practices, we assessed oncology provider and staff perspectives about FH screening and provision of assistance. Methods: An anonymous survey was conducted electronically within the Gynecologic Oncology outpatient office at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Potential barriers to patient FH screening and follow-up were assessed within 2 domains: 1) logistic barriers to incorporating FH screening and follow-up into outpatient workflow and 2) perceived patient barriers to FH screening. Responses were elicited on a 5-point Likert scale from ‘very’ to ‘not at all’ significant and dichotomized into significant and not significant barriers. Results: Of 43 providers approached, 37 responded (86% response rate) of which 14 were physicians (MD)/nurse practitioners (NP) and 23 were other staff members (i.e., clinical and research nurses, social workers, pharmacists, care coordinators, lay navigators, and financial counselors). Altogether, 38% worked in their current position for >5 years (n=14), 11% for 3-5 years (n=4), and 51% for
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- 2021
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24. Towards a ‘hot’ tumor phenotype: DKN-01 sensitizes the tumor micro-environment via pro-immune cell cytokine release in vitro and ex vivo
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Rebecca C. Arend, Jaclyn A. Wall, Carly Bess Scalise, Jhalak Dholakia, and Ashwini A. Katre
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Tumor microenvironment ,business.industry ,medicine.medical_treatment ,T cell ,Wnt signaling pathway ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,medicine.disease ,CCL5 ,Immune checkpoint ,Cytokine ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Oncology ,Tumor progression ,Cancer research ,Medicine ,business ,Ovarian cancer - Abstract
Objectives: The Wnt/-catenin pathway has been associated with a ‘cold’ tumor microenvironment (TME) in ovarian cancer that allows for unregulated tumor progression. We characterized the impact of inhibiting DKK1 - a Wnt pathway target gene - on immune-related molecular responses in ovarian cancer. Methods: Data was collected from human cell lines, ascites collected from patients with HGSOC, and tissue from patient tumor samples treated with a DKK-1 inhibitor (DKN-01.) Ascites from 10 high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patients were isolated, cultured in vitro, and treated with control or 0.5uL/mL DKN-01 for 48 hours. Cell lysates were collected for multiplex cytokine/chemokine array. Human ES2 epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells were cultured in vitro and treated with control or DKN-01; RNA-sequencing was performed to characterize differential gene expression changes in response to treatment. We also performed HE these findings were associated with improved local immune cell presence. In human ascites, there was a >20% increase in IL-8, CCL5 and CCL4 cytokines in response to DKN-01; these cytokines are associated with enhanced leukocyte, T cell, NK cell, and monocyte recruitment. Additionally, there was a >20% increase in CXCL9 and EGF cytokines (both associated with T cell activation), and GM-CSF (associated with pro-inflammatory/anti-tumor M1 macrophage polarization) in response to DKN-01. RNA-seq analysis of human ovarian tissue from patients with DKN-01 treatment showed a statistically significant increases in gene expression of pro-inflammatory chemokines CXCL8 (p Conclusions: DKK1 blockade facilitates a pro-inflammatory TME via increased local immunostimulatory cytokine production and release, providing a mechanism of action for improved clinical outcomes for gynecologic cancer patients by creating a ‘hot’ TME. Based on these findings, further studies are needed to investigate how DKK-1 inhibition could prime the TME to sensitize ovarian cancer to immune checkpoint blockade.
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- 2021
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25. Prehabilitation is a cost-saving method with improved outcomes for medically frail patients undergoing surgery for epithelial ovarian cancer: A cost-effectiveness analysis
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Sarah E. Dilley, John Michael Straughn, David E. Cohn, L. Montemorano, and Jhalak Dholakia
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medicine.medical_specialty ,Oncology ,business.industry ,Prehabilitation ,medicine ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Epithelial ovarian cancer ,Cost-effectiveness analysis ,Intensive care medicine ,business ,Cost savings - Published
- 2020
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26. Black and Hispanic women are less likely than white women to receive guideline-concordant endometrial cancer treatment
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Ritu Salani, Allison M. Quick, Jhalak Dholakia, Mara K. Kaspers, Ashley S. Felix, and Elyse Llamocca
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Adult ,Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander ,White People ,Article ,Odds ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Ethnicity ,Odds Ratio ,medicine ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Healthcare Disparities ,Minority Groups ,Aged ,Neoplasm Staging ,Proportional Hazards Models ,030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine ,business.industry ,Endometrial cancer ,Uterus neoplasm ,Hazard ratio ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Hispanic or Latino ,Odds ratio ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Confidence interval ,Endometrial Neoplasms ,Black or African American ,Survival Rate ,Population study ,Pacific islanders ,Female ,Guideline Adherence ,business ,Carcinoma, Endometrioid ,Demography - Abstract
BACKGROUND: Differences in receipt of guideline-concordant treatment might underlie well-established racial disparities in endometrial cancer mortality. OBJECTIVE: Using the National Cancer Database, we assessed the hypothesis that among women with endometrioid endometrial cancer, racial/ethnic minority women would have lower odds of receiving guideline-concordant treatment than White women. In addition, we hypothesized that lack of guideline-concordant treatment was linked with worse survival. STUDY DESIGN: We defined receipt of guideline-concordant treatment using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compute odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for associations between race and guideline-concordant treatment. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazards ratios and 95% confidence intervals for relationships between guideline-concordant treatment and overall survival in the overall study population and stratified by race/ethnicity. RESULTS: This analysis was restricted to the 89,319 women diagnosed with an invasive, endometrioid endometrial cancer between 2004 and 2014. Overall, 74.7% of the cohort received guideline-concordant treatment (n=66,699). Analyses stratified by race showed that 75.3% of non-Hispanic White (n=57,442), 70.1% of non-Hispanic Black (n=4,334), 71.0% of Hispanic (n=3,263), and 72.5% of Asian/Pacific Islander patients (n=1,660) received treatment in concordance with guidelines. In multivariable-adjusted models, non-Hispanic Black (odds ratio=0.92, 95% confidence interval=0.86–0.98) and Hispanic women (odds ratio=0.90, 95% confidence interval=0.83–0.97) had lower odds of receiving guideline-concordant treatment compared to non-Hispanic White women, while Asian/Pacific Islander women had a higher odds of receiving guideline-concordant treatment (odds ratio=1.11, 95% confidence interval=1.00–1.23). Lack of guideline-concordant treatment was associated with lower overall survival in the overall study population (hazard ratio=1.12, 95% confidence interval=1.08–1.15), but was not significantly associated with overall survival among non-Hispanic Black (hazard ratio=1.09, 95% confidence interval=0.98–1.21), Hispanic (hazard ratio=0.92, 95% confidence interval=0.78–1.09), or Asian/Pacific Islander (hazard ratio=0.90, 95% confidence interval=0.70–1.16) women. CONCLUSIONS: Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women were less likely than non-Hispanic White women to receive guideline-concordant treatment, while Asian/Pacific Islander women more commonly received treatment in line with guidelines. Further, in the overall study population, overall survival was worse among those not receiving guideline-concordant treatment, although low power may have impacted the race-stratified models. Future studies should evaluate reasons underlying disparate endometrial cancer treatment.
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- 2020
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27. Abstract B101: Race is associated with receipt of guideline-concordant treatment among women with endometrioid endometrial cancer: A National Cancer Database study
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Elyse Reamer, Ashley S. Felix, Jhalak Dholakia, Ritu Salani, and Mara K. Kaspers
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Oncology ,Receipt ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Epidemiology ,business.industry ,Endometrial cancer ,Cancer ,Database study ,medicine.disease ,Race (biology) ,Guideline-concordant Treatment ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,business - Abstract
Background: Among women with endometrial cancer (EC), African American women have a 93% higher likelihood of dying compared to white women. This disparity is driven, in part, by the more frequent diagnosis of late stage and non-endometrioid tumors among African American women. However, even among women diagnosed with indolent forms of EC, including early stage or endometrioid histology, African American women are more likely to die. Differential receipt of guideline-based treatment might underlie worse survival among African American women. EC treatment guidelines are based on several randomized clinical trials, which provide consistently strong evidence on treatment regimens for women with early stage, endometrioid EC. Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we assessed the hypothesis that among women with less aggressive forms of EC, minority women would have lower odds of receiving guideline-concordant treatment than white women. In addition, we examined whether a survival benefit exists for EC patients who receive guideline-concordant treatment. Methods: We defined receipt of guideline-concordant EC treatment using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, which stratify treatment decisions based on tumor characteristics. We used multivariable logistic regression models to compute odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between race, categorized as non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB), Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander (API), and receipt of guideline-concordant treatment. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazards ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for relationships between receipt of guideline-concordant treatment and overall survival. Results: A total of 89,976 women diagnosed with stages 1A through 3C, endometrioid EC between the years 2004 and 2014 were included, among whom, 71.5% (n=64,316) received treatment in line with NCCN guidelines. In multivariable adjusted models, NHB (OR=0.91, 95% CI=0.86 – 0.97) and Hispanic women (OR=0.93, 95% CI=0.86 – 0.99) had lower odds of receiving concordant treatment compared to NHW women. Receipt of guideline-concordant treatment did not differ between API and NHW women. During the study period, NHB women had the highest proportion of deaths (28.7%) followed by NHW (22.0%), Hispanic (16.0%), and API women (14.2%). In models adjusted for patient, clinical, and facility characteristics, women not receiving guideline-concordant care were 8% more likely to die (HR=1.08, 95% CI=1.05 – 1.12). Conclusions: Receipt of guideline-concordant treatment differed according to race, with minorities less likely than NHW women to receive guideline-directed therapy. Further, in the overall study population, overall survival was better among those receiving guideline-concordant care. Future studies should evaluate reasons underlying disparate EC treatment. Citation Format: Mara K. Kaspers, Elyse Reamer, Jhalak Dholakia, Ritu Salani, Ashley S. Felix. Race is associated with receipt of guideline-concordant treatment among women with endometrioid endometrial cancer: A National Cancer Database study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B101.
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- 2020
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28. Abstract A134: Minority women with non-endometrioid endometrial cancer are not less likely to receive guideline-concordant treatment than White women
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Ritu Salani, Jhalak Dholakia, Ashley S. Felix, and Elyse Reamer
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medicine.medical_specialty ,White (horse) ,Oncology ,Epidemiology ,Guideline-concordant Treatment ,business.industry ,Obstetrics ,Endometrial cancer ,medicine ,medicine.disease ,business - Abstract
Background: Black women with endometrial cancer (EC) experience significant disparities in treatment and survival. They undergo diagnostic evaluation, primary surgical management, and non-surgical treatment at statistically lower rates than non-Hispanic White (NHW) women. Black women are also more likely to present with advanced stage disease and aggressive tumor histology, including non-endometrioid EC subtypes, resulting in a 93% greater overall mortality rate than Whites. Research in other cancers show that Black patients receive guideline-concordant care less often than NHW women. To date, no study has assessed the relationship between race and receipt of comprehensive guideline-concordant therapy, nor have studies examined the impact of guideline- concordant treatment and survival according to race among women with EC. We investigated these associations among women diagnosed with non-endometrioid EC in the National Cancer Database. Methods: Our analysis included 21,696 NHW, 6,859 non-Hispanic Black (NHB), 1,752 Hispanic, and 922 Asian/Pacific Islander (AS/PI) women diagnosed with non-endometrioid EC between 2004 and 2014. We used year-specific National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines to classify treatment as guideline-concordant vs. not concordant. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between race and receipt of guideline-concordant treatment in models adjusted for age at diagnosis, stage, histology, comorbidity score, insurance type, and facility type. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazards ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for relationships between receipt of guideline-concordant treatment and overall survival stratified by race. Results: In the overall study population, 38.2% of women with non-endometrioid EC received NCCN guideline-concordant treatment. Compared to NHW women, NHB women (OR=1.05, 95% CI=0.99 to 1.11), Hispanic women (OR=1.10, 95% CI=0.99 to 1.23) and AS/PI women (OR=1.11, 95% CI=0.97 to 1.28) did not have significantly different odds of receiving guideline-concordant treatment in multivariable-adjusted models. Receipt of guideline-concordant treatment was significantly associated with improved survival among NHW (HR=0.84, 95% CI=0.80 to 0.87), NHB (HR=0.86, 95% CI=0.80 to 0.92), and Hispanic women (HR=0.85, 95% CI=0.72 to 1.00) but not among AS/PI women (HR=0.88, 95% CI=0.71 to 1.10). Conclusions: Almost two-thirds of women with non-endometrioid EC may not receive guideline-concordant treatment. We observed no difference in receipt of concordant care between racial groups. When received, guideline-concordant treatment was associated with improved survival in almost all racial groups. Therefore, instituting interventions to improve adherence to guideline-concordant treatment may contribute to reducing racial disparities in survival for women with non-endometrioid EC. Citation Format: Jhalak Dholakia, Elyse Reamer, Ritu Salani, Ashley Felix. Minority women with non-endometrioid endometrial cancer are not less likely to receive guideline-concordant treatment than White women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A134.
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- 2020
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29. Vulvar Edema as Presenting Complication of Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation With Bladder Drainage
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Deborah Bartholomew and Jhalak Dholakia
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medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Magnetic resonance imaging ,General Medicine ,Organ Transplantation ,Middle Aged ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Surgery ,Vulvar edema ,Medicine ,Drainage ,Edema ,Humans ,Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency ,Female ,Renal Insufficiency ,Vulvar Diseases ,business ,Complication ,Bladder drainage - Published
- 2018
30. Preoperative prognostic nutritional index scores are associated with progression free survival in patients with ovarian cancer
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Monica Hagan Vetter, Ashley S. Felix, Jhalak Dholakia, and Ritu Salani
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Oncology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Index (economics) ,business.industry ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,In patient ,Progression-free survival ,Ovarian cancer ,medicine.disease ,business - Published
- 2019
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