Research Highlights

Dalnim Cho, Ph.D.

Most truck drivers are either overweight (20%-30%) or obese (53%-69%), which are risk factors for 13 types of cancer. These excessively high overweight and obesity rates among truck drivers are probably due to the obesogenic work environment, which includes high sitting time, limited access to healthy foods, and high job demands. Because Texas has the highest proportion of truck drivers (approximately 200,000) in the U.S., the proposed study, which aims to uncover barriers to and facilitators of healthy lifestyle behaviors among Texas truck drivers, is relevant to reducing cancer risk among this underserved population.

Iakovos Toumazis, Ph.D.

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from any gynecologic malignancy and the 10th most common cancer in US women. Seventy-eight percent of cases are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to a different part of the body (i.e. at the regional and distant stages) when survival is poor, whereas the 5-year relative survival is over 90% for cases diagnosed at the localized stage. At this moment, no screening modality has been proven to be effective for the general population. The goals of this project are two-fold: (i) to identify individuals at high risk of developing ovarian cancer through the development of a risk prediction model; and (ii) to provide insights on the disease progression of the main histological subtypes of ovarian cancer by developing comprehensive histology-specific natural history models. Findings from this project could be used to identify the main drivers of ovarian cancer risk and subsequently find high-risk groups who may benefit the most from risk reducing interventions (such as salpingectomy and oophorectomy) and/or from participating in a risk-based screening program, and evaluate the impact of current and future preventive interventions on ovarian cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality.

Pratip Bhattacharya, Ph.D.

There is an unmet need for non-invasive imaging methodologies that can identify high risk-premalignant lesions of pancreatic
cancer. The absence of early symptoms and lack of a reliable screening test has created a critical need for identifying and developing new noninvasive biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer. The overarching goal of this seed proposal to
the Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment is to develop the capability of non-invasively detecting advanced pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) precursor lesions in pancreas prior to invasive disease in by employing hyperpolarized metabolic imaging.  Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States and minimal progress has been conducted in the treatment setting. It has estimated that it takes ~10 years from the moment in which a pancreatic epithelial cell undergoes an oncogenic hit and the time of diagnosis. These two points highlight the urgent need, as well as a window of opportunity, for pancreatic cancer prevention. PanINs cannot be detected by current imaging
methods. Therefore, for the future implementation of any pancreatic cancer prevention strategy, a novel method for PanIN detection and monitoring must be developed. This seed proposal will address the sensitivity and specificity of hyperpolarized metabolic MR technique in multiple animal models of pancreatic premalignancy. This highly sensitive method that can assess premalignant lesions like PanIN and tumor incidence in live animals at real-time will be essential for early detection as well as for monitoring efficacy of preventive compounds. If successful, the imaging biomarkers could be translated into human study and may lead to practice changing recommendations for non-invasively detecting and monitoring advanced PanIN lesions and incipient pancreatic cancer, as well as to prevent over-diagnosis and over-treatment in cysts that harbor indolent biology.

Justin Gregg, M.D.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and while many patients have tumors that can be safely watched, they are at risk of having disease that worsens and may require treatment, which can affect quality of life and urinary and sexual function. Our group has developed a marker, obtained through a blood test, that may predict both men who are at risk of disease worsening and response (in terms of disease slowing) to a dietary intervention that we have also developed.  Before testing whether this marker can truly change following a diet intervention, and if this impacts a man’s prostate cancer, we need to both confirm in a large population that the marker is related to prostate cancer aggressiveness in those whose cancers are watched, and evaluate changes in prostate tumors present in men with an elevated marker, both of which we propose to do in this study.

Natalie Dailey Garnes, M.D.

The bacteria in the gut change in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL. These children are also more likely to become obese or to lose lean body mass during treatment than children with other types of cancer. We are going to look at whether changes in the gut bacteria occur more often in children who gain weight or lose lean body mass during ALL treatment. If they do, finding ways to prevent these changes in the gut bacteria may help us prevent obesity, loss of lean body mass, and their long term side effects, like diabetes and heart disease, in survivors of pediatric ALL.

Michelle Hildebrandt, Ph.D.

The lack of risk-stratification approaches for follow-up care in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors makes it difficult to make appropriate decisions regarding long-term cardiac health. This gap is further magnified for minority AYA cancer survivors as research regarding cardiovascular function following cardiotoxic treatment has been primarily in non-Hispanic white cancer survivorship populations. The rates of obesity and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia, are higher in Black and Hispanic populations, leading to higher underlying risks of heart failure and other adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Therefore, the overall objective of this study is to address this gap in knowledge by characterizing the cardiovascular health of Black and Hispanic AYA cancer survivors, as well as identifying the role of genetics in influencing risk of cardiac dysfunction. Through proposal, we will take steps towards the development of population-specific recommendations for survivorship care as we establish a solid foundation for further disparities-focused AYA survivorship research.

Jian Gu, Ph.D.

To biopsy or not is a clinical dilemma for individuals who have a high PSA and are suspected of having prostate cancer, because the majority of PSA-screening detected prostate cancer are indolent and an estimated 60-80% of all prostate biopsies result in negative biopsies or indolent diseases. Leveraging a unique cohort of African American men undergoing PSA screening and biopsy, this project aims to identify plasma DNA methylation biomarkers for the prediction of clinically significant prostate cancer.  This project therefore fits within the scope of secondary cancer prevention, which includes screening, early detection and early diagnosis. Because of the low specificity of PSA screening, more and more men choose not to screen at the risk of missing detecting potentially aggressive disease early, and the proposed research has the potential to improve PSA-screening specificity to avoid unnecessary biopsies and over-diagnosis of clinically insignificant diseases. 

Kevin Nead, M.D.

The purpose of this project is to understand the genetic changes that occur in the breast tissue of healthy women without breast cancer. After characterizing these genetic changes, Dr. Nead will then examine how they are associated with know breast cancer risk factors and breast cancer risk. In doing so, he will better understand the earliest genetic alterations that lead to breast cancer and which breast cancer risk factors may drive these changes. Ultimately, he hopes to use the knowledge gained from this project to identify women at high risk for breast cancer and to design personalized breast cancer prevention strategies.

Larkin Strong, Ph.D.

Latino cancer patients experience greater distress compared to non-Latino White patients but are less likely to have access to and use mental health resources. This study seeks to improve cancer-related distress in low-income Latino cancer patients and their family caregivers by developing and evaluating a program designed specifically for this population. Study findings are expected to provide important information regarding the practicality, appeal, and potential effects of programs to improve mental well-being in this vulnerable patient population.

Daoyan Wei, Ph.D.

Pancreatic cancer is almost universally lethal, largely due to lack of effective early detection methods and limited therapeutic options. This project is to examine the value of our recently identified molecules dysregulated in pancreatic cancer initiation as biomarkers for early detection and intervention of pancreatic cancer in animal models. If successful, the biomarkers could be translated into human study for the development of novel early detection and prevention strategies to improve the outcomes of pancreatic cancer. 

Nathan Parker, Ph.D.

Resistance training is an effective strategy to mitigate or reverse muscle loss emanating from cancer and its treatments, and it has potential to improve survivorship outcomes including fatigue, functional fitness, performance status, and quality of life. Accelerated muscle loss frequently follows pancreatic cancer resection and is associated with poor prognosis, and the feasibility and effectiveness of resistance training in this context are not yet established. The goal of this project is to test the feasibility, safety, acceptability, and exploratory outcomes of a tele-resistance training intervention for survivors following pancreatic cancer surgery. Exercise trainers will supervise 12 weeks of progressive resistance training sessions via video conferencing in order to "bridge" the accountability and guidance of in-person training to the convenience and sustainability of home-based exercise.

Chun Li, Ph.D.

Hepatic adenocarcinoma is one of the most deadly types of cancer. In this study, we will test the concept that de-activating a type of cells called stellate cells in the liver will delay the onset of tumor development. Activation of stellate cells is associated with formation of liver fibrosis and inflammation, which contribute to malignant transformation. The current project offers a promising solution for the prevention of hepatic adenocarcinoma in patients who are at high risk of developing liver diseases.

Florencia McAllister, M.D.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the world’s most lethal cancer with survival rate of 8.5%. Currently, there are limited treatment options for patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease, the most common forms of presentation of this disease. Therefore, increasing efforts should be placed on the development of novel strategies for early detection as well as prevention. The McAllister team has developed innovative strategies using state-of-the-art transgenic mouse models to understand the role of the gut microbiome, and its associated immune responses, in pancreatic cancer initiation and development. They propose that the gut microbiome may sustain immune-suppression, which prevents effective activity of current immunotherapeutic approaches. This suggests that antibiotics specific for TH17-inducing gut microbiome could be used for pancreatic cancer prevention, particularly in patients at high risk for pancreatic cancer, or with premalignant lesions detected during screening. This study will determine the optimal antibiotic regimen for effective pancreatic cancer prevention in a specialized mouse model, then investigate the short and long-term effects of the antibiotic and determine the value of gut and tumor microbiome as predictors of pancreatic cancer preventive response.

Dihua Yu, M.D., Ph.D.

It is estimated that breast cancer alone will account for 30% of all new cancer diagnoses in women in 2019. Despite the advances in treatment, too many women still die of breast cancer. Ultimately, the most effective way to reduce breast cancer incidence and mortality is prevention. However, progress in breast cancer prevention has been extremely limited with no prevention options available for estrogen receptor negative (ER-) breast cancer, which accounts for about 50% of all breast cancers and is associated with poor clinical outcome. We propose to investigate new strategy to prevent ER- breast cancer by empowering our immune system to monitor and destroy early stage breast cancer cells without causing adverse side effects. This new prevention strategy could also be expanded to other cancer types and fast-track translation to the clinic.

Guang Peng, Ph.D. - MD Anderson Cancer Center and Xinli Liu, Ph.D. - University of Houston

African American women have higher incidence of breast cancer before the age of 40, and more severe disease at all ages. In particular, African American women also have the highest breast cancer death rate among all racial and ethnic groups and are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than Caucasian women. This health disparity is attributed to a number of factors including higher rates of early onset, more advanced disease stage at diagnosis, and a higher prevalence of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer (ENBC) and the more aggressive cancer subtype of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Currently, there are no targeted prevention for ENBC and TNBC. This research will focus on developing a highly effective, low-toxic, easily compliable topical preventive therapy for preventing ENBC and TNBC development in mouse models. The outcomes from this research will directly address the cancer prevention disparities in high-risk African-American women.

Ella Ariza Heredia, M.D.

As oncological therapies expand including the new development of cellular therapy, specifically targeted chimeric antigen receptor modified T cell therapy (CART), patients’ outcomes continue to improve and more knowledge is needed on preventive care for these long-term survivors. Our project aims to assess what occurs to the body’s immunity to previous vaccines after CART therapy, and if these patients will benefit from “booster” vaccinations after their treatment is completed as part of their survivorship program. 

Marc-Elie Nader, M.D.

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapy agent. Hearing loss (ototoxicity) is an important side effect that limits the dosage of cisplatin that can be given for cancer cure. Ototoxicity represents a significant morbidity for cancer survivors, as it is typically bilateral, permanent, and progressive and may also induce tinnitus with considerable impact on quality of life. At this time, no oto-protective agents are routinely co-administered with cisplatin in the clinical setting to help prevent ototoxicity. Our overall goal is to improve hearing-related outcomes of cancer survivors treated with cisplatin. In this pilot study, we plan to explore the protective association between metformin and cisplatin-induced hearing loss. We will also examine whether dyslipidemia and eye color increase the risk of hearing loss in patients treated with cisplatin.

Xerxes Pundole, Ph.D.

Treatment of advanced cancers has changed dramatically with the development of immune inhibitors, a group of agents that boost the body's own immune system to fight against cancer cells. These agents, however, can also cause side effects due to the heightened immune system and can result in bone loss and fractures. This pilot study is designed to assess the amount of bone loss that can occur following therapy with these agents in the adjuvant setting and determine the association of changes in bone with inflammation. Failure to consider bone loss in these cancer survivors may result in osteoporosis, fractures, disability, and death despite being cancer-free.

Kathrin Milbury, Ph.D.

Although lung cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in women, evidence-based supportive care interventions are generally lacking.  Compared to other types of cancer, women with lung cancer report greater psychological distress, which may be related to the smoking-related stigma of the disease.  Distress is a quality of life concern in itself; however, it also negatively impacts cancer outcomes including recurrences and survival.  This pilot intervention study will test the feasibility and effectiveness of an online group intervention that seeks to address the unique psychosocial needs of an understudied patient population. Once we have demonstrated that this intervention reduces distress and cancer-related symptoms, we will then examine its impact on survival in a future, larger study.

Jianjun Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.

We have recently discovered that precancerous lung lesions (preneoplasias) have simpler molecular profile and more active immune landscape than invasive cancers indicating preneoplasias may have more favorable response to immunotherapy. These data have led to development of our recently approved novel clinical trial, “IMPRINT-Lung: Randomized phase II trial of immunotherapy for the prevention of non-small cell lung cancers using pembrolizumab”. The ultimate goal of this project is to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying lung cancer initiation by deep and comprehensive analyses of the following unique specimens: 1) a large cohort of resected preneoplasias that will empower us to representatively decipher the molecular and immune evolution of lung preneoplasias and identify molecular features associated with formation and progression of lung preneoplasias; and 2) longitudinal specimens from our unique IMPRINT-Lung immunoprevention trial to determine the molecular and immune evolution of lung preneoplasia with or without immunotherapy to generate pivotal data to significantly advance our understanding of lung cancer initiation and to provide novel insights for precise diagnosis and effective prevention of lung cancers. 

Jennifer Davis, Ph.D.

Nearly 40% of US adults are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer due to obesity. Further, tumors arising in the context of obesity may have distinct biology, requiring specific prevention strategies. Our research uses a mouse model of colorectal cancer to understand the biological differences of tumors arising in lean compared to obese animals. After comparing tumor biology, we plan to use this model to evaluate prevention strategies in these contexts. Identifying an effective prevention strategy may greatly reduce the colorectal cancer risk for adults battling obesity.

Maro Ohanian, D.O.

Toxic metal contamination of our food and water receives very little attention from the medical community, despite worsening globally. Once stored in the bones, metals damage the bone marrow, cause DNA damage, and have been associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Metals can be detoxified from the body by a process called “chelation,” using FDA-approved medications that are inexpensive, and have a long history of safety and efficacy in removing metals from the body. We will study metal detoxification as prevention strategy for AML by combining metal detoxification with standard treatment in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, which is the precursor of AML. Understanding the role of metals in the development of AML may identify critical biochemical steps or gene-environmental interactions that impact cancer risk, treatment responses, and offer insight on cancer prevention and treatment. 

Michelle Hildebrandt, Ph.D.

Approximately 70,000 adolescents and young adults (AYA; aged 15-39) are diagnosed with cancer each year. AYA cancer patients have distinct cancer biology compared to both childhood and adult cancers, as well as differences in treatment response due to the physiological and developmental changes that are occurring during this age period. Therefore, extrapolating findings from survivorship studies of childhood or adult cancers to the AYA survivor population is problematic. Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is a major late effect in childhood and adult cancers that directly impacts survival and overall well-being. However, the mediators of cardiotoxicity following exposure to anthracyclines may be different in the AYA population. This work will address this knowledge gap by collecting detailed clinical, treatment, outcomes, and genetic data for a population of Hodgkin lymphoma and sarcoma AYA survivors (≥2 years post-diagnosis) seen at MD Anderson to evaluate the prevalence and risk of cardiovascular dysfunction in this cohort as a step to better inform survivorship care and surveillance in this population.

Ching-Wei D. Tzeng, M.D.

In many cancer survivors, persistent opioid (narcotic pain pill) use is associated with the amount of opioids in the patient’s first prescription when discharged after surgery. This grant will fund a clinical trial in which we compare two combinations of numbing medication injections to expedite the process of reducing opioid use after surgery. Our primary goal is to reduce the proportion of patients who need opioids. With the current national opioid epidemic, MD Anderson will take a leadership role in finding novel ways to reduce persistent opioid use and opioid dissemination, which have immediate and direct impact on survivors, their families, and their communities.

Carrie Daniel-MacDougall, Ph.D.
Larkin Strong, Ph.D.

The burden of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is driven by both the cancer and the sick liver where it occurs. The liver is critical for the processing and distribution of nutrients and clearance of toxins from the body, but surprisingly little is known about the effects of dietary habits on HCC risk or prognosis. The gut microbiome is largely shaped by diet, a key player in the development of liver disease and HCC, and increasingly recognized as a determinant of response to immunotherapy in other cancer sites. To address major challenges in early prevention and treatment efficacy for HCC, this proposal will examine how dietary habits interact with the microbiome to impact outcomes in two groups:  persons at high risk of developing liver disease and HCC and HCC patients initiating immunotherapy.

Guang Peng, Ph.D.
Abenaa Brewster, M.D.

One of the challenges in breast cancer is the problem of overtreatment in patients with premalignant lesions. It is estimated that 50,000 women are diagnosed with DCIS annually but the majority of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions are destined never to progress to invasive breast cancer. There is great uncertainty about which patients with DCIS could be spared definitive local management therefore the identification of molecular features that predict progression of premalignant lesions to invasive breast cancer is a critical area of public health concern. Genomic instability is a characterized feature of premalignant/malignant cells which occurs early during tumorigenesis. The causal link between DNA repair deficiency and breast cancer predisposition is highlighted by germline defects in DNA repair genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. But these two genes are responsible for only 10-15% of all breast cancers. Therefore, a key question remains to be unanswered: what are other molecular determinants of genomic maintenance, which can be potentially used as predictive markers to identify premalignant lesions with an increased likelihood to develop into invasive/advanced breast cancer. In this project, we aim to study how cells control the generation of endogenous DNA damage. The knowledge gained from our study will help us understand how cells accumulate genetic altercations (mutations) and initiate intrinsic immune response. It is our goal to use these basic scientific discoveries to identify lesions with high potential of malignant progression.

Isabelle Bedrosian, M.D.

Unlike advances made in breast cancer treatment, progress in prevention has been far more limited.   A key reason for advances in breast cancer treatment has been the understanding that breast cancer constitutes not one but several diseases. Strategies for breast cancer prevention have failed to consider this heterogeneity and little is known about the molecular changes that occur during the development of the different types of breast cancer. This therefore limits the ability to develop prevention strategies that are relevant to all the subtypes of the disease. The goal of our research has been to define the molecular map of the precancerous state by subtype in order to identify subtype relevant opportunities for targeted prevention.   Because of its more aggressive biology and lack of drugs for prevention, we have focused on the triple negative breast cancer subtype.  Using a triple negative breast cancer progression model that represents a spectrum ranging from normal, pre-cancer and cancer, we have identified a number of molecular changes that are key drivers of the disease specifically early transition from normal to precancer This proposal focuses on targeting some of these molecular aberrations that occur during normal to precancer stages in the development of triple negative breast cancer to develop innovative approaches to prevent cancer early on when treatments are more likely to be successful. To quickly benefit the high-risk patients, one of the strategies we will test includes repurposing a safe drug (statin, an FDA approved cholesterol lowering drug) that targets a pathway we have identified as relevant to the early precancerous steps in the development of triple negative breast cancer.  The results of this proposal if successful will serve as the basis of developing clinical trials of novel targeted agents for prevention of triple negative breast cancer in at risk women.

Xiangwei Wu, Ph.D.

p53 is a crucial tumor suppressor that stops tumor development in most species and is the most frequently inactivated gene in human cancers. Although about 50% of cancer patients harbor mutant p53, many tumors at early stages of tumor development retain wild type p53. The presence of wild-type p53 in cancer precursor lesions presents an opportunity for chemoprevention by activating p53 to suppress tumor progression. The MDM2 protein is a key negative regulator of p53 and plays a primary role in antagonizing p53 through direct interaction. Small molecule MDM2 inhibitors that block the MDM2–p53 protein–protein interaction would liberate p53 from MDM2, thereby restoring the tumor suppressor function of wild-type p53. We hypothesize that enhancement of wild-type p53 functions by blocking MDM2-p53 interaction in precursor lesions using MDM2 inhibitor is an effective approach for cancer prevention. We will test this hypothesis in mouse model pancreatic cancer. If successful, our study will pave a new way for pancreatic cancer chemoprevention.

Grace Smith, M.D., Ph.D.

For cancer patients, the financial burden of cancer treatment is comprised of many dimensions—not just direct out-of-pocket costs, but also subsequent debt, medical bankruptcy, and disrupted employment—and this phenomenon is now recognized as the “financial toxicity” of cancer treatment.

Younger, working-aged patients, women, and medically underserved cancer patients are at especially high risk for financial toxicity.  For working-age cancer survivors, disrupted employment, especially unwanted unemployment, is one of the most impactful and long-lasting consequences of financial toxicity, lasting even years after cancer treatment and cure.

Though we know disrupted employment occurs in as many as 30% to 50% of cancer survivors, we know very little about of what factors predict employment outcomes after treatment, and more importantly, what are the most intervenable factors that can help improve this cancer survivorship toxicity.  

Our research uses a patient-centered approach to characterize, from a survivor perspective, the risk factors that worsen—and the mitigating factors that improve—resilience and recovery from adverse employment outcomes occurring over the cancer survivorship trajectory.

Elisabeth Vichaya, Ph.D.

Fatigue is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by cancer survivors. Unfortunately, the mechanisms underlying its development and persistence are poorly understood. Based on newly emerging data, we propose to study the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the persistence of fatigue in breast cancer survivors. Disruption of mitochondrial function caused by cancer and cancer treatment may result in a chronic reduction in cellular energy production capacity that may lead to the experience of fatigue. 

Susan Peterson, Ph.D., M.P.H.

This project will test the feasibility of using the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) to identify the prevalence of genetic testing for BRCA1/2 gene mutations in cancer survivors of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) or high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), and their at-risk relatives.  We also will determine awareness and access to genetic counseling and testing services among patients who have not had counseling and testing, as well as awareness and access to risk management options for mutation-positive patients. Finally, we will assess the feasibility of utilizing a patient navigation approach to facilitate access to BRCA education, genetic counseling, genetic testing, and risk management options (for mutation-positive patients).

Tina Shih, Ph.D.

The purpose of this project, entitled “Capacity Constraints for Lung Cancer Screening Facilities in Providing Smoking Cessation” is to understand whether the current healthcare system has sufficient capacity to deliver lung cancer screening for individuals at high risk for lung cancer. We are especially interested in understanding the availability of lung cancer screening facilities in geographic areas with a higher proportion of residents who are smokers. If a shortage of screening facilities were identified in certain geographic areas, we will further explore the contributing factors. In addition, we will study factors facilitating and hindering the delivery of smoking cessation interventions in lung cancer
screening facilities. We will conduct this project using a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods. The project team includes faculty at MD Anderson with expertise in economics, implementation science, tobacco cessation research, and survey methodology. Finding from this research will help policy makers identifying geographic areas with greatest need for public health effort to improve its capacity in delivering lung cancer screening.

Grace Smith, M.D., Ph.D.

We are creating the Texas Community Feedback Survey: CAncer Patients In TexAs (CAPITA) to understand the needs and experiences of cancer patients and survivors across Texas. Understanding “patient-reported outcomes (PROs)” is a critical need, in order to inform the design of treatments and survivorship plans in a way that will be meaningful to patients—that is, patient-centered. Therefore, our research team is partnering with the Texas Cancer Registry to establish an approach to regularly survey and communicate with diverse cancer patients across Texas, to understand their needs for information and quality of life support resources. 

Jason Robinson, Ph.D.

Working memory refers to a brain process that enables us to simultaneously manipulate multiple pieces of information and control our behavior. Previous research has shown that poor working memory is associated with relapse in smokers who are trying to quit. In this study, we will test whether two weeks of in-home, computerized cognitive training is capable of improving working memory capacity in smokers. If we find that cognitive training improves working memory capacity, we will conduct future studies in which we will assess the efficacy of cognitive training as an adjunct to standard smoking-cessation interventions. In the long run, it may be possible to improve smoking-cessation rates through the use of easily-administered, cost-effective cognitive training.

Qiang Shen, M.D., Ph.D.

Currently available drugs for breast cancer prevention can only prevent a portion of ER-positive breast cancer. Effective preventive therapies are therefore urgently needed for the unpreventable/resistant ER-positive and all ER-negative breast cancers. In this regard, we have developed a new class of anti-cancer agents including HJC0152 that target and reprogram glucose metabolism and energy production. HJC0152 has demonstrated significant effects on reducing ER-negative breast cancer development in animal models by inhibiting pre-cancerous changes, making it a promising chemoprevention drug candidate for future breast cancer prevention.

Kyle R. Noll, Ph.D.

Glioma is a type of brain cancer with poor prognosis. Early detection and surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible is critical to optimizing the quality-of-life of glioma patients. However, this type of surgery carries the risk of damaging normal regions of the brain that control critical functions like speech and language. To minimize these risks, direct cortical stimulation (DCS) is used during glioma surgery to localize those regions of the brain responsible for language and thus guide surgery. However, this method remains largely unstandardized and has various limitations. This project addresses some of these limitations and seeks to improve the intraoperative mapping of particular brain functions related to speech and language in order to maximize the amount of patient language functioning that is preserved.

Chelsea Pinnix, M.D., Ph.D.

Combined modality therapy with doxorubicin-based chemotherapy followed by consolidative radiation therapy (RT)to the mediastinum is the standard of care for limited-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Cure rates are excellent; however, many survivors face long-term effects of the therapy which are associated with considerable morbidity and, in some cases, mortality. The specific cardiac RT doses that predispose to long-term toxicity are largely unknown. This study seeks to identify threshold RT doses and characterize dose-volume relationships to various cardiac structures that result in increased risk of late cardiac toxicity among a large cohort of patients treated for HL. This work represents the first study to correlate RT-induced cardiac toxicity with actual doses delivered to cardiac structures based on individual patient CT scans at the time of RT delivery. These data have enormous potential to significantly contribute to new RT dose constraint guidelines for lymphoma patients that will be treated with mediastinal RT.

Dimpy Shah, Ph.D.

Bone marrow transplant is an important treatment option for many blood cancers; however, long-lasting complications such as bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) may develop in up to 15% of cancer survivors. BOS may lead to lung function decline, worsening of quality-of-life, and death. The current definition of BOS does not capture the disease at an early stage in which it may be treatable and is suboptimal for the medical care of cancer survivors. In this project, Dr. Shah seeks to develop a new definition of BOS which would help clinicians identify it at an early disease stage. The investigators aim to better define BOS by identifying the level of decline of lung function that corresponds with higher mortality. Various risk factors for BOS will also be studied, including having viral pneumonia or not receiving treatment for viral infection at an early stage. This work will help clinicians to identify cancer survivors who may have early stage disease that may be treatable.

Shirley Su, M.B.B.S.

Patients with skull-base tumors often report significant reductions in quality-of-life, even many years after completing treatment. However, very little is known regarding the quality-of-life profile for these patients and there are very few instruments specific to this disease that can provide researchers with the needed data and information. The goal of this project is to deliver a user-friendly, universally applicable and validated instrument for use in clinical care and research. The investigators plan to develop a skull-base-specific module of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. This module would rate the severity of numerous general and disease-specific symptoms on a scale of 1-10. The instrument proposed in this work will help standardize reporting in research and identify targets for improvement. And it will likely have significant impact on clinical practice by facilitating monitoring of patients and early intervention.

Lori Williams, Ph.D.

New cancer drugs are often extremely expensive. But generic versions of these drugs, once they become available,are usually cheaper and can ease the financial burden associated with some cancer therapies. In order to make informed decisions about switching to generic drugs, information about their side effects, effectiveness against the cancer and financial costs is needed. The drug Gleevec® is used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and its generic version, imatinib, became available in 2016. This provides an ideal opportunity to begin to understand the impact on patients of a switch in the new cancer therapies from brand-name to generic drugs. The primary aim of this research is to explore any differences in symptom burden in survivors with CML who remain on long-term, name-brand Gleevec® versus those who change to generic imatinib.

Jessica Hwang, M.D., M.P.H.

Patients with cancer may harbor asymptomatic, but cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Stem cell transplantation increases the risk of HPV-associated second malignancies such as oropharyngeal, cervical, and anal cancer; survivors of allogeneic stem cell transplantation are especially at risk and need intensive HPV screening and management strategies to prevent HPV-associated second cancers. This proposal will determine the incidence and predictors of HPV-associated second malignancies after allogeneic stem cell transplantation and establish the prevalence of high-risk HPV types among survivors. Data from this proposal will be used to determine the utilization of HPV vaccines to prevent HPV-associated second malignancies in all allogeneic stem cell transplantation survivors.

Ju-Seog Lee, Ph.D.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is accountable for an estimated 600,000 world-wide deaths annually and its incidence rates in USA have been doubled over the past 25 years (35,660 estimated new cases in 2015), and are expected to double over the next 10 to 20 years. Surgical resection is major curative treatment of patients with HCC. However, the long-term results of such curative therapies are far from satisfactory, because of the high rate of intrahepatic recurrence.  In previous study, we identified unique gene expression signature that can identify high risk patients developing new HCC after treatment. However, liver biopsy, that is necessary for generation of gene expression data, is costly and frequently discouraged due to risk and potential complication during biopsy. In proposed study, we will screen candidate plasma markers to identify markers that are most significantly associated with high risk of HCC development and validate identified markers in independent cohorts of patients. Identified markers will significantly improve the management of patients with HCC.

Petra den Hollander, Ph.D.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (between 15-20% of all breast cancers) affects young women and is more aggressive and deadly than ER-positive breast cancer. Selective agents currently used for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer are very effective in ER-positive breast cancer, but these agents are not effective in TNBC.  For this large group of women, there is a critical need to develop new and more targeted therapies. To develop targeted therapies for TNBC, we need to identify what ‘drives’ this cancer, and what alterations these ‘drivers’ induce in the cancer cells. With the proposed studies we will identify the role of the signaling protein PTP4A3 in the development and progression of TNBC, and identify altered pathways and interacting proteins of PTP4A3. These findings will enable us to develop targeted, effective treatments for women at high risk for TNBC and women diagnosed with the disease.

Scott Kopetz, M.D., Ph.D.

In the US, more than 130,000 individuals will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) and more than 50,000 will die from this disease in 2014. It is estimated that regular aspirin use has the potential to reduce the new cases of CRC by approximately 20% and reduce death from this disease by 35%. However, a safer aspirin is needed, as the risks associated with regular aspirin use currently outweigh the benefits. A new, safer aspirin was recently approved by the FDA, but has not yet been tested for CRC prevention. Our project will test this new, safer aspirin for use as a CRC prevention agent in animal models. If this new aspirin is effective and safer in animal models, then we will have the evidence and rationale to begin a clinical trial in humans. If the new aspirin is not effective in animal models, or not safer, then we will know not to pursue this drug for CRC prevention in humans. Broader use of a safer aspirin for CRC prevention has the potential to greatly reduce the burden of this disease.

Lorna McNeill, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Obesity continues to be highly prevalent in the African American (AA) population, affecting nearly 40% of AA men and a staggering 59% of AA women. Unfortunately this trend is also present in AA children and adolescents, resulting in AA children to likely face a lifelong struggle with obesity and increased cancer risk. Called "food deserts," areas without access to healthy food options have been shown to be more prevalent in African American neighborhoods and are associated with obesity. The proposed study aims to use a community-based approach to expand the Project CHURCH partnership to engage faith-based communities, the Houston Food Bank, the Brighter Bites program, and MD Anderson Cancer Center in utilizing churches as an effective food co-op concept to provide consistent access to fresh fruits and vegetables using low-cost strategies combined with nutrition education to low-income African American children and their families, thereby addressing cancer-related  health disparities among African Americans in Houston.

Katherine A. Hutcheson, Ph.D.

Chronic aspiration is a life-threatening survivorship issue, affecting up to 30% of patients treated with curative radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. Aspirators are almost 5-times more likely to develop pneumonia than non-aspirators, and pneumonia confers a 42% increased risk of mortality among head and neck cancer survivors. While swallowing therapies positively impact on quality of life and scope of oral diet, there is no effective treatment to reverse chronic radiation associated aspiration. Expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) shows promise as a treatment for aspiration in other challenging pathologies such as dysphagia associated with progressive neurodegenerative disease. The long-term goal of this work is to prevent pneumonia in chronic aspirators after head and neck radiotherapy. The objectives of the pilot studies in this application are to estimate the underlying mechanism, effect size, feasibility, and acceptability of EMST as a therapeutic approach for chronic aspiration after head and neck radiotherapy.

Carol M. Lewis, M.D., M.P.H.

Current Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) post-treatment surveillance practices have not been evaluated. Significant long-term sequelae of HNC and its treatment include dysphagia, speech impairment, lymphedema, osteoradionecrosis, and diminished quality of life. According to the findings of a recent study, as many as 45 percent of late HNC treatment sequelae go unreported. Post-treatment surveillance patterns and functional rehabilitation utilization for HNC have not been studied systematically. Addressing this knowledge gap is critical to identifying optimal post-treatment surveillance strategies that incorporate interventions for these treatment-related functional impairments. The long-term goal is to improve HNC survivorship care. The overall objective of this project to describe and quantify institutional and national patterns of HNC post-treatment surveillance and resource utilization, while identifying predictors of resource use and corresponding long-term functional outcomes.

Joseph D. Khoury, M.D.

Patients who receive cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for breast cancer are at risk of developing therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN). Notably, breast cancer is the most common malignant solid tumor among patients with t-MN. Thus, in addition to its primary effect as a public health burden, breast cancer exerts an additional adverse effect through t-MN. Accordingly, we premise that developing predictive tools to assess the risk of t-MN development in any given 16 MD Anderson Cancer Center patient can inform risk-modulated therapy decisions that should ultimately reduce the risk of secondary malignancies among susceptible breast cancer survivors. The aims of this study are to identify acquired and/or inherited genomic alterations that predispose some breast cancer patients to development of t-MN; and to create a biomarker-based predictive model to identify such a predisposition to secondary myeloid neoplasms among breast cancer patients.

Robert L. Satcher, Jr., M.D., Ph.D.

The use of mobile devices has the potential to improve the delivery of cost effective, high-quality, standardized surveillance of cancer survivors. New technological developments in telecommunications have allowed HIPAA-compliant telemonitoring of patients; however, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services(CMS) has requested demonstration of equivalence to an in-person clinic visit. In contrast to other medical subspecialties, long-term survivorship research on patients after surgery using mobile devices has been uncommon. This study proposes to develop and test a novel web-based and mobile technology for surveillance of cancer survivors following surgery for bone metastases.

Carrie Daniel-MacDougall, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Bacteria residing in the gut have been linked to diet, energy balance and obesity, all of which are key exposures involved in the development of colon polyps and cancer.  Our study takes an integrative approach to comprehensively investigate the link between the vast community of gut bacteria (or microbiome), obesity, and the risk of colorectal polyps. In the long-term, this research will inform the development of non-invasive screening tools and future intervention trials targeting favorable changes in gut bacteria to reduce obesity and colorectal cancer.

Guang Peng, M.D., Ph.D.

One of the most earliest and universal genetic alterations observed in pancreatic cancer is activating mutations in the KRAS oncogene, which are present in 90%-95% of cases. In this project, we will work to develop a novel strategy for pancreatic cancer prevention by targeting replication stress, a molecular property of premalignant that is acquired as a result of KRAS oncogene activation instead of targeting KRAS oncoprotein itself. The overall objective of this proposal to systematically identify chemical inhibitors of DNA2, a key molecular node of the DNA repair network, upon which premalignant and cancer cells with KRAS oncogene-induced replication stress depend for survival. It is anticipated that we will discover novel DNA2 inhibitors from this study, which can be used as a new class of chemopreventive agents with exquisite selectivity against premalignant cells with KRAS oncogene-induced replication stress but sparing normal cells.

Terri Woodard, M.D.

Cancer-related infertility causes emotional distress, even as long as ten years after successful cancer treatment. Many women have difficulty making a decision about whether to preserve fertility or not. The purpose of this research is to design and produce a web-based decision aid that helps women make decisions that are consistent with their personal values. By providing this support, we can alleviate and prevent emotional distress, improving the survivorship experience of women with cancer.

Robert Dantzer, Ph.D., D.V.M.

Fatigue is a very common symptom in cancer survivors. However, the experience of fatigue is complex. It involves alterations in motivational and cognitive processes that still need to be characterized. It is the objective of our current research project to characterize these alterations in order to improve our understanding of how to treat fatigue.

Huifang Liu, M.D., Ph.D.

In the last decade the number of long-term survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has increased, resulting in a large population experiencing from effects of HSCT and its associated treatment. Rapid bone loss, which can lead to fractures, is common following HSCT.  We found 8% patients suffer a fracture after their transplantation, which is approximately 10 times higher in 45 to 64 year old males and females comparing to the general population. Fractures are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and worsen the quality of life of long-term survivors. In spite of the high rate of fractures, the best way to identify HSCT recipients at high risk for fracture is unknown, but is crucial in clinical practice while considering preventative treatment. The Survivorship Seed grant from the Duncan family will help us to close the gap in knowledge.

Benjamin Smith, M.D.

In our project, we will partner with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to survey a nationally representative, population-based sample of older women who are breast cancer survivors. We will use validated instruments to determine how breast cancer and its treatment have impacted these survivors, both positively and negatively. We will also assess quality of life and the patient experience of their treatment outcome. The influence of treatment choices, for example, the choice of lumpectomy versus mastectomy, on long-term quality of life outcomes will also be assessed. The pilot data generated through this project will support grant applications to conduct a large scale survey of breast cancer survivors, with the ultimate goal of facilitating better treatment decision making geared toward optimizing patients’ long-term survivorship experience.

Said Akli, Ph.D.

Triple negative breast cancer patients have limited treatment options outside of non-specific standard chemotherapy.  Recent studies from our laboratory establish that short forms of cyclin E are over-expressed in 70% of all triple negative breast cancer and that mice expressing those forms are completely protected against breast cancer when Cdk2 is not expressed. Seliciclib and dinaciclib are potent inhibitors of Cdk2 and we would like to test in this proposal if these drugs can prevent breast cancer in our mouse model. Furthermore, we will identify the genes whose expression will be modulated by the two Cdk inhibitors treatment in vivo using gene expression microarrays and biomarker analysis. The results of this study should provide the preclinical rationale for the development of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors for the prevention of human triple negative breast cancer especially those with LMW-E overexpression.

George Calin, M.D., Ph.D.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) predisposition is not fully understood, as the majority of patients with familial CRC that cannot be included in the Mendelian syndromes do not have a known genetic etiology. The proposed study on the involvement of a gene that did not codify for a protein and therefore named a non-coding RNA in CRC predisposition is innovative as CCAT2 (Colorectal Cancer Associate Transcript 2), could be the “long searched” elusive factor in CRC predisposition. This is located over the genetic variant rs6983267, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on chromosome 8q24 located outside any coding genes. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that CCAT2 could be involved in the CRC predisposition and increase the risk for CRC in the individuals with risk variant (G) of rs6983267. In this application we will identify the clinical significance of CCAT2 in CRC predisposition by using a large cohort of RNA samples from the Familial Cancer Registry, and will demonstrate the CCAT2 involvement in CRC predisposition using a transgenic mouse model. The identification of the roles of CCAT2 in the predisposition to CRC will not only offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms and signal transduction pathways altered in CRCs but will also be of great clinical significance in identifying new diagnostic molecular markers of colorectal cancer risk and offering potential target for prevention.

Paul Scheet, Ph.D.

The vast majority of skin cancers, which affects millions of individuals annually, can be attributed to excessive, but preventable, UV radiation exposure. While population-based screening for skin cancer is effective at reducing skin cancer mortality, it is impractical and expensive.  In our study, we propose a DNA-based method to identify individuals most at risk for developing skin cancer.  Using chronic UV exposed human skin tissue and mouse models will characterize the effect of UV exposure on genetic mosaicism, the existence of heterogeneous mixtures of cells, which will serve as a marker for risk, and which may ultimately be used to identify individuals most in need of high surveillance.

Eduardo Vilar-Sanchez, M.D., Ph.D.

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) is a genetic condition that is diagnosed when a person develops more than 100 premalignant polyps in the colon and rectum. The average age for polyps to develop in patients diagnosed with FAP is in the mid-teens and more than 95% will have multiple polyps by age 35. If FAP is not recognized and preventive measures are taken, there is almost 100% chance for this patient population to develop colorectal cancer. In addition, the study of polyps in FAP offers a model to understand the transition from normal colonic epithelium into premalignant stages and later colon cancer development in populations at average risk. Therefore, our proposed studies to identify important genetic alterations that result in polyp formation in FAP represents an opportunity to identify new preventive measures not only for patients and families with this condition but also open an opportunity to be translated to the general population.

Qiang Shen, M.D., Ph.D.

Prevention of ER-negative breast cancer constitutes a clinical obstacle that greatly impedes the effort to reduce breast cancer incidence and mortality. In fact, all ER-negative breast cancers and a significant portion of ER-positive breast cancers are not preventable using currently available preventive drugs. This research chooses the STAT3 transcription factor as a new cancer prevention target based on the preliminary studies that STAT3 is activated in pre-cancer breast cells and mammary glands. We propose to use newly created, orally active inhibitors to suppress STAT3 activation in transgenic mouse models that develop ER-negative mammary tumors highly representing human breast cancers. Thus, this project has significant potential to lead to a reduction in breast cancer incidence and/or mortality within next decade. Successfully carried out, this project may bring 1-2 potent, well-characterized, highly optimized, orally active STAT3 inhibitors into advanced preclinical development as a new class of preventive agents for prevention of many types of human cancer including ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancers.

Dihua Yu, M.D., Ph.D.

Breast cancer is one of the most common women’s cancers in the US and one in eight women develops breast cancer during their lifetime. The most effective way to reduce breast cancer mortality is prevention of early disease; therefore, it is very important to develop early detection and intervention strategies. Tamoxifen (Tam) has been successfully used in the prevention of estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancers. However, no agents could effectively prevent ER negative (ER-) breast cancer. We have identified key molecular alterations in ER- breast lesions and will test whether we could effectively prevent ER- breast cancer by targeting these alterations using specific targeting agents. If successful, our findings can be translated to the clinic to prevent ER- breast cancer in high risk women.

Ala Abudayyeh, M.D.

BK virus is a non-enveloped, encapsulated DNA virus that belongs to the Papovaviridae family. It has been increasingly being recognized as an important outcome predictor when the cellular immune system is impaired, particularly after renal and hemopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). It occurs in up to 70% of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (SCT) survivors and is associated with prolonged hospitalization leading to severe hematuria in 8-27%. In this study, we will retrospectively review the Stem cell transplant survivors at MDACC to prove the hypothesis that BK virus infection is a marker of poor renal outcomes and overall poor patient prognosis in the SCT survivor population. By focusing on BK virus infection in the HSCT survivor population and its renal and overall survival outcome would help formulate better screening and prevention protocols.

Brian Chapin, M.D.

Good clinical care of patients with prostate cancer includes careful and standardized assessment of functional and oncologic outcomes.   Current research practice for survivorship outcomes in patients with prostate cancer lacks standardization.  The well-known side effects after the surgical treatment of prostate cancer that can affect a survivor’s quality of life are erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.  The long term social and psychological impact and the realization that many prostate cancers have minimal lethal potential, have led to active surveillance programs for low/intermediate risk disease. This too has the potential for significant psychological, physical and possibly oncologic sequelae.  The primary goal of this study is to compare long term (>3yrs) sexual and urinary functional outcomes in patients with and without radical therapy for low/intermediate risk disease.  Measurements will be made using a web based, validated, standardized, patient- reported quality of life questionnaire.  This will allow for us to determine if long term functional outcomes after surgery are durable and whether they differ from the natural decline in function as a result of aging.  This will aid in the counseling and long term care of patients with prostate cancer.      

Diane Bodurka, M.D., M.P.H.

This study focuses on the health care needs and expectations of gynecologic cancer survivors. As the number of cancer survivors continues to grow, it is critical to identify physicians who will take care of these patients after the surveillance period. In this mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) study, we plan to evaluate the preferences of gynecologic cancer survivors for follow-up care (oncologists vs OB/GYNs) and identify the support and resources OB/GYNs need to broaden access for gynecologic survivorship care in the community. Our study will be among the first to identify barriers and challenges to community-based survivorship care for women with a history of gynecologic cancer and will specifically evaluate age-related barriers to survivorship care from the perspectives of both health care providers and patients. This is an essential first step toward transforming the health care system to accommodate the growing ranks of long-term survivors.

Cindy Carmack, Ph.D.

Psychosocial interventions are important to the care of cancer survivors because of the negative effects psychological distress can have on patient quality of life and health status. Including the spouse in the delivery of psychosocial interventions may have benefits for both the patient and the spouse. Patients may adopt new health behaviors and follow treatment recommendations more reliably, resulting in a positive impact on their health. Spouses may experience health benefits in the form of reduced caregiver burden, improved health behaviors (e.g., smoking) and promotion of a healthy bereavement following the patient’s death. Using a web-based counseling approach to deliver psychosocial intervention may result in greater outreach for underserved couples, and may be easily integrated into cancer care. In this study, we will pilot test a web-based couple-oriented counseling intervention compared to a web-based patient only counseling intervention in 40 lung cancer patients who are experiencing psychological distress. We will explore the effects of both interventions on patient psychological functioning, health behaviors, treatment adherence, and symptom burden and on spouse psychological functioning, health behaviors, and caregiver burden.

Jae-Il Park, Ph.D.

We will study a novel molecule that is only detected in colon cancer and positively controls tumor promoting Wnt signaling pathway. This research is relevant to public health because elucidating the fundamental mechanism of cancer development is expected to provide a valuable basic concept and new model for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The proposed research addresses the central issues that are important to understanding the underlying mechanisms of colon cancer development. In this project, we will (1) determine the role of a newly identified Wnt agonist in regulating tumor development and (2) further develop the efficient neutralizing methods.

Susan Peterson, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Genetic testing for hereditary cancers is now part of standard oncology care, yet there are barriers to realizing its full benefits for patients and families. Studies consistently show that information about genetic risk may not be completely or accurately disseminated within families, and that families may grapple with the nuances and complexities of conveying genetic risk information. To address these issues, we propose an intervention, called My Family Garden, a web-based, secure social networking tool to enable the collection and sharing of family history and cancer risk information in families with hereditary cancer. Funding from the Duncan Family Institute will support the development, testing, and evaluation of a prototype system for My Family Garden. Long-term scientific goals include evaluating the efficacy of My Family Garden in enabling comprehensive communication of cancer risk information and adoption of cancer risk reduction strategies in high risk families.

Leslie Schover, Ph.D.

Aromatase inhibitors have become the hormone therapy of choice for postmenopausal women with estrogen-positive breast cancer and will increasingly be prescribed to prevent breast cancer after menopause. Yet, 10% to 25% of women discontinue aromatase inhibitors in the first year of treatment because of negative side effects. Sexual problems are among the most distressing symptoms. Our study will survey women who began aromatase inhibitors in the past 12 to 18 months about changes in their sex lives. Their experiences will be compared to those of sexually active women assigned randomly when they start treatment to one of two groups: 1) usual care plus some brief, written brochures about sexual function or 2)access to an internet-based sexual counseling program supplemented with phone counseling. Two new vaginal moisturizers will also be compared in the counseled group. We want to see if staying sexually active and avoiding painful vaginal dryness will prevent more severe sexual problems and improve women’s ability to keep taking their aromatase inhibitors.

Anecita Fadol, Ph.D.

The REcovery of left ventricular dysfunction in CAncer Patients (RECAP trial) is a pilot study about cancer survivors who developed heart failure while receiving cancer treatment. Some patients recover from heart failure with heart medicines. The current practice is for patients to take these heart medicines for life, because there is no data as to what will happen if patients stop taking the heart medicines after heart function improves. This study will examine if it is safe to stop these heart medicines in cancer survivors after the heart function returns to normal. The findings from this study will provide baseline information for a future large study to provide evidence to potentially change clinical practice and improve the cancer survivor’s quality of life.

Angeles Lopez-Olivo, M.D., Ph.D.

Bone health can prevent osteoporosis, one of the most frequent and potentially serious complications of cancer and cancer therapy. This project will develop an interactive web page containing bone health information tailored to the needs of breast and prostate cancer survivors. The goal of the project is to improve patients’ knowledge, self-management and awareness of bone health issues, and ultimately reduce the risk of fracture in cancer survivors.

Susan Peterson, Ph.D., M.P.H.

The need for improved survivorship care to prevent the recurrence of cancer among survivors and to improve their quality of life has been widely recognized. The use of patient navigators is a promising approach to help survivors manage their survivorship care; however, relatively little is known about the efficacy of cancer survivorship navigation programs. Our project assesses breast cancer survivors’ navigation needs and preferences for a navigation program within the Survivorship Clinic at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in Houston. We also will interview clinic stakeholders to get their perspectives on the integration of this kind of program without disrupting clinic flow. Because the degree to which clinical staff can take on navigator roles is limited due to time and patient care demands, we also will assess whether personal health information systems and e-Health Technology (specifically, the HealthATM platform) can be leveraged to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of navigator efforts.

Nancy You, M.D.

Providing high-quality care to cancer survivors represents a new challenge in cancer care. However, we know little about how patients do and what cares they receive once they finish the often intense cancer-directed treatments and enter what is termed "the extended phase of survivorship". Our project will help us learn these patient experiences and then develop ways that will help us measure the quality of care being delivered to survivors.

Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Women who are obese and have low levels of physical activity are more likely to develop endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus), but we do not yet know if losing weight and becoming more active will decrease a woman’s risk of this disease. The goal of our research is to answer this question. We are collaborating with investigators from MD Anderson’s SPORE (Specialized Program for Research Excellence) in uterine cancer who are doing a trial to test whether metformin, a drug usually used to treat diabetes, can help reduce cell growth in the endometrium of women who are obese. We will add another arm to this trial in which the participants will receive a diet and exercise program to help them lose weight. All women participating in the SPORE study will have endometrial biopsies to assess cell growth as well as blood tests to measure markers that may be related to the risk of developing endometrial cancer. This pilot study will help us determine whether there is enough evidence to show that changing diet and exercise behavior affect s endometrial cancer risk and, if so, justify doing a larger clinical trial.

Randa El-Zein, M.D., Ph.D.

In this study, we will test the feasibility of automating a biomarker that comprehensively allows the measurement of cellular genomic instability. We have shown that cytokinesis blocked micronucleus assay is a sensitive predictor of lung cancer risk. Automation of this powerful assay will provide a strong, rapid and unbiased quantitative analysis tool for cancer risk assessment. We envision using this biomarker in lung cancer screening programs as a prescreening tool for current and former smokers prior to CT screening. This prescreen will allow the identification of individuals at high risk of development of lung cancer, and who therefore warrant further screening and follow-up using CT. Given the low cost, accuracy and safety, this biomarker test could be potentially valuable for screening of large populations.

Jason Robinson, Ph.D.

Even though most smokers know that smoking is unhealthy, and despite most wanting to quit, only 6% of those who make a serious quit attempt are still abstinent one year later. The problem is that smoking, like other drugs of abuse, alters the brain after repeated use, alterations that make it difficult to quit and to stay abstinent. We want to examine whether brain markers that we previously identified in smokers exist in never smokers and ex-smokers. The ultimate goals of the grants that will result from this proposal would be to use these brain markers to predict which nonsmokers are at risk from becoming smokers and which ex-smokers are likely to have problems staying abstinent.

Kenneth Tsai, M.D., Ph.D.

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in humans, of which there are over 3 million cases a year in the United States, costing an estimated $500 million in treatment-related costs and $2 billion in overall economic impact. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (the 2nd most common skin cancer) has a well-ordered sequence of development beginning with chronically sun-exposed skin, progressing to the most common precancerous lesion in humans, the actinic keratosis (AK), and then ultimately to invasive cancer. The tremendously high incidence of AK presents a vast opportunity for secondary skin cancer prevention, and our proposed studies to identify the important genetic alterations that result in AK formation will enable the design of better interventions to eliminate them and prevent their progression to cancer.

Ivan Uray, M.D., Ph.D.

The two most fundamental criteria for the development of cancer preventive agents are achieving high effectiveness and low toxicities associated with chemopreventive medication, typically administered over a long period of time. The proposed research addresses both issues. Its goal is to identify drug combinations which more effectively suppress cell growth and prevent cancer than either individual component alone. At the same time this research will develop new treatment options that reduce the effective dosage by combining cancer preventive agents to achieve equivalent or synergistic effects. Achieving these goals may have a tremendous impact on the acceptance of pharmacologic preventive strategies.

Xiangwei Wu, Ph.D.

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and has a poor prognosis. Activating mutations of the K-ras oncogene are possibly the single most common genetic abnormality in pancreatic cancer. Therefore, mutant K-ras gene or its gene product represents an obvious target for the treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer. In this application, we propose to develop a novel method to specifically abolish oncogenic K-ras expressing cells for pancreatic cancer prevention and treatment.

Michelle Hildebrandt, Ph.D.

Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common malignancy with nearly 150,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States. These studies will shed light on the effect of common, germline genetic variation within the Wnt/beta-catenin stem-cell signaling pathway on colorectal cancer risk. The results can contribute to a personalized risk prediction model that will help to understand an individual’s risk of colorectal cancer development and provide recommendations of suitable prevention strategies with the goal of reducing the incidence and burden of this deadly disease.

Yanhong Liu, Ph.D.

Gliomas, the most common type of brain tumors, have very poor prognosis and are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Investigators have long known that gliomas are more common in Caucasians than in African Americans and Hispanic Americans. The proposed research focuses on discovering genetic markers among African Americans and Hispanic Americans populations. This research will help explain why glioma affects Caucasians more often than African Americans and Hispanic Americans, and will potentially lead to new and improved modes of diagnosis and prevention for patients with glioma.

Ashraful Hoque, M.D., Ph.D.

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the role of essential and toxic trace metals and their association with prostate cancer among African American and white men. Researchers in Dr. Hoque’s laboratory will measure levels of essential and toxic metals in blood among both prostate cancer patients and healthy men to determine if there is an association of low levels of essential or high levels of toxic metals with prostate cancer. In addition, Dr. Hoque’s group will examine whether certain dietary factors, such as fruit and vegetable consumption and dietary supplements, reduce the toxic effects of heavy metals and ultimately decrease prostate cancer risk. Data generated from this study could have significant public health implications through the identification of a population with deficient essential trace metals that could be at high risk for prostate cancer and, therefore, could benefit from targeted primary and secondary prevention interventions.

Bo Peng, Ph.D.

Many genetic risk factors have been identified for complex human diseases such as lung cancer but it is unclear how to make effective use of such information to improve existing cancer prevention strategies. This study aims to simulate populations with realistic environmental and genetic risk factors of cancers, and then study the cost-effectiveness of novel cancer prevention strategies that make use of individual genetic information. By predicting and comparing the benefits, harms, and costs of various cancer prevention strategies, the results of this project could contribute to development of tools to help clinicians make recommendations regarding the benefits of genetic testing for individuals who are at risk for certain types of cancers, and, ultimately, aid clinicians in providing individualized cancer prevention and treatment options according to a patient’s individual genetic profile.

Linda Elting, Dr. P.H.

Little data exists regarding the health status and experiences of cancer survivors, particularly for survivors of the less common cancers and of racial and ethnic minority populations. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is an annual telephone survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that collects data regarding various health conditions and risk behaviors in the U.S. population. We propose to use data from the 2009 and 2010 BRFSS surveys regarding health problems and behaviors in cancer survivors to identify subgroups of survivors who are likely to benefit from interventions based on their needs. Using these data, we will estimate the prevalence of certain health problems and health behaviors in cancer survivors and in a group of control individuals without cancer. We will also examine differences in the prevalence of these health conditions and behaviors among various subgroups of the survivor population. This work will provide estimates of the public health significance of cancer survivorship issues within the U.S. Such estimates are critical to the design of future intervention studies, guidelines and collaborative care models for cancer survivors.

Michelle Fingeret, Ph.D.

Body image is recognized as a critical psychosocial issue for individuals with head and neck cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine how such patients make sense of their appearance and body image changes after surgery. We will conduct interviews with 20 patients and 15 healthcare providers. Our primary research questions involve examining the immediate emotional reactions and psychosocial ramifications of mirror-viewing during the acute postoperative phase, as well as developing an understanding of how these may change throughout the course of active treatment and into the period of survivorship. There will be a specific focus on obtaining data regarding current standards of care for assisting patients with mirror-viewing during and following treatment. The proposed work is anticipated to enhance knowledge regarding fundamental body image issues for the head and neck cancer patient population and can be used to guide future studies and the development of novel psychosocial interventions for this patient population.

Jorge Cortes, M.D.

In order to avoid recurrence, survivors of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) must remain on tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy for years, if not for the remainder of their lives. Fatigue is recognized as one of the most common complications of this long-term therapy. The mechanism of this TKI-induced fatigue is currently unknown; however, recent studies suggest tryptophan degradation may play a role. Based on these studies, we propose an in-depth longitudinal study to track the temporal patterns of tryptophan degradation and its association with fatigue and QoL in CML survivors. We will measure the degree of association between tryptophan degradation and the incidence of fatigue as well as changes in QoL over time in CML survivors undergoing TKI therapy. We will also examine the impact of various CML treatments on such associations as well as assess which TKI maintenance therapy may be more suitable for older CML survivors based on their temporal patterns of tryptophan degradation, fatigue and QoL.

Francesco Versace, Ph.D.

More than half of breast-cancer survivors suffer from loss of sexual desire, particularly if they have had chemotherapy. This loss does not appear to correlate with serum androgen levels and pharmaceutical and sex therapy treatments have not had more than modest success in treating this loss of desire. Our hypothesis is that chemotherapy does long-term damage to the neural networks in the brain necessary for emotional processes. We will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a pilot study of breast cancer survivors 40-60 years of age to measure brain activity while viewing standardized sets of pleasant, unpleasant and neutral pictures. Results of this study will lead to further research on the impact of chemotherapy on the brain’s emotional pathways and contribute to the design of future studies aimed at developing more effective remedies for the frequent problem of long-term loss of sexual desire in breast cancer survivors.

Jeffrey Weffel, Ph.D.

Survival times have improved for individuals with brain tumors (BT), however, the majority of BT survivors suffer from cognitive impairment associated with reduced independence, decreased ability to participate in daily living activities, and increased caregiver distress. Rehabilitation in the form of compensatory training requiring intensive in-person therapy lasting weeks to months and involving multi-disciplinary teams of care providers is available to some, but not all, BT survivors due to geographic and financial reasons. The Brain Fitness Program (Posit Science, San Francisco, CA) is an at-home, web-accessible brain plasticity-based computerized intervention for improving cognitive function in the elderly that may be applicable to BT survivors. The goal of this proposal is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the Brain Fitness Program in BT survivors, as measured by improvement in a directly trained measure from the Brain Fitness Program among BT survivors, as well as by changes in self-reported everyday cognitive function and in objective neuropsychological tests of attention and memory. These results will build the basis for developing and powering larger clinical trials to determine the efficacy and effectiveness of this broadly available intervention.

Imad Shureiqi, M.D.

Colon cancers are the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Despite progress that has been made, the death rates from colorectal cancers remain around 50%, and advanced colorectal cancers are generally incurable, with an average survival rate of approximately two years even with the best currently available treatment. Clearly, better interventions for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancers are needed. Increased production of the protein peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPAR-d) is associated with colon cancer development; however, it is yet to be determined if increased production of this protein in cancer cells promotes colon cancer development. The proposed project aims to address this question by simulating what happens in human colon cancer in mice that are genetically engineered to overproduce the protein in colon cells. This improved understanding is expected to determine if new drugs can be developed to target PPAR-d to prevent and treat colon cancer.

Chongjuan Wei, Ph.D.

Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a genetic disorder characterized by benign polyps called hamartomas which occur mainly in the stomach and small and large intestines. Patients with PJS are at higher risk for developing various types of cancer. To date, therapy for PJS has been limited to surgical removal of clinically significant polyps. Over-activation of mTOR signaling, a pathway which promotes cell growth and proliferation, has been associated with PJS suggesting that an  mTOR inhibitory drug may be useful for PJS treatment. In this proposed project, we will use niclosamide, a novel mTOR inhibitor drug, to determine whether inhibition of mTOR signaling suppresses polyp formation in the PJS mouse model. Considering that the mTOR pathway is aberrantly activated in most common cancers in addition to PJS, the resulting findings could impact not only PJS prevention and treatment but also other cancers with dysregulated mTOR signaling.

Xiaochun Xu, M.D., Ph.D.

The incidence of esophageal cancer, a deadly disease with a poor prognosis, has been increasing in the U.S. The actual origin of esophageal cancer remains unclear, but we do know esophageal cancer is more likely to occur in individuals who have frequent gastroesophageal reflux carrying acid, bile and protease, resulting in the formation of Barrett's esophagus. The latter is considered to be a premalignant condition that may lead to the advancement of esophageal cancer. Tobacco smoke can also enhance the effects of bile acid, which may in and of itself be a risk factor for esophageal cancer. These risk factors contribute to development of esophageal cancer by causing multiple genetic changes. In this study, in animal models, we will investigate how these risk factors contribute to esophageal cancer by blocking the activity altered genes to determine if these prevents or delays development of esophageal cancer and blocks the growth of esophageal cancer cells.

Yuanqing Ye, Ph.D.

Lung cancer is the leading cause for cancer-related death in the U.S., with almost 90% of lung cancers attributed to cigarette smoking. There is substantial evidence that the process of developing lung cancer is driven by the interaction between exposure to external cancer-causing substances and inherent genetic traits. This study will identify novel genetic variants in miRNA related genes, a type of RNA that plays important regulatory roles in many biological processes and diseases, and are associated with the development of lung cancer. We will explore gene-gene interactions and gene-environment interactions, use analytical and statistical techniques to then develop and validate models, which will help to identify individuals at highest risk for lung cancer who then may be prospects for targeted prevention interventions. The results of this study may shed significant light into a cause of lung cancer and lead to new techniques to identify those at high-risk for this disease.