2023
A study of using epigenetic modulators to enhance response to pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in microsatellite stable advanced colorectal cancer
Baretti M, Murphy A, Zahurak M, Gianino N, Parkinson R, Walker R, Lopez-Vidal T, Zheng L, Rosner G, Ahuja N, Kurt S, Azad N. A study of using epigenetic modulators to enhance response to pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in microsatellite stable advanced colorectal cancer. Clinical Epigenetics 2023, 15: 74. PMID: 37120591, PMCID: PMC10149019, DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01485-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsColorectal cancer patientsAdvanced colorectal cancer patientsImmune checkpoint inhibitor therapyMedian progression-free survivalDurable partial responseHematological adverse eventsMMR-proficient tumorsCheckpoint inhibitor therapyAdvanced colorectal cancerProgression-free survivalImmune cell infiltrationHistone deacetylasesImmunologic shiftCheckpoint inhibitorsRECIST criteriaAdverse eventsCheckpoint therapyOverall survivalPartial responseInhibitor therapyMedian ageColorectal cancerFurther mechanistic investigationsCancer patientsCell infiltration
2022
A randomized, phase II trial of oral azacitidine (CC-486) in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma at high risk for recurrence
Heumann T, Baretti M, Sugar E, Durham J, Linden S, Lopez-Vidal T, Leatherman J, Cope L, Sharma A, Weekes C, O’Dwyer P, Reiss K, Monga D, Ahuja N, Azad N. A randomized, phase II trial of oral azacitidine (CC-486) in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma at high risk for recurrence. Clinical Epigenetics 2022, 14: 166. PMID: 36463226, PMCID: PMC9719150, DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01367-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsResectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaCC-486OBS patientsMetastatic settingAdjuvant therapyTreatment-related grade 3Randomized phase II studyMedian age 66Next-line therapyResultsForty-nine patientsMedian treatment durationPhase II studyEvidence of diseaseHigh-risk featuresPhase II trialProgression-free survivalStandard adjuvant therapyPancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaCancer recursEvaluable patientsMedian OSMedian PFSOral azacitidineR1 resectionSubsequent chemotherapyEvaluation of Racial Disparities in Quality of Care for Patients With Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer Treated With Surgery
Bakkila BF, Kerekes D, Nunez-Smith M, Billingsley KG, Ahuja N, Wang K, Oladele C, Johnson CH, Khan SA. Evaluation of Racial Disparities in Quality of Care for Patients With Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer Treated With Surgery. JAMA Network Open 2022, 5: e225664. PMID: 35377425, PMCID: PMC8980937, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.5664.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGastrointestinal tract cancerNegative resection marginsTract cancerNegative surgical marginsBlack patientsAdequate lymphadenectomyWhite patientsQuality of careRacial disparitiesSurgical resectionResection marginsSurgical marginsSurgical careNational Cancer DatabaseRetrospective cohort studySite of cancerLonger median survivalHealth careStandard of careCommon age rangeSignificant racial disparitiesAdjuvant chemotherapyBiliary resectionAdjuvant therapyAdult patients
2020
Association of Treatment Inequity and Ancestry With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Survival
Heller DR, Nicolson NG, Ahuja N, Khan S, Kunstman JW. Association of Treatment Inequity and Ancestry With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Survival. JAMA Surgery 2020, 155: e195047. PMID: 31800002, PMCID: PMC6902102, DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.5047.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaNational Cancer DatabaseWhite patientsBlack patientsAdvanced diseaseOverall survivalClinical parametersDisease stageCancer DatabaseSurgical proceduresMultivariable Cox proportional hazards regression modelingTreatment inequitiesCox proportional hazards regression modelingPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) survivalUnadjusted median overall survivalYounger ageProportional hazards regression modelingMedian overall survivalModest survival advantageStage II diseaseNew cancer diagnosesLess chemotherapyResectable cancerCohort studyPrimary outcome
2019
A phase 1 trial of the oral DNA methyltransferase inhibitor CC‐486 and the histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin in advanced solid tumors
Gaillard SL, Zahurak M, Sharma A, Durham J, Reiss K, Sartorius‐Mergenthaler S, Downs M, Anders N, Ahuja N, Rudek M, Azad N. A phase 1 trial of the oral DNA methyltransferase inhibitor CC‐486 and the histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin in advanced solid tumors. Cancer 2019, 125: 2837-2845. PMID: 31012962, PMCID: PMC6663621, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32138.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdministration, OralAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAnorexiaAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsAzacitidineDepsipeptidesDNA Modification MethylasesDrug Administration ScheduleFemaleHistone Deacetylase InhibitorsHumansLong Interspersed Nucleotide ElementsMaleMaximum Tolerated DoseMethyltransferasesMiddle AgedNauseaNeoplasmsConceptsHistone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsinDisease control rateAdvanced solid tumorsPhase 1 studyCC-486Solid tumorsDose-escalation portionPhase 2 doseDose-limiting toxicityPossible clinical benefitPhase 1 trialDose-escalation designElement-1 methylationLINE-1 methylationStable diseaseCommon toxicitiesDose expansionExpansion cohortPrimary outcomeClinical benefitControl rateDrug exposureBlood samplesDay 1Dose levelsOperative Mortality Prediction for Primary Rectal Cancer: Age Matters
Li Z, Coleman J, D'Adamo CR, Wolf J, Katlic M, Ahuja N, Blumberg D, Ahuja V. Operative Mortality Prediction for Primary Rectal Cancer: Age Matters. Journal Of The American College Of Surgeons 2019, 228: 627-633. PMID: 30630082, DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2018.12.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary rectal cancerRectal cancerLogistic regression modelsActual mortalityOlder patientsRisk calculatorAmerican CollegeCovariate-adjusted logistic regression modelsCurrent risk calculatorsICD-9/10 codesColorectal cancer increasesSurgeons NSQIP databaseYears age groupAge categoriesMortality risk estimatesOperative mortalityNSQIP databaseRegression modelsPrognostic valueFunctional statusCancer increasesCare discussionsMortality predictionCPT codesAge groups
2018
A Phase I Trial of a Guadecitabine (SGI-110) and Irinotecan in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Previously Exposed to Irinotecan
Lee V, Wang J, Zahurak M, Gootjes E, Verheul H, Parkinson R, Kerner Z, Sharma A, Rosner G, De Jesus-Acosta A, Laheru D, Le DT, Oganesian A, Lilly E, Brown T, Jones P, Baylin S, Ahuja N, Azad N. A Phase I Trial of a Guadecitabine (SGI-110) and Irinotecan in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Previously Exposed to Irinotecan. Clinical Cancer Research 2018, 24: 6160-6167. PMID: 30097434, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-0421.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetastatic colorectal cancerNeutropenic feverMetastatic colorectal cancer patientsDurable partial responseMost common toxicitiesDose-escalation studyColorectal cancer patientsInjection site reactionsOngoing phase IIPhase I trialInitial disease progressionCycles of treatmentCommon toxicitiesDrain infectionEvaluable patientsStable diseaseColonic obstructionPartial responseI trialMulticenter trialColorectal cancerGastrointestinal cancerSite reactionsCancer patientsDisease progressionLow Frequency of Lymph Node Metastases in Patients in the United States With Early-stage Gastric Cancers That Fulfill Japanese Endoscopic Resection Criteria
Hanada Y, Choi AY, Hwang JH, Draganov PV, Khanna L, Sethi A, Bartel MJ, Goel N, Abe S, De Latour RA, Park K, Melis M, Newman E, Hatzaras I, Reddy SS, Farma JM, Liu X, Schlachterman A, Kresak J, Trapp G, Ansari N, Schrope B, Lee JY, Dhall D, Lo S, Jamil LH, Burch M, Gaddam S, Gong Y, Del Portillo A, Tomizawa Y, Truong CD, Brewer Gutierrez OI, Montgomery E, Johnston FM, Duncan M, Canto M, Ahuja N, Lennon AM, Ngamruengphong S. Low Frequency of Lymph Node Metastases in Patients in the United States With Early-stage Gastric Cancers That Fulfill Japanese Endoscopic Resection Criteria. Clinical Gastroenterology And Hepatology 2018, 17: 1763-1769. PMID: 30471457, DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2018.11.031.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdenocarcinomaAgedAged, 80 and overCarcinoma, Signet Ring CellEndoscopic Mucosal ResectionFemaleGastrectomyHumansJapanLymph NodesLymphatic MetastasisMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm GradingNeoplasm InvasivenessNeoplasm StagingPractice Guidelines as TopicRetrospective StudiesStomach NeoplasmsTumor BurdenUnited StatesConceptsFrequency of lymphEarly gastric cancerEndoscopic resectionLymph node metastasisLymph nodesGastric cancerLymphovascular invasionNode metastasisGastric adenocarcinomaEarly gastric cancer lesionsEarly-stage gastric cancerEndoscopic resection criteriaLymph node dissectionTertiary care centerRisk of lymphRisk of metastasisGastric cancer lesionsDefinitive therapyNode dissectionResection criteriaSurgical resectionAsian patientsRetrospective studySubmucosal invasionRisk factorsTrends in Outcomes After Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
Gani F, Conca-Cheng AM, Nettles B, Ahuja N, Johnston FM. Trends in Outcomes After Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. Journal Of Surgical Research 2018, 234: 240-248. PMID: 30527480, DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2018.09.032.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCarcinomaChemotherapy, Cancer, Regional PerfusionCombined Modality TherapyCytoreduction Surgical ProceduresDatabases, FactualFemaleHumansHyperthermia, InducedLogistic ModelsMaleMiddle AgedPatient SelectionPeritoneal NeoplasmsPostoperative ComplicationsRisk FactorsTreatment OutcomeConceptsCRS/HIPECHyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapyMedian operative timeLength of stayPostoperative morbidityCytoreductive surgeryOperative timeIntraperitoneal chemotherapySelect patientsClinical outcomesSurgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseNational Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseCommon primary tumor siteQuality Improvement Program databaseMultivariable logistic regression analysisLow preoperative hematocritImprovement Program databasePreoperative serum albuminCareful patient selectionPrimary tumor siteLogistic regression analysisPostoperative complicationsPostoperative deathsPreoperative hematocritPeritoneal carcinomatosisComparing the long‐term outcomes among patients with stomach and small intestine gastrointestinal stromal tumors: An analysis of the National Cancer Database
Giuliano K, Ejaz A, Reames BN, Choi W, Sham J, Gage M, Johnston FM, Ahuja N. Comparing the long‐term outcomes among patients with stomach and small intestine gastrointestinal stromal tumors: An analysis of the National Cancer Database. Journal Of Surgical Oncology 2018, 118: 486-492. PMID: 30129672, DOI: 10.1002/jso.25172.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSmall intestine gastrointestinal stromal tumorGastrointestinal stromal tumorsNational Cancer DatabaseOverall survivalStromal tumorsTumor locationCancer DatabaseLarger median tumor sizeStomach gastrointestinal stromal tumorUnadjusted median overall survivalCox proportional hazards modelNational Oncology DatabaseMedian overall survivalMedian tumor sizeWorse prognostic featuresKaplan-Meier methodLong-term prognosisTumor-related factorsLong-term outcomesCases of stomachProportional hazards modelCommon sarcomaTotal patientsPrognostic featuresOncology databaseResection of retroperitoneal sarcoma en‐bloc with inferior vena cava: 20 year outcomes of a single institution
Blair AB, Reames BN, Singh J, Gani F, Overton HN, Beaulieu RJ, Lum YW, Black JH, Johnston FM, Ahuja N. Resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma en‐bloc with inferior vena cava: 20 year outcomes of a single institution. Journal Of Surgical Oncology 2018, 118: 127-137. PMID: 29878363, PMCID: PMC6220674, DOI: 10.1002/jso.25096.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMinimally Invasive Versus Open Primary Resection for Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Propensity-Matched Study From the National Cancer Database
Gani F, Goel U, Blair AB, Singh J, Overton HN, Meyer CF, Canner JK, Pawlik TM, Ahuja N, Johnston FM. Minimally Invasive Versus Open Primary Resection for Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Propensity-Matched Study From the National Cancer Database. Annals Of Surgical Oncology 2018, 25: 2209-2217. PMID: 29855832, PMCID: PMC8383095, DOI: 10.1245/s10434-018-6538-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRetroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomaNational Cancer DatabaseSoft tissue sarcomasUse of MISPostoperative mortalityPrimary resectionOverall survivalClinical outcomesTissue sarcomasCancer DatabaseCox proportional hazards modelShorter hospital lengthProportional hazards modelHospital lengthInvasive VersusMultivariable logisticPelvic cancerShorter LOSOpen surgeryOperative approachCommunity hospitalInclusion criteriaSmall tumorsTreatment groupsHazards modelAutomated diagnosis of colon cancer using hyperspectral sensing
Beaulieu RJ, Goldstein SD, Singh J, Safar B, Banerjee A, Ahuja N. Automated diagnosis of colon cancer using hyperspectral sensing. International Journal Of Medical Robotics And Computer Assisted Surgery 2018, 14: e1897. PMID: 29479794, DOI: 10.1002/rcs.1897.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsColorectal cancerPossible metastatic diseaseColorectal cancer detectionColorectal cancer reliesMultiple tumor typesMetastatic diseaseOperative resectionSurgical resectionPathologic evaluationSurgical managementCancer reliesTumor specimensColon specimensColon cancerTumor typesPatient specimensCancerResectionPatientsDiagnostic methodsTumorsCancer detectionDiagnostic technologiesContrast agents
2017
Can echogenic appearance of neuroendocrine liver metastases on intraoperative ultrasonography predict tumor biology and prognosis?
Dogeas E, Chong CCN, Weiss MJ, Ahuja N, Choti MA. Can echogenic appearance of neuroendocrine liver metastases on intraoperative ultrasonography predict tumor biology and prognosis? Hepato Pancreato Biliary 2017, 20: 237-243. PMID: 29103839, DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2017.08.029.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeuroendocrine liver metastasesTumor biologyLiver metastasesShorter median disease-free survivalMedian disease-free survivalDisease-free survivalManagement of patientsPotential prognostic factorsSmaller tumor sizeLong-term outcomesHypoechoic metastasesAdditional metastasesPrognostic factorsClinicopathologic factorsSurgical interventionSurgical strategyPreoperative imagingTumor sizeHypoechoic lesionsIntraoperative ultrasonographyNeuroendocrine tumorsProspective dataHyperechoic lesionsTumor gradeBiologic behaviorThe independent effect of cancer on outcomes: a potential limitation of surgical risk prediction
Leeds IL, Canner JK, Efron JE, Ahuja N, Haut ER, Wick EC, Johnston FM. The independent effect of cancer on outcomes: a potential limitation of surgical risk prediction. Journal Of Surgical Research 2017, 220: 402-409.e6. PMID: 28923559, PMCID: PMC5712450, DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2017.08.039.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCancer patientsDiagnosis of cancerBenign diseaseCancer populationNational Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2005Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseSurgical risk modelsSurgical risk predictionObstructive pulmonary diseaseWorse surgical outcomesMalignant gastrointestinal diseasesOdds of deathHigh complication rateMultivariable logistic regressionParticipant Use FileRisk of deathPrimary procedure codeHigh mortality rateComplication rateSurgical complicationsIndependent predictorsMultiple complicationsPulmonary diseaseElective surgeryNoncancer patientsNeutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio is a Predictive Marker for Invasive Malignancy in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas
Gemenetzis G, Bagante F, Griffin JF, Rezaee N, Javed AA, Manos LL, Lennon AM, Wood LD, Hruban RH, Zheng L, Zaheer A, Fishman EK, Ahuja N, Cameron JL, Weiss MJ, He J, Wolfgang CL. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio is a Predictive Marker for Invasive Malignancy in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas. Annals Of Surgery 2017, 266: 339-345. PMID: 27631774, DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000001988.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasmPapillary mucinous neoplasmInvasive carcinomaPredictive nomogramLymphocyte ratioMucinous neoplasmsInvasive malignancyPredictive markerMain pancreatic duct dilatationEnhanced solid componentLymphocyte ratio valuesIndependent predictive markerFurther prospective studiesPancreatic duct dilatationInflammatory markersSurgical resectionDuct dilatationNLR valuesOverall survivalProspective studyPancreatic cancerC-indexCarcinomaMultivariate analysisPatientsCirculating Epithelial Cells in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms and Cystic Pancreatic Lesions
Poruk KE, Valero V, He J, Ahuja N, Cameron JL, Weiss MJ, Lennon AM, Goggins M, Wood LD, Wolfgang CL. Circulating Epithelial Cells in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms and Cystic Pancreatic Lesions. Pancreas 2017, 46: 943-947. PMID: 28697136, DOI: 10.1097/mpa.0000000000000869.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasmHigh-grade dysplasiaPapillary mucinous neoplasmBlood of patientsEpithelial cellsMucinous neoplasmsPancreatic lesionsAbsence of malignancyBenign pancreatic lesionsCystic pancreatic lesionsNineteen patientsPancreatic resectionPeripheral bloodPancreatic cystsISET methodPatientsPancreas-specific markersResectionMalignancyDysplasiaBloodNeoplasmsPancreatic sourceLow gradeLesionsLong‐term survival benefit of upfront chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed borderline resectable pancreatic cancer
Shrestha B, Sun Y, Faisal F, Kim V, Soares K, Blair A, Herman JM, Narang A, Dholakia AS, Rosati L, Hacker‐Prietz A, Chen L, Laheru DA, De Jesus‐Acosta A, Le DT, Donehower R, Azad N, Diaz LA, Murphy A, Lee V, Fishman EK, Hruban RH, Liang T, Cameron JL, Makary M, Weiss MJ, Ahuja N, He J, Wolfgang CL, Huang C, Zheng L. Long‐term survival benefit of upfront chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. Cancer Medicine 2017, 6: 1552-1562. PMID: 28639410, PMCID: PMC5504321, DOI: 10.1002/cam4.1104.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedian overall survivalUpfront chemotherapyNeoadjuvant chemotherapyNeoadjuvant therapySurgical resectionOverall survivalUpfront chemoradiationBorderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinomaLong-term survival benefitBorderline resectable pancreatic cancerCurative surgical resectionResectable pancreatic cancerUpfront neoadjuvant chemotherapyResectable pancreatic adenocarcinomaSubpopulation of patientsJohns Hopkins HospitalLong-term survivalCurative intentNeoadjuvant chemoradiationConsecutive patientsSurvival benefitPancreatic cancerPancreatic adenocarcinomaRetrospective analysisChemoradiationCombination Epigenetic Therapy in Advanced Breast Cancer with 5-Azacitidine and Entinostat: A Phase II National Cancer Institute/Stand Up to Cancer Study
Connolly RM, Li H, Jankowitz RC, Zhang Z, Rudek MA, Jeter SC, Slater SA, Powers P, Wolff AC, Fetting JH, Brufsky A, Piekarz R, Ahuja N, Laird PW, Shen H, Weisenberger DJ, Cope L, Herman JG, Somlo G, Garcia AA, Jones PA, Baylin SB, Davidson NE, Zahnow CA, Stearns V. Combination Epigenetic Therapy in Advanced Breast Cancer with 5-Azacitidine and Entinostat: A Phase II National Cancer Institute/Stand Up to Cancer Study. Clinical Cancer Research 2017, 23: 2691-2701. PMID: 27979916, PMCID: PMC5457329, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-1729.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTriple-negative breast cancerObjective response rateCombination epigenetic therapyEstrogen receptorEndocrine therapyPrimary endpointPartial responseMulticenter phase II studyEpigenetic therapyAdditional partial responsesHormone-resistant diseasePhase II studyTime of progressionBreast cancer modelClin Cancer ResHistone deacetylase inhibitorsImportant therapeutic targetPosttreatment biopsiesTNBC cohortII studyBreast cancerDNA methyltransferase inhibitorTherapeutic targetResponse rateCancer modelA Four-Gene Promoter Methylation Marker Panel Consisting of GREM1, NEURL, LAD1, and NEFH Predicts Survival of Clear Cell Renal Cell Cancer Patients
van Vlodrop IJH, Joosten SC, De Meyer T, Smits KM, Van Neste L, Melotte V, Baldewijns MMLL, Schouten LJ, van den Brandt PA, Jeschke J, Yi JM, Schuebel KE, Ahuja N, Herman JG, Aarts MJ, Bosman FT, Van Criekinge W, van Engeland M. A Four-Gene Promoter Methylation Marker Panel Consisting of GREM1, NEURL, LAD1, and NEFH Predicts Survival of Clear Cell Renal Cell Cancer Patients. Clinical Cancer Research 2017, 23: 2006-2018. PMID: 27756787, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-1236.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAutoantigensBiomarkers, TumorCarcinoma, Renal CellDisease-Free SurvivalDNA MethylationFemaleHigh-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingHumansIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsKaplan-Meier EstimateKidney NeoplasmsMaleMiddle AgedNeurofilament ProteinsNon-Fibrillar CollagensOligonucleotide Array Sequence AnalysisPrognosisPromoter Regions, GeneticProportional Hazards ModelsUbiquitin-Protein LigasesConceptsClear cell renal cell carcinomaPrognostic modelNonmetastatic clear cell renal cell carcinomaMethylation markersCox proportional hazards modelPrimary clear cell renal cell carcinomaIndependent patient seriesCause-specific survivalOutcomes of patientsCell renal cell carcinomaPrognosis of patientsKaplan-Meier curvesLog-rank testConfidence intervalsCurrent prognostic modelsRenal cell carcinomaProportional hazards modelClin Cancer ResCcRCC cell linesCancer Genome AtlasClinicopathologic featuresPatient seriesCell carcinomaMethylation-specific PCRPoor survival