2023
Role of colectomy in the management of appendiceal tumors: a retrospective cohort study
Marks V, Kerekes D, Butensky S, Ahuja N, Johnson C, Turaga K, Khan S. Role of colectomy in the management of appendiceal tumors: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Gastroenterology 2023, 23: 398. PMID: 37978348, PMCID: PMC10655451, DOI: 10.1186/s12876-023-03019-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGoblet cell adenocarcinomaNon-mucinous adenocarcinomaRight hemicolectomyStage 2 diseaseNeuroendocrine neoplasmsTumor typesAppendiceal tumorsMucinous adenocarcinomaAppendiceal goblet cell adenocarcinomaRole of colectomyNational Cancer DatabasePostoperative hospital stayRetrospective cohort studyRisk-adjusted analysisRange of histologiesDifferent tumor typesConclusionsMost patientsHospital stayUnplanned readmissionCohort studySurgical treatmentHistologic typeSurgical outcomesCell adenocarcinomaCancer DatabaseThe Promise of Epigenetics Research in the Treatment of Appendiceal Neoplasms
Ladel L, Tan W, Jeyakanthan T, Sailo B, Sharma A, Ahuja N. The Promise of Epigenetics Research in the Treatment of Appendiceal Neoplasms. Cells 2023, 12: 1962. PMID: 37566041, PMCID: PMC10417136, DOI: 10.3390/cells12151962.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA 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 infiltrationEarly Detection of Cancers in the Era of Precision Oncology
Tan W, Sharma A, Das P, Ahuja N. Early Detection of Cancers in the Era of Precision Oncology. Current Opinion In Oncology 2023, 35: 115-124. PMID: 36721896, DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000931.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUtility of promoter hypermethylation in malignant risk stratification of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms
Chhoda A, Sharma A, Sailo B, Tang H, Ruzgar N, Tan W, Ying L, Khatri R, Narayanan A, Mane S, De Kumar B, Wood L, Iacobuzio-Donahue C, Wolfgang C, Kunstman J, Salem R, Farrell J, Ahuja N. Utility of promoter hypermethylation in malignant risk stratification of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. Clinical Epigenetics 2023, 15: 28. PMID: 36803844, PMCID: PMC9942382, DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01429-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPapillary mucinous neoplasmMalignant risk stratificationCACNA1G geneRisk stratificationMucinous neoplasmsBiomarker panelBackgroundIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasmIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasmEarly detectionPrevious case-control studyHigh-grade dysplasiaCase-control studyPancreatic cancer precursorsReceiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysisSignificant diagnostic challengeCross-sectional imagingCharacteristic curve analysisOperating Characteristic curve analysisG geneHigh diagnostic specificityPrior validation studiesSignificant procedural riskIPMN tissuesSurgical resectionAdvanced neoplasiaComparison of Male and Female Surgeons’ Experiences With Gender Across 5 Qualitative/Quantitative Domains
Zogg C, Kandi L, Thomas H, Siki M, Choi A, Guetter C, Smith C, Maduakolam E, Kondle S, Stein S, Shaughnessy E, Ahuja N. Comparison of Male and Female Surgeons’ Experiences With Gender Across 5 Qualitative/Quantitative Domains. JAMA Surgery 2023, 158: e226431. PMID: 36477515, PMCID: PMC9857060, DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2022.6431.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGender-based discriminationCareer aspirationsMentor-mentee relationshipGender-based harassmentImportance of genderMixed-methods surveyBody of literatureHonest discourseGender biasEducation initiativesFemale membersSelf-reported experiencesSelf-reported genderWorkforce diversityProfessional settingsGraduate degreeNegative aspectsAspirationGenderExperienceComparison of MaleMembersDiscourseHarassmentDiscrimination
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 chemotherapyBile acid distributions, sex-specificity, and prognosis in colorectal cancer
Cai Y, Shen X, Lu L, Yan H, Huang H, Gaule P, Muca E, Theriot CM, Rattray Z, Rattray NJW, Lu J, Ahuja N, Zhang Y, Paty PB, Khan SA, Johnson CH. Bile acid distributions, sex-specificity, and prognosis in colorectal cancer. Biology Of Sex Differences 2022, 13: 61. PMID: 36274154, PMCID: PMC9590160, DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00473-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLeft-sided colon tumorsRight-sided colon tumorsColon cancer patientsColorectal cancerTumor locationBile acidsColon tumorsCancer patientsQuantitative immunofluorescencePrimary tumor locationImmune regulatory cellsRecurrence-free survivalBile acid metabolismSecondary bile acidsBile acid distributionBile acid analysisBackgroundBile acidsOverall survivalRegulatory cellsCRC patientsMale patientsPatient sexImmune cellsPatient prognosisImmune responseBenefit of Extended Surveillance of Low-Risk Pancreatic Cysts After 5-Year Stability: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Chhoda A, Singh S, Sheth AH, Grimshaw AA, Gunderson C, Sharma P, Kunstman JW, Sharma A, Ahuja N, Gonda TA, Farrell JJ. Benefit of Extended Surveillance of Low-Risk Pancreatic Cysts After 5-Year Stability: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical Gastroenterology And Hepatology 2022, 21: 1430-1446. PMID: 35568304, DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.04.025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDisease-specific mortalityAdvanced neoplasiaBD-IPMNsExtended surveillancePooled incidenceWorrisome featuresSystematic reviewIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasmHigh-grade dysplasiaPapillary mucinous neoplasmHigh-quality studiesRandom-effects modelWarrants further investigationWeb of ScienceNeoplasia incidenceWarrants further explorationSurvival benefitCochrane LibraryMucinous neoplasmsPancreatic cancerPancreatic cystsSurveillance periodEligible studiesOvid MEDLINELower incidenceEvaluation 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
Pandemic Recovery Using a COVID-Minimal Cancer Surgery Pathway
Boffa DJ, Judson BL, Billingsley KG, Galetta D, Fontanez P, Odermatt C, Lindner K, Mitchell MR, Henderson CM, Carafeno T, Pinto J, Wagner J, Ancuta M, Beley P, Turner AL, Banack T, Laurans MS, Johnson DC, Yoo P, Morton JM, Zurich H, Davis K, Ahuja N. Pandemic Recovery Using a COVID-Minimal Cancer Surgery Pathway. The Annals Of Thoracic Surgery 2020, 110: 718-724. PMID: 32417195, PMCID: PMC7227551, DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.05.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSurgery pathwayHospital-acquired COVID-19 infectionLarge academic medical centerCOVID-19 patientsCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemicCOVID-19 infectionPatient care pathwayAcademic medical centerDisease 2019 pandemicHealth care deliveryOnly surgerySurgery populationElective surgeryPatient survivalRisk of exposureProtection of patientsCare pathwayNosocomial infectionsMedical CenterCare deliverySurgical activityHospitalPatientsSurgeryMost hospitalsUnderstanding the Barriers to Reporting Sexual Harassment in Surgical Training
Freedman-Weiss MR, Chiu AS, Heller DR, Cutler AS, Longo WE, Ahuja N, Yoo PS. Understanding the Barriers to Reporting Sexual Harassment in Surgical Training. Annals Of Surgery 2020, Publish Ahead of Print: &na;. PMID: 30946072, DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000003295.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAssociation 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 outcomeExposing Hidden Targets: Combining epigenetic and immunotherapy to overcome cancer resistance
Olino K, Park T, Ahuja N. Exposing Hidden Targets: Combining epigenetic and immunotherapy to overcome cancer resistance. Seminars In Cancer Biology 2020, 65: 114-122. PMID: 31911188, DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.01.001.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsResponse ratePeripheral T-cell lymphomaTriple-negative breast cancerLarge B-cell lymphomaDurable response rateEffective standard therapyDeath protein 1Solid organ tumorsInhibitory immune receptorsT-cell lymphomaNegative breast cancerB-cell lymphomaAdvanced malignanciesMost patientsStandard therapyClinical efficacyCommon malignancyHepatobiliary cancersTherapeutic optionsNeck cancerOrgan tumorsInitial respondersOvarian cancerProstate cancerBreast cancer
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 levelsPromoter methylation of ADAMTS1 and BNC1 as potential biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer in blood
Eissa MAL, Lerner L, Abdelfatah E, Shankar N, Canner JK, Hasan NM, Yaghoobi V, Huang B, Kerner Z, Takaesu F, Wolfgang C, Kwak R, Ruiz M, Tam M, Pisanic TR, Iacobuzio-Donahue CA, Hruban RH, He J, Wang TH, Wood LD, Sharma A, Ahuja N. Promoter methylation of ADAMTS1 and BNC1 as potential biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer in blood. Clinical Epigenetics 2019, 11: 59. PMID: 30953539, PMCID: PMC6451253, DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0650-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStage IIB diseasePancreatic cancerIIB diseaseStage IIACA 19Stage IBiomarker panelBlood-based biomarker panelPre-operative CA 19Stage I patientsCell-free tumor DNAHigh-risk populationPotential blood biomarkersMost pancreatic cancersBackgroundDespite improvementsCurative resectionSurgical resectionI patientsTwo-gene panelPancreas cancerBlood biomarkersCurative potentialCancer managementAdvanced stageCombination panelNext-generation Sequencing in the Management of Gastric and Esophageal Cancers
Rubinstein JC, Nicolson NG, Ahuja N. Next-generation Sequencing in the Management of Gastric and Esophageal Cancers. Surgical Clinics Of North America 2019, 99: 511-527. PMID: 31047039, DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2019.02.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNext-generation sequencingHigh-throughput sequencing technologyAvailable genomic dataSingle-nucleotide resolutionGenome-wide molecular profilingSpecific oncogenic pathwaysSequencing technologiesGenomic dataOncogenic pathwaysGenomic profilesMolecular profilingSequencingPathwayDifficult disease processManagement of gastricIndividual tumorsOrgan-specific treatmentTumorigenesisAbundanceProfilingCancer careEsophageal malignancyEsophageal cancerImmense potentialDisease processAging-like Spontaneous Epigenetic Silencing Facilitates Wnt Activation, Stemness, and Braf V600E-Induced Tumorigenesis
Tao Y, Kang B, Petkovich DA, Bhandari YR, In J, Stein-O'Brien G, Kong X, Xie W, Zachos N, Maegawa S, Vaidya H, Brown S, Yen R, Shao X, Thakor J, Lu Z, Cai Y, Zhang Y, Mallona I, Peinado MA, Zahnow CA, Ahuja N, Fertig E, Issa JP, Baylin SB, Easwaran H. Aging-like Spontaneous Epigenetic Silencing Facilitates Wnt Activation, Stemness, and Braf V600E-Induced Tumorigenesis. Cancer Cell 2019, 35: 315-328.e6. PMID: 30753828, PMCID: PMC6636642, DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2019.01.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdenocarcinomaAge FactorsAgingAnimalsCell Transformation, NeoplasticColonic NeoplasmsDNA MethylationGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticGene SilencingGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseHumansMice, Inbred NODMice, Mutant StrainsMice, SCIDMutationPhenotypeProto-Oncogene Proteins B-rafStem CellsTime FactorsTissue Culture TechniquesWnt Signaling PathwayConceptsCell fate changesPromoter DNA hypermethylationStem-like stateAging-like phenotypesCpG island methylationFate changesDifferentiation defectsEpigenetic abnormalitiesDNA hypermethylationSimultaneous inactivationWnt pathwayWnt activationPromoter hypermethylationTumorigenesisGenesHypermethylationMethylator phenotypeColon tumorigenesisPhenotypeOrganoidsPrecursor roleCRISPRMethylationSupStemnessOperative 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 groupsA Roadmap for Aspiring Surgeon-Scientists in Today's Healthcare Environment
Goldstein AM, Blair AB, Keswani SG, Gosain A, Morowitz M, Kuo J, Levine M, Ahuja N, Hackam DJ. A Roadmap for Aspiring Surgeon-Scientists in Today's Healthcare Environment. Annals Of Surgery 2019, 269: 66-72. PMID: 29958227, PMCID: PMC6298819, DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000002840.Peer-Reviewed Original Research