2020
Exposing 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 StatementsMeSH KeywordsAntineoplastic AgentsB7-H1 AntigenCombined Modality TherapyCTLA-4 AntigenEpigenesis, GeneticEpigenetic RepressionHumansImmunotherapyNeoplasmsProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorConceptsResponse 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
2018
Trends 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 databaseExtraskeletal versus Skeletal Ewing Sarcoma in the adult population: Controversies in care
Lynch AD, Gani F, Meyer CF, Morris CD, Ahuja N, Johnston FM. Extraskeletal versus Skeletal Ewing Sarcoma in the adult population: Controversies in care. Surgical Oncology 2018, 27: 373-379. PMID: 30217290, DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2018.05.016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultBone NeoplasmsCombined Modality TherapyFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMuscle, SkeletalPrognosisRetrospective StudiesSarcoma, EwingSurvival RateConceptsExtraskeletal Ewing's sarcomaCharlson-Deyo scoreOverall survivalTriple therapyCombination therapyLocal therapyEwing's sarcomaProportional hazards regression analysisHazards regression analysisSkeletal Ewing sarcomaEwing's sarcoma patientsAdult patientsIndependent predictorsEE patientsSarcoma patientsRisk factorsTreatment characteristicsSmall tumorsOutcome differencesPatientsTherapyAdult populationLack of consensusChemotherapyRegression analysis
2017
Long‐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 model
2016
Predictors of improved survival for patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma
Giuliano K, Nagarajan N, Canner JK, Wolfgang CL, Bivalacqua T, Terezakis S, Herman J, Schneider EB, Ahuja N. Predictors of improved survival for patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma. Surgery 2016, 160: 1628-1635. PMID: 27495850, DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2016.05.041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRetroperitoneal sarcomaMultivariable survival analysisSurvival analysisRetroperitoneal sarcoma patientsEnd Results (SEER) databaseOperative resectionImproved survivalLymph nodesSurvival benefitDistant metastasisHistologic typeResults databaseSarcoma patientsRare tumorCancer DatabaseLonger survivalPatientsSarcomaSurvivalParametric survival functionsLocal extensionFurther studiesHigh rateResectionRecurrenceCombining Epigenetic and Immunotherapy to Combat Cancer
Chiappinelli KB, Zahnow CA, Ahuja N, Baylin SB. Combining Epigenetic and Immunotherapy to Combat Cancer. Cancer Research 2016, 76: 1683-1689. PMID: 26988985, PMCID: PMC4873370, DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-2125.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune checkpoint inhibitor efficacyCheckpoint inhibitor efficacyImmune checkpoint blockadeCurrent clinical trialsT-cell attractionException of melanomaAdvanced human cancersCancer management strategiesEpithelial cancer cellsCheckpoint blockadeMost patientsCombination therapyCancer testisClinical trialsDNA methyltransferase inhibitorMouse modelInhibitor efficacyImmune signalingCancer cellsHuman cancersMethyltransferase inhibitorEpigenetic drugsDemethylating agentExciting recent advancesEndogenous retrovirusesEpigenetic Therapeutics: A New Weapon in the War Against Cancer
Ahuja N, Sharma AR, Baylin SB. Epigenetic Therapeutics: A New Weapon in the War Against Cancer. Annual Review Of Medicine 2016, 67: 73-89. PMID: 26768237, PMCID: PMC4937439, DOI: 10.1146/annurev-med-111314-035900.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEpigenetic therapyPrimary base sequenceNucleosome positioningEpigenetic regulationCellular regulationHeritable patternsEpigenetic mechanismsDNA methylationExplosion of discoveriesGene expressionCancer initiationBase sequenceEpigenomeRegulationFrequent mutationsGenetic abnormalitiesNormal maturationTumor cellsPotent toolChromatinCellsNeoplastic cellsGenesMethylationProtein
2015
Personalized Approaches to Gastrointestinal Cancers Importance of Integrating Genomic Information to Guide Therapy
He J, Ahuja N. Personalized Approaches to Gastrointestinal Cancers Importance of Integrating Genomic Information to Guide Therapy. Surgical Clinics Of North America 2015, 95: 1081-1094. PMID: 26315525, DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2015.05.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBiomarkers, TumorCombined Modality TherapyGastrointestinal NeoplasmsGenetic TestingGenomicsGenotypeHumansPhenotypePrecision MedicinePrognosisConceptsGenetic testingPersonalized approachHigh-risk family membersCancer prevention strategiesComplex tumor heterogeneityTherapeutic decision makingProphylactic surgeryClinical trialsPrevention strategiesCancer behaviorGermline mutationsSuch personalized approachesTumor heterogeneityPatientsTherapyFamily membersBiopsySurgeryCancerCliniciansDifferent groupsTrials
2014
The Impact of Postoperative Complications on the Administration of Adjuvant Therapy Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Adenocarcinoma
Wu W, He J, Cameron JL, Makary M, Soares K, Ahuja N, Rezaee N, Herman J, Zheng L, Laheru D, Choti MA, Hruban RH, Pawlik TM, Wolfgang CL, Weiss MJ. The Impact of Postoperative Complications on the Administration of Adjuvant Therapy Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Adenocarcinoma. Annals Of Surgical Oncology 2014, 21: 2873-2881. PMID: 24770680, PMCID: PMC4454347, DOI: 10.1245/s10434-014-3722-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdenocarcinomaAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsChemotherapy, AdjuvantCombined Modality TherapyFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm StagingPancreatic NeoplasmsPancreaticoduodenectomyPostoperative ComplicationsPrognosisRadiotherapy, AdjuvantRetrospective StudiesSurvival RateConceptsAdjuvant therapyPostoperative complicationsMedian survivalMultivariate analysisClavien-Dindo complication gradeTherapy warrants further investigationMultimodality adjuvant therapyOverall complication rateMethodsA retrospective reviewGrade of complicationsLonger median survivalLength of stayWarrants further investigationAdjuvant chemotherapyMedian TTANeoadjuvant approachComplication gradeComplication rateSevere complicationsRetrospective reviewClinicopathological dataResultsA totalPancreaticoduodenectomyRadiation therapyComplications
2008
Management of Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Hueman MT, Thornton K, Herman JM, Ahuja N. Management of Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcomas. Surgical Clinics Of North America 2008, 88: 539-557. PMID: 18514697, DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2008.04.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsChemotherapy, AdjuvantCombined Modality TherapyHumansNeoadjuvant TherapyNeoplasm StagingPlastic Surgery ProceduresSarcomaManagement of Retroperitoneal Sarcomas
Hueman MT, Herman JM, Ahuja N. Management of Retroperitoneal Sarcomas. Surgical Clinics Of North America 2008, 88: 583-597. PMID: 18514700, DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2008.03.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsCombined Modality TherapyHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalNeoplasm StagingRetroperitoneal NeoplasmsSarcomaTomography, X-Ray ComputedConceptsRetroperitoneal sarcomaLocal recurrenceMorbidity of therapyDistant metastatic diseaseAggressive surgical approachCurative treatment optionManagement of patientsHigh-grade lesionsMetastatic diseaseSurgical therapyTherapeutic challengeSurgical approachTreatment optionsExtent of invasionDisease controlSarcomaCommon typePatientsRecurrenceTherapyMorbidityLesionsManagementDiseaseDiagnosis
2007
The role of radiation in retroperitoneal sarcomas: a surgical perspective
Pawlik TM, Ahuja N, Herman JM. The role of radiation in retroperitoneal sarcomas: a surgical perspective. Current Opinion In Oncology 2007, 19: 359-366. PMID: 17545800, DOI: 10.1097/cco.0b013e328122d757.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsChemotherapy, AdjuvantCombined Modality TherapyHumansIntraoperative CarePreoperative CareRetroperitoneal NeoplasmsSarcomaConceptsExternal beam radiation therapyBeam radiation therapyIntraoperative radiation therapyLocal recurrence rateRadiation therapyRetroperitoneal sarcomaRecurrence rateAdjuvant external beam radiation therapyLocal recurrence-free survivalPreoperative external beam radiation therapyRadiation-related morbidityRetroperitoneal sarcoma patientsLocal control rateLocal-regional controlPreoperative radiation therapyRecurrence-free survivalTiming of administrationSurgical patientsTumor resectabilitySarcoma patientsTechniques of deliveryControl rateSurgical perspectiveAdditional toxicityRecent studies