Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the development and characterization of patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) models for cancer research. PDX models mostly retain the principal histologic and genetic characteristics of their donor tumor and remain stable across passages. These models have been shown to be predictive of clinical outcomes and are being used for preclinical drug evaluation, biomarker identification, biologic studies, and personalized medicine strategies. This article summarizes the current state of the art in this field, including methodologic issues, available collections, practical applications, challenges and shortcomings, and future directions, and introduces a European consortium of PDX models. Significance: PDX models are increasingly used in translational cancer research. These models are useful for drug screening, biomarker development, and the preclinical evaluation of personalized medicine strategies. This review provides a timely overview of the key characteristics of PDX models and a detailed discussion of future directions in the field. Cancer Discov; 4(9); 998–1013. ©2014 AACR .

https://cancerdiscovery.aacrjournals.org/content/candisc/4/9/998.full.pdf

Patient-derived xenograft models: an emerging platform for translational cancer research.

Meeting Highlights: International Expert Consensus on the Primary Therapy of Early Breast Cancer 2005

노인 통증사정을 위한 한국어 판 Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire [SF-MPQ]의 신뢰도와 타당도

PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors in cancer: At the bench and bedside

Tamoxifen for early breast cancer: An overview of the randomised trials

Pain and insomnia often co-occur and impair the quality of life in cancer survivors. This study evaluated the effect of acupuncture versus cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) on pain severity among cancer survivors with comorbid pain and insomnia. Using data from the CHOICE trial that compared acupuncture versus CBT-I for insomnia among cancer survivors, we analyzed the effect of interventions on pain outcomes in 70 patients with moderate to severe baseline pain. Interventions were delivered over eight weeks. We assessed average pain severity (primary outcome) and pain interference at baseline, week 8, and week 20. We further defined insomnia and pain responders as patients who achieved clinically meaningful improvement in insomnia and pain outcomes, respectively, at week 8. We found that compared with baseline, the between-group difference (-1.0, 95% CI -1.8 to -0.2) was statistically significant favoring acupuncture for reduced pain severity at week 8 (-1.4, 95% CI -2.0 to -0.8) relative to CBT-I (-0.4, 95% CI-1.0 to 0.2). Responder analysis showed that 1) with acupuncture, insomnia responders reported significantly greater pain reduction from baseline to week 4, compared with insomnia non-responders (-1.5, 95% CI -2.7 to -0.3); 2) with CBT-I, pain responders reported significantly greater insomnia reduction at week 8, compared with pain non-responders (-4.7, 95% CI -8.7 to -1.0). These findings suggest that among cancer survivors with comorbid pain and insomnia, acupuncture led to rapid pain reductions, which contributed to a decrease in insomnia, whereas CBT-I had a delayed effect on pain, possibly achieved by insomnia improvement.

Acupuncture versus cognitive behavioral therapy for pain among cancer survivors with insomnia: an exploratory analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

This paper aims to discuss the challenges faced during a pilot study that tested a technology-based cancer pain management program among Asian American survivors of breast cancer and provide directions for future technology-based interventions for racial and ethnic minorities. Data consisting of research diaries and meeting minutes underwent content analysis to extract themes that reflected the challenges. The challenges included those related to (1) diversities within the population of Asian American survivors of breast cancer; (2) survivors' treatment and healing process; (3) Internet resources from the participants' countries of origin; (4) building trust between researchers and participants/gatekeepers; (5) fidelity of the intervention; and (6) cultural sensitivity. Future design and implementation of technology-based programs for racial and ethnic minorities must consider these challenges.

/pdf/challenges-in-a-technology-based-cancer-pain-management-3jzmeca7kn.pdf

Challenges in a Technology-Based Cancer Pain Management Program Among Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors.

1517 Background: When used in the adjuvant setting, aromatase inhibitors (AIs) reduce the incidence of contralateral breast cancer and are therefore under investigation for primary breast cancer pr...

Effect of simvastatin on the pharmacokinetics of anastrozole

Acute myeloid leukemia continues to present formidable treatment challenges as there is not yet a "standard approach" that reliably and safely cures the majority of adults with this disorder. Efforts to better understand the basic cellular and molecular biology of acute myeloid leukemia have unveiled a complicated network of signaling pathways that support the cancer cells. Disrupting the transmission of the cells' survival signals offers appealing targets for drug development. This review will focus on several exciting components of these pathways and the agents targeting these pathways that are entering clinical trials.

New agents in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia: a snapshot of signal transduction modulation.

We have prospectively tested the effects of simvastatin on the pharmacokinetics of anastrozole and on estrogen concentrations in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who were receiving adjuvant anastrozole. Following 14 days of simvastatin, we did not observe a significant change in plasma concentrations of anastrozole or hydroxyanastrozole in nine evaluable women. Likewise, we did not observe any statistically significant change in serum concentrations of either estradiol, which remained in the undetectable range, or estrone sulfate. Simvastatin and anastrozole may be safely co-administered. Pharmacokinetic results suggest that simvastatin is not likely to compromise the activity of anastrozole.

Ting Bao

Papers

Acupuncture versus cognitive behavioral therapy for pain among cancer survivors with insomnia: an exploratory analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

Challenges in a Technology-Based Cancer Pain Management Program Among Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors.

Effect of simvastatin on the pharmacokinetics of anastrozole

New agents in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia: a snapshot of signal transduction modulation.

Effect of simvastatin on the pharmacokinetics of anastrozole.