ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5263-8925
Current Organisations
Teesside University
,
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
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Publisher: CRC Press
Date: 06-07-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-08-2013
DOI: 10.1007/S00520-012-1569-6
Abstract: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive and symptomatic disease. We examined the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and inflammatory markers, and the prognostic role of HRQoL in MPM patients. MPM patients from two parallel phase II studies (thalidomide alone or thalidomide with chemotherapy) were included. HRQoL was assessed at baseline using the modified Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS). Baseline inflammatory markers and cytokines were measured. Spearman correlation was used to examine the relationship between inflammatory markers and HRQoL measures. The prognostic value of the HRQoL domains was examined using Cox proportional hazard model. Sixty-three patients were included: median age 61 years (range 44-79) 82% male 77% Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1 44% epithelial histology subtype. Baseline systemic symptoms of anorexia and fatigue, the summation symptoms of overall symptomatic distress, interference with normal activity and global QoL and the aggregate score of total LCSS score were all associated with elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein and vascular endothelial growth factor levels at baseline (rho ≥ 0.25 p < 0.05). Baseline anorexia, fatigue, cough, dyspnoea, pain, overall symptomatic distress, interference with normal activity, global QoL and total LCSS score were all significantly related to survival (p < 0.05) after adjusting for established prognostic factors (age, gender, histological subtype and performance status) and treatment effect. In conclusion, HRQoL seems to relate to a patient's systemic inflammatory status and is associated with survival in MPM patients.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-12-2013
DOI: 10.1245/S10434-012-2778-4
Abstract: Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes up to 70 % of oropharyngeal cancers (OSCC). HPV positive OSCC has a more favorable outcome, thus HPV status is being used to guide treatment and predict outcome. Combination HPV DNA 16(ink4) (p16) testing is commonly used for HPV status, but there are no standardized methods, scoring or interpretative criteria. The significance of discordant (HPV DNA positive 16 negative and HPV DNA negative 16 positive) cancers is controversial. In this study, 647 OSCCs from 10 Australian centers were tested for HPV DNA 16 expression. Our aims are to determine p16 distribution by HPV DNA status to inform decisions on p16 scoring and to assess clinical significance of discordant cancers. HPV DNA was identified using a multiplex tandem HPV E6 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and p16 expression by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry. p16 distribution was essentially bimodal (42 % of cancers had ≥ 70 % positive staining, 52 % <5 % positive, 6 % between 5 and 70 %). Cancers with 5 to <50 % staining had similar characteristics to the p16 negative group, and cancers with 50 to <70 % staining were consistent with the ≥ 70 % group. Using a p16 cut-point of 50 %, there were 25 % HPV DNA positive 16 negative cancers and 1 % HPV DNA negative 16 positive cancers. HPV DNA positive 16 negative cancers had outcomes similar to HPV DNA negative 16 negative cancers. 50 % is a reasonable cut-point for p16 HPV DNA positive 16 negative OSCCs may be treated as HPV negative for clinical purposes HPV DNA 16 testing may add no prognostic information over p16 alone.
Publisher: IJSER Publishing
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.14299/000000
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 29-12-2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2022
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-12-2013
DOI: 10.1002/IJC.27956
Abstract: It is now clear that the two separate entitles of tonsillar cancer, HPV induced and non-HPV induced (smoking induced), have significantly different presenting stage and outcomes. A significant proportion of patients with human papillomavirus positive tonsillar cancer have had exposure to smoking. We examined the combined effect of human papillomavirus and smoking on the outcomes and determined whether smoking can modify the beneficial effect of human papillomavirus. A total of 403 patients from nine centers were followed up for recurrence or death for a median of 38 months. Determinants of the rate of loco-regional recurrence, death from tonsillar cancer and overall survival were modeled using Cox regression. Smoking status was a significant predictor of overall survival (p = 0.04). There were nonstatistically significant trends favoring never smokers for loco-regional recurrence and disease specific survival. In addition, there was no statistically significant interactions between smoking and human papillomavirus (p-values for the interaction were 0.26 for loco-regional recurrence, 0.97 for disease specific survival and 0.73 for overall survival). The effect of smoking on loco-regional recurrence and disease specific survival outcomes was not statistically significant, nor was there significant evidence that the effect of smoking status on these outcomes was modified by HPV status. Irrespective of HPV status, however, smokers did have poorer overall survival than never-smokers, presumably due to effects of smoking that are unrelated to the primary cancer.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-09-2012
DOI: 10.1111/J.1445-2197.2012.06254.X
Abstract: Delays in commencing adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer beyond 12 weeks are associated with increased mortality. The aim of this study was to identify factors delaying chemotherapy in an inner metropolitan, outer metropolitan, small rural and large rural cancer centre in New South Wales, Australia. We retrospectively reviewed 400 consecutive patients that received adjuvant chemotherapy for stages I-III breast cancer. We evaluated factors affecting time from primary and definitive surgery until commencing chemotherapy. The primary factor associated with chemotherapy delays was the geographic location of the cancer centre. The median time from primary surgery to chemotherapy was longer for the large rural centre (median 58 days), compared with the outer metropolitan (45 days), small rural (39 days) and inner metropolitan centre (33 days). Treatment delays in the large rural centre were associated with higher rates of multiple operations (43% versus 31% elsewhere), mainly because of more staged axillary dissections (34% versus 19%), and longer time from definitive surgery to oncology assessment. Patients in the large rural centre, who are served by fly-in medical oncology services, are more likely to experience delays in receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer. Strategies to reduce delays include use of intraoperative frozen section analysis, multidisciplinary meetings, improving efficiency in pathology reporting and employment of a breast cancer care coordinator and an on-site medical oncologist.
Publisher: IJSER Publishing
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.14299/000000
Publisher: Science and Education Publishing Co., Ltd.
Date: 15-07-2013
DOI: 10.12691/AJCEA-1-5-3
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-10-2019
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 20-07-2010
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2009
Publisher: University of Zielona Góra, Poland
Date: 12-06-2015
Abstract: Low income community development is the prerequisite for the overall development of a society. There are different kinds of parameters to widen community development, such as health, economic, social, a living pattern, etc. Sanitation condition is the crucial aspect that is directly or indirectly inter bond with all the parameters. To see the exact reasons behind brutal unhygienic sanitation conditions of water supply and latrine system in a low cost community, the Chittagong City Corporation area has been picked. Relevant data have been collected from field survey, consultancy with inhabitants, Chittagong City Corporation, Power Development Board, and WASA. To know the possible reasons behind the water supply and germ-infested sanitation, state of a low cost community, this paper attempts to shed some light on the tribulations behind the scarcity of safe drinking water, dirt free as well as sustainable latrine and drainage system and offensive water management.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2013
Abstract: Despite the association with more advanced nodal stage, patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) positive oropharyngeal cancers have better outcomes. We examined whether the HPV can modify the effect of known prognostic factors in tonsillar cancer. A total of 489 patients from 10 centres were followed up for recurrence or death for a median of 3.2 years. Determinants of the rate of locoregional recurrence, death from tonsillar cancer and overall survival were modelled using Cox regression. The prognostic value of T and N stages were modified by HPV as indicated by statistically significant interaction terms. After adjusting for age, gender and treatment, T stage appeared relevant only for HPV-positive cancers (where a higher T stage was associated with worse outcomes). There was some evidence that N stage was a more relevant prognostic factor for HPV-negative than -positive cancers. There was no evidence that the HPV modifies the effect of age, gender or grade on outcomes. This study suggests that the prognostic significance of the conventional staging system in tonsillar cancer is modified by HPV.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: Bangladesh
Location: United States of America
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Start Date: 2019
End Date: 2023
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2018
End Date: 2020
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity