Survival of gastrointestinal and stromal tumor patients at UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Objective. Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract with spindled cell, epithelioid, or occasionally pleomorphic morphology. The primary objective of this paper is to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics and survival among GIST patients registered at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). ^ Methods. This cohort study includes 783 consecutive patients diagnosed with GIST from 1995 to 2007. Demographic, clinical and survival information were obtained from the MDACC cancer registry. ^ Statistical Analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis were conducted to estimate survival and identify prognostic clinical factors associated with survival. Results. The age at diagnosis of MDACC GIST cases ranged from 17 to 91 with a mean of 57 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. The racial distribution was whites 77%, African-Americans 9.5%, Hispanics 9.3% and other races 4.2%. Fifty per cent of the GISTs arose from stomach, 35% small intestine, 7% retroperitoneal space, 6% colorectal and 2% were omentum and mesentery. About half of the tumors were less than 10 cm in size. Fifty eight per cent of the tumors were localized whereas 36% were metastatic. MDACC GIST patients were generally comparable to SEER patients, but, on the average, were 7 years younger than SEER patients and were predominantly whites. ^ Stratification of 783 GIST cases by year of diagnosis based on the introduction of imatinib treatment in 2000 revealed that 60% of the GIST cases were first diagnosed between 2000 and 2007 whereas, 40% were first diagnosed between 1995 and 1999. There was a significant difference between the two cohorts in the distribution of race, GIST symptom, tumor size, tumor site, and stage of the tumor at diagnosis. The 1- and 5-year survival was 93% and 59% in the 1995–2007 cohort. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified age at diagnosis (p<0.001), female sex (p=0.047), tumor size (p=0.07), multiple cancers (p=0.002), and GIST diagnosed between 2000 and 2007 (p<0.001) were significantly associated with survival. Approximately, 58% of the cases were treated with imatinib whereas 42% did not receive imatinib in 2000–2005 cohort. There was a significant difference in survival between imatinib and non-imatinib groups and in the distribution of tumor size categories, stage of the tumor at diagnosis and cancers before the diagnosis of GIST. The 1- and 5-year survival for imatinib patients was 99% and 73% and was 91% and 63% for non-imatinib patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis of the 2000–2007 cohort identified, age at diagnosis and tumor stage as possible prognostic factors associated with survival.^

Evaluation of epidemiological and clinical factors in survival of patients with de novo myelodysplastic syndrome at the University of Texas MD Anderson cancer center

Little is known about epidemiological markers that are associated with survival of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We conducted a secondary case-based analysis of 465 de novo MDS patients from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC). We investigated the association between demographic as well as occupational exposure markers and survival while incorporating known clinical markers of prognosis. In our patient population, 60.6% were men and the majority were white (93.1%). The distribution of MDS subtypes by the French–American–British (FAB) classification was 81 (19%) refractory anemia (RA), 46 (9.9%) refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS), 57 (12.3%) chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), 173 (37.2%) RA with excess blasts (RAEB), and 86 (18.5%) RAEB in transformation (RAEBT). We found that those older at diagnosis (> 60 years of age) (HR = 1.68, CI = 1.26-2.25) were at a higher risk of dying compared to younger patients. Similarly, high pack years of smoking (>= 30 pack years of smoking) (HR = 1.34, CI = 1.02-1.74), and agricultural chemical exposure (HR = 1.61, CI = 1.05-2.46) were significantly associated with overall lower survival when compared to patients with none or medium exposures. Among clinical markers, greater than 5% bone marrow blasts (HR = 1.81 CI = 1.27-2.56), poor cytogenetics (HR = 3.20, CI = 2.37-4.33)), and platelet cytopenias (<100000/ul) (HR = 1.46, CI = 1.11-1.92) were also significantly associated with overall MDS survival.^ The identification of epidemiological markers could help physicians stratify patients and customize treatment strategies to improve the outcome of MDS based on patient lifestyle information such as smoking exposure and agrochemical exposure. We hope that this study highlights the impact of these exposures in MDS prognosis.^

ACCURACY OF THE BRCAPRO RISK ASSESSMENT MODEL IN MALES PRESENTING TO MD ANDERSON FOR BRCA TESTING

ACCURACY OF THE BRCAPRO RISK ASSESSMENT MODEL IN MALES PRESENTING TO MD ANDERSON FOR BRCA TESTING Publication No. _______ Carolyn A. Garby, B.S. Supervisory Professor: Banu Arun, M.D. Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome is due to mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Women with HBOC have high risks to develop breast and ovarian cancers. Males with HBOC are commonly overlooked because male breast cancer is rare and other male cancer risks such as prostate and pancreatic cancers are relatively low. BRCA genetic testing is indicated for men as it is currently estimated that 4-40% of male breast cancers result from a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation (Ottini, 2010) and management recommendations can be made based on genetic test results. Risk assessment models are available to provide the individualized likelihood to have a BRCA mutation. Only one study has been conducted to date to evaluate the accuracy of BRCAPro in males and was based on a cohort of Italian males and utilized an older version of BRCAPro. The objective of this study is to determine if BRCAPro5.1 is a valid risk assessment model for males who present to MD Anderson Cancer Center for BRCA genetic testing. BRCAPro has been previously validated for determining the probability of carrying a BRCA mutation, however has not been further examined particularly in males. The total cohort consisted of 152 males who had undergone BRCA genetic testing. The cohort was stratified by indication for genetic counseling. Indications included having a known familial BRCA mutation, having a personal diagnosis of a BRCA-related cancer, or having a family history suggestive of HBOC. Overall there were 22 (14.47%) BRCA1+ males and 25 (16.45%) BRCA2+ males. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed for the cohort overall, for each particular indication, as well as for each cancer subtype. Our findings revealed that the BRCAPro5.1 model had perfect discriminating ability at a threshold of 56.2 for males with breast cancer, however only 2 (4.35%) of 46 were found to have BRCA2 mutations. These results are significantly lower than the high approximation (40%) reported in previous literature. BRCAPro does perform well in certain situations for men. Future investigation of male breast cancer and men at risk for BRCA mutations is necessary to provide a more accurate risk assessment.

(Reseña sobre) Vicente Blasco Ibáñez: An Annotated Bibliography 1975-2002, de Christopher L. Anderson y Paul C. Smith

Fil: Contreras, María de los Angeles. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina.

(Reseña sobre) Vicente Blasco Ibáñez: An Annotated Bibliography 1975-2002, de Christopher L. Anderson y Paul C. Smith

Fil: Contreras, María de los Angeles. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina.

(Reseña sobre) Vicente Blasco Ibáñez: An Annotated Bibliography 1975-2002, de Christopher L. Anderson y Paul C. Smith

Fil: Contreras, María de los Angeles. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina.

(Table 1) Comparison of localities where Switzianthus (Anderson & Anderson) has been found with Dejerseya and Heidiphyllum occurrence

Fossil leaves of the Voltziales, an ancestral group of conifers, rank among the most common plant fossils in the Triassic of Gondwana. Even though the foliage taxon Heidiphyllum has been known for more than 150 years, our knowledge of the reproductive organs of these conifers still remains very incomplete. Seed cones assigned to Telemachus have become increasingly well understood in recent decades, but the pollen cones belonging to these Mesozoic conifers are rare. In this contribution we describe the first compression material of a voltzialean pollen cone from Upper Triassic strata of the Transantarctic Mountains. The cone can be assigned to Switzianthus Anderson & Anderson, a genus that was previously assumed to belong to an enigmatic group of pteridosperms from the Triassic Molteno Formation of South Africa. The similarities of cuticle and pollen morphology, together with co-occurrence at all known localities, indicate that Switzianthus most probably represents the pollen organ of the ubiquitous Heidiphyllum/Telemachus plant.

1951 Harlene Anderson

1951-1952 Miss Homecoming

O MOVIMENTO DIRETAS JÁ PELA ÓTICA DE JANIO DE FREITAS NA FOLHA DE S.PAULO

O presente trabalho verificou como o jornalismo pode ser parceiro e fonte para a história por meio da reprodução e análise dos fatos político-econômicos brasileiros nas páginas dos jornais impressos diários. Nessa perspectiva, as colunas escritas nos últimos 25 anos (1983-2009) por Janio de Freitas, no jornal Folha de S.Paulo, significam interpretação e análise dessa história. Trata-se, portanto, de uma pesquisa qualitativa e está ancorada nos Estudos Culturais. O corpus desta pesquisa é composto de um recorte de 47 comentários sobre as Diretas Já , de janeiro até abril de 1984, período em que ocorreram as principais mobilizações da sociedade civil pela eleição direta para a Presidência da República e culminou com a votação e a rejeição da emenda Dante de Oliveira pelo Congresso Nacional. No desenvolvimento do trabalho foram utilizadas as ferramentas da Análise de Conteúdo a partir das categorias analíticas criadas Personagens, Votação da Emenda Dante de Oliveira e Movimento Diretas Já nas ruas , para descrever o conteúdo textual das colunas. Para que se pudesse efetuar uma análise aprofundada do corpus da pesquisa foi utilizado o referencial teórico da ACD Análise Crítica do Discurso em nove das 47 colunas selecionadas. O critério de escolha para essas colunas foi a identificação daquelas que no título já traziam uma referência explícita à Campanha pelas Diretas Já , Às mobilizações nas ruas , A votação da emenda Dante de Oliveira , Ao processo de sucessão presidencial ou as que tinham o seu conteúdo integral sobre um dos temas. Este estudo constata a hipótese de que o jornalista é um historiador do cotidiano e que é possível fazer uma leitura da história da Campanha das Diretas Já por meio das colunas de Janio de Freitas. Ao tecer em suas colunas o cenário da época, desnuda para a história e para os historiadores o xadrez político personagens, acordos políticos, votação da emenda e a campanha nas ruas que envolveu o processo. Dessa forma, a partir de suas lentes, oferece elementos para a construção da memória coletiva sobre esse período da história brasileira.(AU)

O MOVIMENTO DIRETAS JÁ PELA ÓTICA DE JANIO DE FREITAS NA FOLHA DE S.PAULO

O presente trabalho verificou como o jornalismo pode ser parceiro e fonte para a história por meio da reprodução e análise dos fatos político-econômicos brasileiros nas páginas dos jornais impressos diários. Nessa perspectiva, as colunas escritas nos últimos 25 anos (1983-2009) por Janio de Freitas, no jornal Folha de S.Paulo, significam interpretação e análise dessa história. Trata-se, portanto, de uma pesquisa qualitativa e está ancorada nos Estudos Culturais. O corpus desta pesquisa é composto de um recorte de 47 comentários sobre as Diretas Já , de janeiro até abril de 1984, período em que ocorreram as principais mobilizações da sociedade civil pela eleição direta para a Presidência da República e culminou com a votação e a rejeição da emenda Dante de Oliveira pelo Congresso Nacional. No desenvolvimento do trabalho foram utilizadas as ferramentas da Análise de Conteúdo a partir das categorias analíticas criadas Personagens, Votação da Emenda Dante de Oliveira e Movimento Diretas Já nas ruas , para descrever o conteúdo textual das colunas. Para que se pudesse efetuar uma análise aprofundada do corpus da pesquisa foi utilizado o referencial teórico da ACD Análise Crítica do Discurso em nove das 47 colunas selecionadas. O critério de escolha para essas colunas foi a identificação daquelas que no título já traziam uma referência explícita à Campanha pelas Diretas Já , Às mobilizações nas ruas , A votação da emenda Dante de Oliveira , Ao processo de sucessão presidencial ou as que tinham o seu conteúdo integral sobre um dos temas. Este estudo constata a hipótese de que o jornalista é um historiador do cotidiano e que é possível fazer uma leitura da história da Campanha das Diretas Já por meio das colunas de Janio de Freitas. Ao tecer em suas colunas o cenário da época, desnuda para a história e para os historiadores o xadrez político personagens, acordos políticos, votação da emenda e a campanha nas ruas que envolveu o processo. Dessa forma, a partir de suas lentes, oferece elementos para a construção da memória coletiva sobre esse período da história brasileira.(AU)