2021 at the OSUCCC – James: Another step toward a cancer-free world
The second year of the pandemic was a challenge for people around the world, especially health care workers. But while COVID-19 changed the way research and care were conducted at the OSUCCC – James, faculty and staff adapted to the changes and broke new ground in research-based cancer care. Here are some of the cancer program’s most impactful studies or innovations of 2021:
Study seeks to understand effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients, survivors
OSUCCC – James researchers’ role in the global effort to understand COVID-19 includes a study aimed at evaluating how the coronavirus impacts the immune system of cancer patients. The study is expected to advance the scientific community’s overall knowledge of how effective the vaccine is for preventing COVID-19 infection, whether the vaccine is less effective in cancer patients receiving certain therapies, and how long the immunity lasts. Co-principal investigators (PIs) are Peter Shields, MD (right), deputy director of the OSUCCC – James, and Zihai Li, MD, PhD (left), founding director of the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology.
Tool for colorectal cancer screening could reduce interval colorectal cancer rates by over 40%
The Ohio State University was the first academic medical center in the United States to utilize a new computer-aided system for screening colonoscopy in patients undergoing testing. Ohio State gastrointestinal cancer experts say the introduction of this U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved technology represents a major leap forward in the early detection of colorectal cancer. Previously published peer-reviewed medical studies suggest that this tool increases precancerous polyp (adenoma) detection rates by 14%, potentially leading to a 42% reduction in colorectal cancers. Peter Stanich, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Ohio State and a gastroenterologist at the OSUCCC – James and the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, says identifying and addressing polyps before they become cancerous will help reduce the cancer burden through prevention.
Study: Tailored mobile messaging curbs young adult waterpipe tobacco use by 49%
Tailored mobile messaging is an effective intervention strategy to reduce tobacco waterpipe smoking in young adults, according to a study published by researchers with the Center for Tobacco Research at the OSUCCC – James. Researchers reported their findings in the American Journal of Public Health. They say it was the first study to demonstrate the effectiveness of a tailored mobile messaging intervention to support smoking cessation in youth tobacco hookah users. Darren Mays, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, was the PI.
New cosmetic surgery improving outcomes for breast cancer patients at Ohio State
The goal of a new surgical technique available through an Ohio State clinical trial is to preserve the blood supply to skin flaps and the nipple areolar complex to give women better cosmetic outcomes without compromising cancer control. The procedure is performed through a small incision with a robotic camera and small instruments attached to a robotic arm, which is controlled by a surgeon at the console. The clinical trial on this approach is led by Ko Un (Clara) Park, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James. Park specializes in breast cancer surgery and oncoplastic surgery.
Most U.S. adults fall short of cancer-prevention dietary guidelines
The majority of American adults have a dietary pattern that falls short of meeting national dietary guidelines for cancer prevention, a new study showed. When researchers analyzed the dietary intake of more than 30,000 American adults according to body mass index (BMI), the results also showed that people with BMIs in the obese range were the least likely to adhere to dietary recommendations designed to reduce cancer risk. The study was published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Senior author was Colleen Spees, PhD, MEd, RDN, associate professor in the College of Medicine, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Ohio State, and member of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program at the OSUCCC – James.
Finding a way to stop chemotherapy from damaging the heart
Research suggests an intervention could be on the horizon to help prevent heart damage caused by the common chemotherapy drug doxorubicin. OSUCCC – James scientists found that this drug, used to treat many types of solid tumors and blood cancers, can enter heart cells by latching onto a protein that functions as a transporter to move a drug from the blood into heart cells. But by introducing another anticancer drug in advance of chemotherapy, the researchers blocked the transporter protein, stopping the delivery of doxorubicin to those cardiac cells. The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. First author was Kevin Huang, PhD, who worked in the lab of senior study authors Shuiying Hu, PhD (left), and Alex Sparreboom, PhD (right), both of the College of Pharmacy at Ohio State and the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James.
Targeted RNA nanoparticle shows early promise as treatment for liver cancer
A new targeted RNA nanoparticle designed to carry a chemotherapy drug along with a therapeutic oligonucleotide against chemical efflux gene might provide an effective treatment for liver cancer, according to a study led by researchers at the OSUCCC – James. Published in the Journal of Controlled Release, the study showed that the RNA nanoparticles, which carry a chemotherapeutic drug called paclitaxel, efficiently target hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, a type of liver cancer) cells and are stable, safe and effective both in laboratory and animal studies. Study leader and corresponding author was Peixuan Guo, PhD, a professor in Ohio State’s College of Pharmacy and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James.
COVID booster shots likely provide increased, broad protection against Omicron variant in patients with cancer
Data showed that booster vaccine doses provide stronger and broader protection for patients with cancer against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and its highly transmissible variant, Omicron. This protection is consistent for patients with solid tumors, regardless of treatment status. Researchers at the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine and the OSUCCC – James reported that the two-shot mRNA vaccination regimen against COVID-19 is “woefully inadequate” to provide durable protection in immunecompromised patients, and they urged cancer patients to get booster shots as soon as they are eligible. The study was published in the journal Cancer Cell. Senior co-authors were Zihai Li, MD, PhD (left), founding director of the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, Peter Shields, MD (center), deputy director of the OSUCCC – James, and Shan-Lu Liu, MD, PhD (right), professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences and associate director of Ohio State’s Center for Retrovirus Research.
Immunotherapy drug effective for treating advanced endometrial cancer
A cancer immunotherapy drug currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat several forms of cancer is also effective for treating aggressive forms of endometrial (uterine) cancer, according to results from an international phase II clinical trial led by researchers at the OSUCCC – James. Researchers enrolled 90 women with recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer to determine whether the drug pembrolizumab (marketed as Keytruda) could effectively treat this subset of patients with mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) tumors. David O’Malley, MD, director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, was lead author of the study, which involved patients treated at 38 hospitals in 15 countries. Study results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
NASA will apply OSUCCC – James biodosimetry technology to space exploration
A miRNA-based biodosimetry test devised by OSUCCC – James researchers to quickly diagnose radiation sickness will help scientists and technology developers at NASA pursue new capabilities for deep space human exploration. The original study on the biodosimetry testing method, published in 2020 in the journal Science Translational Medicine, reported that it has the potential to rapidly identify radiation sickness based on biomarkers measured through a drop of blood – a test that could save lives through early identification of the condition and subsequent clinical interventions. In September 2021, NASA selected 10 proposals led by employees at the agency for two-year projects that will support development of space exploration capabilities under Project Polaris, an initiative to support the NASA workforce in efforts to meet the challenges of sending humans to the moon and Mars. One of the projects will use the biodosimetry technology developed at Ohio State. The original study was led by Naduparambil Jacob, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James. In November 2021 Jacob and colleagues published a follow-up article on their work in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics.
Studies provide evidence for updated USPSTF lung cancer screening guidelines
Two studies published by investigators at The Ohio State University and the University of North Carolina (UNC) Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center provided important evidence review and predictive modeling data to inform updated lung cancer screening guidelines implemented by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The studies and screening guidelines were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In these studies, Daniel Jonas, MD, MPH, director of the Division of General Internal Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine at Ohio State, and former colleagues at UNC did a comprehensive review of clinical trial registry data and peer-reviewed publications from the past 20 years to look at overall lung cancer incidence, lung cancer mortality, allcause mortality, test accuracy and harms.
Genomic study points to new treatment approaches for advanced small-cell lung cancer
A study of advanced small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) led by researchers at the OSUCCC – James identified molecular patterns linked to patients developing resistance to certain therapies. Published in the journal JTO Clinical and Research Reports, the study examined more than 60 tumors from five patients. OSUCCC – James researchers identified distinct mutational and molecular changes in four SCLC subtypes. The findings give insights into the patterns’ treatment resistance and could offer new targets for developing more effective immunotherapy and other therapies for advanced SCLC, which advances quickly and is usually fatal. Principal investigator was Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James.
CDK inhibitors might improve immune therapy effectiveness for recurrent breast cancer
A class of drugs that inhibits breast cancer progression when used with hormonal therapy might also boost the effectiveness of immune therapy in cases of recurrent, metastatic breast cancer, according to a study led by researchers at the OSUCCC – James. Published in the journal Cell Reports, the findings of this animal study suggest that drugs called CDK4 and CDK6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors might improve the effectiveness of immune therapies for metastatic, estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. Principal investigator was Anna Vilgelm, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pathology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James.
Study shows ibrutinib effective for difficult-to-treat forms of hairy cell leukemia
A study by researchers at the OSUCCC – James indicates that the oral targeted therapy drug ibrutinib is an effective treatment option for patients with high-risk hairy cell leukemia (HCL). HCL is a rare B-cell blood cancer diagnosed in 600 to 800 people annually in the United States. While HCL generally has a good prognosis, a small group of patients who have variants of the disease don’t respond well to FDA-approved therapies or can’t tolerate the side effects. Kerry Rogers, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology at Ohio State and member of the Leukemia Research Program at the OSUCCC – James, was principal investigator of the clinical trial. The study was published in the journal Blood.
Study: Checkpoint inhibitors show promise in treating recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer
An international phase II clinical trial led by researchers at the OSUCCC – James has demonstrated that an anti-PD-1 antibody called balstilimab produces significant and durable clinical activity with management safety in patients with previously treated recurrent and/or metastatic cervical cancer. David O’Malley, MD, director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, was principal investigator for the study and first author of an article about the findings published in the journal Gynecologic Oncology.
Research autopsy helps scientists study why certain cancer therapies stop working
A research study at the OSUCCC – James turns cancer scientists into molecular detectives who examine tissue collected within hours of a patient’s death in search of clues about why certain cancers can spread and evolve despite therapy. Led by Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, this clinical study – known as the Rapid Cancer Research Autopsy Trial – enables scientists to gather biological samples after a patient’s death to conduct research otherwise not possible. Their goal is to better understand how the cancer cells overcame different treatments. Since the trial began in 2016, the rapid research autopsy team has performed dozens of autopsies.
Chronic stress may impact treatment completion and survival outcomes in patients with breast cancer
A study at Ohio State showed that chronic physiologic “wear and tear” from stress, known as allostatic load, may be associated with a decreased likelihood of cancer treatment completion and lower overall survival. Research results also suggest allostatic load appeared better than genetic ancestry at predicting chemotherapy completion and overall survival. Samilia Obeng-Gyasi, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, presented the findings at the 14th American Association for Cancer Research Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved. Allostatic load is defined as “wear and tear” on the body caused by lifelong exposure to such stressors as social isolation, poverty and racism, which are common among racial and ethnic minorities.
New three-way drug combo stimulates ‘master cancer killer’ cells, boosts immune system of patients undergoing stem cell transplantation
A new three-drug combination could help patients with aggressive forms of blood cancer achieve longer remission after undergoing allogeneic (from a donor) stem cell transplantation, according to preliminary clinical trial results presented by researchers at the OSUCCC – James. For this phase I/II clinical trial, researchers evaluated a new stem cell transplant conditioning regimen designed to overcome the challenges of treating T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and T-cell lymphomas. Initial study results showed that 88% of patients remained in remission one year after completing treatment, a dramatic increase in relapse-free survival compared to the expected 45%. Jonathan Brammer, MD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology at Ohio State, is principal investigator. He presented these initial study results at the 2021 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.
Radical new surgery gives people with amputations more mobility, less pain
An innovative surgical procedure has the potential to give people with lower-limb amputations dramatically restored mobility, reducing debilitating pain and persistent tissue breakdown often associated with traditional prosthetic devices. Known as osseointegration, the procedure involves surgically implanting a metal bar – typically in the thigh femoral bone – that extends outside of the body and connects to a snap-on prosthesis. Oncologic orthopedic surgeons at the OSUCCC – James work with plastic surgeons at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center to perform this complicated surgery through a new comprehensive limb program at Ohio State. Oncologic orthopedic surgeon Joel Mayerson, MD, professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at Ohio State, says the osseointegration system offers patients who experience debilitating skin wounds and pain from their traditional prosthetic a long-term option for reducing pain and increasing mobility.
Rising body mass index in adulthood could limit immune system’s ability to stop cancer cells
New research suggests modifiable patient characteristics such as body mass index (BMI) in adulthood may negatively impact the immune environment, inhibiting the ability of the body’s natural defense system to identify and eradicate cancer cells. Researchers say that, although this is a first step, it shows the importance of understanding how lifestyle choices may be important to optimally harness the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Principal investigator for the study is Daniel Stover, MD, assistant professor in the Department Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James. He presented this research at the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December.
Exercising before surgery can have protective effect on liver
Many health care facilities worldwide prescribe preoperative exercise therapy to improve patients’ surgical outcomes. A mouse study led by researchers at the OSUCCC – James, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the Ohio State College of Medicine shed light on mechanisms underlying the protective effect of preoperative exercise on surgically induced liver injury. The study found that a fourweek aerobic pre-operative exercise regimen significantly reduces liver injury and inflammation from ischemia and reperfusion in mice, and that these effects lasted for seven more days after completing pre-operative exercise. Study findings were published in the journal Nature Metabolism. Cocorresponding authors were Meihong Deng, MD, associate professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Burn, Allan Tsung, MD, professor and director of the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery, and Hai Huang, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology. Tsung and Huang also are in the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James.
Multi-gene testing could detect more hereditary cancer syndromes
Up to 38.6% of people with colorectal cancer (CRC) who have a hereditary cancer syndrome — including 6.3% of those with Lynch syndrome (LS) — could have their conditions remain undetected with current universal tumor-screening methods, and at least 7.1% of people with CRC have an identifiable inherited genetic mutation, according to data published by scientists at the OSUCCC – James. The scientists say their data, gathered from more than 3,300 CRC patients treated at 51 hospitals across Ohio, make a strong argument for implementing multi-gene panel testing as part of the standard of care for all patients with CRC. Rachel Pearlman, MS, LGC, a genetic counselor/researcher at the OSUCCC – James, was first author of the study, which was published in the journal JCO Precision Oncology.
Study suggests common drug could be used to prevent certain skin cancers
Data published by researchers at the OSUCCC – James suggest an oral drug used in the clinical setting to treat neuromuscular diseases could also help prevent a common form of skin cancer caused by damage from ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation from the sun. While these data were gathered from preclinical studies, senior author Sujit Basu, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Pathology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, says preliminary results in animal models are promising and worthy of further investigation through phase I human studies. Basu and colleagues reported their initial findings in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. Their data showed that the neurotransmitter/neurohormone dopamine, by activating its D2 receptors, can stop the development and progression of certain UVBinduced precancerous squamous skin cancers.
Older minority cancer patients experience worse surgical outcomes compared to white patients with similar socioeconomic factors
Older minority cancer patients with poor social determinants of health are significantly more likely to experience negative surgical outcomes compared to white patients with similar risk factors, according to a study by researchers at the OSUCCC – James. A retrospective analysis of more than 200,000 patients conducted by the researchers suggests that minority patients living in high socially vulnerable neighborhoods had a 40% increased risk of a complication and a 23% increased risk of 90-day mortality compared to white patients for neighborhoods with low social vulnerability. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines social vulnerability as “potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health.” Study results were published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Senior author was Timothy Pawlik, MD, PhD, MPH, professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at Ohio State and member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James. Read more about Pawlik’s career at health.osu.edu.
Addison was senior author on study cited as one of most relevant by European Heart Journal
Daniel Addison, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, director of Cardio-Oncology at Ohio State, and a member of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, was senior author on an article published in the European Heart Journal that was cited by the journal as one of the most relevant studies in the field of cardio-oncology for 2020-21. With an impact factor of 29.983, European Heart Journal is a leading journal in the field of cardiology. The article, “Incidence, Risk Factors and Mortality of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in Breast Cancer: a SEER-Medicare Analysis,” found that AF incidence is higher in patients with new breast cancer, and that it is associated with later mortality after cancer diagnosis.