bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abstract PO-248: Breast cancer risk factors, prevalence, and screening rates in uninsured women seen at free clinics
Authors: MacDonald Madeline , Swanson Justin , Shah Shreni , Vivar Jhulianna , Song Ethan , Ahsan Tanzila , Mhaskar Rahul , Mirza Abu-Sayeef 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Introduction: Uninsured women face increased barriers to obtaining age appropriate breast cancer screening. Despite the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program which provides breast cancer screening services to uninsured women below the federal poverty level, a majority of uninsured women still do not receive screenings. As a result, uninsured women are at risk of presenting with more advanced cancer. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors, prevalence, and screening rates for breast cancer among uninsured women seen at free clinics.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to collect demographics, risk factors, breast cancer prevalence, and screening rates from medical records at ten free clinics in the Tampa Bay area of Florida from January 1st 2016-December 31st 2018. Uninsured women above the age of 45 were included in the study, in accordance with the American Cancer Society’s recommendation to begin screening women of average breast cancer risk by that age. Results: A total of 3721 women over the age of 45 were seen at free clinics during the study period. The mean age was 56.0 (SD=7.8). This sample was largely composed of Hispanic (n=1466, 47.6%) and unemployed (n=845, 46.2%) women. The mean (SD) BMI of patients was 30.5 (7.8). Of those with a recorded substance use history, 433 (18.7%) were current smokers and 454 (24.3%) were current alcohol consumers. Mammograms were documented for 838 (22.5%) of patients above the age of 45 years. The prevalence of breast cancer was 2.0% (n=73). Conclusions: Our study identifies a population of uninsured women who are at risk for breast cancer based on specific risk factors including age, BMI, smoking history, and alcohol use. Uninsured women seen at free clinics have suboptimal breast cancer screening rates. Our study population is largely comprised of Hispanic, unemployed, and low-income women who face additional healthcare barriers putting them at risk of advanced stage breast cancer. Our study increases awareness of an at-risk population, and increased efforts need to be made to provide uninsured women with age appropriate breast cancer screening in order to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Citation Format: Madeline MacDonald, Justin Swanson, Shreni Shah, Jhulianna Vivar, Ethan Song, Tanzila Ahsan, Rahul Mhaskar, Abu-Sayeef Mirza. Breast cancer risk factors, prevalence, and screening rates in uninsured women seen at free clinics [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-248.
Abstract PO-255: A colorectal cancer screening intervention to help increase screening rate within the Harris Health safety-net health care system
Authors: Rosen Allison , Chenier Roshanda , Montealegre Jane , Jibaja-Weiss Maria 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is often preventable through regular screening. CRC screening is an evidence-based intervention for early detection and prevention of CRC. However, screening rates are low among medically underserved, minority populations. In collaboration with a local safety-net healthcare system and community clinics, we are implementing a comprehensive, multi-modal CRC prevention program. Our CRC screening program includes community outreach, culturally and linguistically targeted educational point-of-care patient education videos, patient navigation services, and provider and staff training. In 2018, a new component was introduced that includes a CRC survivor led provider-targeted assessment intervention leveraging the American Cancer Society National Colorectal Roundtable’s “80% in Every Community” campaign. Methods: As part of the 80% in Every Community campaign, providers and clinical staff are trained by the CRC survivor staff member to employ strategies from the Roundtable’s toolkit to heighten clinic-level commitment to improving screening rates. Specific strategies include providing tips for evidence-based messaging to reach the unscreened, and training providers to consistently give a strong CRC screening recommendation. A baseline survey was administered ahead of the initial training to assess current clinical practices. Results: Survey data indicated 84.3% (N= 297, 14 clinics) of respondents identified patients not completing and returning FIT as a screening barrier (61.7%-Sometimes and 22.7%-Usually). When asked if they had mechanism to ensure patients given a FIT kit have completed and returned them -75.7 % said Yes and 24.3%-No. In the follow-up question, asking if they had a mechanism to ensure FIT were completed and returned, responses showed: 13.9 % said no mechanism, 43.0% reminder call, 8.1% mail reminder, and 28.6% said a chart reminder to return kit at next visit. 73 respondents wrote in various other mechanisms. Discussion: Respondents believed a systematic mechanism already existed to remind patients to complete their FIT and return it to their clinic. Our next steps are to present these findings to health system leadership and investigate the possibility to strengthen screening patient reminders in various forms of communication to increase FIT completion rate.
Citation Format: Allison Rosen, Roshanda Chenier, Jane Montealegre, Maria Jibaja-Weiss. A colorectal cancer screening intervention to help increase screening rate within the Harris Health safety-net health care system [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-255.
Abstract PR15: CanSplice: A user-friendly web application for analysis of genomic datasets by race and ethnicity
Authors: Abo Muthana Al , Patierno Steven R. , Freedman Jennifer A. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The rate of cancer incidence and mortality differ in populations of different ancestry. Comparative analyses of cancer specimens have identified race- and ethnicity-related differential mutation spectra and gene expression, RNA splicing, and epigenetic patterns. These findings suggest that race- and ethnicity-related molecular mechanisms have the potential to contribute to cancer aggressiveness in individuals of different racial and ethnic groups. Advances in technology have enabled researchers to perform high-throughput genome-wide analyses of cancer specimens, including of the exome, transcriptome, proteome, and methylome. Such analyses have generated large amounts of data, which can be challenging for many cancer researchers to analyze. In addition, although many user-friendly tools have been developed for mining big data, there is an urgent need for tools that enable the mining of big data by patient race and ethnicity. Here, we developed a user-friendly online application, CanSplice, that enables the cancer disparity research community to interactively navigate and visualize genomic datasets and perform comparative and correlative analyses. Additionally, researchers using CanSplice can evaluate the association between genomics and patient survival probability in the context of patient race and ethnicity. Uniquely, CanSplice enables exploration of RNA splicing datasets by race and ethnicity and analysis of the association between a given RNA splicing event and patient survival probability. Currently, CanSplice includes data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and TCGASpliceSeq; however, new data from additional cohorts will be added continuously. In conclusion, CanSplice is a user-friendly online application that enables innovative exploration of publicly available cancer genomic datasets by patient race and ethnicity for hypothesis generation. Identified targets can then be validated and investigated for functionality in the laboratory. Thus, data from CanSplice will further understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying cancer disparities and has the potential to aid in the development of novel precision medicine interventions to mitigate cancer disparities.
Citation Format: Muthana Al Abo, Steven R. Patierno, Jennifer A. Freedman. CanSplice: A user-friendly web application for analysis of genomic datasets by race and ethnicity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PR15.
Abstract IA16: COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the psychological status of cancer patients and oncologists
Authors: Pravettoni Gabriella 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
On the 11th of March, the Word Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This unprecedented emergency caused some unexpected effects on the health care system. During the pandemic, the attention focused on keeping cancer patients safe from COVID-19. This infection could have a detrimental effect on the physical and mental health of cancer patients; patients who have a suspension of cancer care suffer more from anxiety and/or depression. One of the worst side effects of COVID-19 is the fact that family members could not visit patients; social support in cancer patients is an important factor for a healthy mental condition. With no social support, their normal coping strategies have to adapt and the feeling of helplessness is overwhelming. These aspects are highlighted by a case report of a European Institute of Oncology patient. After a surgical intervention due to oral tongue cancer, he was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and this caused anxiety and depression symptoms. During the pandemic, health care professionals’ (HCP) role has been pivotal: HCP had to cope with a stressful working environment, facing physical and psychological challenges. Oncologists, in particular, in their daily practice are at risk of developing burnout symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and this could be exacerbated by the pandemic. During pandemic phase 1, we evaluated emotional distress and mental health of oncologists all over the world. Our results showed a low mental health status and distress regarding emotional status; oncologists revealed that fear is one of the most diffuse emotions during pandemic. They are afraid for their patients during the hospital hours, and, when they leave the hospital ward, they feel fear for their family members and cohabitants, in a never-ending feeling of dread. This condition, if prolonged, could be a stressor that could lead to burnout syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder. For these reasons, it is important to care for the oncologists who had cared for their patients, often prioritizing it over their own well-being. In these particular times, new technologies can help both patients and oncologists. In this complex scenario, the role of the oncologists becomes more and more important; new technologies’ output must be interpreted and technologies have to be at the service of humans, not vice versa. This should help oncologists to perform the integration of a big amount of diverse data otherwise impossible to put together meaningfully.
Citation Format: Gabriella Pravettoni. COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the psychological status of cancer patients and oncologists [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr IA16.
Abstract PO-046: Assessment of COVID-19 vaccine candidates: Prediction and validation of 174 SARS-CoV-2 epitopes
Authors: Prachar Marek , Justesen Sune , Steen-Jensen Daniel Bisgaard , Thorgrimsen Stephan , Jurgons Erik , Winther Ole , Bagger Frederik Otzen 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The recent outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (2019-nCoV) virus has highlighted the need for fast and efficacious vaccine development. Stimulation of a proper immune response that leads to protection is highly dependent on presentation of epitopes to circulating T-cells via the HLA complex. SARS-CoV-2 is a large RNA virus and testing of all of its overlapping peptides in vitro to deconvolute an immune response is not feasible. Therefore, HLA-binding prediction tools are often used to narrow down the number of peptides to test. We tested 19 epitope-HLA-binding prediction tools, and using an in vitro peptide-MHC stability assay, we assessed 777 peptides that were predicted to be good binders across 11 MHC alleles. In this investigation of potential SARS-CoV-2 epitopes, we found that current prediction tools vary in performance when assessing binding stability, and they are highly dependent on the MHC allele in question. Designing a COVID-19 vaccine where only a few epitope targets are included is therefore a very challenging task. Here, we present 174 SARS-CoV-2 epitopes with high prediction binding scores, validated to bind stably to 11 HLA alleles. Our findings may contribute to the design of an efficacious vaccine against COVID-19.
Citation Format: Marek Prachar, Sune Justesen, Daniel Bisgaard Steen-Jensen, Stephan Thorgrimsen, Erik Jurgons, Ole Winther, Frederik Otzen Bagger. Assessment of COVID-19 vaccine candidates: Prediction and validation of 174 SARS-CoV-2 epitopes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-046.
Abstract PO-050: Computational modeling of immunologic response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in COVID-19 patients with and without cancer
Authors: Russo Giulia , Falzone Luca , Cacopardo Bruno , Nunnari Giuseppe , Torino Francesco , Scandurra Giuseppa , Stefani Stefania , Pappalardo Francesco , Libra Massimo 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Cancer patients have an increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection due to the suppression of the immune system and the development of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) that favor respiratory syndromes and interstitial pneumonia. However, substantial differences exist between patients treated with chemotherapy and patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), for which the risk of COVID-19 infection and the immunologic and cytokine profile in case of infection have not yet been well characterized. The administration of ICIs for the treatment of severe COVID-19 infection has been recently suggested. However, no conclusive data have been generated on this matter. To recognize the therapeutic potential of ICIs administration in COVID-19 patients with or without cancer, the Universal Immune System Simulator (UISS) prediction model was used to simulate the immunologic response of COVID-19 patients after ICIs administration. Briefly, UISS represents an appropriate computational modeling infrastructure able to simulate the dynamics of every single entity of the immune system after a stimulus or a therapeutic intervention by using an agent-based methodology. Therefore, the UISS platform, already used for the prediction of the efficacy of specific SARS-CoV-2 candidate vaccines, was here adopted to characterize the immunologic behavior in both COVID-19 and cancer patients and to predict the effects of ICIs in these patients. The computational results allowed us to identify key inflammatory and immune-related factors responsible for severe respiratory syndromes in COVID-19 infected patients with and without cancer. UISS results suggest that the administration of ICIs modulates the immune system and the inflammatory status in both groups of patients with COVID-19 infection, reducing the risk of severe symptoms. Although the results of the present study are still under validation in peripheral blood samples obtained from COVID-19 patients and from cancer patients after two cycles of treatment with ICIs, we can speculate that ICIs may be a good therapeutic approach for the treatment of COVID-19 severe respiratory syndrome even with a concomitant cancer diagnosis. If this is the case, the lower expression levels of inflammatory biomarkers can result in the drop-down of the viral load, assessed by droplet digital PCR in COVID-19 patients.
Citation Format: Giulia Russo, Luca Falzone, Bruno Cacopardo, Giuseppe Nunnari, Francesco Torino, Giuseppa Scandurra, Stefania Stefani, Francesco Pappalardo, Massimo Libra. Computational modeling of immunologic response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in COVID-19 patients with and without cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-050.
Abstract PO-051: Intracellular delivery of nuclear localization signal suppresses COVID-19 mediated inflammation by regulating expression of cytokines/chemokines
Authors: Lee Danbi , Yu Sanghyeon , Baek Misuk , Kim Jieun , Kang Mingu , Park Hakyoung , Lee Jaewook , Lee Seokwon , Kwak Junghun , Yu Hyemin , Lee Seungwoo , Kim Sujeong , Lee Hyewon , Shin Dasom , Kim Boram , Jung Minyoung , Choi Youngsil , Jo Daewoong , Kim Gyunam , Kim Dongho 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), caused by the recently identified coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2, is leading patients to death (mortality: ~7%) because of cytokine storm. COVID-19 induces excessive secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines accompanied by the disruption of the bronchi and alveoli, which could ultimately develop into permanent lung impairments such as pulmonary fibrosis. To regulate the uncontrolled expression of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines, improved cell-permeable nuclear import inhibitor (iCP-NI) has been developed by fusing sequence-optimized hydrophobic cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), namely advanced macromolecule transduction domain (aMTD) with nuclear localization signal (NLS) of stress responsive transcription factors (SRTFs: NF-κB, STAT1/3, AP-1, and NFAT). Intracellularly delivered NLS is supposed to suppress expression of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines by inhibiting transport of SRTFs from cytoplasm into nucleus. iCP-NI regulated expression of cytokines (TNF-α: -79%, IL-6: -91%, IL-12: -110% and IL-10: +574%) and chemokines (MCP-1: -89%) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) from RNA virus infection mimetic pneumonitis animals that were induced with inhalation of RNA structure molecule, poly I:C. iCP-NI also significantly decreased pulmonary fibrosis (-61%) in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis animals. Moreover, iCP-NI protected leukocytes (CD3+ T cell: 100%, CD4+/CD3+ T cell: 96%, B220+ B cell: 85%, CD45+ macrophage: 100%) and reduced apoptotic splenocytes (-97%) in staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and poly I:C-induced acute pneumonitis animals. These results suggest that iCP-NI has potential as a novel therapeutic measurement for inflammation caused by various infectious diseases including COVID-19 accompanied with cytokine storm and severe sepsis.
Citation Format: Danbi Lee, Sanghyeon Yu, Misuk Baek, Jieun Kim, Mingu Kang, Hakyoung Park, Jaewook Lee, Seokwon Lee, Junghun Kwak, Hyemin Yu, Seungwoo Lee, Sujeong Kim, Hyewon Lee, Dasom Shin, Boram Kim, Minyoung Jung, Youngsil Choi, Daewoong Jo, Gyunam Kim, Dongho Kim. Intracellular delivery of nuclear localization signal suppresses COVID-19 mediated inflammation by regulating expression of cytokines/chemokines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-051.
Abstract PO-056: Using MammaPrint to reduce the need for chemotherapy in early breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Murray Elizabeth M. , Myburgh Ettienne J. , Lujinovic Ersan , Mittempergher Lorenza , Robertson Duncan J. , de Jager Josephus J. , Kotze Maritha J. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Introduction: With the recent worldwide outbreak of COVID-19, it became clear that certain comorbidities are associated with an increased risk of complications and death. Several publications have reported an increased rate of ICU admission and mortality in cancer patients. This has led to guidelines advising more conservative approaches to cancer therapy, including chemotherapy. In the absence of prospective, disease-specific outcome data, there is a risk of overestimating the risk of COVID-19 and thus increasing cancer-specific mortality or of underestimating. MammaPrint has been validated for selecting clinically high-risk breast cancer patients in whom chemotherapy can be avoided safely.
Methods: We evaluated the current published literature related to the potential risk of breast cancer and chemotherapy in association with COVID-19. We estimated the potential risk of severe events in COVID-19 breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy to assess whether MammaPrint could help us further in making chemotherapy decisions specific to an infectious epidemic risk.
Results: The risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in patients receiving chemotherapy could be greater than 1.5 to 2 times higher than usual. However, other associated conditions frequently found in the breast cancer population seem to still play a significant role in a worse outcome. We found no data to quantify the effect of chemotherapy or data allowing us to adapt the MammaPrint Score to risk in an infectious epidemic.
Conclusion: Adjuvant chemotherapy carries a potential risk for morbidity and mortality. Data from the current literature do not show the magnitude of the added risk for breast cancer patients on adjuvant chemotherapy in association with SARS Cov-2 infection. By using MammaPrint in hormone receptor-positive patients with up to three nodes in whom chemotherapy is considered, the treatment-related risk can be limited, allowing safe de-escalation of therapy without increased cancer-specific mortality. We plan to pursue the statistical question of how the level of risk at any of the sites on the spectrum relates to distant metastasis-free survival so that mortality risks can be better estimated during an infection.
Citation Format: Elizabeth M. Murray, Ettienne J. Myburgh, Ersan Lujinovic, Lorenza Mittempergher, Duncan J. Robertson, Josephus J. de Jager, Maritha J. Kotze. Using MammaPrint to reduce the need for chemotherapy in early breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-056.