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In 2006, the LAF funded research in survivorship research in three specific areas: physical issues, psychosocial issues, and practical issues. Additionally, the LAF funded research in testicular cancer. Survivorship – Physical IssuesUnderstanding the impact of iron toxicity in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation Significant complications often arise from stem cell transplant (SCT) that can lead to chronic illness and even premature death. Iron toxicity (excess iron in the body) is one of these complications. This study will help identify SCT patients who are at risk for iron toxicity so that doctors can more effectively treat this condition. Safety and effectiveness of testosterone gel to treat muscle weakness in brain cancer patients Almost every patient with brain cancer will receive glucocorticoids (GC) to treat the swelling caused by brain tumors. One of the most common and devastating side effects of GC treatment in brain cancer patients is steroid myopathy. This clinical trial is the first study to test if testosterone gel administered externally on the skin can safely and effectively prevent or delay muscle weakness in male brain cancer survivors who are treated with GC. Preventing radiation-induced heart disease Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is a frequent and severe side effect among cancer survivors who have had radiotherapy for breast cancer, lung cancer or Hodgkin's disease. This study will help determine if transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a protein expressed by almost all cell types, contributes to the development of RIHD and whether blocking the effects of TGF-beta reduces the common problems associated with RIHD. An Internet weight loss intervention for colorectal cancer survivors Both overweight and obesity are linked with greater risk for colorectal cancer recurrence and mortality, and both are risk factors for the development of additional cancers. This study will evaluate the feasibility of implementing an Internet-based weight loss intervention for colorectal cancer survivors and will provide necessary information for the development of successful Internet-based weight loss interventions for survivors of colorectal and other cancers. Fertility rescue in survivors of early childhood cancer Both radiation and certain chemotherapy regimens, like the ones commonly employed in the treatment of leukemia, are very harmful to the reproductive organs and can irreversibly kill the cells in the testes necessary for sperm production. This project will evaluate the quality of sperm retrieved from testis tissue biopsies, and the feasibility of using this sperm in assisted reproduction. Energy balance among children with leukemia and lymphoma and their parents Overweight and obesity put childhood cancer survivors at risk for heart disease, bone loss, and secondary cancers. Parents have a very strong influence on children's diet and activity levels. This study will examine patterns of energy-balance among childhood cancer survivors and their parents, providing new information to develop strategies for helping patients and their families maintain a healthy weight throughout the process of treatment and beyond. Chronic pain in cancer survivors: Examining disparities and quality of life Pain can seriously diminish quality of life among cancer survivors. This project will investigate chronic pain management and its impact on quality of life among cancer survivors. It will also examine the nature of existing racial disparities in the treatment of chronic pain. This information will be useful in reducing disparities and improving pain management in the survivor population. Nutritional modulation of chemoradiation toxicities in head & neck cancer The combination of chemotherapy and radiation (chemoradiation) treatment for head and neck cancer often has severe side effects that can lead to nutritional problems. This study will investigate how chemoradiation affects specific nutrient markers in the blood and how these changes relate to physical side effects and quality of life. This information will be useful in designing interventions to prevent or reduce the side effects of chemoradiation in this survivor population. Patterns of care for minimally invasive radical prostatectomy This project will investigate patterns of care, outcomes and cost of open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostate surgeries, providing patients, health care providers and policy makers with data that can be used to make informed decisions. The findings will not only guide treatment choices for men with prostate cancer, but will have potential policy implications for surgeon training, referrals to centers of excellence, and health care access for underserved populations. Quality of life among African American head and neck cancer survivors Quality of life outcomes for head and neck cancer survivors are especially critical, as treatments for these types of cancer are particularly aggressive. This will be the first study to directly examine quality of life outcomes among African American survivors of head and neck cancers. Results from this study will be used to help develop effective interventions to improve care for this group of survivors. Feasibility of a physical activity intervention for lung cancer survivors This study will examine whether sedentary lung cancer survivors are able and willing to participate in a physical activity intervention study. Information gained through this study will provide a much-needed knowledge base for the design of future comprehensive clinical trials of physical activity interventions for lung cancer survivors, and will also explore barriers to the post-treatment rehabilitation of lung cancer survivors. Are cancer survivors and their families taking better care of themselves? This project will examine if patients and their family members are more likely to go to doctors for preventive services and to lead a healthy lifestyle. Should this study find that this is true, it will serve as powerful evidence that investment in research for cancer care can have a greater positive impact on public health than previously recognized. If this theory is not found to be true, then the study will provide suggested solutions to doctors and policy makers in order to better meet the health care needs of this population. Prevention of diabetes in prostate cancer survivors Survivors receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Intensive lifestyle interventions use programs of weight loss, improved nutrition and moderate exercise to decrease the risk of diabetes in individuals who do not have cancer, but these programs have not been tested in men with prostate cancer. This study will examine whether intensive lifestyle intervention is practical in prostate cancer survivors. The study will also examine whether the intervention lowers diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk. Survivorship – Psychosocial Issues:Latinas with breast cancer & partners: telephone support Emotional distress is a prominent concern among cancer survivors because it significantly influences recovery, quality of life, and long-term survival. This project will determine the effectiveness of using a telephone counseling intervention to help decrease symptom distress, depression, anxiety and stress in Latina breast cancer survivors and their partners. When Mommy or Daddy Have Cancer: A cancer parenting program Parents diagnosed with cancer are known to have high rates of depressed mood and anxiety that can last for more than two years after diagnosis. They can often have difficulties in parenting and are less emotionally available to their child. This project will test a program designed to respond to the known parenting issues and child-related concerns after a diagnosis of cancer. If successful, the program has the potential to prevent high rates of distress in children and parents when a parent is diagnosed with cancer. Gender, coping, and psychological adaptation in people with lung cancer Coping strategies have been identified as an important way that survivors manage distress about their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Most existing research has examined coping among female survivors with early stage breast cancer, and it is not known how well these findings apply to men or women with other cancers, such as lung cancer, who generally present with more advanced and poorer prognosis disease. This study will examine these issues of coping, gender and psychological adjustment in women and men with lung cancer. The knowledge gained through this project will contribute to the development of interventions that will improve the quality of life and psychological functioning of people with lung cancer. Survivorship – Practical Issues:Patient and family assessment of physicians' communication skills Physician communication skills are an essential part of providing high quality cancer care, yet no studies have examined whether improvements in communication skills are noticed or valued by patients and family members. This study will determine whether patients and family members detect improvements in physician communication skills and identify which physician communication behaviors are most valued by patients and family members. Cancer survivors' intentions for work following diagnosis and treatment Although many people diagnosed with cancer will eventually return to work, survivors sometimes face physical, emotional or psychological changes that can affect their ability to work. This study will determine cancer survivors' intentions to work following treatment. This information will help in the development of interventions and services to improve work outcomes among cancer survivors. Testicular and sexual dysfunction in adult survivors of childhood cancer Once cancer therapy is finished, survivors transition into a world of hope, but often with uncertainty about possible late effects of cancer treatment. Survivors often have incorrect perceptions about their risk of certain late effects. This study will investigate whether male cancer survivors have a clear understanding of their risk for decreased fertility based on their cancer therapy, and whether they have higher rates of sexual dysfunction compared to male siblings. Empowering cancer survivors through information technology Cancer poses unique challenges for adolescents and young adults. The disease not only diminishes their physical health, but also their sense of confidence and well-being at a time when they are trying to establish their sense of identity. This study will test the effectiveness of an Internet-based end-of-treatment intervention for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Testicular CancerDetermining the function of embryonic stem cell genes in testicular cancer This study will help define the functional genetic link between newly formed germ cells and germ cell tumors, which will contribute to our understanding of germ cell tumor biology. This new understanding will help in the development of new cell-targeted strategies to reduce side effects commonly experienced in the treatment testicular cancer. High throughput DNA methylation profiling in testicular germ cell tumor Adult male germ cell tumor (GCT) is the most common malignant tumor in males aged 15-35 and is a major cause of death in this age group. Although the majority of GCTs respond to radiation chemotherapy, 20-30% of metastatic lesions are resistant to treatment and account for high mortality. The reasons for this resistance to treatment remains poorly understood. Current data suggest that methylation of genes (a modification that can turn off the expression of a gene) is linked to chemotherapy resistance in GCT. However, little is currently known about how methylation works in GCTs to cause this resistance. This study will use a new method to screen GCTs for patterns of methylation and will help in the discovery of new targets for drug therapy. |
