Biography:

Humaid O Al-Shamsi is currently working as an Assistant Professor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and he is also positioned as an Assistant Clinical Professor (Part Time) in the Department of Oncology at McMaster University. He has been a recipient of many award and grants. His research experience includes various programs, contributions and participation at different countries for diverse fields of study. His research interests reflect in his wide range of publications in various national and international journals. His research interests include Oncology, Radialogy, Hepatology, Clinical Oncology, etc.

 

Abstract:

Purpose: Breast cancer in Arab world has unique clinicopatholigical features including early onset, higher grade and higher HER2 amplification, the aim of this retrospective study was to assess the molecular spectra, frequencies, and distribution patterns of somatic mutations using next generation sequencing (NGS) in Arab women with breast cancer.

 

Subjects & Methods: 78 consecutive Arab women with breast cancer whose tumors had been evaluated using NGS were identified and retrospectively reviewed. We recorded patient characteristics, tumor pathological features, the rate of somatic mutations found on the NGS.

 

Results: The median age at diagnosis was 52.3 years (range: 37-82 years). 30 (38.5%) of the 78 patients were 50 years of age or younger. A familial history of breast cancer was documented in 30 (38.5%) patients. NGS revealed the following somatic mutation rates: TP53, 23%; ATM, 2.5%; IDH1, 2.5%; IDH2, 3.8%; PTEN, 7.7%; PIK3CA, 15.4%; APC, 7.7%; NPMA1, 1.3%; MPL, 1.3%; JAK2, 2.5%; KIT, 7.7%; KRAS, 3.8%; NRAS, 3.8%. DH1 and IDH2 were 2.5% and 3.8% respectively. Two patients (2.5%) had JAK2 mutations and both had an advanced triple-negative disease. Compared with Western population, Arab women have higher rates of APC, PTEN, KIT, KRAS, NRAS and DH1 somatic mutations and lower rates of TP53 and PIK3CA somatic mutations compared to Western women. ATM mutation rate was similar. Two novel somatic mutations were identified NPM1 and MPL with undefined role in breast cancer pathogenesis.

 

Conclusions: Our results revealed differences in the genetic profiles and mutation hotspots in Arab women with breast cancer compared to the reported genetic profiles of Western women with breast cancer. These results may have clinical implications in some of the actionable mutations and their targeted therapies once the roles of these somatic mutations in breast cancer tumorigenesis are more defined.

Biography:

Lina Abi Mosleh has earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Cell Biology from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. After moving to US, she received her PhD in Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. She then completed her Post-doctoral studies on cholesterol homeostasis in mammalian cells in the same laboratory. Subsequently, she went on to serve as a Faculty Member in the Department of Molecular Genetics at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. In 2015, she was presented with the opportunity to work as a Principal Scientist at Ayass Bioscience, Inc.
 

Abstract:

Next generation sequencing (NGS) technology is revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases and other fatal conditions, and its emergence as an affordable service is allowing doctors and patients easier access to potentially life-saving genetic data. This technology is cost-effective and delivers accurate and efficient results in a short period of time. NGS can now be incorporated into standard clinical practice. Our custom NGS panels target a group of genes that are known to cause specific genetic diseases or conditions. We have developed panels for cancer that can detect germline as well as somatic mutations in cancer causing genes. Our hereditary cancer panel targets genes that have been previously linked to a predisposition to common and rare forms of cancer such as leukemia, osteosarcoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and skin cancer. We also developed two tests for sequencing somatic mutations in tumor driver genes. The first panel targets tumor driver genes using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from tissue biopsies that are flash frozen or paraffin embedded. The most recent addition to our testing menu has been the circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) panel, more commonly known as liquid biopsy. 'Liquid biopsies' could revolutionize cancer detection by sequencing ctDNA. ctDNA are pieces of DNA from dying cancer cells found in the blood of cancer patients. We are utilizing a minimally invasive method that uses only a few millilitres of plasma from patients to detect mutations in genes commonly found mutated in solid tumor type cancers. The test is intended to identify the presence of circulating tumor DNA and identify mutations in genes associated with cancer at a very low allelic frequency. The test can be used for the monitoring of cancer remission after treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgery as well as direct new therapies that target somatically mutated genes identified through clinical NGS.
 

Biography:

Tarek Dufan is currently serving as a Medical Director of Bismarck Cancer Center. He is also a Cancer Committee Chair, CHI St. Alexius Health Center, Bismarck, ND and also acting as an Associate Professor at University of North Dakota and is affiliated with St. Alexius Medical Center. He received his Medical degree from University of Tripoli School of Medicine and has been in practice between 11-20 years. He is one of 2 doctors at St. Alexius Medical Center who is specialized in Radiation Oncology.

Abstract:

Purpose/Objective(s): Extracapsular extension (ECE) is an established risk factor for head/neck cancer (HNCa) recurrence and mortality; however, it is unknown if nodal ECE remains a negative prognostic factor in Human Papillomavirus (HPV)+ HNCa.

 

Materials & Methods: Retrospective multi-institutional comparative outcomes analysis of patient- and tumor-specific factors was done by HPV association. Eligible patients had pathologic confirmation of ECE for squamous cell carcinoma of the HN involving the oropharynx (OP), oral cavity (OC), or unknown primary (UP), and underwent curative-intent therapy. Patients with metastatic disease at diagnosis, unknown HPV/p16 status, or <3 month follow-up were excluded.

 

Results: Between the period from 2003 to 2014, 76 patients were found eligible for the present analysis. The median age at diagnosis was 60 years (range 29-82), with 46 OP cases, 28 OC, and 2 UP. Forty-one patients had HPV+ tumors.All but 5 patients had therapeutic neck dissection, and the primary site was resected in 65 patients. For resected primary cases, 38, 23, and 4 patients underwent adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), radiotherapy (RT) alone, and no adjuvant therapy, respectively. For 9 patients who underwent definitive RT, 7 received concurrent CRT. Of note, 40% of HPV+ and 35% of HPV– patients did not receive chemotherapy (p=NS). The median number of nodes excised and involved were 27 (1-92) and 2 (1-32), respectively. At a median follow-up of 26.3 months (1.4-104.0; median 34.1 for survivors), 52 patients were alive (48 without recurrence, 4 with salvaged recurrence) and 24 patients had died (21 of HNCa).Patterns of failure included local (n=6), regional (6), locoregional + distant (6), and distant only (4). In comparing the HPV+ and HPV– groups, disease-free and overall survival was superior for the HPV+ group (p<0.01; Table). HPV+ cases were more likely to be male (93% vs. 51%), undergo definitive RT (30% vs. 20%), have higher stage (73% vs. 49% stage IV) and larger nodal size (median 3.6 vs. 1.9 cm), and less likely to have undergone resection of primary (78% vs. 94%). There were no differences in number of lymph nodes sampled or involved or in follow-up between the groups.

 

Conclusion: HPV+ HNCa with ECE has an excellent prognosis despite the propensity for advanced AJCC stage and large pathologic nodal size. This excellent prognosis persists without the use of chemotherapy. Prognosis in the HPV– population with ECE remains poor despite therapeutic escalation using modern multimodality therapy (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation). ECE in the HPV+ population should be re-evaluated as a negative prognostic factor and indicator for therapeutic escalation.

 

Biography:

Timor Al-Alshee is currently working as a Surgical Oncologist at King Abdulaah Medical City, Saudi Arabia. He holds his education from University of Ottawa. He has been a recipient of many awards and grants. His exploration encounter incorporates different projects, commitments and interest at various nations for assorted fields of study. His exploration advantages reflect in his extensive variety of productions in different national and worldwide diaries. His exploration fields of intrigue incorporate Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Clinical Oncology and so on.

Abstract:

With the increased awareness and use of breast cancer screening programs, detection of nonpalpable lesion of breast is also increasing in incidence. Previously, wire guidance under ultrasonography was used for localization of these occult lesions, and in the second stage, sentinel node biopsy (SNB) was taken under radioactive guidance or blue dye injection. We conducted a study to combine radioactive‑guided occult lesion localization (ROLL) with SNB. We concluded that ROLL is an efficient method for the detection of these occult lesions, enabling more effective planning of skin incision, precise excision of the lesion with minimal normal tissue edge excision, and ultimately better postoperative cosmetics. When combined with SNB, it effectively decreased the intraoperative time. Radio‑guided occult lesion localization (ROLL) is a new method for the localization and resection of nonpalpable breast lesions. It has emerged as a novel technique in the surgery of impalpable breast lesions implementing practically the same technique of detecting sentinel nodes, namely detection of radioactivity by gamma probe.

 

Biography:

Jiri Vachtenheim received his MD from the Medical School of the Charles University, Prague in 1981 and PhD degree in 1985. Parts of his Post-doctoral studies were performed as fellowships in Great Britain and Belgium. He is now an Associate Professor and Department Head at the Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. He has published more than 40 papers in reputed journals and has served as a reviewer of many publications and grants.

Abstract:

Melanoma is an aggressive cancer of the skin in which microheterogeneity appears early after its onset. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process associated with the progression of malignant tumors. It is believed that low levels of MITF, a melanoma pivotal transcription factor, are associated with EMT-like phenotype. The phenotype switching model in melanoma predicts that low-MITF protein levels favor tumor cell invasivity, but slow down proliferation and inhibit differentiation, while high-MITF cells are highly differentiated and rapidly proliferating. To verify this in the cell culture model, we have developed the Tet-On lentiviral inducible system based on the Tet-pLKO-puro plasmid with cloned shRNA to stepwise decrease MITF level in six melanoma cell lines with high MITF. The MITF levels substantially decreased after the addition of doxycycline. Surprisingly, all cell lines proliferated equally despite the low MITF protein level and did not seem to be more invasive. Proteins characteristic for EMT were either present or lacking without any changes. BCL2 protein did not display any change. The only changes were the decrease of E-cadherin in MeWo cells and increase of N-cadherin in SK-MEL-28 cells, two typical hallmarks of EMT. Genes responsible for pigmentation (TYR, TRP1 and 2), the expression of which requires MITF, were decreased after addition of doxycycline in low-MITF cells, by RT-PCR. Experiments in nude mice xenografts are underway. In sum, the results predict that MITF levels generally may reflect rather than directly cause the EMT in melanoma in vitro.

 

Biography:

Ali Aldameh is Certified in Surgery, Thoracic Oncology and Thoracic Surgery. He received his Advanced Thoracic Surgical Education in Harvard Medical School, Boston USA at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Following that, he completed an advanced fellowship in Minimally Invasive Thoracic and Foregut Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He was mentored by US leaders in their field of Thoracic Surgery who followed the tradition of pioneers in their fields, including Dr. Pearson in Toronto, Luketich in Pittsburgh, Orringer. He has closely worked with Dr. Sugarbaker the late President of the American Association of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Scott Swanson a World Leader in VATS Surgery and Dr. Steve Menzer, an expert in Lung Surgery and Esophagectomy in North America.

Abstract:

Lung cancer is an aggressive and heterogeneous disease. Advances in surgical, radiotherapeutic, and chemotherapeutic approaches have been made, but the long-term survival rate remains low. After the Surgeon General's 1964 report on smoking and health, mortality from lung cancer among men peaked and then fell; among women, the peak occurred later and a slight decline has occurred more recently. Lung cancer screening reduces mortality from lung cancer. We will discuss recent updates on guidelines, lung cancer screening and management of early detected lung cancer.

 

Biography:

Long-ping Wen has graduated from Xiamen University in 1982 (BS) and has obtained his PhD from University of California, Los Angeles, USA in 1988. He has over 30 years of experience in Biomedical Research at various academic institutions in the USA, Singapore and China. Since 2002, he has been working as a Full Professor at University of Science and Technology of China, with a research interest focusing on Nanobiology and Nanomedicine. He has published over 80 research papers in international peer-reviewed journals with more than 3000 citations and has an H-index of 37.

 

Abstract:

Autophagy is a key cellular process for the degradation of cellular constituents such as invading viruses, damaged organelle and long-lived proteins and plays critical roles in many physiological and pathophysiological conditions. A variety of nanomaterials, including carbon, metal, and rare earth oxide nanoparticles, have been demonstrated to induce elevated level of autophagy in different cell types. Recent studies have demonstrated that, in addition to elliciting bulk and non-selective autophagy, some nanomaterials can also induce selective autophagy, which target particular intracellular constituents for degradation. In this talk, I will present the latest results from our laboratory, which demonstrated that engineered nanomaterials, through inducing selective autophagy, enhance clearance of mutant Huntingtin and mutant p53, two types of aggregate-prone intracellular proteins that play critical roles in Huntington's Disease and cancer. These studies may pave the way for the exploitation of nanomaterial-induced autophagy for therapeutic applications towards cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

 

Biography:

Humaid Al-Shamsi is currently working as an Assistant Professor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and he is also positioned as an Assistant Clinical Professor (Part Time) in the Department of Oncology at McMaster University. He has been a recipient of many awards and grants. His research experience includes various programs, contributions and participation at different countries for diverse fields of study. His research interests reflect in his wide range of publications in various national and international journals. His research interests include Oncology, Radialogy, Hepatology, Clinical Oncology, etc.

 

Abstract:

Background: Molecular diagnostic testing has become an integral part of the evaluation of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). However, expanded mutational testing often identifies mutations with unclear clinical, therapeutic or prognostic implications. One such example is BRAF mutations which occur outside of codon 600 (non-V600BRAF mutations).

 

Methods: We completed this multicenter, retrospective cohort study to fully characterize the clinical, pathologic and survival implications of non-V600BRAF mutations in metastatic CRC. We identified and pooled all patients with CRC in whom non-V600BRAF mutations were identified from NGS databases at three large molecular genetics reference labs.

 

Findings: A total of 9643 patients with metastatic CRC underwent NGS testing. We identified 208 patients with non-V600BRAF mutations, which accounted for 21.5% of all BRAF mutations. The estimated prevalence of non-V600BRAF mutations in all patients tested was 2.2%. Cancers with non-V600BRAF compared with V600EBRAF mutations were found in patients who were significantly younger (58 vs. 68 years; p<0.0001), less likely to be female (46% vs. 65%; p=0.0008), and had less high grade (13% vs. 64%; p<0.0001), or right-sided primary tumors (36% vs. 81%; p<0.0001). Median overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in patients with non-V600BRAF mutations compared to those with V600EBRAF-mutant metastatic CRC (OS: 60.7 months vs. 11.4 months; p<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, non-V600BRAF mutation remained independently associated with improved OS (HR: 0.18; p< 0.0001).

 

Interpretation: Non-V600BRAF mutations occur in approximately 2.2% of patients with metastatic CRC and define a new subtype of CRC with an excellent prognosis.

Biography:

Eman Oweida has completed her PhD at the age of 33 years from Mansura University; Egypt. She continued working in Mansoura Faculty of Medicine as a lecturer; provided lectures and training courses for 5th year students, Manchester program and post graduate students. She also conducted research studies in collaboration with research teamwork in Mansoura University Hospital departments. Published 6 research articles in international Radiology Journals and recognized as a distinguished reviewer by Elsevier publishing for reviewing more than thirty articles for Egyptian journal of Radiology and Nuclear medicine (EJRNM). Recently joined Nmc Royal Hospital in Abu Dhabi as Specialist  Radiologist.

 

Abstract:

Conservative breast therapy (CBT) means lumpectomy or segmental mastectomy followed by radiotherapy. Both surgery and radiotherapy produce a wide spectrum of breast changes that appear on different imaging modalities. Certain radiologic features of these benign breast changes may simulate radiologic patterns of tumor recurrence that occurs at a rate of 2.5% per year between 2 and 6 years after treatment. Sometimes the differentiation between these two entities is a challenging diagnostic dilemma; thus, the interpreting radiologist must be familiar with the expected chronologic appearances of the conservatively treated breast. Consequently, radiologists should be able to decide whether to recommend follow up or request for pathological correlation. Basic imaging modalities are: Mammography, Ultrasonography and MRI. MRI is now recognized as a reliable powerful tool for follow up of treated cases of breast carcinoma. Functional MRI perfusion is effective in monitoring the response to chemotherapy. Recent research studies address diffusion MRI as a promising tool that may provide an earlier biomarker for tumor response than changes in tumor size.

Biography:

Jaleel Kareem Ahmed has completed his PhD from Baghdad University. He is the Dean of the Institute of Foundry and Hammering. He has registered 8 patents with 40 published papers and 3 books. He is a member in Who is Who network. He is a reviewer in Jon Wily and Sons and Editorial Board Member of Science Publishing Group and a member in Encyclopedia of Chemistry Scientists. He has got the Iraqi Scientist Medal. Currently, he is a Professor of physical chemistry in the College of Materials Engineering , Babylon University, Iraq.

Abstract:

This research deals with the effects of natural pigments (chlorophyll and anthocyanin) on the secondary (Engineering) bonds in the poly(methyl methacrylate) which play an important role on the physical and chemical properties of polymer. Natural pigments extracted from plants by a simple method shows a good agreement with the standard one which characterized by Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. The blend of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with pigments were characterized by FTIR, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), hardness, and density. Hardness of PMMA decreases as concentration of pigment increases while density show decrease by anthocyanin comparatively higher than chlorophyll. This is due to the presence of many hydroxyl groups in anthocyanin molecule than in chlorophyll molecule, so it diffuses more in the PMMA polymer and creates voids between the polymer chains which destroy secondary bonds. Results show that anthocyanin shows higher depression in glass transition temperature (T_g) of PMMA than chlorophyll where its maximum effect is 3%. From glass transition temperature( T_g) data for a linear unbranched polymer , the energies provided by the pigments to destroy Van der Waals bonds (secondary or engineering bonds) as a function of pigment concentration result in (lowering T_g value of the polymer), partially raptured of the secondary bonds especially for molecule with abnormal energy than others.  

 

From the above table, it seems that pigments are providing small amounts of energy to depress T_g of the PMMA biopolymer. All results showed that natural pigments enter between polymers chains and destroy secondary bonds and act as plasticizers ( lowering the rigidity of the polymer chains) of poly (methyl methacrylate ).

Biography:

Mahdi Shahriari has obtained a Diploma from north of Iran and then in 1978 he entered Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. After 9 years of training in Medicine (1988), he was accepted as Pediatric Resident then he had practiced 2 years as Pediatrician. From April 1992 till July 1994, he was trained as Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist and then became a Scientific Member of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. He has more than 50 publications in the field of Hemostasis, Anemia and Pediatric Oncology. At present, he is Member of Board Certification of Pediatric Hematology - Oncology of Iran.

Abstract:

Introduction: Chemotherapy medication errors are source of some morbidity and significant mortality. Prevention from these complications should be addressed to the new staff and nurses in the oncology wards.

 

Method: A systematic review on the publicated chemotherapy medication errors and outcomes was done, although it must be believed that the reported cases are tip of an iceberg of errors that are not published.

 

Results: Important examples of errors were: Miscommunicated verbal orders, Total course or cycle dose given every day inspite of weekly or every two weeks or over three consecutive days; Lack of pertinent patient health care information (i.e. lab data and patient demographics such as age, height, weight and surface area); Use of incorrect patient information/lab data or the information/lab data for another patient; Excessive interruptions during order processing or dose preparation (Phone, patients’ ring, pagers, etc); Poor packing and labeling by manufacturers; Poor communication between pharmacy and the nursing and medical staff; Use of abbreviations of drug names (example: Vin for Vinblastin, Vincristine and Vinorelbine); Similar sounding drug names within the therapeutic class (example: Doxorobicin, Daunorubicin); Use of trade names which may vary even for generically available agents; Lack of warning stickers or labels to prevent inadverent intrathecal administration of drugs such as Vincristine, Vinblastine, Doxorobicin and Daunorubicin; Failure to round drug doses which potentially leading to a 10 fold overdose if the decimal point is not seen; Widely differing dosing regimens for the same tumor type (example: various regimens of 5-Fluorouracil in colorectal cancer)  or in various tumors; Use of outdated lab data (example: serum creatinin or liver function tests for dose modification of certain medications). Also there are some error prone medical transcriptions, for example: qd or QD for daily doses; qn, qhs, hs, bt for bedtime; x3d for x 3 days; per OS for orally or PO (misread as for left eye!); Failure to use a zero before a decimal point when the dose is less than a whole unit (example: avoid .1 mg instead of 0.1 mg).

 

Conclusion: Chemotherapy medication errors are not infrequent and should be considered that they may happen in your ward, by you and your personnel’s, so a patient safety committee and annual education of all the staff is advisable, although new nurses should be trained on arrival. The guideline and continuous education program should be considered. Observation of trainees by authorized staff is suggested.