Dr. Kellum studies several significant health issues, including cancer treatment outcomes and rare bleeding disorders. He investigates how genetic tests can guide personalized therapy for cancer patients, specifically looking at their effectiveness in small tissue samples. He also explores the emotional and practical challenges faced by patients with congenital bleeding disorders, such as Congenital Factor VII Deficiency and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, to better understand their needs for support and education. Furthermore, his work involves optimizing cancer therapies to mitigate side effects, allowing patients to tolerate essential treatments more effectively.
Key findings
In a study on a genomic profiling test, 94.2% of over 32,000 cancer tissue samples provided useful results for treatment decisions, helping patients with prostate and lung cancers in particular.
For patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, 50% experienced an average of one bleeding episode per day, highlighting the significant emotional and physical impacts of this condition.
In the CONTROL trial, new strategies reduced the incidence of severe diarrhea in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer from 40% to 15%, allowing more patients to continue their treatment without interruption.
Patients with Congenital Factor VII Deficiency took an average of 6.5 years to receive a diagnosis, and many reported over 100 bleeding episodes in the past year, illustrating the need for better support in managing their condition.
Eltrombopag helped patients undergoing chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel achieve higher platelet counts compared to those on a placebo, indicating it may aid in managing low platelet counts associated with cancer treatments.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Kellum study cancer treatments?
Yes, Dr. Kellum researches genetic profiling tests that help identify the best treatments for cancer patients.
What conditions does Dr. Kellum focus on?
He studies various conditions, including cancer, congenital bleeding disorders like Congenital Factor VII Deficiency, and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.
Is Dr. Kellum's work relevant to patients with rare bleeding disorders?
Yes, his research addresses the challenges faced by patients with rare bleeding disorders and aims to improve their treatment and support.
What improvements has Dr. Kellum made in cancer treatment tolerability?
He has developed strategies to reduce side effects, such as diarrhea in patients receiving HER2-positive breast cancer treatment, allowing them to continue their therapy.
How does Dr. Kellum's research help children with asthma?
His studies on asthma management programs aim to improve health outcomes for children with asthma through better community planning and tracking.
Publications in plain English
Real-World Performance of a Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Test Optimized for Small Tumor Samples.
2021
JCO precision oncology
Tomlins SA, Hovelson DH, Suga JM, Anderson DM, Koh HA +39 more
Plain English This study looked at how well a specific genetic test, called PCR-based comprehensive genomic profiling (PCR-CGP), works on small cancer tissue samples from patients. Out of over 32,000 samples tested, 94.2% were able to provide useful results, including 84% of prostate cancer and 88% of lung cancer samples, which can guide treatment decisions. This is important because many patients with advanced cancer have limited tissue available, so making the test more effective can help more patients receive targeted therapies based on their cancer's genetics.
Who this helps: Patients with advanced cancer who need personalized treatment options.
Improved tolerability of neratinib in patients with HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer: the CONTROL trial.
2020
Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology
Barcenas CH, Hurvitz SA, Di Palma JA, Bose R, Chien AJ +20 more
Plain English This study looked at ways to reduce severe diarrhea in patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who were taking a medication called neratinib. The findings showed that with new strategies like preventive medications, the rate of severe diarrhea was significantly lower than in previous studies — down to 15% in one group, compared to 40% in the earlier trial. This is important because it allows more patients to complete their treatment without having to stop due to side effects.
Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer.
Disease Burden in Patients with Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia: Perspectives from the Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Patient/Caregiver Questionnaire.
2020
Journal of blood medicine
Duncan A, Kellum A, Peltier S, Cooper DL, Saad H
Plain English This study examined how Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT), a rare bleeding disorder, affects patients and their caregivers. It involved 45 people, including 24 patients, and found that most patients experienced frequent bleeding, with 50% having an average of one bleed per day. The research highlights that GT has a significant emotional impact on patients, especially in settings like school and healthcare, where finding knowledgeable doctors can be challenging.
Who this helps: This information benefits patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and their families.
Psychosocial Impact and Disease Management in Patients with Congenital Factor VII Deficiency.
2020
Journal of blood medicine
Peltier S, Kellum A, Brewer J, Duncan A, Cooper DL +1 more
Plain English This study looked at the emotional and practical challenges faced by patients and caregivers dealing with Congenital Factor VII Deficiency, a rare bleeding disorder. Of the 45 people surveyed, it took an average of 6.5 years for patients to get diagnosed, with many experiencing over 100 bleeding episodes in the past year. While most patients felt good about their treatment, they expressed a need for more support and education to better manage their condition.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients with congenital bleeding disorders and their caregivers.
Evaluation of Diverse Community Asthma Interventions: Balancing Health Outcomes with Developing Community Capacity for Evidence-Based Program Measurement.
Plain English This study looked at how well different asthma management programs in Georgia are working to help children while also teaching communities how to measure their success. Researchers found that although communities were active in managing childhood asthma, they weren't effectively tracking health outcomes and improvements; however, after receiving support, all the programs created clear plans linking their practices to measurable results. This matters because better planning and tracking can lead to improvements in health for kids with asthma.
Who this helps: This helps children with asthma and the communities supporting them.
A merged model of quality improvement and evaluation: maximizing return on investment.
2013
Health promotion practice
Woodhouse LD, Toal R, Nguyen T, Keene D, Gunn L +6 more
Plain English This study looked at how to improve asthma prevention programs for low-income communities in Georgia by blending two methods: quality improvement (QI) and evaluation. Researchers found that integrating these approaches helps programs focus on continuous learning and development rather than just receiving judgmental reports from outside evaluators. This merger not only strengthens program effectiveness but also boosts funding outcomes, meaning more efficient use of resources.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with asthma and the healthcare providers supporting them.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose ranging study to assess the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag in patients receiving carboplatin/paclitaxel for advanced solid tumors.
2010
Current medical research and opinion
Kellum A, Jagiello-Gruszfeld A, Bondarenko IN, Patwardhan R, Messam C +1 more
Plain English This study looked at how well eltrombopag helps increase platelet counts in patients undergoing chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel for advanced cancers. Out of 183 patients, those taking eltrombopag at various doses had higher platelet counts after chemotherapy compared to those taking a placebo, even though the main goal of the study was not fully achieved. This is important because patients with low platelet counts can experience serious complications during cancer treatment, and eltrombopag could provide a way to better manage this side effect.
Who this helps: Patients receiving chemotherapy for advanced solid tumors.