DR. THERESE ELIZABETH CUSICK, MD

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This study examined chronic pain in gender minority (GM) individuals, including transgender men, transgender women, and gender-expansive people. About 50.5% reported experiencing chronic pain, with transgender men and gender-expansive individuals reporting higher pain severity and disruptions in sleep and daily activities. Stress was identified as a significant factor affecting chronic pain, regardless of hormone treatment or gender identity, highlighting the need for further research on the complex causes of pain in this population. Who this helps: This helps patients in the gender minority community and their healthcare providers understand the unique challenges they face regarding chronic pain.

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This study examined a specific type of chemotherapy, intermittent docetaxel, for men with advanced prostate cancer that doesn’t respond to hormone treatment. Researchers recruited 120 patients and found that using a blood test to monitor a certain biomarker helped decide whether to continue chemotherapy or pause it for a while, potentially improving patients' quality of life by managing side effects more effectively. The results are important because they could lead to better treatment strategies that reduce unnecessary chemotherapy, saving resources and enhancing patient experience during a challenging time. Who this helps: This helps patients with advanced prostate cancer and their doctors.

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This study looked at how prostate cancer patients fare after surgery, focusing on those at risk of their cancer returning. The researchers analyzed data from 137 men and found that using a special imaging test (PSMA-PET) helped predict how long patients could remain free of serious cancer events. They discovered that patients with signs of cancer spread on PSMA-PET had a much higher risk of their cancer returning (over 3 times higher) compared to those without spread, and those who received additional radiation therapy had better outcomes. Who this helps: This helps patients and doctors better understand risks after prostate cancer surgery and make more informed treatment decisions.

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Researchers developed an animal model called MIND (Mouse-INtraDuctal) by injecting pre-invasive human breast cancer cells directly into mouse mammary ducts to study which cases of ductal carcinoma in situ will progress to invasive cancer. Of 37 patient samples tested, 54% progressed to invasion in the mice, and only elevated progesterone receptor levels in the original patient tumor predicted invasive behavior—not genetic mutations. The model demonstrates that invasive progression of early breast cancer appears to be driven more by the tumor's environment and biology than by its genetic mutations alone.

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This study looked at a treatment called irreversible electroporation (IRE) for prostate cancer located at the top of the prostate. Researchers treated 50 patients and found that the treatment was safe, with no major complications and only a slight decrease in sexual quality of life after one year. A significant drop in cancer marker levels was observed, with 94% of men maintaining their ability to achieve erections, and only 2% showing remaining cancer in the treated area. Who this helps: This helps patients with localized prostate cancer and their doctors exploring effective treatment options.

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This study compared the experiences of breast cancer patients who received two types of radiation therapy after surgery: intra-operative radiation therapy (IORT) and whole-breast external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). It found that patients who had IORT reported better physical well-being of the chest compared to those who had EBRT, especially younger patients who tended to feel worse overall. However, both groups were similar when it came to satisfaction with breast appearance and side effects from the treatment. Who this helps: This helps breast cancer patients and doctors in choosing radiation therapy options.

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This study looked at how well combining two imaging methods – a special MRI and a PET scan focused on prostate cancer – could improve the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in men who had not previously undergone these tests. Researchers found that using both imaging techniques together improved the ability to correctly identify csPCa, with a sensitivity of 97% compared to 83% for MRI alone, and a negative predictive value of 91% versus 72% for MRI alone. This matters because it could lead to fewer unnecessary biopsies and ensure that men at risk of csPCa are diagnosed more accurately. Who this helps: This helps men at risk for prostate cancer and their doctors make better-informed decisions about testing and treatment.

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This study looked at using a new treatment called focal irreversible electroporation (IRE) for men with localized prostate cancer. Of the 123 patients treated, 96.75% were still cancer-free after three years, with only 2.7-9.8% showing signs of cancer in the treated area. Importantly, most patients reported no significant impact on their quality of life, with 98.8% remaining pad-free and 76% having no changes in erectile function. Who this helps: This benefits men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer and their doctors by providing a treatment option that preserves quality of life.

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This study looked at how effective a new imaging test called PSMA PET/CT is in predicting whether men with a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level after prostate surgery would remain free from disease progression over three years after receiving salvage radiotherapy. Researchers monitored 260 men and found that 64.5% of those treated with radiotherapy did not experience a rise in PSA levels, with even better outcomes (81%) for men whose scans showed no disease or only localized disease, compared to 45% for those with cancer spread beyond the prostate area. Understanding these results is important because they can help doctors tailor treatment plans and avoid unnecessary treatments for men with less aggressive disease. Who this helps: This benefits men dealing with prostate cancer recurrence and their healthcare providers.

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This study tested a new way to monitor prostate cancer in men who don't require immediate treatment. Researchers looked at 172 men using advanced MRI scans and biopsies to see if they could avoid frequent biopsies during the first three years of surveillance. They found that 21% of participants had signs of cancer progression after three years, with MRI scans correctly identifying 61% of these cases and showing that men with certain blood test results were more likely to need treatment. Who this helps: This helps men with prostate cancer on active surveillance and their doctors by potentially reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies.

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This study looked at how adding a special imaging test called gallium-68 PSMA PET/CT to the routine MRI can help detect significant prostate cancer in men who are getting biopsied for suspected prostate cancer. The researchers aim to find out if this combination can identify men who might not need a biopsy, specifically identifying if 600 men can safely avoid this procedure without missing serious cases of cancer. By accurately figuring out who can skip the biopsy, this research could lead to less invasive procedures for many men. Who this helps: This helps patients who are being evaluated for prostate cancer.

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This study looked at fat tissue around the prostate in men with localized prostate cancer to see how its characteristics might be affected by obesity and the aggressiveness of the cancer. Researchers found that the fat cells in this tissue were smaller and released different types of fatty acids compared to fat tissue under the skin. They also discovered that men with less aggressive cancer had higher fat release rates, but overall, they did not find significant differences tied to obesity or cancer aggressiveness. Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and researchers studying the relationship between fat tissue and prostate cancer.

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This study looked at the impact of using PSMA PET scans to stage prostate cancer before surgery in 142 men. It found that 97.9% of patients had signs of cancer within the prostate, but 14.1% had cancer that had spread outside the prostate. Among those whose cancer was confined to the prostate, 82.9% responded well to surgery, compared to only 28.6% for those with spread disease, highlighting that knowing the extent of the cancer beforehand can greatly influence treatment outcomes. Who this helps: Patients with prostate cancer and their doctors.

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This study examined how well two imaging techniques—PSMA-PET and mpMRI—can detect intermediate-grade prostate cancer (ISUP grades 2-3) in patients. Among 56 patients who had both tests, PSMA-PET showed a 100% sensitivity for detecting these grades, while mpMRI was slightly less effective at 97%. When combined, both methods were very effective, with a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 90%, indicating that using both together is better for diagnosis. Who this helps: This helps patients with suspected intermediate-grade prostate cancer by improving diagnostic accuracy.

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This study looked at how a specific imaging technique called Ga-PSMA PET/CT affects treatment decisions for men with prostate cancer. Researchers found that after the scans, 51% of patients had a change in their management plans, with a significant 62% change in those who had recurring cancer after treatment. This is important because the scans can uncover hidden cancer that wasn’t previously detected, helping doctors make more informed decisions about patient care. Who this helps: This benefits prostate cancer patients and their doctors by providing better information for treatment planning.

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This study looked at prostate cancer in 432 men under age 50 from 1994 to 2017 to see how their cancer behaved and how well treatments worked. The team found that 44% of these men had low-risk cancer, with very low rates of recurrence after surgery: 7.8% for low-risk, 15.3% for intermediate-risk, and 23.3% for high-risk cancers at five years after surgery. Remarkably, only 0.4% of the men died from prostate cancer during an average follow-up of nearly five and a half years, showing that younger patients today are diagnosed with less aggressive cancers and often do very well after treatment. Who this helps: This benefits young men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their doctors by providing confidence in treatment outcomes.

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This study looked at how well multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) detects significant prostate cancer in men under 50 years old compared to older men. Researchers found that while the overall sensitivity (or accuracy) of mpMRI was similar (80.3% for younger men versus 84.3% for older men), it was much lower for specific cases: only 49% for younger men with higher-risk tumors (PI-RADS scores of 4 and 5), compared to 72.5% for older men. This matters because many young patients with severe cancer are being misclassified as having less serious disease due to the lower sensitivity of mpMRI. Who this helps: This benefits younger men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their doctors.

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This study looked at how estrogen and progesterone (E+P) affect breast cancer cells, specifically focusing on a protein called NEMO. The researchers found that E+P treatment increased the activation of NEMO, which then helped boost the levels of the tumor suppressor protein PML, leading to a more controlled tumor environment in lab experiments. They demonstrated that silencing NEMO in mouse models increased tumor growth and spread; this highlights the complex role of E+P as both helpful and potentially harmful in cancer treatment. Who this helps: This helps patients with breast cancer and their doctors in understanding the effects of hormone therapy.

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This study looked at how using Ga-PSMA PET/CT scans can help decide on salvage radiation treatment (SRT) for men with rising PSA levels after prostate surgery. Out of 164 men, 62% had a positive PSMA scan indicating disease presence, but those with a negative scan had an impressive 85% treatment response rate after SRT, while only 35% of men without treatment saw further PSA increases. This matters because it shows that a negative PSMA scan can guide effective treatment decisions and improve outcomes for patients. Who this helps: This benefits men with post-surgery prostate cancer and their healthcare providers in making informed treatment choices.

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This study looks at a technique called geospatial cryptography, which helps researchers access and share sensitive location-based data about cancer patients without compromising their privacy. The researchers found that using this method could greatly speed up cancer research by overcoming challenges that make it hard to share data among cancer registries, such as secure case sharing and collaboration. The findings suggest that this technology could lead to faster and more effective cancer control and prevention efforts. Who this helps: This helps researchers and public health officials working on cancer control and prevention.

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This study looked at how a drug called odanacatib (ODN) affects bone health in monkeys that had their ovaries removed, a situation that mimics menopause in women. After 20 months, the researchers found that ODN treatment increased the thickness of certain bones by 21-34% and improved the strength of the femur compared to untreated monkeys, while other effects on bone remodeling were similar to a commonly used medication called alendronate. These results are important because they suggest that odanacatib could be effective and safe for treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal patients. Who this helps: This helps patients with osteoporosis, especially postmenopausal women.

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This study looked at a type of early-stage breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and its transition to invasive breast cancer. Researchers found that a protein called BCL9 is linked to this progression, with higher levels of BCL9 seen in 26% of breast cancers, particularly in aggressive types known as basal-like invasive cancers. Understanding BCL9's role could help identify patients at higher risk for developing invasive cancer and provide a target for new treatments. Who this helps: This research benefits patients with early-stage breast cancer and their doctors by providing insights into risk assessment and potential treatment options.

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The study looked at how the diabetes medication sitagliptin affects bone health in rats that had undergone surgery to remove their ovaries and were deficient in estrogen. Over 12 weeks, the researchers found that using sitagliptin did not lead to more bone loss compared to the control group, and in fact, at higher doses, there was less bone loss in the lumbar vertebrae. This matters because understanding how diabetes drugs impact bone health can help avoid additional risks for bone weakening in patients with diabetes. Who this helps: This helps patients with diabetes who are at risk of bone loss.

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In this study, researchers looked at how a drug called Odanacatib affects hip bone health in ovariectomized (OVX) rhesus monkeys, which are commonly used to model human osteoporosis. They found that after 21 months of treatment, Odanacatib increased bone mineral density at the femoral neck by 11% to 15%, improved bone strength by up to 30%, and made the outer layer of bone thicker by up to 21%. This research is important because it shows that Odanacatib has the potential to be a new treatment for osteoporosis by enhancing bone health without the negative effects seen with traditional medications. Who this helps: This helps patients with osteoporosis, particularly postmenopausal women.

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This study examined how a drug called JTT-305/MK-5442, which helps stimulate bone growth, works when used with another medication called alendronate in rats with low bone density after ovaries were removed. Over 12 weeks, JTT-305/MK-5442 increased bone density by about 3.8% to 5.3%, although these increases were not strong enough to be statistically significant. However, when combined with alendronate, JTT-305/MK-5442 did lead to higher bone density in certain areas after 7 months, suggesting that this drug can enhance bone formation even when alendronate is used, which typically reduces bone formation. Who this helps: This benefits postmenopausal women with osteoporosis by providing new treatment options.

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This study focused on a protein called DKK1 that limits bone growth and mass. Researchers developed new human antibodies that effectively neutralize DKK1, leading to a significant increase in bone volume and density in mice. Specifically, the antibodies improved bone structure and mineral density in the tested mice, showing a clear link between reducing DKK1 activity and increased bone mass, which is crucial for potential treatments of bone-related diseases. Who this helps: This benefits patients with low bone mass conditions like osteoporosis and doctors seeking new treatments for these issues.