Wong, Melisa
Research interests focus on improving the care of older adults with cancer.
Arasu, Vignesh
Research interests include breast cancer, risk-based screening, and artificial intelligence and computer vision deep learning.
Presti, Joseph
Research interests include refining strategies for prostate cancer screening and detection of high-risk tumors.
Kubo, Ai
Research interests focus on lifestyle factors and risks of chronic diseases.
Kwan, Marilyn L.
Research interests include epidemiology of breast cancer prognosis.
Habel, Laurel A.
Research interests include the etiology and progression of cancer.
Chawla, Neetu
Research interests include cancer care delivery, management, and communications.
NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) – KP Community Site
The overarching goal of the KP NCORP Community Site is to bring the benefits of medical advances to our racially…
(PQ3) Addressing Cancer Treatment Disparities for Persons with HIV
Cancer is the leading cause of death among persons with HIV (PWH). Studies have found significant disparities in cancer therapy…
“I Had to Make Them Feel at Ease”: Narrative Accounts of How Women With Breast Cancer Navigate Social Support
Social scientific studies of social support predominantly focus on the positive associations between social support and emotional well-being. The negative…
Patterns and Factors Associated With Adherence to Lung Cancer Screening in Diverse Practice Settings
For lung cancer screening to confer mortality benefit, adherence to annual screening with low-dose computed tomography scans is essential. Although…
Pilot pragmatic randomized trial of mHealth mindfulness-based intervention for advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers
Assess the feasibility of conducting a cluster randomized trial (RCT) comparing technology-delivered mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) programs against a waitlist control…
Associations between nutritional factors and chemotherapy toxicity in older adults with solid tumors
Nutritional status can directly affect morbidity and mortality in older adults with cancer. This study evaluated the association between pretreatment…
Development of a goal elicitation measure to support bladder cancer patients’ choice about urinary diversion
Patient centered care aims to align treatment with patient goals, especially when treatment options have equivalent clinical outcomes. For surgeries…
Gene Dependent Cancer Risk and Optimal Cancer Prevention Strategies in Lynch Syndrome – DUPLICATED DO NOT ACTIVATE
As part of a K training award, and within our overall colorectal cancer research program, this award will support additional…
Recovering from Cystectomy: Patient Perspectives
Bladder cancer patients who undergo cystectomy and urinary diversion face functional and quality-of-life challenges. Little is known about these patients'…
A Randomized Controlled Trial of mHealth Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer Patients and Informal Cancer Caregivers: A Feasibility Study Within an Integrated Health Care Delivery System
To assess feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a mobile/online-based (mHealth) mindfulness intervention for cancer patients and their caregivers to reduce…
Accurate Identification of Colonoscopy Quality and Polyp Findings Using Natural Language Processing
The aim of this study was to test the ability of a commercially available natural language processing (NLP) tool to…
Gene Dependent Cancer Risk and Optimal Cancer Prevention Strategies in Lynch Syndrome
As part of a “K” training award from the National Institutes of Health, and within the overall colorectal cancer research…
Timely follow-up of positive cancer screening results: A systematic review and recommendations from the PROSPR Consortium
Timely follow-up for positive cancer screening results remains suboptimal, and the evidence base to inform decisions on optimizing the timeliness…
Cost Effectiveness of Gene Expression Profile Testing in Community Practice
Purpose Gene expression profile (GEP) testing can support chemotherapy decision making for patients with early-stage, estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth…
Effect of Time to Diagnostic Testing for Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening Abnormalities on Screening Efficacy: A Modeling Study
Background: Patients who receive an abnormal cancer screening result require follow-up for diagnostic testing, but the time to follow-up varies…
Race Disparities in Social Networks, and Breast Cancer Treatment, Prognosis
The goal of this research is to determine, through the use of mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, how the social…
Identification of fluorescence in situ hybridization assay markers for prediction of disease progression in prostate cancer patients on active surveillance
Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the second most prevalent cancer among U.S. males. In recent decades many men with low risk…
Being Present: A single-arm feasibility study of audio-based mindfulness meditation for colorectal cancer patients and caregivers
A metastatic cancer diagnosis is associated with high levels of distress in patients and caregivers. Mindfulness interventions can reduce distress…
Resistance Training to Reduce Chemotoxicity in Colon Cancer
The goal of this study is to test a randomized intervention of up to six months of home-based resistance training…
A Pilot Pragmatic Trial of mHealth Mindfulness Intervention to Improve Quality of Life Among Metastatic Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers
Screening for psychosocial distress is an accreditation requirement of the Commission on Cancer, underscoring the importance of addressing cancer patients’…
Adherence to Oral Chemotherapy among Patients with Solid Tumors
Use of oral chemotherapy agents for the treatment of many solid tumors has been increasing. This project aims to examine…
Disparities in Prostate, Lung, Breast, and Colorectal Cancer Survival and Comorbidity Status among Urban American Indians and Alaskan Natives
Cancer is the second leading cause of death among American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AIAN), although cancer survival information in…
Predictors of Bowel Function in Long-term Rectal Cancer Survivors with Anastomosis
Bowel function in long-term rectal cancer survivors with anastomosis has not been characterized adequately. We hypothesized that bowel function is…
Clinical risk score to predict likelihood of recurrence after ductal carcinoma in situ treated with breast-conserving surgery
A majority of women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) receive breast-conserving surgery (BCS) but then face a risk of…
Research priorities in cancer cachexia: The University of Rochester Cancer Center NCI Community Oncology Research Program Research Base Symposium on Cancer Cachexia and Sarcopenia
Cancer cachexia remains understudied and there are no standard treatments available despite the publication of an international consensus definition and…
Muscle mass at the time of diagnosis of nonmetastatic colon cancer and early discontinuation of chemotherapy, delays, and dose reductions on adjuvant FOLFOX: The C-SCANS study
For many chemotherapy regimens dosed based on body surface area (BSA), patients experience dose reductions or delays or discontinue treatment,…
Physicians’ perspectives on the informational needs of low-risk prostate cancer patients
Despite the evidence indicating that decision aids (DA) improve informed treatment decision making for prostate cancer (PCa), physicians do not…
Adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) for breast cancer: Impact of a recently implemented outreach and education program at KPNC
The goal of the project is to examine the impact of a recently implemented outreach and education program at KPNC…
The Cancer Research Network: a platform for epidemiologic and health services research on cancer prevention, care, and outcomes in large, stable populations
The ability to collect data on patients for long periods prior to, during, and after a cancer diagnosis is critical…
Sociodemographic and clinical predictors of switching to active treatment among a large ethnically diverse cohort of men with low-risk prostate cancer on observational management
We determined the clinical and sociodemographic predictors of beginning active treatment in an ethnically diverse population of men with low…
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Ovarian Cancer Treatment and Survival
Among ovarian cancer patients, African American (AA) women experience poorer survival compared to other race/ethnicity groups. This has been attributed…
A prospective cohort study of early discontinuation of adjuvant chemotherapy in women with breast cancer: the breast cancer quality of care study (BQUAL)
For many women with non-metastatic breast cancer, adjuvant chemotherapy prevents recurrence and extends survival. Women who discontinue chemotherapy early may…
Use of Bevacizumab in Community Settings: Toxicity Profile and Risk of Hospitalization in Patients With Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Little is known regarding toxicities and hospitalizations in community-based settings for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received…
Treatment patterns for ductal carcinoma in situ from 2000-2010 across six integrated health plans
Considerable debate exists about the optimal treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Using electronic data sources, we examined first…
Preliminary Development and Evaluation of an Algorithm to Identify Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Toxicities Using Electronic Medical Records and Administrative Data
Breast cancer chemotherapy toxicity is not well documented outside of randomized trials. We developed and conducted preliminary evaluation of an…
Characterization and Treatment of Local Recurrence Following Breast Conservation for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
The optimal treatment strategy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) continues to evolve and should consider the consequences of initial…
Non-initiation and early discontinuation of adjuvant trastuzumab in women with localized HER2-positive breast cancer
One year of trastuzumab therapy is recommended for women with HER2-positive breast cancer ? 1.0 cm in size to increase…
Complications of herpes zoster in cancer patients
Cancer patients tend to have a higher incidence of herpes zoster (HZ), but little is known about their risk of…
Advanced Imaging Among Health Maintenance Organization Enrollees With Cancer
Fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare expenditures for advanced imaging studies (defined as computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], positron emission tomography…
Comparative Effectiveness of Adjunctive Bevacizumab for Advanced Lung Cancer: The Cancer Research Network Experience
Bevacizumab plus carboplatin-paclitaxel (BCP) chemotherapy has Food and Drug Administration approval for advanced nonsquamous, non-small-cell lung cancer based upon improved…
Performance of Claims-based Algorithms for Identifying Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Among Patients Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
Cardiotoxicity is a known complication of certain breast cancer therapies, but rates come from clinical trials with design features that…
Does KRAS Testing in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Impact Overall Survival? A Comparative Effectiveness Study in a Population-Based Sample
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are approved for treating metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC); KRAS mutation testing is recommended prior…
Stem cells guided gene therapy of cancer: New frontier in personalized and targeted therapy
Introduction: Bevacizumab was approved for treatment of advanced non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the US in late 2006.…
Efficacy of Intermittent Androgen Deprivation Therapy vs Conventional Continuous Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer: A Meta-analysis
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of intermittent androgen deprivation therapy (IADT) vs continuous androgen deprivation therapy (CADT) for the treatment…
A survey of breast cancer physicians regarding patient involvement in breast cancer treatment decisions
Shared breast cancer treatment decision-making between patients and physicians increases patient treatment satisfaction and compliance and is influenced by physician-related…
Postdiagnosis supplement use and breast cancer prognosis in the After Breast Cancer Pooling Project
Vitamin supplement use after breast cancer diagnosis is common, but little is known about long-term effects on recurrence and survival.…
Interpersonal influences and attitudes about adjuvant therapy treatment decisions among non-metastatic breast cancer patients: an examination of differences by age and race/ethnicity in the BQUAL study
Patients are increasingly involved in cancer treatment decisions and yet little research has explored factors that may affect patient attitudes…
KRAS Testing and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor Treatment for Colorectal Cancer in Community Settings
BACKGROUND: In metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), mutations in the KRAS gene predict poor response to EGF receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. Clinical…
Patterns and predictors of breast cancer chemotherapy use in Kaiser Permanente Northern California, 2004-2007
Chemotherapy regimens for early stage breast cancer have been tested by randomized clinical trials, and specified by evidence-based practice guidelines.…
Patterns and predictors of first-line chemotherapy use among adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the cancer research network
BACKGROUND: Relatively low rates of chemotherapy receipt have been observed in older patients diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer…
Utilization of HER2 genetic testing in a multi-institutional observational study
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression is amplified in about 20% of breast cancer tumors, and evaluation of…
Noninitiation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Women With Localized Breast Cancer: The Breast Cancer Quality of Care Study
PURPOSE: For some women, adjuvant chemotherapy for nonmetastatic breast cancer decreases recurrences and increases survival; however, patient-physician decisions regarding chemotherapy…
Patterns of Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy Use in the Northern California Breast Cancer Family Registry
BACKGROUND: In the United States, 5-year breast cancer survival is highest among Asian American women, followed by non-Hispanic white, Hispanic,…
Patient awareness and knowledge of breast cancer-related lymphedema in a large, integrated health care delivery system
Breast cancer patients have voiced dissatisfaction regarding their education on breast cancer-related lymphedema risk and risk reduction strategies from their…
Non-initiation of adjuvant hormonal therapy in women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: The Breast Cancer Quality of Care Study (BQUAL)
Adjuvant hormonal therapy for non-metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer decreases risk of breast cancer recurrence and increases survival. However,…
The Breast Cancer Quality of Care Study (BQUAL): A Multi-Center Study to Determine Causes for Noncompliance with Breast Cancer Adjuvant Therapy
In oncology, quality of care is a major issue for patients and providers. Significant variations in care, including nonreceipt of…
Validity of Eight Integrated Healthcare Delivery Organizations’ Administrative Clinical Data to Capture Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Exposure
BACKGROUND: Cancer Research Network (CRN) sites use administrative data to populate their Virtual Data Warehouse (VDW). However, information on VDW…
Single-institution, multidisciplinary experience with surgical resection of primary chest wall sarcomas.
INTRODUCTION:Primary chest wall sarcomas are rare mesenchymal tumors and their mainstay of therapy is wide surgical resection. We report our…
Clinician awareness and knowledge of breast cancer-related lymphedema in a large, integrated health care delivery setting
Breast cancer survivors have reported dissatisfaction regarding their education on risk of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) from clinicians. We describe…
Outpatient Use of Low Molecular Weight Heparin Monotherapy for First-Line Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism in Advanced Cancer
BACKGROUND: Evidence-based treatment guidelines recommend low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) monotherapy for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE). This analysis assessed the…
Exercise in patients with lymphedema: a systematic review of the contemporary literature
BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding the role of exercise in cancer patients with or at risk for lymphedema, particularly breast. We…
The After Breast Cancer Pooling Project: rationale, methodology, and breast cancer survivor characteristics
The After Breast Cancer Pooling Project was established to examine the role of physical activity, adiposity, dietary factors, supplement use,…
Gender differences in quality of life among long-term colorectal cancer survivors with ostomies
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe how gender shapes the concerns and adaptations of long-term (i.e., more than five years) colorectal cancer survivors…
Early discontinuation and non-adherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy are associated with increased mortality in women with breast cancer
Despite the benefit of adjuvant hormonal therapy (HT) on mortality among women with breast cancer (BC), many women are non-adherent…
Breast cancer DNA methylation profiles are associated with tumor size and alcohol and folate intake
Although tumor size and lymph node involvement are the current cornerstones of breast cancer prognosis, they have not been extensively…
Treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ among patients cared for in large integrated health plans
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether use of adjuvant therapy varies by race/ethnicity among patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) at…
Early and late complications among long-term colorectal cancer survivors with ostomy or anastomosis
PURPOSE: Among long-term (>or=5 y) colorectal cancer survivors with permanent ostomy or anastomosis, we compared the incidence of medical and…
Relationship between clinical and pathologic features of ductal carcinoma in situ and patient age: an analysis of 657 patients
Prior studies have shown that young patient age at diagnosis is associated with an increased risk of local recurrence among…
Screening pharmaceuticals for possible carcinogenic effects: initial positive results for drugs not previously screened
OBJECTIVE: To screen commonly used prescription drugs for possible carcinogenic effects. METHODS: In a large health care program we identified…
Epidemiologic evaluation of pharmaceuticals with limited evidence of carcinogenicity
Thorough review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has resulted in classifying many substances, including pharmaceuticals, as…
Pharmaceuticals that cause mammary gland tumors in animals: findings in women
Risk of breast cancer in women was assessed for eight pharmaceuticals that produce mammary tumors in experimental animals, using nested…
Exploring household income as a predictor of psychological well-being among long-term colorectal cancer survivors
PURPOSE: The purpose of this analysis was to determine the unique contribution of household income to the variance explained in…
Longitudinal association of anthropometry with mammographic breast density in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation
High percent mammographic breast density is strongly associated with increased breast cancer risk. Though body mass index (BMI) is positively…
Medication errors among adults and children with cancer in the outpatient setting
PURPOSE: Outpatients with cancer receive complicated medication regimens in the clinic and home. Medication errors in this setting are not…
Pure and predominantly pure intralymphatic breast carcinoma after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: an unusual and adverse pattern of residual disease
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is standard of care for patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Patients who achieve a pathologic complete response…
Thiazolidinedione therapy is not associated with increased colonic neoplasia risk in patients with diabetes mellitus
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Thiazolidinedione ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), are used to treat diabetes. PPARgamma is highly expressed…
Diffusion of aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer therapy between 1996 and 2003 in the Cancer Research Network
PURPOSE: Clinical trials demonstrated adjuvant aromatase inhibitor treatment is superior for decreasing breast cancer recurrence risk over adjuvant tamoxifen treatment…
Positive, negative, and disparate–women’s differing long-term psychosocial experiences of bilateral or contralateral prophylactic mastectomy
Because of recent studies showing strong prevention benefit and acceptable psychosocial outcomes, more women may be considering prophylactic mastectomy. A…
Screening statins for possible carcinogenic risk: up to 9 years of follow-up of 361,859 recipients
PURPOSE: Determine the risk of cancer in statin users. METHODS: Risk of cancer in up to 9.4 years after first…
Complications at the end of life in ovarian cancer
Women dying of ovarian cancer vary considerably in their complications and in the types of health care they receive. The…
Quality of diabetes care among cancer survivors with diabetes
BACKGROUND: Among patients with chronic medical conditions, unrelated conditions are often undertreated. OBJECTIVE: To compare the quality of diabetes care…
What women wish they knew before prophylactic mastectomy
Although prophylactic mastectomy significantly reduces the incidence and recurrence of breast cancer, little is known about women's information needs before…
Cost-effectiveness of letrozole versus tamoxifen as initial adjuvant therapy in hormone receptor-positive postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.
BACKGROUND:In Breast International Group (BIG) 1-98, a randomized, double-blind trial comparing 5 years of initial adjuvant therapy with letrozole versus…
Pain management in the last six months of life among women who died of ovarian cancer
Previous studies indicate that the symptoms of many dying cancer patients are undertreated and many suffer unnecessary pain. We obtained…
Complications of colonoscopy in an integrated health care delivery system
BACKGROUND: Information about colonoscopy complications, particularly postpolypectomy bleeding, is limited. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the magnitude and severity of colonoscopy complications.…
Post-diagnosis weight gain and breast cancer recurrence in women with early stage breast cancer
PURPOSE: To examine whether weight gain after diagnosis of breast cancer affects the risk of breast cancer recurrence. PATIENT AND…
Variations in hospice use among cancer patients
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have documented that hospice enrollment by terminally ill cancer patients varies substantially by patient characteristics and across…
Complications following bilateral prophylactic mastectomy
BACKGROUND: Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy significantly decreases breast cancer risk, but complications of the procedure have only been described in single-site…
