Research Studies

Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary cancer research

 

Over a third of all diagnosed cancers in Lebanon are gastrointestinal or genitourinary cancers as per the 2015 National Cancer Registry data. Gastrointestinal cancers account around 2,000 cases per year, with colorectal cancer accounting to more than half of them. Similarly, genitourinary cancers account for over 2,000 cases annually with bladder and prostate cancer constituting over 75% of them.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly reported cancer in males, a surge in cases was noted upon the promotion of screening of prostate cancer that began in 1994.

Bladder cancer incidence ranks second in Lebanon, is highest in the region and compares with Western rates. This rate is explained by the high proportion of smokers, especially females, over the past few decades.

Colon cancer is increasingly being diagnosed in younger age groups which intensifies its burden. Colon cancer risk increases if lifestyle related activities were associated with poor diet and lack of exercise. However, the largest proportion of colon cancers can be avoided with early detection of polyps through colonoscopy. In the Middle East region, most patients present with late stage disease due to the lack of screening.

Our mission is to improve on the quality and survival rate of genitourinary and gastrointestinal cancer patients by collaborating with international and regional bodies. Be the leading institution in seeking breakthrough and personalized therapy in clinical research and to encourage the multidisciplinary case discussion meetings. We aim at improving on outcomes through further exploring translational clinical research in a multidisciplinary setting.

Our Goals:

1. Further determine genetic mutations that can lead to aggressive GastroIntestinal and GenitoUrinary cancers
2. Determine distinctive cancer specific changes in GI and GU cancer types that can lead to adapted treatment
3. Provide the best precision/personalized medical care and treatment for our patients.
4. Make a difference in cancer education and awareness in patient through spreading the highlights of our research
5. Studying the epidemiology and different environmental factors that can be different from other regions

 

Research Collaborations

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: MSKCC
• MD Anderson Cancer Center: MD Anderson
• King Hussein Cancer Center: KHCC
• Oncodistinct Clinical Trials Network: Oncodistinct
• PRACTICAL prostate cancer research institute: PCRI

 

Ongoing gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancer research studies include: 

Bladder cancer:  

PI Dr. Ali Shamseddine:

• Bio-2017-0464: Determination of Mutational Profile of Waterpipe and Smoking Bladder Cancer Patients (Award# 103446; Project# 24240)

• Primary Familial Hepatic Neuroendocrine tumor (NET)

  

• The prognostic significance of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition expression in resectable pancreatic cancer patients

 

• Muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Clinical outcome of our daily practice at AUBMC

 

• Real-world database of advanced dMMR/MSI-H gastro-intestinal cancer patients

 

Colorectal cancer:

Dr. Ali Shamseddine: 

• Immunoscore in rectal cancer

 

• A bibliometric analysis of colorectal cancer screening in Arab countries

 

• Digestive Tumors in Adolescents and Young Adults in Lebanon: A 10-Year Retrospective Study Evaluating Incidence Trends, Characteristics, and Outcomes

 

• Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Middle East: What, Why, Who, When, and How?

 

• Overcoming EGFR Resistance in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Using Vitamin C: A Review

 

• Real World Retrospective study of total neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer

 

• Treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer: a single institutional 10-year experience

 

• Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in the development of Colorectal cancer: A retrospective case-control study in Lebanon

 

 Dr Sally Temraz: 

 

• Predictive and Prognostic value of inflammatory markers and microRNA in stage IV colorectal cancer

 

• The Gut Microbiome: A potential modulator of Drug efficacy in colon cancer

 

• Colorectal Cancer Outcome

 

• Evaluating the use of G8 scoring tool in enhancing the prognostic value of ECOG performance status in elderly colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy plus targeted therapy

 

• Effect of Dietary Polyphenols in the Mediterranean Diet on the Outcome of Advanced Colon Cancer Patients

 

Prostate cancer:

PI Dr. Ali Shamseddine:

 

• Patterns of GnRH analogue use in castration-resistant prostate cancer in six countries 

PI Dr. Sally Temraz:

• Quality of life in men with prostate cancer treatment by Lutetium 177 PSMA radionuclide.

 

• Genetic Predisposition to prostate cancer in a cohort of Lebanese men

 

•  Bone Health in Prostate Cancer Patients

 

• Quality of Life in Cancer Patients Receiving Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) at AUBMC

 

Pancreatic cancer:

Dr. Ali Shamseddine: 

• Retrospective Chart Review of Cases of Non-Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors at the American University of Beirut (AUBMC)

• A Prospective Study on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: Prognostic Implications, Chemotherapy Resistance, and Disease Progression

 

• Maintenance chemotherapy in advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer, a narrative review and case series

 

Dr. Sally Temraz: 

•  Modified GTX second line therapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

 

• Multimodal treatment approach using chemoradiotherapy (FOLFIRINOX plus stereotactic radiotherapy) for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a phase II single-arm study at the American University of Beirut Medical Center

• A prognostic index model to predict the clinical outcomes for using chemotherapy followed by stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer

  

• Chart Review of patients that have underwent whipple surgery at the American University of Beirut (AUBMC)