Ultrafast gates for single atomic qubits

We demonstrate single-qubit operations on a trapped atom hyperfine qubit using a single ultrafast pulse from a mode-locked laser. We shape the pulse from the laser and perform a π rotation of the qubit in less than 50 ps with a population transfer exceeding 99% and negligible effects from spontaneous emission or ac Stark shifts. The gate time is significantly shorter than the period of atomic motion in the trap (Ω(Rabi)/ν(trap)>10(4)), demonstrating that this interaction takes place deep within the strong excitation regime.

Modeling hot flushes and quality of life in breast cancer survivors

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the relationships among measures of hot flushes, perceived hot flush interference, sleep disturbance, and measures of quality of life while controlling for potential covariates (patient and treatment variables).

METHODS

Breast cancer survivors (n = 395) due to receive aromatase inhibitor therapy provided demographic information, physiological hot flush data via sternal skin conductance monitoring, hot flush frequency via written diary and electronic event marker, hot flush severity and bother via written diary, and questionnaire data via the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the EuroQOL, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor model for hot flush symptoms (frequency and severity). Although there was strong convergence among self-reported hot flush measures, there was a high degree of unexplained variance associated with physiological measures. This suggests that self-report and physiological measures do not overlap substantially. The structural model showed that greater hot flush frequency and severity were directly related to greater perceived interference with daily life activities. Greater perceived interference, in turn, directly predicted greater sleep disruption, which predicted lower perceived health state and more symptoms of anxiety and depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest hot flush interference may be the most appropriate single measure to include in clinical trials of vasomotor symptom therapies. Measuring and ameliorating patients' perceptions of hot flush interference with life activities and subjective sleep quality may be the most direct routes to improving quality of life.

Entanglement of atomic qubits using an optical frequency comb

We demonstrate the use of an optical frequency comb to coherently control and entangle atomic qubits. A train of off-resonant ultrafast laser pulses is used to efficiently and coherently transfer population between electronic and vibrational states of trapped atomic ions and implement an entangling quantum logic gate with high fidelity. This technique can be extended to the high field regime where operations can be performed faster than the trap frequency. This general approach can be applied to more complex quantum systems, such as large collections of interacting atoms or molecules.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa serological analysis in young children with cystic fibrosis diagnosed through newborn screening

BACKGROUND

With newborn screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF), eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is possible if PA detection occurs early. A serological response to infection likely precedes culture positivity in CF patients, so PA serological testing is very appealing in this population. However, controversies continue to exist about serology testing, titer cutoffs for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibody tests, and their value in children with CF.

METHODS

This longitudinal, prospective study collected respiratory secretions as oropharyngeal swabs or expectorated sputum for culture and also sera over 6 years in 69 patients diagnosed by NBS. Serology assessed PA antibody titers against cell lysate, exotoxin A, and elastase. A novel statistical approach with weighted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was used to determine best antibody titer cutoff values to predict subsequent PA positive cultures.

RESULTS

Using these weighted ROC curves, the order of sensitivity was found to be cell lysate, exotoxin A, and then elastase while age-specific cutoffs were better than fixed cutoffs previously used. Age-specific serological cutoffs both predict and detect PA respiratory infections with a higher sensitivity and specificity. Serological responses to the PA antigens determined that a response to cell lysate occurs significantly earlier than culture positivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Age-specific serological cutoffs rather than fixed values against common PA antigens improve early PA identification in infants and young children diagnosed with NBS. Regular serological assessment with age-specific cutoffs in these children appears to be a worthy diagnostic tool.

A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Steroid Receptor Coactivator-1 Diminishes the Coactivation of ERα

Estrogen signaling is critical in the progression of a large fraction of breast cancers as well as in the maintenance of bone mineral density. Generally speaking, Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), blocks estrogen signaling in the breast by acting as an antagonist at the same time as promoting estrogen signaling in the bone by acting as an agonist. This tissue specific action characteristic of SERMs is thought to be maintained by the balance of levels and/or activities of estrogen receptor (ER) coregulators. Because of this critical role, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ER coregulators could have a dramatic effect on tamoxifen action.Previous studies have implicated steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) as a critical coregulator for the mixed antagonist-agonist specificity of tamoxifen. By using an ERE-Tk-Luciferase transient transfection assay, we have shown that a SNP causing the amino acid change P1272S in SRC-1 dramatically reduces its ability to coactivate ERα.To assess the impact of this SNP on tamoxifen action in breast cancer we decided to genotype the SRC-1 P1272S SNP in a breast tumor DNA bank. This bank was generated from archived tumors from individuals either exclusively receiving adjuvant tamoxifen or not receiving any adjuvant therapy following surgical resection. Currently, the bank is composed of 1000 samples divided equally among the two groups. Genotyping for the SRC-1 P1272S SNP is currently underway.Since SRC-1 has also been shown to be important in proper maintenance of bone mineral density (BMD) and in the agonist action of tamoxifen in certain tissues, we also assessed the impact of the P1272S SNP in bone following tamoxifen therapy. We genotyped breast cancer patients exclusively receiving tamoxifen therapy (i.e. no chemotherapy, no radiation) who had lumbar (n=113) and/or hip (n=108) BMD scans before and after 12 months of tamoxifen therapy. We observed a significant association between the SNP and bone loss; women harboring the P1272S SNP lost 6.4% of their lumbar BMD, while women with the WT version lost only 1.3% of their lumbar BMD.These findings illustrate the critical role of SRC-1 in tamoxifen action in bone, and potentially other hormone responsive tissues. Studies are ongoing to decipher the mechanism for decreased coactivation activity of the SNP, and also to extend the clinical association studies.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 66.

Variants in the BRCA1/Fanconi-Anemia Repair Pathway and Taxane-Induced Neuropathy in SWOG S0221

Background: Taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy is a dose-limiting side effect that leads to suboptimal cancer treatment and diminished quality of life. The mode of taxane neurotoxicity is unclear, but may be through stabilization of microtubules and induction of spindle checkpoint, leading to cell cycle arrest at G2/M. Fanconi Anemia (FA) genes, including FANCD2, and FANCA, appear to be involved in G2/M phase checkpoint maintenance as well as spindle checkpoint in response to internal and external signals, such as taxane treatment. Thus, we hypothesized that variants in FA genes could impact severity of taxane-induced neuropathies.Methods: Using DNA extracted from blood collected from 893 breast cancer patients participating in a trial evaluating metronomic dosing of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and paclitaxel (S0221), we genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that represent all of the variability across FANCA (44 SNPs) and FANCD2 (24 SNPs) in all race/ethnicity groups, as well as a panel of ancestry informative markers to control for potential population stratification, using Illumina GoldenGate platform. SNPs with minor allele frequency (MAF) less than 0.10 and those out of Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) proportions (p<0.001) were removed from analyses. Ordinal regression was used to test for allelic and haplotypic association with grade 3 or 4 toxicities relative to 0, 1, and 2 toxicities, adjusting for age, genetic admixture index and treatment arm. To adjust for multiple testing, permutation analyses were performed on both single SNP and haplotype models.Results: Eighteen SNPs in FANCD2 and 38 SNPs in FANCA passed MAF and HWE proportion requirements. For FANCD2, 4 SNPs spanning 67.5 Kb (rs7648104, rs2272125 [coding SNP], rs6786638 and rs644215), were significantly associated with taxane-induced neuropathy (p<0.001) after controlling for multiple testing, with each SNP resulting in approximately a twofold increase in odds of severe taxane-induced neuropathy. Haplotype estimation showed that all 18 SNPs comprise a single haplotype. Two major (>1% frequency) haplotypes were found. The frequencies of the risk haplotype in cases (patients with grade 3 or 4 neuropathy) and controls (patients with ≤ grade 2 neuropathy) were 0.25 and 0.15, respectively. Ordinal regression analyses were highly significant (p<0.0005); patients with at least one copy of the risk haplotype had more than a twofold increased risk of grade 3 or 4 taxane-induced neuropathy (OR=2.2, 95% CI 1.44, 3.44). For FANCA, no SNPs or haplotypes were significantly associated with grade 3 or 4 neurotoxicity, either prior to or after correction for multiple testing.Conclusions: These results indicate that the Fanconi-Anemia pathway may be important for neurological sensitivity to taxanes, and that genotypic markers might be able to be used to identify patients at increased risk for severe taxane-induced neuropathy. Further studies will elucidate potential associations with survival outcomes.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 2001.

Targeting Intrinsically-Resistant Breast Cancer Stem Cells with Gamma-Secretase Inhibitors

Background: We showed previously that tumorigenic, mammosphere-forming human breast cancer cells characterized by high CD44 and low or undetectable CD24 levels (CD44+/CD24-/low) are intrinsically resistant to conventional chemotherapy, and therefore may be responsible for cancer relapse. Our goal is identify novel drugs that selectively target these chemotherapy-resistant, tumor-initiating cells. Gene expression analysis of CD44+/CD24-/low cells vs. non-tumorigenic cells implicated the Notch, PI3K, and Hedgehog signaling pathways in regulating CD44+/CD24-/low cells. Thus, Notch, PI3K-AKT, and/or Hedgehog inhibitors may eliminate this unique subpopulation of cancer cells, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, and could improve patient outcome. To test this hypothesis, we are carrying out a series of preclinical and clinical studies using a gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI) to target the Notch pathway. Methods: For preclinical studies, stable xenograft lines were generated by transplantation of human tumor biopsy fragments into immunocompromised mice. Mice with tumors (n = 32, 150-300 mm3) were randomized to four treatment groups: 1) vehicle control, 2) chemotherapy: docetaxel 3) drug: GSI (MRK-003, Merck) or 4) combination: docetaxel + MRK-003. During treatment, mice were monitored for tumor volume and body weight. At the end of the treatment cycle, residual tumors were characterized by FACS for the percentage of CD44+/CD24-/low cells, as well as for mammosphere-forming efficiency (MSFE) and tumor-initiating capacity. In a complementary clinical trial, breast cancer biopsies taken before and after treatment with GSI (MK-0752, Merck) were characterized for expression of CD44, CD24, and ALDH by FACS and for MSFE. Results and Conclusions: In preclinical studies using two independent triple negative xenograft lines, Notch pathway inhibition reduced mammosphere formation but did not affect tumor volume, with no consistent change in marker expression by FACS. In patient samples, MSFE also declined after the first cycle of GSI/chemotherapy and remained low after subsequent cycles. This response corresponded with a stasis of metastatic growth during five cycles of treatment, but metastatic burden began to increase coincident with the sixth cycle of treatment. Marker analysis suggests that GSI treatment chemo-sensitizes a significant proportion of the otherwise chemo-resistant CD44+/CD24-/low cell population indicating that they are dependent on the Notch pathway for survival. The decrease of MSFE in both preclinical and clinical studies suggests that inhibition of the Notch pathway by GSI may reduce the number of tumorigenic cancer cells that would otherwise remain after chemotherapy.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 48.

Association of Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeletal Symptoms with Ultrasonographic Changes at the Wrist

Background: About 40% of aromatase inhibitor (AI)-treated women develop AI-associated musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS) such as arthralgias, but the etiology is unclear. Tendon sheath fluid and tenosynovial changes have been demonstrated by imaging in symptomatic AI-treated patients. It is unclear if these changes correlate with development of AIMSS.Methods: Thirty consecutive patients (pts) initiating therapy with letrozole or exemestane on a prospective clinical trial were enrolled to this substudy. Pts with prior wrist trauma or who declined to provide informed consent were excluded. Pts underwent high resolution ultrasonography (US) of the wrists bilaterally and completed the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire at baseline (BL) and after 3 mo of AI. AIMSS was defined as increase in HAQ or pain VAS score during AI therapy that exceeded a predefined cutoff. Analysis of US images was performed in a blinded manner. Imaging abnormalities included the following: presence of fluid, synovitis, and/or hyperemia in the tendon sheath or joint recess. Statistical analysis was performed using univariate chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses.Results: Of the 30 enrolled subjects, 25 completed both BL and 3 mo assessments. Eight of 30 (27%) discontinued therapy because of AIMSS (2 before and 6 after the 3 mo timepoint), and 3 patients discontinued therapy for unrelated reasons. All patients have been followed for at least 6 mo. We observed a significant association between early treatment discontinuation and change in HAQ (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.525, p=0.0006) and VAS (OR 1.307, p=0.0096) but not DASH (OR 1.001, p=0.96) scores between BL and 3 mo. The proportion of pts with abnormalities on US at BL or that developed during therapy is given in tables 1 and 2, respectively. We did not observe a statistically significant correlation between objective abnormalities on US at BL or following initiation of AI therapy and the development of AIMSS or early treatment discontinuation because of AIMSS.Conclusions: Clinically relevant musculoskeletal symptoms develop in AI-treated women, leading to treatment discontinuation in a substantial percentage. However, patient-reported symptoms were not associated with inflammatory changes visible on wrist US in this pilot study.Proportion of pts with US abnormalities at BL # with abnl/total ptsof pts with AIMSS, # with US abnlof pts without AIMSS, # with US abnlof pts who d/c AI b/c AIMSS, # with US abnlof pts who continued AI, # with US abnlAny anatomic site27/30 (90%)9/10 (90%)18/20 (90%)7/8 (88%)20/22 (91%)--Tendon sheath14/30 (47%)7/10 (70%)7/20 (35%)5/8 (63%)9/22 (41%)--Joint recess24/30 (80%)6/10 (60%)18/20 (90%)6/8 (75%)18/22 (82%) Proportion of pts who developed new abnormalities on US during AI therapy # with abnl/total ptsof pts with AIMSS, # with US abnlof pts without AIMSS, # with US abnlof pts who d/c AI, # with US abnlof pts who continued AI, # with US abnlAny anatomic site13/25 (52%)5/9 (56%)7/16 (44%)4/6 (67%)7/19 (37%)--Tendon sheath5/25 (20%)2/9 (22%)3/16 (19%)0/6 (0%)5/19 (26%)--Joint recess12/25 (48%)5/9 (56%)6/16 (38%)4/6 (67%)6/19 (32%) 

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 802.

Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Changes at 1 Year in Postmenopausal Women Who Are Not Receiving Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer (BCA)

Background: Adjuvant therapy for breast cancer (BCA) may be associated with an increased risk for osteoporosis. This prospective, observational study evaluates BMD changes in postmenopausal women undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy (CTX) for early stage BCA, in the absence of endocrine therapy.Methods: Women who have been postmenopausal for at least 5 years, and who were recently diagnosed with Stage 0-III BCA were eligible to undergo serial BMD if adjuvant endocrine therapy was not recommended. Study BMDs were performed at baseline, 1 and 2 years. All patients (pts) were counseled on calcium, vitamin D and weight bearing exercise. This study was designed to assess serial changes in BMD in the individual and to compare changes in those treated with CTX to those who received no systemic therapy (observation). The study was closed prior to reaching target sample size due to slow accrual.Results: Sixteen pts enrolled. Eleven pts received CTX with a dose dense anthracycline and taxane containing regimen and 5 pts received no systemic adjuvant therapy. Twelve pts, median age 63 (range 52-80), have completed the 1 year assessment and are reported here. Two pts treated with CTX and 1 pt on observation were on bisphosphonates at study entry. Baseline BMD mean in gm/cm2 at the lumbar spine (LS) was 1.112 (range 0.807-1.389) and total hip (TH) was 0.989 (range 0.760-1.213). At 1 year, mean BMD at LS was 1.078 (range 0.767-1.347) and TH was 0.956 (range 0.753-1.210). For all 12 pts at 1 year, the individual BMD changes in LS & TH BMD ranged from 10% loss to 2% gain, with 8 of the 9 CTX treated pts losing 1-10% of BMD and the 3 pts on observation staying within 2% of baseline. The mean dosage of dexamethasone used during CTX by the 9 CTX pts was 230 mg (range 156-288mg). The 3 observation pts had no exposure to steroids during the parallel time period.Conclusions: This prospective, observational study supports the hypothesis that adjuvant CTX, and/or its supportive medications, may be associated with acute changes in BMD in postmenopausal women. Patient follow up continues.Funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure POP0402593

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 1066.

Effects of Vaginal Estrogens on Serum Estradiol Levels in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Survivors Taking an Aromatase Inhibitor or a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator

Introduction: Intravaginal estradiol (E2) has been proposed as a safe alternative to systemic estrogen therapy. We report serum E2 levels in breast cancer survivors using either vaginal E2 ring (Estring®) or beta E2 tablet (Vagifem®) while also taking an aromatase inhibitor (AI) or selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). These patients are compared to a group of breast cancer survivors using an AI but not taking a VE. Patients and Methods: Postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer (n=24) using an AI or SERM and vaginal estrogens (VE) to control atrophic vaginitis (ring inserted every 90 days; n=10 or 1 tablet inserted 2 x per week; n=14) and 24 control survivors using an AI without VE were enrolled after informed consent. Serum samples were drawn from ring patients pre-insertion and 30 and 60 days post insertion, from tablet patients the morning prior to insertion and 12 hours post insertion, and from controls taking an AI >14 d. Serum samples were assayed for E2 concentrations by highly sensitive radio-immunoassay (Cancer Res 1987;47:1957). Statistical analyses were carried out using SAS® System, v. 9.2. Results: Patient data are provided in tables 1 and 2 (control data not shown). Circulating E2 levels pre-insertion in tablet patients were not significantly different than those in control patients (mean difference=4.7 pmol/l SD:3.2; CI: 2.9-4.9, p=0.48). E2 levels pre-insertion in patients using the ring were significantly greater than controls (mean difference=14.2 pmol/l; SD:7.2;CI, 11-19:p=0.0001). In tablet patients, E2 levels at 12 hours post insertion were 76 pmol/l higher than at pre-insertion baseline (SD:97; CI, 14-89, p<0.0001), and E2 levels at 12 weeks post insertion in ring patients were 30 pmol/l higher than at pre-insertion baseline(SD:50; CI: 10-20, p=0.001). Discussion: Our data did not show a significant difference in pre-insertion E2 levels for the tablet compared to controls, but we did observe a significant difference in pre-insertion E2 levels for the ring compared to controls. Importantly, we also observed a significant elevation in E2 levels in most patients using VEs post insertion, regardless of the type of device (tablet or ring). The clinical significance of vaginal E2 absorption is unknown, although elevated E2 levels are diametrically opposite of the desired effect for breast cancer patients taking an AI. Vaginal estrogen in patients receiving an adjuvant AI must be advised with caution.ID#SERM/AIPRE-INSERTION PMOL/LPOST-INSERTION PMOL/LMONTHS ON TABLETV4T4.61424V10T35.449V13TIS193V14T1330813V2L4.91912V9L<3.01938V11L<3.01318V5E105773V1A<3.01912V3A<3.0<3.014V6A<3.08918V7A<3.03348V8A5.322936V12A<3.06113IS=Insufficient sample; A=anastrozole; L=letrozole; E=exemestane; T=tamoxifen; R=raloxifeneTable 2. Cases on VE E2 Ring and AI or SERMID #SERM/AIPRE-INSERTION PMOL/L30 DAYS PMOL/L60 DAYS PMOL/LMONTHS ON RINGE6T25222015E9T11169.815E10T15201712E8R18151412E4L19161512E5L<3.0<3.0<3.09E7L<3.0<3.0<3.054E1A121071693E2A1511116E3A2131356 

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 806.

High-resolution spectroscopy of Lambda16N by electroproduction

An experimental study of the (16)O(e,e'K(+))(Lambda)(16)N reaction has been performed at Jefferson Lab. A thin film of falling water was used as a target. This permitted a simultaneous measurement of the p(e,e'K(+))Lambda, Sigma(0) exclusive reactions and a precise calibration of the energy scale. A ground-state binding energy of 13.76+/-0.16 MeV was obtained for (Lambda)(16)N with better precision than previous measurements on the mirror hypernucleus (Lambda)(16)O. Precise energies have been determined for peaks arising from a Lambda in s and p orbits coupled to the p(1/2) and p(3/2) hole states of the (15)N core nucleus.

Heralded quantum gate between remote quantum memories

We demonstrate a probabilistic entangling quantum gate between two distant trapped ytterbium ions. The gate is implemented between the hyperfine "clock" state atomic qubits and mediated by the interference of two emitted photons carrying frequency encoded qubits. Heralded by the coincidence detection of these two photons, the gate has an average output state fidelity of 89+/-2%. This entangling gate together with single qubit operations is sufficient to generate large entangled cluster states for scalable quantum computing.

Saber-sheath trachea in a patient with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation

Chronic rejection remains a major source of morbidity and mortality following lung transplantation. The clinical characteristics of chronic rejection involves bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), which leads to progressive airway obstruction. Changes in intrathoracic tracheal dimensions and shape are commonly present in the setting of airway obstruction, leading to the narrowing of the intrathoracic trachea in the coronal plane with anteroposterior lengthening characteristic of the saber-sheath trachea deformity. We present a 64-year-old man who underwent left lung transplantation for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who later developed saber-sheath trachea as a result of chronic airway obstruction due to BOS.

Deeply virtual compton scattering off the neutron

The present experiment exploits the interference between the deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) and the Bethe-Heitler processes to extract the imaginary part of DVCS amplitudes on the neutron and on the deuteron from the helicity-dependent D(e,e'gamma)X cross section measured at Q2=1.9 GeV2 and xB=0.36. We extract a linear combination of generalized parton distributions (GPDs) particularly sensitive to E_{q}, the least constrained GPD. A model dependent constraint on the contribution of the up and down quarks to the nucleon spin is deduced.

High resolution spectroscopy of (lambda)(12)B by electroproduction

An experiment measuring electroproduction of hypernuclei has been performed in hall A at Jefferson Lab on a 12C target. In order to increase counting rates and provide unambiguous kaon identification two superconducting septum magnets and a ring imaging Cherenkov detector were added to the hall A standard equipment. An unprecedented energy resolution of less than 700 keV FWHM has been achieved. Thus, the observed (Lambda)(12)B spectrum shows for the first time identifiable strength in the core-excited region between the ground-state s-wave Lambda peak and the 11 MeV p-wave Lambda peak.

Prospective multicenter study of the impact of the 21-gene recurrence score (RS) assay on medical oncologist (MO) and patient (pt) adjuvant breast cancer (BC) treatment selection

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Background: The 21-gene RS assay has been validated to quantify the risk of distant recurrence in tamoxifen treated pts in N-ER+BC and predict magnitude of chemotherapy benefit. Since there is little data regarding the impact of RS on MO and pt decision making, this multi-center study was designed to prospectively examine whether RS affects MO and pt adjuvant treatment selection. Methods: MOs stated their treatment recommendation and confidence in it while pts indicated treatment choice pre and post RS assay. RS were returned to MO and pt for routine clinical care. Frequency distributions and co-frequency tables are used to display categorical distributions of nominal variables; means and standard deviations are used to summarize continuous variables. Results: 15 MOs at 1 community and 3 academic practices consecutively enrolled 93 pts (89 evaluable) with N-ER+BC. The treatment plan changed in 31.5% of MOs and 27% of pts. The frequency of treatment changes are in the table below. The largest change induced by RS results was conversion from pre-test CHT to post-test HT (22.5% of MO, 10.1% of pts). MOs stated RS results increased confidence in 68 (76%). 90% of pts felt the RS assay influenced their treatment choice; 95% were glad they took the test. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the RS assay does impact MO adjuvant treatment recommendations, pt treatment choice, and confidence in the treatment plan. Investigator initiated trial supported by an unrestricted clinical trial grant from Genomic Health Inc.

[Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Compton-scattering cross section on the proton at high momentum transfer

Cross-section values for Compton scattering on the proton were measured at 25 kinematic settings over the range s=5-11 and -t=2-7 GeV2 with a statistical accuracy of a few percent. The scaling power for the s dependence of the cross section at fixed center-of-mass angle was found to be 8.0+/-0.2, strongly inconsistent with the prediction of perturbative QCD. The observed cross-section values are in fair agreement with the calculations using the handbag mechanism, in which the external photons couple to a single quark.

The immunohistochemical characterization of devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) in the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to characterize the disfiguring and debilitating fatal neoplastic disease, devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), which has recently affected a significant proportion of the wild population of Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). The diagnostic values of a number of immunohistochemical stains were employed to further characterize 50 representative cases. The neoplasms were negative for cytokeratin (0/48), epithelial membrane antigen (0/42), von Willebrand factor (vWF) (0/11), smooth muscle actin (SMA) (0/26), desmin (0/47), glial fibrillary acid protein (0/13), CD16 (0/13), CD57 (0/43), CD3 (0/18), and LSP1 (0/16). DFTD cells were positive for vimentin (50/50), S-100 (41/48), melan A (11/39), neuron specific enolase (35/35), chromogranin A (12/12) and synaptophysin (29/30). The cells were negative for amyloid (0/30) and stained negatively with Singh's silver (0/34) but were weakly argyrophilic (3/40) using Grimelius histochemical stain. These staining characteristics are consistent with cells of neuroectodermal origin.