Irit Ben-Aharon

Irit Ben-Aharon

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142
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Publications

Publications (142)
Article
247 Background: The phase 3 KEYNOTE-585 study (NCT03221426) evaluated neoadjuvant/adjuvant pembrolizumab (pembro) or placebo (pbo) + chemotherapy (chemo) followed by adjuvant pembro vs pbo in locally advanced, resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer. A separate cohort evaluated pembro + FLOT (FLOT cohort). We report results f...
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Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence at ages <50 years is increasing worldwide. Screening initiation was lowered to 45 years in the United States. The cost‐effectiveness of initiating CRC screening at 45 years in Israel was assessed with the aim of informing national policy and addressing internationally relevant questions. Methods A valid...
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Background: Importance: The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) rose abruptly in the mid-1990s, is continuing to increase, and has now been noted in many countries. By 2030, 25% of American patients diagnosed with rectal cancer will be < 49 years old. The large majority of EOCRC are not found in germline cancer susceptibility mutati...
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This cross-sectional study investigates representation of women as principal investigators of clinical trials by study phase, medical specialty, and representation of women trial participants.
Preprint
BACKGROUND The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) rose abruptly in the mid 1990s, is continuing to increase, and has now been noted in many countries. By 2030, 25% of American patients diagnosed with rectal cancer will be 49 years or younger. The large majority of EOCRC cases are not found in patients with germline cancer susceptibi...
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3620 Background: The role of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) in stage II CC is debated. The validated 12-gene Oncotype DX Colon Recurrence Score test provides a Recurrence Score (RS) result (range, 0-100) which estimates recurrence risk (RR) in stage II/III pts. We studied treatment and clinical outcomes in CC pts in whom treatment decisions incorporate...
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The global incidence of young-onset (YO) cancer is on the rise [...]
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Background: Biliary tract cancers, which arise from the intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts and the gallbladder, generally have a poor prognosis and are rising in incidence worldwide. The standard-of-care treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer is chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin. Because most biliary tract cancers have an immun...
Article
Unlabelled: Epidemiologic data indicate a significant increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in younger populations in the past three decades. Moreover, recent evidence also demonstrates a similar trend in gastric, pancreatic, and biliary tract cancers. A majority of these early-onset cases are sporadic and lack hereditary or familial back...
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411 Background: LEAP-015 (NCT04662710) is a randomized, open-label, 2-part, phase 3 study of the safety and efficacy of lenvatinib + pembrolizumab + chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced/metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. We report findings from part 1, the safety run-in, of LEAP-015. Methods: Eligible patients had untreated,...
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Background: Favorable pathologic response(FPR) is a significant predictor for improved survival following Neoadjuvant therapy(NAT) in esophageal and gastroesophageal cancer(GEJ). Preoperative prediction of FPR could modify treatment plans. No reliable method for predicting FPR exists. We sought to identify preoperative predicting factors for FPR....
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Background Testicular toxicity following chemotherapy is of increasing importance with the continuous improvement of survival rates. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was suggested to protect testis against such toxicity; however, its suppressive quality and mechanism of action are still unclear. We examined whether and how pretreatment with Gn...
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Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a life-threatening oncological emergency rarely seen in solid tumors and is a complication of cancer therapy for rapidly proliferating tumors with devastating outcomes. BRAF and KRAS are two key oncogenes in the MAPK signaling pathway that are routinely examined for mutations to predict resistance to anti-EGFR therapy....
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(1) Background: We aimed to explore the association between neoadjuvant treatment, tumor-infiltrating immune lymphocyte (TIL), and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) and survival in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. (2) Methods: Patients who underwent esophagectomy were divided into three groups according to their treatment modality and tumor...
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Recently, we have witnessed impressive diagnostic and therapeutic changes for gastrointestinal cancer patients. New challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic have led us to re-evaluate our work priorities. Thanks to the commendable resilience of both investigators and patients, however, clinical research never stopped. In addition to conducting c...
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Background Gonadal toxicity following chemotherapy is an important issue among the population of young cancer survivors. The inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase I, irinotecan (CPT-11), is widely used for several cancer types. However, little is known about the effect of irinotecan on the fertility of both genders. Thus, the aim of the present study was...
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There has been no major change of practice in gastrointestinal oncology at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) symposium 2021, but confirmation that immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy has become standard of care in several indications. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Gastrointestinal T...
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Background: The increased susceptibility of cancer patients to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infections and complications calls for special precautions while treating cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemics. Thus, oncology departments have had to implement a wide array of prevention measures. Objectives: To address issues associated with...
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PURPOSE Early-onset (EO) colorectal cancer (CRC, age < 50 years) incidence is increasing. Decisions on optimal adjuvant therapy should consider treatment adherence, adverse events, and expected outcomes in a population with life expectancy longer than later-onset (LO) CRC (age ≥ 50 years). MATERIALS AND METHODS Individual patient data from six tri...
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We had previously reported short-term efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of the BNT162b2 vaccine among cancer patients with solid tumors. We aimed to evaluate these outcomes at six months postvaccination. The study cohort comprised patients who were on treatment during vaccination and throughout six months postvaccination. Serologic tests were pe...
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Last year the field of immunotherapy was finally introduced to GI oncology, with several changes in clinical practice such as advanced hepatocellular carcinoma or metastatic colorectal MSI-H. At the virtual ASCO-GI symposium 2021, several large trial results have been reported, some leading to a change of practice. Furthermore, during ASCO-GI 2021,...
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Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis and consequent changes in medical practice have engendered feelings of distress in diverse populations, potentially adversely affecting the psychological well-being of cancer patients. Aim: The purpose of this observational longitudinal study was to evaluate psychosocial perspectives amo...
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Background: Esophageal cancer represents a global challenge. Despite significant evolution of treatment protocols in the past decade, recurrence rates are still high and survival rates are poor. Current treatment paradigm for localized gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) carcinoma remains to be further elucidated as for the role of neoadjuvant chemora...
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Importance The efficacy and safety profile of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been acquired from phase 3 studies; however, patients with cancer were not represented in these trials. Owing to the recommendation to prioritize high-risk populations for vaccination, further data are warranted. Objective To evaluate the use and safety of the BNT162b2 vaccine...
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3517 Background: Incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (eoCRC, age < 50) is steadily increasing. Decisions on adjuvant treatment (adjTx) regimen and duration should consider tx adherence, toxicity (tox) and expected outcomes in a population with life-expectancy longer than late onset CRC (loCRC, age ≥ 50). Methods: Individual patient data from...
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Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy, yet data regarding long-term ovarian reserve of female survivors are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a differential pattern of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in female childhood ALL survivors compared with the normal age-matched popul...
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Gastric cancer is the third most lethal cancer worldwide, and evaluation of the genomic status of gastric cancer cells has not translated into effective prognostic or therapeutic strategies. We therefore hypothesize that outcomes may depend on the tumor microenvironment (TME), in particular, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). However, very little...
Article
Several categories of chemotherapy confer substantial risk for late-term vascular morbidity and mortality. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the mechanism of acute chemotherapy-induced vascular injury in normal tissues. Specifically, we looked at activation of the acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase)/ceramide pathway, which leads to generatio...
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Background: The incidence of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor (EGFRI)-induced papulopustular rash is 60-85%. Objective: To investigate prophylactic topical treatment for EGFRI-induced rash. Methods: A single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Adult cancer patients initiating treatment with EGFRIs were randomi...
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Background: Trastuzumab, a humanized anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) antibody, is considered a standard treatment in addition to chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting for HER2/neu-positive breast cancer, yet its impact on fertility and ovarian reserve remains obscure. We aimed to study the effect of anti-HER2/neu on chemoth...
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Background/aims: Current chemotherapy regimens for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) yield poor outcomes, with a median overall survival of <12 months. Recent data on the genomic landscape of CCAs have created opportunities for targeted therapy. Yet, data regarding its efficacy are scarce. We aimed to describe the genomic landscape of a CCA patient cohort...
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Background The prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) is poor with a median overall survival (OS) of less than 12 months in advanced-stage disease. The search for distinct genetic subgroups of GC patients and predictive biomarkers is ongoing. While BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline mutations (gBRCAm) have potential therapeutic implications in ovarian, breast and p...
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Background: The risk of cancer patients to develop COVID19 infection is unclear. We aimed to prospectively study cancer patients and oncology healthcare workers for COVID19 serology. In IgG+ cases, immune profile was determined to portray the pattern of immune response to SARS-CoV2. Methods: Cancer patients on active treatment and healthcare worker...
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4074 Background: Neoadjuvant CRT with fluoropyrimidine (FP) is standard treatment for LARC, which is increasing in younger patients (pts). RCTs examining the addition of OX are still controversial. A post hoc analysis of the CAO/ARO/AIO-04 trial showed significant benefit in pts < 60y. We hypothesised that younger pts with LARC might have improved...
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Breast cancer is diagnosed in ~0.3% of pregnant women. Studies that have addressed gestational and neonatal outcomes of chemotherapy during pregnancy have demonstrated increased gestational complications including preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation. We hypothesized that anthracycline-induced gestational complications could be derived...
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Introduction Digital social networks have become a key player in the ecosystem of young patients with cancer, with regard to their unique perspectives and unmet needs. This study aims to investigate the web-based social community tools and to characterise the user profile, unmet needs and goals of young patients with cancer. Methods A web-based su...
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The EGFR/HER2 signaling network is an effective therapeutic target for HER2-positive cancers, which are known for their aggressive biological course. Evidence indicates that the EGFR/HER2 network plays a role in the aggressive basal-like subtype as well. Here, we studied the potential role of miR-125a-3p as a modulator of the EGFR/HER2 pathway in b...
Preprint
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A heterogenous disease with a dismal prognosis, esophageal cancer poses a major health challenge worldwide. In recent years, the treatment landscape for esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has undergone major evolution, with the elucidation of underlying biologic pathways and predispositions. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation has e...
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Background Anatomic location of primary tumors across the colon correlate with survival in the metastatic setting, whereas left-sided tumors may exhibit superior survival compared with right-sided tumors. The Oncotype Recurrence Score (RS) assay is a clinically validated predictor of recurrence risk in patients with stage II colorectal cancer (CRC)...
Article
61 Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) followed by surgery represents a key therapeutic strategy for locally advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC). Former studies addressed the clinicopathological patterns of patients who demonstrated good response to NCRT compared with inferior response. Nevertheless, there is paucity of data regarding po...
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Background Current staging of pathological stage III colon cancer (CC) is suboptimal; many patients recur despite unremarkable preoperative staging. We previously reported that early postoperative PET‐CT can alter the stage and management of up to 15% of patients with high‐risk stage III CC. This study aimed to determine the role of the test in the...
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The increased survival of patients with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GAD) following improvements in treatment has been accompanied by a rising incidence of secondary brain metastasis. HER2 amplification/overexpression, which has been associated with an increased risk of brain metastasis in breast cancer, is found in about 20% of patients with G...
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Purpose Though former evidence implies a correlation of breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) mutation with reduced ovarian reserve, the data is yet inconsistent. Our aim was to investigate biomarkers of ovarian aging in a cohort of young healthy carriers of the BRCA mutation. We hypothesized that the role played by BRCA genes in aging pathways...
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Background: Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) followed by oocyte retrieval is a leading option for fertility preservation before chemotherapy, yet this procedure causes excessive serum levels of estradiol (E2), which are often detrimental for cancer patients. Aromatase inhibitors are often used in breast cancer patients during COH to preve...
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836 Background: Treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has greatly advanced over the past decade, based on data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This raises the question whether results of RCTs, performed on selected patients (pts), do reflect outcomes in real-life practice. The aim of this study was to summarize our experience i...
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Personalized molecular profiling has an established role in selection of treatment for metastatic disease; however, its role in improving radiosensitivity and functional imaging has not been evaluated. In the current study, we examined molecular profiling as a tool for designing personalized targeted gold nanoparticles (GNP) to serve as dual-modal...
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Introduction: Data regarding esophageal cancer (EC) in Israel are limited. The aim of this study was hence to characterize this entity in the Israeli population and to compare it to the literature. Patients/Methods: This is a retrospective study of all consecutive EC patients treated at our institution between 1997-2013. Data were retrieved from pa...
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Background: Treosulfan (L-treitol-1,4-bis-methanesulfonate), an alkylating agent with myeloablative and immunosuppressive traits, has been increasingly incorporated as a main conditioning protocol for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric malignant and non-malignant diseases. Treosulfan has been shown to present lower toxicity...
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e15163 Background: Staging of patients (pts) with pathological stage III colon cancer (CC) is currently suboptimal; many pts still recur despite an unremarkable preoperative staging. We previously reported that early postoperative PET-CT can alter the stage and management of up to 15% of pts with high risk stage III CC and later reported also encou...
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Introduction: Advances in cancer therapy have improved the long-term survival of cancer patients. Concerns about fertility represent a major issue for young cancer patients. The emergent discipline of oncofertility, an intersection between oncology and fertility, is a new concept that describes an integrated network of clinical resources that focu...
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AIM To characterize colorectal cancer (CRC) in octogenarians as compared with younger patients. METHODS A single-center, retrospective cohort study which included patients diagnosed with CRC at the age of 80 years or older between 2008-2013. A control group included consecutive patients younger than 80 years diagnosed with CRC during the same peri...
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562 Background: Current staging of patients (pts) with pathological stage III colon cancer is suboptimal; many pts still recur despite unremarkable preoperative staging work-up. We previously reported that early postoperative PET-CT can alter the stage and management of pts with high risk stage III colon cancer in up to 19% of patients. The aim of...
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552 Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) in Octogenarians is an emerging clinical entity. It is currently unclear whether these patients have unique features and whether their treatment should differ from younger patients with CRC. The aim of this study was to better characterize this patients population. Methods: A single-center, retrospective coho...
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523 Background: Recent evidence indicate that the anatomic location of primary tumors across the colon correlate with survival in the metastatic setting, whereas left-sided tumors may exhibit superior survival compared with right-sided. The Oncotype DX, a 12-gene colon cancer assay, is a clinically validated predictor of recurrence risk in stage II...
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Full-text available
Gali Perl,1,2 Baruch Brenner,1,2 Irit Ben-Aharon1,2 1Institute of Oncology, Davidoff Center, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital Campus, Petah Tikva, 2Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel Abstract: Former evidence delineates a strong correlation between cancer and venous thromboembolic events (VTEs). Of all the ma...
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Background Recent epidemiological studies indicate the rate of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies among younger patients is increasing, mainly due to colorectal cancer. There is a paucity of data regarding the magnitude of treatment-related symptoms, psychosocial issues and potential unmet needs in this population. We aimed to characterize the need...
Article
For tumors to form, progress and metastasize, they must recruit and reprogram normal cells in their microenvironment into a pro-tumorigenic stroma. Yet little is known about the pathways leading to stromal reprogramming. We hypothesized that such reprogramming would not be mediated by classic oncogenes, since the stroma is relatively genetically st...
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Oncotype-DX assay has never been validated for BRCA mutation carriers. This study compares the recurrence score (RS) distribution in BRCA-positive breast cancer patients with that of a general population (GP) of patients and reports their outcomes. Eligible patients were BRCA carriers who performed the Oncotype-DX assay. Two sets of databases were...
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Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has proliferative properties in the testis. Cetuximab, an anti-EGFR, is administered together with chemotherapy to patients with various types of cancer. This studies aim was to investigate the effect of cetuximab on testicular function. Adult male mice were injected with cetuximab (10 mg/kg), cisplatin (8 mg...
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A major problem in the treatment of head and neck cancer today is the resistance of tumors to traditional radiation therapy, which results in 40% local failure, despite aggressive treatment. The main objective of this study was to develop a technique which will overcome tumor radioresistance by increasing the radiation absorbed in the tumor using c...
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Background: The EGFR/HER2 signaling network emerges as an effective therapeutic target for Her2 enriched cancers, which is known by its aggressive biological course. Nevertheless, there is evidence that the EGFR/HER2 network may play a key role not only in the HER2-enriched subtype of breast cancer, but also in the similarly aggressive basal-like s...