SCIENTIFIC REPORT 2004 - Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

C A N C E R P R E V E N T I O N A N D C O N T R O L P R O G R A M
Hernandez, A, Lindner, I, Blomberg, BB,
Hussini, S, Burger, M, Mathew, JM, Carreno, M,
Garcia-Morales, R, Fuller, L, Jin, Y, Rosen, A,
Lee, KP, Miller, J, and Esquenazi, V. Suppression
of allogeneic T cell proliferation through blocking
of NF-KB in the differentiation process of
human dendritic cells. Human Immunology
64:S128, 2003.
Mathew, JM, Alvarez, S, Vallone, T, Blomberg,
BB, Joshua, M, and Esquenazi, V. A human-
SCID-mouse-islet transplant model for the evaluation
of the regulatory activity of donor bone
marrow cells. Human Immunology 64:S7, 2003.
Van Der Put, E, Sherwood, EM, Blomberg, BB,
and Riley, RL. Aged mice exhibit distinct B cell
precursor phenotypes differing in activation, proliferation,
and apoptosis. Experimental Gerontology
38:1137-47, 2003.
Frasca, D, Nguyen, D, Van Der Put, E, Riley,
RL, and Blomberg, BB. The Age-related decrease
in E47 DNA-binding does not depend on increased
Id inhibitory proteins in bone marrowderived
B cell precursors. Frontiers in Bioscience
8:A110-16, 2003.
Frasca, D, Nguyen, D, Riley, RL, and Blomberg,
BB. Effects of aging on proliferation and E47
transcription factor activity induced by different
stimuli in murine splenic B cells. Mechanisms of
Ageing and Development 124:361-69, 2003.
Frasca, D, Nguyen, D, Riley, RL, and Blomberg,
BB. Decreased E12 and/or E47 transcription factor
activity in the bone marrow as well as in the
spleen of aged mice. Journal of Immunology
170:719-26, 2003.
Frasca, D, Van der Put, E, Riley, RL, and
Blomberg, BB . Reduced Ig class switch in aged
mice correlates with decreased E47 and activation-induced
cytidine deaminase. Journal of Immunology
172:2155-62, 2003.
McGregor, BA, Antoni, MH, Boyers, A, Alferi,
SM, Blomberg, BB , and Carver, CS. Cognitive
behavioral stress management increases benefit
finding and immune function among women
with early stage breast cancer. Journal of Psychosomatic
Research 54:1- 8, 2003.
HIGHLIGHTS/DISCOVERIES
• Compromised humoral immune response in
aged individuals may be at least partially explained
by antibody V H
repertoire differences at
the pre-B cell level (before antigen selection).
• Decreased transcription factor E2A is important
for decreased Ig class switch and optimal humoral
immunity.
• Demonstrated improved immune response in
breast cancer patients after psychosocial intervention.
CHARLES S. CARVER, PH.D.
Professor of Psychology
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH
Dr. Carver’s cancer-related research concerns
the role of psychosocial variables in cancer
morbidity and quality of life in cancer patients,
in terms of emotional disturbance, psychosexual
disturbance, and disruption of normal life activities.
He is interested in the influences of vulnerability
and resilience factors such as personality
and perceptions of availability of social support.
Dr. Carver also is interested in coping processes
of various sorts and their influence on adaptation
to diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Over time,
his work has expanded to include studies of quality
of life among long-term survivors of cancer
and studies of relations between psychosocial
variables at diagnosis and recurrence over the
years following treatment (PI, Quality of Life
in Adult Cancer Survivors, NCI grant R01-
CA78995). Dr. Carver is a collaborator in
research that provides cancer patients with
psychosocial interventions—ten-week group
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UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Scientific Report 2004