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
Signorile, JF, Carmel, MP, Czaja, SJ, Asfour, SS,
Morgan, RO, Khalil, TM, Ma, F, and Roos, BA.
Differential increases in average isokinetic power
by specific muscle groups of older women due to
variations in training and testing. Journal of Gerontology:
Medical Sciences 57:M683–M690,
2002.
Signorile, JF and Roos, BA. Resistance training
for power, strength, and functionality: a longterm
prescription. American Journal of the Medical
Sciences 398-402, September/October, 2002.
2003
Hernandez-Cassis, C, Vogel, CK, Hernandez, TP,
Econs, MJ, Iglesias, M, Iglesias, A, Levis, S,
Roos, BA, Howard, GA, and Gamarra, AI. Autosomal
dominant hyperostosis/osteosclerosis with
high serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Journal
of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
88:2650-55, 2003.
Penedo, FJ, Dahn, JR, Gonzalez, JS, Molton, I,
Carver, CS, Antoni, MH, Roos, BA, and
Schneiderman, N. Perceived stress management
skill mediates the relationship between optimism
and positive mood following radical prostatectomy.
Health Psychology 22:220-22, 2003.
HIGHLIGHTS/DISCOVERIES
• The laboratory’s research on exercise and nutrition
continues to improve the prescription of
exercise and nutrition in the frail and vulnerable
elderly. They have completed preliminary studies
of a speed-training method to improve mobility
that revealed a special role for neural
coordination. Important physical function correlates
with vitamin deficiency, and a clinical
trial has demonstrated the effects of correcting
vitamin deficiency on the mobility of older
persons.
• Osteoporosis therapy approaches have emerged
from studies of normal human stem cells and
studies of artificial matrix that can support their
growth and mineralization. Researchers in Dr.
Roos’ laboratory have discovered a unique combination
of matrix, hormones, vitamins, and
growth factors that promotes the maturation
and growth of stem cells that forms bone in tissue
culture and in animal transplants. Tissue
engineering approaches also are being examined
as they address the many safety issues that will
ultimately allow the application of these new
technologies to persons with osteoporosis.
• Hormonal changes in aging individuals continue
to offer the opportunity—through hormone
replacement therapy—to slow the aging
process. Following up on earlier studies of sex
hormone deficiency and concerns over the
many diverse complications of sex hormone
replacement, researchers in this laboratory have
begun to evaluate various nutritional supplements
such as soy protein chemicals that can act
as sex hormone replacements without causing
increased risk of cancer. Moreover, the initial
studies of vitamins in aging persons have been
completed, reporting that 20 percent of older
ambulatory South Floridians are vitamin D
deficient. Planning for several studies to assess
the dose and effects of successful vitamin D
replacement in older persons is underway. The
initial focus is on benefits of vitamin D replacement
on gait, balance, and other mobilityrelated
factors.
• New hormonal interventions that can improve
the mood of men undergoing hormone-deprivation
therapy for advancing prostate cancer are
now being examined. The laboratory, through
an NCI-funded study, will aim to demonstrate
that low-dose estrogen replacement might benefit
men with prostate cancer. Similar studies
based on the use of estrogen-like nutritional
compounds, such as soy isoflavones, also are
being considered.
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UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Scientific Report 2004