Kara S. Davis
University of Pittsburgh
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Publication
Featured researches published by Kara S. Davis.
International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics | 2015
John A. Vargo; Robert L. Ferris; James Ohr; David A. Clump; Kara S. Davis; Umamaheswar Duvvuri; Seungwon Kim; Jonas T. Johnson; Julie E. Bauman; Michael K. Gibson; Barton F. Branstetter; Dwight E. Heron
PURPOSE Salvage options for unresectable locally recurrent, previously irradiated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (rSCCHN) are limited. Although the addition of reirradiation may improve outcomes compared to chemotherapy alone, significant toxicities limit salvage reirradiation strategies, leading to suboptimal outcomes. We therefore designed a phase 2 protocol to evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) plus cetuximab for rSCCHN. METHODS AND MATERIALS From July 2007 to March 2013, 50 patients >18 years of age with inoperable locoregionally confined rSCCHN within a previously irradiated field receiving ≥60 Gy, with a Zubrod performance status of 0 to 2, and normal hepatic and renal function were enrolled. Patients received concurrent cetuximab (400 mg/m(2) on day -7 and then 250 mg/m(2) on days 0 and +8) plus SBRT (40-44 Gy in 5 fractions on alternating days over 1-2 weeks). Primary endpoints were 1-year locoregional progression-free survival and National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0 graded toxicity. RESULTS Median follow-up for surviving patients was 18 months (range: 10-70). The 1-year local PFS rate was 60% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 44%-75%), locoregional PFS was 37% (95% CI: 23%-53%), distant PFS was 71% (95% CI: 54%-85%), and PFS was 33% (95% CI: 20%-49%). The median overall survival was 10 months (95% CI: 7-16), with a 1-year overall survival of 40% (95% CI: 26%-54%). At last follow-up, 69% died of disease, 4% died with disease, 15% died without progression, 10% were alive without progression, and 2% were alive with progression. Acute and late grade 3 toxicity was observed in 6% of patients respectively. CONCLUSIONS SBRT with concurrent cetuximab appears to be a safe salvage treatment for rSCCHN of short overall treatment time.
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery | 2014
J. Kenneth Byrd; Kenneth J. Smith; John R. de Almeida; W. Greer Albergotti; Kara S. Davis; Seungwon Kim; Jonas T. Johnson; Robert L. Ferris; Umamaheswar Duvvuri
Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma (CUP). Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary academic hospital. Subjects and Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on patients with new occult primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with nondiagnostic imaging and/or endoscopy who were treated with TORS at a tertiary hospital between 2009 and 2012. Direct costs were obtained from the hospital’s billing system, and national data were used for inpatient hospital costs and physician fees. The proportion of tumors found in 3 strategies was used as effectiveness to calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Results In total, 206 head and neck robotic cases were performed at our institution between December 2009 and December 2012. Three surgeons performed TORS on 22 patients for occult primary squamous cell carcinoma. The primary tumor was located in 19 of 22 patients (86.4%). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for sequential and simultaneous examination under anesthesia with tonsillectomy (EUA) and TORS base of tongue resection was
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery | 2014
J. Kenneth Byrd; Kenneth J. Smith; John R. de Almeida; W. Greer Albergotti; Kara S. Davis; Seungwon Kim; Jonas T. Johnson; Robert L. Ferris; Umamaheswar Duvvuri
8619 and
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery | 2014
Kara S. Davis; J. Kenneth Byrd; Vikas Mehta; Simon I. Chiosea; Seungwon Kim; Robert L. Ferris; Jonas T. Johnson; Umamaheswar Duvvuri
5774 per additional primary identified, respectively. Conclusion Sequential EUA followed by TORS is associated with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery | 2017
Lisa E. Ishii; Travis T. Tollefson; Gregory J. Basura; Richard M. Rosenfeld; Peter J. Abramson; Scott R. Chaiet; Kara S. Davis; Karl Doghramji; Edward H. Farrior; Sandra A. Finestone; Stacey L. Ishman; Robert X. Murphy; John G. Park; Michael Setzen; Deborah J. Strike; Sandra A. Walsh; Jeremy P. Warner; Lorraine C. Nnacheta
8619 compared with traditional EUA alone. Bilateral base of tongue resection should be considered in the workup of these patients, particularly if the palatine tonsils have already been removed.
Oral Oncology | 2014
Kara S. Davis; John A. Vargo; Robert L. Ferris; Steven A. Burton; James Ohr; David A. Clump; Dwight E. Heron
Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma (CUP). Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary academic hospital. Subjects and Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on patients with new occult primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with nondiagnostic imaging and/or endoscopy who were treated with TORS at a tertiary hospital between 2009 and 2012. Direct costs were obtained from the hospital’s billing system, and national data were used for inpatient hospital costs and physician fees. The proportion of tumors found in 3 strategies was used as effectiveness to calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Results In total, 206 head and neck robotic cases were performed at our institution between December 2009 and December 2012. Three surgeons performed TORS on 22 patients for occult primary squamous cell carcinoma. The primary tumor was located in 19 of 22 patients (86.4%). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for sequential and simultaneous examination under anesthesia with tonsillectomy (EUA) and TORS base of tongue resection was
Head and Neck-journal for The Sciences and Specialties of The Head and Neck | 2014
James J. Jaber; Chad A. Zender; Vikas Mehta; Kara S. Davis; Robert L. Ferris; Pierre Lavertu; R. Rezaee; Paul J. Feustel; Jonas T. Johnson
8619 and
Head and Neck-journal for The Sciences and Specialties of The Head and Neck | 2016
Kara S. Davis; Chwee Ming Lim; David A. Clump; Dwight E. Heron; James Ohr; Seungwon Kim; Umamaheswar Duvvuri; Jonas T. Johnson; Robert L. Ferris
5774 per additional primary identified, respectively. Conclusion Sequential EUA followed by TORS is associated with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery | 2017
Lisa E. Ishii; Travis T. Tollefson; Gregory J. Basura; Richard M. Rosenfeld; Peter J. Abramson; Scott R. Chaiet; Kara S. Davis; Karl Doghramji; Edward H. Farrior; Sandra A. Finestone; Stacey L. Ishman; Robert X. Murphy; John G. Park; Michael Setzen; Deborah J. Strike; Sandra A. Walsh; Jeremy P. Warner; Lorraine C. Nnacheta
8619 compared with traditional EUA alone. Bilateral base of tongue resection should be considered in the workup of these patients, particularly if the palatine tonsils have already been removed.
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery | 2016
Meghan N. Wilson; Peter M. Vila; David S. Cohen; John M. Carter; Claire M. Lawlor; Kara S. Davis; Nikhila Raol
Objective Cancer of an unknown primary (CUP) squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to cervical lymph nodes is a challenging problem for the treating physician. Our aim is to determine if identification of the primary tumor is associated with improved oncologic outcomes and/or tumor characteristics including human papilloma virus (HPV) status. Study Design Retrospective, matched-pairs analysis contrasting 2 cohorts based upon discovery of primary lesion. Setting Tertiary teaching hospital. Subjects and Methods Records of 136 patients initially diagnosed as carcinoma of unknown primary were retrospectively reviewed (1980-2010) and divided into 2 cohorts based on discovery of the primary lesion. Primary outcome measures were overall survival and time to recurrence according to Kaplan-Meier analysis. A nested subset of 22 patients in which the primary was discovered were matched to 22 patients remaining undiscovered according to nodal stage and age. Results Discovered lesions were more likely to exhibit HPV positivity (P < .001). Matched-pairs analyses demonstrated that discovery of the primary was associated with better overall survival (HR = 0.125; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.019-0.822; P = .030). Discovery of the primary was associated with improved cause-specific survival (HR = 0.142; 95% CI, 0.021-0.93; P = .0418) and disease-free survival (HR = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.069-0.91; P = .03). Conclusion HPV positivity is associated with discovery of the primary tumor. Discovery of the primary lesion is associated with improved overall survival, cause-specific survival, and disease-free survival in patients initially presenting as CUP in matched-pair and cohort comparison analyses.