"BC Clear-Determining the Plasma Disappearance and Pharmakokinetics of Beta-Carotene and Long Term Oral Supplementation." Objective: To determine the serum concentrations of beta-carotene, retinol, retinyl palmitate, and alpha-tocopherol over time after CARET participants discontinued oral supplementation with beta-carotene. This study began at the time the CARET intervention ended.
"Folate/Homocysteine-Association Between Serum Homocysteine and Folate Levels and Cardiovascular Disease." Objective: To investigate associations and relative risks for the folic acid-homocysteine-cardiovascular disease endpoints cascade in CARET participants, testing whether low folic acid generation and ingestion correlate with serum folate levels; serum folate with serum total homocysteine levels; and the relationship between homocysteine levels and cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease.
"Association Between Growth Factors and Risk of Lung Cancer and Other Diseases." Objective: To determine in the CARET population if particular growth factors are associated with the incidence of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.
"Integrated Biomarker Profiles for Lung Cancer and COPD." Objective: 1) Determine whether integrating circulating biomarkers discriminate between high-risk individuals who will not develop lung cancer. 2) Determine whether integrating biomarkers of the host response to cigarette smoke discriminate between CARET participants with and without COPD and whether the integrated biomarker predicts rapid rate of airflow decline. (Top of page)
"Association Between Genetic Risk Factors and Smoking Behavior." Objective: The goal of this study is to examine genetic influences on smoking behavior, with an emphasis on successful quitting.
"Pilot of Poly2000 GeneChip for Scanning Polymorphisms in CARET Participants." Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the usefulness of the Poly2000 GeneChip technology in scanning CARET samples for single nucleotide polymorphisms.
"Detection of Aberrant Hypermethylation of Cancer-Related Genes in Serum as a Screening Tool for Early Detection of Lung Cancer." Objective: Pilot study to validate ability to use CARET samples to confirm the possibility of performing a study looking at aberrant promoter hypermethylation of cancer related genes (p16, MGMT, DAP-kinase, GSTP1, and APC) in serum/plasma samples as tool for the early detection of lung cancer in high-risk populations and/or monitoring patients with lung cancer during treatment utilizing CARET specimens.
"Serum Concentrations of Mesothelin in the Early Diagnosis of Mesothelioma." Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to determine if mesothelin is elevated in patients with malignant mesothelioma. An initial phase II trial has been added to measure the concentration of MPF/Mesothelin in the serum of 10 patients with a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma and 10 matched healthy controls. (Top of page)
"Immunization-Vitamin Enhancement in Pneumococcal Vaccine Response." Objective: To examine the effects of the combination of beta-carotene and retinyl palmitate on antibody responses to immunization for Streptococcus Pneumoniae and influenza infections among CARET participants.
"Determining the Plasma Disappearance and Pharmakokinetics of Beta-Carotene after Long-Term Oral Supplementation." Objective: To determine the effects of long-term supplementation of Beta-carotene and retinyl palmitate on lipoptroteins (HDL, LDL, VLDL) and other carotenoids and retinoids by analysis of existing serum samples on 52 New Haven CARET participants stored at the CARET Coordinating Center. These results will be compared to existing chart data on CARET Seattle participants.
"Hepatoxicity-Hepatic Effects of Low Dose Vitamin A Supplementation." Objective: To assess the technical feasibility of quantitatively determining procollagen levels from frozen banked serum on 10 participants from the CARET intervention group and compare them to 10 participants from the CARET placebo group. The specific aims of this data was to provide an estimate of mean values, variance, and distribution to utilize in sample size calculations for a larger, comprehensive study.
"Release of Tabular Data to External Party." Objective: Dr. Michal Freedman of NCI has analyzed data from the Alpha-tocopherol-Beta-carotene (ATBC) trial and has found a disparity in the occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) between those receiving beta-carotene and those receiving placebo. To help her interpret this finding, she has requested information on the incidence of ALS by intervention group in CARET. (Top of page)
"Associations Between Genetic Factors and Risk of Lung Cancer and Other Diseases." Objective: To determine possible associations between genetic factors and risk of lung cancer and other diseases. Existing participant samples from CARET serum bank will be sent to collaborating laboratories for analysis.
"Association Between Flavonols and Risk of Lung Cancer Measurement of Plasma and\or Serum Quercetin Concentrations in CARET Participants." Objective: To examine the association of baseline plasma and/or serum quercetin concentrations in lung cancer participants and controls. The hypothesis is that baseline plasma and\or serum quercetin concentrations will be lower in CARET participants who developed lung cancer compared to controls.