Browsing by Author "Odedina, Folakemi T."

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Abstract 2230: Connecting Black men to point of prostate cancer diagnosis (PPCD) support using precision intervention based on Virtual Reality Assistant (ViRA)
(Volume 84, Issue 6_Supplement POSTER PRESENTATIONS - PROFFERED ABSTRACTS, 2024-03-15) Odedina, Folakemi T.; Ngufor, Che; Merriweather, Arnold; Pereira, Deidre; Dronca, Roxana S.; Kaninjing, Ernest; Ashing, Kimlin; Rotimi, Solomon; Gordon, Vinessa
Background: The point of prostate cancer (CaP) diagnosis (PPCD) instantly leads to a life changing experience for Black men, with diverse emotional reactions that includes fear, denial, overwhelmingness, cancer fatalism etc. Black men diagnosed with CaP expressed several needs at the PPCD, including time to reflect on the diagnosis, being comfortable, emotional support, psycho-oncology support and social determinants of health (SDOH) navigation. Given that Black men are diverse in terms of their needs at the PPCD, precision intervention is needed to support them. Aim: The aim was to develop, implement, and establish the acceptance and usability of a Virtual Reality Assistant (ViRA) that will provide precision intervention tailored to the needs of Black men at the PPCD. This study is one of the five iCCaRE for Black Men projects focused on survivorship care. Methodology: The development of the ViRA was guided by CaP survivors through qualitative study. Reflective, analytic, and interpretive memos were used to generate action plans for the development of the ViRA. Based on a comprehensive PPCD ViRA intervention guide created by the team, the ViRA prototype was developed with mobile immersive technologies that integrated SDOH navigation, standard CaP psycho oncology support and emotional support. The goal was to have the intervention personalized to everyone based on participant-provided information. Alpha testing of the ViRA is ongoing and will be completed on November 20, 2023. Participants are three prostate cancer survivors and three clinicians. The assessments will confirm the accuracy of the ViRA predictions and the functionality of the ViRA. Results: We developed the ViRA SDOH screening and navigation tool to identify participants’ needs and appropriately connect them with relevant support services and resources in their communities. The emotional support intervention was based on four CaP survivors as virtual reality avatars, providing empathetic rapport through self disclosure and sharing of survivorship stories in different settings (home, clinic, barbershop etc). The psycho-oncology support intervention was developed with the guidance of a psycho-oncologist, with her avatar providing psychoeducation about the PPCD experience, reify and concretize the PPCD experience, and foster hope using the basic tenets of Problem-Solving Therapy. The results of the alpha testing and the modified ViRA will be presented during the conference. Conclusion: Meeting the needs of Black men at the PPCD requires a personalized and decentralized approach, which would allow Black men to access support anywhere. The presentation will unveil the iCCaRE ViRA, a smart and connected personalized AR enabled intervention that will deliver SDOH navigation, CaP psycho-oncology support and emotional support tailored to the needs of Black men.
Association between CYP17A1 and HSD3B1 gene polymorphisms and testosterone levels in Nigerian prostate cancer patients
(Scientific Reports, 2025) Ekenwaneze, Christogonus Chichebe; Zakari, Suleiman; Amadi, Emmanuel Chimuebuka; Okesola, Mary; Rotimi, Solomon Oladapo; Oyekan, Ademola; Fatiregun, Olamijulo; Iweala, Emeka Eze Joshua; Odedina, Folakemi T.; Ogunlana, Olubanke Olujoke
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a primary global health concern and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Genetic variation in androgen pathways is essential in PCa development and progression. Cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1) gene encodes a critical metabolic enzyme involved in testosterone (TT) synthesis, as it converts cholesterol into androstenedione. Similarly, the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD3B1) gene encodes an enzyme that catalyses the conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to androstenedione, a critical precursor for TT production. The case-control study was conducted on 40 PCa patients and 40 healthy males with matching ages. Detection of CYP17A1 and HSD3B1 polymorphisms was done using the TaqMan genotyping assay, and estimation of TT levels in serum was done using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Detected genotypes were AA, AG, and GG for CYP17A1, and AA and CA for HSD3B1; the adrenalpermissive CC genotype of HSD3B1 was absent. The TT levels were significantly lower in PCa patients (p = 0.00148). No significant associations were found between polymorphisms in CYP17A1, HSD3B1 and TT levels. The HSD3B1 CA genotype showed a non-significant trend toward increased PCa risk (OR = 2.39, p = 0.183) that requires validation in larger studies before any clinical relevance can be established.
Association between CYP17A1 and HSD3B1 gene polymorphisms and testosterone levels in Nigerian prostate cancer patients
(Scientific reports, 2025) Ekenwaneze, Christogonus Chichebe; Zakari, Suleiman; Amadi, Emmanuel Chimuebuka; Okesola, Mary; Rotimi, Solomon Oladapo; Oyekan, Ademola; Fatiregun, Olamijulo; Iweala, Emeka Eze Joshua; Odedina, Folakemi T.; Ogunlana, Olubanke Olujoke
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a primary global health concern and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Genetic variation in androgen pathways is essential in PCa development and progression. Cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1) gene encodes a critical metabolic enzyme involved in testosterone (TT) synthesis, as it converts cholesterol into androstenedione. Similarly, the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD3B1) gene encodes an enzyme that catalyses the conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to androstenedione, a critical precursor for TT production. The case-control study was conducted on 40 PCa patients and 40 healthy males with matching ages. Detection of CYP17A1 and HSD3B1 polymorphisms was done using the TaqMan genotyping assay, and estimation of TT levels in serum was done using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Detected genotypes were AA, AG, and GG for CYP17A1, and AA and CA for HSD3B1; the adrenalpermissive CC genotype of HSD3B1 was absent. The TT levels were significantly lower in PCa patients (p = 0.00148). No significant associations were found between polymorphisms in CYP17A1, HSD3B1 and TT levels. The HSD3B1 CA genotype showed a non-significant trend toward increased PCa risk (OR = 2.39, p = 0.183) that requires validation in larger studies before any clinical relevance can be established.
Editorial: Accelerating cancer genomics research in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Frontier in Oncology, 2025-09-26) Odedina, Folakemi T.; Rotim, Solomon O.; Zoure, Abdou Azaque