Mary Sehl, MD, PhD

2011-2012 BCRF Project:
Conquer Cancer Foundation/ASCO 2011 Career Development Award

Functional decline is an important predictor of survival in older adults, and can be accelerated by cancer diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Sehl previously identified factors associated with poor physical functioning over ten years following a breast cancer diagnosis in breast cancer survivors over the age of 65. These factors include older age, higher body mass index, higher number of coexisting illnesses, and poor self-rated health. Dr. Sehl hypothesized that the factors associated with a decline in physical functioning will also impact survival. She examined the association between long term survival and a decline in self-reported physical functioning in the first two years following cancer diagnosis in women over that age of 65. Her results show that a large decline in physical functioning that persists over two years following diagnosis is predictive of shorter survival over ten years following diagnosis in breast cancer survivors. These results highlight the importance of assessing functional status in cancer survivors and suggest a potential role for early intervention in those at high risk for functional decline.

In continuing studies, Dr. Sehl will examine patterns of transition in functional status of breast cancer survivors over ten years following diagnosis and what factors are associated with transitions in functional status. She will also examine factors that are associated with transitions in functional status. In addition, she also will examine patterns and predictors of decline in upper body symptoms and function. The purpose of this analysis is to determine the extent and severity of decline in upper body function in breast cancer survivors over the ten years following diagnosis and to examine whether there is a subgroup of patients that might be targeted to benefit from early intervention.

Mid-year Progress: Dr. Sehl's team has observed that individuals who experience a persistent decline in physical functioning and do not experience recovery are at risk of functional decline and early mortality. These researchers find that decline in self-reported physical functioning that persists at 27 months after diagnosis may predict shorter survival. These results highlight the importance of assessing functional status in cancer survivors and suggest a potential role for early intervention in those at high risk for functional decline. Dr. Sehl's team will continue to examine patterns of transition in functional status observed in breast cancer survivors over ten years following diagnosis. They will also continue their analyses of collected information from patients. The purpose of these analyses is to determine the extent and severity of decline over the ten years following diagnosis and to examine whether there is a subgroup of patients that might be targeted to benefit from early intervention.

Bio:
Mary E. Sehl is a clinical instructor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she is actively involved in both translational breast cancer research and patient care. She is interested in aging and cancer, and her work involves studying patterns of change in functional status in older breast cancer survivors. Other research involves mathematical and statistical modeling of cancer stem cells and cancer genetics. She received her doctorate in Biomathematics at UCLA for her dissertation work involving probabilistic models of cancer stem cell extinction.