Publications by authors named "A R Sementa"

Background: Neuroblastoma (NB) represents the most frequent and aggressive form of extracranial solid tumor of infants. Although the overall survival of patients with NB has improved in the last years, more than 50% of high-risk patients still undergo a relapse. Thus, in the era of precision/personalized medicine, the need for high-risk NB patient-specific therapies is urgent.

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The occurrence of an abdominal tumor invading the spinal canal and causing symptoms of epidural compression is rare in an infant, and exceptional at birth. Peripheral neuroblastic tumors are by far the most common cause. Emergency chemotherapy is commonly curative, though permanent sequelae are possible.

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Article Synopsis
  • Spitzoid lesions in children include mainly benign Spitz nevi (82%), with a smaller percentage of atypical Spitz tumors (17%) and rare cases of Spitz melanoma (1%).
  • Histopathological and dermatoscopic analyses reveal correlations between lesion characteristics and benign or atypical/malignant histology, highlighting that certain visual features can aid in diagnosis.
  • The study emphasizes caution with atypical Spitz tumors due to their potential malignancy, advocating for careful assessment in pediatric patients.
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Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood. Patients with relapsed/refractory disease have a poor prognosis, and additional therapeutic options are needed. Mutations and amplifications in the (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase) gene constitute a key target for treatment.

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Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor encountered in childhood. Although there has been significant improvement in the outcomes of patients with high-risk disease, the prognosis for patients with metastatic relapse or refractory disease is poor. Hence, the clinical integration of genome sequencing into standard clinical practice is necessary in order to develop personalized therapy for children with relapsed or refractory disease.

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