Management of patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Italian perspective on the second wave.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been an overwhelming challenge for worldwide health systems. Since the beginning of year 2020, COVID-19 has represented a potential harm for cancer patients and has often hindered oncology care. The Collegio Italiano dei Primari Oncologi Medici (CIPOMO) is an Italian association of head physicians in oncology departments, which promotes working and research activities in oncology on a national basis.

Reactions and countermeasures of medical oncologists towards the incoming COVID-19 pandemic: a WhatsApp messenger-based report from the Italian College of Chief Medical Oncologists.

Background: This descriptive, unplanned investigation has been undertaken to report reactions, attitudes and countermeasures which have been put in place and implemented by medical oncology units facing the COVID-19 outbreak in Southern Italy.

Materials And Methods: Data have been retrospectively obtained from the time-related analysis of conversations via a WhatsApp messenger-based group chat between the medical directors belonging to the Italian College of Medical Oncology Directors. Overall number, intensity and time trend of conversations related to reactions during the 4 weeks of observation related to the crucial events which occurred between 24 February and 28 March, 2020 2020 are included.

Eribulin mesylate use as third-line therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer (VESPRY): a prospective, multicentre, observational study.

Background: In real-world practice, eribulin mesylate provides significant survival benefit, with a manageable safety profile in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Methods: In this prospective, open-label, multicentre, observational study we evaluated the effectiveness and tolerability of eribulin as third-line treatment in a homogeneous population. The primary endpoints were the safety profile and response in metastatic sites; secondary endpoints included the response in different subtypes, overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Aged at Least 75 Years: A Post-Hoc Subgroup Analysis of Three Phase II Trials.

Patients older than 75 years of age are usually excluded from metastatic colorectal cancer studies based on a combination chemotherapy containing oxaliplatin. Our group conducted three phase II trials in elderly patients in recent years. A post-hoc subgroup analysis of 67 patients aged at least 75 years was included in this study.

DPYD*6 plays an important role in fluoropyrimidine toxicity in addition to DPYD*2A and c.2846A>T: a comprehensive analysis in 1254 patients.

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) is a highly polymorphic gene and classic deficient variants (i.e., c.

XELOX and bevacizumab followed by single-agent bevacizumab as maintenance therapy as first-line treatment in elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer: the boxe study.

Purpose: The addition of bevacizumab to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). An increased risk of arterial thromboembolic events has been observed in some trials in older patients, and the potential benefit of a maintenance therapy with bevacizumab alone has not been clearly demonstrated. This phase II study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of XELOX (capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) plus bevacizumab followed by bevacizumab alone in elderly patients with advanced CRC.

Cancer patient-centered home care: a new model for health care in oncology.

Patient-centered home care is a new model of assistance, which may be integrated with more traditional hospital-centered care especially in selected groups of informed and trained patients. Patient-centered care is based on patients' needs rather than on prognosis, and takes into account the emotional and psychosocial aspects of the disease. This model may be applied to elderly patients, who present comorbid diseases, but it also fits with the needs of younger fit patients.

Discontinuation of bevacizumab and FOLFIRI administered up to a maximum of 12 cycles as first-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer: a retrospective Italian study.

Background: Bevacizumab significantly improves progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) when added to chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The hypothesis that bevacizumab discontinuation could lead to an angiogenesis flare and eventually to an accelerated tumor progression has not been confirmed in a recent large pooled analysis. Therefore the optimal duration of bevacizumab still remains undefined.