Publications by authors named "Alma Ferro"

Article Synopsis
  • Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy is changing the treatment for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the importance of pathologic response is still uncertain.
  • A systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis was conducted to assess how achieving complete pathologic response (pCR) or major pathologic response (MPR) affects long-term survival (EFS) and examine the role of adjuvant immunotherapy.
  • The findings showed that patients who achieved pCR or MPR had significantly better EFS rates, while adjuvant immunotherapy did not improve survival outcomes post-surgery.
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Article Synopsis
  • The DESTROY-2 trial aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in patients with one to five lesions from primary or metastatic tumors.
  • A total of 164 patients were treated, with the study successfully reaching the planned maximum tolerated doses for various tumor sites, establishing specific dose levels for lung, liver, and bone lesions.
  • The results indicated a significant response with 53.8% of lesions showing complete response and only a small percentage of patients experiencing serious acute or late toxicities.
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Objectives: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and/or single fraction stereotactic body radiosurgery (SRS) are effective treatment options for the treatment of oligometastatic disease of lymph nodes. Despite the encouraging local control rate, progression-free survival remains unfair due to relapses that might occur in the same district or at other sites. The recurrence pattern analysis after nodal local ablative RT (laRT) in oligometastatic patients is presented in this study.

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Purpose: DESTROY-4 (DOSE-ESCALATION STUDY OF STEREOTACTIC BODY RADIATION THERAPY) was a Phase I trial aimed to evaluate the safety and the feasibility of escalating doses of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) on MRI-defined Dominant Intraprostatic Lesion (DIL) in low- and intermediate-risk pCa patients using a simultaneous integrated boost-volumetric arc therapy (SIB-VMAT) technique.

Methods: Eligible patients included those with low- and intermediate-risk prostate carcinoma (NCCN risk classes) and an International Prostatic Symptoms Score (IPSS) ≤ 15. No restriction about DIL and prostate volumes was set.

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Aims: To report toxicity profile, outcomes and quality of life (QoL) data in patients with recurrent gynaecological cancer who underwent stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) retreatment.

Materials And Methods: Data from patients' folders were retrospectively extracted, focusing on the primary neoplasm, previous systemic therapies and previous radiotherapy. Concerning SBRT, the total dose (five daily fractions) was delivered with a linear accelerator using intensity-modulated radiotherapy techniques.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Five treatment plans were created for each patient, with four generated using different dose-falloff settings, and a fifth customized plan aimed at optimizing organ-at-risk (OAR) sparing based on prior knowledge.
  • * Results indicated that while increasing dose-falloff settings improved dose conformity, it negatively impacted dose homogeneity, with the "high" plans showing the best balance between target coverage and OAR sparing compared to other automated plans.
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Aims: To report the final results of a dose-escalation study of volumetric intensity-modulated arc stereotactic radiosurgery (VMAT-SRS) boost after three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy in patients with spine metastases.

Materials And Methods: Oligometastatic cancer patients bearing up to five synchronous metastases (visceral or bone, including vertebral ones) and candidates for surgery or radiosurgery were considered for inclusion. 25 Gy was delivered in 10 daily fractions (2 weeks) to the metastatic lesion, affected vertebrae and adjacent ones (one cranial and one caudal vertebra).

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Objectives: To assess feasibility and safety of a SHort-course Accelerated RadiatiON therapy (SHARON) regimen, in the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) in older patients.

Methods: Old patients (age ≥ 80 years) with histological confirmed non-melanoma skin cancers were enrolled. The primary endpoint was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD).

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Introduction: Aim of this analysis was to report toxicity and clinical outcomes in oligorecurrent prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated with single fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for bone metastases.

Methods: We separately analyzed clinical data of PCa patients with bone oligometastases enrolled in a prospective phase I trial (DESTROY-2). DESTROY-2 was based on SRS delivered using volumetric modulated arc therapy in patients with primary or metastatic tumors in several extra-cranial body sites.

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Introduction: The aim of this article was to describe, step-by-step, an original technique (T-L technique) in a single centre series of patients who underwent holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia and analyze perioperative outcomes.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 567 patients who underwent HoLEP. The T-L technique consists of a series of incisions used as landmarks, performed at the beginning of the procedure before enucleation.

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The prognosis of prostate cancer (PC) is generally favorable but the incidence of metastases is relatively high after the treatment of the primary tumor, especially in high-risk patients. Fractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) or single fraction stereotactic body radiosurgery (SRS) are emerging treatment options in this setting. However, data on SBRT/SRS in patients with metastatic castration-resistant PC (mCRPC) are largely lacking, particularly in subjects with nodal lesions.

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Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the short-term functional outcomes and the efficacy of hemostasis performed with holmium laser performed following prostatic hydroablation with the Aquabeam system.

Material And Methods: Between June 2019 and July 2020, 53 consecutive patients underwent Aquabeam with our modified hemostasis approach with holmium laser. The following standard preoperative assessments were retrospectively recorded: prostate volume; International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Quality of Life (IPSS-QoL); uroflowmetry including Qmax and post void residual volume (PVR).

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Background: Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain cancer and one of the most lethal tumors. Theoretically, modern radiotherapy (RT) techniques allow dose-escalation due to the reduced irradiation of healthy tissues. This study aimed to define the adjuvant maximum tolerated dose (MTD) using volumetric modulated arc RT with simultaneous integrated boost (VMAT-SIB) plus standard dose temozolomide (TMZ) in GBM.

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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) targeted biopsy (TBx) of the prostate demonstrated to improve detection rate (DR) of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in biopsy-naive patients achieving strong level of evidence. Nevertheless, the csPCa yield for TBx alone versus TBx plus systematic biopsy (SBx) after accounting for overlapping of SBx cores with TBx cores, in prior-negative or active surveillance (AS) patients has not been well established.The objective of the study was to investigate benefits in terms of detection rate and pathological stratification of prostate cancer (PCa) using contextual SBx during MRI-TBx.

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Lack of dental eruption may be accompanied by development of dentigerous cysts and has also been rarely associated with neoplasia. However, little information is available on prevalence of unerupted teeth and associated lesions in dogs and cats. The main objective of this study was to describe the epidemiologic data of canine and feline dental patients with unerupted teeth, and assess the prevalence of associated dentigerous cysts and tumors.

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Incidence of neuroepithelial Primary Brain Tumors (nPBT) varies, ranging from 7.3 to 11.6 cases/100,000/year across Europe.

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