Publications by authors named "Augurio A"

Purpose: To compare Italian use with current international guidelines and to evaluate oncological outcomes and toxicity patterns of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) for endometrial cancer (EC) in Italian women.

Materials And Methods: To conduct a retrospective multicentre Italian study a large database was set up. Inclusion criteria were: accrual between 2010 and 2020, treatment with surgery, post-operative external beam RT (EBRT) and/or interventional radiotherapy (IRT) associated or not with adjuvant chemotherapy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Moderate hypofractionated radiotherapy is a treatment option for the cure of localized prostate cancer (PCa) patients based on the results of randomized prospective trials, but there is a clinical concern about the relatively short length of follow-up, and real-world results on outcome and toxicity based on cutting-edge techniques are lacking. The objective of this study is to present the long-term results of a large multicentric series.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 1325 PCa patients treated with daily volumetric image-guided hypofractionated radiotherapy between 2007 and 2020 in 16 Centers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Osteochondral (OC) disorders such as osteoarthritis (OA) damage joint cartilage and subchondral bone tissue. To understand the disease, facilitate drug screening, and advance therapeutic development, in vitro models of OC tissue are essential. This study aims to create a bioprinted OC miniature construct that replicates the cartilage and bone compartments.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To provide straightforward instructions for daily practice in delineating emerging organs-at-risk (OARs) of the female pelvis and to discuss the interobserver variability in a two-step multicenter study.

Methods And Materials: A contouring atlas with anatomical boundaries for each emerging OAR was realized by radiation oncologists and radiologists who are experts in pelvic imaging, as per their knowledge and clinical practice. These contours were identified as quality benchmarks for the analysis subsequently carried out.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

: Exclusive radiotherapy, including external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and interventional radiotherapy/brachytherapy (IRT/BT), with concurrent cisplatin-based chemotherapy, represents the standard of care in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). The emerging topic of vaginal toxicity has become a key endpoint in LACC management, although different approaches and non-standardized procedures were available. Our aim was to analyze a nationwide study of the attitudes of Italian gynecological radiation oncology teams in the management of LACC patients' vaginal toxicities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: We report a mono-institutional experience regarding patient-perceived quality regarding the Chieti Radiotherapy Department, through RAMSI (Radiotherapy Amica Mia-SmileIN-My Friend Radiotherapy) project, in critical scenarios of limited equipment and COVID-19.

Material And Methods: Patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) were assessed as follows: Patient-centric welcome perception (PCWP), Comfort, Professional skills and Punctuality. Patients could give anonymous feedback using HappyOrNot technology through four totems located in strategic areas within the center.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This survey investigated prognostic factors, treatment modalities, references followed and radiation oncologists' opinions to prescribe adjuvant therapy in early intermediate-risk cervical cancer. All but one recommended pelvic radiotherapy ± vaginal boost (45%) with or without chemotherapy (20%). 88% believed other prognostic factors could integrate classic risk criteria.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background/aim: In prostate cancer, postoperative radiotherapy timing is debated to avoid overtreatments and toxicities. This study compared acute and late rectal and bladder toxicities in the adjuvant and salvage setting.

Patients And Methods: In total, 129 patients were analyzed in two groups: adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) and salvage radiotherapy (sRT).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The use of ferroelectric polarization to promote electron-hole separation has emerged as a promising strategy to improve photocatalytic activity. Although ferroelectric thin films with planar geometry have been largely studied, nanostructured and porous ferroelectric thin films have not been commonly used in photo-electrocatalysis. The inclusion of porosity in ferroelectric thin films would enhance the surface area and reactivity, leading to a potential improvement of the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: COVID-19 in Italy has led to the need to reorganize hospital protocols with a significant risk of interruption to cancer treatment programs. In this report, we will focus on a management model covering the two phases of the COVID-19 emergency, namely lockdown-phase I and post-lockdown-phase II.

Methods: The following steps were taken in the two phases: workload during visits and radiotherapy planning, use of dedicated routes, measures for triage areas, management of suspected and positive COVID-19 cases, personal protective equipment, hospital environments and intra-institutional meetings and tumor board management.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: To delineate cervical cancer gross tumor volume (GTV) on T2-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, assessing volumes and inter-observer agreement between two observers.

Patients And Methods: A radiologist and a radiation oncologist delineated GTV on T2 (T2) and ADC (ADC) sequences. Dice similarity index (DICE) and Bland-Altman analysis were used to estimated concordance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: Pathological complete response (pCR) and clinical outcomes [overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional control (LC)] were evaluated in a single-institution experience of different schedules of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Patients And Methods: Data for 322 patients with LARC were retrospectively analyzed. pCR was evaluated according to Mandard tumor regression grade (TRG).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Due to a reported dose-response relationship in rectal cancer radiotherapy, a greater interest in dose intensification on small boost volume arises. Considering the need of an appropriate target movements evaluation, this retrospective study aimed to use cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for GTV and mesorectum organ motion (OM) evaluation, in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients treated with neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy, in prone and supine position.

Methods: Thirty-two LARC patients were analyzed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To report long-term effects on anorectal function and bowel disorders and late toxicity rate of preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2016, 201 patients treated with different neoadjuvant schedules of chemotherapy and radiotherapy doses were retrospectively analyzed. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center score was used for the evaluation of anal sphincter function.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate hippocampal irradiation in patients treated with fractionated stereotactic brain radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective hippocampal dosimetric analysis performed on 22 patients with one to four brain metastases treated with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using volumetric intensity-modulated arc therapy. Original plans did not include hippocampus as avoidance structure in optimization criteria; hippocampus was retrospectively delineated on magnetic resonance coregistered with planning CT and using as reference the RTOG 0933 atlas.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Increased knowledge regarding the heterogeneity of Prostate Cancer (PC) and its variable outcomes has generated controversy over the best clinical approach. Nowadays, it is well-known that patient outcomes and clinical management may be improved by an efficient organization of the national health care system. The Interdisciplinary Group for Oncological Care (GICO) for PC patients was created by our healthcare management company in September 2010.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Irradiation of the hippocampus can lead to neurocognitive issues, and its shape varies significantly depending on head position during imaging, which complicates accurate delineation in clinical settings.
  • The study aimed to create a guide for determining hippocampal morphology using MRI in three specific head positions (neutral, over-extended, and hypo-extended) with input from experienced neuro-radiologists.
  • The resulting guide effectively addressed variations in hippocampal shape across different head positions, suggesting its potential usefulness in clinical practice, though further validation is needed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: Main endpoint was a response rate to therapy; secondary endpoints were disease-free survival, overall survival, acute and late toxicities, specially in terms of anorectal and urinary continence.

Background: Radiochemotherapy for anal cancer achieves a good clinical response, locoregional control, anal function preservation. However, oncologic outcomes can differ using radiotherapy plus fluorouracil and mytomicin vs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Given the poor compliance with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in gastric cancer reported in previous studies, a survey was conducted among 18 Italian institutions within the AIRO Gastrointestinal Group to investigate current treatment modalities, toxicities, and compliance with adjuvant CRT.

Patients And Methods: Data from 348 patients operated on for gastric cancer were collected retrospectively from September 2000 to June 2008 and analyzed. The adjuvant treatments included CRT according to center guidelines.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Purpose: Sparing of the organs at risk is one of the primary end-points of radiotherapy. The effects of organ-at-risk delineation on the dosimetric parameters can be critical and can influence treatment planning and outcomes. The aim of our study was to provide anatomical boundaries for the identification and delineation of the following critical organs at risk in the head and neck district: brachial plexus, cochlea, pharyngeal constrictor muscles and optic chiasm.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Whole-brain radiotherapy is performed as standard therapy in patients with multiple brain metastases and in patients with more favourable prognosis such as lymphoma and small-cell lung carcinoma in the prophylactic setting. Because of the prognosis and the total prescribed dose, the parotid glands are not usually regarded as an organ at risk in whole-brain radiotherapy. Long-term survival can be expected in some of these patients and late toxicity can be observed, becoming essential to evaluate organs at risk, particularly the parotid glands even in metastatic patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The present observational study reports the results of a multi-institutional dummy-run designed to estimate the consistency of interobserver variability in clinical target volume delineation in two different cases of soft-tissue sarcomas in which postoperative and preoperative radiotherapy were prescribed, respectively. The purpose of this work was to quantify interobserver variability in routine clinical practice.

Patients And Methods: Two different cases of soft-tissues sarcomas were chosen: a case of postoperative and a case of preoperative radiation therapy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: To evaluate survival outcomes of patients in pStage II-III rectal cancer treated with adjuvant 5-fluorouracil-based radiochemotherapy and to retrospectively analyze the impact of prognostic variables on local control, metastasis-free survival and cause-specific survival.

Patients And Methods: A total of 1,338 patients, treated between 1985-2005 for locally advanced rectal cancer, who underwent surgery and postoperative 5-fluorouracil-based chemoradiation, were selected.

Results: The actuarial 5- and 10-year outcomes were: local control 87.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To evaluate diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for assessment of treatment response in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) 8 weeks after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods And Materials: A total of 28 patients with LARC underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to and 8 weeks after CRT. Tumor volume (TV) was calculated on T2-weighted MRI scans as well as the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was calculated using Echo-planar DWI-sequences.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims And Background: Rectal cancer is a common disease of elderly people. However, patients over 70 years of age are often not included in clinical trials. There is a lack of data concerning the use of radiochemotherapy with capecitabine in elderly patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF