Enhanced patient journey associated with improved overall survival in colon cancer patients: A study by the Ligurian Oncology Network.

Background: Colon cancer imposes a significant burden on global healthcare systems, necessitating efforts to improve oncology care quality and patient outcomes. We studied the correlation between care quality and survival outcomes among colon cancer patients within the Ligurian Oncology Network (Italy).

Methods: We developed an Overall Quality Score (OQS) to evaluate the impact of oncology care quality on survival outcomes within the Ligurian Oncology Network.

Melanoma medicine: New drugs for melanoma and the role of the general practitioner.

Background: Following major achievements seen with drug therapies for the treatment of advanced melanoma in the last decade, they now also have an ever-increasing role for the treatment of earlier stage disease. This review outlines the current drugs used to treat melanoma, and how general practitioners (GPs) can assist in the management of patients with melanoma and the associated toxicities with treatment.

Objective: This review summarises the evolving status of melanoma care, emphasising when to refer patients to medical oncologists as part of the multidisciplinary team.

Association between PD-1 single nucleotide gene variants and the risk of metastatic melanoma.

Previous studies showed an association between single nucleotide gene variants (SNVs) of PD-1 and cancer susceptibility. We analyzed PD1.5 C > T and PD1.

Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a GRADE approach for evidence evaluation and recommendations by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) accounts for ∼20%-25% of all skin tumors. Its precise incidence is often challenging to determine due to limited statistics and its incorporation with mucosal forms. While most cases have a favorable prognosis, challenges arise in patients presenting with locally advanced or metastatic forms, mainly appearing in immunocompromised patients, solid organ transplantation recipients, or those facing social difficulties.

The treatment of advanced melanoma: Current approaches and new challenges.

In recent years, advances in melanoma treatment have renewed patient hope. This comprehensive review emphasizes the evolving treatment landscape, particularly highlighting first-line strategies and the interplay between immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and targeted therapies. Ipilimumab plus nivolumab has achieved the best median overall survival, exceeding 70 months.

The predictive and prognostic role of single nucleotide gene variants of PD-1 and PD-L1 in patients with advanced melanoma treated with PD-1 inhibitors.

Background: Despite having revolutionized the treatment paradigm for advanced melanoma, not all patients benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. To date, there are no predictive biomarkers for response or the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors. Our aim was to investigate the predictive and prognostic role of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) of genes involved in the PD-1 axis.

Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of basal cell carcinoma: a GRADE approach for evidence evaluation and recommendations by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of cancer, with a high impact on the public health burden and social costs. Despite the overall prognosis for patients with BCC being excellent, if lesions are allowed to progress, or in a small subset of cases harboring an intrinsically aggressive biological behavior, it can result in local spread and significant morbidity, and conventional treatments (surgery and radiotherapy) may be challenging. When a BCC is not amenable to either surgery or radiotherapy with a reasonable curative intent, or when metastatic spread occurs, systemic treatments with Hedgehog inhibitors are available.

Safety of pregnancy after breast cancer in young women with hormone receptor-positive disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Despite increasing evidence on the safety of pregnancy after anticancer treatments in breast cancer survivors, many physicians and patients remain concerned about a potential risk of pregnancy specifically in the case of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: A systematic literature search of Medline, Embase and Cochrane library with no language or date restriction up to 31 March 2023 was carried out. To be included, articles had to be retrospective and prospective case-control and cohort studies as well as clinical trials comparing survival outcomes of premenopausal women with or without a pregnancy after prior diagnosis of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

The Role of Methylene Blue Spray to Keep Parathyroid Gland and Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Safe During Thyroidectomy.

The main postoperative complications of thyroidectomy are hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy. Methylene blue, which is a drug and dye, is safe and easy to get, and we can use it to avoid complications during thyroidectomy. Objectives: We aim to assess that we can spray Methylene blue to allow the identification of important structures intraoperative which are the parathyroid gland and recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Activity and safety of first-line treatments for advanced melanoma: A network meta-analysis.

Background: Treatment options for advanced melanoma have increased with the US Food and Drug Administration approval of the anti-LAG3 plus anti-PD-1 relatlimab/nivolumab combination. To date, ipilimumab/nivolumab is the benchmark of overall survival, despite a high toxicity profile. Furthermore, in BRAF-mutant patients, BRAF/MEK inhibitors and the atezolizumab/vemurafenib/cobimetinib triplet are also available treatments, making the first-line therapy selection more complex.

Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in those with class I obesity: safety, efficacy, and quality of life.

Background: Class I obesity carries significant morbidity and mortality risk similar to higher grades of obesity, and persons with class I obesity have a high risk of progression to class II and III obesity. While bariatric surgery has made strides in safety and efficacy, it remains inaccessible for persons with class I obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30-35 kg/m).

Objectives: To assess safety, weight loss durability, co-morbidity resolution, and quality of life after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in persons with class I obesity.

Neuromuscular and cardiac adverse events associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: pooled analysis of individual cases from multiple institutions and literature.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the management of multiple tumors, due to improved efficacy, quality of life, and safety. While most immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are mild and easily managed, in rare cases such events may be life-threatening, especially those affecting the neuromuscular and cardiac system. The management of neuromuscular/cardiac irAEs is not clear due to the lack of consistent data.

Case report: Pembrolizumab plus Axitinib related hypothyroid myopathy in two kidney cancer patients.

The first-line therapy in advanced kidney cancer has changed in recent years due to the introduction of combinations of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Although immune-related adverse events are well-known, in the case of combination treatments, the determination of which drug is related to an adverse event may be challenging. We reported two cases of patients who developed muscle enzyme elevation in association with hypothyroidism during therapy with pembrolizumab plus axitinib for metastatic kidney cancer.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as day-case surgery versus conventional hospitalization: results of the DAYSLEEVE randomized clinical trial.

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is an effective bariatric intervention with short operative time and low morbidity and mortality. However, ambulatory sleeve gastrectomy is underutilized.

Objective: This clinical trial compares feasibility, perioperative outcomes, and weight loss of patients undergoing ambulatory LSG with same-day discharge versus conventional hospitalization with next-day discharge.

Targeting the DNA Damage Response Pathway as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Colorectal Cancer.

Major advances have been made in CRC treatment in recent years, especially in molecularly driven therapies and immunotherapy. Despite this, a large number of advanced colorectal cancer patients do not benefit from these treatments and their prognosis remains poor. The landscape of DNA damage response (DDR) alterations is emerging as a novel target for treatment in different cancer types.

Safety of fertility preservation techniques before and after anticancer treatments in young women with breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Study Question: Is it safe to perform controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) for fertility preservation before starting anticancer therapies or ART after treatments in young breast cancer patients?

Summary Answer: Performing COS before, or ART following anticancer treatment in young women with breast cancer does not seem to be associated with detrimental prognostic effect in terms of breast cancer recurrence, mortality or event-free survival (EFS).

What Is Known Already: COS for oocyte/embryo cryopreservation before starting chemotherapy is standard of care for young women with breast cancer wishing to preserve fertility. However, some oncologists remain concerned on the safety of COS, particularly in patients with hormone-sensitive tumors, even when associated with aromatase inhibitors.

Health-related quality of life in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in randomised controlled trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionised clinical practice in oncology in the last years, leading to a survival benefit in several tumour types. To investigate whether these benefits are associated with improved quality of life, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between ICIs and standard chemotherapy (CT) in patients with advanced solid tumours.

Methods: Clinical trials comparing the efficacy of ICIs (either programmed death receptor-1 and programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors or cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 inhibitors, as single agent or in combination) versus CT were included.

Merkel Cell Carcinoma: An Immunotherapy Fairy-Tale?

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly aggressive, neuroendocrine cutaneous tumor. The incidence of MCC is growing worldwide, and the disease-related mortality is about three-fold higher than melanoma. Since a few years ago, very little has been known about this disease, and chemotherapy has been the standard of care.

How to Protect Ovarian Function before and during Chemotherapy?

A significant number of women receive a cancer diagnosis before their age of natural menopause. Among these patients, the most frequent neoplasms are breast cancer, gynecological, and hematological malignancies. Premature ovarian insufficiency and infertility are among the most feared short- to long-term consequences of anticancer treatments in premenopausal patients.

Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) accounts for approximately 20% of all keratinocytic tumors. In most cases, the diagnosis and treatments are made on small, low-risk lesions. However, in about 5% of cases, CSCC may present as either locally advanced or metastatic (i.

Influenza vaccination in cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors: A systematic review.

Background: There is a concern that influenza vaccination may increase the incidence of immune-related adverse events in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the available data on the safety and efficacy of influenza vaccination in cancer patients receiving ICIs.

Methods: Studies reporting safety and efficacy outcomes of influenza vaccination in cancer patients receiving ICIs were included.

Treatment beyond progression with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 based regimens in advanced solid tumors: a systematic review.

Background: Treatment beyond progression with immunotherapy may be appropriate in selected patients based on the potential for late responses. The aim of this systematic review was to explore the impact of treatment beyond progression in patients receiving an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 based regimen for an advanced solid tumor.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed to identify prospective clinical trials reporting data on overall response rate by immune-related criteria and/or the number of patients treated beyond conventional criteria-defined PD and/or the number of patients achieving a clinical benefit after an initial PD with regimens including an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agent which received the FDA approval for the treatment of an advanced solid tumor.

Case Report: Immune-Related Toxicity During Adjuvant Treatment With BRAF Plus MEK Inhibitors in a Melanoma Patient.

Adjuvant treatment of operated melanoma has deeply changed in the last few years with the introduction of immune-checkpoint inhibitors and BRAF/MEK inhibitors. Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease causing non-caseous granulomatous reactions. Sarcoid-like granulomatous reactions have been reported in patients with advanced melanoma, mostly related to immunotherapy with immune-checkpoint inhibitors.