Annexin A2 in Tumors of the Gastrointestinal Tract, Liver, and Pancreas.

Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is a protein that is involved in many physiological and pathological cellular processes. There is compelling evidence that its dysregulated expression, be it up- or downregulation, contributes to the oncogenesis of various neoplasms, including those of the digestive system. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of ANXA2 in the main tumors of the digestive system.

Non-alcoholic Wernicke Encephalopathy in a Young Patient with Adenocarcinoma of the Colon: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Wernicke Encephalopathy (W.E.) is an acute neurological disorder induced by thiamine deficiency.

Progastrin: An Overview of Its Crucial Role in the Tumorigenesis of Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Defining predictive biomarkers for targeted therapies and optimizing anti-tumor immune response is a main challenge in ongoing investigations. Progastrin has been studied as a potential biomarker for detecting and diagnosing various malignancies, and its secretion has been associated with cell proliferation in the gastrointestinal tract that may promote tumorigenesis. Progastrin is a precursor molecule of gastrin, synthesized as pre-progastrin, converted to progastrin after cleavage, and transformed into amidated gastrin via biosynthetic intermediates.

Primary Paraganglioma of the Prostate: A Systematic Review of the Literature for A Rare Entity.

Background: Paragangliomas of the urinary tract are exceptionally uncommon, and sporadic case reports of primary paraganglioma of the prostate have been reported in the literature.

Methods: Systematic research in PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases concerning primary prostatic paraganglioma was performed by two independent investigators.

Results: This analysis included 25 adult males, with a mean age of 49.

Identification of a Novel TSC2 c.170G>A Missense Variant: A Case Report and Elaboration on the Yield of Targeted Options against Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Manifestations.

Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic disease that affects multiple organs and affects the quality of life. Mutations in TSC1 and TSC2 genes are causing dysregulations in the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, inducing mostly benign but also malignant tumors, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The diagnosis of TSC, based on established clinical and genetic criteria, is essential for the optimal surveillance and management of patients.

Metformin: A Promising Radiosensitizer in Neoadjuvant Rectal Cancer Treatment.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) decreases the risk of local recurrence after surgery in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and metformin is constantly gaining scientific interest due to its potentially radiosensitizing effect.

Objective: This review article aims to better clarify the role of metformin as a radiosensitizer in patients with LARC undergoing neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: We used the PubMed database to retrieve journal articles and the inclusion criteria were all human studies that illustrated the effective role of metformin in the neoadjuvant setting of locally advanced rectal cancer.

Is the Patient Actually Failing on Enzalutamide? A Case Report and Issues to Consider in Enzalutamide-Resistant Oligoprogressive Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Background: Metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is a challenging disease, especially in heavily pretreated patients. Androgen pathway inhibitors have contributed to a notable improvement in the overall survival and quality of life in patients with mCRPC during the last decade. Still, a considerable percentage of patients are unable to draw benefits from this drug category and are deprived of a treatment that offers limited toxicity and preserves a good quality of life.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors and combinations with other agents in cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma consists of a heterogeneous group of malignancies with generally poor prognoses. Immunotherapy has emerged in the treatment landscape of many tumors, offering survival benefits, but data regarding the use of immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma remain vague. In this review, the authors analyze differences in the tumor microenvironment and various immune escape mechanisms and discuss available immunotherapy combinations with other agents among completed and ongoing clinical trials, such as chemotherapy, targeted agents, antiangiogenic drugs, local ablative therapies, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy and PARP and TGF-β inhibitors.

Diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee joint: 3-year follow-up of a case report.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a proliferative, recurrent and locally invasive disease of the synovium. The symptoms of the disorder are not typical and thus it is very often misdiagnosed. Most of the times, magnetic resonance imaging presents the nodular model of development and sets the basis for the diagnosis.

Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer: A 2022 Update.

Gastric cancer is ranked fifth among the most commonly diagnosed cancers, and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The majority of gastric cancers are sporadic, while only a small percentage, less than 1%, are hereditary. Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is a rare malignancy, characterized by early-onset, highly-penetrant autosomal dominant inheritance mainly of the germline alterations in the E-cadherin gene () and β-catenin ().

Radiation-Induced Esophageal Cancer: Investigating the Pathogenesis, Management, and Prognosis.

One of the most serious late side effects of irradiation is the promotion of tumorigenesis. Radiation-induced esophageal cancer (RIEC) can arise in a previously irradiated field, mostly in patients previously irradiated for thoracic malignancies such as breast cancer, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, head and neck cancers, lung cancer, or previous esophageal cancer. RIEC is rare and accounts for less than 1% of all carcinomas of the esophagus.

Immunotherapy in Combination with Well-Established Treatment Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer: Current Insights.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer and fourth most common cause of death in developed countries. Despite improved survival rates after resection combined with adjuvant chemotherapy or neoadjuvant chemotherapy, recurrence still occurs in a high percentage of patients within the first 2 years after resection. Immunotherapy aims to improve antitumor immune responses and reduce toxicity providing a more specific, targeted therapy compared to chemotherapy and has been proved an efficient therapeutic tool for many solid tumors.

Radiotherapy and Breast Reconstruction: What Is the Ideal Timing? A Narrative Review.

Introduction: Women undergoing mastectomy choose to pursue breast reconstruction (BR) in order to reduce their body image distress.Adjuvant chest wall irradiation is associated with a negative cosmetic outcome. The aim of our review was to identify the optimal timing of BR relating to radiotherapy delivery.

Trimodality treatment in gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers: Current approach and future perspectives.

Gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers represent an aggressive group of malignancies with poor prognosis even when diagnosed in relatively early stage, with an increasing incidence both in Asia and in Western countries. These cancers are characterized by heterogeneity as a result of different pathogenetic mechanisms as shown in recent molecular analyses. Accordingly, the understanding of phenotypic and genotypic correlations/classifications has been improved.

Immunotherapy for gastric cancer: a 2021 update.

Gastric cancer, the fifth most frequent cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths, accounts for a devastating death rate worldwide. Since the majority of patients with gastric cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages, they are not suitable for surgery and present with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Recent advances in immunotherapy have elicited a considerable amount of attention as viable therapeutic options for several cancer types.

Immunotherapy for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs): a 2021 update.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a group of heterogeneous malignancies, arising from the neuroendocrine system. These neoplasms are divided into two distinct groups, the low-proliferating, well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and the highly-proliferating, poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). Recent data demonstrate that the incidence of gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine neoplasms, GEP-NETs and GEP-NECs, has increased exponentially over the last three decades.

Current and potential biomarkers in gastric cancer: a critical review of the literature.

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer worldwide and the second most lethal. Gastric cancer biomarkers can be used for diagnosis, prediction of sensitivity to treatment, and prognosis. The following search terms were applied to PubMed as of December 2020: 'gastric cancer classification', 'gastric cancer epidemiology', 'cancer metastasis' and 'gastric cancer biomarker'.

Cutaneous soft tissue sarcomas: survival-related factors.

Cutaneous sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of rare mesenchymal neoplasms representing less than 1% of malignant tumors. Histology report remains the cornerstone for the diagnosis of these tumors. The most important clinicopathologic parameters related to prognosis include larger tumor size, high mitotic index, head and neck location, p53 mutations, depth of infiltration and histological grade, vascular and perineural invasion as well as the surgical margins status.

Immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma: a 2021 update.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare malignancy with generally dismal prognosis. Immunotherapy has revolutionized the management of cancer patients during the last decade, offering durable responses with an acceptable safety profile, but there are still no significant advances regarding CCA. Novel immunotherapeutic methods, such as cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, adoptive cell therapy and combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors with other agents are currently under investigation and may improve prognosis.

Impact of Radiation Therapy on Pain Relief of Cancer Patients Affected by on Malignant Psoas Syndrome: 26 Years of Experience.

Aim: The malignant psoas syndrome (MPS) is a rare and complex cancer-related clinical entity, with a significant impact on cancer patients' quality of life. The literature describing malignant infiltration of the psoas muscle as well as its management is limited. The primary endpoint of the study was the assessment of pain relief in symptomatic terminal-stage MPS patients.

Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A 2021 Update.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of one of the most frequent liver cancers and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Current treatment options such as surgery, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, liver transplantation, and radiofrequency ablation will benefit only a very small percentage of patients. Immunotherapy is a novel treatment approach representing an effective and promising option against several types of cancer.

Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Five Years Literature Review.

Unlabelled: Backround: Radiation-induced oral mucositis consists of a series of relatively frequent side effects after head and neck cancer radiotherapy and has an adverse impact on both regular treatment process and the quality of life of patients.

Objective: The purpose of the present review is to optimize the current management of radiation-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients.

Methods: PubMed database research was performed on articles published since 2015 that demonstrated efficacy in the management of radiation-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients.

Assessment of Synergistic Contribution of Histone Deacetylases in Prognosis and Therapeutic Management of Sarcoma.

Sarcomas are a rare group of neoplasms with a mesenchymal origin that are mainly characterized by the abnormal growth of connective tissue cells. The standard treatment for local control of sarcomas includes surgery and radiation, while for adjuvant and palliative therapy, chemotherapy has been strongly recommended. Despite the availability of multimodal therapies, the survival rate for patients with sarcoma is still not satisfactory.