Prognostic analysis and outcomes of metastatic pancreatic cancer patients receiving nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine as second or later-line treatment.

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) first-line therapy often consists of polychemotherapy regimens, but choosing a second-line therapy after disease progression, especially following first-line FOLFIRINOX, remains a clinical challenge. This study presents results from a large, multicenter, retrospective analysis of Italian patients with metastatic PC (mPC) treated with Nab-paclitaxel/Gemcitabine (AG) as second or later line of treatment. Main objective of the study is to identify prognostic factors that could inform treatment decisions.

Generation of complex bone marrow organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells.

The human bone marrow (BM) niche sustains hematopoiesis throughout life. We present a method for generating complex BM-like organoids (BMOs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). BMOs consist of key cell types that self-organize into spatially defined three-dimensional structures mimicking cellular, structural and molecular characteristics of the hematopoietic microenvironment.

Impact of Metastatic Site in Favorable-Risk Renal Cell Carcinoma Receiving Sunitinib or Pazopanib.

Background: Although in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients with intermediate and poor risk the benefit of combination strategies versus tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) has been ascertained, in those with favorable risk data are ambiguous. Herein, we investigated the impact of number and type of metastatic site in patients with favorable risk to contribute to the best therapeutic choice.

Material And Methods: Multicenter data regarding patients with favorable risk mRCC carcinoma receiving first-line TKIs, sunitinib or pazopanib, were retrospectively collected.

A Retrospective Study of Cemiplimab Effectiveness in Elderly Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin: Insights from a Real-Life Scenario.

Introduction: This retrospective study investigates the efficacy of cemiplimab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the PD-1 receptor, in treating squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin.

Methods: The study analyzes data from 50 patients with SCC, focusing on various clinical parameters, including patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment history, disease status at the beginning of therapy, and survival outcomes.

Results: Of the patients who received at least one cycle of cemiplimab, 42% showed a clinical response.

A Novel Biallelic LCK Variant Resulting in Profound T-Cell Immune Deficiency and Review of the Literature.

Lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK) is an SRC-family kinase critical for initiation and propagation of T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling through phosphorylation of TCR-associated CD3 chains and recruited downstream molecules. Until now, only one case of profound T-cell immune deficiency with complete LCK deficiency [1] caused by a biallelic missense mutation (c.1022T>C, p.

Prognostic value of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. This study evaluated the prognostic role of serum alanine phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) in metastatic PC patients. 153 patients with metastatic PC receiving first-line treatment with nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine were retrospectively enrolled in a multicenter study and stratified according to ALP (≤ or >260 U/l) and GGT (≤ or >45.

Clinical outcome and safety profile of metastatic pancreatic cancer patients treated with more than six cycles of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine.

The phase III MPACT trial demonstrated the superiority of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (NABGEM) versus gemcitabine alone in previously untreated patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the responses in terms of efficacy and safety in patients treated with more than 6 cycles of chemotherapy. From January 2015 to December 2018, patients with mPC receiving first-line treatment with NABGEM were included in a multicentre retrospective observational study.

Psychological Well-Being of Cancer Patients before and during the Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients.

Methods: Ninety cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with antiblastics were recruited from a tertiary medical center and completed a battery of standardized questionnaires to assess anxiety, depression, peritraumatic stress, and quality of life before and during the pandemic.

Results: Quality of life worsened significantly during the pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic period.

Are Simulators Paving a New Way for Continuing Education?

Simulated learning has been practiced for decades and was a key element in remote learning during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continuing healthcare education courses for clinicians have incorporated surgical simulators to enable relief from the time constraints encountered in the operating room and provide a more relaxed environment in which to practice complex surgical procedures. Educational research studies show that the implementation of such applications in pedagogy have improved knowledge retention, increased clinician confidence, provided easier access to educational materials, and reduced levels of anxiety about learning.

Long-Term Response to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) prolong progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), some of which may achieve long-term responses. Herein, we report clinical and pathological characteristics of patients who achieved long-term responses during first-line TKI treatment. Methods: Patients receiving TKI as first-line therapy from January 2010 to December 2017 in seven Italian Oncology Centers were reviewed.

Timing of Blood Sample Processing Affects the Transcriptomic and Epigenomic Profiles in CD4 T-cells of Atopic Subjects.

Optimal pre-analytical conditions for blood sample processing and isolation of selected cell populations for subsequent transcriptomic and epigenomic studies are required to obtain robust and reproducible results. This pilot study was conducted to investigate the potential effects of timing of CD4 T-cell processing from peripheral blood of atopic and non-atopic adults on their transcriptomic and epigenetic profiles. Two heparinized blood samples were drawn from each of three atopic and three healthy individuals.

Prognostic value of normal sodium levels in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Background: Although serum sodium concentration, particularly hyponatremia, has been shown to be a prognostic marker of survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), the impact of normal sodium levels has not been investigated. Herein, we investigate the influence of normonatremia in mRCC patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

Materials And Methods: For this retrospective study, the clinical and biochemical data of patients treated with first-line TKIs for mRCC were available from seven Italian cancer centers.

The impact of age, performance status and comorbidities on nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine effectiveness in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Few studies have evaluated the impact of risk factors such as performance status (PS) and comorbidities on overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC). We investigated the influence of comorbidity, PS and age on nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine (NabGem) effectiveness profile in naive patients with mPC. 153 patients with mPC treated with NabGem upfront was divided in three groups (score 0 to 3) based on the absence or the presence of one or more risk factors among: age ≥ 70 years, PS 1 and comorbidities and the clinical outcomes was compared.

Risk Factors for Nab-Paclitaxel and Gemcitabine-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most frequent adverse events observed with taxane use, whose disability often required modification or treatment discontinuation. The aim of this study was to assess the value of several variables as risk factors for CIPN development.

Material And Methods: Eligible patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine were assessed in a multicenter study.

Therapeutic management of a symptomatic Kaposi's sarcoma patient with renal failure undergoing haemodialysis: A case report.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare inflammation- based vascular cancer involving the skin. The viral aetiology of KS is the Human Herpesvirus 8. KS may be frequently diagnosed in immunosuppressed kidneytransplanted patients, while is less common in patients with dialysis.

Effect of systemic therapies or best supportive care after disease progression to both nivolumab and cabozantinib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: The Meet-Uro 19BEYOND study.

Background: Nivolumab and cabozantinib are currently approved agents in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) but there are no data available for patients progressing to both treatments. The aim of this study was to compare active therapeutic options and best supportive care (BSC) after progression to nivolumab and cabozantinib in mRCC.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we selected 50 patients from eight Italian centers.

Valosin-containing protein-regulated endoplasmic reticulum stress causes NOD2-dependent inflammatory responses.

NOD2 polymorphisms may affect sensing of the bacterial muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and trigger perturbed inflammatory responses. Genetic screening of a patient with immunodeficiency and enteropathy revealed a rare homozygous missense mutation in the first CARD domain of NOD2 (ENST00000300589; c.160G > A, p.

Association between Low-Grade Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CINP) and Survival in Patients with Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas.

The combination of nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine demonstrated greater efficacy than gemcitabine alone but resulted in higher rates of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CINP) in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC). We aimed to evaluate the correlation between the development of treatment-related peripheral neuropathy and the efficacy of nab-P/Gem combination in these patients. mPC patients treated with nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m as a first-line therapy were included.

A Vismodegib Experience in Elderly Patients with Basal Cell Carcinoma: Case Reports and Review of the Literature.

Cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of human tumor, and its incidence rate is increasing worldwide. Up until a few years ago, therapeutic options have been limited for patients with advanced BCC (including metastatic and locally-advanced BCC). Over the last few years, promising systemic therapies have been investigated for the treatment of advanced BCC.

Association between neutropenia and survival to nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Neutropenia is a common side effect associated with nab-paclitaxel gemcitabine (Nab-Gem) therapy. We retrospectively investigated the association between neutropenia induced by first-line Nab-Gem and survival in metastatic pancreatic carcinoma patients. Metastatic pancreatic patients treated with first-line Nab-Gem were included in this retrospective analysis.