The Intra-Meatal Application of Tadalafil Cream Versus Oral Administration Efficacy and Safety: Results from a Randomized, Two-Administration Route, Cross-Over Clinical Trial.

Tadalafil cream, a topically administered phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5), presents a potential alternative to oral PDE5 inhibitors like tadalafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). This study evaluates the non-inferiority and potential superiority of tadalafil cream compared to oral tadalafil. This randomized controlled trial employed a cross-over design with two treatment periods of two weeks each, separated by a one-week washout phase.

Unselective Measurement of Tumor-to-Stroma Proportion in Colon Cancer at the Invasion Front-An Elusive Prognostic Factor: Original Patient Data and Review of the Literature.

The tumor-to-stroma ratio is a highly debated prognostic factor in the management of several solid tumors and there is no universal agreement on its practicality. In our study, we proposed confirming or dismissing the hypothesis that a simple measurement of stroma quantity is an easy-to-use and strong prognostic tool. We have included 74 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer who underwent primary curative abdominal surgery.

Copy Number Variations (CNVs) Account for 10.8% of Pathogenic Variants in Patients Referred for Hereditary Cancer Testing.

Background/aim: Germline copy number variation (CNV) is a type of genetic variant that predisposes significantly to inherited cancers. Today, next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have contributed to multi gene panel analysis in clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: A total of 2,163 patients were screened for cancer susceptibility, using a solution-based capture method.

Prevalence of MMTV-like sequences in breast cancer samples in Romanian patients-there is a geographic difference compared to the Western world.

Background: Breast cancer, although the most frequently diagnosed malignant tumor in humans, has a less clear etiology compared to other frequent cancer types. Mouse-mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is involved in breast cancer in mice and dogs and might play a role in the etiology of some breast cancers in humans, since an MMTV-like sequence was identified in 20-40% of breast cancer samples in Western Europe, USA, Australia and some other parts of the world. The purpose of our study was to identify MMTV-like DNA sequences in breast tissue samples from breast cancer patients who underwent curative surgery in our regional academic center in Romania, EU.

Whole-Tumor ADC Texture Analysis Is Able to Predict Breast Cancer Receptor Status.

There are different breast cancer molecular subtypes with differences in incidence, treatment response and outcome. They are roughly divided into estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PR) negative and positive cancers. In this retrospective study, we included 185 patients augmented with 25 SMOTE patients and divided them into two groups: the training group consisted of 150 patients and the validation cohort consisted of 60 patients.

Structure-Activity Relationship Studies Based on Quinazoline Derivatives as EGFR Kinase Inhibitors (2017-Present).

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a critical role in the tumorigenesis of various forms of cancer. Targeting the mutant forms of EGFR has been identified as an attractive therapeutic approach and led to the approval of three generations of inhibitors. The quinazoline core has emerged as a favorable scaffold for the development of novel EGFR inhibitors due to increased affinity for the active site of EGFR kinase.

Spectrum of High-Risk Mutations among Breast Cancer Patients Referred for Multigene Panel Testing in a Romanian Population.

(1) Background: Multigene panel testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) using next generation sequencing (NGS) is becoming a standard in medical care. There are insufficient genetic studies reported on breast cancer (BC) patients from Romania and most of them are focused only on BRCA 1/2 genes (Breast cancer 1/2). (2) Methods: NGS was performed in 255 consecutive cases of BC referred for management in our clinic between 2015-2019.

Are Mutation Carrier Patients Different from Non-Carrier Patients? Genetic, Pathology, and US Features of Patients with Breast Cancer.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations, US features, and histopathologic findings of breast cancer in mutation carriers compared to non-carrier patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, we identified 264 patients with breast cancer and multigene panel testing admitted to our clinic from January 2018 to December 2020. Patient data US findings, US assessment of the axilla, multigene panel tests, histopathology, and immunochemistry reports were reviewed according to the BI-RADS lexicon.

SERS liquid biopsy in breast cancer. What can we learn from SERS on serum and urine?

SERS analysis of biofluids, coupled with classification algorithms, has recently emerged as a candidate for point-of-care medical diagnosis. Nonetheless, despite the impressive results reported in the literature, there are still gaps in our knowledge of the biochemical information provided by the SERS analysis of biofluids. Therefore, by a critical assignment of the SERS bands, our work aims to provide a systematic analysis of the molecular information that can be achieved from the SERS analysis of serum and urine obtained from breast cancer patients and controls.

Revisiting the Implications of Positive Germline Testing Results Using Multi-gene Panels in Breast Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: The use of multi-gene panels for germline testing in breast cancer enables the estimation of cancer risk and guides risk-reducing management options. The aim of this study was to present data that demonstrate the different levels of actionability for multi-gene panels used in genetic testing of breast cancer patients and their family members.

Materials And Methods: We performed an analysis in our clinical database to identify breast cancer patients undergoing genetic testing.

The Role of US in Depicting Axillary Metastasis in High-Risk Breast Cancer Patients.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of US in depicting axillary nodal disease in high-risk patients with and without pathogenic mutations. The retrospective study included consecutive high-risk breast cancer (BC) patients who underwent a multigene testing panel for hereditary cancers, pre-operative axillary US and breast/axillary surgery. The group was divided into patients with pathogenic mutations (PM group) and patients without PM.

T4 retroperitoneal liposarcoma. Challenges of big size sarcomas surgical treatment.

Our article presents some of the challenges of the surgical treatment of T4 (>15 cm) retroperitoneal liposarcomas (up to 65∕56∕30 cm, 25.5 kg) series of cases treated by the Department of Surgical Oncology, Prof. Dr.

Krukenberg tumor in pregnancy: a rare case and review of the literature.

Krukenberg's tumor diagnosed in pregnancy is an uncommon situation that raises both diagnosis and medical management issues. We performed a review of the existing literature regarding this pathology, diagnostic means and therapeutic approaches, motivated by a case in our own practice. A 35-year-old primigravida was diagnosed with an adnexal mass during the first trimester prenatal ultrasound.

Clinical Utility of Functional RNA Analysis for the Reclassification of Splicing Gene Variants in Hereditary Cancer.

Background: Classification of splicing variants (SVs) in genes associated with hereditary cancer is often challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of SVs in hereditary cancer genes and the clinical utility of RNA analysis.

Material And Methods: 1518 individuals were tested for cancer predisposition, using a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel of 36 genes.

Lipidomic Signatures for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Progression Using UPLC-QTOF-ESIMS.

Metabolomics coupled with bioinformatics may identify relevant biomolecules such as putative biomarkers of specific metabolic pathways related to colorectal diagnosis, classification and prognosis. This study performed an integrated metabolomic profiling of blood serum from 25 colorectal cancer (CRC) cases previously classified (Stage I to IV) compared with 16 controls (disease-free, non-CRC patients), using high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-ESI MS). More than 400 metabolites were separated and identified, then all data were processed by the advanced Metaboanalyst 5.

Circulating microRNA-194 and microRNA-1228 Could Predict Colon Cancer Proliferation via Phospho S6 Modulation.

Background And Aims: Although colon cancer has a decreasing incidence trend in Europe, because of its still high frequency and not fully understood pathogenesis, this malignancy still remains a subject of intense research. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of microRNA-194 and microRNA-1228 in colon cancer proliferation.

Methods: RNA was extracted from patients with colon cancer with or without advanced disease and microRNA expression levels were determined through qRT-PCR.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio: a hidden gem in predicting neoadjuvant treatment response in locally advanced rectal cancer?

Purpose: The link between the pro-inflammatory status, tumor aggressiveness and treatment response has been well established in multiple cancers. Various hematologic and biochemical variables representing surrogates for inflammation have been used as predictive markers. Our primary aim was to assess the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in evaluating neoadjuvant treatment response in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Malignant phyllodes tumors of the breast associating malignancy of both mesenchymal and epithelial components (invasive or in situ ductal carcinoma).

Phyllodes tumors of the breast are biphasic tumors consisting from an epithelial component and a mesenchymal component. Usually, the mesenchymal component of the tumor is the one who dictates the malignancy of the biphasic proliferation. Presence of the malignancy of the both, epithelial [under the form of invasive carcinoma or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)] and mesenchymal components is very rare.

A malignant phyllodes tumor with liposarcomatous differentiation case with 3-year follow-up.

Phyllodes tumors (PTs) are a group of rarely breast tumors of fibro-epithelial origin, counting for about 1% of the breast malignancies divided, based on histological features, in benign, borderline and malignant neoplasms, arising most of them in women in their 40's. Among this complex group of tumors, the liposarcomatous differentiation is an even more rare lesion, counting for about 0.3% of all primary sarcomas of the breast.

The role of imaging techniques in the diagnosis, staging and choice of therapeutic conduct in pregnancy associated breast cancer.

Breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy is at increasing incidence due to the increased frequency of obesity, the postponement of the first pregnancy to later decades of life and the advances of diagnostic techniques. Clinical and imaging diagnosis is difficult during gestation due to adaptive changes of the maternal organism , the mammary glads in particular. Furthermore, the therapeutic approach is limited both by the possible side effects on the fetus and by the skepticism of the couple over these therapeutic regimens.

The influence of reproductive factors on breast cancer risk in women with pathogenic mutations.

Purpose: To assess the influence of reproductive factors in the occurrence of breast cancer in women, taking into account the presence/absence of genetic predisposing mutations.

Methods: 100 patients with breast cancer were included. The genetic testing was conducted through a multigene panel.

Organ sparing management in rectal cancer. Are we there yet?

Background: The "watch and wait" approach has recently been proposed as an alternative to surgery in locally-advanced rectal cancer patients that respond to neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, in order to decrease its negative functional consequences upon the quality of life of these patients. Current methods show low accuracy for the identification of complete responders.

Materials And Methods: A review of the literature was conducted for articles published up to March 31th, 2019.

Analysis of hereditary cancer syndromes by using a panel of genes: novel and multiple pathogenic mutations.

Background: Hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes are responsible for approximately 5-10% of all diagnosed cancer cases. In the past, single-gene analysis of specific high risk genes was used for the determination of the genetic cause of cancer heritability in certain families. The application of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology has facilitated multigene panel analysis and is widely used in clinical practice, for the identification of individuals with cancer predisposing gene variants.

The decrease of some serum free amino acids can predict breast cancer diagnosis and progression.

This study was targeted on a metabolomic approach to compare the blood serum free amino acid profiles and concentration of confirmed breast cancer (stages I-III) patients to healthy controls in order to establish reliable biomarkers of early detection and prediction of breast cancer. The ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry using positive ionization electrospray was applied for the picoline-derivatized serum free amino acids using the EZ:faastTM kit. Multivariate statistical analysis principal component analysis, partial least squares discrimination analysis and univariate analysis were applied in order to discriminate between patient groups and putative amino acid biomarkers for breast cancer.