Comparing Combination vs Monochemotherapy in Late-Elderly Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: Insights From a Single-Center Study.

Objectives: The incidence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) increases with age and is frequently diagnosed at an inoperable stage, which limits treatment options. There is limited evidence concerning patients over 75 years old, and clinical practice often lacks clear guidance regarding the choice of first-line therapy. The primary objective of this retrospective study was to assess overall survival (OS) in elderly patients receiving first-line monochemotherapy vs combination therapy.

Exploring the Horizon: Anti-Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer with Aberrant Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Expression-A Scoping Review.

Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal disease, often diagnosed at advanced stages, with a 5-year overall survival rate of around 10%. Current treatments have limited effectiveness, underscoring the need for new therapeutic options. This scoping review aims to identify and summarize preclinical and clinical studies on FGFR (Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor) inhibitors, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and FGFR-specific inhibitors, in pancreatic cancer with FGFR alterations.

Evolving approaches in advanced gallbladder cancer with complete pathological response using chemo‑immunotherapy: A case report.

The combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy for metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) offers promising improvements in survival and response rates beyond traditional treatments. TOPAZ-1 and KEYNOTE-966 have demonstrated the efficacy of combining immunotherapy (durvalumab and pembrolizumab) with chemotherapy, even in gallbladder cancer (GBC), with a complete response rate of 2.7% in the TOPAZ-1 trial.

Emerging Therapeutic Targets and Future Directions in Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Comprehensive Review.

Metastatic gastric cancer (GC) still represents a critical clinical challenge, with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. Most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, limiting the chances of surgery and cure. The identification of molecular targets and the possibility of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy have recently reshaped the therapeutic landscape of metastatic gastric cancer.

Unraveling the Interplay of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and Micro-Satellite Instability in Non-Metastatic Colon Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Microsatellite Instability (MSI-H) occurs in approximately 15% of non-metastatic colon cancers, influencing patient outcomes positively compared to microsatellite stable (MSS) cancers. This systematic review focuses on the prognostic significance of KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutations within MSI-H colon cancer. Through comprehensive searches in databases like MEDLINE, EMBASE, and others until 1 January 2024, we selected 8 pertinent studies from an initial pool of 1918.

FOLFIRINOX or Gemcitabine Plus Nab-paclitaxel as First Line Treatment in Pancreatic Cancer: A Real-World Comparison.

Background/aim: Advanced pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis and a 5-year survival rate <5%; thus, treatment of patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic disease is challenging. Current guidelines recommend either gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) or FOLFIRINOX (FOL) as first-line treatment. Data on both efficacy and toxicity of FOL versus GnP in metastatic cancer are limited.

Targeting FGFR Pathways in Gastrointestinal Cancers: New Frontiers of Treatment.

In carcinogenesis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the deregulation of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling plays a critical role. The aberrant activity of this pathway is described in approximately 10% of gastric cancers and its frequency increases in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (iCCAs), with an estimated frequency of 10-16%. Several selective FGFR inhibitors have been developed in the last few years with promising results.

Nine-Week Versus One-Year Trastuzumab for Early Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Breast Cancer: 10-Year Update of the ShortHER Phase III Randomized Trial.

JCO We present the final analysis of the phase III noninferiority, randomized ShortHER trial comparing 9 weeks versus 1 year of adjuvant trastuzumab with chemotherapy in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) early breast cancer (BC). Women with HER2+ BC were randomly assigned to anthracycline-taxane combinations plus 1-year trastuzumab (arm A, long) or 9-week trastuzumab (arm B, short). Here, we report the second coprimary end point overall survival (OS), updated disease-free survival (DFS), and outcomes according to hormone receptor status, age, and nodal status.

COVID-19 Vaccination in Cancer Patients Older Than 70 Years Undergoing Active Treatment. Seroconversion Rate and Safety.

Patients with cancer have a high risk of intubation, intensive care unit admission, or death from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19); age and comorbidities are additional risk factors. Vaccination is effective against COVID-19; however, patients with cancer have been excluded from pivotal clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines. Data on COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients who are older are lacking.

Coronavirus disease-2019 in cancer patients. A report of the first 25 cancer patients in a western country (Italy).

We describe cancer patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection treated at the Piacenza's general hospital (north Italy). 25 cancer patients infected by COVID-19 admitted at the Piacenza's general hospital from 21 February to 18 March 2020. Outcome from the infection were compared with infected noncancer patients.

Advanced gastric cancer with liver and lymph node metastases successfully resected after induction chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil.

Background: At diagnosis, about 35% of patients with gastric cancer present with distant metastases, and most patients with gastric cancer and liver metastases are excluded from curative surgery.

Case: We report a case of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-negative gastric cancer with metastases to the liver and perigastric lymph nodes. The patient (a 60-year-old man) was considered unresectable at diagnosis and was treated with palliative chemotherapy (docetaxel plus cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil by continuous intravenous infusion over 5 days every 3 weeks).

HER2-positive gastric cancer showing marked thickening of the gastric wall on ultrasonographic and computed tomographic scans. a chance phenomenon or a specific behaviour of this cancer type? Report of three cases.

Worldwide, gastric cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed type of cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related death. Recently, it was demonstrated that 15-20% of advanced gastro-oesophageal carcinomas overexpress human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2), one of a family of four identified human epidermal receptors. As in HER2-positive breast cancer, trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting HER2 receptor, with chemotherapy improves prognosis, time-to-progression and overall survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Ultrasound guidance reduces pneumothorax rate and improves safety of thoracentesis in malignant pleural effusion: report on 445 consecutive patients with advanced cancer.

Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is an extremely common problem affecting cancer patients, and thoracentesis is an essential procedure in an attempt to delineate the etiology of the fluid collections and to relieve symptoms in affected patients. One of the most common complications of thoracentesis is pneumothorax, which has been reported to occur in 20% to 39% of thoracenteses, with 15% to 50% of patients with pneumothorax requiring tube thoracostomy.The present study was carried out to assess whether thoracenteses in cancer patients performed with ultrasound (US) guidance are associated with a lower rates of pneumothorax and tube thoracostomy than those performed without US guidance.

Long-term results of preoperative 5-fluorouracil-oxaliplatin chemoradiation therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Aim: To evaluate the activity, safety and long-term survival of patients after preoperative oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil chemoradiation therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with resectable, T3-4 and/or nodal involvement rectal adenocarcinoma were treated with oxaliplatin 60 mg/m(2) weekly and 5-fluorouracil 200 mg/m(2)/d infused continuously for five days, over a period of five weeks, and radiotherapy (45 Gy/25 fractions). The primary end-point was pathological complete response (ypCR).

Elderly cancer patients' preferences regarding the disclosure of cancer diagnosis. Experience of a single institution in Italy.

The disclosure of a diagnosis of cancer is complex, particularly in older patients for reasons related to the wishes of the family, fear of discouraging the patient, or the patient's inability to understand the information. So our insight into older people's perspectives regarding the disclosure of their cancer diagnosis is fragmentary and inadequate. To examine the views of older adults regarding this issue, we performed a prospective observational study in an inpatient oncology clinic.

Cancer diagnosis disclosure in a northern Italian hospital. Report on 312 consecutive cancer patients.

To evaluate cancer diagnosis disclosure in a cohort of cancer patients attending an outpatient oncology unit, a prospective observational study was performed. Three hundred twelve consecutive patients were accrued between January and June 2005. A questionnaire was given to each patient; the questions were very simple and related to demographics, residence, sex, educational background, employment status, time elapsed after diagnosis, treatment received, existence of relatives, and health insurance.

Post-traumatic glioma: report of two cases.

We report two cases of brain glioma that developed in the scar of an old brain trauma. The first is that of a 40-year-old man who presented with severe headaches; CT and MRI showed a large mass in the right parietal region. The tumor was unresectable and surgical biopsy showed a glioblastoma multiforme.

[Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: report of seven cases].

From May 1999 to January 2002 we observed 7 patients (4 females and 3 males, median age 55 years, range 31-81 years) with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Six patients has been previously undiagnosed and 1 patient was at second relapse. Trigger factors of TTP were identified in 6 patients: ticlopidine treatment (2 patients); an acute cutaneous infection episode immediately before the features of TTP (1 patient); presence of devices: orthodontic (1 patient) and intrauterine contraceptive (1 patient), Mycoplasma urealyticum vaginal infection (1 patient).

Primary pancreatic lymphoma. Report of five cases.

Primary pancreatic lymphoma (PPL) is a very rare disease. We report five cases of PPL (4 men and 1 woman, mean age 65 years) diagnosed and treated at our Institution from 1987 to 1997. None of these patients had evidence of extrapancreatic disease and they were categorized as PPL involving pancreas only (stage IE, 3 patients) or pancreas and peripancreatic lymph nodes (stage IIE, 2 patients).

Role of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in HCV-related, low-grade, B-cell, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a multicenter Italian experience.

Purpose: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is endemic in some areas of Northwestern Europe and the United States. HCV has been shown to play a role in the development of both hepatocellular carcinoma and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL). The biologic mechanisms underlying the lymphomagenic activity of the virus so far are under investigation.

Safety and efficacy of enoxaparin treatment in venous thromboembolic disease during acute leukemia.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a quite common complication in acute leukemia, although its real incidence is unknown. The best treatment of this complication is still a matter of debate due to the very high risk of hemorrhage in this group of patients.

Patients And Methods: From December 2000 to December 2002 four Caucasian patients with acute leukemia developed VTE complications.