First-line treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: the real-world Italian cohort of the Prostate Cancer Registry.

Background: With the availability of multiple treatment options for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), new real-world data on disease management and drugs' performance are needed.

Methods: We described characteristics, management and clinical outcomes of patients receiving first-line mCRPC treatment within the Italian cohort of the real-world, prospective, international Prostate Cancer Registry. Patients were enrolled consecutively (2013-2016) in 32 Italian sites and followed for 3 years.

Evidence-based medical equipment management: a convenient implementation.

Maintenance is a crucial subject in medical equipment life cycle management. Evidence-based maintenance consists of the continuous performance monitoring of equipment, starting from the evidence-the current state in terms of failure history-and improvement of its effectiveness by making the required changes. This process is very important for optimizing the use and allocation of the available resources by clinical engineering departments.

High serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 predict the clinical outcome of treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin in anaemic cancer patients.

Background: A number of anaemic cancer patients are not responsive to treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). The aim of the present study is to investigate whether serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and additional laboratory parameters, together with clinical variables, can predict the clinical outcome of treatment with rHuEPO in anaemic cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-five cancer patients and 25 healthy controls were enrolled in this study.

Influence of weight loss on outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concomitant chemoradiotherapy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of weight loss on outcome in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT): treatment interruption, infections, mortality, and hospital readmission rate.

Methods: Forty patients with head and neck cancer were enrolled. All patients were counseled to follow a nutritional program during CCRT.

Informal caregiving burden in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: the HABIT study.

Introduction: This study's aim was to assess economic data regarding the home assistance burden for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in Italy.

Patients And Methods: One hundred four NSCLC patients in second-line chemotherapy (2LC) or in supportive therapy (ST) were enrolled in 18 Italian oncology departments and were observed for 3 months. The main caregiver's workload was assessed monthly by a task scale; other caregivers' activities were also registered.