Publications by authors named "Fallara G"
Background: Antiangiogenic therapy had been tested in urothelial cancer (UC) without reaching the clinic.
Objective: We provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials to assess efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) combined with antiangiogenic agents in UC.
Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched for trials with at least one arm of patients with UC treated with ICI plus antiangiogenics.
Introduction: Kidney transplant (KT) recipients are at an elevated risk of developing de novo cancers. However, penile (PeCa) and testis cancers have received limited attention in this setting.
Objective: To summarize the epidemiology, treatment options, and oncological outcomes of penile and testis cancer in KT recipients.
Objectives: Survival outcomes of patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) are still suboptimal and strategies to enhance response to immune-oncology (IO) compounds are under scrutiny. In preclinical studies, it has been demonstrated that antihistamines may reverse macrophage immunosuppression, reactivate T cell cytotoxicity, and enhance the immunotherapy response. We aimed to evaluate the role of concomitant antihistamines administration on oncological outcomes among patients with mUC.
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- The study examines the impact of smoking on the outcomes of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) treated with BCG instillations, indicating that smokers may have poorer results.
- Approximately 1,313 patients were analyzed using a statistical model to correlate smoking history with disease progression, revealing that heavy smokers have over double the risk of disease progression compared to nonsmokers.
- The results highlight the importance of considering a patient's smoking history in NMIBC management and the necessity for tailored smoking cessation strategies in treatment plans.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the expression of nectin-4 (N4) in various genitourinary (GU) cancers, particularly focusing on its relevance as a potential target for antibody-drug conjugates, given its aberrant expression in malignancies like urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UBC).
- - A systematic review analyzed 25 studies on N4 positivity across different GU tumors, finding that N4 positivity is generally higher in bladder cancers, especially in metastatic and non-muscle-invasive stages, compared to other types like upper tract urothelial carcinoma and non-urothelial cancers.
- - The findings suggest that non-urothelial malignancies have lower rates of N4 positivity compared to bladder cancer,
Article Synopsis
- About 70% of bladder cancer cases are non-muscle invasive (NMIBC) and inflammation, influenced by factors like smoking, affects treatment outcomes with BCG therapy.
- A study analyzed data from 1,313 NMIBC patients to examine how smoking and systemic inflammation impact the effectiveness of BCG using a machine-learning algorithm.
- The results indicated that both smoking status and specific inflammatory markers can significantly predict the risk of disease progression, highlighting the need for tailored treatment strategies and further research to confirm the findings.
Objective: Renal Tumor biopsy (RTB) can assist clinicians in determining the most suitable approach for treatment of renal cancer. However, RTB's limitations in accurately determining histology and grading have hindered its broader adoption and data on the concordance rate between RTB results and final pathology after surgery are unavailable. Therefore, we aimed to develop a machine learning algorithm to optimize RTB technique and to investigate the degree of concordance between RTB and surgical pathology reports.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objective: The majority of small testicular masses (STMs) are benign and therefore radical orchidectomy (RO) may represent overtreatment. In appropriately selected patients, surveillance or testis-sparing surgery (TSS) is an alternative option to preserve testicular function. Since there are no clear guidelines, we aimed to develop consensus recommendations on the management of STMs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Black men residing in Western countries are more likely to develop prostate cancer (PCa), have higher mortality and are younger than the general population at initial diagnosis. In addition to genetic and environmental factors, the reasons for these racial disparities can also be attributed to social determinants of health such as low health literacy of this population and poor awareness of health services. Little is known about laboratory tests for PCa in black men.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfertility is a prevalent issue affecting many couples during their reproductive years, with a significant number facing challenges in conceiving despite regular unprotected intercourse. Male factor infertility (MFI) contributes significantly to these cases, with a significant proportion of men lacking an identifiable etiology. As such, a thorough assessment of MFI has become increasingly vital for personalized management.
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- The study aimed to analyze sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) in 3224 men facing idiopathic infertility to see how it correlates with other health and semen parameters.
- Out of the men evaluated, 23% had abnormal semen parameters, and 52.7% of those with idiopathic infertility had SDF values considered pathologic (≥30%).
- The results indicated that men with higher SDF values were generally older, had higher FSH and HOMA-IR levels, and lower testosterone, sperm concentration, and motility compared to those with normal SDF values.
Background And Objective: No clear-cut markers for predicting positive sperm retrieval (+SR) at microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) have been identified thus far. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the ability of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B (InhB), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) to predict +SR in men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) undergoing mTESE.
Methods: We performed a search in the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis statement.
Article Synopsis
- Penile shaft sparing (PSS) surgery is performed for localized penile cancer, aiming to achieve a balance between cancer control and preserving sexual function.
- A systematic review evaluated various PSS techniques and found that while oncological outcomes were generally good, most studies had a high risk of bias and lacked comparative data.
- Overall, patient satisfaction regarding sexual function and quality of life was high after surgery, although the studies reviewed were of low quality.
Background: Up to 15% of patients with locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) harbors tumor thrombus (TT). In those cases, radical nephrectomy (RN) and thrombectomy represents the standard of care. We assessed the impact of TT on long-term functional and oncological outcomes in a large contemporary cohort.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: In absence of predictive models, preoperative estimation of the probability of completing partial (PN) relative to radical nephrectomy (RN) is invariably inaccurate and subjective. We aimed to develop an evidence-based model to assess objectively the probability of PN completion based on patients' characteristics, tumor's complexity, urologist expertise and surgical approach.
Design, Setting And Participants: 675 patients treated with PN or RN for cT cN cM renal mass by seven surgeons at one single experienced centre from 2000 to 2019.
Background: To date, the benefit of image guidance during robot-assisted surgery (IGS) is an object of debate. The current study aims to address the quality of the contemporary body of literature concerning IGS in robotic surgery throughout different surgical specialties.
Methods: A systematic review of all English-language articles on IGS, from January 2013 to March 2023, was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane library's Central, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases.
Article Synopsis
- Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5is) are commonly used for treating erectile dysfunction (ED), but many men use them without a prescription for recreational purposes.
- A study analyzed data from 2,012 heterosexual men seeking help for ED, dividing them into those who had and had not used PDE5is before their first clinic visit.
- Results showed that 70.9% of patients were PDE5i-naïve, with these men being generally younger and having fewer comorbidities compared to those who had used PDE5is previously.
Mucins are a family of high-molecular-weight glycoproteins. MUC1 is widely studied for its role in distinct types of cancers. In many human epithelial malignancies, MUC1 is frequently overexpressed, and its intracellular activities are crucial for cell biology.
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- A study of over 70,000 men diagnosed with intermediate- or high-risk nonmetastatic prostate cancer in Sweden examined treatment patterns and cancer-specific mortality from 2008 to 2020.
- The results showed a significant increase in curative treatment among older age groups, especially those aged 70-84, although older men were still less likely to receive staging procedures and curative treatment.
- The findings suggest a reduction in age-related bias in treatment, indicating a trend towards more individualized decision-making and adherence to guidelines promoting active management for older men with prostate cancer.
Purpose: We aimed to investigate the relationship between follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B (InhB).
Materials And Methods: Data from 1,230 consecutive men presenting for primary couple's infertility were analyzed. Health-significant comorbidities were scored with Charlson comorbidity index.
Penile cancer (PeCa) is rare, and the oncological outcomes in younger men are unclear. We aimed to analyse and compare oncological outcomes of men age ≤50 years (y) and >50 years with PeCa. A retrospective analysis of men ≤50 y with penile squamous cell carcinoma managed at a tertiary centre was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Hydroxyurea (HU) is a cytoreductive agent used as standard treatment option for sickle cell anaemia/disease (SCD), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and polycythaemia vera (PV). Despite its overall good safety profile, its use also in relatively young patients raises an interest on its potential impact on spermatogenesis. To perform a systematic review of all published articles investigating fertility in male patients affected by SCD, ET, and PV and treated with HU.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Multiple and heterogeneous techniques have been described for orthotopic neobladder (ONB) reconstruction after robot-assisted radical cystectomy. Nonetheless, a systematic assessment of all the available options is lacking.
Objective: To provide the first comprehensive step-by-step description of all the available techniques for robotic intracorporeal ONB together with individual intraoperative, perioperative and functional outcomes based on a systematic review of the literature.