Iodine Plaque Brachytherapy a Customized Conservative Approach to the Management of Medium/Large-sized Uveal Melanoma.

Background/aim: The objective of this study was to assess the role of iodine (I) plaque brachytherapy in the management of uveal melanoma.

Patients And Methods: This is a retrospective study of 50 patients (median age 67 years; range=33-86 years) with uveal melanoma, treated with I plaque brachytherapy at the University Hospital of Pisa. Uveal melanoma was diagnosed with A-scan and B-scan standardized echography, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green-angiography, optical coherence tomography, and/or magnetic resonance imaging.

Topical ivermectin ointment treatment of Demodex blepharitis: a 6-year retrospective study.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of topical ivermectin 1% ointment, for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis.

Methods: A retrospective study was designed to review electronic medical records of patients seen between January 2017 and December 2022, who had a diagnosis of Demodex blepharitis, treated with topical ivermectin 1% with at least 6 months of follow-up (Centro de Ojos Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina). The presence of collarettes was graded from 0 to 4.

Photon-based high-dose single-fraction radiosurgery, an effective treatment modality for recurrent uveal melanoma.

Introduction: To evaluate and report the outcome of a patient with locally recurrent uveal melanoma (UM) previously treated with brachytherapy (BT), using a second personalized globe-sparing radiotherapy approach.

Material And Methods: In June 2020, a 78-year-old man arrived at our institution with diplopia and suspected uveal melanoma. At the ophthalmological evaluation (B-scan and A-scan ultrasonography) a lesion in the right eye at 6-7 hours of about 5 mm thickness, with internal lacunar areas, approximately 7 mm away from the limbus, was observed.

Late-onset distal-apical intracorneal ring-segments keratopathy: an analysis of a large sample in a multicenter study.

Purpose: To review the prevalence and describe the characteristics, of cases with late-onset intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) keratopathy in a multicenter study.

Methods: A retrospective multicentric case-series study was performed in a specialized keratoconus service, from Buenos Aires, Argentina. An electronic clinical chart from patients with ICRS keratopathy between January 1999 and January 2019 was reviewed.

An empirical approach to the definition of the target margins in eye radiosurgery.

Introduction: A system for stabilizing and monitoring eye movements during LINAC-based photon beam one single fraction stereotactic radiotherapy was developed at our Institution. This study aimed to describe the feasibility and the efficacy of our noninvasive optical localization system that was developed, tested, and applied in 20 patients treated for uveal melanoma.

Methods: Our system consisted of a customized thermoplastic mask to immobilize the head, a gaze fixation LED, and a digital micro-camera.

Success rate in micropulse diode laser treatment with regard to lens status, refractive errors, and glaucoma subtypes.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) considering different characteristics: glaucoma subtypes and lens status.

Methods: A retrospective case-series study was designed to evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP), and the number of IOP-lowering medications, used by glaucoma patients treated with MP-TSCPC between 2016 and 2019. Cases had a follow-up period of 12 months.

Lymph-vascular Space Involvement and/or p53 Overexpression Correlated With the Clinical Outcome of Early-stage Endometrial Cancer Patients Treated With Adjuvant Vaginal Brachytherapy.

Background/aim: The majority of patients with endometrial cancer (EC) are diagnosed at an early stage and undergo primary surgery, followed by observation or adjuvant therapy according to risk factors on surgical samples. The objective of this study was to assess the correlation between a risk profile represented by the presence of substantial lymph-vascular space involvement (LVSI) and/or p53 overexpression and the clinical outcome of patients with early-stage endometrial cancer (EC) who received adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy (BT).

Patients And Methods: This investigation assessed 79 patients who underwent hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic and/o aortic lymphadenectomy or sentinel lymph node biopsy followed by hypofractionated (HDR)-vaginal BT, using 192Ir source, for stage I-II endometrioid (n=70) or non-endometrioid (n=9) EC.

Photon-based High-dose Single-fraction Radiosurgery, an Effective Treatment Modality for Large and Posterior Uveal Melanoma.

Background/aim: Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor. This malignancy is frequently treated using brachytherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, or proton therapy. The objective of this study was to assess the role of stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of large and posterior UM.

Two different sizes of Valencia applicators in non-melanoma skin cancer treatment with iridium-192 high-dose-rate brachytherapy.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze tumor control, toxicity, and aesthetic outcome of patients affected by non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and treated with iridium-192 (Ir) high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BT) using Valencia applicators at the Division of Radiotherapy, University of Pisa.

Material And Methods: From June 2015 to December 2020, 95 NMSC patients, including 61.5% basal cell carcinoma and 38.

Effect of Bevacizumab in Combination With Standard Oxaliplatin-Based Regimens in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Although bevacizumab is a standard of care in combination treatments for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), its clinical benefit has been limited.

Objective: To determine whether sequential scheduling of bevacizumab administration in combination with chemotherapy improves treatment efficacy in patients with mCRC, in keeping with the tumor vascular normalization hypothesis.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This open-label, randomized clinical phase 3 trial was conducted from May 8, 2012, to December 9, 2015, at 3 Italian centers.

High-dose-rate brachytherapy for non-melanoma skin cancer using tailored custom moulds - a single-centre experience.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse tumour control, toxicity, and aesthetic outcome of patients affected by non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) treated with 192 Ir high-dose-rate (HDR)-brachytherapy (BT) at the Division of Radiotherapy, University of Pisa.

Material And Methods: From January 2014 to December 2019 we treated 37 patients (median age 79 years; range 31-91 years) affected by NMSC, with the following histological subtypes: 62.2% basal cell carcinoma and 37.

Clinical trials and drug cost savings for Italian health service.

Background: The cost of anticancer drugs is constantly growing. The aim of this study was determine the impact in terms of cost reduction for anticancer drug in the Italian Health Service due to patient participation in clinical trials.

Methods: We evaluated the cost of drugs administered to patients treated in clinical trials at the National Cancer Institute of Naples in a four-week time period.

Non-melanoma skin cancer treated with high-dose-rate brachytherapy and Valencia applicator in elderly patients: a retrospective case series.

Purpose: The incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has been increasing over the past 30 years. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two most common subtypes of NMSC. The aim of this study was to estimate tumour control, toxicity, and aesthetic events in elderly patients treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BT) using Valencia applicator.

Efficacy and safety of second-line fotemustine in elderly patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

Fotemustine (FTM) is a common treatment option for glioblastoma patients refractory to temozolomide (TMZ). Although elderly patients represent a large component of glioblastoma population, the feasibility and the efficacy of second-line FTM are not available in those patients.We retrospectively analyzed the records of glioblastoma patients older than 65 years, receiving FTM at a dose of 70-100 mg/m(2) of FTM every week for 3 consecutive weeks (induction phase) and then every 3 weeks (70-100 mg/m(2)), as second-line treatment.

A retrospective pooled analysis of response patterns and risk factors in recurrent malignant glioma patients receiving a nitrosourea-based chemotherapy.

Background: At recurrence the use of nitrosoureas is widely-used as a therapeutic option for glioblastoma (GBM) patients. The efficacy of fotemustine (FTM) has been demonstrated in phase II clinical trials; however, these papers report a wide range of progression-free-survival (PFS-6 m) rates, ranging from 21% to 52%. We investigated whether FTM could have a different response pattern in respect to time to adjuvant temozolomide failure, or whether specific independent risk factors could be responsible for the wide range of response rates observed.

Relationship between interval from surgery to radiotherapy and local recurrence rate in patients with endometrioid-type endometrial cancer: a retrospective mono-institutional Italian study.

Aim: To assess the relationship between the timing of radiotherapy and the risk of local failure in patients with endometrioid-type endometrial cancer who had undergone surgery and adjuvant external pelvic radiotherapy (with or without brachytherapy), but not chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and seventy seven patients were analyzed in this study. The median follow-up of the survivors was 72 months.

Pattern of failures and clinical outcome of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with a tailored integrated therapeutic approach.

Aim: To review a tailored treatment with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CT/RT) or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by radical hysterectomy in locally advanced cervical cancer.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and four patients were treated with a tailored therapeutic approach. CT/RT was the standard treatment for patients with stage Ib2-IIb disease aged more than 70 years, or with high surgical risk, as well as for those with stage III-IV disease.

Metronomic administration of zoledronic acid and taxotere combination in castration resistant prostate cancer patients: phase I ZANTE trial.

Background: Docetaxel (DTX) and zoledronic acid (ZOL) are effective in patients with hormone resistant prostate cancer (HRPC) with bone metastases. A phase I clinical trial of metronomic administration of Zoledronic Acid AN d TaxoterE combination (ZANTE trial) in 2 different sequences was conducted in HRPC.

Results: The maximum tolerated dose was not achieved with sequence A.

A single-institutional brachytherapy experience in the management of esophageal cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this work was to analyze the efficacy of high-dose-rate brachytherapy in the management of patients with esophageal cancer.

Methods And Materials: Between 2001 and 2008, 104 patients (88 males and 16 females) received a brachytherapy treatment as a part of a personalized multimodal approach. The median age was 72 years, and the median Karnofsky performance status was 60.

Clinical outcome of tailored adjuvant postoperative chemoradiotherapy in IB FIGO stage cervical cancer.

Aim: The aim of the present report is to review a mono-institutional experience of postoperative radiotherapy in selected patients with cervical cancer.

Patients And Methods: Between 1999 and 2008, fifty-one patients with high-risk stage IB cervical cancer underwent tailored adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy; concurrent chemoradiotherapy was administered to patients presenting a high risk of recurrence. The median follow-up was 58 months.

CT colonography versus double-contrast barium enema for screening of colorectal cancer: comparison of radiation burden.

Our aim is to compare the radiation dose associated with a low-dose CT colonography (CTC) protocol for colorectal cancer screening with that delivered by double-contrast barium enema (DCBE). CTC of twenty asymptomatic individuals (M:F = 10:10) participating to a colorectal cancer screening program and DCBE of fifteen patients (M:F = 6:9) were evaluated. For CTC, absorbed dose was determined by calculating the dose-length product for each CTC examination from measurements on a CT dose phantom equipped with a CT ion chamber.

Perioperative high-dose-rate brachytherapy in the treatment of recurrent malignant gliomas.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of perioperative high-dose-rate brachytherapy for recurrent malignant gliomas.

Patients And Methods: Between 2005 and 2008, 21 patients (14 males and seven females) with relapsed malignant glioma underwent a second surgery followed by a brachytherapy implant in the surgical cavity. Median age was 60 years, and median Karnofsky performance status 80.

A multimodal approach to the treatment of bilateral choroidal metastases from thyroid carcinoma.

A 58-year old man, affected by metastatic thyroid carcinoma, experienced a progressive bilateral visual impairment. Ophthalmic examination revealed the presence of a choroidal mass with an associated exudative retinal detachment in both eyes. Twelve years before, a diagnosis of metastatic thyroid carcinoma had been established and the patient had been subject to several therapeutic procedures.