Current Evidence in the Systemic Treatment of Brain Metastases from Breast Cancer and Future Perspectives on New Drugs, Combinations and Administration Routes: A Narrative Review.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed neoplasm all over the world and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Breast cancer prognosis has significantly improved in the last years due to the advent of novel therapeutic options, both in the early and in advanced stages. However, the spread of the disease to the brain, accounting for 15-30% of the metastatic diagnoses, is challenging, and its poor prognosis represents an unmet medical need, leading to deterioration of quality of life and causing morbidity and mortality.

Circulating tumor DNA dynamics and clinical outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer patients undergoing front-line chemotherapy.

Purpose: we tested whether ctDNA changes may be used to assess early response and clinical outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients undergoing front-line systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT).

Experimental Design: 862 plasma samples were collected 4-weekly from baseline (BL) until disease progression in mCRC patients receiving front line SACT. ctDNA normalization was defined as ≥99% clearance after 1 month of therapy (Mo1) in the 3 variants with the highest allele frequency in BL ctDNA.

Theoretical and Experimental Study of Energy-Harvesting and Movement-Sensing Solutions in Pneumatic Systems.

This paper presents an experimentally based study aimed at assessing the viability of employing a commercial energy harvester to develop a self-powered end-stroke and speed sensor for pneumatic cylinders. An energy-harvesting device was integrated into a cylinder end-cap to recover energy from the piston impact at the end of the stroke. The recovered energy powers a radio transmitter that communicates the reach of the end-stroke.

Changes in clinical presentation, management, and survival outcomes in patients affected by colorectal cancer following COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: As an extended analysis of the COVID-DELAY study, we aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diagnosis, staging, and survival outcomes among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis performed from 2019 to 2022.

Methods: All consecutive newly diagnosed CRC patients referred to 11 Italian Oncology Departments between March and December 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 were enrolled. Access rate, demographics, diagnostic-therapeutic temporal intervals, and first-line progression-free survival (PFS) and OS among metastatic patients were assessed.

Trilaciclib prior to FOLFOXIRI/bevacizumab for patients with untreated metastatic colorectal cancer: phase 3 PRESERVE 1 trial.

Background: In metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), improvements in survival from combining leucovorin/fluorouracil/oxaliplatin/irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI) with bevacizumab have come at the risk of increased rates of high-grade toxicities. Trilaciclib is indicated to decrease the incidence of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in patients receiving standard-of-care chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

Methods: Patients with untreated mCRC were randomly assigned 1:1 to trilaciclib (n = 164) or placebo (n = 162) prior to FOLFOXIRI/bevacizumab for up to 12 cycles (induction), followed by trilaciclib or placebo prior to fluorouracil/leucovorin/bevacizumab (maintenance).

Estrogen-related differences in antitumor immunity and gut microbiome contribute to sexual dimorphism of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifaceted disease whose development and progression varies depending on tumor location, age of patients, infiltration of immune cells within cancer lesions, and the tumor microenvironment. These pathophysiological characteristics are additionally influenced by sex-related differences. The gut microbiome plays a role in initiation and progression of CRC, and shapes anti-tumor immune responses but how responsiveness of the immune system to the intestinal microbiota may contribute to sexual dimorphism of CRC is largely unknown.

Comparative Efficacy of 21 Treatment Strategies for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: A Network Meta-Analysis.

The primary treatment for operable pancreatic cancer (PC) involves surgery followed by adjuvant therapy. Nevertheless, perioperative or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) may be used to mitigate the likelihood of recurrence and mortality. This network meta-analysis (NMA) assesses the comparative efficacy of various treatment approaches for resectable PC.

Tackling challenges in rare diseases: The ISGACA approach on non-pancreatic cancers in the periampullary region.

Objective: Rare but aggressive cancer types like non-pancreatic periampullary cancers pose unique challenges for cancer research due to their low incidence rates and lack of consensus on optimal treatment strategies, therefore necessitating a collaborative approach. The International Study Group on non-pancreatic peri-Ampullary CAncer (ISGACA) aimed to build a collaborative initiative to pool expertise, funding opportunities, and data from over 60 medical centers, in order to improve outcomes for underrepresented patients with rare cancers.

Methods: The ISGACA approach predefined a stepwise approach including a research scope, establishing a dedicated steering committee, creating a recognizable brand, identifying research gaps, following a well-defined timeline, ensuring robust data collection, addressing legal and ethical considerations, securing financial resources, investing in research ethics training and statistical expertise, raising awareness, creating uniformity, and initiating prospective studies.

fuels colorectal cancer through CHI3L1-mediated iNKT cell-driven immune evasion.

The interaction between the gut microbiota and invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells plays a pivotal role in colorectal cancer (CRC). The pathobiont influences the anti-tumor functions of CRC-infiltrating iNKT cells. However, the impact of other bacteria associated with CRC, like , on their activation status remains unexplored.

Postbiotics as Adjuvant Therapy in Cancer Care.

Postbiotics are defined as a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit to the host. They range from cell wall fragments to metabolites, bacterial lysates, extracellular vesicles, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Postbiotics may influence carcinogenesis via a variety of mechanisms.

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.

Multidisciplinary management of immunotherapy-related adverse events in solid tumors: An inter-institutional and telemedicine-based working team.

Background: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show a more favorable toxicity profile than classical cytotoxic drugs, their mechanism of action is responsible for peculiar new toxicities. There is an urgent need for a multidisciplinary approach to advice on how to manage organ-specific toxicities.

Methods: Our project aims to integrate the practices of two different hospitals into a single Italian regional collaborative model to treat immune-related adverse events (irAEs).

The Five Periampullary Cancers, not Just Different Siblings but Different Families: An International Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Cancer arising in the periampullary region can be anatomically classified in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA), duodenal adenocarcinoma (DAC), and ampullary carcinoma. Based on histopathology, ampullary carcinoma is currently subdivided in intestinal (AmpIT), pancreatobiliary (AmpPB), and mixed subtypes. Despite close anatomical resemblance, it is unclear how ampullary subtypes relate to the remaining periampullary cancers in tumor characteristics and behavior.

The long noncoding RNA SUMO1P3 as urinary biomarker for monitoring bladder cancer progression.

Introduction: Urothelial Bladder Cancer (BC) is the ninth most common cancer worldwide. It is classified into Non Muscle Invasive (NMIBC) and Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC), which are characterized by frequent recurrences and progression rate, respectively. The diagnosis and monitoring are obtained through invasive methods as cystoscopy and post-surgery biopsies.

The road to tailored adjuvant chemotherapy for all four non-pancreatic periampullary cancers: An international multimethod cohort study.

Background: Despite differences in tumour behaviour and characteristics between duodenal adenocarcinoma (DAC), the intestinal (AmpIT) and pancreatobiliary (AmpPB) subtype of ampullary adenocarcinoma and distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA), the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) on these cancers, as well as the optimal ACT regimen, has not been comprehensively assessed. This study aims to assess the influence of tailored ACT on DAC, dCCA, AmpIT, and AmpPB.

Patients And Methods: Patients after pancreatoduodenectomy for non-pancreatic periampullary adenocarcinoma were identified and collected from 36 tertiary centres between 2010 - 2021.

Effects of a Personalized Diet on Nutritional Status and Renal Function Outcome in Nephrectomized Patients with Renal Cancer.

Nutritional therapy (NT) based on a controlled protein intake represents a cornerstone in managing chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, if a CKD patient is at the same time affected by cancer, oncologists and nutritionists tend to suggest a dietary regimen based on high protein intake to avoid catabolism and malnutrition. International guidelines are not clear when we consider onco-nephrological patients and, as a consequence, no clinical shared strategy is currently applied in clinical practice.

Platinum dose in neoadjuvant therapy for triple-negative breast cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Introduction: There are multiple neoadjuvant regimens, including platinum agents for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), each with a different safety profile, outcome, and pathologic complete response rate (pCR%). We performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of different platinum-based neoadjuvant CT treatments for TNBC.

Methods: Bibliographic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) were searched from their inception to October 31, 2022.

Differences in Lymph Node Metastases Patterns Among Non-pancreatic Periampullary Cancers and Histologic Subtypes: An International Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study and Systematic Review.

Background: Standard lymphadenectomy for pancreatoduodenectomy is defined for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and adopted for patients with non-pancreatic periampullary cancer (NPPC), ampullary adenocarcinoma (AAC), distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA), or duodenal adenocarcinoma (DAC). This study aimed to compare the patterns of lymph node metastases among the different NPPCs in a large series and in a systematic review to guide the discussion on surgical lymphadenectomy and pathology assessment.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients after pancreatoduodenectomy for NPPC with at least one lymph node metastasis (2010-2021) from 24 centers in nine countries.

Quantitative and Qualitative Radiological Assessment of Sarcopenia and Cachexia in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.

Sarcopenia, an extremely common condition in cancer patients, is described as a progressive and generalized musculoskeletal disorder that is associated with an increased likelihood of adverse outcomes, including falls, fractures, physical disability, and mortality. By contrast, cachexia is defined as a syndrome characterized by weight loss with the concomitant loss of muscle and/or fat mass. Cancer cachexia leads to functional impairment, reduced physical performance, and decreased survival, and is often accompanied by cancer progression and reduced response to therapy.

Colon and rectal cancer: An emergent public health problem.

Colorectal cancer ranks third globally, with a high mortality rate. In the United States, and different countries in Europe, organized population screenings exist and include people between 50 and 74 years of age. These screenings have allowed an early diagnosis and consequently an improvement in health indicators.

Highly reversible extrinsic electrocaloric effects over a wide temperature range in epitaxially strained SrTiO films.

Electrocaloric effects have been experimentally studied in ferroelectrics and incipient ferroelectrics, but not incipient ferroelectrics driven ferroelectric using strain. Here we use optimally oriented interdigitated surface electrodes to investigate extrinsic electrocaloric effects in low-loss epitaxial SrTiO films near the broad second-order 243 K ferroelectric phase transition created by biaxial in-plane coherent tensile strain from DyScO substrates. Our extrinsic electrocaloric effects are an order of magnitude larger than the corresponding effects in bulk SrTiO over a wide range of temperatures including room temperature, and unlike electrocaloric effects associated with first-order transitions they are highly reversible in unipolar applied fields.

Adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for MSI early gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Perioperative chemotherapy (CT) is an established therapeutic approach for patients diagnosed with stage IB-III gastric cancer (GC).

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of this approach in individuals with GC exhibiting high microsatellite instability (MSI-H).

Design: A systematic review was conducted, including studies that provided data on (neo)adjuvant CT outcomes in patients with MSI-H GC.

Role of the Microbiome in the Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Cancers.

Purpose: Stomach and esophageal cancers are among the highest mortality from cancers worldwide. Microbiota has an interplaying role within the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Dysbiosis occurs when a disruption of the balance between the microbiota and the host happens.

Different Chemotherapy Regimens and Pathologic Complete Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: An Updated Network Meta-Analysis of Phase 3 Trials.

: Currently, the standard treatment for non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) consists of a systemic neoadjuvant (or perioperative) anthracycline plus taxane-based chemotherapy, delivered either sequentially or concomitantly. We performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the relative efficacy of different neoadjuvant treatments for TNBC in terms of pathologic complete response (pCR). : The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched from database inception to 1 November 2023.