Impact of intervention aimed at improving the integration of oncology units and local palliative care services: results of the multicentre prospective sequential MIRTO study.

Background: Chemotherapy (CT) in patients with advanced cancer (ACP) near the end of life is an increasing practice of oncology units. A closer integration with palliative care (PC) services could reduce the use of potentially harmful CT. This prospective study is aimed at assessing whether a more integrated care model could reduce CT use near the end of life and increase local PC service utilisation.

Correlation of adverse effects of cisplatin administration in patients affected by solid tumours: a retrospective evaluation.

Cisplatin is the most common antineoplastic drug used for the therapy of solid tumours. To date, researchers have focused on the dosage to be administered for each specific tumour, mainly considering the local adverse effects. The aim of this study was to correlate the severity of the adverse effects with: i) the dosage of cisplatin; ii) the specific site of the tumour; iii) the association with other drugs; and iv) the symptoms.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors and other malignancies: a case series.

Purpose: This paper aims to review the clinical and pathological features of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) occurring with other malignancies.

Methods: A retrospective analysis has been worked out considering all consecutive patients with GISTs referred to our institution between February 2002 and June 2010. We analyzed the relationship among clinical and biological characteristics of the disease and the occurrence of second cancer.

Differences in the availability of new anti-cancer drugs for Italian patients treated in different regions. Results of analysis conducted by the Italian Society Of Medical Oncology (AIOM).

Aims And Background: Italy is divided into 20 regions. As a consequence of local autonomy, following marketing authorization by the Italian Medicines Agency, each drug for hospital use is not immediately available, because its approval needs to undergo further steps that can be different among regions. The Italian Society of Medical Oncology conducted the present study to describe the impact of the existence of sub-national pharmaceutical formularies on the disparity of access to new anti-cancer drugs among patients treated in different Italian regions.

Association of CYP1B1 with hypersensitivity induced by taxane therapy in breast cancer patients.

Taxanes represent a group of anticancer drugs with a wide range of activity against breast cancer. Therapy side effects include haematologic toxicity (neutropenia, leucopenia), peripheral neuropathy and hypersensitivity, and demonstrate inter-individual variations. Since it is known that three genes are implicated in taxane turnover, namely ABCB1 in the transport, CYP2C8 in the metabolism and CYP1B1 in the activity, we explored the association among polymorphisms (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) in these three genes and the occurrence of taxane-induced toxicity.

Depression and serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism in breast cancer patients.

Background: Mixed evidence in the general population and medically ill patients has suggested that homozygous carriers of the short allele (s/s) of the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) may increase the risk of depression in comparison with carriers of the long allele (l/l) or s/l. Given the lack of data in oncology, we examined the relationship of depression with the 5-HTTLPR and psychosocial variables among breast cancer patients.

Methods: A sample of 145 breast cancer patients were studied as regards to depression, psychosocial-related variables (coping, Type D-personality, life events, and social support), and the 5-HTTLPR, which was genotyped by using a standard protocol with DNA extracted from the blood.

Capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (xelox) versus protracted 5-fluorouracil venous infusion plus oxaliplatin (pvifox) as first-line treatment in advanced colorectal cancer: a GOAM phase II randomised study (FOCA trial).

Unlabelled: This phase II randomised trial compares oxaliplatin plus protracted infusion of 5-fluorouracil (pviFOX) or oxaliplatin plus capecitabine (XELOX) in the first-line treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (ACRC).

Methods: From December 2001 to March 2005, 118 patients were randomised to arm A (pviFOX: pvi5-FU by a central venous catheter 250 mg/m2/daily d1-21+oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 d1 q3w) (56 pts) or arm B (XELOX: capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 po bid d1-14+oxaliplatin at the same schedule) (62 pts).

Results: Patient characteristics were well-balanced between the two arms.

Mesenteric fibromatosis in a patient with Camurati-Engelmann disease. A case report and literature review.

Mesenteric fibromatosis is a rare type of desmoid tumor characterized by local aggressiveness and a tendency to relapse. In view of these characteristics it may be considered a low-grade fibrosarcoma. Camurati-Engelmann disease is a very rare form of bone dysplasia characterized by osteosclerosis of the diaphyses of the long bones.

Interleukin-2, interferon-alpha and medroxyprogesterone acetate in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) are the main immuno-biological agents used in the therapy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Unfortunately the promising results obtained in biological studies have not yet been confirmed in clinical studies. One reason is linked to the immunosuppression of metastatic patients which is caused by macrophage products.

[Clinical postoperative surveillance of breast carcinoma].

The problem of post-surgical clinical follow-up for breast cancer patients is still open. A lot of comparative studies between intensive and minimal follow-up showed no advantage of the former vs. the latter modality.