p27Kip1 V109G as a biomarker for CDK4/6 inhibitors indication in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

CDK4/6 inhibitors benefit a minority of patients who receive them in the breast cancer adjuvant setting. p27Kip1 is a protein that inhibits CDK/Cyclin complexes. We hypothesized that single-nucleotide polymorphisms that impaired p27Kip1 function could render patients refractory to endocrine therapy but responsive to CDK4/6 inhibitors, narrowing the patient subpopulation that requires CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Small cell carcinoma of the prostate presenting with Cushing Syndrome. A narrative review of an uncommon condition.

Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the prostate is an uncommon condition; there are very few cases in which presenting symptoms are consistent with Cushing Syndrome (CS). We report a new case in which CS triggers the suspicion of an SCC of the prostate and a review of the published cases of SCC of the prostate presenting with CS. The origin of these neoplasms is still unclear.

Circulating tumor cells in metastatic breast cancer: timing of blood extraction for analysis.

Purpose: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be detected in the peripheral blood of around 50% of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Their numbers are an independent predictor of the patient's progression-free survival (PFS) and of overall survival (OS). However, to date, none of the studies carried out with the most commonly used system of CTC determination (the CellSearch System, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration) has examined the intra-patient variation in CTC numbers, a variation that could impact on prognosis assessment.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Single-centre experience and literature review.

Background: In recent years platinum-based chemotherapy has become the standard of care for patients with good performance status after complete resection in stages IB-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), although the benefit is mainly in stages II and IIIA.

Patients And Methods: In a retrospective trial we evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxicity profile of a platinum- and taxanes-based adjuvant chemotherapy in completely resected IB-IIIA NSCLC. The primary end point was relapse- free survival (RFS); principal secondary end points were overall survival (OS) and safety of the regimen.

Endocrine therapy of metastatic breast cancer.

Breast cancer growth and dissemination is regulated by estrogen and different growth factor receptor signalling pathways. The increasing knowledge of the biology of breast cancer regarding the interaction of these signalling pathways provides a tool to understand endocrine therapies response and resistance mechanisms. In patients with slowly progressive disease, no visceral involvement, and minimal symptoms, endocrine therapy could be the strategy of choice, even if the tumor has low estrogen receptor expression.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw as an adverse bisphosphonate event: three cases of bone metastatic prostate cancer patients treated with zoledronic acid.

Bisphosphonates offer a significant improvement in the quality of life for cancer patients; these potent inhibitors of bone resorption have been shown to markedly reduce the morbidity frequently resulting from bone metastases. Despite the success of bisphosphonates as therapeutic agents, however, toxicity in the form of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a rare complication whose incidence rate has climbed in recent years. ONJ is defined as an unexpected development of necrotic bone in the oral cavity, and is commonly associated with administration of the bisphosphonates Pamidronate and Zoledronate.

Circulating tumoral cells lack circadian-rhythm in hospitalized metastasic breast cancer patients.

Background: The relationship between breast cancer and circadian rhythm variation has been extensively studied. Increased breast tumorigenesis has been reported in melatonin-suppressed experimental models and in observational studies.

Objectives: Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) circadian- rhythm may optimize the timing of therapies.