Publications by authors named "Luigi Formisano"

Background And Objective: Apalutamide (APA) is a treatment for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). In the ARON-3 study we investigated real-world experiences with APA treatment for mCSPC.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed real-world clinical outcomes for patients with mCSPC treated with APA in the ARON-3 study.

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Kristen rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations play a major role in the carcinogenesis of many types of solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Among KRAS mutations, p.G12C single-nucleotide variant (KRAS) is the most frequently reported in NSCLC patients, with a prevalence of about 12-13 %.

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Background And Objective: The depth of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline after androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) treatment combined with androgen deprivation therapy for patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) may affect prognosis. The primary objective in our study was the correlation between the PSA response at 3 mo and radiologic progression-free survival (rPFS) at 24 mo. Three groups were defined according to the PSA decline: complete response (PSA ≤0.

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Background: Assessment of Progression-free survival (PFS) events by investigators might be inaccurate in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with open-label design. We explored differences in PFS evaluated by blinded independent central review (BICR) or local investigator assessment (IA) in trials testing immunotherapy (IO) in advanced cancers.

Methods: We systematically reviewed articles of RCTs investigating IO in advanced tumors, published in PubMed-indexed journals up to December 2023.

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Article Synopsis
  • Granular Cell Tumors (GCTs), typically benign neoplasms originating from Schwann cells, can rarely present as aggressive forms, like the Malignant Granular Cell Tumor (MGCT), particularly challenging to diagnose and manage.
  • A case study details a 50-year-old man with a recurrent MGCT on his chest wall, requiring multiple surgeries and ultimately confirming malignancy despite initial benign diagnoses.
  • This case emphasizes the need for improved understanding and management strategies for GCTs due to their potential for malignancy and local recurrence.
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  • - Enfortumab vedotin (EV) is effective for patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma who have previously received platinum chemotherapy and immune therapy, despite lacking research on those treated with avelumab maintenance.
  • - A study of 182 patients showed a median overall survival of 12.7 months and a progression-free survival of 7.9 months, with 39% achieving a positive response to EV after avelumab treatment.
  • - The study confirms EV's effectiveness, suggesting it can be a viable option for patients previously treated with avelumab, with manageable side effects like grade ≥ 3 neuropathy and skin rash occurring in a minority of cases.
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  • ECP is a promising treatment for managing acute rejection in heart transplant patients by modulating the immune system, particularly through the action of regulatory T cells (Treg).
  • The study involved 14 heart transplant participants undergoing ECP therapy, assessing the effects on Treg frequency and their suppressive functions over time, alongside a control group.
  • Results indicate that ECP significantly boosts the number and function of suppressive Tregs, particularly those marked by the transcription factor FoxP3, which helps control immune responses and prevent graft rejection.
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Cemiplimab has demonstrated relevant clinical activity in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) but mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance to immunotherapy are still unknown. We collected clinical data from locally advanced and/or metastatic cSSC patients treated with cemiplimab in two Italian University centers. In addition, gene expression analysis by using Nanostring Technologies platform to evaluate 770 cancer- and immune-related genes on 20 tumor tissue samples (9 responders and 11 non-responders to cemiplimab) was performed.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the effectiveness of pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients with poor performance status (ECOG-PS 2).
  • Among 1,040 patients, those with ECOG-PS 2 had significantly lower median overall survival (3.7 months) compared to those with ECOG-PS 0-1 (18.2 months), highlighting the challenges faced by this group.
  • Key factors affecting outcomes included the presence of liver metastases and disease progression during first-line therapy, indicating a need for careful evaluation of these patients' conditions.
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Apalutamide is a selective androgen receptor signalling inhibitor that is used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Skin rash is one of the most common adverse events with apalutamide. Although the majority of rash events are grade 1 and 2, the appearance of skin rash during treatment can lead to dose reduction, a pause in treatment or even treatment discontinuation, especially if patients present late when the rash has become severe.

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  • Immunological therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and cell-based therapies like CAR-T, have transformed cancer treatment by enabling the immune system to target cancer cells.
  • While these therapies are generally effective, they can cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that vary in severity and timing, from mild skin rashes to serious complications such as myocarditis or cytokine release syndrome.
  • The statement discusses the growing understanding of cardiovascular toxicities associated with these therapies, outlines their diagnosis and management, and identifies gaps in current research that need further exploration.
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In patients with ER + metastatic breast cancer (mBC), the first-line treatment involves the combination of endocrine therapy (ET) and CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i). However, a significant group of patients experiences disease progression, emphasizing the urgent clinical need to identify novel anti-tumor therapies. We previously generated breast cancer cells resistant to the combination of fulvestrant (ER downregulator) and abemaciclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) from MCF7 and T47D (MCF7-FAR and T47D-FAR).

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  • Protein hydrolysates (PH) biostimulants can boost crop growth and resilience, especially in plants facing nitrogen limitations.
  • Research focused on how different molecular fractions of PH affected lettuce plants under varying nitrogen levels, revealing increases in biomass and hormone production linked to auxin and cytokinin.
  • The study also highlighted that PH and its lighter fraction (PH3) promoted cell wall growth and enhanced antioxidant responses, indicating that lighter molecular fractions might offer greater bioactivity.
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Background: About 20% of patients with renal cell carcinoma present with non-clear cell histology (nccRCC), encompassing various histological types. While surgery remains pivotal for localized-stage nccRCC, the role of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in metastatic nccRCC is contentious. Limited data exist on the role of CN in metastatic nccRCC under current standard of care.

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Introduction: Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a rare tumor with an aggressive behavior. The Meet-URO 23/I-RARE registry includes rare genitourinary malignancies. We extracted patients with PSCC to conduct a retrospective study aimed at assessing clinical outcomes and prognostic factors.

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Background: REST (Repressor-Element 1 [RE1]-silencing transcription factor) inhibits Na/Caexchanger-1 () transcription in neurons through the binding of RE1 site on brain promoter after stroke. We identified a new putative RE1 site in heart promoter sequence (-RE1) that participates in neuronal transcription. Because REST recruits DNA-methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1) and MeCP2 (methyl-CpG binding protein 2) on different neuronal genes, we investigated the role of this complex in transcriptional regulation after stroke.

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Background: As recommended in the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) guidelines, assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) should be a relevant endpoint in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing new anticancer therapies. However, previous publications by our group and others revealed a frequent underestimation and underreporting of HRQoL results in publication of RCTs in oncology. Herein, we systematically reviewed HRQoL reporting in RCTs testing new treatments in advanced prostate, kidney and urothelial cancers and published between 2010 and 2022.

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In addition to be used as a plant protection agent, copper (Cu) is also an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development. The bioavailability of Cu in agricultural systems can be limited due to its specific physical-chemical characteristics, leading to imbalances in plant production. To address this issue, an experimental trial was conducted on Genovese basil ( L.

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Background: The identification of novel therapeutic strategies for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients harbouring KRAS mutations represents an unmet clinical need. In this study, we aimed to clarify the role of p21-activated kinases (Paks) as therapeutic target for KRAS-mutated CRC.

Methods: Paks expression and activation levels were evaluated in a cohort of KRAS-WT or -mutated CRC patients by immunohistochemistry.

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The success of Space missions and the efficacy of colonizing extraterrestrial environments depends on ensuring adequate nutrition for astronauts and autonomy from terrestrial resources. A balanced diet incorporating premium quality fresh foods, such as microgreens, is essential to the mental and physical well-being of mission crews. To improve the nutritional intake of astronaut meals, two levels of potassium iodide (KI; 4 µM and 8 µM) and an untreated control were assessed for iodine (I) biofortification, and overall nutraceutical profile of four microgreens: tatsoi ( L.

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Background: HER2 is amplified or overexpressed in around 20% of breast cancers (BC). HER2-targeted therapies have significantly improved the prognosis of patients with HER2+ BC, however, and acquired resistance to anti-HER2 treatment is common. Activating mutations in the gene are reported in ∼30% of HER2+ BC and are associated with resistance to anti-HER2 therapies and a poor prognosis.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigated the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and survival outcomes (progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS)) in phase III trials of new treatments for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  • - Out of 81 reviewed randomized controlled trials, 37% showed improved QoL with experimental treatments, while QoL did not significantly differ in around 59% of trials. A significant correlation was observed between QoL and PFS, especially in studies testing targeted therapies.
  • - However, QoL did not significantly correlate with OS outcomes, indicating that while some new treatments may enhance QoL, they do not always lead to longer survival rates.
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The inhibition of histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) represents a promising druggable target for stroke intervention. Indeed, HDAC9 is overexpressed in neurons after brain ischemia where exerts a neurodetrimental role. However, mechanisms of HDAC9-dependent neuronal cell death are not yet well established.

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