Surveillance or Dynamic Sentinel Lymph-Node Biopsy in Low-Risk Clinically N0 Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Single-Institution Real World Data.

Introduction: Surveillance is the standard management in low-risk cN0 penile squamous cell carcinoma (peSCC) patients. However, no previous analysis focused on early and long-term outcomes of these patients. We report on main oncological outcomes of a large series of low-risk cN0 peSCC patients.

Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection in metastatic nonseminomatous germ-cell tumors.

Objectives: To support laparoscopic post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection (L-PC-RPLND) as a potential new standard, we report on a large dataset of patients systematically undergoing L-PC-RPLND.

Patients And Methods: Patients with unilateral residual mass (≥1 cm), normalized markers, limited encasement (<30%) of gross retroperitoneal vessels underwent unilateral L-PC-RPLND with no adjuvant chemotherapy. Surgical performances, histology, hospital stay, complications within 30 days and follow-up visits were recorded.

Cancer-related fatigue and depression: a monocentric, prospective, cross-sectional study in advanced solid tumors.

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is common in patients with advanced solid tumors and several risk factors are described. The possible role of depression is reported by clinicians despite the association with CRF being unclear.

Material And Methods: In this monocentric, cross-sectional, prospective study we recruited patients with advanced solid tumors who were hospitalized at Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan.

Raltitrexed-Oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy is inactive as second-line treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma patients.

Within a single-institution phase II trial, we investigated the antitumor activity of the Raltitrexed-Oxaliplatin combination as second-line therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Fourteen patients were enrolled and all were assessable for response. The trial was then closed because chemotherapy, though well tolerated, yielded no objective responses.

Pro-neoangiogenic cytokines (VEGF and bFGF) and anemia in solid tumor patients.

Using a commercial ELISA assay, we evaluated circulating VEGF and bFGF levels in 203 consecutive patients with solid tumors, and sought a correlation between them and with the grade of anemia. Serum VEGF values were within the normal range in 128 patients (63.05%), with a mean value of 675.