Publications by authors named "Martelli O"

We demonstrated the non-inferiority of a dexamethasone (DEX)-sparing (single-dose) regimen with NEPA, a netupitant/palonosetron fixed combination, for preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) caused by cisplatin. This pre-planned exploratory analysis assessed the effect of the DEX-sparing regimen on a patient's food intake. Chemotherapy-naïve patients undergoing cisplatin (≥ 70 mg/m) were given NEPA and DEX (12 mg) on day 1 and randomized to receive either no further DEX (DEX1), or oral DEX (4 mg BID) on days 2-4 (DEX4).

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Introduction: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusions identify a limited subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, whose therapeutic approach have been radically changed in recent years. However, diagnostic procedures and clinical-radiological responses to specific targeted therapies remain heterogeneous and intrinsically resistant or poor responder patients exist.

Methods: A total of 290 patients with advanced NSCLC defined as ALK+ by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) test and treated with single or sequential multiple ALK inhibitors (ALKi) from 2011 to 2017 have been retrospectively retrieved from a multicentre Italian cancer network database.

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Background: The non-inferiority of dexamethasone (DEX) on day 1, with or without low-dose DEX on days 2 and 3, combined with oral NEPA (netupitant/palonosetron), compared with the guideline-consistent use of DEX was demonstrated in cisplatin. Here, we complete the analysis by assessing the impact of emesis on daily lives of patients receiving DEX-sparing regimens using the Functional Living Index-Emesis (FLIE).

Methods: Chemotherapy-naïve patients undergoing cisplatin (≥70 mg/m), were given NEPA and DEX (12 mg) on day 1 and randomized to receive either 1) no further DEX (DEX1), 2) oral DEX (4 mg daily) on days 2-3 (DEX3), or 3) DEX (4 mg twice daily) on days 2-4 (DEX4; control).

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Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease, difficult to treat. There have been no significant therapeutic advances over platinum and etoposide chemotherapy in the last 20 years until the introduction of immunotherapy. In 2020 atezolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor against PD-L1 was approved in Italy in combination with carboplatin and etoposide for the first-line treatment of patients with extensive stage disease (ES-SCLC), becoming the new standard treatment.

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Background: To reduce the overall exposure to dexamethasone (DEX) in patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy, we evaluated the noninferiority of DEX on day 1, with or without low-dose DEX on days 2 and 3, combined with an oral fixed-dose combination of netupitant and palonosetron (NEPA), compared with the guideline-consistent use of 4-day DEX.

Patients And Methods: In this open-label, multicenter study, chemotherapy-naïve patients undergoing high-dose cisplatin (≥70 mg/m ), were given NEPA and DEX (12 mg) on day 1 and randomized (1:1:1 ratio) to receive either (a) no further DEX (DEX1), (b) oral DEX (4 mg daily) on days 2-3 (DEX3), or (c) DEX (4 mg twice daily) on days 2-4 (DEX4). The primary efficacy endpoint was complete response (CR: no emesis and no rescue medication) during the 5-day overall phase.

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Introduction: Pemetrexed maintenance significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients not progressing after induction chemotherapy.

Objectives: This study is aimed at examine the association of various clinical factor and survival in a real-world cohort analysis.

Materials And Methods: One hundred ninety-four patients were included and classified as "PM" cohort ("Pemetrexed Maintenance", including patients given with pemetrexed maintenance after induction chemotherapy, n=112), and "noPM" cohort ("no Pemetrexed Maintenance" including those discontinuing pemetrexed, n=82).

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: Only 20-40% of patients respond to therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Therefore, the early identification of subjects that can benefit from such therapeutic regimen is mandatory. : The immunobiological mechanisms of ICIs are briefly illustrated.

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Article Synopsis
  • Immune-checkpoint inhibitors like Nivolumab have transformed treatment for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), but identifying which patients benefit most remains challenging.
  • A multicenter study of 294 advanced NSCLC patients on Nivolumab found that certain clinical characteristics, such as performance status and metastasis details, significantly influenced survival and treatment outcomes.
  • Notably, malignant pleural effusion was linked to poorer objective response rates and connected with all key study endpoints, suggesting important implications for patient management.
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Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have provided substantial benefit in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with unprecedented results in terms of survival. However, the identification of reliable predictive biomarkers to these agents is lacking and multiple clinicopathological factors have been evaluated. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in patients with pretreated NSCLC receiving nivolumab.

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Objectives: Molecular diagnostics and care of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are continuously evolving. Few data document the current strategies to manage advanced NSCLC patients beyond progression in clinical practice.

Patients And Methods: Be-TeaM is an Italian multi-center observational study conducted on consecutive EGFR-mutated stage IV NSCLC patients, progressed during/after a first-line EGFR-TKI.

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Purpose: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement confers sensitivity to ALK inhibitors (ALKis) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although several drugs provided an impressive outcome benefit, the most effective sequential strategy is still unknown. We describe outcomes of real-life patients according to the treatment strategy received.

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Article Synopsis
  • The project aims to improve communication between oncologists and lung cancer patients by creating a communication model that incorporates real experiences and innovative treatment options.
  • It involved a structured approach, including defining the diagnostic process, identifying communication barriers, and providing training through videos and a manual.
  • The results indicate that a one-size-fits-all communication model is ineffective; instead, practical suggestions tailored to individual clinician-patient dynamics can enhance communication in medical practice.
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Background: The present study investigated the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in pre-treated patients with advanced NSCLC harbouring KRAS mutations.

Methods: Clinical data and KRAS mutational status were analysed in patients treated with nivolumab within the Italian Expanded Access Program. Objective response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival were evaluated.

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Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) still represents a common side-effect of chemotherapy, and often, its perception differs between patients and healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement on the perception of CINV and other items among clinicians, patients, and nurses.

Methods: This observational prospective study was part of an evaluation program promoted by the Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe (WALCE) Onlus.

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Aim: Ceritinib was evaluated within a compassionate use program of Italian patients.

Patients & Methods: 70 patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive crizotinib-refractory advanced non-small-cell lung cancer received ceritinib.

Results: Overall response was 40.

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Cardiac metastases from sarcoma are uncommon. Due to their rarity there is not a standard of care. However, complete cardiac metastases resection is the best option but most of patients has widespread disease.

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Background: Beyond progression after tyrosine kinase inhibitor in EGFR-positive non-small-cell lung cancer patients (BE-POSITIVE) was the first Italian multicenter observational study that reported the outcomes of first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in a "real-life" Caucasian EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) population. The sharing of multi-institutional experiences represents a crucial strategy to enrich knowledge about uncommon EGFR mutations. Therefore, we performed a post hoc analysis of the BE-POSITIVE study.

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Introduction: Pemetrexed maintenance therapy (MT) after induction with platinum-based chemotherapy has recently become a common treatment strategy for advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the benefits of MT should be weighed with consideration of the patients' perceptions and preferences. The aim of the present study was to evaluate patients' attitudes toward MT and to describe physicians' awareness of their patients' inclinations.

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Objectives: Non-small-cell-lung-cancer (NSCLC) patients harbouring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations develop drug resistance after 9-12 months of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) therapy pointing out the issue of the second-line treatment choice.

Materials And Methods: From June 2009 until May 2013 patients affected by advanced NSCLC harbouring EGFR mutations receiving first-line TKI were collected mainly retrospectively in 24 Italian Centers. Primary objective was to describe the percentage of EGFR mutated patients receiving second-line therapy after progression to first-line EGFR-TKIs assessing the type, the activity in terms of objective response rate (ORR), efficacy in terms of progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and safety of second-line treatment.

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MicroRNAs were described to target mRNA and regulate the transcription of genes involved in processes de-regulated in tumorigenesis, such as proliferation, differentiation and survival. In particular, the miRNA let-7 has been suggested to regulate the expression of the KRAS gene, a common mutated gene in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), through a let-7 complementary site (LCS) in 3'UTR of KRAS mRNA. We have reported the analysis performed on the role of the polymorphism located in the KRAS-LCS (rs61764370) which is involved in the disruption of the let-7 complementary site in NSCLC patients enrolled within the TAILOR trial, a randomised trial comparing erlotinib versus docetaxel in second line treatment.

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Background: The prognostic and predictive role of KRAS mutations in advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still unclear. TAILOR prospectively assessed the prognostic and predictive value of KRAS mutations in NSCLC patients treated with erlotinib or docetaxel in second line.

Patients And Methods: NSCLC patients from 52 Italian hospitals were genotyped for KRAS and EGFR mutational status in two independent laboratories.

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Aims And Background: We report a collection of data about early breast cancer in male patients from 13 Italian institutions.

Methods And Study Design: We obtained data from patient charts and performed statistical analysis. The primary end points were overall survival and disease-free survival.

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Background: Erlotinib is registered for treatment of all patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its efficacy for treatment of patients whose tumours are EGFR wild-type-which includes most patients-is still contentious. We assessed the efficacy of erlotinib compared with a standard second-line chemotherapy in such patients.

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Despite decades of intensive biological and clinical research, there still remains a substantial lack of consensus regarding the appropriate therapeutic management of patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Many randomized studies have been performed to identify the most effective treatment strategy, the best agents or treatment duration, the most appropriate dose and timing of radiotherapy and thus providing more reliable evidence for clinical practice. Unfortunately most of these trials reported contrasting results, and in several meta-analyses have been performed, with the intent to clarify the strategic approach for each issue.

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Purpose: Since treatment efficacy of cisplatin- or carboplatin-based chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains contentious, a meta-analysis of individual patient data was performed to compare the two treatments.

Patients And Methods: A systematic review identified randomized trials comparing cisplatin with carboplatin in the first-line treatment of SCLC. Individual patient data were obtained from coordinating centers of all eligible trials.

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