Italian survey on cetuximab-based therapy of elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose: There is no consensus on the use of cetuximab in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. To this end, a survey was carried in 17 Italian oncology centers.

Methods: The centers answered a 29-item questionnaire structured as follows: (i) demographic characteristics; (ii) medical history; (iii) assessment of RAS/BRAF mutations and DPD/UGT polymorphism before treatment; (iv) treatment schemes and side effects; (v) geriatric assessment and customization of treatment.

Phase II Study of Preoperative Treatment with External Radiotherapy Plus Panitumumab in Low-Risk, Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (RaP Study/STAR-03).

Background: Treatment with fluoropyrimidines and concomitant long-course external radiotherapy (RTE) is the standard of care in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) preoperative chemoradiation. A randomized phase II study (RaP/STAR-03) was conducted that aimed to evaluate the activity and safety of the monoclonal antibody anti-epidermal growth factor receptor panitumumab as a single agent in combination with radiotherapy in low-risk LARC preoperative treatment.

Materials And Methods: Patients had adenocarcinoma of the mid-low rectum, cT3N- or cT2-T3N+, wild-type status, and negative circumferential radial margin.

Clinical outcome and molecular characterisation of chemorefractory metastatic colorectal cancer patients with long-term efficacy of regorafenib treatment.

Background: To investigate the potential predictors of response to regorafenib, in chemorefractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with long-term efficacy from regorafenib treatment.

Methods: Retrospective, single institution analysis of patients with chemorefractory mCRC treated with regorafenib, in clinical practice setting. 123 patients were treated and stratified into two groups according to number of cycles received (<7 and ≥7).

Clinical outcome of patients with chemorefractory metastatic colorectal cancer treated with trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102): a single Italian institution compassionate use programme.

Background: TAS-102 improves overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) refractory to standard treatments. However, predictive biomarkers of efficacy are currently lacking.

Patients And Methods: We treated a cohort of 43 chemorefractory mCRC patients treated with TAS-102, in a single institution expanded access, compassionate use programme.

Bladder Metastases from Lung Cancer: Clinical and Pathological Implications: A Systematic Review.

Lung cancer is the tumor with the highest incidence in males worldwide and the most common cause of death from cancer overall; its high mortality is mostly due to its propensity to spread to other organs through lymphatic and blood vessels in spite of proper treatment. Bladder metastases from lung cancer are rare, with only 11 cases having been reported, all in recent years. This review aims to discuss some critical points regarding this uncommon condition, namely: (a) lung and bladder tumors share similar etiologic features; (b) almost all bladder metastases from lung cancer arise from lung adenocarcinomas; (c) cytology and superficial bladder biopsy may be falsely negative, since the neoplastic cells coming through the hematogenous route are typically located in the lamina propria and/or muscularis propria of the bladder wall; and (d) the differential diagnosis with primary bladder adenocarcinoma as well as primary and secondary small-cell carcinomas may be challenging.

[Abiraterone acetate: a novel therapeutic option in hormone-refractory prostate cancer].

Until recently, only therapy with docetaxel and prednisone has been shown to prolong survival in men with hormonorefractory metastatic prostate cancer. With approvals of sipuleucel-T, cabazitaxel, and abiraterone acetate, all based on improvement in overall survival, the scenary for management of men with metastatic prostate cancer has dramatically changed. Abiraterone acetate was developed to specifically inhibit cytochrome P450 (CYP)17A1, which is an essential enzyme in the biosynthesis of testosterone.

[Retroperitoneal schwannoma: a case report].

Schwannomas are degenerate peripheral nerve sheath tumors that very rarely occur in the retroperitoneum. They are usually benign than malignancy is very rare and is usually observed in patients with von Recklinghausen disease. We report a case of female adult patient who presented with vague abdominal discomfort.

A rare case of internal jugular vein aneurysmal degeneration in a type 1 neurofibromatosis complicated by potentially life-threatening thrombosis.

Type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multiple forms of neural crest cell proliferation. Associated venous malformations are extremely rare. We present a case of a giant thrombosed internal jugular aneurysm with brachiocephalic vein thrombosis in an NF1 patient.

Long-term respiratory functional results after pneumonectomy.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term respiratory outcome of patients who underwent pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), analysing functional tests.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-seven consecutive patients who were candidates for pneumonectomy performed spirometry before and at least 24 months after surgery in the same laboratory. Diffusion of carbon monoxide and the most common dynamic and static lung volumes were evaluated in percentage of predicted and compared.

Carboplatin in combination with raltitrexed in recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A multicentre phase II study of the Gruppo Oncologico Dell'Italia Meridionale (G.O.I.M.).

Background: The combination of cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a standard regimen for the treatment of recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This combination shows a relevant toxicity and new chemotherapy associations with a more favourable toxicity profile are awaited. Carboplatin (CB) is a platinum derivative with less toxicity than CDDP.

Irinotecan (CPT-11) and mitomycin-C (MMC) as second-line therapy in advanced gastric cancer: a phase II study of the Gruppo Oncologico dell' Italia Meridionale (prot. 2106).

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of a combination regimen of CPT-11 and mitomycin-c as second-line chemotherapy for pretreated patients with advanced, metastatic, or both, gastric adenocarcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Patients with pretreated metastatic disease or early relapsed after adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled. Entry criteria included histologic/cytologic diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma, age 18 to 75 years, performance status > or =70 (Karnofsky scale), bi-dimensionally measurable disease.

Phase III randomized trial of FOLFIRI versus FOLFOX4 in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer: a multicenter study of the Gruppo Oncologico Dell'Italia Meridionale.

Purpose: We performed this phase III study to compare the irinotecan, leucovorin (LV), and fluorouracil (FU) regimen (FOLFIRI) versus the oxaliplatin, LV, and FU regimen (FOLFOX4) in previously untreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Patients And Methods: A total of 360 chemotherapy-naive patients were randomly assigned to receive, every 2 weeks, either arm A (FOLFIRI: irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) on day 1 with LV 100 mg/m(2) administered as a 2-hour infusion before FU 400 mg/m(2) administered as an intravenous bolus injection, and FU 600 mg/m(2) as a 22-hour infusion immediately after FU bolus injection on days 1 and 2 [LV5FU2]) or arm B (FOLFOX4: oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) on day 1 with LV5FU2 regimen).

Results: One hundred sixty-four and 172 patients were assessable in arm A and B, respectively.

Impact of size, histology, and gender on stage IA non-small cell lung cancer.

The aim of this study was to assess which prognostic factors could influence survival in surgically treated stage IA non-small cell lung cancer. The records of 224 consecutive patients with pathological stage IA after radical surgery were reviewed retrospectively. Overall 1, 3 and 5-year survival rates were 89%, 76%, and 66%.

Docetaxel as salvage therapy in advanced gastric cancer: a phase II study of the Gruppo Oncologico Italia Meridionale (G.O.I.M.).

Background: Docetaxel (DCT), a semisynthetic taxoid, has demonstrated cytotoxic activity against gastric cancer in early phase II studies producing an overall response rate of 17-24%. The Gruppo Oncologico Italia Meridionale (G.O.