An evaluation of talazoparib plus enzalutamide for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer diagnosis among men worldwide, with poor prognosis in its advanced stage. Treatment strategies have evolved, including the use of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis).

Areas Covered: This review evaluates the clinical efficacy, safety, and future potential of combining talazoparib, a potent PARPi, with enzalutamide, a strong androgen receptor (AR) antagonist.

VEGF in psoriatic arthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a chronic autoimmune disease of unclear aetiology, is associated with dysregulated angiogenesis due to the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of endothelial cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role such that PsA patients exhibit skin and joint symptoms, e.g.

Circulating Fetuin-A concentrations in rheumatic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Rheumatic diseases (RDs) include a broad group of disabling conditions with different phenotypes, from autoimmune to autoinflammatory, degenerative, metabolic or mixed manifestations. With the continuous efforts to identify therapeutic targets for new biologic drugs to treat overt clinical manifestations, research is also focusing on the discovery of new biomarkers to diagnose and manage early disease stages. In this context, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of Fetuin-A (FtA), a glycoprotein synthesized by the liver that participates in several biological processes and has been proposed as a biomarker for several disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is linked to inflammation and angiogenesis, indicating a possible role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its main clinical manifestations, Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated studies assessing circulating VEGF concentrations in IBD patients and healthy controls, considering the effect of IBD type, sample type and geographical location.

Methods: A systematic search identified 18 studies (28 group comparators) investigating 1741 IBD patients and 1291 controls.

Complete Blood Count-Based Biomarkers as Predictors of Clinical Outcomes in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with PD-L1 < 50% Treated with First-Line Chemoimmunotherapy.

The aim of the study was to investigate a series of complete blood cell count-based biomarkers of systemic inflammation as predictors of clinical outcomes in patients who underwent first-line chemoimmunotherapy for advanced NSCLC. Consecutive patients with pathologically diagnosed stage III/IV NSCLC and PD-L1 < 50% who underwent first-line chemoimmunotherapy were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical outcomes used for biomarker evaluation were Objective Response Rate (ORR) and Overall Survival (OS).

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The wide range of clinical and serological manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the lack of accepted diagnostic criteria warrant the identification of novel, more accurate biomarkers. Hematological indices derived from full blood cell counts, particularly the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), have shown promise in SLE; however, a critical appraisal of their diagnostic accuracy is lacking. We sought to address this issue by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of the NLR and PLR in SLE.

Heterogeneous pathogenesis of melanoma: BRAF mutations and beyond.

Melanoma pathogenesis, conventionally perceived as a linear accumulation of molecular changes, discloses substantial heterogeneity driven by non-linear biological processes, including the direct transformation of melanocyte stem cells. This heterogeneity manifests in diverse biological phenotypes and developmental states, influencing variable responses to treatments. Unveiling the aberrant mechanisms steering melanoma initiation, progression, and metastasis is imperative.

The association between bilirubin concentrations and inflammatory bowel disease: Insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), poses a significant challenge to health care systems because of its chronic nature and increasing global prevalence. Effective management of IBD requires accurate diagnostic tools and biomarkers. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the relationship between bilirubin concentrations and IBD activity and outcomes.

Association between blood Pentraxin-3 concentrations and rheumatic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Among the Pentraxins, the long Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is associated with several processes, particularly in the earliest phases of the innate humoral response. Increased blood PTX-3 concentrations have been observed in a wide range of conditions, from infectious to cardiovascular disorders. Since its increase is more rapid than C-reactive protein (CRP), PTX-3 can be useful to detect and monitor early inflammation.

Digital Pathology Applications for PD-L1 Scoring in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Challenging Series.

The assessment of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) combined positive scoring (CPS) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is challenged by pre-analytical and inter-observer variabilities. An educational program to compare the diagnostic performances between local pathologists and a board of pathologists on 11 challenging cases from different Italian pathology centers stained with PD-L1 immunohistochemistry on a digital pathology platform is reported. A laboratory-developed test (LDT) using both 22C3 (Dako) and SP263 (Ventana) clones on Dako or Ventana platforms was compared with the companion diagnostic (CDx) Dako 22C3 pharm Dx assay.

Red Cell Distribution Width as a Predictor of Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the intrahepatic biliary tract cancers are estimated to rank sixth for incidence among solid cancers worldwide, and third for mortality rates. A critical issue remains the need for accurate biomarkers for risk stratification and overall prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of a biomarker of heterogeneity of the size of red blood cells, the red cell distribution width (RDW), to predict survival in patients with HCC.

Ischemia-Modified Albumin (IMA) Is Associated with Poor Survival in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF): A Pilot Study.

There are increasing efforts to better predict adverse outcomes for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Our aim was to assess the prognostic potential of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), an established circulating marker of ischemia and, more recently, oxidative stress, in a cohort of 56 IPF patients recruited between 2015 and 2023 at the University of Sassari, Italy. Demographic and functional parameters and serum IMA concentrations were measured at baseline.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mean Platelet Volume and Platelet Distribution Width in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a highly prevalent yet underestimated disorder caused by the complete or partial obstruction of the upper airways. Although polysomnography is the gold standard for OSAS diagnosis, there is an active search for easily accessible biomarkers of disease presence and severity, particularly those reflecting morphological changes in specific blood cells. We investigated the associations between the presence and severity of OSAS, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW), routinely assessed as part of the complete blood count.

Combination of mutations in genes controlling DNA repair and high mutational load plays a prognostic role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): a retrospective real-life study in Sardinian population.

Background: Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDCA) carrying impaired mismatch repair mechanisms seem to have an outcome advantage under treatment with conventional chemotherapy, whereas the role for the tumor mutation burden on prognosis is controversial. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic role of the mutated genes involved in genome damage repair in a real-life series of PDAC patients in a hospital-based manner from the main Institution deputed to surgically treat such a disease in North Sardinia.

Methods: A cohort of fifty-five consecutive PDAC patients with potentially resectable/border line resectable PDAC (stage IIB-III) or oligometastatic disease (stage IV) and tumor tissue availability underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based analysis using a panel containing driver oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes as well as genes controlling DNA repair mechanisms.

PD-L1 immunohistochemical expression in bladder urothelial cancer with SP263, SP142 and 22C3 antibodies: A comparative study.

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is currently the only biomarker used for the selection of patients with bladder urothelial cancer for immunotherapy. Several platforms, antibodies and scores are currently available for the evaluation of the expression of PD-L1 in immunohistochemistry (IHC). In this study three different antibodies (SP263, SP142 and 22C3) were compared to establish their performances and concordance rates.

Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI), Disease Severity, and Mortality in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Combined indices of different haematological cell types appear to be particularly promising for investigating the link between systemic inflammation and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI), an emerging index derived from neutrophil, monocyte, platelet, and lymphocyte counts, in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with different disease severity and survival status. We searched electronic databases between the 1st of December 2019 and the 10th of June 2023 and assessed the risk of bias and the certainty of evidence.

Evaluation of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

The identification of circulating markers of oxidative stress and systemic inflammation might enhance risk stratification in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We investigated the association between specific haematological parameters, as easily measurable markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, and the degree of hypoxia during polysomnography using the apnea hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and oxygen saturation (SpO), in OSA patients. Associations between polysomnographic parameters and demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were assessed in a consecutive series of patients with OSA attending the Respiratory Disease Unit of the University Hospital of Sassari, north Sardinia (Italy), between 2015 and 2019.

PD-L1 Expression in Cutaneous Angiosarcomas: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Cutaneous angiosarcoma (CAS) is the most common type of angiosarcoma that predominantly affects older Caucasians. The outcomes of immunotherapy in CAS are currently under investigation in relation to the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and other biomarkers. We performed a systematic review and metanalysis of data from the current literature reporting on PD-L1 immunohistochemistry expression.

Association between Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Although polysomnography is the gold standard method to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), there is an ongoing quest for simpler and relatively inexpensive biomarkers of disease presence and severity. To address this issue, we conducted a systematic review of the potential diagnostic role of the red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a routine hematological parameter of red blood cell volume variability, in OSAS. A total of 1478 articles were initially identified in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar, from their inception to February 2023, and 20 were selected for final analysis.

Primary Ewing sarcoma of the lung: A systematic review of the recent literature.

Primary pulmonary Ewing sarcoma (PES) is a rare malignancy with only sporadic cases reported in the scientific literature. We performed a systematic review of the cases published in the last decade on PubMed, with the aim to describe the clinical, pathological, therapeutic, and prognostic data of PES. Forty-two articles reporting on 50 cases have been reviewed.

Mammary-like adenocarcinoma of the vulva: a rare case report with next generation sequencing.

Vulvar adenocarcinomas are rare tumors, representing approximately 5% of vulvar cancers. Mammary-like adenocarcinomas of the vulva (MLAV) are extremely rare, and their molecular features are poorly described in the scientific literature. We report a case of an 88-year-old woman affected by MLAV with comedo-like features, with a detailed description of the pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular features.

Comparison between Three Different Techniques for the Detection of EGFR Mutations in Liquid Biopsies of Patients with Advanced Stage Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Oncogenic mutations in the gene are targets of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LC) patients, and their search is mandatory to make decisions on treatment strategies. Liquid biopsy of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) is increasingly used to detect EGFR mutations, including main activating alterations (exon 19 deletions and exon 21 L858R mutation) and T790M mutation, which is the most common mechanism of acquired resistance to first- and second-generation TKIs. In this study, we prospectively compared three different techniques for mutation detection in liquid biopsies of such patients.

Blood Cells Count Derived Inflammation Indexes as Predictors of Early Treatment Response to Dupilumab in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis.

Derived inflammatory indexes from routine hematological parameters might be useful for predicting early-response vs. late/non-response to dupilumab, the first biological agent approved for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). We tested this hypothesis by retrospectively investigating the association between pre-specified baseline inflammatory indexes and dupilumab response (≥50% reduction in the Eczema Area and Severity Index, EASI 50) at 4 and 16 weeks in a consecutive series of 66 AD patients (38 males and 28 females).