Observational Study on Antibody Response to COVID-19 Vaccines in PAtients with Gastro-Entero-PanCreatic Cancers and NeuroendocrIne NeoplAsms on Systemic TreatmEnts (VACCINATE).

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic dramatically impacted oncological patients' care. Since the introduction of vaccines and the demonstration of their benefit on frail patients, COVID-19 vaccinations were indicated to also be beneficial to oncological population. However, data about the impact of anticancer-treatments and the timing between vaccinations and systemic therapy delivery were not available.

Validation of the ONKOTEV Risk Prediction Model for Venous Thromboembolism in Outpatients With Cancer.

Importance: The assessment of the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among outpatients with cancer represents an unsolved topic. Current international guidelines recommend primary prophylaxis for patients at intermediate to high risk of VTE, indicated by a Khorana score of 2 or more. A previous prospective study developed the ONKOTEV score, a 4-variable risk assessment model (RAM) consisting of a Khorana score of more than 2, metastatic disease, vascular or lymphatic compression, and previous VTE event.

Gut vascular barrier impairment leads to intestinal bacteria dissemination and colorectal cancer metastasis to liver.

Metastasis is facilitated by the formation of a "premetastatic niche," which is fostered by primary tumor-derived factors. Colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasizes mainly to the liver. We show that the premetastatic niche in the liver is induced by bacteria dissemination from primary CRC.

Cisplatin plus capecitabine concomitant with intensity-modulated radiation therapy in non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma: the experience of a single research cancer center.

Background And Aims: The standard treatment of non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) consists of chemotherapy with mitomycin (MMC) plus 5-fluorouracil (5FU) for 1-2 cycles concomitant with pelvic radiotherapy. Subsequent studies introduced cisplatin (CDDP) combined with 5FU, with unclear results. We evaluated the doublet capecitabine (C) and CDDP as a possible alternative to MMC-5FU regimen concomitant with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in the treatment of squamous cell anal canal cancer: acute and early-late toxicity, outcome, and efficacy.

Purpose: To retrospectively review our experience on 84 patients with squamous cell anal canal cancer (SCAC) within 12 months after combined treatment with intensity-modulated RT (IMRT), in terms of acute and early-late toxicity, overall treatment time and interruptions, colostomy-free survival (CFS), and tumor response.

Methods: Acute gastrointestinal (GI), genitourinary (GU), and cutaneous (CU) toxicities were assessed according to Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03.

Immune inflammation indicators in anal cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation: training and validation cohort with online calculator (ARC: Anal Cancer Response Classifier).

In anal cancer, there are no markers nor other laboratory indexes that can predict prognosis and guide clinical practice for patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation. In this study, we retrospectively investigated the influence of immune inflammation indicators on treatment outcome of anal cancer patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy. All patients had a histologically proven diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal/margin treated with chemoradiotherapy according to the Nigro's regimen.

Transarterial Embolization with Small-Size Particles Loaded with Irinotecan for the Treatment of Colorectal Liver Metastases: Results of the MIRACLE III Study.

Purpose: This pilot study was performed to investigate safety and local tumor control following transarterial embolization with small-size particles loaded with irinotecan (DEB-IRI) in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

Materials And Methods: Patients with pretreated CRLM with mono- or bilobar lesions involving less than 60% of the liver parenchyma and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 or 1 underwent superselective DEB-IRI embolization with 40 µm diameter embolic microspheres.

Results: Eighteen patients (11 males, 7 females, median age 61 years) underwent 80 embolization procedures (mean 4.

The EGFR-specific antibody cetuximab combined with chemotherapy triggers immunogenic cell death.

Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that is effective in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Cetuximab blocks epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-ligand interaction and inhibits downstream RAS-ERK activation. However, only some activating mutations in RAS affect cetuximab efficacy, and it is not clear what else mediates treatment success.

Anal human papillomavirus infection: prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of related lesions.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is mostly asymptomatic, but may also have many diverse clinical signs encompassing benign ano-genital lesions, and carcinomas. Recently, interest has also particularly focused on anal cancer since, over the last decades, its incidence has been greatly increasing in developed countries, both in women and men and is drastically higher in specific risk groups, such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and HIV-1 infected individuals. Approximately 88% of anal cancer cases worldwide are associated with HPV infection.

Coagulation induced by C3aR-dependent NETosis drives protumorigenic neutrophils during small intestinal tumorigenesis.

Excessive activation of blood coagulation and neutrophil accumulation have been described in several human cancers. However, whether hypercoagulation and neutrophilia are linked and involved in cancer development is currently unknown. Here we show that spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis correlates with the accumulation of low-density neutrophils with a pro-tumorigenic N2 phenotype and unprompted neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) formation.

Dual inhibition of mTOR pathway and VEGF signalling in neuroendocrine neoplasms: from bench to bedside.

After years of limited progress in the treatment of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), an increasing number of therapeutic targets have recently emerged as potential tools to improve disease outcome. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling are implicated in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, neo-angiogenesis and tumour cell spread. Their combined blockade, in a simultaneous or sequential strategy, represents an intriguing biological rationale to overcome the onset of resistance mechanisms.

Human papillomavirus in anal squamous cell carcinoma: an angel rather than a devil?

Anal cancer is a rare disease with an increasing incidence worldwide but, unfortunately, even today the scientific community still has a limited knowledge and limited options of treatment. More than 50% of patients with anal cancer presenting at diagnosis with locoregional disease have good chances of cure with chemoradiotherapy (CT-RT). However, once patients develop metastatic spread, the prognosis is very poor.

Prognostic value of human papillomavirus in anal squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Anal cancer is an uncommon malignancy, but its incidence is increasing worldwide. Chemoradiation is the standard primary treatment for patients with loco-regional limited disease. However, once patients develop metastatic spread, the prognosis is very poor.

Lung metastases from colorectal cancer: analysis of prognostic factors in a single institution study.

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate retrospectively in a large single institution setting all cases of lung resections for colorectal metastases from 1998 to 2008 and to assess clinicopathologic factors influencing outcome.

Methods: In all, 199 patients, 125 men and 74 women, with lung metastases of colorectal cancer, 120 colon and 79 rectum, underwent resection with curative intent; mean interval between primary surgery and lung metastasis was 35 months. Carcinoembryonic antigen preoperative value was abnormal in 52 patients; K-RAS wild-type was detected in 60 of 97 examined cases; 75 patients received preoperative or postoperative chemotherapy or both.

Detection of circulating tumor cells in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant therapy followed by curative surgery.

Purpose: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent an independent prognostic factor in metastatic colorectal cancer, while their significance in early stages is still an open issue. The aim of the study is to investigate the role of CTCs in rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CT-RT).

Methods: In this prospective single institutional study, cT3-4 and/or N+ rectal cancer was treated with neoadjuvant CT-RT.

Brain metastases from colorectal cancer: main clinical factors conditioning outcome.

Background: The aim of our study is to evaluate the outcome of patients affected by brain metastases from colorectal cancer and to correlate the outcome with prognostic factors.

Methods: Patients were retrospectively evaluated. Survival distributions were estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier method.