Newly Diagnosed Multifocal GBM: A Monocentric Experience and Literature Review.

Glioblastomas with multiple foci at presentation (mGBMs) account for 2-35% of all GBMs. mGBMs have limited existing data and no standardized treatment. This study aims to determine their incidence, demographic and clinical features, outcome, and prognostic factors in terms of overall survival.

Prognostic Role of Circulating Tumor Cells in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Large, Multicenter, Prospective Trial.

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) correlate with adverse prognosis in patients with breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer. Little data are available for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Materials And Methods: We designed a multicenter prospective observational study to assess the correlation between CTC counts and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic RCC treated with an antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor as a first-line regimen; overall survival (OS) and response were secondary objectives.

A fully automated assay to detect the expression of pan-cytokeratins and of EML4-ALK fusion protein in circulating tumour cells (CTCs) predicts outcome of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Background: In advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) a recent meta-analysis confirms circulating tumour cells (CTCs) as an independent prognostic indicator of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). However, further investigations are necessary to predict and dynamically monitor the therapy in NSCLC patients using CTCs. To this aim, we combined the classical standard assay (SA) with an expanded cytokeratins profile (EA) and quantified the expression of EML4-ALK fusion protein in CTCs.

Prevalence of pain in patients with cancer aged 70 years or older: A prospective observational study.

Background: Pain is a common symptom among patients with cancer, yet pain prevalence and management in older cancer pts. are poorly known.

Methods: Patients aged ≥70 years referred to Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS from January 2011 to December 2013 were evaluated with Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA).

Phytosome complex of curcumin as complementary therapy of advanced pancreatic cancer improves safety and efficacy of gemcitabine: Results of a prospective phase II trial.

A large body of biomedical evidence indicates that activation of Nrf2 by curcumin increases the nucleophilic tone and damps inflammation cumulatively supporting the malignant phenotype. Conversely, genetic analyses suggest a possible oncogenic nature of constitutive Nrf2 activation since an increased nucleophilic tone is alleged increasing chemoresistance of cancer cells. Aiming to contribute to solve this paradox, this study addressed the issue of safety and efficacy of curcumin as complementary therapy of gemcitabine on pancreatic cancer.

Clinical outcome of an alternative fotemustine schedule in elderly patients with recurrent glioblastoma: a mono-institutional retrospective study.

The optimal treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) in elderly patients is unclear. Fotemustine (FTM) is a third-generation nitrosourea showing efficacy in gliomas and it has been used with different schedules in adult patients. We performed, for the first time anywhere, a mono-institutional retrospective study to analyze the clinical outcome of an alternative fotemustine schedule in elderly patients with recurrent GBM.

Role of dose exposure and inflammatory status in a single center, real-world analysis of sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Unlabelled: AIM, PATIENTS & METHODS: To evaluate the real-world setting use of sunitinib, we reviewed data of our patients from January 2007 to December 2014.

Results: In 114 patients, sunitinib was used as first-line TKI. Out of 110 evaluable patients, 5 complete responses, 37 partial responses, 42 stabilizations were reported.

Development of an oncological-multidimensional prognostic index (Onco-MPI) for mortality prediction in older cancer patients.

Purpose: A multidimensional prognostic index (MPI) based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) has been developed and validated in independent cohorts of older patients demonstrating good accuracy in predicting one-year mortality. The aim of this study was to develop a cancer-specific modified MPI (Onco-MPI) for mortality prediction in older cancer patients.

Methods: We enrolled 658 new cancer subjects ≥70 years (mean age 77.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcomas: a 10-year mono-institutional experience.

Purpose: The role of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) for soft tissue sarcomas (STS) is not standard practice. We investigated effectiveness and tolerability of ACT in patients (pts) with operated high-risk STS in clinical practice.

Methods: Medical records of pts with localized STS referred to Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, from January 1, 2003 to July 07, 2012 were reviewed.

Estimating the risk of chemotherapy toxicity in older patients with cancer: The role of the Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 (VES-13).

Objective: Some parameters of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) are predictive of chemotherapy toxicity. The Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 (VES-13) is a short instrument that has been tested as a means of identifying patients who need a full CGA, but its ability to predict chemotherapy toxicity is still unclear. We performed a pooled analysis of four published clinical trials studying VES-13 as a means of diagnosing vulnerability, in order to evaluate its accuracy in predicting the risk of grade 3/4 toxicity in older patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Diagnostic value of plasma and urinary 2-hydroxyglutarate to identify patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutated glioma.

Background: Mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1/2 enzymes can convert α-ketoglutarate into 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). The aim of the present study was to explore whether 2HG in plasma and urine could predict the presence of IDH1/2 mutations in patients with glioma.

Materials And Methods: All patients had histological confirmation of glioma and a recent brain magnetic resonance imaging scan showing the neoplastic lesion.

The combination of carmustine wafers and fotemustine in recurrent glioblastoma patients: a monoinstitutional experience.

Background: To date, there is no standard treatment for recurrent glioblastoma. We analyzed the feasibility of second surgery plus carmustine wafers followed by intravenous fotemustine.

Methods: Retrospectively, we analyzed patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with this multimodal strategy.

Bi-weekly liposomal doxorubicin for advanced breast cancer in elderly women (≥ 70 years).

Background: We conducted a multicenter prospective trial to assess tolerability and activity of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in women ≥ 70 years with locally-advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: All patients underwent Multidimensional Geriatric Assessment (MGA). Frail patients were excluded.

Immune senescence and cancer in elderly patients: results from an exploratory study.

Background: The challenge of immune senescence has never been addressed in elderly cancer patients. This study compares the thymic output and peripheral blood telomere length in ≥70year old cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-two elderly cancer patients and 39 age-matched controls without personal history of cancer were enrolled.

Bevacizumab as front-line treatment of brain metastases from solid tumors: a case series.

Background: Despite the large use of bevabizumab in the treatment of primary tumors of the brain, there is only limited experience with brain metastases (BM) and no experience in the treatment of previously untreated secondary brain lesions.

Patients And Methods: We treated patients with BM, not suitable for local treatment, with a bevacizumab-based therapy associated with chemotherapy or interferon-α, as indicated for the primary cancer type.

Results: We studied 18 patients with BM mostly from lung and renal adenocarcinoma, and the majority of patients had a treatment-naïve brain disease.

Hypertension as a biomarker in patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with antiangiogenic drugs: a single-center experience and a critical review of the literature.

Treatment with angiogenesis inhibitors is becoming a cornerstone of modern anticancer therapy. Hypertension (HTN) is a common adverse event during antiangiogenic treatment and might represent a cancer biomarker in patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with angiogenesis inhibitors. In a retrospective study, we analyzed 53 patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with antiangiogenic drugs.

Positive experience of intraperitoneal chemotherapy followed by intravenous chemotherapy in heavily pretreated patients with suboptimal residual ovarian cancer and primary peritoneal cancer.

Aims And Background: To assess feasibility and toxicity of intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin and paclitaxel, followed by intravenous chemotherapy in pretreated patients with suboptimal ovarian cancer (residuum >1 cm) or primary peritoneal tumor, and suffering from ascites and/or intestinal obstruction.

Methods: Fourteen relapsed ovarian cancer patients, 5 of whom were platinum sensitive (platinum-free interval >6 mo), 7 platinum-resistant (platinum-free interval <6 mo), and 2 platinum-refractory, received one cycle of intraperitoneal cisplatin, 100 mg/m2 on day 1, and two cycles of intraperitoneal paclitaxel, 120 mg/m2 on days 8 and 14. Intravenous chemotherapy was administrated 4 weeks following the last intraperitoneal paclitaxel instillation.