Publications by authors named "Pellegrino B"

Importance: Chronic pain is common among individuals with dialysis-dependent kidney failure.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of pain coping skills training (PCST), a cognitive behavioral intervention, on pain interference.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter randomized clinical trial of PCST vs usual care was conducted across 16 academic centers and 103 outpatient dialysis facilities in the US.

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Background: Ovarian cancer (OvC) constitutes significant management challenges primarily due to its late-stage diagnosis and the development of resistance to chemotherapy. The standard treatment regimen typically includes carboplatin and paclitaxel, with the addition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors for patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) harboring BRCA1/2 mutations. However, the variability in treatment responses suggests the need to investigate factors beyond BRCA1/2 mutations, such as DNA repair mechanisms and epigenetic alterations.

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The Gruppo Oncologico Italiano di Ricerca Clinica (GOIRC) is Italy's first cooperative oncology research group, evolving to conduct academic clinical trials since 1985. With 167 publications and collaborations with national and international partners, GOIRC has significantly impacted clinical practices. The group emphasizes training and has developed robust internal standard operative procedures (SOPs) to enhance data quality.

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CD74 is a cell-surface receptor for the cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). MIF binding to CD74 induces a signaling cascade resulting in the release of its cytosolic intracellular domain (CD74-ICD), which regulates transcription in naïve B and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. In the current study, we investigated the role of CD74 in the regulation of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

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Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a major regulatory role in TNBC progression and is highly infiltrated by suppressive immune cells that reduce anti-tumor immune activity. Although regulatory B cells (Bregs) are a key TME component, knowledge of their function in TNBC is limited.

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  • Scientists are using special tests called biomarkers to help treat cancer patients, especially those with lung cancer.
  • In one case, a patient had a rare type of lung cancer, and advanced tests found unusual changes in their genes.
  • The results from these tests helped the doctors decide the best treatment for the patient, showing how important it is to understand the details of each person's cancer.
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Purpose: Many patients with early breast cancer (eBC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy do not achieve pathological complete response (pCR), which is a prognostic factor. We examined the role of HER2-low expression in predicting pCR and prognosis in HER2-negative eBC.

Methods: We evaluated patients with stage I-III HER2-negative BC, treated between 2013 and 2023 at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London.

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Hormone receptor (HR)-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer represents a distinct subtype expressing estrogen and progesterone receptors with an overexpression of HER2. Approximately 14% of female breast cancer cases are HER2-positive, with the majority being HR-positive. These tumors show a cross-talk between the hormonal and HER2 pathways; the interaction has implications for the treatment options for the disease.

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  • The study investigates how previous abdominal surgeries impact the outcomes of patients getting peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters.
  • It included 855 adult patients in North America, with about 31% having had prior abdominal surgeries, but these surgeries did not significantly increase the risk of complications related to PD catheter use.
  • While upper-abdominal surgeries showed a slightly higher risk for complications, there wasn't a clear correlation between the number of surgeries and the likelihood of complications.
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  • * These genes are critical for maintaining genetic integrity through homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair, which fixes DNA double-strand breaks effectively.
  • * The review discusses the role of HR and its impact on the efficacy of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors as a treatment, while also exploring the genetic factors and risk assessment approaches that could enhance strategies for prevention and treatment of these cancers.
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Background: This study investigated the association of intra-abdominal adhesions with the risk of peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter complications.

Methods: Individuals undergoing laparoscopic PD catheter insertion were prospectively enrolled from eight centers in Canada and the United States. Patients were grouped based on the presence of adhesions observed during catheter insertion.

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  • The HOPE Trial is a multicenter randomized trial aimed at reducing chronic pain and opioid use in patients on maintenance hemodialysis for end-stage kidney disease.
  • Phase 1 involves randomly assigning participants to either Pain Coping Skills Training (PCST) or Usual Care, while Phase 2 offers buprenorphine to those on high doses of opioid medications.
  • The trial tracks outcomes like pain interference, hospitalizations, and mortality over 36 weeks, ultimately seeking to improve management strategies for chronic pain in this patient population.
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Background: It is possible to induce immunomodulation in HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) by modifying the route of administration of trastuzumab.

Methods: In this multicenter randomized phase II trial, all enrolled patients (pts) with T2-T4d HER2-positive BC received 3 cycles of neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) with fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks (q21), followed by docetaxel/pertuzumab plus intravenous trastuzumab (arm A) or, docetaxel/pertuzumab plus subcutaneous (SC) trastuzumab (arm B) q21x4 cycles. After surgical operation, each pt was treated with trastuzumab q21x14 cycles using the same SC or intravenous formulation of NAT.

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Key Points: Patients with ESKD coming from impoverished counties are less likely to be waitlisted or transplanted. Insurance status modified the relationship between county poverty rates and waitlisting/transplant.

Background: Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment for patients with ESKD.

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Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), has altered the treatment landscape in breast cancer (BC), irrespective of the HR-receptor status. The use of the agent is increasing, despite the finding that exposure to T-DXd increases the risk of interstitial lung disease (ILD), particularly in BC patients. Although T-DXd-related ILD can be potentially severe and life-threatening, most low-grade cases can be treated safely using a multidisciplinary approach comprising early and accurate diagnosis, effective management, close monitoring, and the prompt administration of steroids.

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  • The RAD51 test is being explored as a potential biomarker for assessing homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) in ovarian cancer, but its reliability across different labs hasn't been fully assessed.
  • In a study involving four European laboratories, slight differences in staining techniques led to low variability in RAD51 and γH2AX scores, but some samples showed significant scoring variability due to technical and biological issues.
  • The findings highlight the importance of improving quality control and potentially automating image analysis for the RAD51 test to better identify HRD in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) patients, which is crucial for personalized treatment approaches.
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  • Despite negative results in broader clinical trials for gastric cancer, PARP inhibitors (PARPi) could still benefit a small group of patients with specific genetic mutations. !* -
  • Research using patient-derived xenografts showed that gastric cancer tumors with BRCA2 mutations respond well to olaparib, particularly when combined with oxaliplatin. !* -
  • Overall, patients with gastric cancer who have BRCA2 mutations or high homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) scores may find PARP inhibition to be an effective treatment option, making genetic testing advisable for these individuals. !*
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Glucocorticoids (GCs) are a pharmacological class of drugs widely used in oncology in both supportive and palliative settings. GCs differentially impact organs with immediate and long-term effects; with suppressive effect on the immune system anchoring their use to manage the toxicities of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In addition, GCs are often used in the management of symptoms related to cancer or chemotherapy and as adjuvants in the treatment of pain in the management of other.

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Background: During the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022, outcome data of a great number of clinical trials were presented. For the attending medical oncologist, it is important to structure these data in a way that facilitates a trade-off between treatment burden and benefit.

Materials And Methods: To illustrate this, we carried out a narrative non-systematic review of 12 selected oral presentations with potential impact on future daily practice, focusing on trial methodology, possible study flaws, reported clinical benefit and implementability.

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Breast cancer is still a lethal disease and the leading cause of death in women, undermining patients' survival and quality of life. Modern techniques of surgery and radiotherapy allow for the obtaining of good results in terms of survival, however they cause long-term side effects that persist over time, such as lymphedema and neuropathy. Similarly, the advent of new therapies such as endocrine therapy revolutionized breast cancer outcomes, but side effects are still present even in years of follow-up after cure.

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CD74 is receptor for the cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). MIF binding to CD74 induces a signaling cascade resulting in the release of its cytosolic intracellular domain (CD74-ICD) that serves as a transcriptional regulator in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. In the current study, we investigated the transcriptional and regulatory function of CD74-ICD in normal B cells.

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