Gut and local microbiota in patients with cancer: increasing evidence and potential clinical applications.

In recent years, cancer research has highlighted the role of disrupted microbiota in carcinogenesis and cancer recurrence. However, microbiota may also interfere with drug metabolism, influencing the efficacy of cancer drugs, especially immunotherapy, and modulating the onset of adverse events. Intestinal micro-organisms can be altered by external factors, such as use of antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors treatment, lifestyle and the use of prebiotics or probiotics.

Management of cancer treatment-induced bone loss in patients with breast and hormone sensitive prostate cancer: AIOM survey.

Purpose: Cancer treatment-induced bone loss is a side effect of hormonal therapy that can severely affect patients' quality of life. The aim of this survey was to obtain an updated picture of management of bone health in patients with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant hormonal therapy and in patients with hormone sensitive prostate cancer according to Italian oncologists.

Methods: Our survey was made up of 21 multiple-choice questions: the first part dealt with the respondents' characteristics, while the second with management of bone health in the described setting.

TEAM Study: Upfront Docetaxel Treatment in Patients With Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Real-World, Multicenter, Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) dramatically changed. PEACE-1 and ARASENS trials established triplet therapy efficacy. Identifying prognostic factors supporting treatment choice is pivotal.

Frequency of Germline and Somatic and Mutations in Prostate Cancer: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In prostate cancer (PC), the presence of somatic and/or germline mutation provides prognostic and predictive information. Meta-analysis aims to estimate the frequency of mutations in patients with PC (PCp). In November 2022, we reviewed literature searching for all articles testing the proportion of mutations in PCp, without explicit enrichment for familiar risk.

Clinical value of offering multiple chemotherapy lines to a luminal-like metastatic breast cancer: A case report with eribulin.

Introduction: The achievement of complete response with chemotherapy after multiple treatment lines in metastatic breast cancer and the chemosensitivity in a luminal-like breast cancer are two important issues as it is often asked whether there is a potential limit to the number of therapeutic lines offered and what clinical value they may have. In this setting, eribulin mesylate is a chemotherapy option available. Several randomized and observational studies demonstrated eribulin's meaningful improvement on prolongation of survival, chronicling the disease and preventing the onset of new metastases, although the rate of complete responses is rather limited.

Down-regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/AKT/molecular target of rapamycin metabolic pathway by primary letrozole-based therapy in human breast cancer.

Purpose: The phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/molecular target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is involved in the development of tumor resistance to endocrine therapy in breast cancer cell lines and represents an attractive target for pharmacologic intervention. However, the effects of endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors on in vivo expression of this signaling cascade, and its relation to tumor response and patient outcome, is unknown.

Experimental Design: PI3K, phospho-AKT (pAKT) and phospho-mTOR were assessed by immunohistochemistry on tumor specimens collected at baseline and after 6 months of treatment in 113 elderly breast cancer patients consecutively enrolled in a randomized phase II trial of primary letrozole therapy and letrozole associated with metronomic cyclophosphamide.

Randomized phase II trial of letrozole and letrozole plus low-dose metronomic oral cyclophosphamide as primary systemic treatment in elderly breast cancer patients.

Purpose: To investigate the activity of letrozole plus/minus oral metronomic cyclophosphamide as primary systemic treatment (PST) in elderly breast cancer patients.

Methods: One hundred fourteen consecutive elderly women with T2-4 N0-1 and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer were randomly assigned to primary letrozole therapy (2.5 mg daily for 6 months) or a combination of letrozole plus oral cyclophosphamide (50 mg/daily for 6 months) in an open-labeled, randomized phase II trial.