Clinical and genetic drivers of oligo-metastatic disease in colon cancer.

Background: Oligo-metastatic disease (OMD) in colon cancer patients exhibits distinct clinical behavior compared to poly-metastatic disease (PMD), with a more responsive and indolent course. This study aims to identify clinical and biological factors uniquely associated with oligo-metastatic behavior.

Methods: Metastatic colon cancer patients from an academic center underwent genetic characterization.

Further Clarification of Pain Management Complexity in Radiotherapy: Insights from Modern Statistical Approaches.

Background: The primary objective of this study was to assess the adequacy of analgesic care in radiotherapy (RT) patients, with a secondary objective to identify predictive variables associated with pain management adequacy using a modern statistical approach, integrating the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm and the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis.

Methods: This observational, multicenter cohort study involved 1387 patients reporting pain or taking analgesic drugs from 13 RT departments in Italy. The Pain Management Index (PMI) served as the measure for pain control adequacy, with a PMI score < 0 indicating suboptimal management.

Adequacy of Pain Management in Patients Referred for Radiation Therapy: A Subanalysis of the Multicenter ARISE-1 Study.

Background: Pain is a prevalent symptom among cancer patients, and its management is crucial for improving their quality of life. However, pain management in cancer patients referred to radiotherapy (RT) departments is often inadequate, and limited research has been conducted on this specific population. This study aimed to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of pain management when patients are referred for RT.

Outcomes and toxicity in re-irradiation of gynecologic cancer: Systematic review of the Italian association of radiation and clinical oncology (AIRO).

Aims: The aim of this study was to provide a literature review on the efficacy and safety of reirradiation(re-I) of locoregional recurrences in gynecological malignancies.

Methods: A computerized literature search was performed in 4 electronic databases (1993-2020). Random-effects models and a tendency towards high heterogeneity (Cochran Q chi-square test and the I statistic) were used.

Oligo-metastatic neoPlasms from the gastro-intestinal tract: iDentIfiCaTIon of cliNical and molecular drivers: the PREDICTION study.

Background: Metastatic disease in tumors originating from the gastrointestinal tract can exhibit varying degrees of tumor burden at presentation. Some patients follow a less aggressive disease course, characterized by a limited number of metastatic sites, referred to as "oligo-metastatic disease" (OMD). The precise biological characteristics that define the oligometastatic behavior remain uncertain.

Spine Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) as a Predictive Tool in Conventional Radiotherapy: A Narrative Review.

Aims: This narrative review seeks to identify the SINS score application in the radiation oncology field.

Methods: This literature review was performed searching papers on MEDLINE published from January 2010 to August 2022.

Results: In terms of vertebral painful lesions and RT symptomatic responses, the SINS score could be an interesting aid in order to choose the right therapeutic approach.

Radiotherapy of orbital metastases: a systematic review of management and treatment outcomes on behalf of palliative care study group of Italian association of radiotherapy and clinical oncology (AIRO).

Objectives: We search the current literature on data regarding the role of RT in OM treatment, focusing on the improvement of symptoms and patient quality of life.

Methods: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations.

Results: From 340 citations, 60 papers were finally selected: 45 case reports and 15 case series.

Prognostic Score in Radiotherapy Practice for Palliative Treatments (PROPHET) Study for Bone Metastases: An Investigation Into the Clinical Effect on Treatment Prescription.

Purpose: Bone metastases frequently occur during malignant disease. Palliative radiation therapy (PRT) is a crucial part of palliative care because it can relieve pain and improve patients' quality of life. Often, a clinician's survival estimation is too optimistic.

Adequacy of Pain Treatment in Radiotherapy Departments: Results of a Multicenter Study on 2104 Patients (Arise).

Aim: The frequent inadequacy of pain management in cancer patients is well known. Moreover, the quality of analgesic treatment in patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) has only been rarely assessed. In order to study the latter topic, we conducted a multicenter, observational and prospective study based on the Pain Management Index (PMI) in RT Italian departments.

Reirradiation of Locally Recurrent Prostate Cancer with Cyberknife System or Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) and IGRT-Clarity: Outcomes, Toxicities and Dosimetric Evaluation.

The management of prostate cancer recurrence following external beam radiotherapy is not defined yet. Stereotaxic body reirradiation therapy showed encouraging results for local and biochemical control. From April 2017 to December 2020, 29 patients with prostate cancer recurrence were collected, joining the retrospective studies CyPro (prot.

SBRT for Localized Prostate Cancer: CyberKnife vs. VMAT-FFF, a Dosimetric Study.

In recent years, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has gained popularity among clinical methods for the treatment of medium and low risk prostate cancer (PCa), mainly as an alternative to surgery. The hypo-fractionated regimen allows the administration of high doses of radiation in a small number of fractions; such a fractionation is possible by exploiting the different intrinsic prostate radiosensitivity compared with the surrounding healthy tissues. In addition, SBRT treatment guaranteed a better quality of life compared with surgery, avoiding risks, aftermaths, and possible complications.

Stereotactic radiotherapy for adrenal oligometastases.

Approximately 50% of melanomas, 30-40% of lung and breast cancers and 10-20% of renal and gastrointestinal tumors metastasize to the adrenal gland. Metastatic adrenal involvement is diagnosed by computed tomography (CT ) with contrast medium, ultrasound (which does not explore the left adrenal gland well), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast medium and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDGPET-CT ) which also evaluates lesion uptake. The simulation CT should be performed with contrast medium; an oral bolus of contrast medium is useful, given adrenal gland proximity to the duodenum.

Palliative radiotherapy indications during the COVID-19 pandemic and in future complex logistic settings: the NORMALITY model.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged healthcare systems worldwide over the last few months, and it continues to do so. Although some restrictions are being removed, it is not certain when the pandemic is going to be definitively over. Pandemics can be seen as a highly complex logistic scenario.

Prospective Evaluation of Radiotherapy-Induced Immunologic and Genetic Effects in Colorectal Cancer Oligo-Metastatic Patients with Lung-Limited Disease: The PRELUDE-1 Study.

Background: in recent years, the management of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) has been greatly improved with integrated strategies including stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT). The administration of SRT has been demonstrated, particularly in oligo-metastatic (om) CRC, to be a safe and effective option. Interestingly, it has been demonstrated that SRT can induce regression of tumors in non-irradiated regions ("abscopal effect") through stimulation of anti-tumor immune effects ("radiation-induced immunity").

Oligometastatic prostate cancer treatment.

Oligometastatic prostate cancer is an intermediate state between localized disease and widespread metastasis. Its biological and clinical peculiarities are still to be elucidated. New imaging techniques contribute to the detection of patients with oligometastatic disease.

Immunotherapy in association with stereotactic radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer brain metastases: results from a multicentric retrospective study on behalf of AIRO.

Background: To define efficacy and toxicity of Immunotherapy (IT) with stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) including radiosurgery (RS) or hypofractionated SRT (HFSRT) for brain metastases (BM) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a multicentric retrospective study from AIRO (Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology).

Methods: NSCLC patients with BM receiving SRT + IT and treated in 19 Italian centers were analyzed and compared with a control group of patients treated with exclusive SRT.

Results: One hundred patients treated with SRT + IT and 50 patients treated with SRT-alone were included.

Ipilimumab and Stereotactic Radiosurgery with CyberKnife System in Melanoma Brain Metastases: A Retrospective Monoinstitutional Experience.

The median overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) of patients with melanoma brain metastases (MBMs) are poor even with immune checkpoint inhibitors and/or radiotherapy (RT). The aims of the study were to evaluate the association and timing of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT)/radiosurgery (SRS) performed with the CyberKnife System and ipilimumab (IPI). A total of 63 MBMs patients were analyzed: 53 received RT+IPI and 10 RT alone.

Dosimetric comparison among cyberknife, helical tomotherapy and VMAT for hypofractionated treatment in localized prostate cancer.

Hypofractionation for localized prostate cancer treatment is rapidly spreading in the medical community and it is supported by radiobiological evidences (lower α/β ratio compared with surrounding tissues). Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a technique to administer high doses with great precision, which is commonly performed with CyberKnife (CK) in prostate cancer treatment. Since the CyberKnife (CK) is not available at all radiotherapy center, alternative SBRT techniques are available such as Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) and Helical Tomotherapy (HT).

Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on cancer immunotherapy in Italy: a survey of young oncologists.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has overwhelmed the health systems worldwide. Data regarding the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients (CPs) undergoing or candidate for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are lacking. We depicted the practice and adaptations in the management of patients with solid tumors eligible or receiving ICIs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a special focus on Campania region.

Pain REduction with bone metastases STereotactic radiotherapy (PREST): A phase III randomized multicentric trial.

Background: Palliative antalgic treatments represent an issue for clinical management and a challenge for scientific research. Radiotherapy (RT) plays a central role. Techniques such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) were largely investigated in several phase 2 studies with good symptom response, becoming widely adopted.