Management of incidental pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor: a case report with literature review.

Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are rare and accounting for less than 5% of all pancreatic neoplasms. Their management depends on dimension of the lesion, main pancreatic duct (MPD) caliber, tumor malignancy features and evolutive potential.

Case Report: Incidental finding of a lesion 1.

The salivary alpha-amylase concentration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A case-control study.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases. Previous studies have reported an association between stress and salivary alpha-amylase. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of salivary alpha-amylase in patients with RA (by elimination of stress factor).

PANHER study: a 20-year treatment outcome analysis from a multicentre observational study of HER2-positive advanced breast cancer patients from the real-world setting.

Background: The evolution of therapeutic landscape of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC) has led to an unprecedented outcome improvement, even if the optimal sequence strategy is still debated. To address this issue and to provide a picture of the advancement of anti-HER2 treatments, we performed a large, multicenter, retrospective study of HER2-positive BC patients.

Methods: The observational PANHER study included 1,328 HER2-positive advanced BC patients treated with HER2 blocking agents since June 2000 throughout July 2020.

CDK4/6 Inhibitor Treatments in Patients with Hormone Receptor Positive, Her2 Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: Potential Molecular Mechanisms, Clinical Implications and Future Perspectives.

Hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer is the most common breast cancer subtype, and endocrine therapy (ET) remains its therapeutic backbone. Although anti-estrogen therapies are usually effective initially, approximately 50% of HR+ patients develop resistance to ET within their lifetime, ultimately leading to disease recurrence and limited clinical benefit. The recent addition of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and CDK6 inhibitors (palbociclib, ribociclib, abemaciclib) to ET have remarkably improved the outcome of patients with HR+ advanced breast cancer (ABC) compared with anti-estrogens alone, by targeting the cell-cycle machinery and overcoming some aspects of endocrine resistance.

Total thyroidectomy associated to chemotherapy in primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid (PSCCT) is a rare malignant disease with rapid fatal prognosis. The onset is generally characterized by sudden bilateral latero-cervical lymphadenopathy. The Authors report patient of 58-year-old who referred for evaluation of rapidly aggravating bilateral latero-cervical lymphadenopathy.

Eribulin in Male Patients With Breast Cancer: The First Report of Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Evidence on the management and treatment of male breast cancer is scant. We report the analysis of a multicenter Italian series of patients with male breast cancer treated with eribulin. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use or eribulin in this setting.

Challenging differential diagnosis between lipoma and well-differentiated liposarcoma in the retroperitoneum. A case report.

Liposarcomas are the most common type of sarcomas arising in the retroperitoneum. Retroperitoneal lipomas are extremely rare. They should be distinguished from well-differentiated liposarcomas in order to provide the appropriate treatment.

Eribulin in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients and clinical/biological feature correlations: impact on the practice.

Aim: This multicenter study describes the effectiveness of eribulin in current practice.

Patients & Methods: In total, 78 patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer, previously treated with two or more chemotherapy lines were enrolled.

Results: The median duration of response and disease stability were 7.

Eribulin mesylate in pretreated breast cancer patients: a multicenter retrospective observational study.

Background: Eribulin was recently approved in patients progressing after being treated with anthracyclines and taxanes and after two or more chemotherapy lines for advanced disease.

Objectives: This multicenter observational retrospective study was performed in order to evaluate activity and tolerability of eribulin in real-world patient population.

Methods: 133 advanced breast cancer patients pretreated with ≥ 2 chemotherapy lines for metastatic disease were retrospectively enrolled in the observational trial in 11 italian cancer centres.

Eribulin in cutaneous breast cancer metastasis treatment: clinical activity and symptom control.

Aim: This observational study evaluated the behavior and outcome of cutaneous breast cancer metastasis treated with eribulin.

Patients & Methods: From November 2012 to January 2013, oncologists completed a database with patient, tumor and treatment characteristics from 14 Italian cancer centers. Skin lesions were assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors and cutaneous symptoms by present/absent criteria.

Clinical experience with Zarzio® in Europe: what have we learned?

Biosimilars are similar, but non-identical, versions of existing biological drugs for which patents have expired. Despite the rigorous approval process for biosimilars, concerns have been expressed about the efficacy and safety of these products in clinical practice. Biosimilars of filgrastim, based on the originator product Neupogen®, have been available since 2008 and are now in widespread clinical use in Europe and elsewhere.

Biosimilar medicines in oncology: single-center experience with biosimilar G-CSF.

Aims: A biosimilar medicine is one with proven similarity to a reference biological product for which the patent has expired and whose active ingredient is produced or derived from a living organism. Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating growth factors (G-CSF) are used for the prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia.

Materials & Methods: In this observational, single-center study, a total of 48 patients with solid tumors were treated with a new biosimilar G-CSF (Zarzio(®)) for 4-14 days from the day following the end of chemotherapy.

Italian Survey on adjuvant treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (ISA).

Background: A recent pooled analysis of randomized trials indicated significant improvement in overall survival from cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), depending on disease stage (only in stages II and III) and PS (≤ 1). Post-operative radiotherapy (RT) is optional for pN2 tumours.

Patients And Methods: To evaluate opinions and daily clinical practice of Italian Oncologists about adjuvant treatment of NSCLC, a 46-item questionnaire was delivered via e-mail.

Bone of the hands as unusual metastastatic site of renal cell carcinoma.

Metastases to the bones of the hands and feet (acrometastases) represent an uncommon site of recurrence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Although challenging, the prompt recognition of solitary acrometastasis from RCC is of crucial importance, since surgical resection of the acrometastasis in the absence of active systemic disease has been reported as beneficial for a subgroup of patients with RCC. Here, we report the case of a patient with RCC metastatic to the left index finger treated with surgical resection of the acrometastasis who shortly thereafter developed progressive disease despite such an aggressive surgical approach.

Clinical evaluation of the use of exemestane as further hormonal therapy after nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer patients.

Objectives: The aromatase inhibitors Anastrozole, Letrozole (type 2 nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors: n-SAI) and Exemestane (type 1 steroidal aromatase inactivator) are used respectively as first- and second-line hormonal therapy in postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer women. Few clinical data are published on the sequential use of different classes of aromatase inhibitors.

Methods: We report an analysis on 30 postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer women treated between January 2000 and May 2002 in 2 Italian Oncology Institutions with the hormonal sequence n-SAI (Anastrozole, Letrozole) --> Exemestane.

Bisphosphonates and oral cavity avascular bone necrosis: a review of twelve cases.

Background: Intravenous bisphosphonates are the current standard of care for the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy and for the prevention of skeletal complications associated with bone metastases. Recently, retrospective case studies have reported an association between long-term bisphosphonate therapy and osteonecrosis of the jaws.

Patients And Methods: The data for twelve patients, referred to either an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or to an oral medicine specialist for the management of clinically apparent chronic oral osteonecrosis of unknown etiology, were reviewed.

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma with metastasis to both orbits: an unusual metastatic site.

Liposarcoma is among the most common adult histotypes of soft tissue sarcoma. It usually arises from the deep soft tissue of the extremities or the retroperitoneum. Despite the high content of fat in the orbit, both benign and malignant tumors of adipose tissue are extremely rare at this site; reports describing liposarcoma metastatic to the orbit are rare.

Choroid plexus carcinoma in the adult: is there a role for chemotherapy?

Choroid plexus carcinoma is a rare primary brain neoplasm arising from epithelial differentiated tissue, originating from the choroids plexus of the ventricles and, in 90% of the cases, in the lateral and fourth ventricles. This neoplasm is seen mainly in children and reported infrequently in adults. The treatment of choroid plexus carcinoma is based on scarce evidence in literature.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in combination with gemcitabine: a phase II study in anthracycline-naïve and anthracycline pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the toxicity profile, activity in terms of response rate, time to progression, overall survival, and quality of life of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) and gemcitabine combination in chemo-naïve and pretreated metastatic breast cancer (MBC) women.

Methods: Patients were eligible if they had disease progression to prior chemotherapy (anthracycline-including or not) for early breast cancer or MBC. Patients received PLD 25 mg/m(2) intravenously on day 1 plus gemcitabine 800 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle.

Prostate cancer: the role of hormonal therapy.

Prostate cancer is the cause of more than 1% of all deaths in men. Its incidence is increasing by 2-3% per year. The general prognosis for diagnosed prostate cancer remains poor, with 70% survival at 10 years compared to the general population.

Clinical experience with bevacizumab in colorectal cancer.

Angiogenesis, the process of generating new capillary blood vessels, is a fundamental requirement for normal physiological processes including embryogenesis, reproductive function and wound healing. Angiogenesis is also implicated in various pathological conditions including age-related retinal macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and cancer growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the best characterized of the pro-angiogenic growth factors, and multiple strategies have been developed to inhibit this pathway.

Zoledronic-acid-induced circulating level modifications of angiogenic factors, metalloproteinases and proinflammatory cytokines in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Background: To evaluate the modifications of circulating angiogenic factors, metalloproteinases and acute-phase cytokines after the first single zoledronic acid (ZA) intravenous infusion.

Experimental Design: Eighteen consecutive breast cancer patients with bone metastases were evaluated for circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), interleukins 1beta, 6 and 8 (IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8), interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor beta1 just before and 2 and 7 days after ZA infusion.

Results: The MMP-2 basal value showed a statistically significant decrease 48 h after ZA (p = 0.