Distinct HR expression patterns significantly affect the clinical behavior of metastatic HER2+ breast cancer and degree of benefit from novel anti-HER2 agents in the real world setting.

We analyzed data from 738 HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (mbc) patients treated with pertuzumab-based regimens and/or T-DM1 at 45 Italian centers. Outcomes were explored in relation to tumor subtype assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The median progression-free survival at first-line (mPFS1) was 12 months.

No evidence of association between psychological distress and pain relief in patients with bone metastases from castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with 223Radium.

Objective: Painful bone metastases cause reduced quality of life (QoL) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Alpha-emitter 223Radium is associated with a clear survival benefit and significant bone pain palliation in CRPC patients with symptomatic bone metastases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between pain relief and psychological distress during the time course of therapy in patients treated with 223Radium.

Nivolumab and brain metastases in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Brain metastases are common among patients with non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and result in a poor prognosis. Consequently, such patients are often excluded from clinical trials. In Italy an expanded access program (EAP) was used to evaluate nivolumab efficacy and safety in this subpopulation outside a clinical trial.

Palbociclib plus endocrine therapy in HER2 negative, hormonal receptor-positive, advanced breast cancer: A real-world experience.

Data from 423 human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-), hormone receptor-positive (HR+) advanced breast cancer (aBC) patients treated with palbociclib and endocrine therapy (ET) were provided by 35 Italian cancer centers and analyzed for treatment outcomes. Overall, 158 patients were treated in first line and 265 in second/later lines. We observed 19 complete responses and 112 partial responses.

A multicenter REtrospective observational study of first-line treatment with PERtuzumab, trastuzumab and taxanes for advanced HER2 positive breast cancer patients. RePer Study.

We carried out a retrospective observational study of 264 HER2-positive advanced breast cancer (ABC) patients to explore the efficacy of first-line treatment with pertuzumab/trastuzumab/taxane in real-world setting. Survival data were analyzed by Kaplan Meier curves and log rank test. Median follow-up, length of pertuzumab/trastuzumab/taxane treatment and of pertuzumab, trastuzumab maintenance were 21, 4 and 15 months, respectively.

Metronomic oral cyclophosphamide (MOC) in the salvage therapy of heavily treated recurrent ovarian cancer patients: a retrospective, multicenter study.

Background: The aim of this multicenter, retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of metronomic oral cyclophosphamide (MOC) in heavily treated, relapsed ovarian cancer (ROC) patients.

Methods: oral cyclophosphamide (Endoxan®, Baxter, Italy) was administered at the dose of 50 mg daily, continuously. Treatment-related toxicity and response to treatment were assessed by the NCI-CTC criteria, and RECIST criteria, respectively.

Effectiveness of neoadjuvant trastuzumab and chemotherapy in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer.

Purpose: Trastuzumab and chemotherapy is the current standard of care in HER2+ early or locally advanced breast cancer, but there are scanty literature data of its real world effectiveness.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 205 patients with HER2+ breast cancer diagnosed in 10 Italian Medical Oncology Units between July 2003 and October 2011. All patients received neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) with trastuzumab in association with chemotherapy.

Cyclophosphamide "metronomic" chemotherapy for palliative treatment of a young patient with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: Evaluation of the clinical efficacy and tolerance of metronomic chemotherapy as salvage therapy in a young patient with advanced, platinum resistant, ovarian carcinoma and bad performance status.

Case Presentation: We tried palliative chemotherapy with daily low dose oral cyclophosphamide with a patient suffering from stage IIIC ovarian cancer that responded to daily cyclophosphamide (CTX) after no response to chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin as first line and progression after second line with topotecan. The progression-free survival time on daily low dose oral cyclophosphamide treatment was 65 months without side effects.

Peptic disease and 24-hr patterns of serum gastrin and pepsinogen.

The present study explored the 24-hr variations in serum gastrin and pepsinogen in clinically healthy subjects and in patients with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and erosive gastroduodenopathy. Time-qualified data were analyzed by means of cosinor procedures. Significant changes in rhythmometric properties were documented in patients with peptic disease when compared to clinically healthy subjects.