Synergizing Immunotherapy and Antibody-Drug Conjugates: New Horizons in Breast Cancer Therapy.

The advent of immunotherapy and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have revolutionized breast cancer treatment, offering new hope to patients. However, challenges, such as resistance and limited efficacy in certain cases, remain. Recently, the combination of these therapies has emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges.

Outcomes and Impact of Pre-ECMO Clinical Course in Severe COVID-19-Related ARDS Treated with VV-ECMO: Data from an Italian Referral ECMO Center.

The efficacy of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) as rescue therapy for refractory COVID-19-related ARDS (C-ARDS) is still debated. We describe the cohort of C-ARDS patients treated with VV-ECMO at our ECMO center, focusing on factors that may affect in-hospital mortality and describing the time course of lung mechanics to assess prognosis. We performed a prospective observational study in the intensive care unit at the "Città della Salute e della Scienza" University Hospital in Turin, Italy, between March 2020 and December 2021.

EGCG Disrupts the LIN28B/Let-7 Interaction and Reduces Neuroblastoma Aggressiveness.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most commonly diagnosed extracranial solid tumor in children, accounting for 15% of all childhood cancer deaths. Although the 5-year survival rate of patients with a high-risk disease has increased in recent decades, NB remains a challenge in pediatric oncology, and the identification of novel potential therapeutic targets and agents is an urgent clinical need. The RNA-binding protein LIN28B has been identified as an oncogene in NB and is associated with a poor prognosis.

Intermediate clinical endpoints in early-stage breast cancer: an analysis of individual patient data from the Gruppo Italiano Mammella and Mammella Intergruppo trials.

Background: Intermediate clinical endpoints (ICEs) are frequently used as primary endpoint in randomised trials (RCTs). We aim to assess whether changes in different ICEs can be used to predict changes in overall survival (OS) in adjuvant breast cancer trials.

Methods: Individual patient level data from adjuvant phase III RCTs conducted by the Gruppo Italiano Mammella (GIM) and Mammella Intergruppo (MIG) study groups were used.

The importance of the multidisciplinary team in the decision-making process of patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Background And Objectives: Recent literature suggests that rates of breast conservation surgery (BCS) are lower than expected in patients submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer. The aim of this study was to underscore the role of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in the decision-making process of patients who underwent breast surgery after NAC.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on patients with breast cancer treated according to an algorithm developed at the Breast Unit of Northern Sardinia between January 2019 and May 2023.

Antibody-Drug Conjugates in HR+ Breast Cancer: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Heading?

Hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC) accounts for about 60-70% of all diagnosed BCs, and endocrine therapy has long been the hallmark of systemic treatment for this tumor subtype. However, the therapeutic paradigm of luminal BC has been overcome due to recent evidence of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) activity (such as trastuzumab deruxtecan and sacituzumab govitecan) in pretreated metastatic HR+ BC patients. Therefore, nowadays, the identification of patients who can benefit more from this approach represents a new challenge, as does the management of new toxicities and the integration of these drugs into the therapeutic algorithm of HR+ metastatic BC patients.

Rising age-specific rates of immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy: Report from an Italian Breast Unit.

Background And Objectives: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) represents a fundamental part in the management of patients receiving mastectomy. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend in the use of IBR in all age groups. The study aims were to evaluate the age-specific trend of IBR, and to discuss its effects in work organization at an Italian Breast Unit.

α-Glucosidase inhibition by green, white and oolong teas: activity and computational studies.

Natural α-glucosidase inhibitors from plant-based foods such as catechins offer an attractive strategy for their potential anti-diabetic effects. In this study, infusions of three different tea types (green, white, and oolong) were investigated for their total phenolic (TPC) and catechins (EGCG, ECG, EGC, and EC) content, and for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. We observed that the level of TPC in white tea was significantly higher compared to oolong and green tea, which suggests higher content of EGCG and ECG catechins in fresh young leaves.

Prognostic and clinical impact of the endocrine resistance/sensitivity classification according to international consensus guidelines for advanced breast cancer: an individual patient-level analysis from the Mammella InterGruppo (MIG) and Gruppo Italiano Mammella (GIM) studies.

Background: Prior exposure to adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) and timing to recurrence are crucial factors for first-line treatment choices in patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer (BC) and in clinical trial eligibility, classifying metastatic HR+/HER2- BC as endocrine sensitive (ES) or primary (1ER)/secondary (2ER) resistant. However, this classification is largely based on expert opinion and no proper evidence exists to date to support its possible prognostic and clinical impact.

Methods: This analysis included individual patient-level data from 4 adjuvant phase III randomized trials by the Mammella InterGruppo (MIG) and Gruppo Italiano Mammella (GIM) study groups.

Breast-conserving therapy leads to better survival outcomes compared to mastectomy in patients with early breast cancer: evidences from the recent literature.

Classical studies comparing breast-conserving therapy (BCT) and mastectomy (Mx) focused on the non-inferiority of BCT in terms of survival outcomes. However, recent large retrospective studies have provided evidence that BCT could confer a survival advantage over Mx. The prognostic benefit of BCT was observed in all molecular subgroups, including triple negative breast cancer, and also in young patients affected from the disease, who are often submitted to Mx irrespective of tumor size.

How the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the colorectal cancer screening in Italy: A minireview.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused detrimental effects on many aspects of healthcare practice. Screening programs for the commonest malignancies, namely colorectal cancer (CRC), breast cancer and cervical cancer have been discontinued or interrupted since the beginning of restriction measures aimed to limit transmission of the new coronavirus infection. Robust evidence exists in favour of the role of screening campaigns in reducing mortality from CRC.

Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale may reduce medical visits in patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended in high-risk breast cancer. However, no universally accepted guidelines exist on pre-chemotherapy assessment. In particular, the number and frequency of medical visits vary according to each institution's policy.

Tailoring antiHer2 treatment strategies in breast cancer and beyond.

Precision medicine advances are opening new opportunities in the treatment of Her2 driven cancers. Her2 signaling activation was found in around 20% of breast cancers about 3 decades ago and define an aggressive subtype of the disease. Nowadays antiHer2 targeted approach is standard of care in both metastatic and early-stage Her2 -positive breast cancer and has changed the general course of the disease.

Impact on breast cancer susceptibility and clinicopathological traits of common genetic polymorphisms in and genes in Sardinian women.

Common variants of genes involved in DNA damage correction [tumor protein p53 (, murine double 2 homolog oncoprotein ( and ataxia-telengiectasia mutated ()] may serve a role in cancer predisposition. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association of five variants in these genes with breast cancer risk and clinicopathological traits in a cohort of 261 women from northern Sardinia. Polymorphic variants in (rs17878362, rs1042522 and rs1625895), (rs2279744) and (rs1799757) were determined by PCR and TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism assay in patients with breast cancer (n=136) and healthy controls (n=125).

Identification of 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles-Based Novel EGFR Inhibitors: Molecular Dynamics Simulation-Guided Identification and in vitro ADME Studies.

Background: In this work, we have identified heterocyclic derivatives with 1,2,4 oxadiazole scaffold mimicking the functions of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Fourteen molecules that displayed the best fit were picked from the library of compounds and studied under in-silico and in-vitro conditions. Four compounds were selected for further cytotoxicity and ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Elimination) profiling showing IC (from 8-13 µM) values against EGFR positive cancer cell line (MCF7).

Development of targeted nanoparticles loaded with antiviral drugs for SARS-CoV-2 inhibition.

Recently, a novel coronavirus, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has raised global concerns, being the etiological agent of the current pandemic infectious coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Specific prophylactic treatments like vaccines, have been authorized for use by regulatory bodies in multiple countries, however there is an urgent need to identify new, safe, and targeted therapeutics as post-exposure therapy for COVID-19. Among a plethora of potential pharmacological targets, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) membrane receptor, which plays a crucial role in viral entry, is representing an attractive intervention opportunity for SARS-CoV-2 antiviral discovery process.

Rational design-aided discovery of novel 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives as potential EGFR inhibitors.

A molecular dynamics-based sampling of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK) was carried out to search for energetically more stable protein, which was then used for molecular docking of a series of 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives previously reported from our laboratory. A total of 14 compounds were docked, where compounds 6a and 6b showed better binding to EGFR in silico. Further, physicochemical properties of all the compounds were calculated, which suggested that all the molecules obeyed Lipinski's rule of 5 and had favorable polar surface area and CaCO2 permeability along with the low potential for HERG inhibition.

Current role of hepatopancreatoduodenectomy for the management of gallbladder cancer and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A systematic review.

Background: Hepatopancreatoduodenectomy (HPD) is the simultaneous combination of hepatic resection, pancreaticoduodenectomy, and resection of the entire extrahepatic biliary system. HPD is not a universally accepted due to high mortality and morbidity rates, as well as to controversial survival benefits.

Aim: To evaluate the current role of HPD for curative treatment of gallbladder cancer (GC) or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) invading both the hepatic hilum and the intrapancreatic common bile duct.

Outcomes after breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy in patients with triple-negative breast cancer: meta-analysis.

Background: In patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), oncological and survival outcomes based on locoregional treatment are poorly understood. In particular, the safety of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for TNBC has been questioned.

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate locoregional recurrence (LRR), distant metastasis (DM), and overall survival (OS) rates in patients with TNBC who had breast-conserving surgery versus mastectomy.

Surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of COVID-19 pandemic: A comprehensive review of current recommendations.

The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a global health emergency that has also caused profound changes in the treatment of cancer. The management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) across the world has been modified according to the scarcity of care resources that have been diverted mostly to face the surge of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Oncological and hepatobiliary societies have drafted recommendations regarding the adaptation of guidelines for the management of HCC to the current healthcare situation.

Discovery of novel tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carbonitriles as histone deacetylase inhibitors.

The discovery and development of isoform-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor is a challenging task because of the sequence homology among HDAC enzymes. In the present work, novel tetrahydro benzo[b]thiophene-3-carbonitrile based benzamides were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as HDAC inhibitors. Pharmacophore modeling was our main design strategy, and two novel series of tetrahydro benzo[b]thiophene-3-carbonitrile derivatives with piperidine linker (series 1) and piperazine linker (series 2) were identified as HDAC inhibitors.

De-escalating cancer treatments during COVID 19 pandemic: Is metronomic chemotherapy a reasonable option?

COVID 19 pandemic represents an emergency for public health services and containment measures to reduce the risk of infection have been promptly activated worldwide. The healthcare systems reorganization has had a major impact on the management of cancer patients who are considered at high risk of infection. Recommendations and guidelines on how to manage cancer patients during COVID 19 pandemic have been published.

Comparing Clinicopathologic Features and Surgical Treatment of Premenopausal Breast Cancer across Italy and China: Report from a Medical Exchange Program.

Background: This study investigated the differences in clinicopathologic features and surgical treatment between an Italian and a Chinese cohort of premenopausal women with breast cancer, and highlighted the potential advantages of international medical exchange projects.

Methods: Premenopausal women who underwent surgical treatment between 2012 and 2016 at one Italian and one Chinese institution participating in a medical exchange program were compared. Factors associated with the probability to receive mastectomy were determined via logistic analysis.