Claudin 18.2: An attractive marker in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly aggressive tumor with limited treatment options. Zolbetuximab, a monoclonal antibody against the tight junction protein Claudin 18.2 has recently been developed.

Impact of time-of-day administration of immunotherapy on survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: the MOUSEION-09 meta-analysis.

Studies conducted in the last few years have suggested a connection between clinical outcomes and the time of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) infusion. However, few data are available regarding the differences between early and late time-of-day (ToD) administration in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients receiving immunotherapy and immune-based combinations. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to fully investigate the influence of timing of administration on the efficacy of mRCC immunotherapy, by comparing early ToD versus late ToD dosing in this setting.

Immunobiology of biliary tract cancer and recent clinical findings in approved and upcoming immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Introduction: Recently, immunotherapy has offered new hope for treating biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, several issues are to be considered, including the lack of validated predictive biomarkers that could help to identify patient groups which are most likely to benefit from such therapeutic approaches.

Areas Covered: In the current article, we will provide an overview of recent results and ongoing and future research directions of immunotherapy in BTC, with a special focus on recently published, practice-changing data, and ongoing active and recruiting clinical trials.

Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Regulatory Mechanisms, Functions, and Therapeutic Implications.

Treatment options for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), a highly malignant tumor with poor prognosis, are limited. Recent developments in immunotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have offered new hope for treating iCCA. However, several issues remain, including the identification of reliable biomarkers of response to ICIs and immune-based combinations.

Inorganic Polyphosphate Promotes Colorectal Cancer Growth via TRPM8 Receptor Signaling Pathway.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by a pro-inflammatory microenvironment and features high-energy-supply molecules that assure tumor growth. A still less studied macromolecule is inorganic polyphosphate (iPolyP), a high-energy linear polymer that is ubiquitous in all forms of life. Made up of hundreds of repeated orthophosphate units, iPolyP is essential for a wide variety of functions in mammalian cells, including the regulation of proliferative signaling pathways.

Incidence of Severe COVID-19 Outcomes and Immunization Rates in Apulian Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

The etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is not fully understood but is believed to involve a dysregulated immune response to intestinal microbiota in genetically susceptible individuals. Individuals with IBD are at increased risk of infections due to immunosuppressive treatments, comorbidities, and advanced age. Current evidence indicates that IBD patients are not at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the general population, though the risk of severe outcomes remains debated.

Autotaxin-Lysophosphatidate Axis: Promoter of Cancer Development and Possible Therapeutic Implications.

Autotaxin (ATX) is a member of the ectonucleotide pyrophosphate/phosphodiesterase () family; it is encoded by the gene. ATX is a secreted glycoprotein and catalyzes the hydrolysis of lysophosphatidylcholine to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). LPA is responsible for the transduction of various signal pathways through the interaction with at least six G protein-coupled receptors, LPA Receptors 1 to 6 (LPAR1-6).

Final Results from the First European Real-World Experience on Lusutrombopag Treatment in Cirrhotic Patients with Severe Thrombocytopenia: Insights from the REAl-World Lusutrombopag Treatment in ITalY Study.

Management of severe thrombocytopenia poses significant challenges in patients with chronic liver disease. Here, we aimed to evaluate the first real-world European post-marketing cohort of cirrhotic patients treated with lusutrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, verifying the efficacy and safety of the drug. In the REAl-world Lusutrombopag treatment in ITalY (REALITY) study, we collected data from consecutive cirrhotic patients treated with lusutrombopag in 19 Italian hepatology centers, mostly joined to the "Club Epatologi Ospedalieri" (CLEO).

Long-Term Outcomes of Balloon TACE for HCC: An European Multicentre Single-Arm Retrospective Study.

Purpose: To report response rates (using mRECIST), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival and local tumour recurrence-free survival (LRFS) of balloon-occluded transarterial chemoembolisation (bTACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Patients from five European centres treated with conventional or drug-eluting microsphere bTACE for HCC were included, and patients already lost to follow-up before 12 months were excluded. Possible factors contributing to LRFS and OS were evaluated with Cox proportional hazards models.

From diverticulosis to complicated diverticular disease: Progression of myogenic alterations and oxidative imbalance.

Background: The natural history and pathophysiology of diverticular disease (DD) are still uncertain. An ex-vivo human complicated DD (cDD) model has recently shown a predominant transmural oxidative imbalance. The present study aims to evaluate whether the previously described alterations may precede the symptomatic form of the disease.

Role of gastroenterologists and healthcare providers in promoting COVID-19 immunization among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis on a global scale.

Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are more susceptible to experiencing severe complications of COVID-19 if infected. Nevertheless, sub-optimal immunization rates have been reported among these patients. Our study aims to assess COVID-19 VH among a global population of patients with IBD and to investigate the role of healthcare professionals, particularly gastroenterologists, in promoting immunization.

REGOMA-OSS: a large, Italian, multicenter, prospective, observational study evaluating the efficacy and safety of regorafenib in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

Background: In the randomized phase II REGOMA trial, regorafenib showed promising activity in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. We conducted a large, multicenter, prospective, observational study to confirm the REGOMA data in a real-world setting.

Patients And Methods: The major inclusion criteria were histologically confirmed diagnosis of glioblastoma according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 classification and relapse after radiotherapy with concurrent/adjuvant temozolomide treatment, good performance status [Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS 0-1)] and good liver function.

Semaglutide Modulates Extracellular Matrix Production of LX-2 Cells via Exosomes and Improves Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is closely related to some metabolic disorders, such as central obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), such as semaglutide, may have therapeutic roles in MASLD associated with T2D. This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of semaglutide on MASLD in terms of progression from liver steatosis to fibrosis.

Alpha-fetoprotein and albumin inversely relate to each other and to tumor parameters in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aim: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), an oncofetal protein and biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has unclear roles and actions.To evaluate the relationships between AFP, liver function tests, and HCC aggressiveness.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of an HCC patient database was conducted to examine the relationships between baseline serum AFP values, liver function tests, and tumor characteristics.

Metabolomic Profiling of Obese Patients with Altered Intestinal Permeability Undergoing a Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet.

A healthy intestinal permeability facilitates the selective transport of nutrients, metabolites, water, and bacterial products, involving cellular, neural, hormonal, and immune factors. An altered intestinal permeability indicates pathologic phenotypes and is associated with the exacerbation of obesity and related comorbidities. To investigate the impact of altered permeability in obese patients undergoing a calorie-restrictive dietary regimen (VLCKD), we collected urinary and fecal samples from obese patients with both normal and altered permeability (determined based on the lactulose/mannitol ratio) before and after treatment.

Microperimetric evaluation and predictive factors of visual recovery after successful inverted internal limiting membrane-flap technique for macular hole in high myopic eyes.

Introduction: Inverted Internal Limiting Membrane (ILM)-flap technique demonstrated its effectiveness, in terms of anatomical closure rate and visual acuity recovery for high myopic macular holes. We evaluated macular function after a successful inverted ILM-flap for macular holes in high myopic eyes (hMMH) using microperimetry to predict visual prognosis.

Methods: A retrospective study on 23 eyes of 23 patients after surgical closure of hMMH, was performed.