Stereotactic body radiotherapy for spinal oligometastases: a survey on patterns of practice on behalf of the Italian Association of Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy (AIRO).

Background: The Study Group for the Biology and Treatment of the OligoMetastatic Disease on behalf of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) has conducted a national survey with the aim to depict the current patterns of practice of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for spinal oligometastases.

Methods: The Surveymonkey platform was used to send a 28-items questionnaire focused on demographic, clinical and technical aspects related to SBRT for spinal oligometastases. All the AIRO members were invited to fill the questionnaire.

Immune and gene-expression profiling in estrogen receptor low and negative early breast cancer.

Background: The cutoff of <1% positive cells to define estrogen receptor (ER) negativity by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in breast cancer (BC) is debated. We explored the tumor immune microenvironment and gene-expression profile of patients with early-stage HER2-negative ER-low (ER 1%-9%) BC, comparing them to ER-negative (ER <1%) and ER-intermediate (ER 10%-50%) tumors.

Methods: Among 921 patients with early-stage I-III, ER ≤50%, HER2-negative BCs, tumors were classified as ER-negative (n = 712), ER-low (n = 128), or ER-intermediate (n = 81).

Hypofractionated Partial Breast Reirradiation in the Conservative Retreatment of Breast Cancer Local Recurrence.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of partial breast reirradiation (re-PBI) with intensity modulated radiation therapy using a hypofractionated scheme for breast cancer (BC) local relapse (LR) operated on with repeat breast-conservative surgery.

Methods And Materials: Intensity modulated radiation therapy-based re-PBI was performed using either helical or step-and-shoot modality to deliver 37.05 Gy in 13 fractions in 2.

Margin clearance greater than 1 mm in nodal-positive pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients: multicentre retrospective analysis.

Background: The introduction of the 1 mm cut-off for resection margin according to the Leeds Pathology Protocol has transformed the concept of surgical radicality. Its impact on nodal-positive resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients is unclear. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of margin clearance on survival among resected, nodal-positive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients whose specimens were analysed according to the Leeds Pathology Protocol.

Image-Guided Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy on Detectable Prostate Bed Recurrence after Prostatectomy in RT-Naïve Patients.

Unlabelled: Purpose or Objective-The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SBRT on detectable prostate bed recurrence in RT-naïve prostate cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-six patients who underwent SBRT for macroscopic bed recurrence after prostatectomy were retrospectively included. Patients were treated based on mpMRI or choline/PSMA PET.

How General and Inflammatory Status Impacts on the Prognosis of Patients Affected by Lung Cancer: State of the Art.

Pulmonary cancer is often associated with systemic inflammation and poor nutritional status and these two aspects are strongly correlated and related to the scarce infiltration of a tumor by immune cells. We reviewed all English literature reviews from 2000 to 2024 from PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, including original articles, review articles, and metanalyses. We excluded non-English language articles and case reports/case series.

The Picasso's skepticism on computer science and the dawn of generative AI: questions after the answers to keep "machines-in-the-loop".

Starting from Picasso's quote ("Computers are useless. They can only give you answers"), we discuss the introduction of generative artificial intelligence (AI), including generative adversarial networks (GANs) and transformer-based architectures such as large language models (LLMs) in radiology, where their potential in reporting, image synthesis, and analysis is notable. However, the need for improvements, evaluations, and regulations prior to clinical use is also clear.

Sodium levels and immunotherapy efficacy in mRCC patients with bone metastases: sub analysis of Meet-Uro 15 study.

Background: Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) prognosis, although their efficacy in patients with bone metastases (BMs) remains poorly understood. We investigated the prognostic role of natremia in pretreated RCC patients with BMs receiving immunotherapy.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included RCC patients with BMs receiving nivolumab as second-line therapy or beyond.

Salvage Breast-Conserving Surgery and Reirradiation With Intraoperative Electrons for Recurrent Breast Cancer: A Multicentric Study on Behalf of Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO).

Purpose: Intraoperative radiation therapy with electrons (IOERT) may represent a viable choice for partial breast reirradiation after repeat quadrantectomy for local recurrence (LR) for primary breast cancer (BC) in lieu of mastectomy.

Methods And Materials: A database collecting data on partial breast reirradiation with IOERT from 8 Italian centers was set up in 2016 to 2018, providing data on cumulative incidence (CumI) of second LR and survival with a long follow-up.

Results: From 2002 to 2015, 109 patients underwent the conservative retreatment.

Dosimetric Comparison Between Proton and Photon Radiation Therapies for Pediatric Neuroblastoma.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the most beneficial radiation treatment technique for pediatric patients with thoracic and abdominal neuroblastoma (NBL), through a dosimetric comparison between photon Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy and proton Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy treatment plans.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a multicentre case series of 19 patients with thoracic and/or abdominal NBL who underwent radiation therapy, following the recommendations of the European protocol for high-risk NBL (HR-NBL2/SIOPEN). The prescribed dose was 21.

Modeling the management of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer with liquid biopsy: the future of precision medicine.

Purpose Of Review: In the evolving landscape of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC) management, liquid biopsy offers unprecedented opportunities for guiding clinical decisions. Here, we review the most recent findings on liquid biopsy applications in HER2-positive BC and its potential role in addressing challenges specific to this BC subtype.

Recent Findings: Recent studies have highlighted the significance of liquid biopsy analytes, primarily circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs), in stratifying patients' prognosis, predicting treatment response, and monitoring tumor evolution in both early and advanced stages of BC.

Factors influencing 5-year persistence to adjuvant endocrine therapy in young women with breast cancer.

Purpose: Although younger age has been negatively associated with persistence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET), factors contributing to non-persistence remain poorly understood. We assessed factors associated with non-persistence to ET and described the 5-year trajectories of quality of life (QoL) and symptoms in young women (≤40 years) with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (BC).

Methods: We retrieved data on clinical characteristics and non-persistence from the medical annual records in the European cohort of the "Helping Ourselves, Helping Others: The Young Women's BC Study" (IBCSG 43-09 HOHO).

Whole-body MRI in oncology: acquisition protocols, current guidelines, and beyond.

Acknowledging the increasing use of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) in the oncological setting, we conducted a narrative review focusing on practical aspects of the examination and providing a synthesis of various acquisition protocols described in the literature. Firstly, we addressed the topic of patient preparation, emphasizing methods to enhance examination acceptance. This included strategies for reducing anxiety and patient distress, improving staff-patient interactions, and increasing overall patient comfort.

Pharmacogenetics in Italy: current landscape and future prospects.

Pharmacogenetics investigates sequence of genes that affect drug response, enabling personalized medication. This approach reduces drug-induced adverse reactions and improves clinical effectiveness, making it a crucial consideration for personalized medical care. Numerous guidelines, drawn by global consortia and scientific organizations, codify genotype-driven administration for over 120 active substances.

Concurrent presence of primary hemangioma and breast cancer metastasis within a lymph node: a case report inspired by the legacy of Professor Juan Rosai.

Secondary neoplastic lesions in lymph nodes are predominantly metastases from solid tumors, whereas primary lymph node hemangiomas are exceptionally uncommon, with only 24 well-documented cases in the literature. Histologically, they are characterized by endothelial cells that may appear flattened or enlarged, with variable vascular density, and the presence of stromal elements. Notably, the concurrent presence of a primary hemangioma and a metastasis from breast cancer - the latter being the most prevalent secondary lesion in axillary lymph nodes - represents an unprecedented observation.

Neratinib and ado-trastuzumab emtansine for pretreated and untreated human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer brain metastases: Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium trial 022.

Background: Treatment options for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer brain metastases (BCBMs) remain limited. We previously reported central nervous system (CNS) activity for neratinib and neratinib-capecitabine. Preclinical data suggest that neratinib may overcome resistance to ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) when given in combination.