Human Omental Mature Adipocytes used as Paclitaxel Reservoir for Cell-Based Therapy in Ovarian Cancer.

Primary human omental adipocytes and ovarian cancer(OC) cells establish a bidirectional communication in which tumor driven lipolysis is induced in adipocytes and the resulting fatty acids are delivered to cancer cells within the tumor microenvironment. Despite meaningful improvement in the treatment of OC, its efficacy is still limited by hydrophobicity and untargeted effects related to chemotherapeutics. Herein, omental adipocytes are firstly used as a reservoir for paclitaxel, named Living Paclitaxel Bullets (LPB) and secondly benefit from the established dialogue between adipocytes and cancer cells to engineer a drug delivery process that target specifically cancer cells.

AKT Isoforms Interplay in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Characterization.

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is among the deadliest gynecological malignancies. The acquired resistance to platinum-based therapies and the intrinsic heterogeneity of the disease contribute to the low survival rate. To improve patients' outcomes, new combinatorial approaches able to target different tumor vulnerabilities and enhance the efficacy of the current therapies are required.

Histological patterns and intra-tumor heterogeneity as prognostication tools in high grade serous ovarian cancers.

Objective: High grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most common type of malignant ovarian neoplasm and the main cause of ovarian cancer related deaths worldwide. Although novel biomarkers such as homologous recombination deficiency testing have been implemented into the clinical decision-making algorithm since diagnosis, morphological classification and immunohistochemistry analysis are essential for diagnostic purpose. This study aims at identifying histologic and clinical features that can be predictive of patients' prognosis.

Cancer Organoids in Basic Science and Translational Medicine.

Organoids are revolutionizing approaches to cancer therapy and even diagnosis [...

Cell-stiffness and morphological architectural patterns in clinical samples of high grade serous ovarian cancers.

High grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is recognized as the most frequent type of ovarian cancer and the main cause of ovarian cancer related deaths worldwide. Although homologous recombination deficiency testing has been adopted in the clinical workflow, morphological analysis remains the main diagnostic tool. In this study Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was tested in standard hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained sections to investigate the biomechanical properties of different architectural growing patterns of HGSOC.

Basic principles of biobanking: from biological samples to precision medicine for patients.

The term "biobanking" is often misapplied to any collection of human biological materials (biospecimens) regardless of requirements related to ethical and legal issues or the standardization of different processes involved in tissue collection. A proper definition of biobanks is large collections of biospecimens linked to relevant personal and health information (health records, family history, lifestyle, genetic information) that are held predominantly for use in health and medical research. In addition, the International Organization for Standardization, in illustrating the requirements for biobanking (ISO 20387:2018), stresses the concept of biobanks being legal entities driving the process of acquisition and storage together with some or all of the activities related to collection, preparation, preservation, testing, analysing and distributing defined biological material as well as related information and data.

Carbon dots for cancer nanomedicine: a bright future.

Cancer remains one of the main causes of death in the world. Early diagnosis and effective cancer therapies are required to treat this pathology. Traditional therapeutic approaches are limited by lack of specificity and systemic toxicity.

A Novel HPLC-Based Method to Investigate on RNA after Fixation.

RNA isolated from fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues is widely used in biomedical research and molecular pathology for diagnosis. In the present study, we have set-up a method based on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to investigate the effects of different fixatives on RNA. By the application of the presented method, which is based on the Nuclease S1 enzymatic digestion of RNA extracts followed by a HPLC analysis, it is possible to quantify the unmodified nucleotide monophosphates (NMPs) in the mixture and recognize their hydroxymethyl derivatives as well as other un-canonical RNA moieties.

The Association of Residential Altitude on the Molecular Profile and Survival of Melanoma: Results of an Interreg Study.

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) incidence is rising worldwide and is the primary cause of death from skin disease in the Western world. Personal risk factors linked to environmental ultraviolet radiation (UVR) are well-known etiological factors contributing to its development. Nevertheless, UVR can contribute to the development of CM in different patterns and to varying degrees.

The History of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: From Chemical-Physical Applications to Nanomedicine.

Nanoscience breakthroughs in almost every field of science and nanotechnologies make life easier in this era. Nanoscience and nanotechnology represent an expanding research area, which involves structures, devices, and systems with novel properties and functions due to the arrangement of their atoms on the 1-100 nm scale. The field was subject to a growing public awareness and controversy in the early 2000s, and in turn, the beginnings of commercial applications of nanotechnology.

Strategies for Delivery of siRNAs to Ovarian Cancer Cells.

The unmet need for novel therapeutic options for ovarian cancer (OC) deserves further investigation. Among the different novel drugs, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are particularly attractive because of their specificity of action and efficacy, as documented in many experimental setups. However, the fragility of these molecules in the biological environment necessitates the use of delivery materials able to protect them and possibly target them to the cancer cells.

Synthesis and in-depth studies on the anticancer activity of novel palladacyclopentadienyl complexes stabilized by N-Heterocyclic carbene ligands.

New palladacyclopentadienyl complexes with bis-N-heterocyclic carbenes as spectator ligands have been synthesized and exhaustively characterized. The crystal structure of complex 1a has been also determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Their in vitro cytotoxicity and that of other palladacyclopentadienyl derivatives coordinating different ancillary ligands has been determined against different cancer cell lines.

Proof-of-Concept Multistage Biomimetic Liposomal DNA Origami Nanosystem for the Remote Loading of Doxorubicin.

One of the most promising applications of DNA origami is its use as an excellent evolution of nanostructured intelligent systems for drug delivery, but short lifetime and immune-activation are still major challenges to overcome. On the contrary, stealth liposomes have long-circulation time and are well tolerated by the immune system. To overcome DNA origami limitations, we have designed and synthesized a compact short tube DNA origami (STDO) of approximately 30 nm in length and 10 nm in width.

A Guide to PIN1 Function and Mutations Across Cancers.

PIN1 is a member of a family of peptidylprolyl isomerases that bind phosphoproteins and catalyze the rapid - isomerization of proline peptidyl bonds, resulting in an alteration of protein structure, function, and stability. PIN1 is overexpressed in human cancers, suggesting it promotes tumorigenesis, but depending on the cellular context, it also acts as a tumor suppressor. Here, we review the role of PIN1 in cancer and the regulation of PIN1 expression, and catalog the single nucleotide polymorphisms, and mutations in gene associated with cancer.

Virtual screening identifies a PIN1 inhibitor with possible antiovarian cancer effects.

Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1) is a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase that binds phospho-Ser/Thr-Pro motifs in proteins and catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of proline peptide bonds. PIN1 is overexpressed in several cancers including high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Since few therapies are effective against this cancer, PIN1 could be a therapeutic target but effective PIN1 inhibitors are lacking.

Methods for Investigating VLA-4 (CD49d/CD29) Expression and Activation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Its Clinical Applications.

The integrin heterodimer CD49d/CD29 (a.k.a.

An Italian Delphi study to evaluate consensus on adjuvant endocrine therapy in premenopausal patients with breast cancer: the ERA project.

Background: Several trials evaluated the role of ovarian function suppression for the adjuvant treatment of premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. Based on the results of the SOFT and TEXT trials, international guidelines recommend the addition of ovarian function suppression to standard adjuvant endocrine therapy for patients at higher risk of relapse.

Methods: The ERA project (Evaluation of Risk factors in the Adjuvant treatment of breast cancer in premenopausal patients) was devised with the objective of obtaining a consensus on the identification of risk factors and the use of ovarian function suppression in the adjuvant treatment of these women.

Exploring the Role of Fallopian Ciliated Cells in the Pathogenesis of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

High-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women and the first among gynecological malignancies. Despite an initial response to standard chemotherapy, most HGSOC patients relapse. To improve treatment options, we must continue investigating tumor biology.

Defining a prognostic score based on O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase cut-off methylation level determined by pyrosequencing in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Purpose: Epigenetic variations in the O6-methylguanine-methyltransferase gene had been widely associated with a favorable impact on survival in patients affected by glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Aim of this study is to explore a scoring system based on the gene promoter methylation in order to predict patients' prognosis.

Methods: A series of 128 patients with GBM was retrospectively analyzed.

Mediterranean Diet and Bladder Cancer Risk in Italy.

Previous studies have reported that Mediterranean diet is inversely related to the risk of several neoplasms; however, limited epidemiological data are available for bladder cancer. Thus, we examined the association between Mediterranean diet and this neoplasm in an Italian multicentric case-control study consisting of 690 bladder cancer cases and 665 controls. We assessed the adherence to the Mediterranean diet via a Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), which represents the major characteristics of the Mediterranean diet and ranges from 0 to 9 (from minimal to maximal adherence, respectively).

Atezolizumab for the treatment of breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer diagnosed among women. The development of new personalized therapeutic strategies has reshaped the landscape in this field. However, BC is still the first cause of death among women.

Thyroid nodules coexisting with either cystic or solid breast nodules: a new clue for this association between nodules coming from ultrasonography.

Background: Thyroid and breast nodules (BNs) are common, their prevalence varying based mainly on the population (including age, residence in area of different iodine availability) studied and methods used. The coincidence of thyroid and breast diseases remains controversial and the majority of the studies evaluate the association between breast cancer and thyroid disorders. Here we describe our experience of such association in a non-oncological series.

First external quality assurance program of the Italian HLA-B*57:01 Network assessing the performance of clinical virology laboratories in HLA-B*57:01 testing.

Background: Since the HLA-B*57:01 allele is strongly associated with abacavir hypersensitivity reaction, testing for the presence of HLA-B*57:01 is mandatory before administration of abacavir. While HLA-B*57:01 testing is usually provided by pharmacogenetics, genetics or blood transfusion services, clinical virology laboratories can be an optimal opportunity for HLA-B*57:01 testing since they receive blood samples for routine HIV monitoring and have the expertise for convenient and less expensive PCR-based point mutation assays.

Objectives: The Italian HLA-B*57:01 Network gathers accredited clinical virology laboratories offering HLA-B*57:01 testing in Italy with the aim to share protocols, test new methods, develop and maintain external quality assurance (EQA) programs.

Population attributable risk for pancreatic cancer in Northern Italy.

Objective: To provide data on the impact of known risk factors on pancreatic cancer burden, we estimated the population attributable risks (PARs) in the Italian population.

Methods: Data were derived from a case-control study conducted in Northern Italy between 1991 and 2008, including 326 case patients with incident pancreatic cancer and 652 hospital control subjects.

Results: We found that 13.

Duration and intensity of tobacco smoking and the risk of papillary and non-papillary transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of tobacco smoking on specific histological subtypes of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC).

Methods: Between 2003 and 2009, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study in Italy, enrolling 531 incident TCC cases and 524 cancer-free matched patients. Odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated through multiple logistic regression models.