Merkel-cell carcinoma: ESMO-EURACAN Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

• This ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline provides key recommendations for managing Merkel-cell carcinoma (MCC). • Recommendations are based on available scientific data and the multidisciplinary group of experts’ collective opinion. • The guideline covers clinical and pathological diagnosis, staging and risk assessment, treatment and follow-up.

Real-World Safety and Outcome of First-Line Pembrolizumab Monotherapy for Metastatic NSCLC with PDL-1 Expression ≥ 50%: A National Italian Multicentric Cohort ("" Study).

Results from the phase III clinical trial established pembrolizumab monotherapy as the first-line standard of care for patients with metastatic NSCLC who have PD-L1 expression ≥ 50%, , and wild-type tumors. However, given the differences between patients treated in routine clinical practice and those treated in a clinical trial, real-world data are needed to confirm the treatment benefit in standard practice. Given the lack of data on large cohorts of patients with long follow-ups, we designed an observational retrospective study of patients with metastatic NSCLC who were treated with pembrolizumab, starting from its reimbursement eligibility until December 2020.

A multicentric study of radiomics and artificial intelligence analysis on contrast-enhanced mammography to identify different histotypes of breast cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of radiomic analysis on contrast-enhanced mammography images to identify different histotypes of breast cancer mainly in order to predict grading, to identify hormone receptors, to discriminate human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and to identify luminal histotype of the breast cancer.

Methods: From four Italian centers were recruited 180 malignant lesions and 68 benign lesions. However, only the malignant lesions were considered for the analysis.

International Skin Imaging Collaboration-Designated Diagnoses (ISIC-DX): Consensus terminology for lesion diagnostic labeling.

Background: A common terminology for diagnosis is critically important for clinical communication, education, research and artificial intelligence. Prevailing lexicons are limited in fully representing skin neoplasms.

Objectives: To achieve expert consensus on diagnostic terms for skin neoplasms and their hierarchical mapping.

The Impact of Inadequate Exposure to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors on the Development of Resistance in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) inevitably develop resistance through several biological mechanisms. However, little is known on the molecular mechanisms underlying acquired resistance to suboptimal EGFR-TKI doses, due to pharmacodynamics leading to inadequate drug exposure. To evaluate the effects of suboptimal EGFR-TKI exposure on resistance in NSCLC, we obtained HCC827 and PC9 cell lines resistant to suboptimal fixed and intermittent doses of gefitinib and compared them to cells exposed to higher doses of the drug.

Coexistence of Endometriosis and Thyroid Autoimmunity in Infertile Women: Impact on in vitro Fertilization and Reproductive Outcomes.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and impact of impaired thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels on the reproductive outcomes of in vitro fertilization patients diagnosed with endometriosis and compared to controls without endometriosis.

Design: This is a retrospective cohort study on prospectively collected data.

Setting: The study was conducted at tertiary care university hospital.

Identification and characterization of a new potent inhibitor targeting CtBP1/BARS in melanoma cells.

Background: The C-terminal-binding protein 1/brefeldin A ADP-ribosylation substrate (CtBP1/BARS) acts both as an oncogenic transcriptional co-repressor and as a fission inducing protein required for membrane trafficking and Golgi complex partitioning during mitosis, hence for mitotic entry. CtBP1/BARS overexpression, in multiple cancers, has pro-tumorigenic functions regulating gene networks associated with "cancer hallmarks" and malignant behavior including: increased cell survival, proliferation, migration/invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Structurally, CtBP1/BARS belongs to the hydroxyacid-dehydrogenase family and possesses a NAD(H)-binding Rossmann fold, which, depending on ligands bound, controls the oligomerization of CtBP1/BARS and, in turn, its cellular functions.

Reproductive Outcomes in Young Women with Early-Stage Cervical Cancer Greater than 2 cm Undergoing Fertility-Sparing Treatment: A Systematic Review.

: Despite advancements in detection and treatment, cervical cancer remains a significant health concern, particularly among young women of reproductive age. Limited data exists in the literature regarding fertility-sparing treatment (FST) of cervical cancers with tumor sizes greater than 2 cm. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the reproductive outcomes of women diagnosed with cervical cancer greater than 2 cm who underwent FST.

Impact of Thrombophilic Polymorphisms in Antenatal Women on Perinatal Health: A Single-Center Prospective Study.

Background: Despite pregnancy's hypercoagulable state, the correlation between inherited thrombophilia and thrombotic adverse pregnancy outcomes remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of inherited thrombophilic polymorphisms among asymptomatic pregnant individuals and to examine their potential correlation with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Methods: in this single-center prospective study, 105 healthy pregnant women were included.

Demographic Analysis of Cancer Research Priorities and Treatment Correlations.

Understanding the diversity in cancer research priorities and the correlations among different treatment modalities is essential to address the evolving landscape of oncology. This study, conducted in collaboration with the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) and Childhood Cancer International-Europe (CCI-E) as part of the "UNCAN.eu" initiative, analyzed data from a comprehensive survey to explore the complex interplay of demographics, time since cancer diagnosis, and types of treatments received.

Comparison of baseline patient characteristics in Italian oncology drug monitoring registries and clinical trials: a real-world cross-sectional study.

Background: Generalizability of registrative clinical trials to real-world clinical practice is influenced by comparability of patients in the two settings. We compared characteristics of cancer patients in registrative trials with real-world clinical practice in Italy.

Methods: Data on age, sex and performance status (PS) were derived from web-based monitoring registries developed by Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) and corresponding registrative trials reported in the European Public Assessment Reports (EPAR) of European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Predictive significance of FGFR4 p.G388R polymorphism in metastatic colorectal cancer patients receiving trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) treatment.

Background: TAS-102 (Lonsurf) is an oral fluoropyrimidine consisting of a combination of trifluridine (a thymidine analog) and tipiracil (a thymidine phosphorylation inhibitor). The drug is effective in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients refractory to fluorouracil, irinotecan and oxaliplatin. This study is a real-world analysis, investigating the interplay of genotype/phenotype in relation to TAS-102 sensitivity.

ESMO expert consensus statements on the screening and management of financial toxicity in patients with cancer.

Background: Financial toxicity, defined as both the objective financial burden and subjective financial distress from a cancer diagnosis and its treatment, is a topic of interest in the assessment of the quality of life of patients with cancer and their families. Current evidence implicates financial toxicity in psychosocial, economic and other harms, leading to suboptimal cancer outcomes along the entire trajectory of diagnosis, treatment, supportive care, survivorship and palliation. This paper presents the results of a virtual consensus, based on the evidence base to date, on the screening and management of financial toxicity in patients with and beyond cancer organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in 2022.

Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Patients With Penile Carcinoma: A Sub-Analysis From Meet-URO 23 (I-RARE) Registry Study.

Introduction: Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a rare tumor with an aggressive behavior. The Meet-URO 23/I-RARE registry includes rare genitourinary malignancies. We extracted patients with PSCC to conduct a retrospective study aimed at assessing clinical outcomes and prognostic factors.

A real-world retrospective, observational study of first-line pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy for metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with PD-L1 tumor proportion score < 50% (PEMBROREAL).

Introduction: The phase III Keynote-189 trial established a first-line treatment combining pembrolizumab with pemetrexed and platinum as a standard treatment for patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without known and driver mutations and independent of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. However, in Italy, eligibility for the National Health Service payment program is limited to patients with PD-L1 <50%. The PEMBROREAL study assesses the real-world effectiveness and safety of pembrolizumab in patients eligible for the National Health Service payment program.

The great debate: Surgical outcomes of laparoscopic versus laparotomic myomectomy. A meta-analysis to critically evaluate current evidence and look over the horizon.

Myomectomy is one of the most common surgical procedure in the field of gynecology. However, the role of laparoscopic myomectomy is still debated for many factors, including surgical considerations, safety and fertility concerns, long-term outcomes, and cost-related issues. The aim of this study is to evaluate the surgical peri- and post-operative outcomes of laparoscopic and abdominal myomectomy.

Reproductive and Oncologic Outcomes in Young Women with Stage IA and Grade 2 Endometrial Carcinoma Undergoing Fertility-Sparing Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy in both Europe and the USA. Approximately 3-5% of cases occur in women of reproductive age. Fertility-sparing treatment (FST) options are available, but very limited evidence regarding grade 2 (G2) ECs exists in the current literature.