Prognostic Role of a New Index Tested in European and Korean Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer Patients: the PECS Index.

Background And Aim: The aim of the present study is to evaluate a new index (PECS (PsECogSii)index) influenced by PS ECOG and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in unresectable locally advanced or metastatic BTC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy.

Methods: This multicenter, international, study was conducted on a training cohort of 130 patients and in three European and Korean validation cohorts The PECS index was calculated as ECOG × SII index (neutrophil count × platelet count/lymphocyte count). Event-time distributions were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival curves were compared using the log-rank test.

Recent Research on Gastrointestinal Carcinoma.

This series of 10 articles (eight original articles and two reviews) is presented by international leaders in gastrointestinal cancer research [...

Comparison of Prognostic Scores in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Sorafenib.

Introduction: Prognostic classifications for patients treated with sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) facilitate stratification in trials and inform clinical decision making. Recently, 3 different prognostic models (hepatoma arterial-embolization prognosis [HAP] score, sorafenib advanced HCC prognosis [SAP] score, and Prediction Of Survival in Advanced Sorafenib-treated HCC [PROSASH]-II) have been proposed specifically for patients treated with sorafenib. This study aimed to compare the prognostic performance of different scores.

Introducing immunotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients: Too early or too fast?

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent liver cancer. Immunotherapy has been explored in this disease in order to improve survival outcomes. Nowadays, scientific research is focusing especially on immune checkpoint inhibitors, in particular anti-PD1, anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), as single-agent or in combination with other immunotherapy agents, target therapies, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other agents targeting specific molecular pathways.

Impact of Aspirin on clinical outcome in advanced HCC patients receiving sorafenib and regorafenib.

Background And Aim: The aim of our retrospective study is to evaluate the prognostic significance of aspirin in patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib.

Methods: 304 patients with HCC,consecutively treated with sorafenib from May 2007 to September 2018, were included in the clinical study. Of Them 93 patients token aspirin.

Defining Benchmark Outcomes for Pancreatoduodenectomy With Portomesenteric Venous Resection.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish clinically relevant outcome benchmark values using criteria for pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) with portomesenteric venous resection (PVR) from a low-risk cohort managed in high-volume centers.

Summary Background Data: PD with PVR is regarded as the standard of care in patients with cancer involvement of the portomesenteric venous axis. There are, however, no benchmark outcome indicators for this population which hampers comparisons of patients undergoing PD with and without PVR resection.

Head to Head Impact of Margin, Ischemia, Complications, Score Versus a Novel Trifecta Score on Oncologic and Functional Outcomes After Robotic-assisted Partial Nephrectomy: Results of a Multicenter Series.

Background: There is a paucity of data describing the ability of margin, ischemia, complications, score (MIC) and trifecta in predicting long-term outcomes of robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN).

Objective: To compare a novel trifecta (negative margins, no significant complications, and perioperative estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] decrease ≤30%) versus standard MIC as predictors of oncologic and functional results in a large series of RAPNs.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Between 2009 and 2019, a multicenter dataset was queried for patients with nonmetastatic renal masses who underwent RAPN at eight participating institutions.

Association of and Gene Polymorphisms with Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Sorafenib: Results of the Multicenter Prospective INNOVATE Study.

Purpose: After 10 years of clinical practice and research studies, there are still no validated prognostic or predictive factors of response to sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). On the basis of the results of our two retrospective studies, we designed the multicenter INNOVATE study with the aim to validate the role of nitric oxide synthase () and polymorphisms in patients with HCC treated with sorafenib [NCT02786342].

Patients And Methods: This prospective multicenter study was conducted at 10 centers in Italy.

The Role of Anti-Angiogenics in Pre-Treated Metastatic -Mutant Colorectal Cancer: A Pooled Analysis.

. FOLFOXIRI plus Bevacizumab is one of the most frequently used first-line treatments for patients with -mutant colorectal cancer (CRC), while second-line treatment requires extensive further research. In this pooled analysis, we evaluate the impact of anti-angiogenics in patients with pre-treated -mutant CRC.

Diagnosis and Management of Secondary HLH/MAS Following HSCT and CAR-T Cell Therapy in Adults; A Review of the Literature and a Survey of Practice Within EBMT Centres on Behalf of the Autoimmune Diseases Working Party (ADWP) and Transplant Complications Working Party (TCWP).

Secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) or Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS) is a life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome that can occur in patients with severe infections, malignancy or autoimmune diseases. It is also a rare complication of haematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), with a high mortality. It may be associated with graft vs.

Radical intended surgery for highly selected stage IV neuroendocrine neoplasms G3.

Background: Stage IV gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) G3 are the NENs with the worst prognosis. According to ENETS guidelines, platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for this population. Surgery is only considered in highly selected "resectable" NENs with usually lower Ki67.

Anterior accessory saphenous vein confluence anatomy at the sapheno-femoral junction as risk factor for varicose veins recurrence after great saphenous vein radiofrequency thermal ablation.

Background: Varicose veins recurrence rate remained almost unchanged despite the constant technological advancement in its treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the variable accessory saphenous vein (ASV) anatomy at the sapheno-femoral junction (SFJ) as a possible risk factor for recurrent varicose vein (RVV) after great saphenous vein (GSV) radiofrequency thermal ablation (RTA).

Methods: Two-hundred consecutive patients affected by chronic venous disease (mean age 52.

Impact of Neoadjuvant Therapy in Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreatic Body or Tail on Surgical and Oncological Outcome: A Propensity-Score Matched Multicenter Study.

Background: Several studies have suggested a survival benefit of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in the pancreatic head. Data concerning NAT for PDAC located in pancreatic body or tail are lacking.

Methods: Post hoc analysis of an international multicenter retrospective cohort of distal pancreatectomy for PDAC in 34 centers from 11 countries (2007-2015).

Surgical quality, cancer control and functional preservation: introducing a novel trifecta for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy.

Background: In order to improve standard reporting of outcomes after partial nephrectomy, different "trifecta" systems have been conceived. The subjective assessment of the included parameters and the unreliability for off-clamp procedures limited their reproducibility; their role in predicting functional and oncologic outcomes has never been assessed. We propose a new trifecta, based on standardized parameters, that summarizes PN outcomes regardless the clamping technique used and predicts main clinical outcomes.

Surgery with Radical Intent: Is There an Indication for G3 Neuroendocrine Neoplasms?

Background: While platinum-based chemotherapy represents the standard treatment for advanced grade 3 (G3) neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) according to the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society guidelines, the role of radical-intended surgery in these patients, as well as the use of adjuvant chemotherapy, are still controversial. The aim of the present work is to describe, in a retrospective series of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) G3, the overall survival (OS) rate and risk factors for death after radical surgery. Secondary aims are the description of median recurrence-free survival (RFS) and of the role of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Carotid body tumor contemporary management in a high-volume center.

Background: The aim of this study is to report our results with carotid body tumor (CBT) surgical management.

Methods: Between 2010 and 2018, 100 CBTs (mean age: 48.0 years, range 21-80 years old) were treated in our center.

Robotic partial nephrectomy versus radical nephrectomy in elderly patients with large renal masses.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that the "oldest old" patients might benefit of partial nephrectomy (PN), but decision-making for this subset of patients is still controversial. Aim of this study is to compare outcomes of robotic partial (RPN) or radical nephrectomy (RRN) for large renal masses in patients older than 65 years.

Methods: We identified 417≥65 years old patients who underwent RRN or RPN for cT1b or ≥cT2 renal mass at 17 high volume centers.

Management of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: Results of an International Survey of Current Practice.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate surgeon preferences for the management of patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).

Background: Select patients with LAPC may become candidates for curative resection following neoadjuvant therapy, and recent reports of survival are encouraging. Yet the optimal management approach remains unclear.

Brain Molecular Connectivity in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Recent Advances and New Perspectives Using Positron Emission Tomography.

Positron emission tomography (PET) represents a unique molecular tool to get access to a wide spectrum of biological and neuropathological processes, of crucial relevance for neurodegenerative conditions. Although most PET findings are based on massive univariate approaches, in the last decade the increasing interest in multivariate methods has paved the way to the assessment of unexplored cerebral features, spanning from resting state brain networks to whole-brain connectome properties. Currently, the combination of molecular neuroimaging techniques with multivariate connectivity methods represents one of the most powerful, yet still emerging, approach to achieve novel insights into the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases.

Techniques and outcomes of minimally-invasive surgery for nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava thrombosis: a systematic review of the literature.

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend considering surgical excision of non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis in patients with acceptable performance status. Of note, several authors have pioneered specific techniques for laparoscopic and robotic management of renal cancer with level I-IV IVC thrombosis.

Evidence Acquisition: A systematic review of the English-language literature on surgical techniques and perioperative outcomes of minimally-invasive radical nephrectomy (RN) and IVC thrombectomy for nonmetastatic RCC was performed without time filters using the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science (WoS) databases in September 2018 according to the PRISMA statement recommendations.

Technical innovations to optimize continence recovery after robotic assisted radical prostatectomy.

Urinary incontinence is one of the most significant causes of concern among patients who get surgical treatment for prostate cancer, even after the introduction of the robot. The aim of this study is to summarize current knowledge of the factors influencing urinary continence (UC) and the technical innovations to optimize UC recovery after robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). A non-systematic review was conducted from January 2000 to October 2018 to identify original and review articles in English describing the anatomy of the prostate and pelvis.

Unmet Needs in Functional and Nonfunctional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

Recently, the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) held working sessions composed of members of the advisory board and other neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) experts to attempt to identify unmet needs in NENs in different locations or with advanced/poorly differentiated NENs. This report briefly summarizes the main proposed areas of unmet needs in patients with functional and nonfunctional pancreatic NENs.