Age and geographic variability of human papillomavirus high-risk genotype distribution in a large unvaccinated population and of vaccination impact on HPV prevalence.

Background: The prevalence of infections with human papillomavirus (HPV) specific genotypes differs by age and areas. Knowledge of these differences will help predicting how prophylactic HPV vaccination and screening program could best be integrated.

Objectives: To investigate variations in the HPV distribution between areas and ages in Italy and the impact of vaccination on HPV prevalence.

The combination of carmustine wafers and fotemustine in recurrent glioblastoma patients: a monoinstitutional experience.

Background: To date, there is no standard treatment for recurrent glioblastoma. We analyzed the feasibility of second surgery plus carmustine wafers followed by intravenous fotemustine.

Methods: Retrospectively, we analyzed patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with this multimodal strategy.

An ANOCEF genomic and transcriptomic microarray study of the response to irinotecan and bevacizumab in recurrent glioblastomas.

Background: We performed a retrospective study to assess whether the initial molecular characteristics of glioblastomas (GBMs) were associated with the response to the bevacizumab/irinotecan chemotherapy regimen given at recurrence.

Results: Comparison of the genomic and gene expression profiles of the responders (n = 12) and nonresponders (n = 13) demonstrated only slight differences and could not identify any robust biomarkers associated with the response. In contrast, a significant association was observed between GBMs molecular subtypes and response rates.

An overview of fotemustine in high-grade gliomas: from single agent to association with bevacizumab.

Fotemustine is a third-generation nitrosourea showing efficacy in various types of tumors such as melanoma and glioma. We reviewed the most important studies on fotemustine treatment in glioma patients analyzing its pharmacological profile and its activity and safety. Fotemustine was used as single agent or in association with new targeted drugs such as bevacizumab; fotemustine was used both as first-line chemotherapy before temozolomide era and in refractory-temozolomide patients during temozolomide era.

Gonadotropin secreting pituitary adenoma associated with erythrocytosis: case report and literature review.

Background: Most pituitary adenomas with FSH- or LH-positive immunohistochemistry are endocrinologically silent, and neurological symptoms due to their large volume are the first clinical signs; they are rarely reported to be secreting gonadotropins, this usually occurring in cases with clinical endocrine findings. Gonadotropinomas are often treated surgically because they are unresponsive to conventional medical therapies. Temozolomide was recently recommended for non-responder aggressive pituitary adenoma management.

Hypertension as a biomarker in patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with antiangiogenic drugs: a single-center experience and a critical review of the literature.

Treatment with angiogenesis inhibitors is becoming a cornerstone of modern anticancer therapy. Hypertension (HTN) is a common adverse event during antiangiogenic treatment and might represent a cancer biomarker in patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with angiogenesis inhibitors. In a retrospective study, we analyzed 53 patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with antiangiogenic drugs.

Cilengitide in bevacizumab-refractory high-grade glioma: two case reports and critical review of the literature.

High-grade gliomas (HGG) are aggressive and highly vascularized brain tumours. Despite multimodality therapy including surgery, radiation therapy and in many cases temozolomide chemotherapy, the prognosis is dismal. Salvage therapies following progression after radiation therapy and chemotherapy have historically yielded disappointing results.