Publications by authors named "Aldo Caltavituro"

Background: The expanding treatment landscape for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC) has led to the emergence of new "grey areas" not covered by international guidelines, where treatment decision making is particularly challenging.

Methods: Sixteen relevant statements regarding the management of HR+ /HER2- mBC were formulated by an Executive Board and validated by a Scientific Board, composed by internationally recognized experts in the field of BC. Subsequently, 50 Italian oncologists were surveyed between May 2024 and June 2024 through the modified Delphi method, in order to capture their rate of agreement and disagreement on the proposed statements.

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Background: Hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2-negative (HER2-) early-stage breast cancers (EBC) are treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET), with chemotherapy (CT) reserved for high-risk cases. Obesity is linked to increased recurrence risk. The Oncotype DX® assay predicts prognosis and CT benefit.

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The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has deeply reshaped the therapeutic algorithm of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, there is considerable scope for better engagement of the immune system in other BC subtypes. ICIs have paved the way for investigations into emerging immunotherapeutic strategies, such as immune cell engagers (ICEs) that work by promoting efficient tumor cell killing through the redirection of immune system against cancer cells.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the effectiveness and safety of combining cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) with endocrine therapy (ET) in treating hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer, specifically comparing Asian and non-Asian patients.
  • A meta-analysis of 11 studies involving over 5,000 patients was conducted to analyze progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes, as well as treatment-related adverse events.
  • Results showed that adding CDK4/6i to ET significantly improved both PFS and OS in both patient groups, indicating the treatment's effectiveness across diverse populations.
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Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, due to their heterogeneity and limited treatment options. Conventional imaging techniques and therapeutic strategies may become unreliable during follow-up, due to the tendency of these neoplasms to dedifferentiate over time. Therefore, novel diagnostic and therapeutic options are required for the management of NEN patients.

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  • This study examines the effectiveness of Poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) in patients with BRCA mutations undergoing treatment for advanced ovarian cancer.
  • A retrospective analysis of 79 patients revealed no significant differences in progression-free survival (PFS) based on specific BRCA domain defects or mutation types.
  • The findings suggest that the success of PARPi maintenance treatment is largely independent of the BRCA defects or mutations.
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Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an angio-proliferative disease with a viral etiology and a multifactorial pathogenesis that results from immune dysfunction. In patients affected by latent viral infections such as herpesviruses, SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in lytic cycle reactivation in host cells. A robust immune system response is crucial for eliminating pathogens and resolving both latent and non-latent viral infections.

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  • Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare cancers that affect the immune system, and this study investigates how patients with TET respond to the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine after two doses.
  • The study involved 39 patients, analyzing their antibody levels before and after vaccination, revealing that all had negative antibody levels before vaccination, with differences in seroconversion based on their disease status.
  • Results indicated that patients with evidence of disease (ED) had a significantly lower chance of generating an immune response compared to those with no evidence of disease, highlighting the impact of their existing health conditions on vaccine effectiveness.
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Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancies worldwide. Fortunately, recent advances in OC biology and the discovery of novel therapeutic targets have led to the development of novel therapeutic agents that may improve the outcome of OC patients. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a ligand-dependent transcriptional factor known for its role in body stress reactions, energy homeostasis and immune regulation.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Sarcomas of the thoracic cavity, particularly Ewing Sarcoma (ES), are rare and primarily impact children and young adults, with ES being the second most common thoracic sarcoma after chondrosarcoma.
  • - Despite its rarity in the thoracic cavity, ES behaves similarly to cases outside this area, requiring multi-faceted treatment approaches including surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy, though the long-term prognosis remains poor.
  • - There is a need for further research into the molecular mechanisms behind ES to develop new therapies, as current clinical trials are limited and don't address optimal strategies for recurring disease.
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Background: Ewing sarcoma (ES) represents the second most common malignant bone tumor in children and young adults. ES is not a frequent finding in sites different from the skeletal. Common sites of appearance of ES are lower extremities, the pelvis, paravertebral spaces and head and neck.

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A novel class of drugs, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), are now rapidly emerging as highly effective treatments for solid tumours. ADCs conjugate conventional chemotherapeutics with highly selective targeted monoclonal antibodies. Anti-HER2 therapies selectively target cancer cells expressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), among them trastuzumab has been the first HER2-targeting monoclonal antibody to achieve successful results that made it the backbone of anti-HER2 therapies.

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