Exploring the metastatic potential of isolated tumour cells and clusters-cords patterns of ISUP Grade 5 acinar adenocarcinoma of the prostate: a comprehensive morphological analysis.

Gleason pattern 5 (GP5) prostatic adenocarcinoma (PC) includes distinct morphologies: undifferentiated solid pattern (US), solid and cribriform with necrosis (CN), clusters and cords (CC), and isolated single tumour cells (ISTC). The role of these patterns in the metastatic setting is still poorly understood. We conducted a case-control retrospective histological characterization of two cohorts of ISUP Grade Group 5 PC, one with nodal metastases (N1) and one without (N0), comparing GP5 sub-patterns distribution, from robot-assisted radical prostatectomies with extended lymphadenectomy diagnosed between January 2013 and February 2023.

PV-1: a novel molecular prognostic marker of distant metastases in various solid tumors.

Identification of biomarkers for the hematogenous spreading of cancer cells is of paramount prognostic and therapeutic value. We showed that Plasmalemma Vesicle Associated Protein-1 (PV-1) serves as a marker of increased blood vessel permeability and is an independent predictor of colorectal cancer dissemination. This study investigates whether PV-1 can also act as a prognostic marker for distant metastases in other solid tumors.

Chemosensor receptors are lipid-detecting regulators of macrophage function in cancer.

Infiltration of macrophages into tumors is a hallmark of cancer progression, and re-educating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) toward an antitumor status is a promising immunotherapy strategy. However, the mechanisms through which cancer cells affect macrophage education are unclear, limiting the therapeutic potential of this approach. Here we conducted an unbiased genome-wide CRISPR screen of primary macrophages.

Assessment of the Mechanisms of Action of Eribulin in Patients with Advanced Liposarcoma Through the Evaluation of Radiological, Functional, and Tissue Responses: A Prospective Monocentric Study (Malibu Study).

Liposarcoma (LPS) is one of the most frequent histotypes of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Eribulin is a cytotoxic agent that has improved overall survival in patients with advanced LPS. Additionally, preclinical and clinical evidence suggests its influence on vascularization and cellular differentiation.

Xpert Bladder Cancer Detection in Emergency Setting Assessment (XESA Project): A Prospective, Single-centre Trial.

Background And Objective: Bladder cancer (BC) represents a significant health care challenge and is frequently detected during evaluations for haematuria in emergency departments (EDs). Our aim was to evaluate the clinical performance and economic implications of the Xpert BC Detection (BCD) test for patients presenting to the ED with haematuria to address the pressing need for more efficient and accurate diagnostic tools in this setting.

Methods: We conducted a prospective single-centre observational study in the ED of a tertiary university hospital.

C/EBPβ-dependent autophagy inhibition hinders NK cell function in cancer.

NK cells are endowed with tumor killing ability, nevertheless most cancers impair NK cell functionality, and cell-based therapies have limited efficacy in solid tumors. How cancers render NK cell dysfunctional is unclear, and overcoming resistance is an important immune-therapeutic aim. Here, we identify autophagy as a central regulator of NK cell anti-tumor function.

Case report: STRN3-NTRK3 fusion in uterine sarcoma with spleen metastasis: a new variant in the spectrum of NTRK-rearranged tumors.

Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) fusions are infrequent genetic events that can occur in various tumor types. Specifically, NTRK-rearranged sarcoma has been observed in pediatric mesenchymal tumors and, to a lesser extent, in adult mesenchymal tumors like fibrosarcoma. Recently, NTRK-rearranged uterine sarcoma (US) has been identified as a rare entity characterized by constitutive activation or overexpression of the TRK receptor, which plays a role in cell proliferation and differentiation.

True Mitotic Count Prediction in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Bayesian Network Model and PROMETheus (Preoperative Mitosis Estimator Tool) Application Development.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) present a complex clinical landscape, where precise preoperative risk assessment plays a pivotal role in guiding therapeutic decisions. Conventional methods for evaluating mitotic count, such as biopsy-based assessments, encounter challenges stemming from tumor heterogeneity and sampling biases, thereby underscoring the urgent need for innovative approaches to enhance prognostic accuracy.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to develop a robust and reliable computational tool, PROMETheus (Preoperative Mitosis Estimator Tool), aimed at refining patient stratification through the precise estimation of mitotic count in GISTs.

Disruptions in antigen processing and presentation machinery on sarcoma.

Background: The antigen processing machinery (APM) plays a critical role in generating tumor-specific antigens that can be recognized and targeted by the immune system. Proper functioning of APM components is essential for presenting these antigens on the surface of tumor cells, enabling immune detection and destruction. In many cancers, defects in APM can lead to immune evasion, contributing to tumor progression and poor clinical outcomes.

Prognostic value of mitotic count in leiomyosarcoma: A comprehensive monocentric retrospective study.

Background: Leiomyosarcomas (LMSs) include heterogeneous entities with different clinical courses not entirely predicted by known prognostic factors. In particular, the value of mitotic count as independent prognostic factor in LMS has been poorly investigated.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all patients with a diagnosis of LMS who accessed to our Institution from June 1999 to May 2022 for which mitotic count was numerically expressed within the pathology report.

Multidisciplinary management of adolescents and young adults (AYA) sarcoma: A successful effort of an adult high-volume cancer center.

Introduction: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of AYA sarcomas and their clinical outcomes at a high-volume single center.

Methods: Demographic, clinicopathological data on the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of all sarcoma patients aged 16-39 years (ys) observed at our Institute between January 2010 and December 2021 were retrospectively collected, including diagnostic (TTD) and treatment delay(TTT), clinical outcomes (OS and PFS), and late-treatment effects.

Results: We identified 228 AYA patients, median age 30 years, 29% ≤ 25 years, 57% males, 88% soft tissue sarcomas (STS), and 12% bone sarcomas (BS).

Evaluation of Semen Self-Sampling Yield Predictors and CTC Isolation by Multi-Color Flow Cytometry for Liquid Biopsy of Localized Prostate Cancer.

Liquid biopsy (LB) for prostate cancer (PCa) detection could represent an alternative to biopsy. Seminal fluid (SF) is a source of PCa-specific biomarkers, as 40% of ejaculate derives from the prostate. We tested the feasibility of an SF-based LB by evaluating the yield of semen self-sampling in a cohort of >750 patients with clinically localized PCa.

Clinical and pathological predictors of persistent T1 HG at second resection.

Background: T1 high-grade (HG) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has a significant risk of recurrence and progression, and the European Association of Urology recommends a second transurethral resection of the bladder (ReTUR). Stage at ReTUR has been shown to be a reliable predictor of survival, therefore, we sought to assess clinical and pathological predictors associated with the persistence of T1 at ReTUR in our retrospective multicentric cohort.

Methods: This is a retrospective multicentric study of T1 HG patients at transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) who underwent subsequent ReTUR.

Prospective Validation of the ROL System in Substaging pT1 High-Grade Urothelial Carcinoma: Results from a Mono-Institutional Confirmatory Analysis in BCG Treated Patients.

Patients with pT1 high-grade (HG) urothelial carcinoma (UC) and a very high risk of progression might benefit from immediate radical cystectomy (RC), but this option remains controversial. Validation of a standardized method to evaluate the extent of lamina propria (LP) invasion (with recognized prognostic value) in transurethral resection (TURBT) specimens is still needed. The Rete Oncologica Lombarda (ROL) system showed a high predictive value for progression after TURBT in recent retrospective studies.

Exploring the CXCR4/CXCR7/CXCL12 Axis in Primary Desmoid Tumors.

Background: Desmoid tumors have an extremely variable natural history. The uncertainty behind desmoid behavior reflects the complexity, which subtends its development and non-linear advancement. Apart from Wnt- βcatenin mutation, estrogen receptors, and COX-2 overexpression, little is known about the ability of desmoids to grow and recur while being unable to metastasize.

Diagnostic Performance and Clinical Impact of PSMA PET/CT versus mpMRI in Patients with a High Suspicion of Prostate Cancer and Previously Negative Biopsy: A Prospective Trial (PROSPET-BX).

Background: This prospective single-arm study is designed to compare in parallel 68Ga-PSMA PET/TRUS (transrectal or transperineal) fusion biopsy ("experimental test") with multiparametric MRI (mpMRI)/TRUS fusion prostate biopsy ("standard test") in men with a high suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa) after at least one negative biopsy. The primary objective was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 68Ga-PSMA PET/TRUS fusion prostate biopsy in comparison to mpMRI/TRUS fusion prostate biopsy analyzed in parallel. Secondarily, we aimed to determine the relationship between the "experimental test" and the histopathological characteristics of the specimen, along with the clinical utility of the "experimental test" compared to the "standard test.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Lung Metastases From Sarcoma in Oligometastatic Patients: A Phase 2 Study.

Purpose: The lung is the most frequent site of metastasis in patients with sarcoma. Pulmonary metastasectomy is the most common treatment performed. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has proven to be a potential alternative to resection.

Could We Safely Avoid a Second Resection in Selected Patients With T1 Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer? Preliminary Results of Cost-Effectiveness Study From HUmanitas New Indications for ReTUR (HuNIRe) Multicenter Prospective Trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess whether restaging transurethral resection (ReTUR) could be safely replaced with urine cytology (UC) and in-office fiexible cystoscopy in selected T1 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Materials And Methods: This is an ongoing prospective multicenter trial enrolling patients diagnosed with T1 BC from 5 Italian centers. Patients with a macroscopically incomplete initial resection or absence of detrusor muscle were subjected to ReTUR according to European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines.