Francesca De Felice

Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy: a meta-analysis on impact on ovarian cancer risk and all cause mortality in BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutation carriers.

BackgroundWomen with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers are at substantially elevated risk of developing ovarian cancer. The aim of the meta-analysis is to clarify the role of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) to reduce ovarian cancer risk and mortality in women with BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutation carriers.MethodsPubmed, Medline and Scopus were searched to select English-language articles. Two investigators independently extracted characteristics and results of selected studies. Articles were included only if prospective and if absolute numbers of ovarian cancer and death events were available or derivable from the test. Pooled hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using fixed effects model.ResultsMeta-analysis of 3 prospective studies demonstrated a significant risk reduction of ovarian cancer with RRSO in BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutation carriers, as well as benefit in all-causes mortality incidence.ConclusionsIt may be justified to recommend RRSO to reduce ovarian cancer risk and all-causes mortality in women with a mutation in BRCA 1 and BRCA 2.

Immunotherapy of Ovarian Cancer: The Role of Checkpoint Inhibitors

Ovarian cancer is the most important cause of gynecological cancer-related mortality, with the majority of women presenting with advanced disease. Although surgery and chemotherapy can improve survival rates, it is necessary to integrate alternative strategies to improve the outcomes. Advances in understanding the role of immune system in the pathogenesis of cancer have led to the rapid evolvement of immunotherapy, which might establish a sustained immune system response against recurring cancer cells. Recently, it has emerged that powerful immunologic effector cells may be blocked by inhibitory regulatory pathways controlled by specific molecules often called “immune checkpoints,” which turn off the immune system. Similarly, cancer cells are able to use these checkpoints to avoid immune control and rejection. Inhibition of these inhibitory pathways represents a potent strategy in the fight against cancer and is currently under investigation with encouraging results in some cancers, such as melanoma. In ovarian cancer researches are still in an early phase, but with promising results. In this review we will explore the rationale of immunotherapy in ovarian cancer with a special focus on these emerging molecules.

Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Application in Response Prediction before, during, and after Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy in Primary Rectal Cancer Carcinoma

Introduction. Our interest was to monitor treatment response using ADC value to predict response of rectal tumour to preoperative radiochemotherapy. Materials and Methods. Twenty-two patients were treated with long course of radiochemotherapy, followed by surgery. Patients were examined by diffusion-weighted imaging MRI at three-time points (prior, during, and after radiochemotherapy) and were classified as responders and nonresponders. Results. A statistical significant correlation was found between preradiochemotherapy ADC values and during treatment ADC values, in responders (F = 21.50, P value <0.05). An increase in ADC value during treatment was predictive of at least a partial response. Discussion. Response of tumour to neoadjuvant therapy cannot be easily evaluated, and such capability might be of great importance in clinical practice, because the number of irradiated and operated patients may be superior to the number of who will really benefit from this multimodal treatment. A reliable prediction of the final clinical TN stage would allow radiotherapist to adapt multidisciplinary approach to a less invasive management, sparing surgical procedure in responder patients or even allowing an early surgery in nonresponders, which would significantly reduce radiochemotherapy related toxicity. Conclusion. Early evaluation of response during neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy treatment shows great promise to predict tumour response.

Analysis of loco-regional failures in head and neck cancer after radical radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the anatomical distribution of loco-regional treatment failures (LRF) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in relation to clinical target volume (CTV) delineation. MATERIALS AND METHODS 56 patients with LRF were retrospectively identified. Patients were previously treated with radical intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) +/- chemotherapy. Target volumes include gross tumour volume (GTV), its volumetric expansion of 10mm (GTV-HD), CTV high dose (CTV-HD) delineated by anatomic expansion from GTV and CTV low dose (CTV-LD) defined to receive a prophylactic dose. LRF were evaluated by PET-CT or CT scan. We analysed the association between sites of LRF and target volumes and dosimetry, using image co-registration. Based on percentage of volume that received 95% of prescribed dose, LRF were classified as in-field, marginal or out-field. RESULTS Median interval time from end of treatment to LRF was 186days. 65 (95.6%) LRF were classified as in-field. Considering primary target volumes, 40 (58.8%) LRF occurred inside GTV, 13 (19.1%) in GTV-HD and 7 (10.3%) in CTV-HD. The overall 1-year and 2-year post-failure survival (PFS) was 45.8% and 24.2%, respectively. Post radiation LRF managed with salvage surgery had a significantly higher median PFS when compared with palliative treatments (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS The majority of LRF occurred within GTV/GTV-HD, suggesting it is safe to reduce the CTV to a volumetric expansion. Given the low incidence of geographical misses, future studies should be directed towards dose escalation of high-risk volumes. Potential reduction of RT-related toxicity with volumetric expansion could facilitate salvage surgery.

Advanced Imaging for the Early Diagnosis of Local Recurrence Prostate Cancer after Radical Prostatectomy

Currently the diagnosis of local recurrence of prostate cancer (PCa) after radical prostatectomy (RT) is based on the onset of biochemical failure which is defined by two consecutive values of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) higher than 0.2 ng/mL. The aim of this paper was to review the current roles of advanced imaging in the detection of locoregional recurrence. A nonsystematic literature search using the Medline and Cochrane Library databases was performed up to November 2013. Bibliographies of retrieved and review articles were also examined. Only those articles reporting complete data with clinical relevance for the present review were selected. This review article is divided into two major parts: the first one considers the role of PET/CT in the restaging of PCa after RP; the second part is intended to provide the impact of multiparametric-MRI (mp-MRI) in the depiction of locoregional recurrence. Published data indicate an emerging role for mp-MRI in the depiction of locoregional recurrence, while the performance of PET/CT still remains unclear. Moreover Mp-MRI, thanks to functional techniques, allows to distinguish between residual glandular healthy tissue, scar/fibrotic tissue, granulation tissue, and tumour recurrence and it may also be able to assess the aggressiveness of nodule recurrence.

Metabolic atrophy and 3-T 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy correlation after radiation therapy for prostate cancer

To correlate 3‐T magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) with prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels in patients with prostate cancer treated with external beam radiation therapy to assess the potential advantages of MRSI.

Osteoradionecrosis and intensity modulated radiation therapy: An overview

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is an ongoing topic, especially about its definition, pathogenesis, staging system and management algorithm. But what about its real incidence in intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era? This paper discusses the mandible in radiation therapy planning as organ at risk and reviews the literature for evidence of radiation damage, discussing likely dose constraints and the use of IMRT to reduce radiation dose to this structure. PubMed search was performed.

Follow-Up in Head and Neck Cancer: A Management Dilemma

Follow-up program in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck district is crucial to detect locoregional recurrence and second primary tumors and to manage treatment toxicities. The choice of the appropriate frequency of visits and imaging modality can be troublesome. Details of timing surveillance and type of diagnostic procedure are still not well defined. This review highlights the problem from a clinician’s point of view.

Buschke-Löwenstein tumor with squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemo-radiation therapy and local surgical excision: report of three cases

Treatment of anorectal Buschke-Löwenstein tumor (BLT) with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) transformation is not univocal given the rarity of the disease. BLT is characterized by its large size and tendency to infiltrate into underlying tissues. Malignant transformation can occur and it is important to identify the presence of neoplastic foci to decide the proper treatment. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of neo-adjuvant chemo-radiation therapy (CRT) and local excision in order to avoid abdomino-perineal resection (APR). Three cases of anorectal BLT with SCC transformation are presented. All patients were HIV positive and treated with antiretroviral drugs. They underwent preoperative endoanal ultrasound, biopsies, total body tomography and anal brushing. Treatment consisted of neo-adjuvant chemo-radiation therapy (45 Gy to the pelvis plus a boost with 14.40 Gy to the primary tumor for a total of 59.40 Gy, and mitomycin-C in bolus on the first day, plus 5-fluorouracil by continuous infusion in the first and in the sixth week) and subsequent local surgical excision. During the follow-up, patients were subjected to the same preoperative diagnostic investigations and high resolution anoscopy. All patients showed a complete regression of the lesion after CRT and were treated by local surgical excision, thus avoiding permanent colostomy. In conclusion neo-adjuvant chemo-radiation therapy with local surgical excision could be considered an effective therapy in the treatment of anorectal BLT with SCC transformation to avoid APR.

New drug development in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: The PI3-K inhibitors

Over the last few years a number of new different compounds have been developed. They include phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitors. Deregulation within the PI3-K pathway is common in head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and it represents a growing area of research. PI3-K inhibitors, including BKM120, PX-866 and BYL719, are being tested in several phase I and phase II studies in patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic disease. This review provides an update of published clinical trials and highlights the challenges of PI3-K inhibitors in HNSCC.