0000000000179772

AUTHOR

Francesco Legge

0000-0002-4733-0774

Progestin-releasing intrauterine device insertion plus palliative radiotherapy in frail, elderly uterine cancer patients unfit for radical treatment.

The present study investigated the combination of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) insertion and palliative radiotherapy (RT) as a potential approach for treating frail, elderly endometrial cancer (EC) patients considered unfit for curative oncological treatments. The inclusion criteria were an age of ≥65 years, pathological confirmation of a uterine neoplasm, a Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) value of ≥4 and the presence of vaginal bleeding. Patients underwent intrauterine insertion of an LNG-IUD, and thereafter, received a total dose of 30 Gy at 3 Gy per fraction, over 10 days. The clinical target volume (CTV) was defined as the uterus and disease-involved tissues i…

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Intensity-modulated extended-field chemoradiation plus simultaneous integrated boost in the pre-operative treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer: a dose-escalation study.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and determine the recommended pre-operative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) dose of extended-field chemoradiation along with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) dose escalation. Methods: A radiation dose of 40Gy over 4 weeks, 2Gy/fraction, was delivered to the tumour and the lymphatic drainage (planning target volume, PTV3), which encompassed a volume larger than standard (common iliac lymphatic area up to its apex, in front of the L3 vertebra), concurrently with chemotherapy (cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil). Radiation dose was escalated to the pelvis (PTV2) and to the macroscopic disease (PTV1) with the SIB-IMRT strategy. Three dose levels we…

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Clinical outcome of recurrent locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) submitted to primary multimodality therapies

Abstract Objectives Recurrence of disease represents a clinical challenge in cervical cancer patients, especially when all available treatment modalities have been used in the primary setting. The aim of this study was to analyze the patterns of recurrence and their association with clinical outcome in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients submitted to primary chemoradiation (CTRT) followed by radical surgery (RS). Methods This study was conducted on 364 LACC patients treated with CTRT plus RS since January 1996 to July 2012. For each relapse, information on date of clinical/pathological recurrence, and pattern of disease presentation were retrieved. Post-relapse survival (PRS) w…

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Completion Surgery After Concomitant Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Comprehensive Analysis of Pattern of Postoperative Complications

Background: We provided a comprehensive analysis of rate, pattern, and severity of early and late postoperative complications in a very large, single-institution series of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients administered CT/RT plus radical surgery (RS). Methods: A total of 362 consecutive LACC (FIGO stage IB2-IVA) patients were submitted to RS after CT/RT at the Gynecologic Oncology Unit of the Catholic University (Rome/Campobasso). At 4 weeks after CT/RT, patients were evaluated for objective response and triaged to radical hysterectomy and pelvic ± aortic lymphadenectomy. Surgical morbidity was classified according to the Chassagne's grading system. Results: Most cases underw…

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Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy After Concomitant Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Prospective Phase II Study

Abstract Study Objective To assess the feasibility of total robotic radical surgery (TRRS) in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) who receive chemoradiation therapy (CT/RT). Design A prospective (preplanned) study of a nonrandomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification level 2). Setting Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy. Patients Between September 2013 and January 2016, a total of 40 patients with LACC (Federation Internationale de Gynecologie et d'Obstetrique stage IB2–III) were enrolled in the study. Interventions Robotic radical hysterectomy (RRH) plus pelvic and/or aortic lymphadenectomy was attempted within 6 weeks after CT/RT. The …

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Adjuvant volumetric-modulated arc therapy with simultaneous integrated boost in endometrial cancer. Planning and toxicity comparison

Objective. To report dosimetric and acute toxicity data in prospectively enrolled high-intermediate risk endometrial cancer (HIR-EC) patients postoperatively irradiated by simultaneous integrated boost volumetric modulated arc therapy (SIB-VMAT). Methods. Thirty prospectively enrolled HIR-EC patients were postoperatively treated by SIB-VMAT. Target coverage, dose homogeneity, and sparing of organs at risk (OARs) were compared with corresponding data retrieved from an historical control (30 consecutive selected matched patients) treated by concomitant boost three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT CB) from a previously published study (ADA-I trial). All patients received 45 Gy on pel…

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205 Minimally invasive approaches in locally advanced cervical cancer patients undergoing radical surgery after chemoradiotherapy: a propensity score analysis

Objectives To evaluate the oncological and surgical outcome of minimally invasive radical surgery (MI-RS) compared to open radical surgery (O-RS) in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) after preoperative chemoradiation (CT/RT). Methods Data relative to stage IB2-IVA cervical cancer patients managed by CT/RT and RS were retrospectively analyzed. Results Starting from 686 patients, the propensity score matching resulted in 462 cases (231 per group), balanced for FIGO stage, lymph node status, histotype, tumor grade and clinical response to CT/RT. Overall, 107 recurrences were registered with no difference in the pattern of recurrences between the two surgical approaches. The 5-year diseas…

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Anatomical distribution of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with endometrial cancer: a multicenter study.

ObjectiveSentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping represents the standard approach in uterine confined endometrial cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomical distribution of SLNs and the most frequent locations of nodal metastasis.MethodsThis was an observational retrospective multicenter study involving eight high volume gynecologic cancer centers in Italy. We reviewed 1576 patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of endometrial cancer from September 2015 to June 2020. All patients underwent total hysterectomy with salpingo-ophorectomy and SLN mapping.ResultsA total of 3105 SLNs were mapped and removed, 2809 (90.5%) of these were bilateral and 296 (9.5%) unila…

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Celecoxib plus carboplatin in heavily pre-treated patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma: preliminary results of a Phase II study

5060 Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with a poor chance of response to chemotherapy and poor prognosis in ovarian cancer (OC). Celecoxib, an orally active COX-2 inhibi...

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204 Role of minimally invasive surgery versus open approach on the clinical and surgical outcome in patients with early stage uterine carcinosarcomas: a retrospective study

Objectives The aim of this retrospective study was to compare surgical and survival outcome in only patients with early stage uterine carcinosarcomas (UCSs) managed by laparotomic surgery (LPT) versus minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Methods Data were retrospectively collected in 4 Italian different institutions. Inclusion criteria were: UCS diagnosis confirmed by the definitive histological examination, and stage I or II according to the FIGO staging system. Results Between August 2000 and March 2019, the data relative to 150 patients bearing UCSs were collected: of these, 82 were defined as early stage disease (stage I-II) based on the histological report at the primary surgery, and thus…

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Mesenteric Lymph Node Involvement in Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients Undergoing Rectosigmoid Resection: Prognostic Role and Clinical Considerations

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the incidence of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) involvement, and its prognostic role in advanced ovarian cancer (OC). Methods: OC patients undergoing rectosigmoid resection during primary debulking surgery or interval debulking surgery were recorded. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were calculated from the date of diagnosis to the date of relapse/progression, death of disease, or the date of last follow-up. Results: MLNs were detected in 102/148 cases (68.9 %); the rate of MLN involvement was 47.0 %. The percentage of metastatic MLNs was higher in cases with >5 MLNs removed compared with cases with ≤5 MLNs …

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Survival after curative pelvic exenteration for primary or recurrent cervical cancer a retrospective multicentric study of 167 patients

ObjectiveEvaluate the survival of patients who underwent pelvic exenteration (PE) with curative intent for primary persistent or recurrent cervical cancer.MethodsWe retrospectively investigated 167 consecutive patients, referred to the gynecological oncology units of 4 centers in Germany or Italy, who underwent PE. Data regarding surgery, histology, and oncologic outcomes were collected and statistically evaluated. Survival was determined from the day of exenteration until last follow-up or death.ResultsThe median age was 51 years. Twenty-seven patients (16.2%) underwent PE owing to advanced primary tumors (group A), 34 patients (20.4%) underwent PE owing to persistent cancer after chemothe…

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Carboplatin plus paclitaxel versus carboplatin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin as first-line treatment for patients with ovarian cancer: the MITO-2 randomized phase III trial

Purpose Carboplatin/paclitaxel is the standard first-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Multicentre Italian Trials in Ovarian Cancer-2 (MITO-2), an academic multicenter phase III trial, tested whether carboplatin/pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) was more effective than standard chemotherapy. Patients and Methods Chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IC to IV ovarian cancer (age ≤ 75 years; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤ 2) were randomly assigned to carboplatin area under the curve (AUC) 5 plus paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 or to carboplatin AUC 5 plus PLD 30 mg/m2, every 3 weeks for six cycles. Primary end point was progression-free survival (…

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Minimally Invasive Approaches in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Surgery After Chemoradiotherapy: A Propensity Score Analysis

Abstract Purpose Chemoradiation (CT/RT) followed by radical surgery (RS) may play a role in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients with suboptimal response to CT/RT or in low-income countries with limited access to radiotherapy. Our aim is to evaluate oncological and surgical outcomes of minimally invasive radical surgery (MI-RS) compared with open radical surgery (O-RS). Patients and Methods Data for stage IB2–IVA cervical cancer patients managed by CT/RT and RS were retrospectively analyzed. Results Beginning with 686 patients, propensity score matching resulted in 462 cases (231 per group), balanced for FIGO stage, lymph node status, histotype, tumor grade, and clinical respons…

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Definition of a dynamic laparoscopic model for the prediction of incomplete cytoreduction in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: Proof of a concept

Abstract Objective To develop an updated laparoscopy-based model to predict incomplete cytoreduction (RT>0) in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC), after the introduction of upper abdominal surgery (UAS). Patients and methods The presence of omental cake, peritoneal extensive carcinomatosis, diaphragmatic confluent carcinomatosis, bowel infiltration, stomach and/or spleen and/or lesser omentum infiltration, and superficial liver metastases was evaluated by staging laparoscopy (S-LPS) in a consecutive series of 234 women with newly diagnosed AEOC, receiving laparotomic PDS after S-LPS. Parameters showing a specificity≥75%, PPV≥50%, and NPV≥50% received 1 point score, with an additional…

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Laparoscopic En Bloc Right Diaphragmatic Peritonectomy for Diaphragmatic Endometriosis According to the Sugarbaker Technique

Abstract Study Objective To evaluate the feasibility of a novel laparoscopic procedure for complete eradication of diaphragmatic endometriosis (DE). Design A retrospective multicenter study (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2). Setting University tertiary referral centre. Patients A consecutive series of 9 women with DE. Interventions Laparoscopic en bloc eradication using Sugarbaker's peritonectomy technique with or without diaphragmatic resection for DE. All surgical procedures were performed by the same surgeon in 2 tertiary referral centers (Charite University, Berlin, Germany, and Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Foundation John Paul II, Campobasso, Italy). Measurements an…

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