NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCIN: A NEW METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH FOR THE MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF GENETIC DYSLIPIDEMIAS

Topotecan plus ifosfamide in patients with platinum refractory advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: A phase II trial

A number of second line treatments have been proposed in patients with advanced pretreated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, either single agents or two or three drug combinations achieved very poor results with no superiority of any combination over monotherapy. We have treated 42 patients (30 males) affected by advanced/metastatic NSCLC progressing during front line cisplatin-based chemotherapy with a combination of topotecan (1.2 mg/m2) plus ifosfamide (1200 mg/m2) for 3 consecutive days every 3 weeks. The median age was 63 years (range 43-76); cell types were: squamous carcinoma (n=17), adenocarcinoma (n=16), large cell carcinoma (n=3), broncho-alveolar carcinoma (n=2) and un…

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage ≥3 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage ≥3 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici D…

Virtual Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards: A Narrative Review Focused on Lung Cancer

To date, the virtual multidisciplinary tumor boards (vMTBs) are increasingly used to achieve high-quality treatment recommendations across health-care regions, which expands and develops the local MTB team to a regional or national expert network. This review describes the process of lung cancer-specific MTBs and the transition process from face-to-face tumor boards to virtual ones. The review also focuses on the project organization's description, advantages, and disadvantages. Semi-structured interviews identified five major themes for MTBs: current practice, attitudes, enablers, barriers, and benefits for the MTB. MTB teams exhibited positive responses to modeled data feedback. Virtualiz…

Multicenter study of the eValuation of Eribulin (E) use in Sicily in metastatic breast cancer (MBC): A Prospective RegistrY (VESPRY trial)

e12565 Background: Eribulin Mesylate is a non taxane microtubule dynamics inhibitor, approved for heavily-pretreated MBC patients (pts). Methods: This is a multicenter, prospective, single arm study for E-treatment of third line in pretreated MBC pts, conducted in 14 oncology centers in Sicily. All pts had received two previous chemotherapy regimens for MBC. Pts received E at 1.23 mg/m2 on days 1,8 every 3 weeks until progression. Primary Endpoints: overall response rate (ORR) according to the site of metastases and safety. Secondary objectives: Progression-free survival (PFS) and ORR according to different subtypes. PFS curve was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable logi…

Liability of clinical oncologists and the COVID-19 emergency: Between hopes and concerns

Highlights • To contain COVID-19 spread, Italy is under a global lockdown except for health services and food supply. • In this scenario, growing apprehension concerning legal consequences is rising among health professionals. • Hospitals and health professionals are highly exposed to liability. • More articulated legal regulations are strongly needed.

DETECTION OF NEW GENES RESPONSIBLE OF FAMILIAL RECESSIVE HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA: PRELIMINARY DATA FROM AN EXOME SEQUENCING APPROACH

Colorectal cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a single-center experience

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of CRC in a cohort of Caucasian patients with T2DM and the association with other variables previously known to be related with increased risk of CRC. We retrospectively evaluated the data of 741 consecutive Caucasian patients with T2DM who underwent colonoscopic screening in our tertiary referral center. A control cohort of 333 patients with thyroid disease was selected to evaluate the difference in the incidence of CRC. At a median follow-up of 132.5 months (range 33.3-175.7), 67 cases of cancer (prevalence 9%) occurred; among these, 14 cases …

Reactions and countermeasures of medical oncologists towards the incoming COVID-19 pandemic: A whatsapp messenger-based report from the Italian college of chief medical oncologists

Background This descriptive, unplanned investigation has been undertaken to report reactions, attitudes and countermeasures which have been put in place and implemented by medical oncology units facing the COVID-19 outbreak in Southern Italy. Materials and methods Data have been retrospectively obtained from the time-related analysis of conversations via a WhatsApp messenger-based group chat between the medical directors belonging to the Italian College of Medical Oncology Directors. Overall number, intensity and time trend of conversations related to reactions during the 4 weeks of observation related to the crucial events which occurred between 24 February and 28 March, 2020 2020 are incl…

Whatsapp messenger as a tool for the multidisciplinary management in everyday clinical practice

Introduction & Objectives Communication between doctors is traditionally conducted by written clinical charts. Mobile health is becoming an integral part of modern healthcare system, improving accessibility and quality of medical care. Recent papers suggest that an increasing number of doctors are using in their practice mobile tools to communicate clinical informations (1,2). The aim of our study was to verify the adoption of WhatsApp Messenger in everyday clinical practice to obtain a real-time multidisciplinary collaboration among medical centers located in different areas of the city. Material & Methods In January 2016 a WhatsApp Messenger group was created among 25 specialists:…