PROACT 2.0: A new open-source tool to improve patient-doctor communication in clinical trials

Editorial

The use of Digital Healthcare Products is leading to significant improvements in clinical practice. Herein, we discuss the development of PROACT 2.0 (Patient Reported Opinions About Clinical Tolerability v2.0), a novel open-source mobile and web application developed at Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori in Milan. It was developed in collaboration with The Christie, Manchester, in the context of work package 2 of the UpSMART Accelerator project, involving a consortium of referral cancer centers from the UK, Spain and Italy.

Response to lorlatinib rechallenge in a case of ALK-rearranged metastatic NSCLC with a resistance mutation to second generation TKIs

Case Report

Several anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been developed for the treatment of echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4)-ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with the newer generation agents brigatinib, alectinib and lorlatinib showing prolonged responses. With the increasing number of target therapies available, the optimal sequence is yet to be defined, as resistance profiles may evolve over time and in response to sequential ALK inhibitors. Therefore, ALK-targeted strategies may be personalized based upon the presence of specific ALK resistance mutations.

The digital revolution in pathology: Towards a smarter approach to research and treatment

Review Article

Artificial intelligence (AI) applications in oncology are at the forefront of transforming healthcare during the Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by the digital data explosion. This review provides an accessible introduction to the field of AI, presenting a concise yet structured overview of the foundations of AI, including expert systems, classical machine learning, and deep learning, along with their contextual application in clinical research and healthcare. We delve into the current applications of AI in oncology, with a particular focus on diagnostic imaging and pathology.

The power of art and the powers of adolescents with cancer: Age-specific projects at Italian pediatric oncology centers

Editorial

This article describes the oncology programs developed in Italy for adolescents and young adults with cancer, with a specific focus on the local projects created in pediatric oncology centers. A common feature of such projects is the emphasis on creative and artistic activities and laboratories (involving music, photography, novel writing, fashion design, and so on) designed to give young patients innovative means of expression.