Two years after the reform of Italian Ethics Committees: Time for reflection

Editorial

The recent reform of Italian Ethics Committees (ECs), formalized between 2022 and 2023, aimed to streamline ethical oversight in clinical research by transitioning from a fragmented local system to a coordinated national framework. The new structure includes 40 Territorial Ethics Committees (CETs) and three National Committees (CENs), under the supervision of the National Coordination Centre (CCNCE). While the reform aligned Italy with European Regulation (EU) No 536/2014, significant implementation gaps remain.

Melanoma in children and adolescents: Distinct biology, evolving therapies, and unmet needs

Editorial

The incidence of melanoma is increasing worldwide, also among pediatric patients. According to the recent EUROCARE-6 report, cutaneous melanoma accounts for approximately 6% of all tumors in children, and about 10% among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) (i.e., patients aged 15-39 years).1 The reported incidence rate among patients aged <19 years is 0.43/100,000, rising to 6.9/100,000 among AYAs. As such, according to the definition adopted by European pediatric cooperative groups for rare childhood tumors (i.e., tumors with an annual incidence of <2 cases per million population), cutaneous melanoma can be considered a rare tumor in children, but not in AYAs.2

From walls to wonder: Talking about spaces tailored for adolescents and young adults with cancer

Editorial

If, as widely recognized in the scientific community, adolescent and young adult cancer patients are in many ways unique, then the spaces where they receive care should be equally special. The design of hospital environments that cater to the specific needs of young patients is a crucial factor in defining the essential features that care centers should ideally include to provide the best possible support for adolescent and young adult patients.

Evolving perspectives: Exploring the role of artificial intelligence between clinical practice and health pastoral care

Editorial

This article analyses the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in health pastoral care, emphasizing the synergy between technology and spirituality. This paper discusses possible AI applications, highlighting the importance of ethical implementation that respects human interactions. Ethical issues like privacy and empathy are examined, as well as the potential of AI in facilitating collaboration between healthcare professionals and pastoral workers. Finally, it calls for a debate on the responsible use of AI in care contexts.

Hot topics in genitourinary cancers: A multidisciplinary discussion on state-of-the-art and latest developments among international experts and patient advocacy

Editorial

Genitourinary cancers present significant challenges to oncologists, necessitating innovative approaches for improved patient outcomes. The ‘Controversies in Genitourinary Cancers’ congress, held in January 2024, convened international experts to address the complexities of prostate, bladder, renal and rare genitourinary cancers.

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.

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.