Category Archives: Editorial

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

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.

Proton therapy for pediatric malignancies: Indications and challenges focusing on the oncological landscape

Advances in therapeutic techniques and multimodal approaches have significantly improved the success rates of treatment for pediatric malignancies, with cure rates now close to 80%. This has led to an increase in long-term survival, with 0.10-0.15% of the general population being survivors of childhood cancer.

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

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

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

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.