Category Archives: Research Article

A phase II study of nivolumab plus metformin in pre-treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients: NivoMet TWINS-GU002 Study

This study evaluates the activity of nivolumab plus metformin in pre-treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients.
The NivoMet TWINS-GU002 Study was a prospective, multicentre, single-arm, phase II trial conducted in pre-treated mRCC patients eligible for nivolumab and without diabetes mellitus. Patients received nivolumab (240 mg every two weeks) plus metformin (500 mg orally twice a day) until disease progression.

Pediatric palliative care in patients with brain tumors: Timing, activation, and management of acute events

The highest percentage of our patients referred to Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) are those with brain tumors. Of these, we analyzed PPC activation modes and timing, occurrence of acute events during the period of PPC activation, and the time between acute event and death.
During the period 1 January 2010 to 31 October 2023 approximately 1000 Cranial Nervous System (CNS) tumor patients were treated at Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan.

Prevalence of cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke exposure in Italy in 2024

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with a devastating impact on public health. Tobacco consumption is estimated to be responsible for about 8 million deaths per year, of which about 1 million are attributable to exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS).

Effects of virtual reality exposure on psychological distress in adolescent oncology patients

In recent decades, the scientific community has recognized that the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) population presents unique epidemiological, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics, to which traditional healthcare services often struggle to respond.

Inter-hospital heterogeneity in the authorizations of off-label cancer drugs: A project by Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica

This project aimed to describe variability of local evaluations of off-label cancer drug requests by submitting a list of identical requests to different Italian centers.
In October 2024, oncology unit directors listed in the AIOM Libro Bianco were invited to participate, evaluating 11 clinical cases with solid tumors through their internal approval process. Supporting evidence was retrospective in two cases, based on phase II trials in seven, and phase III trials in two. Inter-rater agreement was measured using Fleiss’ kappa.

Predictors of duration of hospital stay for cancer patients admitted due to medical causes: A quality-improvement evaluation

Hospital admission is frequently required in the cancer trajectory. In a context of bed shortage, pressure on Emergency Departments and increasing healthcare costs, promoting actions that contain hospital stay is a priority. We studied the variables able to predict longer hospital stays.
We retrospectively retrieved data on consecutive admissions in our cancer inpatient unit in a 6-month period and assessed individual and clinical variables potentially related with duration of hospital stay through univariate and multivariate analysis.

Volume 111 Issue 5, October 2025

Read the latest issue. It contains the following articles:
The use of bone-modifying agents in early breast cancer: AIOM Guidelines update and perspectives
Delphi Study on the creation of a Committee of patients, caregivers, and representatives of patient associations
The e-BRAVE study: A prospective web-based cohort and biobank of women carriers of BRCA mutations
An indirect approach to identify the healthcare services for thyroid and melanoma cancer patients in Italy: Epicost-2 project
Association of APOC1 levels and nutritional indices with clinicopathological features and prognostic value in patients with DLBCL
Predicting severe toxicity after head-and-neck cancer RT: Validation of the synergist role of a biological marker and dosimetry
Effects of uniportal 3D video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy on postoperative pain and immune function in patients with NSCLC
Medication-related jaw osteonecrosis in metastatic RCC treated with VEGFR-TKIs ± IO and bone agents: A real-world analysis

Liquid biopsy in prostate cancer: A multidisciplinary expert consensus statement

BRCA1/2 testing via liquid biopsy has emerged as a critical, minimally invasive alternative to tissue sampling in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), especially in the context of insufficient, inadequate, or unavailable tumor material.
A multidisciplinary panel of 18 Italian experts from 16 leading academic and clinical institutions convened to develop consensus recommendations on BRCA1/2 testing via liquid biopsy.

Comparison of breast cancer surgery cases in urban and rural areas: Clinical factors and patient-reported outcomes

This study aimed to evaluate regional disparities in surgical approaches and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) among early breast cancer patients in urban and rural areas of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.
We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathological data from 1032 patients (urban: 818; rural: 214) who underwent breast cancer surgery between 2014 and 2021. PROs were assessed using the BREAST-Q survey conducted from October 2022 to June 2024 among patients; a total of 76 patients (urban n = 40; rural n = 36) completed the questionnaire.

Association of APOC1 levels and nutritional indices with clinicopathological features and prognostic value in patients with DLBCL

This study aims to unravel the relationship between apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) levels, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and their prognostic predictive value.
This study retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 55 DLBCL patients and 50 healthy screening volunteers. APOC1 levels and the PNI were compared between groups, along with their association with DLBCL’s clinicopathological features.