INFN ScienzaPerTutti: 20 years of science for society

A groundbreaking and ambitious project took shape within the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nuclare (INFN) community 20 years ago. The driving aim was the intent to popularize physics, and all this started through a web portal. Since then, the general public and, in particular, students and teachers have been engaged with cutting edge topics of modern research in particle and nuclear physics, astroparticle, theoretical and applied physics. During the 20 years from its birth, the ScienzaPerTutti project evolved in many different directions, becoming a reference point in the Italian landscape, with an average of 3000 contacts every day on the web pages and thousands of followers on the facebook profile. The project encompasses a variety of multimedia products like didactic units, research materials, infographics, interviews, book reviews, and, more recently, podcasts. A particular feature of many of these activities is a constant call to action to directly involve the audience, providing a continuous challenge for the ScienzaPerTutti editorial board to improve contents and devise new approaches. This contribution focuses on some of these activities, even if it does not provide an exhaustive description of all the programmes and opportunities that are offered to our public for lack of space. Finally, we provide an outlook on new activities

Chemotherapy versus endocrine therapy as first-line treatment in patients with luminal-like HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: A propensity score analysis

Abstract Background According to current guidelines, endocrine therapy (ET) is recommended as first-line treatment of luminal-like metastatic breast cancer (MBC), whereas chemotherapy (CT) should be considered in presence of life-threatening disease. In daily practice, CT is often used outside of this clinical circumstance. Factors influencing first-line choice and the relative impact on outcome are unknown. Methods A consecutive series of luminal-like HER2-negative MBC patients treated from 2004 to 2014 was analyzed to test the association of disease- and patient-related factors with the choice of first-line treatment (ET vs. CT). A propensity score method was used to estimate impact of first-line strategy on outcome. Results Of 604 consecutive luminal-like MBC patients identified, 158 cases were excluded due to unknown or positive HER2-status. Among 446 HER2-negative cases, 171 (38%) received first-line CT. On multivariate analysis, the only factors significantly associated with lower CT use were old age (OR 0.25, 95%C.I. 0.13–0.49) or presence of bone metastases only (OR 0.26, 95%C.I. 0.13–0.53). In propensity score matched population, no differences were observed between CT and ET as first-line treatment either in terms of overall survival (37.5 months and 33.4 months respectively, log-rank test, P = 0.62) or progression-free survival (13.3 months and 9.9 months respectively, log-rank test, P = 0.92). Conclusions High percentage of patients with luminal-like MBC received CT as first-line therapy in real-life. The choice was mainly driven by age and site of metastases. With the limitations of a non-randomized comparison, no differences on patients' outcome were observed depending on the first-line strategy

The Geriatric G8 Score Is Associated with Survival Outcomes in Older Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer in the ADHERE Prospective Study of the Meet-URO Network

Introduction: Androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) have been increasingly offered to older patients with prostate cancer (PC). However, prognostic factors relevant to their outcome with ARPIs are still little investigated. Methods and Materials: The Meet-URO network ADHERE was a prospective multicentre observational cohort study evaluating and monitoring adherence to ARPIs metastatic castrate-resistant PC (mCRPC) patients aged ≥70. Cox regression univariable and multivariable analyses for radiographic progression-free (rPFS) and overall survival (OS) were performed. Unsupervised median values and literature-based thresholds where available were used as cut-offs for quantitative variables. Results: Overall, 234 patients were enrolled with a median age of 78 years (73–82); 86 were treated with abiraterone (ABI) and 148 with enzalutamide (ENZ). With a median follow-up of 15.4 months (mo.), the median rPFS was 26.0 mo. (95% CI, 22.8–29.3) and OS 48.8 mo. (95% CI, 36.8–60.8). At the MVA, independent prognostic factors for both worse rPFS and OS were Geriatric G8 assessment ≤ 14 (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004) and PSA decline ≥50% (p < 0.001 for both); time to castration resistance ≥ 31 mo. and setting of treatment (i.e., post-ABI/ENZ) for rPFS only (p < 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively); age ≥78 years for OS only (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Baseline G8 screening is recommended for mCRPC patients aged ≥70 to optimise ARPIs in vulnerable individuals, including early introduction of palliative care

Red Emitting Phenyl-Polysiloxane Based Scintillators for Neutron Detection

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Pulse Shape Discrimination in Polysiloxane-Based Liquid Scintillator

The time response of a recently developed polysiloxane based liquid scintillator has been analyzed for the first time: a special focus on the pulse shape discrimination capability of this material, which is characterized by low toxicity and low volatility, has been addressed. Fluorescence lifetime and scintillation pulses have been studied at different primary dye concentrations, with the aim of optimizing the neutron/gamma discrimination, connecting the results to the energy transfer and to the formation of excimers inside the scintillating solution. Pulse shape analysis performed during the irradiation of the samples with a pulsed neutron beam allowed the definition of a figure of merit as an indicative parameter for the neutron/gamma discrimination. The dependence of this parameter from radiation energy and PPO concentration has been analyzed in order to optimize the performances of the material in view of its possible use in environments with high gamma-ray radiation background

Comparison of primary breast cancer and paired metastases: biomarkers discordance influence on outcome and therapy

Aim: Discordance between primary tumor and paired metastases biology has been widely detected in metastatic breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of Ki67, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 discordance. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 544 patients affected by metastatic breast cancer. Variation in ER, PR, Ki67 and HER2 expression between primary site and recurrence was tested through the McNemar test. Results: A significant variation was observed in respect to ER, PR and Ki67 status (12.65%, p = 0.0072; 49.71%, p &lt; 0.0001; 35%, p &lt; 0.0001, respectively). Among patients with ER or PR discordance, the driver of therapeutic decisions was the ER status. Moreover, we observed a therapy-related reduction of ER in taxanes or aromatase inhibitors-exposed patients (odds ratio: 3.59; 95% CI: 1.66–7.77; p = 0.001 and odds ratio: 2.07; 95% CI: 0.96–4.44; p = 0.06, respectively). Conclusion: Biopsy of metastatic lesions may influence the decision-making process translating into better outcome.</jats:p

Novel 3D silicon sensors for neutron detection

none14In this paper we report a novel 3D sensor structure to be used as a neutron detector in combination with an organic converter material based on polysiloxane. The first prototypes of the proposed device are presented, with emphasis on the experimental characterization. Selected results from the functional tests (with alpha particle source and pulsed laser scans) are discussed with the aid of TCAD simulations.noneR. Mendicino;M. Boscardin;S. Carturan;M. Cinausero;G. Collazuol;G. Betta;M. Palma;F. Gramegna;T. Marchi;E. Perillo;M. Povoli;A. Quaranta;S. Ronchin;N. ZorziR., Mendicino; M., Boscardin; Carturan, SARA MARIA; M., Cinausero; Collazuol, Gianmaria; G., Betta; M., Palma; F., Gramegna; Marchi, Tommaso; E., Perillo; M., Povoli; A., Quaranta; S., Ronchin; N., Zorz

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Response to First-Line Treatment Predicts Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer: First Clues for A Cost-Effective and Dynamic Biomarker

Background: Elevated plasmatic lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels are associated with worse prognosis in various malignancies, including metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Nevertheless, no data are available on the prognostic role of LDH as a dynamic biomarker during first-line treatment in unselected MBC. Methods: We reviewed data of 392 women with MBC to evaluate the association between LDH variation after 12 weeks of first-line treatment and survival. The prognostic impact was tested by multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results: Plasmatic LDH was confirmed as an independent prognostic factor in MBC. Patients who maintained elevated LDH levels after 12 weeks of first-line treatment experienced worse progression-free survival (PFS, HR 2.88, 95% CI: 1.40-5.89, p = 0.0038) and overall survival (OS, HR 2.61, 95% CI 1.16-5.86, p = 0.02) compared to patients with stable normal LDH levels, even after adjustment for other prognostic factors. Notably, LDH low-to-high variation emerged as an unfavorable prognostic factor for PFS (HR 3.96, 95% CI 2.00-7.82, p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Plasmatic LDH and its variation during first-line treatment predict PFS and OS in MBC, providing independent prognostic information. It would be worthwhile to prospectively evaluate the association between LDH variation and therapeutic benefit in MBC, and explore how it may affect treatment strategies

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Response to First-Line Treatment Predicts Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer: First Clues for A Cost-Effective and Dynamic Biomarker

Background: Elevated plasmatic lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels are associated with worse prognosis in various malignancies, including metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Nevertheless, no data are available on the prognostic role of LDH as a dynamic biomarker during first-line treatment in unselected MBC. Methods: We reviewed data of 392 women with MBC to evaluate the association between LDH variation after 12 weeks of first-line treatment and survival. The prognostic impact was tested by multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results: Plasmatic LDH was confirmed as an independent prognostic factor in MBC. Patients who maintained elevated LDH levels after 12 weeks of first-line treatment experienced worse progression-free survival (PFS, HR 2.88, 95% CI: 1.40-5.89, p = 0.0038) and overall survival (OS, HR 2.61, 95% CI 1.16-5.86, p = 0.02) compared to patients with stable normal LDH levels, even after adjustment for other prognostic factors. Notably, LDH low-to-high variation emerged as an unfavorable prognostic factor for PFS (HR 3.96, 95% CI 2.00-7.82, p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Plasmatic LDH and its variation during first-line treatment predict PFS and OS in MBC, providing independent prognostic information. It would be worthwhile to prospectively evaluate the association between LDH variation and therapeutic benefit in MBC, and explore how it may affect treatment strategies