Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Boost in Patients With Cervical Cancer Ineligible for Brachytherapy

Background: Standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer is external beam radiotherapy followed by brachytherapy (BT). Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a possible option for treating patients ineligible for BT. Patients and methods: From October 2012 to July 2020, nine women with cervical cancer received SBRT to high-risk volumes. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the rates of overall and disease-free survival. Results: The median age was 52 years; 88% of patients had squamous carcinoma. Reasons for forgoing BT were cervical canal stenosis, treatment refusal and hematological disease. The median boost dose was 18 Gy and the median dose per fraction was 6 Gy. Median follow-up was 16 months. The median survival was 24 months, the actuarial 2-year OS rate was 70%, and median disease-free survival was 11 months. One grade 3 late vaginal toxicity was reported. No acute nor late grade 4 toxicities were observed. Conclusion: SBRT boost in patients with cervical cancer ineligible for BT led to acceptable survival outcomes and a safe toxicity profile

Severe and prolonged myelosuppression during concomitant temozolomide and radiotherapy treatment in a patient with glioblastoma multiforme

Aims: We describe the case of a patient with glioblastoma (GBM) who developed severe and prolonged myelosuppression during concomitant daily temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) treatment. Analysis of polymorphisms in genes correlated with TMZ-induced myelotoxicity was also performed. Presentation of the Case: A 67–year-old man with diagnosis of GBM undergoing concomitant RT-TMZ treatment developed severe and prolonged pancytopenia that led to discontinuation of TMZ and required frequent platelet and red cells transfusions. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (NQO1) and glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) was carried out. Both SNPs were found to be wild-type. Discussion: TMZ is an oral alkylating agent used for the treatment of glioblastoma. TMZ is usually considered well tolerated and safe, with nausea and mild myelosuppression being the most common side effects. However, severe haematologic adverse events have been also reported. Recently, there has been growing interest in gene polymorphisms that might be associated with an increased risk of hematologic toxicity. Conclusion: Myelosuppression is a side effect that can occur relatively early during concomitant TMZ treatment and can negatively impact on patient’s quality of life. Further studies are warranted to find out a correlation between genetic factors and the occurrence of severe hematologic toxicity

Laboratory experiments on ammoniated clay minerals with relevance for asteroid (1) Ceres

Recent observations with VIR spectrometer onboard Dawn spacecraft [1] have suggested the presence of ammoniated phyllosilicates widespread on the surface of asteroid (1) Ceres [2,3]. The global surface composition of Ceres as suggested by VIR average infrared spectrum in the 1-4 micron range appears to be due to a mixture of NH4-bearing phyllosilicates, serpentine, carbonates and a dark absorbing phase (magnetite or amorphous carbon) [2]. An absorption feature occurring near 3.1 micron in the average spectrum is considered the main evidence for the presence of NH4-bearing phase; nevertheless in the past several authors tried to explain this feature, as observed with telescopic spectra, invoking the presence of brucite, cronstedtite, water ice or clays [4]. In this project we are carrying out laboratory experiments with the aim of studying ammoniated phyllosilicates in the visible-infrared range. A suite of 9 clay minerals has been used for this study, including illite, nontronite and montmorillonite. In order to produce the ammoniated species we followed a modified procedure based on the one described in Bishop et al. (2002) [5]. All minerals were reduced in fine grain size (<36 micron), treated with ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) and heated in oven at 200°C for 24 h at normal pressure conditions, before the measurements. Reflectance spectra were acquired with the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) in use at INAF-IAPS/P-LAB, in the range 1-14 μm, on both clay minerals and NH4-treated clays. Almost all spectra of NH4-treated species are characterized by the occurrence of several new absorption features, appearing at different wavelengths near 2, 3, 6 and 7 micron. In some cases the spectral shape of already existent absorption bands resulted deeply modified. A few species did not show the appearance of new features. These results suggest that NH4+ ions fix in various ways in different minerals. Nontronite and montmorillonite appear to be the best candidates, among the studied suite, to be used in future laboratory reproduced analog mixtures. [1] Russell C.T. et al., 2004, Planetary and Space Science, 52, 465-489 [2] De Sanctis M.C. et al., 2015, Nature, 528, 241-244 [3] Ammannito E. et al., 2016, Science, vol.353, issue 6303 [4] Rivkin A.S. et al., 2011, Space Science Reviews, 163, 95-116 [5] Bishop J.L. et al., 2002, Planetary and Space Science, 50, 11-1

Gas emission investigation in small bodies: case of P67/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and Ceres

In the first close up to the comet P67/Churyumov-Gerasimenko at a heliocentric distance of about 3 AU, the Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging spectrometer (VIRTIS) on board Rosetta observed the first jet emissions from the comet's surface. The emission intensity was quite weak, as the comet was still far from the Sun. However, we expect the comet's activity to increase very fast in the incoming months. Some images of the comet's nucleus show activity, which could be ascribed to volatiles sublimation, dust upwarding or instrumental stray light. We focused on those data showing possible jet emissions from the comet's nucleus, observed both in limb and nadir viewing geometries. In this work, we propose a method to correct for the stray light, and investigate the possible emission intensity radially distributed from the point of emission. We focus in particular on the gas wavelength regions where water vapor, hydroxyl and carbon monoxide species are expected. Data are also discussed in comparison with a simple model, able to describe how the hydroxyl emission intensities vary with the heliocentric distance. A lower limit to the hydroxyl detection with VIRTIS can be inferred at the moment, while a deeper analysis is expected on the data acquired when the comet will be closer to the Sun. Similarly, Ceres has showed hydroxyl emissions in the thermal IR observed from space. The present analysis can be extended to the case of this peculiar body, which is one of the targets of the Dawn mission. The research is supported by ASI (contract ASI-INAF I/062/08/0)

IR Spectroscopy of ammoniated phyllosilicates and mixtures with relevance for dwarf planet (1) Ceres

Ammonium phyllosilicates and mineral mixtures have been measured in the laboratory by means of infrared reflectance spectroscopy, in the 1-14 micron range, with the aim to reproduce Ceres' surface spectrum as measured by VIR/Dawn instrument

Temperature-dependent VNIR spectroscopy of hydrated Na-carbonates

The surfaces of the Galilean icy satellites Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, dominated by water ice, also show substantial amounts of non-water-ice compounds. These satellites will be the subject of close exploration by the ESA JUICE mission and the NASA Europa Multiple-Flyby Mission, which will focus on Ganymede and Europa, respectively. Among non-water-ice compounds thought to exist on the surfaces of the Jovian icy satellites, hydrated salt minerals have been proposed to exist as a by-product of endogenic processes. Safe detection of these minerals shall rely on laboratory spectroscopic analysis of these materials carried out under appropriate environmental conditions. Here we report on laboratory measurements, carried out in the framework of a Europlanet Transnational Access (TA) 2020 proposal approved in 2016, on two hydrated sodium carbonates, namely sodium carbonate monohydrate (Na2CO3·1H2O) and sodium carbonate decahydrate (Na2CO3·10H2O). Spectral profiles of these compounds were obtained in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) spectral domain, taking advantage of the Cold Surfaces spectroscopy facility at the Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), where such compounds can be measured under cryogenic conditions indicative of real planetary surfaces. Carbonates were first sieved so as to separate them in three different grain size ranges: 20-50 μm, 75-100 μm, and 125-150 μm. These grain sizes have been chosen to: (1) be indicative of typical regoliths known or expected to exist on the surface of the icy satellites, and (2) avoid overlapping between ranges, therefore minimizing particles contamination among the dimensional classes. Each grain size was then measured with the Spectro-Gonio-Radiometer facility in the overall 0.5-4.0 μm spectral range, with spectral sampling increasing with increasing wavelength. For each sample, the overall 93-279 K temperature ramp was acquired in 11 steps varying from 10 K to 25 K, imposed by time constraints. In particular, the uppermost temperature, 279 K, has been acquired both at the beginning and at end of the ramp, to check for any macroscopic physico-chemical changes in the sample. In sodium carbonate monohydrate, about ten spectral signatures are revealed in the spectral range 1.0-3.0 µm. These signatures are due in part to combinations and overtones of the fundamental vibration modes of the water molecule, and in part to the carbonate. For comparison, sodium carbonate decahydrate shows fewer diagnostic and generally wider signatures, due to the larger number of water molecules existing in this mineral. We analyzed the spectral behavior of the diagnostic signatures of these two hydrated minerals as a function of both grain size and temperature, deriving trends related to specific spectral parameters such as band center, band depth, band area, and bandwidth. We plan to complete this set of measurements with those obtained for anhydrous sodium carbonate, which serves as a valid comparison for the hydrated carbonates discussed here and may provide a valid support to spectroscopic analysis of bright faculae discovered by the NASA Dawn mission in crater Occator on the dwarf planet Ceres

SeaBIRD: A Flexible and Intuitive Planetary Datamining Infrastructure

Description of SeaBIRD (Searchable and Browsable Infrastructure for Repository of Data), a software and hardware infrastructure for multi-mission planetary datamining, with web-based GUI and API set for the integration in users' software

HDV can constrain HBV genetic evolution in hbsag: Implications for the identification of innovative pharmacological targets

Chronic HBV + HDV infection is associated with greater risk of liver fibrosis, earlier hepatic decompensation, and liver cirrhosis hepatocellular carcinoma compared to HBV mono-infection. However, to-date no direct anti-HDV drugs are available in clinical practice. Here, we identified conserved and variable regions in HBsAg and HDAg domains in HBV + HDV infection, a critical finding for the design of innovative therapeutic agents. The extent of amino-acid variability was measured by Shannon-Entropy (Sn) in HBsAg genotype-D sequences from 31 HBV + HDV infected and 62 HBV mono-infected patients (comparable for demographics and virological-parameters), and in 47 HDAg genotype-1 sequences. Positions with Sn = 0 were defined as conserved. The percentage of conserved HBsAg-positions was significantly higher in HBV + HDV infection than HBV mono-infection (p = 0.001). Results were confirmed after stratification for HBeAg-status and patients’ age. A Sn = 0 at specific positions in the C-terminus HBsAg were correlated with higher HDV-RNA, suggesting that conservation of these positions can preserve HDV-fitness. Conversely, HDAg was characterized by a lower percentage of conserved-residues than HBsAg (p < 0.001), indicating higher functional plasticity. Furthermore, specific HDAg-mutations were significantly correlated with higher HDV-RNA, suggesting a role in conferring HDV replicative-advantage. Among HDAg-domains, only the virus-assembly signal exhibited a high genetic conservation (75% of conserved-residues). In conclusion, HDV can constrain HBsAg genetic evolution to preserve its fitness. The identification of conserved regions in HDAg poses the basis for designing innovative targets against HDV-infection

Residual Site Radiotherapy After Immunochemotherapy in Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma: A Monoinstitutional Retrospective Study

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of residual site radiation therapy (RSRT) on local control (LC), progressionfree (PFS) and overall (OS) survival in patients with primary mediastinal lymphoma (PMBCL), following rituximab and chemotherapy treatment (ICHT). Patients and Methods: The study included 34 patients with PMBCL treated between 2006 and 2014 with ICHT with/without autologous stem cell transplantation and RSRT. Between the end of ICHT/stem cell transplantation and RSRT, patients were evaluated with F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography. The gross tumor volume included morphological mediastinal residual disease after ICHT/SCT. The percentage of LC, PFS and OS were assessed. Results: All patients received RSRT with a median dose of 30 Gy. Median follow-up was 82 months. One patient out of 34 (3%) showed progressive disease 9 months from diagnosis. The 10-year PFS and OS were 97% and 97% respectively. Conclusion: RSRT in patients with PMBCL treated with ICHT did not impact unfavorably on LC and patient survival

Efficacy of residual site radiation therapy (ISRT) in patients with primary mediastinal lymphoma with Deauville Score 4 following R-CHT: results of a retrospective mono institutional study

Background: In order to evaluate the efficacy of residual site radiation therapy (RSRT) in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with primary mediastinal lymphoma (PMBCL) with Deauville Score 4 (DS 4) following rituximab and chemotherapy treatment (R-ICHT). Methods: Thirty-one patients with PMBCL were recruited. After completion of R-ICHT, patients were staged with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography, showing DS 4, and were treated with adjuvant RSRT. The chosen techniques for RT delivery were intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or three-dimensional conformal RT (3D-CRT). Most patients underwent the first one using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). All patients were evaluated every 3 months for the first 2 years and every 6 months afterwards for a period of at least 5 years, with clinical and radiological procedures as required. Results: All patients received RSRT with a dose of 30 Gy in 15 fractions. The median follow-up time of 52.7 months (IQR: 26–64.1 months). The 5-year OS rate was 100%. The 2-year and 5-year PFS rates were 96.7% and 92.5%, respectively. Patients with relapsed disease had been treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT). Conclusion: RSRT in patients with PMBCL treated with ICHT and DS 4 did not impact unfavorably on patient survival