Immunological backbone of uveal melanoma: is there a rationale for immunotherapy?

No standard treatment has been established for metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM). Immunotherapy is commonly used for this disease even though UM has not been included in phase III clinical trials with checkpoint inhibitors. Unfortunately, only a minority of patients obtain a clinical benefit with immunotherapy. The immunological features of mUM were reviewed in order to understand if immunotherapy could still play a role for this disease

incidence and factors influencing retinal displacement in eyes treated for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with vitrectomy and gas or silicone oil

n/

Preventing the acute skin side effects in patients treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer: the use of corneometry in order to evaluate the protective effect of moisturizing creams

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to add, to the objective evaluation, an instrumental assessment of the skin damage induced by radiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 100 patients affected by breast cancer was recruited in the study over one year. Patients were divided into five groups of 20 patients. For each group it was prescribed a different topical treatment. The following products were used: Betaglucan, sodium hyaluronate (Neoviderm®), Vitis vinifera A. s-I-M.t-O.dij (Ixoderm®), Alga Atlantica plus Ethylbisiminomethylguaicolo and Manganese Cloruro (Radioskin1®) and Metal Esculetina plus Ginko Biloba and Aloe vera (Radioskin 2®); Natural triglycerides-fitosterols (Xderit®); Selectiose plus thermal water of Avene (Trixera+®). All hydrating creams were applied twice a day starting 15 days before and one month after treatment with radiations. Before and during treatment patients underwent weekly skin assessments and corneometry to evaluate the symptoms related to skin toxicity and state of hydration. Evaluation of acute cutaneous toxicity was defined according to the RTOG scale. RESULTS: All patients completed radiotherapy; 72% of patients presented a G1 cutaneous toxicity, 18% developed a G2 cutaneous toxicity, 10% developed a G3 toxicity, no one presented G4 toxicity. The corneometry study confirmed the protective role of effective creams used in radiation therapy of breast cancer and showed its usefulness to identify radiation-induced dermatitis in a very early stage. CONCLUSIONS: The preventive use of topic products reduces the incidence of skin side effects in patients treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer. An instrumental evaluation of skin hydration can help the radiation oncologist to use strategies that prevent the onset of toxicity of high degree. All moisturizing creams used in this study were equally valid in the treatment of skin damage induced by radiotherapy

Clinical and ultrasonographic features of choroidal metastases based on primary cancer site: Long-term experience in a single center.

Introduction and purposeChoroidal metastases (CM) are the most common intraocular malignancies. With longer survival rates for cancer patients, CM will be increasingly encountered. We evaluated clinical and ultrasonographic (US) characteristics of CM in order to identify diagnostic biomarkers that correlate with the primary tumor site.MethodsThe medical records of all patients with CM evaluated at the Ocular Oncology Unit between February 2010 and March 2020 were analyzed.Results82 eyes of 70 patients were included. The primary cancer site was lung in 26 patients (37%), breast in 23 (33%), kidney in 9 (13%), gastrointestinal in 5 (7%), thyroid in 5 (7%), parathyroids and prostate respectively in 2 (3%). Fifty-five patients (78%) had other systemic metastases at the time of ocular diagnosis. Ten (14%) patients had no history of primary cancer. Bilateral CM were found in 20 patients (29%); fifty-six eyes (68%) had a single CM. The epicenter of CM was predominantly macula (43 eyes, 52%). The mean thickness was 4,1 mm (range 1,8-12,3). US structure was inhomogeneous in 67 eyes (82%). Reflectivity was mainly medium (39%) and medium-low (39%). In particular, CM from lung cancer showed lower reflectivity than those from the breast (p = 0,02). CM deriving from lung cancer were typically dome-shaped, whereas CM originating from breast were characteristically plateau shaped (p = 0,02). Seventy-four (91%) eyes presented fluid on optical coherence tomography.ConclusionWe significatively found that CM from lung cancer generally appear dome-shaped with medium-low internal reflectivity, whereas those from breast cancer typically present a plateau appearance and higher internal reflectivity. Though it is hard to identify the site of the primary tumor relying exclusively on clinical and US aspects, morphology and internal reflectivity can be considered as diagnostic biomarkers. Thus, the origin of the primary tumor can be suspected by integrating a constellation of findings

Photodynamic Therapy in Ocular Oncology

Although introduced for the treatment of maculopathies, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is now largely used in some eye cancers treatment. The selective tissue damage with PDT is achieved by sequestration of the photosensitizer in the target tissue and focal activation of the photosensitizer by low energy directed light. In this way, it is possible to achieve the destruction of the tumor tissue by safeguarding the surrounding healthy structures. Our study describes the clinical uses and efficacy of photodynamic therapy in ocular oncology

Mitomycin C or interferon as adjuvant therapy to surgery for ocular surface squamous neoplasia: comparative study

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, surgical excision has been the treatment of choice for ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). Recurrences after surgery are high. To reduce the risk of recurrence, adjuvant therapies have been increasingly used. PURPOSE: We compared recurrences and complications of 3 forms of treatment for OSSN: surgical excision (group A), surgical excision plus adjuvant topical mitomycin C (MMC) (group B), and surgical excision plus subconjunctival interferon-\u3b1-2b (IFN-\u3b1-2b) (group C). METHODS: A retrospective comparative study was conducted between January 2006 and March 2016 at the Ocular Oncology Service of the Catholic University of Rome. Seventy-nine patients with a confirmed histological diagnosis of OSSN were included: 43 were treated with surgical excision (group A), 16 underwent surgical excision plus topical MMC (group B), and 20 underwent surgical excision plus adjuvant subconjunctival IFN-\u3b1-2b (group C). RESULTS: The recurrences were different in the 3 groups. Thirty-one recurrences (72%) were seen in group A, 5 (31%) were found in group B, and 3 (15%) were seen in group C. Eight (50%) patients who received MMC 0.02% complained of ocular discomfort, 10 (62.5%) presented conjunctival hyperemia, while conjunctival chemosis and corneal epitheliopathy were noticed in 2 (13%) and 2 (13%) patients, respectively. All patients treated with subconjunctival IFN-\u3b1-2b reported flu-like symptoms. Two patients (10%) complained of ocular discomfort. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that OSSN is not always manageable with simple excision. Adjuvant chemotherapy is strongly advisable after surgery to reduce recurrences. Interferon injections and MMC drops are effective in preventing recurrences and should be administered after surgery

Up-to-date distribution, ecology and cultivation of Pleurotus eryngii (DC.) Quél. var. thapsiae Venturella, Zervakis & Saitta in Sicily

Venturella et al. [1] described a new taxon named Pleurotus eryngii (DC.) Quél. var. thapsiae Venturella, Zervakis & Saitta (Madonie Mts) on Thapsia garganica L. and provided ecological data on the locus classicus. P. eryngii var. thapsiae was reported on pastures evolved, from 1000 to 1500 m a.s.l., on limestone and is characterized by a double period of fructification (autumn and spring). P. eryngii var. thapsiae is a choice wild edible mushroom belonging to a special group of Pleurotus species which appear in nature in close association with Apiaceae plants. As part of the project's census of fungi in Sicily two new localities of growth were localized in the Natural Reserves of Capo Gallo and Capo Rama (Palermo). The ecological characteristics of the locus classicus are different from those found in the new localities of growth. The latter are located along the Tyrrhenian coast, from 10 to 50 m a.s.l., on carbonatic soils and subjected to thermo-Mediterranean climate sensu Rivas-Martinez [2]. The new findings of P. eryngii var. thapsiae expand the distribution area known for Sicily, as well as provide new ecological data. In addition, the availability of new biological materials allows to proceed with the preparation of new strains to be used in the cultivation tests. The tests are expected to show the production efficiency and the quality properties of the different strains selected. The cultivation tests are also to assess the suitable environmental conditions required in order to reach yield values that will permit a large-scale cultivation

Contribution to the knowledge of fungal diversity in the archaeological park of Selinunte (S.-W. Sicily)

The Archaelogical Park of Selinunte (S.-W.- Sicily) is included in the SIC (Sites of Community Interest) named “Dunal system Capo Granitola, Porto Palo e Foce del Belice” (code ITA010011). It includes a dunal system that is steadily towards the inland with sandy substrates which tend to characterize little evolved soils on silico-arenaceous matrix with alkaline pH. The climate of the site belong to the thermo-mediterranean belt (annual average temperature around 18 ° C), and upper dry ombrotype (average annual rainfall of 500 mm) [1]. The biotope also includes wetlands, Pinus halepensis Miller and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh reforestations, evergreen sclerophyllous vegetation with aprevalence of Pistacia lentiscus L. and maquis dominated by Anagyris foetida L. with scattered woods with Quercus calliprinos Webb. The number of recorded fungi is 40 taxa (33 Basidiomycetes and 7 Ascomycetes). Among these, deserve particular attention, because of the vulnerability and consequent fragmentation of habitat, some infrequent species for the Italian and Sicilian territory. Battarrea phalloides (Dicks.) Pers., included in the preliminary Red Data List of Fungi from Italy (2), was collected on sandy substrata in a maquis mainly characterized by P. lentiscus. A few number of basidiomata of Xerula mediterranea (Pacioni & Lalli) Quadr. & Lunghini were collected in the rear dunes characterized by vegetation belonging to Crucianelletalia maritimae Sissing 1974. Lyophyllum buxeum (Maire) Singer, infrequent in Sicily, was recorded in a E. camaldulensis reforestation. The study provides a further contribution to knowledge of mycological biodiversity of coastal dune. These habitats are subjected to intense human disturbance and are among the most seriously threatened in need of effective conservation actions

Pigmented Lesions of Ocular Fundus: Clinical Aspects

Several pigmented lesions of the ocular fundus can be detected on routine ophthalmic examination. Pigmented tumoral lesions, both benign and malignant, can arise from the retinal pigment epithelium or from choroidal melanocytes. A careful evaluation of the clinical and imaging features can help to differentiate the lesions, avoiding diagnostic errors