Spin-Glass Theory for Pedestrians

In these notes the main theoretical concepts and techniques in the field of mean-field spin-glasses are reviewed in a compact and pedagogical way, for the benefit of the graduate and undergraduate student. One particular spin-glass model is analyzed (the p-spin spherical model) by using three different approaches. Thermodynamics, covering pure states, overlaps, overlap distribution, replica symmetry breaking, and the static transition. Dynamics, covering the generating functional method, generalized Langevin equation, equations for the correlation and the response, the Mode Coupling approximation, and the dynamical transition. And finally complexity, covering the mean-field (TAP) free energy, metastable states, entropy crisis, threshold energy, and saddles. Particular attention has been paid on the mutual consistency of the results obtained from the different methods.Comment: Lecture notes of the school: "Unifying Concepts in Glassy Physics III", Bangalore, June 200

“<i>No Ink on Tumor</i>” in Breast-Conserving Surgery after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Background/Aim: Patients with Stage I-II breast cancer undergoing breast-conserving surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (BCS-NAC) were retrospectively assessed in order to evaluate the extent of a safe excision margin. Materials and Methods: Between 2003 and 2020, 151 patients underwent risk-adapted BCS-NAC; margin involvement was always assessed at definitive histology. Patients with complete pathological response (pCR) were classified as the RX group, whereas those with residual disease and negative margins were stratified as R0 1 mm (margin > 1 mm). Results: Totals of 29 (19.2%), 64 (42.4%), and 58 patients (38.4%) were included in the R0 1 mm, and RX groups, respectively, and 2 patients with margin involvement had a mastectomy. Ten instances of local recurrence (6.6%) occurred, with no statistically significant difference in local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) between the three groups. A statistically significant advantage of disease-free survival (p = 0.002) and overall survival (p = 0.010) was observed in patients with pCR. Conclusions: BCS-NAC was increased, especially in HER-2-positive and triple-negative tumors; risk-adapted BCS should be preferably pursued to highlight the cosmetic benefit of NAC. The similar rate of LRFS in the three groups of patients suggests a shift toward the “no ink on tumor” paradigm for patients undergoing BCS-NAC

Evolving treatments and outcomes in HER2-Positive metastatic breast cancer: Data from the GIM14/BIOMETA study

Background: Treatment for HER2-positive (+) metastatic breast cancer has improved in the last decade. We analyzed treatment changes over time and their impact on patients outcomes in a real-world dataset. Methods: Data from 637 HER2+ patients with metastatic breast cancer enrolled in the multicenter Italian GIM14/BIOMETA study were retrieved. Progression-free survival (PFS) over time was evaluated according to the type of anti-HER2 therapy, disease onset (de novo vs. relapsing), metastatic site, and year of treatment (2000-2013 vs. 2014-2020). Results: Median follow-up was 64.4 months. Overall, for first-line therapies, mPFS was 16.5 vs 19.5 months for patients treated in 2000-2013 vs 2014-2020 (HR: 0.78, 95% CI:0.65-0.94, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.008). mPFS improved over time in all patients except for those with brain metastasis. Interestingly mPFS was 17.4 vs13.4 months (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.13-1.98, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.005) in 2000-2013 and 24.4 vs 20.9 months (HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.78-1.40 p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.77) in 2014-2020 in pts without vs with liver metastases. For second line therapies, the overall median PFS was 9.6 months (95% CI, 8.31-10.97) and did not change over time. Conclusion: Median first-line PFS improved since 2014, mainly due to the introduction of pertuzumab. The outcome of patients with liver metastases appears to have improved in recent years. Patients with brain metastases had the worst PFS, which also did not improve over time