Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast (MpBC) is a very rare and aggressive type of breast cancer. Data focusing on MpBC are limited. The aim of this study was to describe the clinicopathological features of MpBC and evaluate the prognosis of patients with MpBC. Eligible articles about MpBC were identified by searching CASES SERIES gov and the MEDLINE bibliographic database for the period of 1 January 2010 to 1 June 2021 with the keywords metaplastic breast cancer, mammary gland cancer, neoplasm, tumor, and metaplastic carcinoma. In this study, we also report 46 cases of MpBC stemming from our hospital. Survival rates, clinical behavior, and pathological characteristics were analyzed. Data from 205 patients were included for analysis. The mean age at diagnosis was 55 (14.7) years. The TNM stage at diagnosis was mostly stage II (58.5%) and most tumors were triple negative. The median overall survival was 66 (12–118) months, and the median disease-free survival was 56.8 (11–102) months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that surgical treatment was associated with decreased risk of death (hazard ratio 0.11, 95% confidence interval 0.02–0.54, p = 0.01) while advanced TNM stage was associated with increased risk of death (hazard ratio 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.04–2.28, p = 0.03). Our results revealed that surgical treatment and TNM stage were the only independent risk factors related to patients’ overall survival.

Background: There is limited data on the optimal time interval between the last dose of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and interval debulking surgery (IDS) in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC). Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with stage IIIC/IV HGSC who received NACT followed by IDS during a 15-year period (January 2003–December 2018) in our Institution. Results: Overall, 115 patients with stage IIIC/IV HGSC were included. The median age of diagnosis was 62.7 years (IQR: 14.0). A total of 76.5% (88/115) of patients were diagnosed with IIIC HGSC and 23.5% (27/115) with IV HGSC. Median PFS was 15.7 months (95% CI: 13.0–18.5), and median OS was 44.7 months (95% CI: 38.8–50.5). Patients were categorized in groups according to the time interval from NACT to IDS: 6 weeks (group D). Patients with a time interval IDS to NACT ≥4 weeks had significantly shorter PFS (p = 0.004) and OS (p = 0.002). Median PFS was 26.6 months (95% CI: 24–29.2) for patients undergoing IDS <4 weeks after NACT vs. 14.4 months (95% CI: 12.6–16.2) for those undergoing IDS later (p = 0.004). Accordingly, median OS was 66.3 months (95% CI: 39.1–93.4) vs. 39.4 months (95% CI: 31.8–47.0) in the 4 week time interval NACT to IDS groups (p = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, the short time interval (<4 weeks) from NACT to IDS was an independent factor of PFS (p = 0.004) and OS (p = 0.003). Conclusion: We have demonstrated that performing IDS within four weeks after NACT may be associated with better survival outcomes. Multidisciplinary coordination among ovarian cancer patients is required to avoid any unnecessary delays.

Breast cancer has distinct etiology, prognoses, and clinical outcomes at premenopausal ages. Determination of the frequency of germline and somatic mutations will refine our understanding of the genetic contribution to premenopausal breast cancer susceptibility. We applied a comprehensive next generation sequencing-based approach to analyze blood and/or tissue samples of 54 premenopausal breast cancer patients treated in our clinic. Genetic testing results were descriptively analyzed in correlation with clinicopathological data. In the present study, 42.5% of premenopausal breast cancer patients tested carried pathogenic mutations in cancer predisposition genes (CHEK2, BRCA1, TP53, and MUTYH). Germline variants of unknown/uncertain significance (VUSs) in eight different cancer susceptibility genes, namely BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, RAD51C, RAD51D, ATM, BRIP1, and PMS2, were also identified in 14 premenopausal patients (35%). Of the breast tumors tested, 61.8% harbored pathogenic somatic variants in tumor suppressor genes (TP53, NF1, RB), genes involved in DNA repair (BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, RAD50), cell proliferation (PTEN, PIK3C FGFR3, AKT1, ROS1, ERBB2, NOTCH1), and cell adhesion (CTNNB1). This descriptive study employs the powerful NGS technology to highlight the high frequency of premenopausal cases attributable to genetic predisposition. Mutation identification in a larger cohort may further ensure that these patients receive tailored treatment according to their menopausal status.

The administration of a third dose of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 has increased protection against disease transmission and severity. However, the kinetics of neutralizing antibodies against the virus has been poorly studied in cancer patients under targeted therapies. Baseline characteristics and levels of neutralizing antibodies at specific timepoints after vaccination were compared between patients suffering from breast, ovarian or prostate cancer and healthy individuals. Breast cancer patients were treated with cyclin D kinase 4/6 inhibitors and hormonal therapy, ovarian cancer patients were treated with poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors and prostate cancer patients were treated with an androgen receptor targeted agent. Levels of neutralizing antibodies were significantly lower in cancer patients compared to healthy individuals at all timepoints. Antibodies’ titers declined over time in both groups but remained above protective levels (>50%) at 6 months after the administration of the second dose. The administration of a third dose increased neutralizing antibodies’ levels in both groups. The titers of protective against SARS-CoV-2 antibodies wane over time and increase after a third dose in cancer patients under treatment.

Arterial thromboembolism has been associated with cancer or its treatment. Unlike venous thromboembolism, the incidence and risk factors have not been extensively studied. Here, we investigated the incidence of arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) in an institutional series of advanced urinary tract cancer (aUTC) treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy. The ATE definition included peripheral arterial embolism/thrombosis, ischemic stroke and coronary events. A total of 354 aUTC patients were analyzed. Most patients (95.2%) received platinum-based chemotherapy. A total of 12 patients (3.4%) suffered an ATE within a median time of 3.6 months from the start of chemotherapy. The most frequent ATE was ischemic stroke (n = 7). Two ATEs were fatal. The 6-month and 24-month incidence were 2.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9–4.1) and 3.6% (95% CI: 1.9–6.2), respectively. Perioperative chemotherapy increased the risk for ATE by 5.55-fold. Tumors other than UTC and pure non-transitional cell carcinoma histology were also independent risk factors. No association with the type of chemotherapy was found. Overall, ATEs occur in 4.6% of aUTC patients treated with chemotherapy and represent a clinically relevant manifestation. Perioperative chemotherapy significantly increases the risk for ATE. The role of prophylaxis in high-risk groups should be prospectively studied.

Background/Objectives: Survival rates for ovarian cancer remain distressingly low. Despite established prognostic factors, the need to identify modifiable parameters to influence survival outcomes is imperative. Overweight and obesity, both prevalent conditions, have been implicated in cancer development and potentially poor survival. However, conflicting data on the associations of body mass index (BMI) with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in ovarian cancer patients necessitate further exploration. This study aims to investigate the prognostic role of BMI before chemotherapy in women with ovarian cancer, specifically focusing on PFS and OS. Methods: A retrospective analysis encompassed 1,136 patients diagnosed with ovarian carcinomas between 1995 and 2018. Patients were categorized based on BMI at presentation, and a comprehensive examination of clinicopathological, treatment, and survival data was conducted. Results: In the patient population, normal weight patients (BMI < 25 kg/m²) demonstrated a median PFS of 12.8 months (95% CI 11.7–13.9 months), while overweight/obese patients (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) exhibited a significantly longer median PFS of 14.9 months (95% CI 13.6–16.4 months, P = 0.006). No statistically significant difference was noted in median OS between the two BMI groups. Subgroup analysis for different histological subtypes revealed a statistically significant benefit for overweight and obese patients with serous and endometrioid histology (mPFS 12.9 months, 95% CI 11.7–14.0 vs. 15.6 months, 95% CI 13.9–17.3, P = 0.012 and 14.6 months 95% CI 13.7–15.5 vs. 25.6 months, 95% CI 9.5–41.7, P = 0.031, respectively). Additionally, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² demonstrated a significant advantage in advanced-stage disease. Conclusions: The study underscores the intricate association between BMI and ovarian cancer prognosis. While a statistically significant difference in progression-free survival was noted between normal weight and overweight/obese patients, with the latter group experiencing a survival benefit, no such difference was observed in overall survival.