Emma Facchetti

Dr. Emma Facchetti


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 January 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
OTOrazio De Tommasi
Orazio De Tommasi
MMMatteo Marchetti
Matteo Marchetti
MTMarta Tripepi
Marta Tripepi
SBSofia Bigardi
Sofia Bigardi
Giosuè Giordano IncognitoGiosuè Giordano Incognito
Giosuè Giordano Incognito
GSGiulia Spagnol
Giulia Spagnol
Background/Objectives: Cancer immunotherapy through the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have shown significant promise in endometrial carcinoma (EC), particularly in tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI) or mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), present in approximately 30% of cases. This review evaluated PD-L1 and PD-1 expression as potential biomarkers for immunotherapy response in EC, focusing on their relationship with MSI status. Methods: A systematic review, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, analyzed studies from MEDLINE and Embase until February 2023 on PD-1/PD-L1 expression in EC stratified by MSI status, including diverse study designs but excluding conference abstracts, with independent screening, data extraction, and additional reference checks to ensure comprehensive coverage. Results: A systematic analysis of 10 studies found that PD-L1 expression was more frequently expressed in MSI tumors (49%) compared to microsatellite-stable tumors (MSS) (33.5%), while PD-1 was expressed in 58% of MSI cases and 48% of MSS cases. Despite these findings, the prognostic value of PD-L1/PD-1 remains uncertain, with conflicting results regarding their association with survival outcomes. PD-L1 expression varied across molecular subtypes, being highest in POLE-mutated tumors (76.56%) and serous carcinomas (73%). Differences in PD-L1 expression between primary and metastatic sites were also noted, complicating its use as a biomarker. Conclusions: The assessment of PD-L1 expression in EC could represent a valuable option for selecting patients who may benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), including those in the MSS cohort, thereby ensuring a more tailored and personalized treatment strategy.

11 November 2024 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GSGiulia Spagnol
Giulia Spagnol
MMMatteo Marchetti
Matteo Marchetti
MCMassimo Carollo
Massimo Carollo
SBSofia Bigardi
Sofia Bigardi
MTMarta Tripepi
Marta Tripepi
Marco NoventaMarco Noventa
Marco Noventa
Objective: We aimed to compare the clinical utility and diagnostic accuracy of the ADNEX model, ROMA score, RMI I, and RMI IV, as well as two serum markers (CA125 and HE4) in preoperative discrimination between benign and malignant adnexal masses (AMs). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study extracting all consecutive patients with AMs seen at our Institution between January 2015 and December 2020. Accuracy metrics included sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for basic discrimination between AMs. Model performance was evaluated in terms of discrimination ability and clinical utility (net benefit, NB). Results: A total of 581 women were included; 481 (82.8%) had a benign ovarian tumor and 100 (17.2%) had a malignant tumor. The SE and SP of CA125, HE4, ROMA score, RMI I, RMI IV, and ADNEX model were 0.60 (0.54–0.66) and 0.80 (0.76–0.83); 0.39 (0.30–0.49) and 0.96 (0.94–0.98); 0.59 (0.50–0.68) and 0.92 (0.88–0.95); 0.56 (0.46–0.65) and 0.98 (0.96–0.99); 0.54 (0.44–0.63) and 0.96 (0.94–0.98); 0.82 (0.73–0.88) and 0.91 (0.89–0.94), respectively. The overall AUC was 0.76 (0.74–0.79) for CA125, 0.81 (0.78–0.83) for HE4, 0.82 (0.80–0.85) for ROMA, 0.86 (0.84–0.88) for RMI I, 0.83 (0.81–0.86) for RMI IV, and 0.92 (0.90–0.94) for ADNEX. The NB for ADNEX was higher than other biomarkers and models across all decision thresholds between 5% and 50%. Conclusions: The ADNEX model showed a better discrimination ability and clinical utility when differentiating malignant from benign Ams, compared to CA125, HE4, ROMA score, RMI I, and RMI IV.

21 September 2024 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MMMatteo Marchetti
Matteo Marchetti
GSGiulia Spagnol
Giulia Spagnol
TVTommaso Vezzaro
Tommaso Vezzaro
SBSofia Bigardi
Sofia Bigardi
OTOrazio De Tommasi
Orazio De Tommasi
Marco NoventaMarco Noventa
Marco Noventa
(1) Background: Endometrial carcinoma (EC) classified as no specific molecular profile (NSMP) represents a heterogeneous group with variable prognoses. This retrospective, single-center study aims to further stratify NSMP ECs to tailor treatment strategies and improve outcomes. (2) Methods: From 2020 to 2023, we collected data on 51 patients diagnosed with NSMP EC following the introduction of molecular profiling at our institution. Patients were retrospectively analyzed for estrogen receptor (ER) status, histotype, and grade to identify potential prognostic subgroups. (3) Results: Our analysis identified two distinct subgroups within NSMP EC: low-risk and high-risk, based on ER status, histotype, and grade. The low-risk NSMP group demonstrated significantly better survival outcomes compared to the high-risk group. With a median follow-up time of 16 moths (IQR 13.0–29.7), the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) for the low-risk group were 100%. For the high-risk group, the DFS and OS were 71.4% and 78.6%, respectively, which showed a statistically significantly difference (Log-Rank Mantel-Cox < 0.001). In the high-risk group, four patients experienced recurrence, and three of these patients died. (4) Conclusions: Stratifying NSMP EC into low-risk and high-risk categories based on ER status, histotype, and grade can lead to more accurate prognostic assessments. In time, it may require tailored adjuvant therapies and a personalized treatment.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SBSofia Bigardi
Sofia Bigardi
OTOrazio De Tommasi
Orazio De Tommasi
MTMarta Tripepi
Marta Tripepi
EFEmma Facchetti
Emma Facchetti
MMMatteo Marchetti
Matteo Marchetti
GSGiulia Spagnol
Giulia Spagnol
Background/Objectives: Ultrasound elastography (UE) is a non-invasive imaging technique that evaluates tissue stiffness and may complement conventional ultrasound in the assessment of uterine diseases. This systematic review aimed to summarize the current evidence on the role of strain elastography (SE) and shear wave elastography (SWE) in the diagnosis and management of benign and malignant uterine pathologies. Methods: A systematic literature search of MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase was performed to identify studies published between January 2018 and February 2026. Original studies evaluating UE in adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, cervical lesions, and endometrial pathologies were included. Data were qualitatively synthesized according to pathology type and elastographic technique. Results: Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. In benign myometrial disorders, adenomyosis and uterine fibroids generally showed higher stiffness than normal myometrium, although differentiation between these entities was not always consistent across studies. In cervical disease, malignant and high-grade lesions typically demonstrated increased stiffness compared with benign or low-grade lesions. In endometrial pathology, endometrial carcinoma was generally associated with higher stiffness values than benign lesions and elastography also showed potential in assessing myometrial invasion. Across studies, UE demonstrated promising diagnostic performance, but substantial heterogeneity was observed in acquisition methods, parameters, and reported thresholds. Conclusions: UE appears to be a promising adjunct to conventional ultrasound for the evaluation of uterine pathologies. However, further standardized, large-scale studies are needed to define reproducible protocols and clinically applicable diagnostic thresholds.