Giulia Spagnol

Giulia Spagnol


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-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.

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.