Francesco Ditonno

Dr. Francesco Ditonno

AUOI Verona, University of Verona, Department of Urology
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

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

Representative Publications

View All Publications
19 March 2024 in Clinics and Practice
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EBEugenio Bologna
Eugenio Bologna
FDFrancesco Ditonno
Francesco Ditonno
LLLeslie Claire Licari
Leslie Claire Licari
AFAntonio Franco
Antonio Franco
Celeste ManfrediCeleste Manfredi
Celeste Manfredi
GFGiorgio Franco
Giorgio Franco
Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) management is moving towards patient-tailored strategies. Advances in molecular and genetic profiling of tumor tissues, integrated with clinical risk assessments, provide deeper insights into disease aggressiveness. This study aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the pivotal genomic tests supporting PCa treatment decisions, analyzing—through real-world data—trends in their use and the growth of supporting literature evidence. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the extensive PearlDiver™ Mariner database, which contains de-identified patient records, in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were employed to identify patients diagnosed with PCa during the study period—2011 to 2021. We determined the utilization of primary tissue-based genetic tests (Oncocyte DX®, Prolaris®, Decipher®, and ProMark®) across all patients diagnosed with PCa. Subsequently, within the overall PCa cohort, patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) and received genetic testing postoperatively were identified. The yearly distribution of these tests and the corresponding trends were illustrated with graphs. Results: During the study period, 1,561,203 patients with a PCa diagnosis were recorded. Of these, 20,748 underwent tissue-based genetic testing following diagnosis, representing 1.3% of the total cohort. An increasing trend was observed in the use of all genetic tests. Linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant increase over time in the use of individual tests (all p-values < 0.05). Among the patients who underwent RP, 3076 received genetic analysis following surgery, representing 1.27% of this group. Conclusions: Our analysis indicates a growing trend in the utilization of tissue-based genomic testing for PCa. Nevertheless, they are utilized in less than 2% of PCa patients, whether at initial diagnosis or after surgical treatment. Although it is anticipated that their use may increase as more scientific evidence becomes available, their role requires further elucidation.

6 February 2024 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Savio Domenico PandolfoSavio Domenico Pandolfo
Savio Domenico Pandolfo
ZWZhenjie Wu
Zhenjie Wu
RCRiccardo Campi
Riccardo Campi
Riccardo BertoloRiccardo Bertolo
Riccardo Bertolo
DADaniele Amparore
Daniele Amparore
AAAchille Aveta
Achille Aveta
Background: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is increasingly being employed in the management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and it is expanding in the field of complex renal tumors. The aim of this systematic review was to consolidate and assess the results of RAPN when dealing with entirely central hilar masses and to examine the various methods used to address the surgical difficulties associated with them. Methods: A thorough literature search in September 2023 across various databases focused on RAPN for renal hilar masses, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. The primary goal was to evaluate RAPN’s surgical and functional outcomes, with a secondary aim of examining different surgical techniques. Out of 1250 records, 13 full-text manuscripts were reviewed. Results: Evidence is growing in favor of RAPN for renal hilar masses. Despite a predominance of retrospective studies and a lack of long-term data, RAPN shows positive surgical outcomes and preserves renal function without compromising cancer treatment effectiveness. Innovative suturing and clamping methods are emerging in surgical management. Conclusions: RAPN is a promising technique for managing renal hilar masses in RCC, offering effective surgical outcomes and renal function preservation. The study highlights the need for more long-term data and prospective studies to further validate these findings.

5 August 2023 in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
FDFrancesco Ditonno
Francesco Ditonno
AFAntonio Franco
Antonio Franco
CMCeleste Manfredi
Celeste Manfredi
AVAlessandro Veccia
Alessandro Veccia
MVMassimo Valerio
Massimo Valerio
RARiccardo Autorino
Riccardo Autorino

7 May 2024 in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
LLLeslie Claire Licari
Leslie Claire Licari
EBEugenio Bologna
Eugenio Bologna
Celeste ManfrediCeleste Manfredi
Celeste Manfredi
AFAntonio Franco
Antonio Franco
FDFrancesco Ditonno
Francesco Ditonno
RARiccardo Autorino
Riccardo Autorino

26 January 2024 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EBEugenio Bologna
Eugenio Bologna
LLLeslie Claire Licari
Leslie Claire Licari
Celeste ManfrediCeleste Manfredi
Celeste Manfredi
FDFrancesco Ditonno
Francesco Ditonno
LCLuigi Cirillo
Luigi Cirillo
LNLuigi Napolitano
Luigi Napolitano
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most frequent type of infection observed in clinical practice. Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae are common pathogens in UTIs. Excessive antibiotic use in humans and animals, poor infection control, and increased global travel have accelerated the spread of multidrug-resistant strains (MDR). Carbapenem antibiotics are commonly considered the last line of defense against MDR Gram-negative bacteria; however, their efficacy is now threatened by the increasing prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). This comprehensive review aims to explore the biological mechanisms underlying carbapenem resistance and to present a focus on therapeutic alternatives currently available for complicated UTIs (cUTIs). A comprehensive bibliographic search was conducted on the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases in December 2023. The best evidence on the topic was selected, described, and discussed. Analyzed with particular interest were the clinical trials pivotal to the introduction of new pharmacological treatments in the management of complicated cUTIs. Additional suitable articles were collected by manually cross-referencing the bibliography of previously selected papers. This overview provides a current and comprehensive examination of the treatment options available for CRE infections, offering a valuable resource for understanding this constantly evolving public health challenge.

17 November 2023 in Medicina
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FDFrancesco Ditonno
Francesco Ditonno
AFAntonio Franco
Antonio Franco
Celeste ManfrediCeleste Manfredi
Celeste Manfredi
Daniela FasanellaDaniela Fasanella
Daniela Fasanella
MAMarco Abate
Marco Abate
LNLuigi Napolitano
Luigi Napolitano
Background and Objectives: Despite advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of testicular germ cell tumours (TGTCs), challenges persist in identifying reliable biomarkers for early detection and precise disease management. This narrative review addresses the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets in the treatment of TGCTs. Materials and Methods: Three databases (PubMed®, Web of Science™, and Scopus®) were queried for studies investigating the utility of miRNA as diagnostic tools, assessing their prognostic significance, and evaluating their potential to guide TGCT treatment. Different combinations of the following keywords were used, according to a free-text protocol: “miRNA”, “non-coding RNA”, “small RNA”, “Testicular Cancer”, “seminomatous testicular germ cell”, “non-seminomatous testicular germ cell”. Results: The potential of miRNAs as possible biomarkers for a non-invasive diagnosis of TGCT is appealing. Their integration into the diagnostic pathway for TGCT patients holds the potential to enhance the discriminative power of conventional serum tumour markers (STMs) and could expedite early diagnosis, given that miRNA overexpression was observed in 50% of GCNIS cases. Among miRNAs, miR-371a-3p stands out with the most promising evidence, suggesting its relevance in the primary diagnosis of TGCT, particularly when conventional STMs offer limited value. Indeed, it demonstrated high specificity (90–99%) and sensitivity (84–89%), with good positive predictive value (97.2%) and negative predictive value (82.7%). Furthermore, a direct relationship between miRNA concentration, disease burden, and treatment response exists, regardless of disease stages. The initial evidence of miRNA decrease in response to surgical treatment and systemic chemotherapy has been further supported by more recent results suggesting the potential utility of this tool not only in evaluating treatment response but also in monitoring residual disease and predicting disease relapse. Conclusions: MiRNAs could represent a reliable tool for accurate diagnosis and disease monitoring in the treatment of TGCT, providing more precise tools for early detection and treatment stratification. Nevertheless, well-designed clinical trials and comprehensive long-term data are needed to ensure their translation into effective clinical tools.