Phong Van Pham

Dr. Phong Van Pham

orcid

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

View All Publications
14 January 2026 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Giustino VarrassiGiustino Varrassi
Giustino Varrassi
APAntonella Paladini
Antonella Paladini
Van Y TranVan Y Tran
Van Y Tran
PPPhong Van Pham
Phong Van Pham
Ameen Al AlwanyAmeen Al Alwany
Ameen Al Alwany
MLMatteo Luigi Giuseppe Leoni
Matteo Luigi Giuseppe Leoni
Background/Objectives: Cancer pain affects 55–95% of patients with advanced malignancy, representing a complex syndrome involving nociceptive, neuropathic and nociplastic mechanisms. Despite therapeutic advances, two-thirds of patients with metastatic cancer experience inadequate pain control. This scoping review synthesizes recent advances in cancer pain pathophysiology and management, focusing on molecular and cellular mechanisms, emerging pharmacological, interventional and technological therapies and key evidence gaps to inform future precision-based pain management strategies. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR methodology, we searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between January 2022 and September 2025. After screening 3412 records, 278 studies were included and analyzed across different domains: biological mechanisms, pharmacological management, interventional and neuromodulatory approaches, radiotherapy developments, and digital health innovations. Results: Recent mechanistic research reveals cancer pain arises from tumor–neuron–immune crosstalk, with malignant cells secreting neurotrophic factors that promote axonal sprouting and nociceptor sensitization. Genetic polymorphisms and epigenetic modifications contribute to inter-individual pain variability. Management strategies are evolving toward multimodal precision medicine: NSAIDs and opioids remain foundational, complemented by adjuvant agents and interventional procedures including nerve blocks, intrathecal delivery, and neuromodulation (spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion stimulation). Stereotactic body radiotherapy demonstrates superior analgesic durability versus conventional approaches. Digital health innovations, such as mobile applications, remote monitoring, wearables, and AI-enabled predictive models, enable continuous assessment and personalized treatment optimization. Conclusions: Cancer pain management is transitioning toward mechanism-based precision medicine integrating biological insights, advanced interventional techniques, and digital technologies. However, implementation challenges persist, including limited randomized trials for interventional approaches, the incomplete external validation of AI tools, and digital health equity concerns. Future research must prioritize prospective controlled studies and equitable integration into routine care.

3 August 2026 in Pain and Therapy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Y Van TranY Van Tran
Y Van Tran
PPPhong Van Pham
Phong Van Pham
MEMiguel Narvaez Encinas
Miguel Narvaez Encinas
Piercarlo Sarzi-PuttiniPiercarlo Sarzi-Puttini
Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini
DMDariusz Myrcik
Dariusz Myrcik
Giustino VarrassiGiustino Varrassi
Giustino Varrassi
Regenerative medicine has emerged as a transformative paradigm in contemporary healthcare, shifting the therapeutic focus from symptomatic management toward the restoration of tissue structure and function through biologically active interventions. Within this framework, adipose-derived products have attracted substantial interest owing to their relative abundance, ease of harvesting, and rich cellular and paracrine composition, including mesenchymal stromal cells, pericytes, and bioactive mediators with immunomodulatory potential. Among these technologies, microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) constitutes an innovative, minimally manipulated approach because it preserves the native stromal vascular niche and extracellular matrix architecture while avoiding enzymatic processing. This characteristic not only maintains biological integrity but also facilitates regulatory compliance in multiple jurisdictions. This narrative review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the current evidence on microfragmented adipose tissue in pain management, integrating biological rationale, mechanistic insights, and clinical applications across musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain conditions. Particular attention is devoted to its capacity to modulate inflammatory pathways, promote angiogenesis, and support tissue regeneration within complex pathological environments. In addition, the review critically appraises the methodological limitations of existing clinical studies, including heterogeneity of design and limited high-quality randomized evidence. Finally, future perspectives are explored, emphasizing the integration of precision medicine approaches, biomarker-driven patient stratification, and combinatorial regenerative strategies to optimize therapeutic outcomes.

13 April 2026 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
Y Van TranY Van Tran
Y Van Tran
PPPhong Van Pham
Phong Van Pham
MEMiguel Narvaez Encinas
Miguel Narvaez Encinas
Piercarlo Sarzi-PuttiniPiercarlo Sarzi-Puttini
Piercarlo Sarzi-Puttini
DMDariusz Myrcik
Dariusz Myrcik
Giustino VarrassiGiustino Varrassi
Giustino Varrassi
Regenerative medicine has emerged as a transformative paradigm in contemporary healthcare, shifting the therapeutic focus from symptomatic management toward the restoration of tissue structure and function through biologically active interventions. Within this framework, adipose-derived products have attracted substantial interest owing to their relative abundance, ease of harvesting, and rich cellular and paracrine composition, including mesenchymal stromal cells, pericytes, and bioactive mediators with immunomodulatory potential. Among these technologies, Lipogems® represents an innovative approach based on minimally manipulated microfragmented adipose tissue, because it preserves the native stromal vascular niche and extracellular matrix architecture while avoiding enzymatic processing. This characteristic not only maintains biological integrity but also facilitates regulatory compliance in multiple jurisdictions. This narrative review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the current evidence on Lipogems®, integrating biological rationale, mechanistic insights, and clinical applications across musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain conditions. Particular attention is devoted to its capacity to modulate inflammatory pathways, promote angiogenesis, and support tissue regeneration within complex pathological environments. In addition, the review critically appraises the methodological limitations of existing clinical studies, including heterogeneity of design and limited high-quality randomized evidence. Finally, future perspectives are explored, emphasizing the integration of precision medicine approaches, biomarker-driven patient stratification, and combinatorial regenerative strategies aimed at optimizing therapeutic outcomes.

1 July 2026 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
Giustino VarrassiGiustino Varrassi
Giustino Varrassi
Y Van TranY Van Tran
Y Van Tran
Giacomo FarìGiacomo Farì
Giacomo Farì
MEMiguel Narvaez Encinas
Miguel Narvaez Encinas
PPPhong Van Pham
Phong Van Pham
MLMatteo Luigi Giuseppe Leoni
Matteo Luigi Giuseppe Leoni
Neurodegenerative diseases represent a major and growing global health burden characterized by progressive neuronal dysfunction, axonal degeneration, and irreversible neural tissue loss. Increasing evidence identifies oxidative stress as a central pathogenic mechanism in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and several optic neuropathies. Interest has increasingly focused on the brain-retina axis, as the retina and optic nerve share structural, metabolic, and molecular features with the central nervous system and may provide accessible insights into neurodegeneration.This scoping review mapped current evidence on oxidative stress in neurodegeneration, emphasizing cranial nerve involvement, optic nerve vulnerability, retinal ganglion cell degeneration, visual dysfunction, oxidative biomarkers, and emerging therapeutic strategies. The review followed established methodological frameworks and PRISMA-ScR recommendations.The literature shows that oxidative stress interacts with mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, impaired mitophagy, ferroptosis, and altered bioenergetics, contributing to neuronal injury in cerebral and retinal disorders. Retinal ganglion cells appear particularly vulnerable because of their high metabolic demands and reliance on oxidative phosphorylation. Glaucoma and other optic neuropathies share molecular signatures with central neurodegenerative diseases. Retinal imaging and oxidative biomarkers show promise for diagnosis, monitoring, and stratification. Overall, oxidative stress emerges as a convergent mechanism across the brain-retina continuum, supporting biomarker-driven neuroprotection and precision medicine.

30 July 2026 in Antioxidants
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Giustino VarrassiGiustino Varrassi
Giustino Varrassi
Y Van TranY Van Tran
Y Van Tran
Giacomo FarìGiacomo Farì
Giacomo Farì
MEMiguel Narvaez Encinas
Miguel Narvaez Encinas
Alberto CorrieroAlberto Corriero
Alberto Corriero
MLMatteo Luigi Giuseppe Leoni
Matteo Luigi Giuseppe Leoni
Neurodegenerative diseases represent a major and growing global health burden characterized by progressive neuronal dysfunction, axonal degeneration, and irreversible neural tissue loss. Increasing evidence identifies oxidative stress as one of several interacting pathogenic mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and several optic neuropathies. Interest has increasingly focused on the brain-retina axis, as the retina and optic nerve share structural, metabolic, and molecular features with the central nervous system and may provide accessible insights into neurodegeneration. This scoping review mapped current evidence on oxidative stress in neurodegeneration, emphasizing cranial nerve involvement, optic nerve vulnerability, retinal ganglion cell degeneration, visual dysfunction, oxidative biomarkers, and emerging therapeutic strategies. The review followed established methodological frameworks and PRISMA-ScR recommendations; no formal risk-of-bias appraisal was undertaken, consistent with scoping-review methodology. The literature shows that oxidative stress interacts with mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, impaired mitophagy, ferroptosis, and altered bioenergetics, contributing to neuronal injury in cerebral and retinal disorders. Retinal ganglion cells appear particularly vulnerable because of their high metabolic demands and reliance on oxidative phosphorylation. Glaucoma and other optic neuropathies share molecular signatures with central neurodegenerative diseases. Retinal imaging and oxidative biomarkers show promise for diagnosis, monitoring, and stratification. The evidence base is nonetheless dominated by preclinical work; biomarker performance is inconsistent across matrices and assay platforms and most antioxidant clinical trials have been negative. Oxidative stress is therefore best regarded as one interacting node of a broader pathogenic network rather than a universal or predominant driver and the brain-retina continuum as a mechanistically plausible but not yet clinically validated framework for biomarker-guided neuroprotection.

2 March 2026 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
Giustino VarrassiGiustino Varrassi
Giustino Varrassi
Y Van TranY Van Tran
Y Van Tran
PPPhong Van Pham
Phong Van Pham
Ameen Al AlwanyAmeen Al Alwany
Ameen Al Alwany
DMDariusz Myrcik
Dariusz Myrcik
MLMatteo Luigi Giuseppe Leoni
Matteo Luigi Giuseppe Leoni
Background: Determining loss of consciousness during slaughter in calves is fundamentally a neurobiological challenge requiring distinction between cortical awareness and subcortical reflex activity. Electroencephalography (EEG) and evoked potentials directly assess cortical responsiveness, while cerebral blood flow (CBF) constitutes the upstream physiological determinant of cortical viability. Aim: To synthesize current evidence on neurologic effects of slaughter modalities in calves, integrating electrophysiological and cerebral perfusion data within a mechanistic framework relevant to welfare monitoring and policy. Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted following SANRA principles. PubMed/MEDLINE was searched from inception to January 2026 using combinations of terms related to calves, cattle, EEG, evoked potentials, cerebral blood flow, stunning, and exsanguination. Inclusion was limited to peer-reviewed, PubMed-indexed studies reporting neurophysiologic endpoints in cattle or calves. EFSA scientific opinions were consulted for contextual interpretation. Results: Effective penetrating captive bolt and appropriately applied electrical stunning produce cortical lesions compatible with rapid unconsciousness. Exsanguination without prior stunning induces rapidly progressive cerebral hypoperfusion leading to cortical failure typically within seconds, with measurable inter-individual variability. Animal-based measures (ABMs) demonstrate imperfect concordance with cortical endpoints. Integration of EEG with perfusion metrics would provide a physiologically coherent method to distinguish concussive suppression, post-ictal states, and ischemic cortical failure. Conclusions: EEG and evoked potentials remain the strongest markers of cortical unconsciousness in calves. Complementary assessment of CBF can reduce interpretive uncertainty and enhance welfare monitoring precision.