Publications (19)128.66 Total impact
-
Article: Chickenpox-related Pulmonary Granulomas in Immunocompetent Adults: Clinicopathologic and Molecular Features of an Underrated Occurrence.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Pulmonary granulomas represent a common inflammatory reaction to several lung infective or noninfective diseases. However, little is known about the histology and clinical presentation of chickenpox-related granulomas in immunocompetent subjects. We collected a series of 8 adult patients (mean age, 40 y; range, 33 to 53 y) with several bilateral pulmonary granulomas incidentally discovered after imaging studies. All patients were asymptomatic and had experienced a varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection as adults but were clinically suspected to have a metastatic neoplasm of unknown origin. Chest computed tomography scan revealed numerous, tiny (few millimeters to 1 cm in size) nodules randomly dispersed through the lungs. Positron emission tomography scan performed in 4 patients was negative. All patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical resection and were still alive and well. At histology, granulomas consisted of well-defined, rounded, small nodules centered by a deeply eosinophilic, acellular necrosis rimmed by lamellar dense collagen and a chronic inflammatory infiltrate with or without multinucleated giant cells. Chickenpox-related granulomas were included in the differential diagnosis along with several other granulomatous diseases. Polymerase chain reaction-based molecular analysis for VZV performed on paraffin sections detected VZV DNA in all 8 cases. By contrast, 85 cases of pulmonary granulomas of different etiologies were simultaneously studied by molecular analysis with negative results. Pathologists should be familiar with the peculiar morphologic appearance of chickenpox-related granulomas. A careful search for a history of VZV infection in adulthood and molecular studies may be very helpful in confirming the diagnosis.The American journal of surgical pathology 10/2012; 36(10):1497-502. · 4.06 Impact Factor -
Article: A single institution-based retrospective study of surgically treated bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma of the lung: clinicopathologic analysis, molecular features, and possible pitfalls in routine practice.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Prognostic evaluation of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) from a homogenous population of Caucasian patients. Retrospective analysis of resected BAC reclassified according to the 2004 World Health Organization classification of lung tumors. Analyzed variables are clinicoradiologic presentation, histologic subtypes, stage, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2/neu immunohistochemical expression, EGFR exons 18, 19, and 21 mutations, K-RAS exon 2 mutation. Univariate and multivariate analyses of survival were performed. Of 40 patients analyzed, EGFR and HER2/neu expression were detected in 72% and 20%, respectively. HER2/neu expression significantly characterized mucinous BAC (46% versus 7%; p = 0.014). EGFR mutations were identified in 17% (30% in nonmucinous BAC and none in mucinous BAC; p = 0.083). K-RAS mutations were found in 42.5% (92% in mucinous BAC versus 18% in other types; p 0.0001). Early stages (IA+IB) nonmucinous BAC had excellent prognosis: 5 years overall survival of 91% (100% for stage IA). Sixty six percent (4 of 6) of patients with multifocal disease died (two mucinous BAC and one nonmucinous BAC with recurrent disease). Seventy one percent (5 of 7) of patients with pneumonic-like tumor (all mucinous BAC) died of recurrent/progressive disease. Stage (p = 0.004) and histologic classifications (p = 0.035) resulted as independent prognostic factors at multivariate analysis. Early stage nonmucinous BAC has excellent prognosis, whereas mucinous BAC presents a poor prognosis. Locally advanced nonmucinous BAC has a poor prognosis: the diagnosis of nonmucinous BAC in large tumors should be interpreted with caution given the possible presence of invasive areas in incompletely sampled tumor. Coexpression of EGFR and HER2/neu in mucinous BAC could be considered for future trials on target therapies even in Caucasian population.Journal of thoracic oncology: official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 06/2010; 5(6):830-6. · 4.55 Impact Factor -
Article: Predictors of gefitinib outcomes in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): study of a comprehensive panel of molecular markers.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: A number of different clinical characteristics and molecular markers related to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation have been reported to singly correlate with therapeutic activity of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was designed to evaluate the predictive value on gefitinib outcomes of a comprehensive panel of molecular parameters in advanced NSCLC patients. EGFR and K-ras mutations were detected by direct sequencing on tumor DNA from paraffin embedded samples. EGFR and HER2 gene copy number was assessed by FISH. EGFR protein expression was quantified by immunohistochemistry. EGFR gene intron 1 polymorphism was assessed on genomic DNA isolated from venous whole blood samples. Ninety-one patients were prospectively enrolled and the overall gefitinib response rate was 18.7% (2 complete and 15 partial responses). Sex (p=0.005), non-smoking status (p=0.010), skin toxicity (p=0.020), EGFR gene mutations (p<0.001) and EGFR FISH positivity (p=0.016) were found to be associated with gefitinib response. K-ras mutation was detected in only seven non-responder patients. The median overall survival was of 10 months. Only non-smoking status and EGFR intron 1 polymorphism showed a statistically significant correlation with survival (p=0.031 and 0.044, respectively). In conclusion, we have confirmed the role of EGFR gene mutation as predictor of response to EGFR TKIs. Moreover, EGFR gene copy number and, potentially, also EGFR intron 1 polymorphism could aid in better prediction of EGFR TKI responsiveness in advanced NSCLC.Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 06/2009; 67(3):355-60. · 3.14 Impact Factor -
Article: EGFR and K-ras mutations along the spectrum of pulmonary epithelial tumors of the lung and elaboration of a combined clinicopathologic and molecular scoring system to predict clinical responsiveness to EGFR inhibitors.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We tested 418 neoplasms along the whole spectrum of primary lung tumor histotypes for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and K-ras mutations. Clinicopathologic data from 154 patients undergoing treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) were retrospectively studied. A scoring system assigning a score for each positive or negative characteristic (+1, female sex, nonsmoking status, adenocarcinoma histotype, Asian ethnicity, and EGFR mutation; -1, current smoker and K-ras mutation; and 0, male sex, ex-smoker, nonadenocarcinoma histotype, and no mutations) was elaborated and tested with EGFR-TKI response. Salivary gland-type, mucin-rich, and neuroendocrine tumors do not harbor EGFR mutations. A subset of nonmucinous adenocarcinomas, not necessarily of the bronchioloalveolar type, is related to EGFR mutations. Three probability groups significantly correlating with response to EGFR-TKIs were identified. Of note, the addition of molecular results did not significantly change the predictive value obtained by the combination of clinicopathologic characteristics alone in this scoring system. K-ras mutations, significantly associated with the mucin-secreting type of adenocarcinoma, consistently predict lack of response in white patients.American Journal of Clinical Pathology 05/2009; 131(4):478-89. · 2.60 Impact Factor -
Article: A rare cause of fever and PET-positive nodules in the lungs.
The Clinical Respiratory Journal 04/2009; 3(2):118-20. · 1.06 Impact Factor -
Article: Bronchopulmonary actinomycosis associated with hiatal hernia.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To describe clinicoradiologic and histopathologic features of bronchopulmonary actinomycosis and to determine whether hiatal hernia (HH) is a potential predisposing factor for bronchopulmonary actinomycosis. We reviewed the medical charts of 10 patients who had bronchopulmonary actinomycosis between November 1, 2002, and January 31, 2008. Complete clinical data, radiologic studies (chest radiographs and computed tomographic scans), and histopathologic features were assessed to investigate clinical manifestations and predisposing factors related to bronchopulmonary actinomycosis. The series consisted of 6 men and 4 women, with a mean age of 63.5 years; 8 of the patients were smokers. Cough and fever were the most common symptoms. Chest imaging showed mass-like consolidation in 4 patients, bronchial thickening or lung atelectasis with pleural thickening in 2 patients each, and perihilar irregular mass or multiple bilateral nodules in 1 patient each. Primary or metastatic lung cancer was suspected clinically in 8 of the 10 patients. Foreign body-related endobronchial actinomycosis was diagnosed in 6 patients, 5 of whom had HH; only 1 had gastroesophageal reflux-related symptoms. Because of bronchial obstruction, rigid bronchoscopy was performed in 3 patients, lobectomy in 2, and atypical resection in 1. Antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin was given to all patients, with resolution of actinomycosis. Bronchopulmonary actinomycosis is a rare condition that mimics pulmonary malignancy on clinical and radiologic grounds. Diagnosis relies on an accurate patient history and histopathologic examination. Although further confirmation is required, esophageal HH appears to be a potential predisposing factor.Mayo Clinic Proceedings 03/2009; 84(2):123-8. · 5.70 Impact Factor -
Article: Recurrent pleural and pericardium effusions in a white woman with IgG4-related syndrome.
The American journal of surgical pathology 03/2009; 33(5):802-3. · 4.06 Impact Factor -
Article: Eosinophilic globules in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease: a diagnostically useful, previously unreported finding in a retrospective and prospective study, including differential diagnosis with other idiopathic and secondary interstitial lung diseases.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a minimally invasive method possibly representing a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) of different causes. We first describe herein the morphologic, histochemical, and immunohistochemical features of previously unreported eosinophilic globular deposits of acellular amorphous material of uncertain nature in a relatively large series of 227 BAL samples obtained from patients with various ILDs. Overall, eosinophilic globules were detected in 18 cases (7.9%), 16 of which were in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related ILD (16/50 [32%]) and in 2 cases of apparently idiopathic usual interstitial pneumonia. Apart from the possible diagnostic information of this finding, in patients with SSc, the globules were significantly related to BAL neutrophilia or eosinophilia and extensive ILD in high-resolution computed tomography (P < .0001). Differential diagnosis with other types of acellular globular materials observed in BAL samples is also discussed.American Journal of Clinical Pathology 12/2008; 130(6):927-33. · 2.60 Impact Factor -
Article: Traumatic neuroma of the bronchi: bronchoscopy and histology of a hitherto unreported lesion.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: An abstract is unavailable. This article is available as HTML full text and PDF.American Journal of Surgical Pathology 05/2008; 32(4):640-1. · 4.35 Impact Factor -
Article: A subset of lung adenocarcinomas and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia-associated foci are genotypically related: an EGFR, HER2, and K-ras mutational analysis.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) is considered the preinvasive lesion of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, and mutations of EGFR, HER2, and K-ras are involved in the early stage of lung adenocarcinoma carcinogenesis, also predicting clinical response to anti-EGFR small molecule inhibitors. We analyzed 18 cases of primary lung adenocarcinoma with concomitant AAH foci from 13 patients for mutations of EGFR (exons 18-21), HER2 (exons 19-20), and K-ras (exon 2) by direct sequencing polymerase chain reaction. Among mutated cases, concordant mutations of EGFR or K-ras in adenocarcinoma and related AAH were observed in 5 (63%) of 8 cases. In particular, 3 of 4 adenocarcinomas with EGFR mutations (all L858R point mutations in women, never or former smokers) had a concomitant and identical mutation in AAH, and 2 of 4 adenocarcinomas with K-ras mutations (both at codon 12 in women, a never and a current smoker) showed the same mutation in concomitant AAH. All cases were wild-type for HER2. Mutations of EGFR and K-ras genes represent an early event in lung adenocarcinomagenesis, and AAH convincingly seems to be a precursor lesion in a subset of cases of adenocarcinoma.American Journal of Clinical Pathology 03/2008; 129(2):202-10. · 2.60 Impact Factor -
Article: Occurrence of pleural masses in a chronic pleural pyothorax.
Journal of thoracic oncology: official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 11/2007; 2(10):968-9. · 4.55 Impact Factor -
Article: Primary lung cancer presenting with gastrointestinal tract involvement: clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features in a series of 18 consecutive cases.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Lung cancer initially manifesting as gastrointestinal (GI)-tract metastasis is exceedingly rare, representing a diagnostic challenge and a late-stage disease sign. The clinicopathologic characteristics of the largest series of lung carcinomas initially presenting with GI involvement were described, focusing on differential diagnosis and therapeutic options. Eighteen consecutive cases of lung cancer (11 surgical specimens and 7 biopsies) initially diagnosed on GI histologic samples were identified during routine pathologist practice. All cases were immunostained with thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), caudal-related homeobox 2 (CDX2), and cytokeratins 7 (CK7) and 20 (CK20). Clinical and radiological data were obtained in all cases. There were 10 women and 8 men with a mean age of 68.5 years. The small bowel was the most common GI involved site (12 cases), followed by the stomach (four) and large intestine (two). Only half of cases were correctly diagnosed on GI biopsies. Fourteen patients died shortly from disease (mean follow-up, 3 months); two are still alive with multiple metastases, and two patients with the GI tract as the unique site of metastasis underwent pulmonary lobectomy and chemotherapy and are alive without evidence of disease. At morphology, there were 10 large cell undifferentiated carcinomas and eight adenocarcinomas. All cases were immunostained for CK7 and 89% for TTF-1, whereas CK20 and CDX2 were completely negative. Lung cancer presenting as GI-tract metastasis is probably more frequent than expected, and pathologists should always keep in mind this possibility when dealing with undifferentiated GI carcinoma. Immunostaining with TTF-1, CDX2, CK7, and CK20 is helpful in highlighting lung primary. Although GI metastasis from lung cancer is associated with dismal outcomes, pulmonary resection coupled with chemotherapy might represent a therapeutic option in selected patients with a solitary GI-tract metastasis.Journal of thoracic oncology: official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 03/2007; 2(2):115-20. · 4.55 Impact Factor -
Article: Role of chemotherapy and the receptor tyrosine kinases KIT, PDGFRalpha, PDGFRbeta, and Met in large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a relatively uncommon, high-grade neuroendocrine tumor sharing several features with small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) but currently considered as a variant of non-SCLC and accordingly treated with poor results. Little is known about the optimal therapy of LCNEC and the possible therapeutic molecular targets. We reviewed 83 patients with pure pulmonary LCNEC to investigate their clinicopathologic features, therapeutic strategy, and immunohistochemical expression and the mutational status of the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) KIT, PDGFRalpha, PDGFRbeta, and Met. LCNEC histology predicted a dismal outcome (overall median survival, 17 months) even in stage I patients (5-year survival rate, 33%). LCNEC strongly expressed RTKs (KIT in 62.7% of patients, PDGFRalpha in 60.2%, PDGFRbeta in 81.9%, and Met in 47%), but no mutations were detected in the exons encoding for the relevant juxtamembrane domains. Tumor stage and size (> or = 3 cm) and Met expression were significantly correlated with survival. At univariate and multivariate analysis, SCLC-based chemotherapy (platinum-etoposide) was the most important variable correlating with survival, both in the adjuvant and metastatic settings (P < .0001). Pulmonary LCNEC represents an aggressive tumor requiring multimodal treatment even for resectable stage I disease, and LCNEC seems to respond to adjuvant platinum-etoposide-based chemotherapy. Patients who received this therapy had the best survival rate. Despite our failure in finding mutational events in the tested RTKs, the strong expression of KIT, PDGFRalpha, PDGFRbeta, and Met in tumor cells suggests an important role of these RTKs in LCNEC, and these RTKs seem to be attractive therapeutic targets.Journal of Clinical Oncology 12/2005; 23(34):8774-85. · 18.37 Impact Factor -
Article: TTF-1, cytokeratin 7, 34betaE12, and CD56/NCAM immunostaining in the subclassification of large cell carcinomas of the lung.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We selected a 4-stain immunopanel including thyroid transcription factor (7ITF)-], cytokeratin (CK)7, 34betaE12, and CD56/neural cell adhesion molecule(NCAM) to subclassify a series of 45 pulmonary large cell carcinomas (LCCs) on bronchial biopsy. All cases consisted of a large tumor cell proliferation with abundant cytoplasm, vesicular nuclei, and prominent nucleoli. Immunohistochemically, 27 tumors (60%)were subclassified as adenocarcinoma (7TF-1 +/CK7+,24; CK7+ only, 3), 10 (22%) as squamous cell carcinoma (34betaE12+ only), and 4 (9%) as LCC with neuroendocrine differentiation (CD56+, variably stained with TTF-I and CK7, 34betaE12-). In 4 cases, the tumors coexpressed CK7 and 34betaE12 (3 cases) or were completely unstained (I case). Surgically resected tumors matched exactly with the corresponding original biopsy specimens in 21 of 23 cases; consistent CD56 expression was a reliable marker in confirming a diagnosis of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma even on biopsy. Our results suggest that the proposed 4-stainset of commercially available markers might help subclassify LCC even in small biopsy material, validating expression-profiling studies aimed at lung cancer classification and permitting more consistent patient enrollment for trials with targeted treatments.American Journal of Clinical Pathology 01/2005; 122(6):884-93. · 2.60 Impact Factor -
Article: EGFR mutations and sensitivity to gefitinib.
New England Journal of Medicine 10/2004; 351(12):1260-1; author reply 1260-1. · 53.30 Impact Factor -
Article: Primary mucinous (so-called colloid) carcinomas of the lung: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study with special reference to CDX-2 homeobox gene and MUC2 expression.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Herein we describe the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of 13 primary mucinous (colloid) carcinomas (MCs) of the lung, an uncommon and controversial tumor. The patients, 7 males and 6 females, ranged in age from 50 to 79 years (mean, 64.5 years). All the tumors presented as a peripheral solitary nodule with gelatinous cut-surface and well circumscribed but lacking a complete fibrous wall. The size ranged from 1 to 5.5 cm. Microscopically, they consisted of neoplastic elements floating in large mucin pools and focally lining the alveolar spaces. Eleven cases were predominantly composed of tall, columnar goblet cells (goblet cell-type MC), while 2 consisted of signet-ring tumor cells (signet-ring cell-type MC). Five tumors were incidentally discovered by chest radiographs, while the others were symptomatic. All patients underwent complete surgical resection (six lobectomies and seven wedge resections). Postoperative chemotherapy was performed in 3 cases. Overall, the median follow-up was 26 months (mean 33 months; range 9-95 months). All patients with goblet cell-type MC were alive and well, while the 2 patients with signet-ring cell-type MC died of disease. Immunohistochemically, all the 11 goblet cell-type MCs were strongly stained with CDX-2 and MUC2, 8 reacted with TTF-1, 6 with cytokeratin 20 (CK20), 9 with cytokeratin 7 (CK7), and 2 with MUC-5AC. Conversely, the two signet-ring cell-type MCs were stained with TTF-1, CK7, and MUC5AC but were negative for CDX-2, MUC2, and CK20. Surfactant apoprotein-A (SP-A) was positive in four goblet cell-type and one signet-ring cell-type MC. When compared with 10 mucinous bronchioloalveolar carcinomas (m-BAC), the latter reacted with CK7, CK20, MUC5AC, TTF-1, SP-A, CDX-2, and MUC2 in 100%, 90%, 100%, 30%, 10%, 0%, and 0% of the cases, respectively. In summary, MC of the lung represents an entity with two distinct clinicopathologic and immunophenotypic variants: 1) the goblet cell-type, presenting a more indolent clinical behavior and frequently co-expressing markers of intestinal and pulmonary differentiation; and 2) the more aggressive signet-ring cell-type, which retains only markers of pulmonary origin. On morphologic and immunohistochemical grounds, MCs are easily distinguishable from m-BAC. Since goblet cell-type MC strongly stains with CDX2, MUC2, and CK20, differential diagnosis with metastatic colorectal carcinoma is very challenging and requires appropriate clinical correlation.American Journal of Surgical Pathology 05/2004; 28(4):442-52. · 4.35 Impact Factor -
Article: Kit expression in small cell carcinomas of the lung: effects of chemotherapy.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: A significant number of small cell lung carcinomas shows overexpression of the proto-oncogene c-kit product, a tyrosine kinase known as Kit or CD117. This molecular pathway seems somewhat implicated in promoting the neoplastic growth of small cell lung carcinoma. The current pharmacological availability of its selective inhibitor, together with the promising clinical results in the management of CD117-positive neoplasms such as advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors, aroused great interest among oncologists in also adopting this therapeutic strategy in other CD117-positive tumors. We evaluated a series of 27 small cell lung carcinomas, comparing the expression of CD117 of the primary naïve tumor (before first-line chemotherapy) with the expression of the same neoplasm after postchemotherapy relapse. All the patients underwent similar chemotherapeutic regimens (cisplatin/carboplatin plus etoposide). At diagnosis, 21 of 27 cases (78%) showed strong immunoreactivity for CD117. Among these 21 originally positive tumors, CD117 remained overexpressed in 10 after relapse (48%), whereas the other 11 cases became negative. No originally CD117-negative small cell carcinomas displayed immunoreactivity after chemotherapy. CD117 expression was not statistically correlated with overall survival, occurrence of chemoresistance, or clinical response to chemotherapy. We also evaluated CD117 expression in a series of 46 surgically resected non-small cell lung carcinomas (8 squamous cell carcinomas, 10 adenocarcinomas, 5 pleomorphic carcinomas, 10 typical and 3 atypical carcinoids, and 10 large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas). Apart from small cell carcinomas, CD117 overexpression was observed in 6 of 10 large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, whereas all the other histotypes resulted unstained. We speculate that loss of CD117 expression after chemotherapy in a high proportion of SCLC indicates that in this tumor, Kit unlikely represents the product of a constitutive mutation, as instead shown in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Keeping this finding in mind, oncologists could re-test CD117 expression in relapsing small cell lung carcinomas in order to establish the best candidates for enrollment in ongoing clinical trials with Kit inhibitors. Practically speaking, CD117 may be helpful in discriminating between pulmonary high-grade neuroendocrine tumors and other histotypes, but pathologists should be aware that treated small cell lung carcinomas may remain unstained in a not insignificant number of cases.Modern Pathology 11/2003; 16(10):1041-7. · 4.79 Impact Factor -
Article: Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: report of a case diagnosed using multidetector CT.
La radiologia medica 05/2003; 105(4):381-6. · 1.44 Impact Factor -
Article: Histotype in non-small cell lung cancer therapy and staging: the emerging role of an old and underrated factor
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Therapeutic management of lung cancer is mainly based on a dichotomic distinction between small cell (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), tumour stage and patient performance status. However, crossing the re-cent data emerging from molecular studies of gene expression profiling, from the new 2004-WHO histopathological clas-sification of lung tumours as well as from clinical trials with newl targeted therapies against EGFR (gefit-inib/erlotinib/cetuximab), it seems that a better definition of tumour histotype in NSCLC might somehow be helpful in predicting clinical response and patient outcome. In addition, lung tumours histotype may deeply influence the tumour stage when assessing parameters (i.e., pulmonary atelectasis, pleural invasion, tumour dimension) defining the current lung tumours staging system. Thus, in this review we analyze the possible future role of histotype as an important influ-encing factor in the clinical management of patients with NSCLC. Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) accounts for about 75-80% of all cases of pulmonary malignancies [1]. Radical surgery still remains the only therapy with curative intent in NSCLC. Several factors may influence the selection of patients who undergo tumour surgical excision and/or medical treatments, as follows: 1. factors related to the pa-tient's clinical background (pulmonary function and per-formance status); 2. factors related to the tumour (stage and histology) [2]. Neoadjuvant therapy (chemotherapy ± radiotherapy) may significantly lead to downstage locally advanced unre-sectable NSCLC (stages IIIA and IIIB), but most recently the attention of the oncologists focused on the promising results of clinical trials using platinum-based chemotherapy in adju-vant setting [3,4].
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
-
2008–2009
-
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico Modena
Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
-
