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Abstract Soft tissue sarcomas represent an heterogeneous group of rare mesenchymal tumors comprising 1% of all solid malignancies. Among them, liposarcoma is one of the most common histotypes with atypical lipomatous tumor/well differentiated liposarcoma and dedifferentiated liposarcoma (ALT/WDLPS and DDLPS) as the major sub-entities. The unavailability of predictive, prognostic and druggable biomarkers makes the management of these lesions challenging. In recent years CDK4 and its inhibitors have emerged as potential agents for these lesions especially for ALT/WDLPS and DDLPS but the results are not conclusive and need to be elucidated. This study involved 21 ALT/WDLPS and DDLPS patients. Histological analyses of MDM2 and CDK4 were carried out. Moreover, a DDLPS patient-derived cancer model was established in vitro and in vivo assessing the efficacy of palbociclib in combination and sequential treatment. Finally, in silico analyses on CDK4 expression were carried out. The results showed a higher expression of CDK4 and MDM2 in DDLPS compared to ALT/WDLPS. Moreover, no correlation between MDM2 expression and CDK4 was observed. Next, in vitro analysis of CDK4 inhibitor palbociclib showed an antagonistic effect when combined to other chemotherapeutics, while it exhibited a significant synergy when administered in sequential schedule with lenvatinib. Next, in vivo analysis on DDLPS xenotransplanted embryos assessing the efficacy and safety profile of the in vitro tested schedules confirmed the observed data. This proof-of-concept study sheds light on the natural history of ALT/WDLPS and DDLPS and provides the rationale for the clinical applicability of sequential treatment with palbociclib in the management of DDLPS.

Objectives: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, the most prevalent mesenchymal tumors (80 %) of the gastrointestinal tract, comprise less than 1 % of all gastrointestinal neoplasms and about 5 % of all sarcomas. Despite their rarity, Gastrointestinal stromal tumors present diverse clinical manifestations, anatomic locations, histological subtypes, and prognostic outcomes. Methods: This scoping review comprehensively explores the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostic and prognostic modalities, as well as new therapeutic options for Gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Results: A particular focus is placed on the promising role of bio-nanomaterials as multifunctional agents for drug delivery and 3D tumor microenvironment modeling. Bio-nanomaterials offer promising opportunities for targeted drug delivery, overcoming treatment resistance, and improving therapeutic efficacy. Conclusion: Despite significant advancements, Gastrointestinal stromal tumors remain a complex clinical entity with ongoing challenges. The integration of nanotechnology into Gastrointestinal stromal tumors management offers the potential to enhance patient outcomes. Future studies should prioritize the development and evaluation of nanomaterial-based therapies in clinical trials to facilitate the translation of laboratory discoveries into real-world clinical applications.

Abstract The overexpression of the ecotropic viral integration site-1 gene (EVI1/MECOM) marks the most lethal acute myeloid leukemia (AML) subgroup carrying chromosome 3q26 abnormalities. By taking advantage of the intersectionality of high-throughput cell-based and gene expression screens selective and pan-histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) emerge as potent repressors of EVI1. To understand the mechanism driving on-target anti-leukemia activity of this compound class, here we dissect the expression dynamics of the bone marrow leukemia cells of patients treated with HDACi and reconstitute the EVI1 chromatin-associated co-transcriptional complex merging on the role of proliferation-associated 2G4 (PA2G4) protein. PA2G4 overexpression rescues AML cells from the inhibitory effects of HDACis, while genetic and small molecule inhibition of PA2G4 abrogates EVI1 in 3q26 AML cells, including in patient-derived leukemia xenografts. This study positions PA2G4 at the crosstalk of the EVI1 leukemogenic signal for developing new therapeutics and urges the use of HDACis-based combination therapies in patients with 3q26 AML.

Immunotherapy has emerged as promising treatment in sarcomas, but the high variability in terms of histology, clinical behavior and response to treatments determines a particular challenge for its role in these neoplasms. Tumor immune microenvironment (TiME) of sarcomas reflects the heterogeneity of these tumors originating from mesenchymal cells and encompassing more than 100 histologies. Advances in the understanding of the complexity of TiME have led to an improvement of the immunotherapeutic responsiveness in sarcomas, that at first showed disappointing results. The proposed immune-classification of sarcomas based on the interaction between immune cell populations and tumor cells showed to have a prognostic and potential predictive role for immunotherapies. Several studies have explored the clinical impact of immune therapies in the management of these histotypes leading to controversial results. The presence of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) seems to correlate with an improvement in the survival of patients and with a higher responsiveness to immunotherapy. In this context, it is important to consider that also immune-related genes (IRGs) have been demonstrated to have a key role in tumorigenesis and in the building of tumor immune microenvironment. The IRGs landscape in soft tissue and bone sarcomas is characterized by the connection between several tumor-related genes that can assume a potential prognostic and predictive therapeutic role. In this paper, we reviewed the state of art of the principal immune strategies in the management of sarcomas including their clinical and translational relevance.

BackgroundPolymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) represents the second most widespread neoplasm of the minor salivary glands. These tumors rarely develop a histological progression from low-grade to high-grade malignancy, named “high-grade transformation” (HGT). Only nine cases are described in literature.Case descriptionHere, we describe the case of a 76-year-old male patient with a PAC recurrence of the oral floor displaying HGT, and we explore the tumor cytomorphological features, genomic profiling, and the patient’s clinical management. The tumor mass was characterized by poorly atypical cellular elements with vesicular nuclei and comedonecrosis foci. The growth pattern was predominantly solid, tubular, and cribriform. The lesion did not show microsatellite instability or targeted molecular alterations. The case was successfully treated with radical surgery followed by radiotherapy.ConclusionWe report for the first time the recurrence of a PAC with HGT arising in the oral floor after 20 years from the primary lesion. These preliminary data and the literature analysis enhance the knowledge of this extremely rare disease.

To improve the success rate of current preclinical drug trials, there is a growing need for more complex and relevant models that can help predict clinical resistance to anticancer agents. Here, we present a three‐dimensional (3D) technology, based on biomimetic collagen scaffolds, that enables the modeling of the tumor hypoxic state and the prediction of in vivo chemotherapy responses in terms of efficacy, molecular alterations, and emergence of resistance mechanisms. The human breast cancer cell lines MDA‐MB‐231 (triple negative) and MCF‐7 (luminal A) were treated with scaling doses of doxorubicin in monolayer cultures, 3D collagen scaffolds, or orthotopically transplanted murine models. Lineage‐specific resistance mechanisms were revealed by the 3D tumor model. Reduced drug uptake, increased drug efflux, and drug lysosomal confinement were observed in triple‐negative MDA‐MB‐231 cells. In luminal A MCF‐7 cells, the selection of a drug‐resistant subline from parental cells with deregulation of p53 pathways occurred. These cells were demonstrated to be insensitive to DNA damage. Transcriptome analysis was carried out to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in treated cells. DEG evaluation in breast cancer patients demonstrated their potential role as predictive biomarkers. High expression of the transporter associated with antigen processing 1 (TAP1) and the tumor protein p53‐inducible protein 3 (TP53I3) was associated with shorter relapse in patients affected by ER+ breast tumor. Likewise, the same clinical outcome was associated with high expression of the lysosomal‐associated membrane protein 1 LAMP1 in triple‐negative breast cancer. Hypoxia inhibition by resveratrol treatment was found to partially re‐sensitize cells to doxorubicin treatment. Our model might improve preclinical in vitro analysis for the translation of anticancer compounds as it provides: (a) more accurate data on drug efficacy and (b) enhanced understanding of resistance mechanisms and molecular drivers.

Tumors are complex and heterogeneous diseases characterized by an intricate milieu and dynamically in connection with surrounding and distant tissues. In the last decades, great efforts have been made to develop novel preclinical models able to recapitulate the original features of tumors. However, the development of an in vitro functional and realistic tumor organ is still utopic and represents one of the major challenges to reproduce the architecture of the tumor ecosystem. A strategy to decrypt the whole picture and predict its behavior could be started from the validation of simplified biomimetic systems and then proceed with their integration. Variables such as the cellular and acellular composition of tumor microenvironment (TME) and its spatio-temporal distribution have to be considered in order to respect the dynamic evolution of the oncologic disease. In this perspective, we aim to explore the currently available strategies to improve and integrate in vitro and in vivo models, such as three-dimensional (3D) cultures, organoids, and zebrafish, in order to better understand the disease biology and improve the therapeutic approaches.

IntroductionNeuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a rare group of tumors exceptionally heterogeneous, with clinical presentation ranging from well differentiated more indolent tumors to poorly differentiated very aggressive forms. Both are often diagnosed after the metastatic spread and require appropriate medical treatment. A high priority need in the management of this disease is the identification of effective therapeutic strategies for advanced and metastatic patients. The recent TALENT trial demonstrated the efficacy of lenvatinib, a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) with no other treatment indication. Further development of this drug in advanced NETs is warranted.MethodsWe investigated potential clinical and molecular determinants of lenvatinib response in human primary cultures derived from patients with GEP-NET of different grades and sites of origin. We correlated response to treatment with patient clinical characteristics, with the mutational status of 161-cancer associated genes and with the expression levels of MKI-related genes.ResultsLenvatinib exerted a significant antitumor activity in primary GEP-NET cells, with median survival inhibitions similar or higher than those of standard frontline treatments. Of the 11 primary cultures analyzed in our case series, 6 were classified as responder showing a significant survival inhibition, and 5 as non-responder. We observed that the overexpression of HRAS in the original tumor tissue compared to the matched healthy tissue significantly correlated with responsiveness of primary cells to lenvatinib (p=.048). All 5 non-responder cultures showed normal HRAS expression, while of the 6 responder cultures, 4 had HRAS overexpression. Overexpression of HRAS was not associated with gene mutation. None of the other evaluated clinical variables (grade, Ki67, site of origin and syndromic disease) or molecular markers correlated with response.DiscussionLenvatinib appears to be a highly effective drug for the treatment of NETs. The evaluation of HRAS expression in the tumor tissue might improve patient selection and optimize therapeutic outcome.

In the field of nanomedicine a multitude of nanovectors have been developed for cancer application. In this regard, a less exploited target is represented by connective tissue. Sarcoma lesions encompass a wide range of rare entities of mesenchymal origin affecting connective tissues. The extraordinary diversity and rarity of these mesenchymal tumors is reflected in their classification, grading and management which are still challenging. Although they include more than 70 histologic subtypes, the first line-treatment for advanced and metastatic sarcoma has remained unchanged in the last fifty years, excluding specific histotypes in which targeted therapy has emerged. The role of chemotherapy has not been completely elucidated and the outcomes are still very limited. At the beginning of the century, nano-sized particles clinically approved for other solid lesions were tested in these neoplasms but the results were anecdotal and the clinical benefit was not substantial. Recently, a new nanosystem formulation NBTXR3 for the treatment of sarcoma has landed in a phase 2-3 trial. The preliminary results are encouraging and could open new avenues for research in nanotechnology. This review provides an update on the recent advancements in the field of nanomedicine for sarcoma. In this regard, preclinical evidence especially focusing on the development of smart materials and drug delivery systems will be summarized. Moreover, the sarcoma patient management exploiting nanotechnology products will be summed up. Finally, an overlook on future perspectives will be provided.

Abstract Background Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a rare group of solid neoplasm including among others liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma (L-sarcoma) and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) entities. The current first-line treatment is represented by anthracycline based- regimens, second-line may include trabectedin. Currently the activity of trabectedin and its mechanism of action is not completely elucidated. Methods Taking the advantages of our 3D patient-derived primary culture translational model we performed genomic-, chemobiogram, proteomic- and in vivo analysis in a UPS culture (S1). Furthermore pharmacological profiling of a UPS and L-sarcoma patient-derived case series and in silico analysis were carried out. Results Trabectedin exhibited an increased activity in 3D respect to 2D cultures suggesting an extracellular matrix (ECM) and timp1 involvement in its mechanism of action. Moreover 3D S1 xenotranspanted zebrafish model showed an increased sensitivity to trabectedin. Finally the results were further validated in a UPS and L-sarcoma case series. Conclusions Taken together these results confirmed the activity of trabectedin in these STS histotypes. Moreover the data underline the ECM involvement in the cytotoxic effect mediated by trabectedin and could open the door for researches aimed to focus on the patient setting that could benefit from this agent.

Objective: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents the most common histotype of all head and neck malignancies and includes oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a tumor associated with different clinical outcomes and linked to human papilloma virus (HPV) status. Translational research has few available in vitro models with which to study the different pathophysiological behavior of OSCCs. The present study proposes a 3-dimensional (3D) biomimetic collagen-based scaffold to mimic the tumor microenvironment and the crosstalk between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cancer cells. Methods: We compared the phenotypic and genetic features of HPV-positive and HPV-negative OSCC cell lines cultured on common monolayer supports and on scaffolds. We also explored cancer cell adaptation to the 3D microenvironment and its impact on the efficacy of drugs tested on cell lines and primary cultures. Results: HPV-positive and HPV-negative cell lines were successfully grown in the 3D model and displayed different collagen fiber organization. The 3D cultures induced an increased expression of markers related to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and to matrix interactions and showed different migration behavior, as confirmed by zebrafish embryo xenografts. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (1α) and glycolysis markers were indicative of the development of a hypoxic microenvironment inside the scaffold area. Furthermore, the 3D cultures activated drug-resistance signaling pathways in both cell lines and primary cultures. Conclusions: Our results suggest that collagen-based scaffolds could be a suitable model for the reproduction of the pathophysiological features of OSCCs. Moreover, 3D architecture appears capable of inducing drug-resistance processes that can be studied to better our understanding of the different clinical outcomes of HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients with OSCCs.

Abstract In the field of oncology research, a deeper understanding of tumor biology has shed light on the role of environmental conditions surrounding cancer cells. In this regard, targeting the tumor microenvironment has recently emerged as a new way to access this disease. In this work, a novel extracellular matrix (ECM)-targeting nanotherapeutic was engineered using a lipid-based nanoparticle chemically linked to an inhibitor of the ECM-related enzyme, lysyl oxidase 1 (LOX), that inhibits the crosslinking of elastin and collagen fibers. We demonstrated that, when the conjugated vesicles were loaded with the chemotherapeutic epirubicin, superior inhibition of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell growth was observed both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, in vivo results displayed prolonged survival, minimal cytotoxicity, and enhanced biocompatibility compared to free epirubicin and epirubicin-loaded nanoparticles. This all-in-one nano-based ECM-targeting chemotherapeutic may provide a key-enabling technology for the treatment of TNBC.

Myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) is a common entity of adult soft tissue sarcomas (STS) characterized by a predilection of the extremities and a high local recurrence rate. Originally classified as a myxoid variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, this musculoskeletal tumor has been recognized since 2002 as a distinct histotype showing a spectrum of malignant fibroblastic lesions with myxoid stroma, pleomorphism and curvilinear vessels. Currently, the molecular pathogenesis of MFS is still poorly understood and its genomic profile exhibits a complex karyotype with a number of aberrations including amplifications, deletions and loss of function. The diagnosis is challenging due to the unavailability of specific immunohistochemical markers and is based on the analysis of cytomorphologic features. The mainstay of treatment for localized disease is represented by surgical resection, with (neo)-adjuvant radio- and chemotherapy. In the metastatic setting, chemotherapy represents the backbone of treatments, however its role is still controversial and the outcome is very poor. Recent advent of genomic profiling, targeted therapies and larger enrollment of patients in translational and clinical studies, have improved the understanding of biological behavior and clinical outcome of such a disease. This review will provide an overview of current diagnostic pitfalls and clinical management of MFS. Finally, a look at future directions will be discussed.

BackgroundNTRK (neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase)-rearranged spindle cell neoplasms are a new group of tumors included in the new 5th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas. These tumors are characterized by NTRK gene fusions and show a wide spectrum of histologies and clinical behavior. Several targeted therapies have recently been approved for tumors harboring NTRK fusions, including STS.Case PresentationA 26-year-old male with advanced, pretreated NTRK rearranged spindle cell neoplasm and liver, lung and bone metastases was treated with larotrectinib on a continuous 28-day schedule, at a dose of 100 mg twice daily. An 18FDG-PET/CT scan performed after 7 days of treatment showed tumor shrinkage in both visceral and bone lesions. There was no drug-related toxicity. Subsequent evaluations confirmed continued tumor regression in disease sites. The patient is well and continues treatment.ConclusionThe clinical and radiological response of our patient with an uncommon TPM4 (exon 7)-NTRK1 (exon 12) gene fusion tumor treated with a first-generation TRK inhibitor could contribute to a better understanding of the biology of this new STS entity and help to improve patient management.

Introduction Patients with metastatic or locally advanced, non-resectable, grade 3 poorly differentiated gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) and lung neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are usually treated with in first-line platinum compounds. There is no standard second-line treatment on progression. Accurate biomarkers are needed to facilitate diagnosis and prognostic assessment of patients with NEC.Methods and analysis The SEcond-line therapy in NEuroendocrine CArcinomas (SENECA) study is a randomised, non-comparative, multicentre phase II trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) or capecitabine plus temozolomide (CAPTEM) regimens after failure of first-line chemotherapy in patients with lung NEC and GEP-NEC. Secondary aims are to correlate the serum miRNA profile and primary mutational status of MEN1, DAXX, ATRX and RB-1 with prognosis and outcome and to investigate the prognostic and predictive role of the Ki-67 score and 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) or 68Ga-PET/CT. The main eligibility criteria are age ≥18 years; metastatic or locally advanced, non-resectable, grade 3 lung or GEP-NECs; progression to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. A Bryant and Day design taking into account treatment activity and toxicity was used to estimate the sample size. All analyses will be performed separately for each treatment group in the intention-to-treat population. A total of 112 patients (56/arm) will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive FOLFIRI every 14 days or CAPTEM every 28 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or for a maximum of 6 months. Patients undergo testing for specific biomarkers in primary tumour tissue and for miRNA in blood samples. MiRNA profiling will be performed in the first 20 patients who agree to participate in the biological substudy.Ethics and dissemination The SENECA trial, supported by Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST), was authorised by the locals Ethics Committee and the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA). Results will be widely disseminated via peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference presentations and reports to relevant authorities.The study is currently open in Italy.Trail registration number NCT03387592; Pre-results. EudraCT-2016-000767-17.Protocol version Clinical Study Protocol Version 1, 7 November 2016.

Background: Several phase-II trials have been designed to evaluate tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), in particular, pazopanib in neuroendocrine neoplasia (NEN), but its efficacy has not yet been demonstrated in a randomised-controlled Phase III trial. A systematic review of the published clinical trials of metastatic NEN patients could reduce the possible bias of single phase II studies. The present systematic review focuses on the efficacy and safety of pazopanib in patients with metastatic and locally advanced NEN.Methods: A systematic search in the major databases Medline/PubMed, Cochrane and Embase and in supplementary material from important international Meetings was performed to identify publications on pazopanib for the treatment of neuroendocrine neoplasia. English language was defined as a restriction. Four authors of the present review independently performed the study selection, assessed the risk of bias and extracted study data. Four published clinical trials and 2 abstracts were identified. One trial was excluded because the topic was Von-Hippel Landau disease and one abstract was eliminated because of the lack of information on meeting proceedings.Results: In all of the trials pazopanib was orally administered at a dose of 800 mg daily continuously with a 28-day cycle. The intention-to-treat population for efficacy was composed of 230 patients with a median age of 62 years. The partial response rate was 10.7% (95% confidence interval 2.6–20.5). The rate for stable disease was 79.6% (range: 61.7–92.1%) with a disease control rate (DCR) of 90.3%. Progressive disease was reported in 9.7% (range 5.2–17.6) of patients. No complete responses were observed. Median progression-free survival was 11.6 months (95% CI: 9.2–13.9). Overall survival from all the trials was 24.6 (95% CI: 18.7–40.8) months. Severe adverse events (grade III–IV) included hypertension 31%, 16% increase in AST/ALT, diarrhoea 10% and fatigue 10%.Conclusions: Pazopanib monotherapy achieved a DCR of 90.3% in patients with locally advanced and/or metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasia, with an overall response rate comparable to other TKIs and mTOR inhibitors and a safety profile similar to that of drugs of the same class.

The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasia (NEN) is higher in individuals ≥70 years of age (elderly) who are underrepresented in clinical trials because of comorbidities and low performance status. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of elderly patients with metastatic NEN (mNEN). Comorbidities were summarized by Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Kaplan–Meier method was applied to estimate overall survival (OS) and Cox’s proportional hazard model was used to assess the impact of known prognostic factors. We retrieved data on 145 mNEN patients aged ≥70 years seen at our center from June 2007 to March 2016. Fifty-six (38.6%) were aged ≥75 years. ECOG PS was 0 in 45.7% of cases and CCI was 0 in 41.0% and 1 in 37.4%. A total of 75.4% of patients had grade (G)1/G2 NEN and 24.6%, G3. Octreoscan/Gallium PET/CT and FDG-PET/CT were positive in 94.2% and 70.3% of cases, respectively. Median follow-up was 72.3 (53.2–85.1) months. Seventy-nine patients received first-line somatostatin analogs (SSA), 23 peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) and 36 chemotherapy (CHT). Seven did not undergo first-line therapy and 102 received more than one line. Median overall survival (mOS) was 5.1 years (95% CI: 3.4–6.6). No differences in mOS were seen according to CCI. First-line PRRT patients had a mOS of 6.5 years (95% CI: 3.3–not reached (NR)), SSA 5.7 years (95% CI: 4.2–7) and CHT 5.9 years (95% CI: 0.4–NR). mOS in CHT-treated G3 patients was 1.5 years (1.0–2.5). ECOG PS and FDG PET/CT were identified as independent prognostic factors. Results suggest that the above treatments positively impacted OS in elderly mNEN patients, including those aged ≥75 years.

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) and desmoplastic fibroma (DF) are bone sarcomas with intermediate malignant behavior and unpredictable prognosis. These locally aggressive neoplasms exhibit a predilection for the long bone or mandible of young adults, causing a severe bone resorption. In particular, the tumor stromal cells of these lesions are responsible for the recruiting of multinucleated giant cells which ultimately lead to bone disruption. In this regard, the underlying pathological mechanism of osteoclastogenesis processes in GCTB and DF is still poorly understood. Although current therapeutic strategy involves surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the benefit of the latter is still debated. Thus, in order to shed light on these poorly investigated diseases, we focused on the molecular biology of GCTB and DF. The expression of bone-vicious-cycle- and neoangiogenesis-related genes was investigated. Moreover, combining patient-derived primary cultures with 2D and 3D culture platforms, we investigated the role of denosumab and levantinib in these diseases. The results showed the upregulation of RANK-L, RANK, OPN, CXCR4, RUNX2 and FLT1 and the downregulation of OPG and CXCL12 genes, underlining their involvement and promising role in these neoplasms. Furthermore, in vitro analyses provided evidence for suggesting the combination of denosumab and lenvatinib as a promising therapeutic strategy in GCTB and DF compared to monoregimen chemotherapy. Furthermore, in vivo zebrafish analyses corroborated the obtained data. Finally, the clinical observation of retrospectively enrolled patients confirmed the usefulness of the reported results. In conclusion, here we report for the first time a molecular and pharmacological investigation of GCTB and DF combining the use of translational and clinical data. Taken together, these results represent a starting point for further analyses aimed at improving GCTB and DF management.

Abstract The use of patient-derived primary cell cultures in cancer preclinical assays has increased in recent years. The management of resected tumor tissue remains complex and a number of parameters must be respected to obtain complete sample digestion and optimal vitality yield. We provide an overview of the benefits of correct primary cell culture management using different preclinical methodologies, and describe the pros and cons of this model with respect to other kinds of samples. One important advantage is that the heterogeneity of the cell populations composing a primary culture partially reproduces the tumor microenvironment and crosstalk between malignant and healthy cells, neither of which is possible with cell lines. Moreover, the use of patient-derived specimens in innovative preclinical technologies, such as 3D systems or bioreactors, represents an important opportunity to improve the translational value of the results obtained. In vivo models could further our understanding of the crosstalk between tumor and other tissues as they enable us to observe the systemic and biological interactions of a complete organism. Although engineered mice are the most common model used in this setting, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) species has recently been recognized as an innovative experimental system. In fact, the transparent body and incomplete immune system of zebrafish embryos are especially useful for evaluating patient-derived tumor tissue interactions in healthy hosts. In conclusion, ex vivo systems represent an important tool for cancer research, but samples require correct manipulation to maximize their translational value.

The skeleton is one of the most common sites of metastatic spread from advanced clear-cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC). Most of the bone lesions observed in RCC patients are classified as osteolytic, causing severe pain and morbidity due to pathological bone destruction. Nowadays, it is well known that cancer induced bone loss in lytic metastasis is caused by the triggering of a vicious cycle between cancer and bone resident cells that leads to an imbalance between bone formation and degradation. Targeting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an efficient treatment option for metastatic renal carcinoma patients. Moreover, bone targeted therapy could benefit bone metastatic cancer patients caused by advanced RCC. However, more data is needed to support the hypothesis of the beneficial effect of a combined therapy. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of targeting mTOR and the sequential combination with bone targeted therapy as a strategy to break the vicious cycle between ccRCC cells and osteoclasts. A previously optimized fully human co-culture model is used to mimic the crosstalk between Caki-2 cells (ccRCC) and osteoclasts. Cells are treated at fixed timing with everolimus, zoledronic acid and denosumab as single or sequential combined treatment. We show that Caki-2 cells can induce osteoclast cells differentiation from isolated human monocytes, as demonstrated by specific tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and f-actin ring formation, in a statistically significant manner. Moreover, differentiated osteoclasts proved to be functionally active by pit formation assay. Caki-2 cells co-cultured with osteoclasts acquire a more aggressive phenotype based on gene expression analysis. Interestingly, the sequential combined treatment of everolimus and zoledronic acid is the most effective in the inhibition of both Caki-2 cells survival and osteoclastogenic potential, making it an effective strategy to inhibit the vicious cycle of bone metastasis. At preclinical level, this observation confirms the value of our co-culture model as a useful tool to mimic the bone microenvironment and to assess drug sensitivity in vitro. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in tumor-bone cells crosstalk will be investigated next. Keywords: Bone metastasis, Renal carcinoma, Osteoclasts, Vicious cycle, Co-culture, Targeted therapy

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have widened the therapeutic scenario of different cancer types. Phase I/II trials have been designed to evaluate the role of ICIs both as single agents and in combination in neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), but as yet no randomized controlled phase III trials have been carried out. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published could help to reduce the biases of single-phase II trials. Efficacy data were obtained on 636 patients. Pooled percentages of the overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 10% (95% CI: 6–15%, I2 = 67%, p < 0.1) and 42% (95% CI: 28–56%, I2 = 93%, p < 0.1), respectively. Median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 4.1 months (95% CI 2.6–5.4; I2 = 96%, p < 0.1) and median overall survival (mOS) was 11 months (95% CI 4.8–21.1; I2 = 98%, p < 0.1). Among the ICIs used as single agents, the anti-PD1 toripalimab achieved the highest ORR. Combination regimens were superior to monotherapy, e.g., the ICI combination nivolumab + ipilimumab, and the ICI + anti-angiogenetic combination atezolizumab + bevacizumab, both of which warrant further investigation. Promising efficacy and a good safety profile of ICIs represent a valid opportunity for expanding the therapeutic landscape of NENs. Predictive biomarkers are needed to identify the most suitable candidates for these regimens.

Patient-derived specimens are an invaluable resource to investigate tumor biology. However, in vivo studies on primary cultures are often limited by the small amount of material available, while conventional in vitro systems might alter the features and behavior that characterize cancer cells. We present our data obtained on primary dedifferentiated liposarcoma cells cultured in a 3D scaffold-based system and injected into a zebrafish model. Primary cells were characterized in vitro for their morphological features, sensitivity to drugs and biomarker expression, and in vivo for their engraftment and invasiveness abilities. The 3D culture showed a higher enrichment in cancer cells than the standard monolayer culture and a better preservation of liposarcoma-associated markers. We also successfully grafted primary cells into zebrafish, showing their local migratory and invasive abilities. Our work provides proof of concept of the ability of 3D cultures to maintain the original phenotype of ex vivo cells, and highlights the potential of the zebrafish model to provide a versatile in vivo system for studies with limited biological material. Such models could be used in translational research studies for biomolecular analyses, drug screenings and tumor aggressiveness assays.

Background: Myxofibrosarcoma (MFS), formerly considered as a myxoid variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, is the most common sarcoma of the extremities in adults and is characterized by a high frequency of local recurrence. The clinical behavior of MFS is unpredictable and the efficacy of chemotherapy is still not well documented. Furthermore, given the relatively recent recognition of MFS as a distinct pathologic entity its cellular and molecular biology has still not been extensively studied in patient-derived preclinical models. We examined the molecular biology and treatment outcomes of high-grade, patient-derived MFS primary cultures. Methods: A total of three patient-derived MFS primary cultures were analyzed. We evaluated the role of CD109 expression and also looked for a correlation between transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) expression and sensitivity of the primary cultures to different drugs. Results: CD109 was a promising marker for the identification of more aggressive high-grade MFS and a potential therapeutic target. The results also highlighted the potential role of TGF-β in chemoresistance. Pharmacological analysis confirmed the sensitivity of the cultures to chemotherapy. The most active treatments were epirubicin alone and epirubicin in combination with ifosfamide, the latter representing the current standard of care for soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), including MFS. Conclusions: Our results provide a starting point for further research aimed at improving the management of MFS patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) belongs to the group of sarcoma tumors, which represent only 1% of the totality of adult tumors worldwide. Thus, given the rare nature of this cancer, this makes the availability of MFS cell lines difficult. In an attempt to partially fill this gap, we immortalized a primary culture of MFS (IM-MFS-1) and compared the cell morphology with patient’s tumor tissue. IM-MFS-1 was genetically characterized through a Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) array and the mesenchymal phenotype was evaluated using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence staining. Drug sensitivity for MFS therapies was monitored over time in cultures. We confirmed the conservation of the patient’s tumor cell morphology and of the mesenchymal phenotype. Conversely, the synthesis and expression of CD109, a TGFβ co-receptor used to facilitate the diagnosis of high-grade MFS diagnosis, was maintained constant until high cancer cell line passages. The CGH array revealed a complex karyotype with cytogenetic alterations that include chromosome regions associated with genes involved in tumor processes. Cytotoxicity assays show drug sensitivity constantly increased during the culture passages until a plateau was reached. In conclusion, we established and characterized a new MFS cell line that can be used for future preclinical and molecular studies on soft tissue sarcomas.

Eribulin mesylate is a novel, non-taxane, synthetic microtubule inhibitor showing antitumor activity in a wide range of tumors including soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Eribulin has been recently approved for the treatment of metastatic liposarcoma (LPS) patients previously treated with anthracyclines. This work investigated the mechanism of action of this innovative antitubulin agent in well-differentiated/dedifferentiated LPS (ALT/DDLPS) which represents one of the most common adipocytic sarcoma histotypes. A primary culture of ALT/DDLPS from a 54-year-old patient was established. The anticancer activity of eribulin on the patient-derived primary culture was assessed by MTT and tunel assays. Eribulin efficacy was compared to other drugs approved for the treatment of STS. Cell migration and morphology were examined after exposure to eribulin to better understand the drug mechanism of action. Finally, Western blot analysis of apoptosis and migration proteins was performed. The results showed that eribulin exerts its antiproliferative effect by the arrest of cell motility and induction of apoptosis. Our results highlighted the activity of eribulin in the treatment of ALT/DDLPS patients.

Background/Objectives: Premature birth can lead to socio-emotional, behavioural and executive problems that impact quality of life and school performance in the long term. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a 12-week computerised training called Vis-à-vis to enhance these competencies in a cohort of very preterm (VPT) children aged 6 to 9. Methods: This pilot randomised controlled trial included 45 children born before 32 gestational weeks. Socio-emotional, behavioural and executive competencies were evaluated at three time points using computerised tasks, neuropsychological tests and questionnaires. Results: Among the eligible VPT children, 20% (n = 45) accepted to be part of the study, and 40% (n = 18) dropped out. Finally, 60% (n = 27) of the enrolled participants completed the study. Results showed a significant improvement in emotion knowledge and recognition immediately after the completion of the training. Conclusions: Overall, our results indicate that the implementation of this type of computerised training is feasible, but the overall compliance is unsatisfactory given the high dropout rate. Nevertheless, the positive effect of the training on emotion recognition encourages further exploration of these kinds of interventions to prevent adverse consequences in children born too soon.

Abstract Very preterm (VPT) young adolescents are at high risk of executive, behavioural and socio-emotional difficulties. Previous research has shown significant evidence of the benefits of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on these abilities. This study aims to assess the association between the effects of MBI on neurobehavioral functioning and changes in white-matter microstructure in VPT young adolescents who completed an 8-week MBI program. Neurobehavioural assessments (i.e., neuropsychological testing, parents- and self-reported questionnaires) and multi-shell diffusion MRI were performed before and after MBI in 32 VPT young adolescents. Combined diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) measures were extracted on well-defined white matter tracts (TractSeg). A multivariate data-driven approach (partial least squares correlation) was used to explore associations between MBI-related changes on neurobehavioural measures and microstructural changes. The results showed an enhancement of global executive functioning using parent-reported questionnaire after MBI that was associated with a general pattern of increase in fractional anisotropy (FA) and decrease in axonal dispersion (ODI) in white-matter tracts involved in executive processes. Young VPT adolescents with lower gestational age at birth showed the greatest gain in white-matter microstructural changes after MBI.

Previous studies suggest that structural alteration of the corpus callosum, i.e., the largest white matter commissural pathway, occurs after a preterm birth in the neonatal period and lasts across development. The present study aims to unravel corpus callosum structural characteristics across childhood and adolescence in very preterm (VPT) individuals, and their associations with general intellectual, executive and socio-emotional functioning. Neuropsychological assessments, T1-weighted and multi-shell diffusion MRI were collected in 79 VPT and 46 full term controls aged 6–14 years. Volumetric, diffusion tensor and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) measures were extracted on 7 callosal portions using TractSeg. A multivariate data-driven approach (partial least squares correlation) and a cohort-based age normative modelling approach were used to explore associations between callosal characteristics and neuropsychological outcomes. The VPT and a full-term control groups showed similar trends of white-matter maturation over time, i.e., increase FA and reduced ODI, in all callosal segments, that was associated with increase in general intellectual functioning. However, using a cohort-based age-related normative modelling, findings show atypical pattern of callosal development in the VPT group, with reduced callosal maturation over time that was associated with poorer general intellectual and working memory functioning, as well as with lower gestational age.