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Background and purpose: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and frequent subtype of all malignant gliomas. At the time of recurrence, therapeutic options are lacking. Ortataxel, a second-generation taxane was reported to be effective in pre-clinical and phase I clinical studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate a potential therapeutic activity of ortataxel in patients with GBM recurring after surgery and first line treatment. Methods: In this phase II study, according to a two stage design, adult patients with histologically confirmed GBM in recurrence after surgery or biopsy, standard radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide were considered eligible. Patients included were treated with ortataxel 75mg/m2 i.v. every 3weeks until disease progression. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the activity of ortataxel in terms of progression free survival (PFS) at 6months after the enrollment. PFS, overall survival at 9months after the enrollment, objective response rate, compliance and safety were evaluated as secondary endpoints. Results: Between Nov 26, 2013 and Dec 12, 2015, 40 patients were recruited across six centres. The number of patients alive and free from progression at 6months after the enrollment, observed in the first stage was four (11.4%), out of 35 patients included in the analysis, below the minimum number of events (7 out of 33) required to continue the study with the second stage The most important toxicities were neutropenia and hepatotoxicity that occurred in 13.2% of patients and leukopenia that occurred in 15.8% of patients. Conclusion: Overall ortataxel treatment fail to demonstrate a significant activity in recurrent GBM patients. However in a limited number of patients the drug produced a benefit that lasted for a long time. Trial registration: This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01989884.

The spittlebug Philaenus spumarius is by far the most abundant xylem-sap feeder insect in the Italian olive agroecosystems and is the proven vector of Xylella fastidiosa CoDIRO strain to olive in Apulia. This highly polyphagous species has one generation per year, nymphs develop in late winter-early spring, and adults are present over an extended period from spring onwards. Four olive orchards of one ha in size were chosen in the Liguria (North-Western Italy) and in Apulia (South-Eastern Italy) regions. Host-plant association of nymphal stages on the herbaceous cover was investigated while, for the adults, the presence on herbaceous and woody hosts was recorded all through the season. Within 30 sample units of 0.25 m2 randomly distributed in each olive orchard, all nymphs were counted and their host-plants identified. Adults were sampled with sweep net on 10-30 random sample units of different vegetation compartments: grass cover, olive trees, and spontaneous shrubs. Nymphs were mainly associated to species of the families Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Umbelliferae. Host-plant shifting and a different location on the plant was recorded between early and late nymphal stages, suggesting that nymphs are rather mobile. Adult population moved from grass cover to woody plants in late spring and summer and moved back to grass cover in late summer-early autumn, thus showing a clear host-shifting during the season. This information is relevant for the development of control strategies of the vector in the X. fastidiosa infected area, based on both insecticide application and agronomic measures, as well as for risk assessment in non-infected areas.