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Lombardy has represented the Italian and European epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although most clinical efforts within hospitals were diverted towards the care of virally infected patients, therapies for patients with cancer, including radiotherapy (RT), have continued. During both the first and second pandemic waves, several national and regional organizations provided Italian and Lombardian RT departments with detailed guidelines aimed at ensuring safe treatments during the pandemic. The spread of infection among patients and personnel was limited by adopting strict measures, including triage procedures, interpersonal distance, and adequate implementation of personal protective equipment (PPE). Screening procedures addressed to both the healthcare workforce and patients, such as periodic nasopharyngeal swabs, have allowed the early identification of asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic COVID-19 cases, thus reducing the spread of the infection. Prevention of infection was deemed of paramount importance to protect both patients and personnel and to ensure the availability of a minimum number of staff members to maintain clinical activity. The choice of treating COVID-19–positive patients has represented a matter of debate, and the risk of oncologic progression has been weighted against the risk of infection of personnel and other patients. Such risk was minimized by creating dedicated paths, reserving time slots, applying intensified cleaning procedures, and supplying personnel and staff with appropriate PPE. Remote working of research staff, medical physicists, and, in some cases, radiation oncologists has prevented overcrowding of shared spaces, reducing infection spread.

El cártamo es un cultivo oleaginoso alternativo ideal para la rotación con cereales invernales en regiones semiáridas como el sudoeste bonaerense argentino. El mejoramiento o introducción de genotipos debe combinarse con el desarrollo de técnicas de manejo óptimas para el ambiente donde se quieren difundir. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la fenología, las características morfológicas, la materia grasa, el rendimiento y sus componentes en tres genotipos de cártamo contrastantes, en seis fechas de siembra establecidas entre fines de mayo y fines de julio, en dos localidades del sudoeste bonaerense. El rendimiento fue mayor bajo las tres fechas de siembra más tempranas, y varió según el genotipo y la localidad. Bajo fechas tempranas la floración no se adelantó, pero se extendió el período vegetativo, el cual transcurrió bajo condiciones de balance hídrico positivo. En fechas más tardías disminuyó el rendimiento y la materia grasa de los frutos. El número de capítulos en las cinco ramificaciones superiores y el diámetro de capítulo fueron las principales variables de ajuste del rendimiento. En general, la fecha de siembra de fines de mayo maximizó el rendimiento, comportamiento que está sujeto al grado de tolerancia al frío del genotipo y las características del ambiente.

A low-cost long-range frequency domain low-coherence interferometry (LCI) detector is presented: time Fourier domain LCI (TFD-LCI). Combining ideas of time domain and frequency domain techniques, the TFD-LCI detects the analog Fourier transform of the optical interference signal with no limitation for the maximum optical path, measuring the thickness of several centimeters with micrometer resolution. A complete characterization of the technique is presented with a mathematical demonstration, simulations, and experimental results. An evaluation of repeatability and accuracy is also included. Measurements of small and large monolayer and multilayer thicknesses were done. Characterization of the internal and external thicknesses of industrial products such as transparent packages and glass windshield is presented, showing the potentiality of TFD-LCI for industrial applications.

BackgroundStereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has shown promising results in the clinical setting of oligometastatic, persistent, or recurrent disease in several malignancies including ovarian cancer.Primary ObjectiveThe MITO-RT3/RAD trial is a prospective, multicenter phase II study aimed at identifying potential predictors of response and clinical outcome after SBRT treatment.Study HypothesisRadiotherapy delivered by pre-defined SBRT treatment schedules and shared constraints could improve the rate of complete response.Trial DesignAll patients accrued will be treated with a radiotherapy dose in the range of 30–50 Gy by 1, 3, or 5 SBRT daily fractions to all sites of active metastatic disease according to diagnostic imaging. Schedules of treatment and dose prescription have been established before considering target sites and healthy organ dose constraints. Follow-up and monitoring of side effects will be carried out every 3 months for the first year with imaging and clinical evalutation, and every 4 months within the second year; thereafter, surveillance will be carried out every 6 months. The best response on a per lesion basis will be evaluated by computed tomographic (CT) scan, positron emission tomography/CT, or magnetic resonance imaging in case of brain lesions, every 3 months.Major Inclusion/Exclusion CriteriaThe study includes patients with oligometastatic, persistent, or recurrent ovarian cancer for which salvage surgery or other local therapies are not feasible due to any relative contra-indication to further systemic therapy because of serious co-morbidities, previous severe toxicity, unavailability of potentially active systemic therapy, or patient refusal.Primary EndpointThe primary endpoint of the study is the clinical complete response rate to SBRT by imaging on a per lesion basis.Sample SizeApproximately 205 lesions will be treated (90 lymph nodes and 115 parenchyma lesions).Estimated Dates for Completing Accrual and Presenting ResultsFifty-two centers have expressed their intention to participate. Enrollment should be completed by March 2023 and analysis will be completed in September 2023.Trial RegistrationNCT04593381.

Background: Recent studies have reported improvement of outcomes (progression-free survival, overall survival, and prolongation of androgen deprivation treatment-free survival) with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in non-small cell lung cancer and prostate cancer. The aim of this retrospective, multicenter study (MITO RT-01) was to define activity and safety of SBRT in a very large, real-world data set of patients with metastatic, persistent, and recurrent ovarian cancer (MPR-OC). Materials and Methods: The endpoints of the study were the rate of complete response (CR) to SBRT and the 24-month actuarial local control (LC) rate on “per-lesion” basis. The secondary endpoints were acute and late toxicities and the 24-month actuarial late toxicity-free survival. Objective response rate (ORR) included CR and partial response (PR). Clinical benefit (CB) included ORR and stable disease (SD). Toxicity was evaluated by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) scales, according to center policy. Logistic and Cox regression were used for the uni- and multivariate analysis of factors predicting clinical CR and actuarial outcomes. Results: CR, PR, and SD were observed in 291 (65.2%), 106 (23.8%), and 33 (7.4%) lesions, giving a rate of CB of 96.4%. Patient aged ≤60 years, planning target volume (PTV) ≤18 cm3, lymph node disease, and biologically effective dose α/β10 > 70 Gy were associated with higher chance of CR in the multivariate analysis. With a median follow-up of 22 months (range, 3–120), the 24-month actuarial LC rate was 81.9%. Achievement of CR and total dose >25 Gy were associated with better LC rate in the multivariate analysis. Mild toxicity was experienced in 54 (20.7%) patients; of 63 side effects, 48 were grade 1, and 15 were grade 2. The 24-month late toxicity-free survival rate was 95.1%. Conclusions: This study confirms the activity and safety of SBRT in patients with MPR-OC and identifies clinical and treatment parameters able to predict CR and LC rate. Implications for Practice: This study aimed to define activity and safety of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in a very large, real life data set of patients with metastatic, persistent, recurrent ovarian cancer (MPR-OC). Patient age 70 Gy were associated with higher chance of complete response (CR). Achievement of CR and total dose >25 Gy were associated with better local control (LC) rate. Mild toxicity was experienced in 20.7% of patients. In conclusion, this study confirms the activity and safety of SBRT in MPR-OC patients and identifies clinical and treatment parameters able to predict CR and LC rate.

Agricultural expansion requires the deployment of stress-tolerant crops like safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). In safflower breeding, oil improvement in early generations requires indirect selection through simply inherited traits. The oil quality is mostly related to the fatty acid profile, which is determined by the OL locus. The aim of this research was to identify simple easy-to-measure traits that indirectly explain oil content variation and its interaction with yield components, and also to generate an effective tool for genotyping the OL locus. A field experiment with F5 and pure lines was carried out to correlate the oil content with 18 traits including yield components, and phenological and morphological characteristics. KASP technology using primers designed according to the ctFAD2-1 gene sequence was applied for OL locus genotyping and validated through fatty acids phenotyping. Hull content, the length:width ratio of the grain, and plant height were identified as the most promising selection tools for increasing oil content, and grains per capitulum was the best yield component for increasing yield without decreasing the oil content. KASP genotyping successfully worked as a MAS tool, identifying oleic and linoleic genotypes. These tools enhance options for improving oil content and quality for safflower breeding.

Introduction/Background* Vulvar cancer (VC) is a rare gynaecologic malignancy. The study aims to evaluate in a retrospective, multicentred, real-world dataset of patients affected by VC efficacy and safety of adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy (aRT), focusing especially to the treatment prescription among participant centers joining the Observational itaLian stuDy on vuLvar cAncer adjuvant raDiotherapY (OLDLADY) project endorsed by the GYN study group of the AIRO (Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology). Methodology Patients affected by VC and treated by eRT from January 2010 to December 2018 in Nine Italian radiotherapy centers were retrospectively included and clinical data were collected, analysing tumour staging, treatment prescription, clinical and toxicity outcomes. Result(s)* The multicentred retrospective cohort was composed by 181 patients (patient populations shown in table 1), with a median age of 71.5 years (range 17-90). A considerable heterogeneity was found in the treatment prescription, radiotherapy doses and concomitant chemotherapy schedules. The most relevant acute toxicity revealed for the patient cohort was skin toxicity (22.1%); instead, the rate of severe chronic lymphoedema was 1.1%. After a median follow-up of 30 months (range 1-185), the 2-year actuarial local control rate (LC), the 2-year disease free survival rate (DFS) and the overall survival rate (OS) were 57.2%, 49.4%, and 55.1%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves were computed and reported in figure 1. Conclusion* A diverse spectrum of radiotherapy options to exclusively treat patients affected by VC was reported. To achieve higher treatment standardisation, in terms of prescribed doses and volumes, this study suggest further cooperative prospective studies.

Introduction/Background* Vulvar cancer (VC) is a rare gynaecologic cancer with poor outcomes in locally advanced disease. This study aims to evaluate in a retrospective, multicentred, real-world dataset of patients affected by VC efficacy and safety of exclusive (chemo)radiotherapy (eRT), focusing especially to the treatment prescription among participant centers joining the Observational itaLian stuDy on vuLvar cAncer radical raDiotherapY (OLDLADY) project endorsed by the GYN study group of the AIRO (Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology). Methodology Patients affected by VC and treated by eRT from January 2010 to December 2018 in Seven Italian radiotherapy centers were retrospectively included and clinical data were collected, analysing tumour staging, treatment prescription, clinical and toxicity outcomes. Result(s)* The multicentred retrospective cohort was composed by 90 patients (patient populations shown in table 1), with a median age of 76 years (range 32-92). A considerable heterogeneity was found in the treatment prescription, radiotherapy doses and concomitant chemotherapy schedules. The most relevant acute toxicity revealed for the patient cohort was skin toxicity (26%); instead, the rate of severe skin fibrosis was 4.4%. After a median follow-up of 10 months (range 1-199), the 2-year actuarial local control rate (LC), the 2-year disease free survival rate (DFS) and the overall survival rate (OS) were 42.2%, 40%, and 36.7%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves were computed and reported in figure 1. Conclusion* A diverse spectrum of radiotherapy options to exclusively treat patients affected by VC was reported. Clinical outcomes are still confirmed to be poor. The results suggest the clinical evaluation of the impact of treatment standardisation, in terms of doses and volumes, in a further perspective study.

Background/aim To evaluate the outcome of patients with unresectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CC) treated with external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and concurrent chemotherapy (CT) with or without intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) boost or with definitive ILBT. Patients and methods A pooled analysis of patients with non-metastatic unresectable CC was performed. They were treated in three different institution with EBRT plus CT with or without an ILBT boost. Some patients received only ILBT with curative dose. Results Seventy-three patients were included in the analysis. Thirty-nine patients (53%) received EBRT treatment with ILBT boost (18 patients with CT during EBRT), while 28 patients (38%) were treated with EBRT (CT in 26 patients) and 6 patients (8.2%) with definitive ILBT (2 patients with CT). CT was administered including either the use of gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil. With a median follow-up of 16 month (range=1-94 months), median overall survival (OS) was 16 months. Overall median LC was 16 months and patients who underwent ILBT had a better local control (LC) (p=0.018). Conclusion The role of ILBT in unresectable CC is not yet supported by robust evidence in the literature. However, within this limit, preliminary results seem to suggest an improved local control in patients treated with ILBT, almost comparable to the ones of standard chemo-radiotherapy (CRT).