Surgical resection is the only option of cure for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Risk of recurrence after metastasectomy is around 75%. Use of adjuvant chemotherapy after metastasectomy is controversial.AimTo address whether adjuvant systemic therapy after colorectal cancer metastasectomy offers any survival benefit compared with surgery alone.MethodsSystematic review of literature and meta-analysis of all available randomised evidence. Relative hazards (RHs) were summarised across trials and heterogeneity was assessed with the Q and I2 statistics.ResultsFive trials were eligible. Three trials, all using single-agent fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy, presented data valuable for analyses. 482 patients were included in the meta-analysis: 238 randomly assigned to receive postoperative chemotherapy and 244 to metastasectomy only. We found no overall survival (OS) benefit with the use of postoperative single-agent fluoropyrimidines compared with surgery alone, even if a trend for benefit was observed (relative hazard (RH)=0.781, 95% CI 0.593 to 1.030, p=0.080). Significant disease-free survival benefit with the use of postoperative chemotherapy was observed (RH=0.645, 95% CI 0.509 to 0.818, p=0.001). No quality of life (QL) data were available. All trials showed accrual delay, two stopped and one recruiting after 10 years. Long follow-up needs were evidenced since OS curves split only after 3.5 years.ConclusionsNo OS benefit was documented from the use of postoperative monochemotherapy. Metastasectomy alone continues to be the standard of care. Combination chemotherapy regimens should be evaluated along with QL assessment in future trials appropriately designed for long-term accrual and follow-up.

Introduction Cancer cachexia is a common associate of cancer and has a negative impact on both patients’ quality of life and overall survival. Nonetheless its management remains suboptimal in clinical practice. Provision of medical recommendations in websites is of extreme importance for medical decision making and translating evidence into clinical practice. Aim of the study To scrutinize the magnitude, consistency and changes over time of cancer-cachexia recommendations for physicians on the Web among oncology related societies. Intercontinental, continental, national and socioeconomic variations were further analyzed. Material and methods Web identification of oncology related societies and prospective analyses of relative Web guideline recommendations for physicians on cancer-cachexia at different time-points. Results In June 2011, we scrutinized 144,000 Web pages. We identified 275 societies, of which 270 were eligible for analyses: 67 were international (African, American, Asian, European, Oceania and Intercontinental), 109 belonged to the top 10 countries with the highest development index and 94 pertained to 10 countries with a long lasting tradition in medical oncology. Conclusions The magnitude of cancer cachexia recommendations for physicians on the Web at a global level was scant both for coverage and consistency, and at any time-point considered: 3.7% (10/270) in 2011 and 8.1% (22/270) in 2018. The proportion of societies giving evidence-based and updated recommendations for cancer cachexia for physicians was only 1.1% (3/270) in 2011 and 2.96% (8/270) in 2018. Continent, national highest developmental index, oncology tradition and economic-geographic areas were not found to influence Web guideline provision.

The use of port central venous catheters (CVCs) for chemotherapeutical use has seen exponential growth over the last decades. However, port CVC misplacement may lead to catheter malfunction (such as partial or total catheter blockade), which might be complicated by thrombosis and catheter superinfections, and these in turn may lead to pulmonary embolism and bloodstream infections. The overall occurrence of port CVC misplacement is up to 6%; nonetheless, port CVC misplacement may occur in up to 67% of patients with early CVC dysfunction (occurring within three months of catheter insertion). Thereafter, the prompt evaluation of catheter position among patients with first-trimester CVC dysfunction is extremely important. The aim of the present manuscript is to support medical oncologists, haematologists, and clinicians in timely suspicion and recognition of port CVC misplacement among patients with early CVC dysfunction. Radiological educational iconographic materials that will assist a prompt estimate of port-CVC dislocation are provided.

Experimental excitation functions of isotopes produced in reactions p + natSi are compared with the results of nuclear reaction program TALYS 1.95 and semi-empirical cross section formulas. We consider excitation functions of 7 isotopes (28Mg, 26Al, 24,22Na, 18F and 10,7Be) produced in  reactions at bombarding energies of 20-144 MeV. They are compared with the predictions of the code TALYS 1.95, the semi-empirical formulas of Silberberg-Tsao (code yieldx) and SPACS. Comparisons of the results of the code TALYS 1.95 and previously published results of code ALICE are made. The predictive power of code TALYS 1.95 may be questioned for reaction products with mass number very much smaller than the target and of semi-empirical formulas at lower energies.