In the present work, different ZrO2−TiO2 mixed oxides, which are usually employed in photocatalytic processes and as catalytic support in heterogeneous catalysis, have been prepared via sol−gel synthesis or by wet impregnation. In the former case, as indicated by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, solid solutions based on Ti ions diluted in the ZrO2 matrix are formed in the range of Ti molar fraction from 0.01 to 0.15. These solids have interesting optical properties as the typical band gap transition of ZrO2 undergoes a red shift proportional to the Ti loading which reach the remarkable value of 1.3 eV for the highest Ti concentration. Annealing under vacuum at various temperatures causes oxygen depletion with consequent reduction of the solid which shows up mainly in terms of formation of Ti3+ reduced centers which are characterized by a typical broad EPR signal similar to that observed in reduced TiO2 (anatase). The ability of the mixed oxides in stabilizing surface superoxide anions (O2 •−) has also been investigated by EPR to obtain information both on the photoinduced charge separation process in the solids and on the state of thermally reduced systems. In the latter case the obtained evidence have some value to understand controversial problems concerning the TiO2 reduced matrix.

Purpose: to investigate the role of selective avoidance of hematopoietically active BM within the pelvis, as defined with 18FDG-PET, employing a targeted IMRT approach, to reduce acute hematologic toxicity (HT) profile in anal cancer patients undergoing concurrent chemo-radiation. Methods: a one-armed two-stage Simon’s design was selected to test the hypothesis that BM-sparing approach would improve by 20% the rate of G0–G2 (vs. G3–G4) HT, from 42% of RTOG 0529 historical data to 62% (α = 0.05 and the β = 0.20). At the first stage, among 21 enrolled patients, at least 9 should report G0–G2 acute HT to further proceed with the trial. We employed 18FDG-PET to identify active BM within the pelvis. Acute HT was assessed via weekly blood counts and scored as per the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects version 4.0. Results: from December 2017 to October 2019, 21 patients were enrolled. Maximum observed acute HT comprised 9% rate of ≥G3 leukopenia and 5% rate of ≥G3 neutropenia and anemia. Overall, only 4 out of 21 treated patients (19%) experienced ≥G3 acute HT. Conversely, 17 patients (81%) experienced G0–G2 events, way above the threshold set by the trial design. Conclusion: 18FDG-PET-guided BM-sparing IMRT was able to reduce acute HT in anal cancer patients treated with concomitant chemo-radiation. These results prompted us to conclude the second part of this prospective phase II trial.

Bone characteristics play the major role in miniscrews primary stability.

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We investigated the role of the selective avoidance of haematopoietically active pelvic bone marrow (BM), with a targeted intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) approach, to reduce acute hematologic toxicity (HT) in anal cancer patients undergoing concurrent chemo-radiation. We designed a one-armed two-stage Simon’s design study to test the hypothesis that BM-sparing IMRT would improve by 20% the rate of G0–G2 (vs. G3–G4) HT, from 42% of RTOG 0529 historical data to 62% (α = 0.05; β = 0.20). A minimum of 21/39 (54%) with G0–G2 toxicity represented the threshold for the fulfilment of the criteria to define this approach as ‘promising’. We employed 18FDG-PET to identify active BM within the pelvis. Acute HT was assessed via weekly blood counts and scored as per the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects version 4.0. From December 2017 to October 2020, we enrolled 39 patients. Maximum observed acute HT comprised 20% rate of ≥G3 leukopenia and 11% rate of ≥G3 thrombocytopenia. Overall, 11 out of 39 treated patients (28%) experienced ≥G3 acute HT. Conversely, in 28 patients (72%) G0–G2 HT events were observed, above the threshold set. Hence, 18FDG-PET-guided BM-sparing IMRT was able to reduce acute HT in this clinical setting.

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Background The development of new metabolic diagnostic imaging PET is changing the history of metastatic prostate cancer (pCa), identifying situations of progression with a low disease burden; radiation treatment of metabolically active oligometastatic sites has been shown to be effective to prolong patient survival. In the scenario of oligometastatic disease to pelvic lymph nodes there is no uniform consensus on treatment volumes and radiotherapy doses to use. Methods We retrospectively assessed a series of 50 patients treated from 2015 to 2021 at our center who presented with recurrent pelvic lymph node pCa disease with 1-3 lymph-nodes lateralized to one side of the pelvis. Patients were treated with intensity modulated Rapid Arc radiotherapy (IMRT), limiting the treatment volume to the chain of the affected side only. During the follow-up, the patients who presented a biochemical recurrence of the disease were evaluated by PET. Results The biochemical progression-free survival and the metastatic progression-free survival were respectively 36% and 49% at 5 years. 22/50 patients presented a documented recurrence on PET. Only one patient presented a relapse within the irradiated volume and no patient presented a relapse on the contralateral pelvic lymph node chain. No patient had gastrointestinal toxicity > grade 1 RTOG. Conclusion Treatment of patients with oligorecurrent (1-3 lesions) pelvic pCa, limiting the volume of irradiation to only one side of the affected lymph node chain, results in good biochemical disease control and presents a low risk of neoplastic contralateral progression.