Oncology

The primary conditions treated include: Breast cancers, Lung cancers, Urogenital cancers, Gastrointestinal cancers, Head and neck tumors, Rare tumors.

In addition to routine clinical care, the unit conducts research on innovative drugs through controlled clinical trials, aligning with the standards of leading Italian and international oncology centers.

Patients may be admitted under the following conditions:

• Emergency Admission: Initiated by the Emergency Department or the Urgent Care Clinic
• Scheduled Admission: Initiated following a prior hospitalization, requested by the Oncology Guidance Center (C.Or.O.), Day Hospital, or Oncology Outpatient Clinic, or via transfer from another department after evaluation by the Oncology Unit physicians.

Useful Information

Patients scheduled for admission are contacted by a ward physician 48 hours in advance. Admissions are conducted daily, including weekends and public holidays.

The Day Hospital operates Monday through Friday, during both morning and afternoon hours.

Day Service Admission involves scheduled diagnostic or therapeutic services requiring single or multiple visits lasting less than 24 hours, without overnight stays.

The activities carried out by the Oncology Day Hospital include oncological consultations (initial and follow-up visits), the administration of chemotherapy, and diagnostic tests.

• Blood tests
• Infusion of therapeutic agents, including chemotherapeutic drugs, biological therapies, and immunotherapies
• Diagnostic procedures, including: Cardiological evaluations (ECG, 2D echocardiography, Doppler ultrasound, and consultations), Radiological imaging (standard X-rays, ultrasounds), with the option for expedited internal scheduling of additional diagnostic exams (MRI, CT scans)
• Invasive procedures, such as thoracentesis, paracentesis, and cytological aspirations
• Central venous access management, supported by the availability of an anesthesiologist and a dedicated low-microbial-load procedural room for sterile interventions
• Multidisciplinary consultations
• Initial and follow-up oncological evaluations

Patients utilizing the Day Service at our facility can benefit from access to the covered parking garage at the Polyclinic, with special discounted rates on the applicable fees.

Contacts:

Day-Hospital

Control Room: 0882416334 – 08824106335

Fax 0882416331

Doctors’ Offices: 0882416332 – 0882416333 – 0882416336 – 0882416341

Outpatient services, including initial and follow-up visits, are provided from Tuesday to Friday at the Divisional Oncology Outpatient Clinic, located on the second floor of the "Giovanni Paolo II" Polyclinic.

Outpatient appointments can be booked directly by patients by contacting the CUP (Centralized Booking Center) at 0882 416888.

The Oncology Guidance Center (C.Or.O.) is a key initiative of the Apulian Oncology Network (R.O.P.), aimed at ensuring individuals with a confirmed or suspected cancer diagnosis receive prompt guidance and access to specialized care at centers as close as possible to their place of residence.

C.Or.O units are multidisciplinary organizational structures staffed with the following professionals: Medical oncologists, Psycho-oncologists, Care manager nurses, Social workers, Administrative staff. These units are designed to support patients from the pre-diagnosis phase, addressing clinical, administrative, and social challenges to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care.

The C.Or.O. at Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza is located on the ground floor of the "Giovanni Paolo II" Polyclinic, near the main entrance.

It is possible to contact us at the phone numbers 0882416552 – 3441116410 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Patients can also call the toll-free number (800185003) for information and to be directed to the appropriate C.Or.O based on their geographic location.

The Integrated Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic (AIS) is staffed by a dedicated team of specialists, including: A surgeon, An oncologist, A radiotherapist. The team collaboratively conducts periodic clinical and instrumental evaluations as part of the follow-up care for breast cancer patients. This clinic operates on Monday mornings and afternoons. Appointments can be scheduled through the Centralized Booking Center (CUP) by calling 0882/416888.

The Integrated Multidisciplinary ENT Clinic is dedicated to the follow-up care of patients with oncological diseases affecting the head and neck region. This clinic operates in collaboration with specialists in: Otorhinolaryngology, Maxillofacial Surgery, Radiotherapy.

The clinic operates on Monday mornings. Appointments can be scheduled through the Centralized Booking Center (CUP) at 0882/416888.

The clinical research activities of the unit encompass the comprehensive management of clinical trials, including operational and data management support, liaison with other research institutions, and coordination with the Hospital’s Ethics Committee.

These activities are structured around the following key functions:

• Organizing initiation and close-out visits for clinical trials
• Recruiting patients for clinical trials and overseeing all phases of the studies
• Collecting patient data at every stage of the trial, completing electronic case report forms (eCRFs), and addressing data queries
• Compiling and archiving trial documentation
• Coordinating and participating in monitoring visits conducted by sponsors or Contract Research Organizations (CROs), as well as in inspections and audits

The clinical research carried out by the unit focuses particularly on tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system, and breast cancer.

In collaboration with the Experimental Oncology Section, the unit conducts preclinical research with translational applications, primarily targeting gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and breast pathologies, as well as rare diseases.

Contacts

Phone 0882410716

Fax 0882412792

Colorectal Cancer

LIBImAB: A Phase III clinical trial in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, RAS/BRAF wild type in tumor tissue and RAS mutated in liquid biopsy. The study aims to compare first-line therapy using the FOLFIRI regimen combined with either cetuximab or bevacizumab.

CAPRI 2: A trial assessing the efficacy and safety of a biomarker-guided, cetuximab-based treatment strategy across three lines of therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with RAS and BRAF wild type status prior to initiating first-line treatment.

PARERE: A Phase II randomized study evaluating the re-treatment sequence of panitumumab followed by regorafenib versus the reverse sequence in chemo-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer patients with RAS and BRAF wild type.

C4221015: A Phase III open-label, multicenter, randomized trial investigating encorafenib and cetuximab with or without chemotherapy compared to the standard of care. The study includes a Safety Lead-In (SLI) phase of encorafenib and cetuximab combined with chemotherapy in participants with BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer.

C4221022: A Phase II open-label, randomized trial comparing encorafenib and cetuximab plus pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in patients with MSI-H, BRAF V600E-mutated, previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer.

CAVE-2: A Phase II randomized clinical trial examining the rechallenge combination of avelumab and cetuximab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with RAS/BRAF wild type previously treated.

ACC_2019 ID 856: A next-generation sequencing study of primary tumors and their corresponding metastases in patients with colorectal cancer.

GS-US-587-6156: A Phase II open-label, randomized trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of magrolimab combined with bevacizumab and FOLFIRI versus bevacizumab and FOLFIRI in patients with pretreated metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma.

ERASE-CRC: A study using circulating tumor DNA to personalize and intensify postoperative treatment in patients with resected stage III or high-risk stage II colon cancer, including adjuvant FOLFOXIRI and/or post-adjuvant trifluridine/tipiracil.

Gastric Cancer

ARMANI: A Phase III clinical trial evaluating maintenance therapy with paclitaxel and ramucirumab versus continuation of first-line therapy in patients with advanced HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer.

AMNESIA: An Italian multicenter observational study investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction tumors.

Pancreatic Cancer

PAMBELA CL-SBP-101-04: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial assessing nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine with or without SBP-101 in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Breast Cancer

GIM23 – POSTER: A prospective observational study on adjuvant hormonal therapy in premenopausal patients with early-stage, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

NEOGENE: A genomic testing study aimed at identifying actionable mutations in patients with hormone receptor-negative/HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer, focusing on feasibility and technical refinement.

ATD Study: A retrospective-prospective multicenter real-world study evaluating the tolerability and efficacy of adjuvant T-DM1 in HER2-positive breast cancer patients with incomplete pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, including anti-HER2 agents.

Ovarian Cancer

TOCARE-MITO 42: A retrospective analysis by MITO centers in Italy to evaluate the interval between the last chemotherapy session and death in patients with ovarian cancer.

MITO 35a: A multicenter, prospective, single-arm trial investigating the use of olaparib as maintenance therapy in BRCA wild-type patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.

Lung Cancer

OPEN: A prospective, multicenter observational study analyzing therapeutic strategies for newly diagnosed advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutations.

GS-US-577-6153: A global, multicenter, open-label, Phase III randomized trial comparing sacituzumab govitecan versus docetaxel in patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC that progressed during or after platinum-based chemotherapy and anti-PD1/PDL1 immunotherapy.

Key-Early NIS009903: A study characterizing the diagnostic and therapeutic landscape for early-stage and locally advanced NSCLC patients.

Prostate Cancer

TALAPRO-3: A Phase III randomized, double-blind trial evaluating the efficacy of talazoparib and enzalutamide compared to placebo and enzalutamide in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer and DDR mutations.

COIROS: An observational study investigating the incidence and clinical progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer in patients who contracted COVID-19.

ECHOS: A multicenter observational study assessing clinical outcomes of chemotherapy or androgen receptor-targeted therapy in combination with hormonal therapy in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer patients treated in routine clinical practice across Italian hospitals.

Renal Cancer

CabFRONT: A real-world study analyzing the use of cabozantinib as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic renal cancer, focusing on the Italian clinical experience.

Urothelial Cancer

SORCERER: A study evaluating the prognostic role of gut microbiota in patients receiving avelumab maintenance therapy after first-line platinum-based treatment for metastatic urothelial cancer.

MALVA: A retrospective and prospective observational study on avelumab maintenance therapy in urothelial cancer following a response to first-line chemotherapy.

Genitourinary Tumors

I-RARE Study: The Italian registry for rare genitourinary tumors.

MITO 9b: A prospective observational study on rare gynecological tumors.

Neuroendocrine Tumors

ELIOS: A retrospective, multicenter observational study evaluating the clinical benefit of continuing or discontinuing somatostatin analog (SSA) therapy after disease progression in patients with grade 1-2 gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP NET G1-G2) and thoracic neuroendocrine tumors (typical and atypical carcinoids of the lung and thymus).

ITANET Registry: A prospective/retrospective multicenter observational registry collecting data on gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP NET).

Brain Tumors

IOV-GB-1-2020 REGOMA-OSS: A prospective, multicenter observational study assessing the effectiveness of regorafenib in patients with relapsed glioblastoma.

Melanoma

R3767-ONC-2011 (REGENERON): A Phase III clinical trial comparing fianlimab (anti-LAG3) plus cemiplimab versus pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic or locally advanced unresectable melanoma who have not received prior treatment.

MEME: A registry study investigating the management of patients with unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma in real-world settings.

Various Tumors

RATIONAL: A multicenter observational study establishing a national registry of actionable mutations in patients with advanced solid tumors.

TUMOR BREAKING: A translational study aimed at developing a multimodal approach to identify and characterize rare, clinically significant gene rearrangements in patients with solid tumors.

GERSOM: A feasibility study for joint genomic diagnostics assessing genetic risk and drug sensitivity in breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancers.

VIP PRO-CTCAE: Validation of the Italian version of the “Patient-Reported Outcomes - Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE)”: a multicenter, prospective, observational study across various cancer types.