A semi-automatic planning technique for whole breast irradiation with tangential IMRT fields.

PURPOSE: To implement a semi-automatic planning technique for whole breast irradiation with two tangential IMRT fields and to test the produced dose distribution against clinical 3DCRT plans, for introducing the technique in clinical practice. METHODS: The Auto-Planning module of the Pinnacle3 (Philips) treatment planning system was used for generating a Treatment Technique on left-sided breast cancer patients treated in free breathing or in deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) and to right-sided breast cancer patients. The technique was evaluated against 3DCRT clinical plans in terms of dosimetric plan parameters. Plan robustness toward patient displacements was assessed on a subset of patients by inducing shifts to the isocenter. RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement in target coverage and dose homogeneity was observed for autoIMRT. No statistically significant differences were observed for ipsilateral organs, except for the ipsilateral lung in left DIBH, where slightly lower Dmean and V18% are registered for autoIMRT. Slightly higher Dmean doses (although far below the constraints) to contralateral organs were observed for autoIMRT plans. AutoIMRT plans were shown to be as robust as 3DCRT plans toward isocenter shifts, with a maximum decrease in CTV coverage of -2.2% and -2.1% for autoIMRT and 3DCRT, respectively. Average planning times were 40 min for 3DCRT and 6 min for IMRT plans. CONCLUSIONS: The developed autoIMRT technique was proven to be advantageous for target coverage and homogeneity and sufficiently robust towards isocenter displacements. The use of automated planning consistently reduces the planning workload with improvements in plan quality.

Pattern of Recurrence After Stereotactic Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer Patients With Nodal Pelvic Relapse. A Multi-Institutional Retrospective Analysis.

AIMS: Currently, when nodal pelvic oligorecurrent disease is detected, no standard treatment option is recommended. One possible salvage option is nodal stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Here we analysed recurrence patterns after nodal SBRT in patients affected by pelvic oligometastatic relapse after radical prostatectomy, and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)-free survival in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on 93 patients consecutively treated in five different institutions for pelvic oligorecurrent disease were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy and imaging showing three or fewer metachronous lymphoadenopathies under aortic bifurcation. Patients underwent SBRT on all sites of disease. Concomitant ADT was allowed. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 20 months (interquartile range 11-41), 57 patients had post-SBRT radiological evidence of relapse, for a median disease-free survival (DFS) of 15 months (95% confidence interval 9-24). Concomitant ADT was administered in 20 patients (21.5%). Overall, eight (8.6%), 21 (22.6%) and 28 (30.1%) patients had prostate bed only, pelvic nodal or distant relapse, respectively. The median ADT-free survival was not reached. Concomitant ADT, International Society for Urologic Pathology pattern at diagnosis < or ≥3, time to relapse ≤ or >12 months, prostate-specific antigen at recurrence < or ≥1.10 ng/ml and prostate-specific membrane antigen staging were not significantly associated with DFS. After relapse, 42 patients (45.2%) received a second SBRT course. CONCLUSION: Nodal SBRT yielded encouraging DFS and ADT-free survival in this population. Only a minority of patients developed prostate bed recurrence, suggesting that local treatment may be safely avoided. A consistent percentage of patients could be managed with a second SBRT course.

Stereotactic Re-irradiation in Recurrent Prostate Cancer after Previous Postoperative or Definitive Radiotherapy: Long-term Results after a Median Follow-up of 4 Years.

AIMS: In 2018, we published early results from a cohort of patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) after previous radiotherapy with definitive or postoperative intent. We sought to provide extended follow-up of this cohort to confirm the safety and efficacy of this approach in a real-world scenario. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients affected by local relapse after previous definitive or postoperative radiotherapy were treated with SBRT. Treatment provided a total dose of 30 Gy in five fractions. Data about biochemical relapse-free survival (BRFS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS), together with adverse events, were analysed. Toxicity was reported according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) score v.4.03. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 48.2 months, the median BRFS was 43 months. A Gleason score >7 and concomitant androgen deprivation therapy were shown to be predictors of the worst BRFS (hazard ratio 2.42, 95% confidence interval 1.09-5.41, P = 0.02; hazard ratio 2.83, 95% confidence interval 1.17-6.8, P = 0.02, respectively). The median MFS was not reached; concomitant androgen deprivation therapy was confirmed to be predictive of the worst MFS (hazard ratio 4.75, 95% confidence interval 1.52-14.8, P = 0.007). Late grade 1 and 2 rectal and bladder toxicity occurred in three (6%) and 13 (26%) patients, respectively. One patient experienced both grade 3 acute and chronic bladder toxicity. CONCLUSION: Salvage SBRT re-irradiation after previous postoperative or definitive radiotherapy for local prostate cancer recurrence confirmed promising results in terms of oncological outcomes and the safety of this approach.

Prospective assessment of AR splice variant and PSMA detection on circulating tumor cells of mCRPC patients: preliminary analysis of patients enrolled in PRIMERA trial (NCT04188275).

In our institution, a prospective observational trial testing micro-RNA (miRNA) and ARV7 mutational status in metastatic, castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), is currently recruiting (PRIMERA trial, NCT04188275). A pre-planned interim analysis was performed when 50% of the planned accrual was reached. In this report, we explored the predictive value of Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) detection in mCRPC patients undergoing 1st line therapy. Moreover, ARV7, ARFL, PSMA and PSA expression on CTC was reported to explore potential correlation with patient prognosis and response to therapy. PRIMERA is a prospective observational trial enrolling mCRPC patients undergoing standard treatment (ARTA + ADT) after I line ADT failure. Clinical and pathological features were collected. Outcomes selected for this preliminary analysis were time to castration resistance (TTCR), PSA at 8 weeks after ARTA therapy start, PSA drop at 8 weeks, Overall PSA drop, PSA nadir. Correlation between these outcomes and CTC detection was tested. Expression of ARV7, ARFL, PSA and PSMA was explored in CTC+ patients to assess their prevalence in this cohort and their impact on selected outcomes. Median TTCR was significantly shorter in CTC+ vs CTC- patients (32.3 vs 75 months, respectively, p = 0.03) and in ARFL+ vs ARFL- patients (30.2 vs 51.1 months, respectively, p = 0.02). ARV7, PSMA and PSA expression on CTC had no impact on median TTCR, nor on biochemical response to therapy. Patients in whom CTC and ARFL expression were detected had significant reduced TTCR. However, PSA response was not influenced by CTCs detection and specific biomarkers expression.

Infarto agudo de miocardio sin enfermedad coronaria ateroesclerótica obstructiva: utilidad de las imágenes intravasculares y resonancia cardíaca en su diagnóstico / Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease. Diagnostic value of intravascular imaging and cardiac resonance

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) is common. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and intravascular imaging (IVI) may be useful for establishing its etiology. AIM: To describe a population with MINOCA and its multi-image assessment using IVI or CMR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of medical records, imaging and functional studies of patients with MINOCA treated in three different clinical centers between 2015 and 2019. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with MINOCA and IVI were included. Seventy eight percent were women, 46% had hypertension, 32% smoked and 32% had dyslipidemia. At wall motion assessment, 46% presented apical ballooning pattern. In 36% of patients IVI identified lesions that explained the cause of MINOCA, namely plaque disruption (PD) in 18%, spontaneous coronary dissection in 11% and a thrombus without PD in 7%. Forty-six percent of patients had uncomplicated atherosclerotic plaques, and 36% had no pathological findings. CMR was performed in 50% of patients, identifying in all a diagnostic pattern. In nine cases it was compatible with stress cardiomyopathy, three cases had a myocarditis and two cases had transmural infarctions. PD and transmural late gadolinium enhancement were observed in 23% of patients with apical ballooning. Patients with a pattern of myocarditis did not have acute pathological findings at IVI. After a mean follow-up of 16.4±11.4 months, 3 patients with PD died. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with MINOCA, there was a predominance of female gender with low cardiovascular risk factor load. The multi-image assessment allowed greater precision for etiological diagnosis of MINOCA. Apical ballooning was not pathognomonic for stress cardiomyopathy. PD was associated with mortality.

[Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease. Diagnostic value of intravascular imaging and cardiac resonance]. / Infarto agudo de miocardio sin enfermedad coronaria ateroesclerótica obstructiva: utilidad de las imágenes intravasculares y resonancia cardíaca en su diagnóstico.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) is common. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and intravascular imaging (IVI) may be useful for establishing its etiology. AIM: To describe a population with MINOCA and its multi-image assessment using IVI or CMR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of medical records, imaging and functional studies of patients with MINOCA treated in three different clinical centers between 2015 and 2019. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with MINOCA and IVI were included. Seventy eight percent were women, 46% had hypertension, 32% smoked and 32% had dyslipidemia. At wall motion assessment, 46% presented apical ballooning pattern. In 36% of patients IVI identified lesions that explained the cause of MINOCA, namely plaque disruption (PD) in 18%, spontaneous coronary dissection in 11% and a thrombus without PD in 7%. Forty-six percent of patients had uncomplicated atherosclerotic plaques, and 36% had no pathological findings. CMR was performed in 50% of patients, identifying in all a diagnostic pattern. In nine cases it was compatible with stress cardiomyopathy, three cases had a myocarditis and two cases had transmural infarctions. PD and transmural late gadolinium enhancement were observed in 23% of patients with apical ballooning. Patients with a pattern of myocarditis did not have acute pathological findings at IVI. After a mean follow-up of 16.4±11.4 months, 3 patients with PD died. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with MINOCA, there was a predominance of female gender with low cardiovascular risk factor load. The multi-image assessment allowed greater precision for etiological diagnosis of MINOCA. Apical ballooning was not pathognomonic for stress cardiomyopathy. PD was associated with mortality.

Stereotactic radiotherapy in oligoprogressive and oligorecurrent urothelial cancer patients: A retrospective experience.

Urothelial cancer is one of the most common malignancies; after relapse or disease progression available therapeutic options are limited. We analyze efficacy and toxicity of local treatment on metastases using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in selected patients with oligometastatic disease from urothelial cancer. A significant percentage of treated lesions achieved local control, with a promising overall response rate. OBJECTIVES: to analyze efficacy and toxicity of local treatment on metastases using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in selected patients with oligometastatic disease from urothelial cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from clinical records of 19 patients treated in our institution since May 2011 to October 2017 with SBRT for oligometastatic/oligoprogressive urothelial carcinoma were retrospectively collected. Clinical outcomes in terms of local control (LC), response rate, symptoms control, progression free and overall survival (PFS and OS), and adverse events were analyzed and reported. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were treated on 25 metastatic lesions; 5 of them received treatment on multiple sites. After an average follow up of 11.5 months, LC was achieved in 17 lesions (68%) and there was no local recurrence in lesions with complete or partial response. OS was 13.8 months. Adverse events were reported only in 3 patients (5 overall events). No late toxicity was reported. CONCLUSIONS: An approach consisting in SBRT for local treatment of oligometastatic or persistent disease can be effective and safe in selected patients. Prospective studies are needed, to find correct selection criteria and optimal dose and fractionation.

Robotic Stereotactic Retreatment for Biochemical Control in Previously Irradiated Patients Affected by Recurrent Prostate Cancer.

AIMS: Robotic stereotactic body radiotherapy (rSBRT) to local recurrences emerged as a valuable option for exclusive local failure after prior external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for localised prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of rSBRT in patients experiencing locally recurrent prostate cancer after prior definitive or postoperative radiotherapy using the Cyberknife. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 50 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Local recurrence was assessed by 18F-choline positron emission tomography and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging; a dose of 30 Gy was delivered in five fractions. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was assessed at 2 months, 6 months and every 4 months thereafter. Toxicity was assessed according to CTCAE v.4.03. RESULTS: All patients received prior EBRT. The median EQD2 total dose was 74 Gy (60-80 Gy). Eleven patients were receiving androgen deprivation after prior biochemical failure. At 6 months, 41 patients showed a median PSA decline of -77.1% (14.3-99.3%), whereas nine patients experienced a median PSA elevation of +58.7% (0-2300.0%). Biochemical relapse-free survival (BRFS) was 80.0%. Impaired BRFS was correlated with the high-risk category at diagnosis (P = 0.014, hazard ratio 5.61) and ongoing androgen deprivation (P = 0.025, hazard ratio 2.98). Neither clinical variables nor dosimetric parameters were found to be predictive for toxicity. CONCLUSION: Focal rSBRT can achieve durable remission in locally relapsing patients and systemic treatment can be postponed with acceptable toxicity. Accurate patient selection is mandatory to maximise disease control.

Caracterización clínica, serológica y patrón radiológico de una cohorte unicéntrica de pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar difusa / Clinical, serological and radiological pattern characterization of a monocentric cohort of patients with diffuse lung disease

Diffuse Lung Disease (DLD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, however in Chile we are lacking of epidemiological data on this condition. Our aim is communicate the first report of a prospective registry of DLD patients treated at bronchopulmonary unit of DIPRECA hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional study in patients referred to our bronchopulmonary unit under suspicion of DLD. Diagnosis was confirmed by chest computed tomography and informed consent was approved by patients. Data regarding clinical, serological, pulmonary function tests and echocardiography were collected from 2014 up to date. Results: 30 patients were analysed, their median of age was 76.5 years-old (Interquartile Range 68-80), 56.7% were women, median duration of disease: 4 years (IQR 1-10.6) and 43% has smoking history Most frequent signs and symptoms were crackles (97%), dyspnoea (90%) and cough (57%). Comorbidities: 3% had asthma, 3% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 6.7% connective tissue diseases. Radiological findings: 20% had DLD with usual interstitial pneumonia pattern (UIP), 23% DLD possible UIP, 30% DLD inconsistent with UIP, 14% chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and 13% nonspecific interstitial pneumonia. Serology: 18% had positive rheumatoid factor of which only one case had rheumatoid arthritis, 67% had positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA), 17% ANCA positive of which only one case of clinical vasculitis. Spirometry was mainly normal (52%) or restrictive (45%). Echocardiography showed pulmonary hypertension mainly mild in 52% of patients. No significant association was found between titles of ANA ≥ 1/320 and gender, smoking or radiological pattern. Conclusions: Our demographic and radiological findings are similar to those reported in literature; however, the highlights in our cohort are the increased frequency of female gender and positive ANA without history or clinical manifestation of connective tissue diseases.

La enfermedad pulmonar difusa (EPD) es causa importante de morbimortalidad; a pesar de esto no tenemos datos epidemiológicos en Chile. Nuestro objetivo es comunicar el primer reporte del registro prospectivo de pacientes con EPD atendidos en la unidad de broncopulmonar del hospital DIPRECA. Métodos: Estudio de corte transversal en pacientes derivados alpoliclínico broncopulmonar del hospital DIPRECA por sospecha de EPD. En caso de confirmación diagnóstica por tomografía computada de tórax y consentimiento informado aprobado por los pacientes, se compilaron datos clínicos, serológicos, pruebas de función pulmonar y ecocardiografía, desde 2014 hasta la fecha. Resultados: Se analizaron 30 pacientes la mediana de su edad fue 76,5 años (rango intercuartílico 68-80), 56,7% eran mujeres, duración mediana de la enfermedad: 4 años (RIC 1-10,6)y 43% con antecedentes de tabaquismo. Los síntomas y signos más frecuente fueron crujidos (97%), disnea (90%) y tos (57%). Comorbilidades: 3% tenía asma, 3% enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y 6,7% enfermedades del tejido conectivo. Hallazgos radiológicos: 20% tenía EPD con patrón de neumonía intersticial usual (UIP), 23% EPD posible UIP, 30% EPD inconsistente con UIP, 14% neumonitis por hipersensibilidad crónica y 13% neumonía intersticial no específica. Serología: 18% tenía factor reumatoide positivo de ellos sólo uno de los casos tenía artritis reumatoide, el 67% tenía anticuerpos antinucleares (ANA) positivos, 17% ANCA positivo de ellos sólo un caso tenía historia de vasculitis clínica. La espirometría fue mayoritariamente normal (52%) o restrictiva (45%). Ecocardiografía detectó hipertensión pulmonar mayoritariamente leve en 52% de los pacientes. No se encontró asociación significativa entre los títulos de ANA ≥ 1/320 en relación a género, tabaquismo o patrón radiológico. Conclusiones: Nuestros hallazgos demográficos y radiológicos son similares a los de la literatura; sin embargo, destaca en nuestra cohorte la mayor frecuencia de género femenino y ANA positivos sin historia o manifestación clínica de enfermedades del tejido conectivo.

Cyberknife treatment for low and intermediate risk prostate cancer.

Cyberknife is an emerging treatment for early stage prostate cancer. Between October 2012 and January 2014, 32 patients were treated in our institution. Prescribed dose was 35-36.25 Gy in five fractions. Biochemical response was observed in 22 patients. Four patients experienced G2 acute genitourinary toxicity and in two cases we recorded G3 acute GU toxicity. 5 patients experienced G2 acute proctitis. At last follow up visit, all patients were still alive. 29 remained free of disease at last follow up appointment, while three developed a biochemical recurrence. Our experience confirms the efficacy and safety of Cyberknife for localized prostate cancer.

MASSIVE PULMONARY EMBOLISM: A RARE PRESENTATION OF ACUTE HIV-1 INFECTION.

Acute HIV infection rarely presents as venous thromboembolism as evidenced by a paucity of medical literature. HIV predisposes to hypercoagulability by a number of pathways.

Synchronous bilateral testicular germ cell tumour: case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of a 30 years old male affected by synchronous bilateral germ cell tumor with a history of unilateral cryptorchidism; the patient underwent surgical treatment followed by adjuvant radiotherapy on paraaortic and iliac lymphnodes. Patients with synchronous tumors usually present with a higher stage disease in contrast to those with unilateral testicular carcinoma, yet the prognosis remains equally favorable.

Concomitant adjuvant chemo-radiation therapy with anthracycline-based regimens in breast cancer: a single centre experience.

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the toxicity related to concurrent radiotherapy and anthracycline (AC)-based chemotherapy in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer and to investigate the impact of treatment interruptions and the feasibility of this uncommon therapeutic approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2002 to December 2007, 60 patients were treated at our Centre. The mean age at presentation was 48.5 (range 38-64) years. All patients underwent conservative surgery, and radiotherapy to the entire breast (mean dose 50 Gy; range 46-52 Gy). AC-based regimens consisted of four cycles of AC (doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide) or four cycles of epirubicin (EPI) followed by four courses of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF). RESULTS: Concomitant treatment caused acute skin G3 toxicity in 8.9% of patients and one case of G4 toxicity (1.7%). Concerning cardiac assessment, six of the 56 evaluable patients (10.7%) developed an asymptomatic decline of left ventricular ejection fraction >10% and <20% of the baseline value. Radiotherapy was temporarily stopped in 21.3% and chemotherapy in 57.1% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, concomitant chemotherapy did not emerge as a significant factor in radiotherapy interruption. Moreover, no severe cardiac events were recorded.

Postmastectomy radiotherapy in breast cancer adjuvant treatment.

Radiotherapy (RT) plays an important role in the management of locally advanced breast cancer (BC). Postmastectomy RT has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of loco-regional failure and to improve disease free survival in high-risk women with BC. Many trials have shown a significant benefit in local control, disease-free and overall survival with the addition of RT for patients with stage II and III breast cancer. New perspectives are evaluating multiple biological variables that nowadays should be considered in clinical oncology for the prescription of postmastectomy radiation therapy. Tailored randomized trials are now ongoing to clarify the "grey zone" represented by the intermediate-risk group of patients (1-3 lymph nodes involved). We reviewed the major studies offered by literature with emphasis on the principal debated issues.

The impact of young age on breast cancer outcome.

AIMS: We conducted a retrospective analysis in order to evaluate the impact of age on women aged less than 35 years affected by breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1972 and December 2006, 346 patients aged less than 35 years underwent adjuvant treatment at Florence University. The mean age of the patient population was 32 years (range 22-35): 76 patients were under 30 years old, the remaining were above 30 years old. RESULTS: In our series, 215 patients received adjuvant radiotherapy to whole breast after conservative surgery, 131 patients underwent mastectomy without subsequent radiation therapy and 323 patients had lymphadenectomy; 191 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, 73 with anthracycline-containing regimen. With a median time of 2.5 years (range 6 months to 27.6 years) local relapses were observed in 67 cases (19.4%). At the multivariate analysis of local disease-free survival, ductal and ductal plus lobular histotypes, having more than 3 positive nodes, and age emerged as independent significant relapse predictors (p=0.018, p=0.0005, p=0.003 and p=0.024, respectively). For the DSS analysis, the median follow-up was 6.8 years (range 0.6-36.7 years). At the multivariate analysis, age (p=0.0038), positive nodes (p=0.0035) and distant metastases (p<0.0001) resulted to be independent death predictors. Patients younger than 30 had a worse prognosis. At the univariate analysis also local relapse resulted to be statistically significant (p=0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: Anthracycline-based chemotherapy seems to improve the outcome of these patients. However, there is an urgent need for tailored treatment investigations within the framework of randomized, controlled clinical trials.

The impact of young age on breast cancer outcome.

AIMS: We conducted a retrospective analysis in order to evaluate the impact of age on women aged less than 35 years affected by breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1972 and December 2006, 346 patients aged less than 35 years underwent adjuvant treatment at Florence University. The mean age of the patient population was 32 years (range 22-35): 76 patients were under 30 years old, the remaining were above 30 years old. RESULTS: In our series, 215 patients received adjuvant radiotherapy to whole breast after conservative surgery, 131 patients underwent mastectomy without subsequent radiation therapy and 323 patients had lymphadenectomy; 191 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, 73 with anthracycline-containing regimen. With a median time of 2.5 years (range 6 months to 27.6 years) local relapses were observed in 67 cases (19.4%). At the multivariate analysis of local disease-free survival, ductal and ductal plus lobular histotypes, having more than 3 positive nodes, and age emerged as independent significant relapse predictors (p = 0.018, p = 0.0005, p = 0.003 and p = 0.024, respectively). For the DSS analysis, the median follow-up was 6.8 years (range 0.6-36.7 years). At the multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.0038), positive nodes (p = 0.0035) and distant metastases (p < 0.0001) resulted to be independent death predictors. Patients younger than 30 had a worse prognosis. At the univariate analysis also local relapse resulted to be statistically significant (p = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: Anthracycline-based chemotherapy seems to improve the outcome of these patients. However, there is an urgent need for tailored treatment investigations within the framework of randomized, controlled clinical trials.

Reduction of plasma granzyme A correlates with severity of sepsis in burn patients.

The risk of mortality is high in burn patients and correlates with age, burn area extent, and sepsis. Immunosuppression has been reported to occur after severe burn. Cytotoxic cells possess specialized granules containing perforin and a group of serine proteases (granzymes). Granzyme A is a serine protease constitutively expressed by gammadelta and NK cells, in agreement with their functional cytolytic potential. In vitro studies have shown that GrA may be released extracellularly during cytotoxic cell degranulation, indicating the activation of cytotoxic cells. The aim of our study was to determine plasma GrA activity in burned patients and to verify if decreased GrA levels were associated with poor prognosis. Specific GrA activity was tested in the plasma of burned and healthy subjects by esterase assay. Plasma GrA was significantly decreased in septic rather than in nonseptic burn patients and in healthy subjects (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). At day 3 plasma GrA was significantly lower in nonsurvivor than in survivor septic patients (p < 0.05). The value of 91 mOD showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 84% in differentiating survivor from nonsurvivor septic patients. Because this is a retrospective study, Granzyme A is not a confirmed predictor of septic outcome after burn, but its determination could give useful information about the development and severity of sepsis.