Global recognition for Ticino oncology

On February 10, the lymphoma group of the Institute of Oncological Research (IOR) and the Oncological Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), both of which are based in the canton of Ticino, published a report on the latest scientific developments in relation to lymphoma. This report was commissioned by the New England Journal of Medicine. With this rare step, the globally respected scientific journal has implicitly recognized the leading role of the two Ticino-based research institutes in this area, according to a press release issued by Università della Svizzera italiana (USI: University of Italian Switzerland).

The IOR is affiliated to USI, while the IOSI forms part of the EOC (Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale) network, an association of hospitals in the canton of Ticino. Within the lymphoma group, the two institutes conduct research into lymphomas, malignant tumors that originate in the lymphatic system. The most common subtypes include marginal zone lymphomas, which grow outside the lymph nodes.

“This disease can affect any type of tissue, in the eyes, stomach, skin or intestines”, explains Davide Rossi, Deputy Chief Physician at IOSI and one of the authors of the research report, in a TV report aired by Switzerland’s Italian-language broadcaster RSI on the evening of February 10. “That’s why it is so important to have the necessary knowledge at hand through our overview to recognize marginal zone lymphoma and initiate the first phase of diagnostics. In this way, improved detection and treatment of marginal zone lymphoma should hopefully be possible”, he adds.

The researchers received requests for reviews “from right across the world, including the USA”, explains co-author and Deputy Chief Physician of the EOC, Emanuele Zucca. “The aim must now be to consolidate our position, which we have achieved with a lot of effort and in a location such as Bellinzona that is perhaps not so well known. For us, this is both a source of pride and inspiration to continue our work”, Zucca concludes.

In the same week, the world’s leading hematology journal, “Blood”, also published the results of a study on primary splenic marginal zone lymphoma conducted by the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group, which is an international research group under the scientific direction of Emanuele Zucca. By combining classical diagnostic tests with modern genomic and molecular analyses, this study has led to the disease being reclassified.