The thermal load protection of hypersonic and space vehicle structures can be achieved by either passive or active methods, such as ablative materials or active cooling. For the latter, porous Ceramic Matrix Composite media offer a possibility to exploit thermal protection by means of transpiration cooling due to their higher permeability. One of the related key issues is the determination of p...

Barrett's oesophagus is premalignant. Oesophagectomy is traditionally regarded as the standard treatment option in the presence of high grade intraepithelial neoplasia or intramucosal cancer. However, oesophagectomy is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Endoscopic ablative therapies are limited by the lack of tissue for histological assessment, and the ablation may be incomp...

Laser ablation (LA) is gaining acceptance for the treatment of tumors as an alternative to surgical resection. This paper reviews the use of lasers for ablative and surgical applications. Also reviewed are solutions aimed at improving LA outcomes: hyperthermal treatment planning tools and thermometric techniques during LA, used to guide the surgeon in the choice and adjustment of the optimal la...

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most frequently encountered malignancies worldwide. Its association with cirrhosis increases the difficulty of diagnosis and therapy. Different approaches, ranging from medical treatment to highly complex ablative and surgical therapies, including liver resection and transplantation have significantly improved the outcome of this disease. This article revi...

Advanced melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer characterized by low survival rates. Less than 50% advanced patients respond to current therapies, and those that do respond, many present with tumor recurrence due resistance. The immunosuppressive tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) remains a major obstacle in therapy. Adjuvant treatment modalities enhance anti-tumor immune cell function...