Complex Aortic and Peripheral Reconstructions in Patients With Cancer: Infection Risk, Graft Selection, and Perioperative Optimization

The intersection of vascular surgery and oncology has become increasingly significant as the global cancer burden rises and more patients with active or previous malignancy require major vascular interventions. Cancer patients undergoing complex aortic and peripheral arterial reconstructions face unique challenges — including compromised immune responses, chemotherapy-induced vascular injury, radiation-altered tissues, and malnutrition — all of which heighten vulnerability to prosthetic graft infection and complicate surgical planning. Despite growing clinical prevalence, consolidated guidelines remain scarce owing to the heterogeneity of available patient series and inconsistent outcome measures.Advances in open vascular surgery, endovascular techniques, and perioperative management have progressively expanded the boundaries of resectability. Hybrid approaches combining surgical reconstruction with minimally invasive interventions are shaping modern oncologic surgery; yet debate persists over optimal graft materials, infection prevention strategies, and the timing of interventions relative to systemic cancer therapies.This Research Topic aims to systematically address the clinical and translational questions surrounding complex vascular reconstructions in adult cancer patients. Its primary objectives are to clarify infection risk stratified by malignancy type and oncologic treatment history, compare the efficacy and durability of prosthetic, biological, and hybrid grafts in oncologic settings, and define perioperative optimization strategies for this vulnerable population. A further aim is to foster multidisciplinary frameworks linking vascular surgeons, oncologic surgeons, interventional radiologists, and medical oncologists.We welcome original research, reviews, clinical studies, and consensus statements addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Infection risk stratification in cancer-related vascular surgery, including incidence, microbiology, and risk modeling• Comparative analyses of synthetic, biological, and antimicrobial-enhanced grafts, and outcomes of endovascular versus open reconstruction• Management of tumor-related arterial infiltration and radiation-induced vascular damage• Perioperative optimization protocols — nutritional, antimicrobial, and immunosuppression strategies — and timing of interventions relative to cancer therapies• Hybrid surgical and endovascular approaches as part of integrated, multidisciplinary care pathways• Quality of life, functional outcomes, and multidisciplinary care coordination in complex oncologic vascular casesPlease note that manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases without independent validation are out of scope for this Research Topic. Topic editors: Luigi Lorini, Luca Bertoglio Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80941/complex-aortic-and-peripheral-reconstructions-in-patients-with-cancer-infection-risk-graft-selection-and-perioperative-optimization