Private generosity for public good: how robotic technology is transforming cancer treatment

Veronica Gusa de Dragan, President of Veroniki Holding, and her donation to the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano

The Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan has received a major contribution from Veronica Gusa de Dragan, President of Veroniki Holding. Thanks to this donation, the Institute has acquired a robotic system for the surgical treatment of oncological diseases. The project, coordinated by Prof. Ugo Pastorino, Director of the Thoracic Surgery Department, aims to enhance the treatments available, showing how private initiatives can complement the public healthcare system for the benefit of the community.

The da Vinci Surgical System: a breakthrough in minimally invasive cancer surgery

“This instrument represents a major step forward in thoracic surgery, my area of specialization,” explains Prof. Pastorino. “Since the 1980s, the National Cancer Institute of Milan has adopted conservative thoracic surgery techniques, replacing the standard postero-lateral thoracotomy with small incisions and muscle-sparing procedures. Since 2015, we have used a thoracoscope with 3D vision and a rotating head, which provides many of the advantages of robotic technology—such as three-dimensionality and flexibility—while reducing execution time and costs. This hybrid thoracoscopic approach has allowed us to perform minimally invasive thoracic surgery in more than 60% of lobectomies or segmentectomies for lung cancer, paving the way for the full integration of robotics.”

The goal, Prof. Pastorino highlights, is not to replace established minimally invasive surgery but to expand it with the additional capabilities offered by robotics. “We aim to move from 60% to 80% of minimally invasive procedures using the robot, particularly in cases where traditional thoracoscopy is not sufficient,” he adds. “This includes rare and complex tumors of the mediastinum and chest wall, as well as small but centrally located lung nodules that we currently treat with open surgery to preserve lung tissue. With robotics, the Institute will be able to improve patient care, providing updated, safe techniques, and opening new perspectives for lung cancer treatment after immunotherapy.”

The da Vinci robotic system represents a significant advance in cancer care, enabling greater surgical precision and faster post-operative recovery. Its unique features include an HD 3D vision system, generated through dual fiber optics, offering highly accurate visualization with natural white light, fluorescence, and magnification up to 10x. Moreover, da Vinci stands out for its training capabilities: it is the only system that can be configured with an additional surgical console and a virtual simulation platform, ensuring better preparation for young surgeons and supporting their learning curve.

 
First procedure with the robotic system

On June 3, Prof. Ugo Pastorino and his team performed the first surgery using the da Vinci system at the National Cancer Institute of Milan, marking a milestone in the fight against cancer.

“The robot allows us to operate with greater safety,” explains Prof. Pastorino, “thanks to magnification, 3D vision, and wrist-like movement, which enable us to perform sutures inside the body in tight spaces more quickly—improving outcomes for both patients and surgeons. These features are particularly valuable for procedures requiring vascular reconstruction, where traditional thoracoscopic techniques do not offer adequate control. The robotic system also provides detailed 3D visualization of the operative field and facilitates intraoperative communication through its integrated system. These innovations, combined with surgical expertise, will help improve procedural accuracy and accelerate patient recovery.”

Future prospects for innovation in cancer treatment

Prof. Pastorino concludes: “The generous support of Veronica Gusa de Dragan, President of Veroniki Holding, is of crucial importance for the Institute and the public healthcare sector as a whole. This contribution has enabled the acquisition of cutting-edge technology that would otherwise have been difficult to obtain within regional healthcare planning. Thanks to this support, the Institute can now expand its robotic surgery capabilities, offering patients advanced, high-quality treatment. This partnership highlights the vital role of private initiatives in strengthening and enhancing public healthcare resources, thereby improving both access to care and the quality of treatments.”

“We believe it is essential to bring together the strengths of the private and public sectors to face healthcare challenges,” says Veronica Gusa de Dragan. She adds: “I want to emphasize the trust we place in Prof. Ugo Pastorino. His dedication and expertise in oncology guided and inspired our decision to support the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan. This is our contribution to the community, to foster a future where cancer treatments are increasingly advanced and accessible to all who need them.”

Boilerplate

Veroniki Holding S.p.A. was founded in 2010 by Dr. Daniela Veronica Gusa de Dragan as the single coordinating structure of the Dragan Group. The Group has been active since 1948, when Prof. Giuseppe Costantino Dragan established ButanGas S.p.A. in Italy. Today, the Group operates in 9 European countries in the sectors of LPG (its core business), real estate, renewable energy (wind, hydroelectric, and photovoltaic), shipping, healthcare, food packaging in r-PET and PP, culture, and education.