Risk factors for severe immune-related pneumonitis after nivolumab plus ipilimumab therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of anti-CTLA-4 antibody (ipilimumab) plus anti-programmed cell death 1 antibody (nivolumab) in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is impeded by an elevated risk of severe immune-related adverse events. However, our understanding of associations among pre-existing fibrosis, emphysematous changes, and objective indicators as predictive factors is limited for severe pneumonitis in NSCLC patients receiving this combination therapy. Thus, we retrospectively investigated these associations, including overall tumor burden, before treatment initiation in the Japanese population. METHODS: We focused on patients (n = 76) with pre-existing interstitial lung disease (ILD) to identify predictors of severe pneumonitis. Variables included age, sex, smoking status, programmed cell death ligand 1 expression, overall tumor burden, chest computed tomography-confirmed fibrosis, serum markers, and respiratory function test results. RESULTS: Severe pneumonitis was more frequent in patients with squamous cell carcinoma, fibrosis, low diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (%DLCO), and high surfactant protein D (SP-D) level. Notably, squamous cell carcinoma, baseline %DLCO, and SP-D level were significant risk factors. Our findings revealed the nonsignificance of tumor burden (≥85 mm) in predicting severe pneumonitis, emphasizing the importance of pre-existing ILD. Conversely, in cases without pre-existing fibrosis, severe pneumonitis was not associated with %DLCO or SP-D level (93.2% vs. 91.9%, and 63.3 vs. 40.9 ng/mL, respectively) and was more common in patients with a large overall tumor burden (97.5 vs. 70.0 mm). CONCLUSION: Vigilant monitoring and early intervention are crucial for patients with squamous cell carcinoma, high SP-D level, or low %DLCO undergoing ipilimumab plus nivolumab therapy.

The efficacy and safety of anamorelin among patients with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Anamorelin is a selective ghrelin receptor agonist approved for cancer cachexia in Japan. Little is known about predictors of anamorelin efficacy. This study aimed to assess the effect of diabetes on the efficacy and safety of anamorelin in patients with cancer cachexia. METHODS: Medical records of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung, gastric, pancreatic, or colorectal cancer who received anamorelin between January 2021 and March 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. The diabetic (DM) group included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, random plasma glucose of ≥ 200 mg/dL, or hemoglobin A1c of ≥ 6.5%. The maximum body weight gain and adverse events during anamorelin administration were compared between the DM and non-DM groups. Patients with a maximum body weight gain ≥ 0 kg were classified as the responders. RESULTS: Of 103 eligible patients, 31 (30.1%) were assigned to the DM group. The DM group gained less weight (median of -0.53% vs. + 3.00%, p < 0.01) and had fewer responders (45.2% vs. 81.9%, p < 0.01) than the non-DM group. The odds ratio for non-response in the DM group was 6.55 (95% confidential interval 2.37-18.06, p < 0.01), adjusted by age and performance status. The DM group had a higher cumulative incidence of hyperglycaemic adverse events (72.2% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.01) and more discontinuations due to hyperglycaemic adverse events (25.8% vs. 4.2%, p < 0.01) than the non-DM group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diabetes and cancer cachexia are less likely to gain weight with anamorelin despite a high risk of hyperglycaemic adverse events.

Concordance of ALK fusion gene-rearrangement between immunohistochemistry and next-generation sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Although various companion diagnostic tests of ALK fusion gene-rearrangement are approved, few reports have assessed the concordance of ALK fusion gene-rearrangement in two companion diagnostic tests: next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing and immunohistochemistry (IHC). METHODS: The samples evaluated for gene alterations using NGS testing between May 2019 and November 2021 were included in this study. The inclusion criteria were as follows: samples were diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer; the results of the NGS analysis were informative; and samples had residual specimens for IHC. We performed IHC on the residual specimens and retrospectively collected sample characteristics from medical records. RESULTS: A total of 185 samples were analyzed using NGS. Twenty-six samples were excluded because of failure to analyze gene alterations using NGS, no residual samples, and inadequate IHC. We analyzed 159 samples. The major histological type was adenocarcinoma (115 samples). The number of surgical and transbronchial lung biopsy specimens was 59 and 56, respectively. ALK fusion gene-rearrangement was detected in four samples using NGS, and five were detected using IHC. The sensitivity and specificity of IHC referred to by NGS were 75.0% and 98.7%, respectively. The concordance rate between IHC and NGS was 98.1%. ALK rearrangement was detected in two patients using IHC but not using NGS. In addition, ALK rearrangement was detected in one patient using NGS but not using IHC. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that IHC and NGS might be complementary tests. In patients suspected of harboring ALK fusion gene-rearrangement, it should be analyzed using another diagnostic method.

Relationship between patterns of immunohistochemical conventional neuroendocrine markers and efficacy of immune check point inhibitors in patients with extensive disease small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Which patients benefit from the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains unclear. There have been few reports on the efficacy of ICIs based on conventional immunohistochemical neuroendocrine (NE) markers (synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and neural cell adhesion molecule [NCAM]). In the present study, we aimed to analyze the relationship between the expression of immunohistochemical NE markers and the efficacy of ICIs in patients with extensive disease (ED)-SCLC, to assess whether conventional NE markers are predictive of ICIs. METHODS: Patients with untreated ED-SCLC who received first-line therapy at the Shizuoka Cancer Center between November 2002 and July 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the efficacy of first-line chemotherapy according to the expression status of each immunohistochemical NE marker in patients treated with ICI plus chemotherapy (ICI-chemo group) and with chemotherapy alone (chemo group). RESULTS: A total of 227 patients were included in the ICI-chemo and chemo groups, respectively. The progression-free survival (PFS) tended to be better in patients in the ICI-chemo group than those treated with chemotherapy alone in patients with NE marker-positive SCLC. In particular, it was statistically significant in patients with chromogranin A-positive SCLC (p = 0.036). In patients with NE marker-negative SCLC, no significant differences were observed in PFS between the two groups. There were no significant differences in overall survival (OS), regardless of the expression of any conventional NE marker. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the efficacy of ICIs in addition to chemotherapy may be poor in patients with NE marker-negative SCLC.

Safety and efficacy of amrubicin with primary prophylactic pegfilgrastim as second-line chemotherapy in patients with small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Amrubicin (AMR) regimens have shown efficacy as second-line treatment in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC); however, adverse events such as febrile neutropenia (FN) sometimes preclude their use. Further, the safety and efficacy of AMR with primary prophylactic pegfilgrastim (P-PEG) have not been sufficiently evaluated. In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of AMR with or without P-PEG as second-line chemotherapy for SCLC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with SCLC who received AMR as second-line chemotherapy at Shizuoka Cancer Center, between December 2014 and November 2021. Based on presence/absence of P-PEG in their regimen, patients (n = 60) were divided into P-PEG (n = 21) and non-P-PEG groups, and their clinical outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Median of AMR treatment cycles was five (range: 1-39 cycles) in P-PEG group and four (range: 1-15 cycles) in non-P-PEG group. The incidence of FN (4.8% vs. 30.8%; p = 0.02) and AMR dose reduction because of adverse events (4.8% vs. 25.6%; p = 0.08) were lower in the P-PEG group than in the non-P-PEG group. The objective response rates were 52.4% and 30.8%, and median progression-free and overall survival were 4.7 and 3.0 months, and 9.6 and 6.8 months, in the P-PEG and non-P-PEG groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AMR with P-PEG as second-line chemotherapy for SCLC reduced the incidence of FN at a maintained AMR dose intensity and was associated with favorable tumor responses and survival outcomes. P-PEG should be considered for patients treated with AMR for SCLC including refractory relapsed SCLC.

Risk factors for severe immune-related adverse events after first-line pembrolizumab monotherapy or combination chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Pembrolizumab treatment is associated with a favorable prognosis in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we investigated the associations among pre-treatment clinical factors, baseline overall tumor burden, and development of severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs; grade ≥ 3) after pembrolizumab treatment with or without chemotherapy. We retrospectively examined consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who received pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy at Hakodate Goryoukaku Hospital from March 2017 to February 2021. The baseline overall tumor burden was measured as the sum of the unidimensional diameters of up to five target lesions. We defined irAEs as toxicities related to immune checkpoint inhibitors based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. Tumor burden differed significantly between patients with and without severe irAEs (85 vs. 65 mm, p = 0.0367). The cutoff value for overall tumor burden was set to 80 mm. Good performance status (PS = 0) and PD-L1 expression > 80%, but not overall tumor burden, were correlated with severe irAEs, regardless of complementary chemotherapy. The multivariate odds ratios of good PS and high PD-L1 expression for severe irAEs were 3.27 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-8.77, p = 0.019) and 4.44 (95% CI: 1.59-12.42, p = 0.0044), respectively. Baseline overall tumor burden, good PS, and high PD-L1 expression were associated with severe irAEs in patients with NSCLC treated with first-line pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy. Patients with these factors should be carefully monitored to prevent irAEs.

Relation of overall tumor burden with severe immune-related adverse events in nivolumab plus ipilimumab treatment for lung cancer.

Compared to chemotherapy alone, monoclonal antibodies like ipilimumab and nivolumab, with or without chemotherapy, improve the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), albeit with a higher incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) than those with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy. Therefore, we aimed to investigate if baseline overall tumor burden was associated with the development of Grade ≥ 3 irAEs (severe irAEs) when treated with first-line ipilimumab plus nivolumab with or without chemotherapy.We retrospectively examined consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who received nivolumab plus ipilimumab with or without chemotherapy at Hakodate Goryoukaku Hospital between December 2020 and December 2021. Baseline overall tumor burden was measured as the sum of unidimensional diameters of up to five target lesions according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1. We defined irAEs as ICI therapy-related toxicities according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0.A significant difference in tumor burden was observed between patients with and without severe irAEs (100 mm vs. 67.5 mm, p = 0.001). We evaluated various clinical parameters, including baseline overall tumor burden, before treatment initiation. Of the various parameters, only high tumor burden correlated with severe irAEs, independent of complementary chemotherapy. The multivariate odds ratio of severe irAEs and high tumor burden was 6.62.Conclusively, baseline overall tumor burden may be a risk factor for severe irAEs in patients treated with first-line combination ICI therapy. Therefore, patients with large tumor burden should be carefully monitored to prevent irAEs.

Refractory flare-up of severe bronchial asthma controlled with mepolizumab due to Pneumocystis pneumonia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Biologics dramatically improve symptoms of severe asthma; however, various exacerbating factors may induce flare-up. Pneumocystis spp. have not been reported as a cause of asthma exacerbation during biologic use, although patients with severe asthma have high levels of antibodies against Pneumocystis spp. CASE PRESENTATION: An 87-year-old female with severe asthma that was well-controlled with mepolizumab, who developed a steroid-resistant refractory flare-up. Chest computed tomography showed bilateral ground glass opacities, and results of polymerase chain reaction tests on induced sputum were positive for Pneumocystis DNA. Therefore, a diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia was made. The clinical symptoms improved after treatment with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of Pneumocystis pneumonia as a cause of refractory exacerbation of bronchial asthma during use of interleukin-5 inhibitors.

Current status of first-line treatment with pembrolizumab for non-small-cell lung cancer with high PD-L1 expression.

It is not clear whether pembrolizumab monotherapy (MONO) or pembrolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy (COMB) should be selected for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibiting high PD-L1 expression (tumor proportion score ≥ 50%). We performed a retrospective, multicenter study of 300 patients with NSCLC exhibiting high PD-L1 expression who received MONO or COMB as first-line treatment between December 2018 and January 2020. We reviewed the medical records of all consecutive patients with no driver mutations, and assessed the patient characteristics, therapeutic regimens, treatment periods, and adverse events. In total, 166 (55%; median age: 74 years) and 134 (45%; median age: 68 years) patients received MONO and COMB, respectively. Patients were younger and had better performance status (0-1) in the COMB group (p < 0.01). With a median follow-up time of 10.6 (range: 0.1-20.6) months, the median progression-free survival was 7.1 months with MONO and 13.1 months with COMB. The objective response rate was 42.2% with MONO and 67.9% with COMB. With respect to treatment discontinuation, 36 out of 166 (21.7%) and 28 out of 134 (20.1%) patients discontinued MONO and COMB, respectively. In conclusion, COMB may be a promising option for first-line treatment for NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression and good performance status.

Successful management of severe bronchial asthma exacerbated by anti-PD-L1 treatment: A report of two cases.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been used for various carcinomas. However, immune-related adverse events have been observed. There have been few reports of treatment with biologics for severe bronchial asthma induced by ICI; therefore, their efficacy is unknown. We report two cases of severe bronchial asthma requiring systemic steroid administration while using anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The anti-interleukin-5 antibody, mepolizumab, was introduced, resulting in the discontinuation of systemic prednisolone and good asthma control. These reports suggest that treatment with biologics may be effective in severe cases of poorly controlled bronchial asthma during ICI therapy.

Lung squamous cell carcinoma with hemoptysis after vaccination with tozinameran (BNT162b2, Pfizer-BioNTech).

A 66-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma had been receiving chemoradiation therapy after stereotactic radiotherapy for brain metastases. Atezolizumab was initiated as second-line therapy, after which the patient became progression- and recurrence-free. Four days after his second dose of tozinameran (BNT162b2, Pfizer-BioNTech), the patient developed persistent hemoptysis. The patient had no thrombocytopenia or coagulation abnormalities. Bronchoscopy revealed active bleeding from the left lingual tracheal branch. The patient was intubated and admitted to the intensive care unit because of increased bleeding. Subsequently, left bronchial artery embolization was performed using a Serescue. Hemostasis was achieved after the procedure, and the patient was discharged 7 days after the onset of hemoptysis. Vaccination against coronavirus disease has been reported to be associated with thrombosis and cerebral hemorrhage, and the hemoptysis in this case was suspected to be induced by vaccination. In summary, the benefits of vaccination exceeded the risks of adverse events in a patient with cancer. However, in conditions such as after chemoradiation, especially in patients with radiation pneumonitis wherein the vasculature is vulnerable, patients should be carefully monitored for hemorrhagic events after vaccination.

Delayed local reaction at a previous injection site reaction with dupilumab.

Clinicians should be aware that biologic agents, which include polysorbates, can cause delayed local skin reactions at a previous injection site.

Pseudocirrhosis due to liver metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma.

Pseudocirrhosis is a radiological diagnosis of cirrhosis without histological evidence and occurs as a complication of liver metastases from solid tumors. A 50-year-old man without any previous history of liver disease was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the left upper lung lobe and liver metastasis. After chemotherapy, the liver metastases shrank; however, over time, the liver shrank and showed cirrhosis-like morphological changes. His performance status deteriorated due to ascites and leg edema, and chemotherapy was terminated. Physicians treating lung adenocarcinoma with liver metastases should be aware that pseudocirrhosis is a rare but important complication that can worsen performance status (PS) and hinder treatment continuation.