Effect of PET/CT standardized uptake values on complete response to treatment before definitive chemoradiotherapy in stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The standard treatment for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), unsuitable for resection and with good performance, is definitive radiotherapy with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Our aim is to evaluate the effect of the maximum value of standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of the primary tumor in positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) before treatment on complete response (CR) and overall survival. METHODS: The data of 73 stage III NSCLC patients treated with concurrent definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) between 2008 and 2017 and had PET/CT staging in the pretreatment period were evaluated. ROC curve analysis was performed to determine the ideal cut-off value of pretreatment SUVmax to predict CR. RESULTS: Median age was 58 years (range 27-83 years) and 66 patients were male (90.4%). Median follow-up time was 18 months (range 3-98 months); median survival was 23 months. 1-year overall survival (OS) rate and 5-year OS rate were 72 and 19%, respectively. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9 months; 1-year PFS rate and 5-year PFS rate were 38 and 19%, respectively. The ideal cut-off value of pretreatment SUVmax that predicted the complete response of CRT was 12 in the ROC analysis [AUC 0.699 (0.550-0.833)/P < 0.01] with a sensitivity of 83%, and specificity of 55%. In patients with SUVmax < 12, CR rate was 60%, while, in patients with SUV ≥ 12, it was only 19% (P = 0.002). Median OS was 26 months in patients with pretreatment SUVmax < 12, and 21 months in patients with SUVmax ≥ 12 (HR = 2.93; 95% CI 17.24-28.75; P = 0.087). CR rate of the whole patient population was 26%, and it was the only factor that showed a significant benefit on survival in both univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment SUVmax of the primary tumor in PET/CT may predict CR in stage III NSCLC patients who were treated with definitive CRT. Having clinical CR is the only positive predictive factor for prolonged survival.

Comparison of second-line treatment outcomes between sensitive and refractory small cell lung cancer patients: a retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has a high relapse rate despite being very chemosensitive. The efficacy of second-line treatment is dismal. Our aim was to evaluate the outcome of second-line treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed data of 120 SCLC patients who failed first-line treatment and received second-line treatment at three medical oncology centers. RESULTS: Median age of group was 58. 82 % had an ECOG PS of 0-1 at the time of relapse. 39 % were at limited stage (LS) at the time of diagnosis. Patients who progressed more than 3 months after first-line therapy were categorized as having platinum-sensitive disease (PSD) (64 %). The number of patients who received platin-based combination treatment was 33 (27 %). The median OS time starting from the initiation of second-line treatment was 7 months. Multivariate analysis identified PS (p = 0.006), extent of disease at diagnosis (0.014) and PSD (0.001) as the independent prognostic factors for survival. Subgroup analyses of the patients with PSD indicated platin rechallenge yields higher progression-free survival, overall survival and overall response rate. CONCLUSION: Patients with good ECOG PS,who have PSD or initially presenting with LS, have a good prognosis and in patients with PSD, platinum-based therapy would be more appropriate.

Cancer and tuberculosis: case series.

Tuberculosis is seen with an increased frequency in cancer patients. Possible reasons of reactivation are thought to be related to chemotherapy and insufficient nutrition together with compromised immune system. The diagnosis of tuberculosis may be missed in cancer patients and may be diagnosed with newly developed radiological and clinical findings during treatment. In this case, tuberculosis should be considered and related diagnostic work up should be completed. Also, PPD test should be applied to cancer patients and if needed isoniazid prophylaxis should be initiated. We present herein 4 cancer patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. Two patients suffered from solid malignancies (lung cancer) and 2 from non-solid malignancies (acute myeloid leukemia).