Multicenter observational study of erlotinib therapy (OBSTAR) for non small-cell lung cancer: a GFPC study.

CONTEXT: Erlotinib therapy for non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has mainly been evaluated in randomized trials. METHOD: OBSTAR was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study involving all patients treated with erlotinib in 18 French centers between June 2005 and September 2007. The analyses focused on the patients' characteristics, previous treatments, and treatment efficacy during a three-year follow-up period. RESULTS: 534 patients were included in this study. The median survival times were respectively 5.2 [3.7-7.4] and 4.7 [4.1-5.7] months, depending to whether erlotinib was used as second- (n=190), or ≥ third-line treatment (n=305). The disease control rate were 39.1% [30.2-48.7] and 29.9% [29.6-36.9] according to the line of treatment. Factors predictive of an objective response were gender, age, and smoking status. Factors predictive of progression were age, sex, smoking status, the line of treatment, and the number of metastases. Treatment had to be interrupted for toxicity in 8.5% of cases. CONCLUSION: This study of erlotinib therapy in 2005-2007 confirms, in the general NSCLC patient population, the results of pivotal trials.

Systemic mast cell disease associated with hairy cell leukaemia.

Systemic mast cell disease (SMCD) can be regarded as a tumorous proliferation of tissue mast cells involving various organs. The frequency with which SMCD is found in patients with haematological disorders suggests that the association is non-random. The association includes primarily, myeloid disorders such as myelodysplastic syndromes and acute or chronic myeloproliferative disorders. Lymphoproliferative disorders may also occur but more rarely, mostly non-Hodgkin's low grade B cell lymphomas. In this report a case is described in which SMCD occurred in a patient with hairy cell leukaemia.

An ongoing randomized study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable non-small cell lung cancer.

The purpose of this trial is to assess the possible benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery in patients with operable non-small cell lung cancer. Patients with operable stages I (except T 1N0), II, or IIIA disease are eligible for this ongoing trial. Patients are randomized into two arms. Surgery is performed first in group I; patients found to have T3 tumors or N2 lymph nodes are given postoperative radiotherapy. Group 2 patients start with two cycles of chemotherapy; following surgery, two more cycles are administered in responder patients and, as in group I, patients with T3 tumors or N2 lymph nodes are given radiotherapy. Chemotherapy is the MIP protocol: mitomycin 6 mg/m2 day I, ifosfamide 1.5 g/m2 days 1 to 3, cisplatin 30 mg/m2 days I to 3, and mesna 1,200 mg/m2 days 1 to 3. One hundred fifty patients were enrolled between June 1991 and September 1993. By the time this report was prepared, 117 patients had completed all assigned treatment, 63 in group I and 54 in group 2. There were two ineligible patients, one in each group. Forty-nine patients underwent thoracotomy in the chemotherapy-surgery group and 62 in the surgery-only group. There was only one progression after two cycles of chemotherapy. Rates of exploratory and incomplete surgery were 17% in group I and 12% in group 2. The trial is ongoing.

Celiprolol pneumonitis.

We report on a patient who developed hypersensitivity pneumonitis during treatment with the beta-blocker, celiprolol. The clinical picture was a severe alveolitis, with compromised gas exchange. Inadvertent subsequent rechallenge with celiprolol led to recurrence of the pneumonitis, 10 weeks after drug readministration. Again, the pneumonitis was fully reversible. Lymphocytes were elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage, and progressively normalized upon discontinuation of the drug. This case is reminiscent of pneumonitis to other beta-blockers, which are reviewed here.

[Spontaneous pneumothorax. A comparison of thoracoscopy and thoracotomy]. / Pneumothorax spontané. Comparaison de la thoracoscopie et de la thoracotomie.

The aims of this study were to assess the advantages of surgical thoracoscopy versus thoracotomy. Two 16-patient groups (thoracotomy, thoracoscopy) were compared. They were equivalent with regards to technique, age, etiology and lung dystrophy. Patients were called by phone to evaluate the surgical and functional results. The questionnaire was filled out by an independent physician who ignored the surgical technique used. Hospital stay was 7 +/- 2 days for thoracoscopy versus 11.5 +/- 5 days for thoracotomy (p < 0.003). During the J30 to J60 period of time, pain was mild in 94% of thoracoscopy cases and severe or unbearable in 69% of thoracotomy cases (p < 0.002). Mobility of the shoulder was fully recovered in all thoracoscopy patients within the first month versus only 62% of recovery at 3 months in the thoracotomy group (p < 0.0001). Working was possible at 1 +/- 0.8 month in the thoracoscopy group versus 2.6 +/- 0.8 months in the thoracotomy group (p < 0.002). Leisure activities were resumed at 2 +/- 1 month in the thoracoscopy group versus 4 +/- 1 months in the thoracotomy group (p < 0.0005). Only one relapse occurred in the thoracoscopy group. Thoracoscopy prevents the drawbacks of thoracotomy but keeps the same efficiency in the treatment of pneumothorax.

Amiodarone pneumonitis. Bronchoalveolar lavage findings in 15 patients and review of the literature.

UNLABELLED: Amiodarone (Am) pneumonitis is currently a common and potentially severe adverse reaction, the accurate diagnosis of which remains difficult to establish. OBJECTIVES: To determine the contribution of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in the diagnostic workup of patients suspected of having Am pneumonitis. METHODS: Diagnosis of Am pneumonitis was established on the basis of (1) development of recent symptoms and pulmonary opacities while receiving the drug, (2) exclusion of other possible causes, and (3) improvement following cessation of Am and/or steroid therapy. (4) Confirmatory changes were obtained by histopathologic examination in eight cases. BAL was performed in each patient at the time of initial evaluation. RESULTS: Am pneumonitis was diagnosed in 15 consecutive patients between 1985 and 1991. The disease was associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Six patients died; four died of Am pneumonitis. A neutrophilic BAL was found in nine patients (average PMN = 26.6 percent). A mixed pattern (lymphocytic + neutrophilic) was seen in four patients (average: Ly = 19.9 percent; PMN = 11.9 percent). Two patients had a normal BAL. No patient had a lymphocytic pattern. A low CD4+/CD8+ ratio was seen in two patients. A literature survey indicated 70 cases of Am pneumonitis with detailed information on BAL. The BAL pattern was mixed in 23 (33 percent), neutrophilic in 18 (26 percent), lymphocytic in 15 (21 percent), and normal in 14 (20 percent). No correlation was found between BAL pattern and prognosis. Also, BAL pattern was related neither to daily or total dose of Am nor to duration of treatment with Am. CONCLUSION: The cellular profile of BAL in Am pneumonitis is highly variable, and no cellular pattern of BAL seems to be predictive of a detrimental outcome or of irreversible fibrosis. Aside from excluding other illnesses, and due to its extreme variability, the contribution of BAL differential in the initial workup of patients suspected of having Am pneumonitis is limited.

[Nitrosourea-induced lung diseases]. / La pneumopathie des nitrosourées.

Nitrosoureas belong to the group of alkylating agents, and are increasingly used in the treatment of brain malignancies, due to their excellent penetration through the hemo-meningeal barrier. Since 1976, pulmonary toxicity from nitrosoureas has emerged as a significant problem, especially with BCNU, and 72 cases are available in the literature for review. While it is difficult to ascertain the exact prevalence of nitrosourea lung (estimate range between 1 and 20%), it is now clear that a direct relationship exists between cumulated exposure to the nitrosourea, and the likelihood of developing pulmonary toxicity. The clinical picture is that of a diffuse, severe fibrosis with hypoxemia. Histopathology, available in 55 reports, showed diffuse bland fibrosis. The outcome is poor with 67% of the patients dead by the time of publication. While we feel that corticosteroids should be tried for any possible beneficial effect, they seem to be of limited help.

Bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia in patients taking acebutolol or amiodarone.

Two patients, treated with acebutolol and amiodarone respectively, developed a disease clinically, radiologically, and pathologically indistinguishable from bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia. In one case recovery followed discontinuation of acebutolol; in the other case cessation of amiodarone had no effect, and corticosteroids were required. In addition to these patients, several cases of bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia have been reported during treatment with gold salts, amiodarone, and miscellaneous other drugs. Taken together, this information supports the view that bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia may be a form of response by the lungs to insult by drugs.