A multicenter, retrospective archive study of radiological and clinical features of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer patients and crizotinib efficacy.

To evaluate radiological and clinical features in metastatic anaplastic lymphoma kinase+ non-small cell lung cancer patients and crizotinib efficacy in different lines. This national, non-interventional, multicenter, retrospective archive screening study evaluated demographic, clinical, and radiological imaging features, and treatment approaches in patients treated between 2013-2017. Totally 367 patients (54.8% males, median age at diagnosis 54 years) were included. Of them, 45.4% were smokers, and 8.7% had a family history of lung cancer. On radiological findings, 55.9% of the tumors were located peripherally, 7.7% of the patients had cavitary lesions, and 42.9% presented with pleural effusion. Pleural effusion was higher in nonsmokers than in smokers (37.3% vs. 25.3%, P = .018). About 47.4% of cases developed distant metastases during treatment, most frequently to the brain (26.2%). Chemotherapy was the first line treatment in 55.0%. Objective response rate was 61.9% (complete response: 7.6%; partial response: 54.2%). The highest complete and partial response rates were observed in patients who received crizotinib as the 2nd line treatment. The median progression-free survival was 14 months (standard error: 1.4, 95% confidence interval: 11.2-16.8 months). Crizotinib treatment lines yielded similar progression-free survival (P = .078). The most frequent treatment-related adverse event was fatigue (14.7%). Adrenal gland metastasis was significantly higher in males and smokers, and pleural involvement and effusion were significantly higher in nonsmokers-a novel finding that has not been reported previously. The radiological and histological characteristics were consistent with the literature data, but several differences in clinical characteristics might be related to population characteristics.

Decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rates in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with crizotinib.

Introduction: Crizotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, and there are uncertainties about its effect on kidney function. In this study, it was aimed to document the possible adverse effect of the drug on kidney functions. Materials and Methods: The estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) of the patients were calculated by creatinine-based Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration and compared by months using the paired samples t-test. Kaplan-Meier survival method was used for progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) analysis. Results: Twenty-six patients who received crizotinib were included in the study, and the median progression-free survival time with crizotinib was 14.2 months and the median OS time was 27.4 months. There was a significant reduction of eGFR after the 1st month of crizotinib treatment when compared to the rate before treatment initiation (P < 0.001). The eGFR values at the end of the 1st month and the 2nd month of treatment and the 2nd and 3rd months of treatment were statistically similar (P = 0.086, P = 0.663; respectively). This decrease in eGFR values was reversible, and there was no difference detected between pretreatment and posttreatment discontinuation (P = 0.100). Conclusion: A reversible decrease in renal functions was detected in patients using crizotinib. When the literature data are examined, it is thought that the reason for this decrease may be related to the increase in renal inflammation or a pseudo decrease due to the decrease in creatinine excretion. When evaluating renal functions in these patients, using noncreatine-based (iothalamate, etc.) calculations can give more accurate results.

Treatment efficacy of ribociclib or palbociclib plus letrozole in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Ribociclib, palbociclib and abemaciclib are currently approved CDK4/6 inhibitors along with aromatase inhibitors as the first-line standard-of-care for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. Methods: The authors report retrospective real-life data for 600 patients with estrogen receptor- and/or progesterone receptor-positive and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer who were treated with ribociclib and palbociclib in combination with letrozole. Results & conclusion: The results demonstrated that the combination of palbociclib or ribociclib with letrozole has similar progression-free survival and overall survival benefit in real life for the patient group with similar clinical features. Specifically, endocrine sensitivity may be a factor to be considered in the treatment preference.

Sudden hearing loss due to oxaliplatin use in a patient with colon cancer.

Oxaliplatin is used to treat advanced colorectal cancer. Platinum-containing chemotherapeutic agents are known to be ototoxic. However, ototoxicity is rare with newer generation platinum-derived agents, such as oxaliplatin. This case report presents a rare case of sudden unilateral sensorineural hearing loss following intravenous (IV) infusion of oxaliplatin in a 64-year-old woman with advanced colon cancer. The hearing loss was severe and did not respond to treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fifth reported case of oxaliplatin ototoxicity. Although oxaliplatin ototoxicity is rare, physicians must be aware of this important adverse effect, and an audiometric evaluation must be performed when necessary. Patients treated with oxaliplatin should be followed closely for early signs and symptoms of hearing loss, and if hearing loss is detected, treatment should be stopped immediately.