Prospective Observational Study of Ramucirumab Plus Docetaxel After Combined Chemoimmunotherapy in Patients With Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: A history of pre-administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors has been reported to be associated with good outcomes of ramucirumab (RAM) plus docetaxel (DOC) combination therapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, existing knowledge on the clinical significance of RAM and DOC following combined chemoimmunotherapy is limited. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of RAM plus DOC therapy after combined chemoimmunotherapy and attempted to identify the predictors of its outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicenter, prospective study investigated the efficacy and safety of RAM plus DOC after combined chemoimmunotherapy. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and incidence of adverse events. An exploratory analysis measured serum cytokine levels at the start of treatment. RESULTS: Overall, 44 patients were enrolled from 10 Japanese institutions between April 2020 and June 2022. The median PFS and OS were 6.3 and 22.6 months, respectively. Furthermore, the ORR and DCR were 36.4% and 72.7%, respectively. The high vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) group had a significantly shorter PFS and OS. A combination of high VEGF-A and low VEGF-D levels was associated with a longer PFS. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that RAM plus DOC after combined chemoimmunotherapy might be an effective and relatively feasible second-line treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC in a real-world setting.

Depth of response and treatment outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and high PD-L1 expression: An exploratory analysis of retrospective multicenter cohort.

The association between depth of response (DpR) and treatment outcomes has been documented across various types of cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based treatment is globally used as first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression ≥ 50%. However, in this population, the significance of DpR is not elucidated. Patients with advanced NSCLC and PD-L1 expression ≥ 50% who received ICI-monotherapy or ICI plus chemotherapy were retrospectively enrolled into this study. Treatment responses were grouped into DpR 'quartiles' by percentage of maximal tumor reduction (Q1 = 1-25%, Q2 = 26-50%, Q3 = 51-75%, and Q4 = ≥ 76%), and no tumor reduction (NTR). The association between DpR and survival rates were determined using hazard ratios (HR) generated by the Cox proportional hazards model. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine survival outcomes. A total of 349 patients were included, of which 214 and 135 patients received pembrolizumab monotherapy and ICI plus chemotherapy, respectively, as first-line treatments. The majority of the patients were male. All DpR quartiles, especially Q4, showed an association with progression-free survival (PFS)/overall survival (OS). In the Q4 cohort, patients who received pembrolizumab had a longer PFS than those who received ICI plus chemotherapy. High DpR was associated with longer PFS and OS, with a more pronounced effect observed with pembrolizumab monotherapy than with ICI plus chemotherapy.

High levels of AXL expression in untreated EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer negatively impacts the use of osimertinib.

For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, the initial therapeutic interventions will have crucial impacts on their clinical outcomes. Drug tolerant factors reportedly have an impact on EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor sensitivity. This prospective study investigated the impacts of drug tolerant-related protein expression in tumors based on the efficacy of osimertinib in the first-setting of EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC patients. A total of 92 patients with EGFR-mutated advanced or postoperative recurrent NSCLC were analyzed and treated with osimertinib at 14 institutions in Japan. AXL, p53, and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in patient tumors was determined using immunohistochemistry. The AXL signaling pathway was investigated using a cell line-based assay and AXL-related gene expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. High levels of AXL and positive-p53 expression were detected in 26.1% and 53.3% of the pretreatment EGFR-mutated NSCLC tumors, respectively. High AXL expression levels were significantly associated with a shorter progression-free survival compared with low AXL expression levels, irrespective of the EGFR activating mutation status (p = 0.026). Cell line-based assays indicated that the overexpression of AXL protein accelerated PD-L1 expression, which induced insensitivity to osimertinib. In the TCGA database, AXL RNA levels were positively correlated with PD-L1 expression in the lung adenocarcinoma cohort. The results show that high AXL expression levels in tumors impact clinical predictions when using osimertinib to treat EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients. Trial Registration: UMIN000043942.

Predictive value of p53 and AXL immunostaining for the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapy after osimertinib treatment in patients with epidermal growth factor-mutant non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence indicates that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have a limited efficacy in patients with lung cancer harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. However, there is a lack of data on the efficacy of ICIs after osimertinib treatment, and the predictors of ICI efficacy are unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed consecutive patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC who received ICI-based therapy after osimertinib treatment at 10 institutions in Japan, between March 2016 and March 2021. Immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate the expression of p53 and AXL. The deletions of exon 19 and the exon 21 L858R point mutation in EGFR were defined as common mutations; other mutations were defined as uncommon mutations. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients with advanced or recurrent EGFR-mutant NSCLC were analyzed. In multivariate analysis, p53 expression in tumors was an independent predictor of PFS after ICI-based therapy (p = 0.002). In patients with common EGFR mutations, high AXL expression was a predictor of shorter PFS and overall survival after ICI-based therapy (log-rank test; p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: The levels of p53 in pretreatment tumors may be a predictor of ICI-based therapy outcomes in patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC after osimertinib treatment. High levels of AXL in tumors may also be a predictor of ICI-based therapy outcomes, specifically for patients with common EGFR mutations. Further prospective large-scale investigations on the predictors of ICI efficacy following osimertinib treatment are warranted.

Microbiological analysis of patients with first and recurrent episodes of acute cholangitis in a middle-sized hospital: A single-center retrospective study in rural North Kyoto, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the bacterial spectrum involved in acute cholangitis is essential for adequate empiric antibiotic treatment. There is a lack of published data comparative data between patients with first and recurrent episodes of acute cholangitis. This study aimed to analyze the microbial spectrum in patients with first and second episodes of acute cholangitis. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed 251 patients with first episodes of acute cholangitis between January 2014 to September 2020. RESULTS: At the first episode of acute cholangitis, the predominant strains belonged to Escherichia coli (17.9%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (15.5%), Enterobacter spp. (6.4%), and Enterococcus spp. (5.6%). During follow-up, acute cholangitis recurred in 109 patients; at the second episode, the predominant strains belonged to Enterococcus spp. (35.8%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (27.5%), Enterobacter spp. (22.9%), and Escherichia coli (15.6%). Enterococcus spp. were the most common pathogen in patients with second episode of acute cholangitis, regardless of whether the cholangitis was caused by a malignant tumor or a benign disease. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike in patients with a first episode of acute cholangitis, clinicians should consider empirical treatment with anti-enterococcal antibiotics in patients with recurrent episodes of acute cholangitis.

Study of factors related to recurrence within 30 days after pneumonia treatment for community-onset pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION: It is not uncommon for patients hospitalized with pneumonia to experience an early relapse. Here, we investigated the factors related to pneumonia recurrence in Japan. PURPOSE: We aimed to elucidate the factors related to early recurrence after completion of pneumonia treatment. METHODS: We examined 696 patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP) who were admitted to our hospital between October 2010 and February 2018, excluding those who died during hospitalization. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the endpoint of recurrence within 30 days after the end of antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: NHCAP, chronic lung disease and duration of antibiotic treatment were significant risk factors for recurrence of pneumonia within 30 days after antibiotic discontinuation. Aspiration pneumonia was not be a significant factor in the early recurrence of pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term use of antimicrobials may be a risk factor in early recurrence of pneumonia.

Longitudinal monitoring of somatic genetic alterations in circulating cell-free DNA during treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of liquid biopsy for prediction of the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment and for assessment of the changes in genetic alterations during such treatment. METHODS: Plasma samples were prospectively collected from non-small cell lung cancer patients with EGFR-activating mutations during EGFR-TKI treatment until disease progression and were analyzed for such mutations with droplet digital polymerase chain reaction and for other somatic alterations with next-generation sequencing. RESULTS: One hundred patients, including 87 who were EGFR-TKI naïve, were enrolled. Median progression-free survival was significantly shorter for EGFR-TKI-naïve patients with EGFR-activating mutations detected in plasma at baseline than for those without them (7.9 vs 19.0 months; P < .001), with the values being significantly longer for initially positive patients who became negative for these mutations at 12 or 24 weeks than for those who remained positive. An increase in the number of alleles positive for EGFR-activating mutations in plasma during treatment was associated with disease progression, with a hazard ratio of 4.72 (95% CI, 2.07-10.79; P < .001) for EGFR-TKI-naïve patients showing an increase within 36 weeks. For 55 patients with available samples, the total number of somatic alterations (other than activating mutations or T790M of EGFR) in plasma was higher at disease progression than at baseline (33 vs 19; P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Liquid biopsy shows potential for prediction of EGFR-TKI efficacy and elucidation of clonal tumor evolution during targeted therapy.

Randomized Phase II Study of First-Line Biweekly Gemcitabine and Carboplatin Versus Biweekly Gemcitabine and Carboplatin plus Maintenance Gemcitabine in Elderly Patients with Untreated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: LOGIK0801.

LESSONS LEARNED: The usefulness of maintenance gemcitabine (GEM) after biweekly carboplatin + GEM in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer could not be proved. Superior overall survival was obtained in the group that did not receive maintenance therapy. BACKGROUND: The primary objective of this randomized phase II study was to assess progression-free survival (PFS) in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with gemcitabine (GEM) maintenance therapy versus best supportive care following first-line GEM plus carboplatin (CBDCA). METHODS: Elderly chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were randomly assigned 1:1 to the control arm or the study arm. All patients received biweekly combination therapy with GEM and CBDCA (1,000 mg/m2 GEM and CBDCA at an area under the curve [AUC] of 3 on days 1 and 15, every 4 weeks). In the study arm, patients with objective response or stable disease following three or four cycles of initial chemotherapy received maintenance GEM. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were enrolled. The objective response rates (ORRs) were 17.5% in the control arm and 14.0% in the study arm. The most common toxicity was neutropenia (control arm: 47.5% and study arm: 69.8%). The median progression-free survivals were 4.99 months (control arm) and 4.44 months (study arm), and the median overall survivals (OSs) were 21.7 months (control arm) and 8.2 months (study arm). CONCLUSION: Our data do not support maintenance GEM after biweekly CBDCA+GEM in elderly patients with NSCLC.

Erlotinib for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Leptomeningeal Metastases: A Phase II Study (LOGIK1101).

LESSONS LEARNED: This phase II trial evaluated the efficacy of erlotinib for patients with non-small cell lung cancer with leptomeningeal metastasis. The 17 cerebrospinal fluid specimens that were available for epidermal growth factor receptor mutation analysis were all negative for the resistance-conferring T790M mutation. The cytological objective clearance rate was 30.0% (95% confidence interval: 11.9%-54.3%). The median time to progression was 2.2 months. The rate of cerebrospinal fluid penetration among these patients was equivalent to those in previous reports regarding leptomeningeal metastasis. BACKGROUND: Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) occur in approximately 5% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are associated with a poor prognosis. However, no prospective study has identified an active chemotherapeutic drug in this setting. METHODS: Patients were considered eligible to receive erlotinib if they had NSCLC with cytologically confirmed LM. The objective cytological clearance rate, time to LM progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), quality of life outcomes, and pharmacokinetics were analyzed. This study was closed because of slow accrual at 21 of the intended 32 patients (66%). RESULTS: Between December 2011 and May 2015, 21 patients (17 with activating epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] mutations) were enrolled. The 17 cerebrospinal fluid specimens available were all negative for the T790M mutation, which confers erlotinib resistance. The clearance rate was 30.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.9%-54.3%), the median TTP was 2.2 months, and the median OS was 3.4 months. Significantly longer TTP and OS times were observed in patients with mutant EGFR (p = .0113 and p < .0054, respectively). The mean cerebrospinal fluid penetration rate was 3.31% ± 0.77%. There was a good correlation between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations, although there was no clear correlation between pharmacokinetic parameters and clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Erlotinib was active for LM and may be a treatment option for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC and LM.

Procalcitonin is not an independent predictor of 30-day mortality, albeit predicts pneumonia severity in patients with pneumonia acquired outside the hospital.

BACKGROUND: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful marker for pneumonia. However, its clinical usefulness in elderly patients has not been studied extensively. This study aimed to assess the relationship between PCT and prognosis and pneumonia severity in elderly patients with pneumonia acquired outside the hospital. METHODS: Data considered relevant to pneumonia severity and prognosis were retrospectively obtained from clinical charts of all patients with pneumonia who were admitted to our hospital from 2010 to 2017. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality in elderly patients (aged ≥75 years), and the relationship between PCT levels and pneumonia severity, as determined by the pneumonia severity index (PSI) was also examined. RESULTS: Data were collected from 667 patients, of which 436 were elderly patients. Multivariate and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that albumin, body mass index, and PSI class rather than PCT are important factors related to 30-day mortality in elderly patients. PCT was also not an independent prognostic factor in younger patients. PCT levels significantly differed by pneumonia severity (mild, moderate, and severe) in both younger (p < 0.001) and elderly (p < 0.0001) patients, with levels increasing as severity increased. In contrast, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and white blood cell counts did not significantly differ by pneumonia severity in younger and elderly patients. A subgroup analysis focused on Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia revealed that PCT levels differed by severity in elderly patients (p = 0.03), with levels increasing as severity increased. CONCLUSION: PCT was not an independent predictor of 30-day mortality in both of elderly and younger patients. PCT levels, but not CRP levels, significantly increased with increasing pneumonia severity in younger and elderly patients, although the degree of increase tended to be lower in elderly patients compared to younger patients for the same severity. PCT levels also significantly increased with increasing pneumonia severity in elderly patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia.

Sensitivity of epidermal growth factor receptor with single or double uncommon mutations to afatinib confirmed by a visual assay.

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring common mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are sensitive to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Although forms of EGFR harboring single uncommon mutations such as G719X or L861Q are thought to be less sensitive to EGFR-TKI, the efficacy of these drugs in patients with double uncommon mutations has remained unclear. We here present an NSCLC patient found to be positive for double uncommon EGFR mutations (G719X and L861Q) by clinical genomic sequencing analysis of a pleural effusion specimen who showed a durable response to the EGFR-TKI afatinib. The sensitivity of EGFR with single or double uncommon mutations to afatinib and the EGFR-TKI erlotinib was also evaluated in vitro with a visual assay based on HEK293 cells transiently transfected with expression plasmids for yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-tagged fragments of the EGFR intracellular domain (ICD). Whereas forms of EGFR with double uncommon mutations were more sensitive to erlotinib than were those with single uncommon mutations, those with single or double uncommon mutations were similarly sensitive to afatinib, consistent with the patient's clinical outcome. Our data support the notion that afatinib is the most suitable EGFR-TKI for NSCLC harboring uncommon mutations of EGFR. Furthermore, the YFP-EGFR-ICD assay is potentially applicable to prediction of EGFR-TKI efficacy in patients with such mutations.

Comprehensive analysis of prognostic factors in hospitalized patients with pneumonia occurring outside hospital: Serum albumin is not less important than pneumonia severity assessment scale.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to elucidate factors related to 30-day mortality of pneumonia occurring outside hospital by comprehensively analyzing data considered relevant to prognosis. METHODS: Data considered relevant to prognosis were retrospectively examined from clinical charts and chest X-ray images of all patients with pneumonia occurring outside hospital admitted to our hospital from 2010 to 2016. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Data were collected from 534 patients (317 community-acquired pneumonia and 217 nursing- and healthcare associated pneumonia patients; 338 men (63.3%); mean age, 76.2 years-old). Eighty-three patients (9.9%) died from pneumonia within 30 days from the date of admission. The numbers of patients with pneumonia severity index (PSI) classes of I/II/III/IV/V and age, dehydration, respiratory failure, orientation disturbance, pressure (A-DROP) scores of 0/1/2/3/4/5 were 29/66/127/229/83, and 71/107/187/132/30/7, respectively. Mean (standard deviation) body mass index (BMI), serum albumin, blood procalcitonin, white blood cell and C-reactive protein were 20.00 (4.12) kg/m2, 3.16 (0.60) g/dL, 3.69 (13.15) ng/mL, 11559.4 (5656.9)/mm3, and 10.92 (8.75) mg/dL, respectively. Chest X-ray images from 152 patients exhibited a pneumonia shadow over a quarter of total lung field. Logistic regression analysis revealed that PSI class or A-DROP score, BMI, serum albumin, and extent of pneumonia shadow were related to 30-day mortality. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis revealed that serum albumin was superior to PSI class or A-DROP score for predicting 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: Serum albumin is not less important than PSI class or A-DROP score for predicting 30-day mortality in hospitalized patients with pneumonia occurring outside hospital.

Vascular endothelial growth factor promoter-based conditionally replicative adenoviruses effectively suppress growth of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) incidence is increasing drastically worldwide as an occupational disease resulting from asbestos exposure. However, no curative treatment for MM of advanced stage is available. Thus, new therapeutic approaches for MM are required. Because malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cells spread along the pleural surface in most patients, MPM can be targeted using intrapleural therapeutic approaches. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of the intrapleural instillation of a replication-competent adenovirus as an oncolytic agent against MPM. We constructed a vascular endothelial growth factor promoter-based conditionally replicative adenovirus (VEGF-CRAd) that replicates exclusively in VEGF-expressing cells. All of the MM cell lines that we tested expressed VEGF mRNA, and VEGF-CRAd selectively replicated in these MM cells and exerted a direct concentration-dependent oncolytic effect in vitro. Furthermore, our in vivo studies showed that pre-infection of MM cells with VEGF-CRAd potently suppressed MPM tumor formation in nude mice, and that intrapleural instillation of VEGF-CRAd prolonged the survival time of tumor-bearing mice. Our results indicate that VEGF-CRAd exerts an oncolytic effect on MM cells and that intrapleural instillation of VEGF-CRAd is safe and might represent a promising therapeutic strategy for MPM.

Phase I study of salazosulfapyridine in combination with cisplatin and pemetrexed for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Spliced variant isoforms of CD44 (CD44v) are a marker of cancer stem cells in solid tumors. They stabilize the xCT subunit of the transporter system xc(-) and thereby promote synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione. Salazosulfapyridine (SASP) is an inhibitor of xCT and suppresses the proliferation of CD44v-positive cancer cells. Chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer were enrolled in a dose-escalation study (standard 3 + 3 design) of SASP in combination with cisplatin and pemetrexed. The primary end-point was the percentage of patients who experience dose-limiting toxicity. Fifteen patients were enrolled in the study. Dose-limiting toxicity was observed in one of six patients at a SASP dose of 1.5 g/day (elevation of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels, each of grade 3), two of five patients at 3 g/day (hypotension or pneumonitis, each of grade 3), and two of three patients at 4.5 g/day (anorexia of grade 3). The maximum tolerated dose was thus 3 g/day, and the recommended dose was 1.5 g/day. The overall response rate was 26.7% and median progression-free survival was 11.7 months, much longer than that for cisplatin-pemetrexed alone in previous studies. Exposure to SASP varied markedly among individuals according to ABCG2 and NAT2 genotypes. The serum concentration of free CD44v protein was increased after the first cycle of treatment, possibly reflecting death of cancer stem cells. Salazosulfapyridine was thus given safely in combination with cisplatin-pemetrexed, with the addition of SASP tending to prolong progression-free survival. This trial is registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000017854.

Severe acute interstitial lung disease in a patient with anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement-positive non-small cell lung cancer treated with alectinib.

Alectinib, the second generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor, has significant potency in patients with ALK rearrangement positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and its toxicity is generally well tolerable. We report a patient who developed severe acute interstitial lung disease after alectinib treatment. An 86-year-old woman with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma positive for rearrangement of ALK gene was treated with alectinib. On the 215th day after initiation of alectinib administration, she was admitted to our hospital with the symptom of progressive dyspnea. Computed tomography (CT) revealed diffuse ground glass opacities and consolidations in both lungs, and analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed pronounced lymphocytosis. There was no evidence of infection or other specific causes of her condition, and she was therefore diagnosed with interstitial lung disease induced by alectinib. Her CT findings and respiratory condition improved after steroid pulse therapy. As far as we are aware, this is the first reported case of alectinib-induced severe interstitial lung disease (ILD). We should be aware of the possibility of such a severe adverse event and should therefore carefully monitor patients treated with this drug.

Infected complex renal cysts during crizotinib therapy in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer positive for ALK rearrangement.

Crizotinib is the first clinically available tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and is associated with the development of complex renal cysts. We now describe a 39-year-old woman who developed infected complex renal cysts during crizotinib treatment. After 10 months of such treatment, she presented with a high fever and low back pain. Computed tomography findings were consistent with complex renal cysts and perilesional inflammation. Interventions including cyst drainage and antibiotic administration contributed to diagnosis and management of the infected cysts.

Histological evolution of pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis.

AIMS: To investigate the histological evolution in the development of pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE). METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined four patients who had undergone surgical lung biopsy twice, or who had undergone surgical lung biopsy and had been autopsied, and in whom the histological diagnosis of the first biopsy was not PPFE, but the diagnosis of the second biopsy or of the autopsy was PPFE. The histological patterns of the first biopsy were cellular and fibrotic interstitial pneumonia, cellular interstitial pneumonia (CIP) with organizing pneumonia, CIP with granulomas and acute lung injury in cases 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Septal elastosis was already present in the non-specific interstitial pneumonia-like histology of case 1, but a few additional years were necessary to reach consolidated subpleural fibroelastosis. In case 3, subpleural fibroelastosis was already present in the first biopsy, but only to a small extent. Twelve years later, it was replaced by a long band of fibroelastosis. The septal inflammation and fibrosis and airspace organization observed in the first biopsies were replaced by less cellular subpleural fibroelastosis within 3-12 years. CONCLUSIONS: Interstitial inflammation or acute lung injury may be an initial step in the development of PPFE.

Risk Factors for Predicting Severe Neutropenia Induced by Pemetrexed Plus Carboplatin Therapy in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Pemetrexed plus carboplatin therapy is widely administered to patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Although severe neutropenia is often observed during this combination therapy, its predictive factors are unknown. Therefore, we investigated the predictive factors for severe neutropenia in 77 patients treated with this combination therapy at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, between September 2009 and September 2013. All data were retrospectively collected from the electronic medical record system, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. Among the 77 patients, 34 (44%) developed grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. Multivariate analysis revealed that lower baseline hemoglobin values (odds ratio [OR], 1.97 per 1 g/dL decrease; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-2.99, p<0.01) and lower baseline neutrophil counts (OR, 1.71 per 1000/mm(3) decrease; 95% CI, 1.14-2.71, p=0.01) were significantly associated with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. During 4 courses of pemetrexed plus carboplatin therapy, the incidence of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia in patients with baseline hemoglobin values of <11.6 g/dL was significantly higher than that in patients with values of ≥11.6 g/dL [84% (16/19) vs. 31% (18/58), p<0.001]. In conclusion, patients with lower baseline neutrophil counts or lower baseline hemoglobin values, especially those with baseline hemoglobin values of <11.6 g/dL, should be monitored more carefully during pemetrexed plus carboplatin therapy.

Intrathecal Trastuzumab for HER2-Positive Cancer of Unknown Primary Leptomeningeal Metastasis: A Case Report.

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) and leptomeningeal metastasis are difficult conditions with limited treatment options. We report a case of CUP leptomeningeal metastasis that was refractory to empirical chemotherapy but achieved a favorable response to intrathecal trastuzumab after the identification of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) amplification. A 59-year-old woman was diagnosed with CUP with metastasis of a poorly differentiated carcinoma to the left axillary, anterior mediastinal, peritoneal, and bilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes. Leptomeningeal metastasis was confirmed shortly after she started empiric chemotherapy; empiric therapy with intrathecal methotrexate failed to relieve her symptoms. Meanwhile, the lymph node specimen tested positive for HER2 amplification. She underwent intrathecal trastuzumab, then her neurological symptoms resolved the following day. We suggest that intrathecal trastuzumab is an effective treatment for HER2-positive CUP leptomeningeal metastasis.

Extended ICI treatment after first-line chemoimmunotherapy could predict the clinical benefit of ramucirumab plus docetaxel in advanced non-small lung cancer: Post hoc analysis from NEJ051 (REACTIVE study).

BACKGROUND: The factors that predict the clinical response to ramucirumab plus docetaxel (RD) after first-line chemoimmunotherapy are unresolved. We explored whether the therapeutic efficacy of prior chemoimmunotherapy could predict the outcome of RD as sequential therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Our study comprised 288 patients with advanced NSCLC who received RD as the second-line treatment after first-line chemoimmunotherapy at 62 Japanese institutions. Chemoimmunotherapy consisted of a platinum-based regimen and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The association between several variables and the therapeutic outcome of RD was determined via logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 288 patients, 225 (78.1%) received maintenance therapy and 108 (37.5%) received both ICI treatment for >180 days and maintenance therapy. All of 108 patients having ICIs for >180 days received maintenance therapy. Univariate analysis identified performance status, histology (adenocarcinoma), maintenance therapy, and ICI treatment >180 days as significant predictors of better progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) after RD administration. Multivariate analysis confirmed that these factors independently predicted favorable PFS and OS. The therapeutic response and PD-L1 expression were not closely associated with outcome after RD treatment. In particular, maintenance therapy >4 cycles was more predictive of the better prognosis for RD treatment. CONCLUSION: Extended ICI treatment after chemoimmunotherapy and maintenance therapy enhanced the efficacy of second-line RD treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC.