Geographic and economic influences on benralizumab prescribing for severe asthma in Japan.

Benralizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting IL-5 receptors, reduces exacerbations and oral corticosteroid requirements for severe, uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma. In Japan, geographic disparities in asthma outcomes suggest differential prescribing and access. This study aimed to quantify regional prescribing variations for benralizumab nationwide. Using Japan's National Database (NDB) of insurance claims (2009-2019), benralizumab standardized claim ratios (SCRs) were calculated for 47 prefectures. Correlations between SCRs and other biologics' SCRs, economic variables like average income, and physician densities were evaluated through univariate analysis and multivariate regressions. Income-related barriers to optimal prescribing were examined. Wide variation emerged in benralizumab SCRs, from 40.1 to 184.2 across prefectures. SCRs strongly correlated with omalizumab (r = 0.61, p < 0.00001) and mepolizumab (r = 0.43, p = 0.0024). Average monthly income also positively correlated with benralizumab SCRs (r = 0.45, p = 0.0016), whereas lifestyle factors were insignificant. Respiratory specialist density modestly correlated with SCRs (r = 0.29, p = 0.047). In multivariate regressions, average income remained the most robust predictor (B = 0.74, p = 0.022). Benralizumab SCRs strongly associate with income metrics more than healthcare infrastructure/population factors. Many regions show low SCRs, constituting apparent prescribing gaps. Access barriers for advanced asthma therapies remain inequitable among Japan's income strata. Addressing affordability alongside specialist allocation can achieve better prescribing quality and asthma outcomes.

Real-world evidence of efficacy of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy and nivolumab plus ipilimumab plus chemotherapy as initial treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: For advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), combination therapies including a PD-1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy or a PD-1 inhibitor, CTLA-4 inhibitor, and chemotherapy are standard first-line options. However, data directly comparing these regimens are lacking. This study compared the efficacy of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (CP) against nivolumab plus ipilimumab and chemotherapy (CNI) in a real-world setting. METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective study, we compared the efficacy and safety of CP and CNI as first-line therapies in 182 patients with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), while secondary outcomes included the response rate (RR) and safety profiles. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models were utilized for data analysis, adjusting for confounding factors such as age, gender, and PD-L1 expression. RESULTS: In this study, 160 patients received CP, while 22 received CNI. The CP group was associated with significantly better PFS than the CNI group (median 11.7 vs. 6.6 months, HR 0.56, p = 0.03). This PFS advantage persisted after propensity score matching to adjust for imbalances. No significant OS differences were observed. Grade 3-4 adverse events occurred comparably, but immune-related adverse events were numerically more frequent in the CNI group. CONCLUSIONS: In real-world practice, CP demonstrated superior PFS compared with CNI. These findings can inform treatment selection in advanced NSCLC.

Tailoring Therapeutic Strategies in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: The Role of Genetic Mutations and Programmed Death Ligand-1 Expression in Survival Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the real-world impact of advancements in first-line systemic therapies for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), focusing on the role of driver gene mutations and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression levels. METHODS: Conducted across eight medical facilities in Japan, this multicenter, retrospective observational research included 863 patients diagnosed with NSCLC and treated between January 2015 and December 2022. The patients were categorized based on the type of systemic therapy received: cytotoxic agents, molecular targeting agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and combination therapies. Comprehensive molecular and immunohistochemical analyses were conducted, and statistical evaluations were performed. RESULTS: The median overall survival (OS) shows significant variations among treatment groups, with targeted therapies demonstrating the longest OS. This study also revealed that high PD-L1 expression was common in the group treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Multivariate analysis was used to identify the type of anticancer drug and the expression of PD-L1 at diagnosis as the impactful variables affecting 5-year OS. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the efficacy of targeted therapies and the critical role of comprehensive molecular diagnostics and PD-L1 expression in affecting OS in NSCLC patients, advocating for their integration into routine clinical practice.

Whole-genome sequencing predicting phenotypic antitubercular drug resistance: meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: For simultaneous prediction of phenotypic drug susceptibility test (pDST) for multiple anti-tuberculosis drugs, the whole genome sequencing (WGS) data can be analyzed using either catalogue-based approach, wherein one causative mutation suggests resistance, (e.g., WHO catalog) or non-catalogue-based approach using complicated algorithm (e.g., TB-profiler, machine learning). The aim was to estimate the predictive ability of WGS-based tests with pDST as the reference, and to compare the two approaches. METHODS: Following the systematic literature search, the diagnostic test accuracies for 14 drugs were pooled using a random-effect bivariate model. RESULTS: Out of 779 articles, 44 articles with 16,821 specimens for meta-analysis and 13 articles not for meta-analysis were adopted. The areas under summary receiver operating characteristic curve suggested "excellent" (0.97-1.00) for 2 drugs (isoniazid 0.975, rifampicin 0.975), "very good" (0.93-0.97) for 8 drugs (pyrazinamide 0.946, streptomycin 0.952, amikacin 0.968, kanamycin 0.963, capreomycin 0.965, para-aminosalicylic acid 0.959, levofloxacin 0.960, ofloxacin 0.958), and "good" (0.75-0.93) for 4 drugs (ethambutol 0.926, moxifloxacin 0.896, ethionamide 0.878, prothionamide 0.908). The non-catalogue-based and catalogue-based approaches had similar ability for all drugs. CONCLUSION: WGS accurately identifies isoniazid and rifampicin resistance. For most drugs, positive WGS results reliably predict pDST positive. The two approaches had similar ability.

Adverse events induced by durvalumab and tremelimumab combination regimens: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown remarkable therapeutic outcomes among cancer patients. Durvalumab plus tremelimumab (DT) is under investigation as a new ICI combination therapy, and its efficacy has been reported in various types of cancer. However, the safety profile of DT remains unclear, especially considering rare adverse events (AEs). Objective: We aimed to assess the frequency of AEs associated with DT. Design: This study type is a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data Sources and Methods: Four databases were searched for articles. Randomized trials, single-arm trials, and prospective and retrospective observational studies were included. The type of cancer, previous treatment, and performance status were not questioned. Major AE indicators such as any AE and the pooled frequency of each specific AE were used as outcomes. As a subgroup analysis, we also compared cases in which DT was performed as first-line treatment with those in which it was performed as second-line or later treatment. The protocol for this systematic review was registered on the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Center website (ID: UMIN000046751). Results: Forty-one populations including 3099 patients were selected from 30 articles. Pooled frequencies of key AE indicators are shown below: any AEs, 77.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 67.9-87.6]; grade ⩾ 3 AEs, 29.3% (95% CI: 24.2-34.4); serious AEs, 34.9% (95% CI: 28.1-41.7); AE leading to discontinuation, 13.3% (95% CI: 9.3-17.4); treatment-related deaths, 0.98% (95% CI: 0.5-1.5). AEs with a frequency exceeding 15% are shown below: fatigue, 30.1% (95% CI: 23.8-36.3); diarrhea, 21.7% (95% CI: 17.8-25.6); pruritus 17.9% (95% CI: 14.4-21.3); decreased appetite, 17.7% (95% CI: 13.7-22.0); nausea, 15.6% (95% CI: 12.1-19.6). There were no significant differences in these pooled frequencies between subgroups. Conclusions: The incidence of any AE in DT therapy was approximately 78%, and the incidence of grade 3 or higher AEs was approximately 30%, which was independent of prior therapy.

Long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) plus long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) versus LABA plus inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs), long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs), and inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are inhaled medications used to manage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When two classes of medications are required, a LAMA plus an ICS (LABA+ICS) were previously recommended within a single inhaler as the first-line treatment for managing stable COPD in people in high-risk categories. However, updated international guidance recommends a LAMA plus a LABA (LAMA+LABA). This systematic review is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2017. OBJECTIVES: To compare the benefits and harms of LAMA+LABA versus LABA+ICS for treatment of people with stable COPD. SEARCH METHODS: We performed an electronic search of the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization Clinical Trials Search Portal, followed by handsearches. Two review authors screened the selected articles. The most recent search was run on 10 September 2022. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included parallel or cross-over randomised controlled trials of at least one month's duration, comparing LAMA+LABA and LABA+ICS for stable COPD. We included studies conducted in an outpatient setting and irrespective of blinding. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently extracted data and evaluated risk of bias. We resolved any discrepancies through discussion. We analysed dichotomous data as odds ratios (ORs), and continuous data as mean differences (MDs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Review Manager 5. Primary outcomes were: participants with one or more exacerbations of COPD; serious adverse events; quality of life, as measured by the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score change from baseline; and trough forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). We used the GRADE framework to rate our certainty of the evidence in each meta-analysis as high, moderate, low or very low.  MAIN RESULTS: This review updates the first version of the review, published in 2017, and increases the number of included studies from 11 to 19 (22,354 participants). The median number of participants per study was 700. In each study, between 54% and 91% (median 70%) of participants were males. Study participants had an average age of 64 years and percentage predicted FEV1 of 51.5% (medians of study means). Included studies had a generally low risk of selection, performance, detection, attrition, and reporting biases. All but two studies were sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, which had varying levels of involvement in study design, conduct, and data analysis. Primary outcomes The odds of having an exacerbation were similar for LAMA+LABA compared with LABA+ICS (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.06; I2 = 61%; 13 studies, 20,960 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). The odds of having a serious adverse event were also similar (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.15; I2 = 20%; 18 studies, 23,183 participants; high-certainty evidence). Participants receiving LAMA+LABA had a similar improvement in quality of life, as measured by the SGRQ, to those receiving LABA+ICS (MD -0.57, 95% CI -1.36 to 0.21; I2 = 78%; 9 studies, 14,437 participants; moderate-certainty evidence) but showed a greater improvement in trough FEV1 (MD 0.07, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.08; I2 = 73%; 12 studies, 14,681 participants; moderate-certainty evidence).  Secondary outcomes LAMA+LABA decreased the odds of pneumonia compared with LABA+ICS from 5% to 3% (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.72; I2 = 0%; 14 studies, 21,829 participants; high-certainty evidence) but increased the odds of all-cause death from 1% to 1.4% (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.75; I2 = 0%; 15 studies, 21,510 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). The odds of achieving a minimal clinically important difference of four or more points on the SGRQ were similar between LAMA+LABA and LABA+ICS (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.25; I2 = 77%; 4 studies, 13,614 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Combination LAMA+LABA therapy probably holds similar benefits to LABA+ICS for exacerbations and quality of life, as measured by the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, for people with moderate to severe COPD, but offers a larger improvement in FEV1 and a slightly lower risk of pneumonia. There is little to no difference between LAMA+LABA and LAMA+ICS in the odds of having a serious adverse event. Whilst all-cause death may be lower with LABA+ICS, there was a very small number of events in the analysis, translating to a low absolute risk. Findings are based on moderate- to high-certainty evidence from heterogeneous trials with an observation period of less than one year. This review should be updated again in a few years.

Regional differences in epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy in lung cancer treatment using a national database in Japan.

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are extensively used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); hence, equal access to them is important. Therefore, this study aimed to identify regional differences in the prescription of EGFR-TKIs and the factors contributing to these differences. In this ecological study, we collected data using the National Database Open Data and the National Cancer Registry. The standardized claim ratio (SCR) was used as an indicator of the number of EGFR-TKI prescriptions. Additionally, we examined the association between SCR and various factors to identify the factors associated with this difference. The average SCR for the top three provinces was 153.4, while the average for the bottom three provinces was 61.6. Multivariate analysis used for evaluating the association of SCR with variables revealed that the number of designated cancer hospitals and radiation therapies were independent factors associated with the SCR of EGFR-TKIs. There were significant regional differences in the prescriptions of EGFR-TKIs in Japan based on the number of coordinated designated cancer hospitals and the number of patients receiving radiotherapy alone. These findings emphasize the need to implement policies to increase the number of hospitals to reduce regional differences.

Safety and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer patients with preexisting antinuclear antibodies: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) predicting the safety and efficacy of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are still a matter of debate considering previous studies showed quite different results based on different ANA cut-off values. Thus, we investigated the associations between different ANA titers and the safety and efficacy of ICIs. Moreover, we also briefly discussed the effects of anti-thyroglobulin (ATG) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (ATPO) on the safety of ICIs. Methods: A total of 159 Chinese patients confirmed to have locally-advanced or metastatic NSCLC given ICIs or chemoimmunotherapy in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2015 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively and were followed up until December 2020 or death or loss to follow-up. Patients' characteristics were retrieved from medical records. ANAs were detected by the indirect immunofluorescence assay, ATG and ATPO by the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The severity of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) was graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE 5.0) and the efficacy was evaluated by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1). Results: The incidence of irAEs, median progression-free survival (mPFS) of the ANA negative and positive groups were 26.0% vs. 31.4% (P=0.457), 17.7 vs. 10 months (P=0.603) for the cut-off value of 1:80; 26.2% vs. 33.9% (P=0.305), 11.9 vs. 10.6 months (P=0.957) for 1:160; and 25.9% vs. 45.8% (P=0.047), and 11.9 vs. 7.7 months (P=0.471) for 1:320, separately. Besides, ANA titer ≥1:320 was associated with irAEs [odds ratio (OR) =4.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45-16.52, P=0.01] and the incidence of adverse skin reactions differed greatly between the negative and positive groups (9.7% vs. 32%, P=0.003). Moreover, a total of 52 out of 159 patients were tested for ATG and ATPO. 46 patients were negative and 6 were positive, with the incidence of abnormal thyroid function being 4.3% vs. 50% (P=0.005), respectively. Conclusions: Preexisting ANAs may not correlate with the clinical benefit of immunotherapy in patients with NSCLC but may be associated with adverse skin reactions. Besides, ATG or ATPO has the potential to predict thyroid dysfunction.

Adverse events induced by nivolumab and ipilimumab combination regimens.

BACKGROUND: No meta-analysis has assessed the pooled frequencies of adverse events (AEs) induced by concomitant nivolumab plus ipilimumab regimen for anticancer-medications-naïve malignancies. Furthermore, no meta-analysis has compared detailed safety profiles between four doses of nivolumab 3 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks (N3I1) and four doses of nivolumab 1 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks (N1I3). Objectives of this study was estimating AE frequencies, and comparison of AE frequencies between N3I1 and N1I3 regimens. METHODS: Four major electronic databases were searched; both interventional and observational studies were included. All primary cancer types were permitted. Patients should not have been previously treated with any anti-cancer medications. The frequency of AEs was pooled using a random-model meta-analysis using the generic inverse variance method. Protocol registration: UMIN000044090. RESULTS: Forty articles representing 48 populations with 4,677 patients were included in the study. The pooled frequencies for key indicators were as follows: any AE, 81.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 77.5-85.1); grade 3 or higher AE, 40.6% (95% CI: 35.7-45.5); serious AE, 32.7% (95% CI: 22.4-43.1); AE leading to discontinuation, 28.3% (95% CI: 23.7-32.8); and treatment-related death, 0.7% (95% CI: 0.4-1.1). AEs with the highest incidence were fatigue (27.9%, 95% CI: 22.6-33.3), followed by diarrhea (26.0%, 95% CI: 21.5-30.5), pruritus (24.6%, 95% CI: 20.3-28.8), rash (24.0% 95% CI: 19.3-28.7), and elevated aspartate aminotransferase (21.2%, 95% CI: 14.9-27.5). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that N3I1, compared to N1I3, less frequently induced any AE (N1I3 95.7%, N3I1 84.5%, p = 0.003), grade 3 or higher AE (N1I3 64.3%, N3I1 35.7%, p < 0.001), and serious AE (N1I3 61.4%, N3I1 47.8%, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 40% of patients had grade 3 or higher AE. The N3I1 regimen was substantiated to trigger fewer any AEs, high grade AEs, and serious AE than the N1I3 regimen.

Pembrolizumab monotherapy versus pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: A multicenter retrospective trial.

BACKGROUND: Pembrolizumab alone or in combination with chemotherapy is a standard treatment for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. However, no study has compared the efficacies of these two regimens. Therefore, we aimed to compare the efficacy of pembrolizumab alone and in combination with chemotherapy in NSCLC patients with high PD-L1 expression. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective trial involving patients with diagnosed unresectable or recurrent NSCLCs who had received pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy in the first-line setting. Patients were divided into monotherapy and combination therapy groups. The progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and response rate (RR) were analyzed and compared between the groups. Clinical characteristics of patients were analyzed to assess their possible relationship with treatment outcomes. RESULTS: We enrolled 96 patients from five hospitals. Of these, 47 and 49 patients received monotherapy and combination therapy, respectively. The median PFS was 343 and 328 days in the monotherapy and combination therapy groups, respectively (hazard ratio 1.003, p = 0.99). No statistically significant differences were observed in the OS and RR between the two groups. However, in patients with metastases to the liver, lung, adrenal glands, bone, or lymph nodes, the PFS was longer in the monotherapy group than in the combination therapy group. CONCLUSION: Although the PFS, OS, and RR were not significantly different between patients treated with pembrolizumab alone and or with pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy, patients with NSCLC having metastases to specific sites may benefit more from monotherapy.

Best regimens for treating chemo-naïve incurable squamous non-small cell lung cancer with a programmed death-ligand 1 tumor proportion score of 1%-49%: A network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. It is advisable to select the appropriate treatment based on characteristics of the cancer such as pathology, mutations, and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) levels. In this study, by remarking squamous NSCLC with low PD-L1 expression without mutations, we investigated the efficacy and safety of regimens that included molecularly targeted drugs such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) through a network meta-analysis. METHODS: Databases were searched systematically to identify appropriate articles, in which randomized trials with incurable squamous NSCLC were described. Suitable studies were manually checked by two reviewers. A random model network meta-analysis was conducted, in which the primary outcome was the overall survival rate. RESULTS: We identified 48 studies, which included 16 391 patients. When a platinum + third-generation cytotoxic agent regimen (platinum regimen) was a reference, the platinum regimen + pembrolizumab (Pemb) yielded the best results in regard to the overall survival rate when compared with chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.36-0.90, p = 0.016) followed by the platinum regimen + nivolumab (Niv) + ipilimumab (Ipi) (HR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.44-0.84, p = 0.003). However, the efficacy of ICI monotherapy was not statistically different from that of the platinum regimen. CONCLUSIONS: The combination therapies, which were the platinum regimen + Pemb and the platinum regimen + Niv + Ipi, rather than ICI monotherapy were effective first-line agents for treating squamous NSCLC with low PD-L1 levels.

Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Mortality in Hospitalized Older Adults with Pneumonia.

Background: Pneumonia is a common disease among the aging population in Japan. Hence, it is important to elucidate the risks related to pneumonia mortality. Since Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most commonly observed pathogen, pneumococcal vaccination is recommended to older adults. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the clinical features of pneumonia, including the status of pneumococcal vaccination, in hospitalized older adult patients in Japan. Methods: This single-centered retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of all patients with acute pneumonia at Fujisawa City Hospital in Japan from April 2018 to March 2019. Patients were divided into two groups based on their history of pneumococcal vaccination. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality, while the secondary endpoint was risk factors associated with mortality. Results: We included 93 patients with pneumonia in this retrospective study. Although the mortality rate was higher in the vaccinated group (15.8%) than in the unvaccinated group (9.1%), vaccination status was not identified as a significant risk factor for mortality after multivariable logistic regression (odds ratio: 2.71; 95% confidence interval: 0.667-11.02; p=0.16). In addition, the A-DROP score was identified as an independent risk factor (odds ratio: 2.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.22-5.72; p=0.008). Conclusions: Our study suggested that the A-DROP score is a risk factor of mortality for pneumonia in older adults. In addition, pneumococcal vaccination history was related to increased mortality; however, the influence of the vaccination remains unclear because of the small sample size.

The best regimens for chemo-naïve incurable non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with a programmed death-ligand 1, tumor proportion score 1-49%: a network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. There is a rank order of the efficacy and safety of treatment options, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), bevacizumab (Bev), and cytotoxic drugs. When patients have low programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, there are multiple options for treatment. In this study, we focused on ICI regimens in patients with non-squamous NSCLC with low PD-L1 expression and no driver alterations and assessed the efficacy of the regimens using network meta-analysis. METHODS: Randomized trials for incurable chemo-naïve non-squamous NSCLC were collected through electronic searches. The data were independently extracted and cross-checked by two investigators. The primary outcome of this analysis was overall survival (OS). A frequentist weighted least-squares approach random-model network meta-analysis was applied. RESULTS: Sixty-eight eligible studies and 22,619 patients were identified. Using a platinum + third-generation cytotoxic agent regimen (platinum regimen) as a reference, the platinum regimen + pembrolizumab (Pemb) [hazard ratio (HR) =0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34-0.89, P=0.015] showed the best OS, followed by the platinum regimen + nivolumab (Niv) + ipilimumab (Ipi) (HR =0.61, 95% CI: 0.44-0.84, P=0.003) with no heterogeneity (I2=0%, P=0.348). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of Pemb or Niv/Ipi to platinum-based chemotherapy seems to be a good therapeutic option for non-squamous NSCLC with a PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) of 1-49%.

T-cell response to phytohemagglutinin in the interferon-γ release assay as a potential biomarker for the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a standard treatment for advanced lung cancer, although it remains important to identify biomarkers that can accurately predict treatment response. Immune checkpoint inhibitors enhance the antitumor T-cell response, and interferon-γ plays an important role in this process. Therefore, this study evaluated whether the number of interferon-γ-releasing peripheral T cells after phytohemagglutinin stimulation in the interferon-γ release assay might act as a biomarker for the response of non-small cell lung cancer to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected regarding 74 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who had received immune checkpoint inhibitors. Pretreatment screening tests had been performed using the T-SPOT.TB assay, which quantifies the number of interferon-γ-releasing T cells (as immunospots) in response to phytohemagglutinin and tuberculosis-specific antigen stimulation. Clinical factors and the number of spots in the T-SPOT fields were evaluated for associations with patient outcomes. The median number of spots was used to categorize patients as having high or low values, and the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Relative to patients with a low ratio, patients with a high ratio of phytohemagglutinin/tuberculosis-specific antigen spots (i.e. more responsive T cells) had significantly better progression-free survival after immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. When we only considered patients with negative T-SPOT results, a high number of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated spots corresponded to significantly longer progression-free survival. CONCLUSION: The T-SPOT.TB assay can be used to quantify the number of immunospots in response to antigen stimulation, which may predict the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Clinical Features of Patients with Active Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Successfully Treated with Mepolizumab.

BACKGROUND: In some patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), remission cannot be induced, despite treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. We evaluated the clinical features of patients with EGPA in whom mepolizumab was effective. METHODS: There were 59 EGPA patients treated at Hiratsuka City Hospital, Japan, between April 2018 and September 2020, and 30 of them received mepolizumab. Twenty (66.7%) experienced a "marked effect" (the daily dose of corticosteroid or immunosuppressant could be decreased, or the interval between intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatments could be prolonged) and 10 (33.3%) experienced a "weak effect" (these measures were not achieved). Eosinophil numbers, serum IgG levels, daily doses of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, and the interval between IVIG treatments at diagnosis and before and after mepolizumab initiation were determined. RESULTS: Eosinophil numbers at diagnosis were significantly higher in the marked-effect group than in the weak-effect group (p < 0.05) but not before mepolizumab initiation or at the last visit. Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Scores (BVASs) before mepolizumab initiation (p < 0.05) and at last visit (p < 0.01), and frequency of relapse before treatment initiation (p < 0.05) were significantly higher, and the serum IgG level before mepolizumab treatment was significantly lower in the weak-effect group than in the marked-effect group. The weak-effect group received higher doses of corticosteroids, even if the corticosteroid dose could be reduced for a while after mepolizumab initiation. CONCLUSION: High peripheral blood eosinophil numbers at EGPA diagnosis were suggestive of a positive clinical response to mepolizumab.

Resistance mechanisms of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer patients: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Differences in the resistance mechanisms of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor mutations are unknown. This meta-analysis aimed to clarify the differences in resistance mechanisms after treatment with various epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science on July 29, 2020, for relevant studies on acquired resistance mechanisms against epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The primary outcome measure was differences in the resistance mechanism between individual or generations of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. RESULTS: In total, 33 trials involving 2418 individuals were included and analyzed. T790M was significantly less frequent after afatinib treatment (40.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 31.7%-48.7%) than after gefitinib and erlotinib treatments (52.5%, 95% CI: 48.7%-56.3%, p = 0.005). There were no significant differences between Asian and non-Asian patients in the incidence of T790M after gefitinib, erlotinib, and afatinib treatments. Regarding epidermal growth factor receptor pathway-independent resistant mechanisms, the incidences of small cell lung cancer transformation (osimertinib: 7.9%, 95% CI: 3.6%-12.2%, others: 2.3%, 95% CI: 0.8%-3.8%) and Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) viral oncogene homolog mutation (osimertinib: 4.6%, 95% CI: 1.5%-7.7%, others: 0.2%, 95% CI: 0.0%-1.7%) were significantly higher following osimertinib treatment than with others. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in the incidence of resistance mechanisms among epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors exist, which should be taken into consideration when choosing the treatment strategy.

Expression of ocular albinism 1 (OA1), 3, 4- dihydroxy- L-phenylalanine (DOPA) receptor, in both neuronal and non-neuronal organs.

Oa1 is the casual gene for ocular albinism-1 in humans. The gene product OA1, alternatively designated as GPR143, belongs to G-protein coupled receptors. It has been reported that OA1 is a specific receptor for 3, 4-dihydroxy- L-phenylalanine (DOPA) in retinal pigmental epithelium where DOPA facilitates the pigmentation via OA1 stimulation. We have recently shown that OA1 mediates DOPA-induced depressor response in rat nucleus tractus solitarii. However, the distribution and function of OA1 in other regions are largely unknown. We have generated oa1 knockout mice and examined OA1 expression in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues by immunohistochemical analyses using anti-mouse OA1 monoclonal antibodies. In the telencephalon, OA1 was expressed in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Predominant expression of OA1 was observed in the pyramidal neurons in these regions. OA1 was also expressed in habenular nucleus, hypothalamus, substantia nigra, and medulla oblongata. The expression of OA1 in the nucleus tractus solitarii of medulla oblongata may support the reduction of blood pressure by the microinjection of DOPA into this region. Outside of the nervous system, OA1 was expressed in heart, lung, liver, kidney and spleen. Abundant expression was observed in the renal tubules and the splenic capsules. These peripheral regions are innervated by numerous sympathetic nerve endings. In addition, substantia nigra contains a large population of dopaminergic neurons. Thus, the immunohistochemical analyses suggest that OA1 may modulate the monoaminergic functions in both peripheral and central nervous systems.