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.

Improved diagnostic accuracy with three lung tumor markers compared to six-marker panel.

Background: Combining multiple tumor markers increases sensitivity for lung cancer diagnosis in the cost of false positive. However, some would like to check as many as tumor markers in the fear of missing cancer. We though to propose a panel of fewer tumor markers for lung cancer diagnosis. Methods: Patients with suspected lung cancer who simultaneously underwent all six tests [carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin-19 fragment (CYFRA), squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen (SCC), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP), and sialyl Lewis-X antigen (SLX)] were included. Tumor markers with significant impact on the lung cancer in a logistic regression model were included in our panel. Area under the curve (AUC) was compared between our panel and the panel of all six. Results: We included 1,733 [median 72 years, 1,128 men, 605 women, 779 (45%) confirmed lung cancer]. Logistic regression analysis suggested CEA, CYFRA, and NSE were independently associated with the lung cancer diagnosis. The panel of these three tumor markers [AUC =0.656, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.630-0.682, sensitivity 0.650, specificity 0.662] had better (P<0.001) diagnostic performance than six tumor markers (AUC =0.575, 95% CI: 0.548-0.602, sensitivity 0.829, specificity 0.321). Conclusions: Compared to applying all six markers (at least one marker above the upper limit of normal), the panel with three markers (at least one marker above the upper limit of normal) led to a better predictive value by lowering the risk of false positives.

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.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Long-Term Macrolide Therapy for COPD in Stable Status: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent condition with fewer treatments available as the severity increases. Previous systematic reviews have demonstrated the benefits of long-term macrolide use. However, the therapeutic differences between different macrolides and the optimal duration of use remain unclear. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the effectiveness of long-term macrolide use in reducing COPD exacerbations, compare the therapeutic differences among macrolides, and determine the appropriate treatment duration. Four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ICHU-SHI) were searched until 20 March 2023, and a random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled effect. Results: The meta-analysis included nine randomized controlled trials involving 1965 patients. The analysis revealed an odds ratio (OR) of 0.34 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19, 0.59, p < 0.001) for the reduction in exacerbation frequency. Notably, only azithromycin or erythromycin showed suppression of COPD exacerbations. The ORs for reducing exacerbation frequency per year and preventing hospitalizations were -0.50 (95% CI: -0.81, -0.19; p = 0.001) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.3, 0.97; p = 0.04), respectively. Statistical analyses showed no significant differences between three- and six-month macrolide prescriptions. However, studies involving a twelve-month prescription showed an OR of 0.27 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.68; p = 0.005; I2 = 81%). Although a significant improvement in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total scores was observed with a mean difference of -4.42 (95% CI: -9.0, 0.16; p = 0.06; I2 = 94%), the minimal clinically important difference was not reached. While no adverse effects were observed between the two groups, several studies have reported an increase in bacterial resistance. Conclusions: Long-term use of azithromycin or erythromycin suppresses COPD exacerbations, and previous studies have supported the advantages of a 12-month macrolide prescription over a placebo.

Atezolizumab addition to platinum doublet: evaluating survival outcomes for patients with extensive disease small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of adding atezolizumab to the platinum doublet regimen for extensive disease small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) remains marginally limited. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed the real-world efficacy and safety of atezolizumab in addition to carboplatin and etoposide (EP + A), versus carboplatin and etoposide (EP) alone in previously untreated ED-SCLC patients. RESULTS: From a total of 99 patients, 46 were assigned to the EP + A group, and 53 to the EP group. No significant difference was observed in progression-free survival between the groups. However, the overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in the EP + A group (20.8 vs 12.1 months; HR: 0.52; p = 0.0127). Patients older than 70 years, male, with performance status 0-1, without liver metastasis, and low levels of C-reactive protein and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, experienced longer OS in the EP + A group compared to the EP group. CONCLUSION: The addition of atezolizumab to the platinum doublet regimen significantly extended OS in ED-SCLC patients, particularly among certain subgroups, suggesting its potential value in personalized treatment strategies. Further investigation is warranted to validate these findings.

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.

Aetiological agents of adult community-acquired pneumonia in Japan: systematic review and meta-analysis of published data.

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiological information is essential in providing appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy for pneumonia. This study aimed to clarify the epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) by conducting a systematic review of published studies in Japan. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCE: PubMed and Ichushi web database (January 1970 to October 2022). ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Clinical studies describing pathogenic micro-organisms in CAP written in English or Japanese, excluding studies on pneumonia other than adult CAP, investigations limited to specific pathogens and case reports. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Patient setting (inpatient vs outpatient), number of patients, concordance with the CAP guidelines, diagnostic criteria and methods for diagnosing pneumonia pathogens as well as the numbers of each isolate. A meta-analysis of various situations was performed to measure the frequency of each aetiological agent. RESULTS: Fifty-six studies were included and 17 095 cases of CAP were identified. Pathogens were undetectable in 44.1% (95% CI 39.7% to 48.5%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common cause of CAP requiring hospitalisation or outpatient care (20.0% (95% CI 17.2% to 22.8%)), followed by Haemophilus influenzae (10.8% (95% CI 7.3% to 14.3%)) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (7.5% (95% CI 4.6% to 10.4%)). However, when limited to CAP requiring hospitalisation, Staphylococcus aureus was the third most common at 4.9% (95% CI 3.9% to 5.8%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more frequent in hospitalised cases, while atypical pathogens were less common. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus accounted for 40.7% (95% CI 29.0% to 52.4%) of S. aureus cases. In studies that used PCR testing for pan-respiratory viral pathogens, human enterovirus/human rhinovirus (9.4% (95% CI 0% to 20.5%)) and several other respiratory pathogenic viruses were detected. The epidemiology varied depending on the methodology and situation. CONCLUSION: The epidemiology of CAP varies depending on the situation, such as in the hospital versus outpatient setting. Viruses are more frequently detected by exhaustive genetic searches, resulting in a significant variation in epidemiology.

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.

Diagnostic utility of transbronchial biopsy for Hodgkin's lymphoma: A case study.

Lung lesions of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) are rare and difficult to diagnose by nonsurgical biopsy. We herein present the case of a 72-year-old Japanese male who presented with accumulation of lung infiltrates and masses bilaterally on the lungs for 3 years. Although transbronchial lung biopsy (TBB) and computed tomography-guided biopsy were conducted several times, his diagnosis remained inconclusive. On further deterioration of lung lesions, the patient was transferred to our hospital. Positron emission tomography revealed increased accumulation in the bilateral lungs and right supraclavicular lymph nodes. Surgical biopsy of the lymph node was performed. He was finally diagnosed with HL and underwent chemotherapy with doxorubicin, vinblastine, dacarbazine, and brentuximab vedotin. After chemotherapy, the lung lesion showed significant regression. A literature review indicated that the diagnostic success rate of TBB was low (18.5%) in cases of lung lesions in HL.

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.

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.

Identification of Biomarkers for Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated With an Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have an important role in lung cancer therapy. Although the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score (TPS) and tumor mutational burden are known prognostic factors, they are insufficient to predict clinical outcomes. This study was conducted to identify novel biomarkers for ICI treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed univariable and multivariable analyses of 110 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with an ICI to identify novel biomarkers related to prognosis. We assessed their backgrounds, such as performance status (PS), PD-L1 TPS, smoking status, and peripheral white blood cell counts at baseline and on the day the second course of ICI administration. RESULTS: In the multivariable analysis, PS, driver gene, immune-related adverse events, and post-treatment absolute neutrophil counts (post-ANCs) were significantly associated with progression-free survival. CONCLUSION: A high level of post-ANCs was associated with poor outcome in ICI-treated NSCLC patients.

Non-small cell lung cancer with mesenchymal-epithelial transition gene exon 14 skipping mutation treated with crizotinib.

We report the case of an 85-year-old man who was surgically diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma (pT2aN1M0 stage IIA). He was administered platinum combination chemotherapy as first-line treatment for lung cancer recurrence. The patient's pleural fluid sample was obtained and analysed using a next-generation sequencer, which demonstrated the presence of mesenchymal-epithelial transition gene (MET) exon 14 skipping mutations. As the patient developed progressive disease after receiving first-line chemotherapy, crizotinib was administered as the second-line treatment. The treatment was effective, and the patient had a stable disease for 7 months. This case suggests that crizotinib is effective against non-small cell lung cancer with MET exon 14 alterations.