Spontaneous regression of small cell lung cancer associated with Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome: Case report.

Spontaneous regression (SR) of cancer is very rare, especially of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Recently, an association of paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) has been reported as a cause of SR of cancer, and onconeural antibodies are a possible factor in the SR of cancer associated with PNS. We herein report the first case of SR of SCLC combined with anti-P/Q-type of voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibody-positive Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), a subtype of PNS. This case report suggests that SCLC may be spontaneously reduced by an autoimmune response induced by VGCC antibodies associated with LEMS. Our finding may help elucidate the mechanisms that inhibit tumor growth and cause the regression of tumors.

Lung CCR6-CXCR3- type 2 helper T cells as an indicator of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases.

Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (PF-ILDs) have a poor prognosis and may be resistant to corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants, but antifibrotic therapies such as nintedanib and pirfenidone have been shown to slow the deterioration of lung function. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristic cellular profile of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at diagnostic bronchoscopy for predicting PF-ILDs, defined as fibrotic diseases on chest high-resolution computed tomography with more than a 5% relative decline in the percent predicted value of forced vital capacity (FVC) over 6 months. The proportions of inflammatory cells, CCR6-CXCR3- T helper type 2 (Th2) cells among conventional CD4+ T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and peripheral blood, were measured by flowcytometry. The proportion of lymphocytes in BALF was significantly higher in non-PF-ILD patients than in PF-ILD patients. The proportion of Th2 cells in BALF, but not in peripheral blood, was significantly higher in PF-ILD patients than in non-PF-ILD patients. Multivariate analysis showed that a greater population of Th2 cells in BALF was the only indicator for PF-ILDs. An increased proportion of Th2 cells in BALF is associated with greater deterioration of lung function in fibrotic interstitial lung diseases.