[Inhaled marijuana and the lung, a toxic cocktail?] / Cannabis inhalé et poumon, une liaison dangereuse ?

Unlike the well-documented effects of tobacco smoke on the lung, the effects of cannabis smoke remain controversial, the main bias consisting in co-consumption of tobacco. That said, the composition of joint smoke is close to that of cigarettes, containing many compounds that are carcinogenic and/or alter the respiratory epithelium. Confirmed respiratory effects in chronic cannabis smokers include aggravated chronic bronchitis symptoms, a cumulative effect with tobacco on COPD and emphysema occurrence, an increased risk of bullous emphysema, and pneumothorax with heightened risk of recurrence after pleural symphysis. Recent prospective studies have shown a negative impact on lung function, with not only damage to the airways, but also DLCO alteration and an accelerated drop in FEV1. Finally, cannabis smoking is very common among young patients with lung cancer. Its consumption could lead to a different lung cancer profile, potentially more undifferentiated and less accessible to targeted therapy. Questioning about cannabis consumption must be systematic and targeted medical care should be offered.

[Rapid outpatient diagnostic pathways for lung cancer: Evaluation after one year]. / Parcours de diagnostic rapide du cancer du poumon : évaluation à un an.

INTRODUCTION: The introduction of coordinated care pathways for lung cancer diagnosis and treatment is a complex process. The purpose of the French Cancer Plan 2014-2019 was to improve referral to treatment waiting times in people with suspected malignancy. The aim of this study was to assess a rapid outpatient diagnostic program for lung cancer established in 2016. METHOD: This retrospective study was carried out in the Pulmonology Department at Tenon Hospital, Paris, France between May 2016 and May 2017. RESULTS: During this period, 118 patients (60%) of patients in the pathway were diagnosed with lung cancer. The median waiting time to first consultation (D1) was 4 (2-7) days. The median waiting time between diagnosis and treatment decision (D4) was 4 (0-8) days. The median waiting time to the first treatment (D5) was 10 (4-15) days for chemotherapy and 27 (16-34) days for surgery. The median waiting time between the first abnormal chest X-ray and the first treatment (D6) was 49 days (34-70). CONCLUSION: Referral to treatment waiting times was consistent with international recommendations. Coordinating nurses improved care pathways in lung cancer patients.

[Combinations of pharmacological treatments in smoking cessation. A systematic review]. / Combinaisons des traitements pharmacologiques au cours du sevrage tabagique. Revue systématique.

INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of the three validated smoking cessation medications, nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline and bupropion, may be insufficient, in hard-core smokers. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review investigates the efficacy of combinations of different medications in smoking abstinence and their tolerability. RESULTS: Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared the combined medications with varenicline and nicotine patches vs. varenicline; two found an increase in abstinence rates with the combined medications. In one study, the beneficial effect was only observed in heavy smokers. The four RCTs comparing the combined medications with varenicline and bupropion (vs. varenicline) demonstrated an increase in abstinence rates with the combined medications, most often in heavy smokers who are very dependent on tobacco. The results of the three RCTs comparing the combined medications with bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy vs. varenicline were discordant. Three studies included other molecules (mecamylamine, selegiline, sertraline, buspirone). Combined medications were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Combination treatments can achieve higher smoking abstinence rates than monotherapies, especially in smokers who have failed to quit (Hard-core smokers). Treatment with a combination of varenicline and nicotine replacement therapy is a therapeutic option in smoking cessation.

[Smoking cessation and lung cancer screening]. / Sevrage tabagique et dépistage du cancer du poumon.

Several studies have shown that lung cancer screening, using annual low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan in a targeted population of smokers and ex-smokers reduces overall and lung cancer specific mortality rates. This form of screening strategy is not currently established for use in France by the French High Authority for Health. Quitting smoking is the most important measure in reducing mortality from lung cancer. The maximum benefit in reducing mortality from lung cancer should be seen through an effective combination of smoking cessation intervention and chest CT screening to identify early, curable disease. However, current data to guide clinicians in the choice of smoking cessation interventions in this specific context are limited due to the small number of randomized studies that have been carried out. The optimal approach to smoking cessation during lung cancer screening needs to be clarified by new studies comparing different motivation strategies, establishing the ideal moment to propose stopping smoking and the most effective therapies to use.

[How to reduce lung cancer mortality among people living with HIV?] / Comment réduire la mortalité par cancer du poumon chez les personnes vivant avec le VIH ? Du sevrage tabagique au dépistage radiologique.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Tobacco exposure is higher among PLHIV (38.5%) and mainly explains the increased risk of lung cancer. To reduce lung cancer mortality, two approaches need to be implemented: lung cancer screening with low-dose thoracic CT scan and smoking cessation. Low dose CT scan is feasible in PLHIV. The false positive rate is not higher than in the general population, except for cases with CD4 <200/mm3. The impact on survival remains to be assessed. Despite the high prevalence, smoking cessation research among PLHIV is scarce. Very low quality data from 11 studies showed that more intensive smoking cessation interventions were effective in achieving short-term abstinence. A single randomized phase 3 trial showed the superiority of varenicline compared to placebo in long-term smoking cessation. The maximum benefit of reducing lung cancer mortality should be obtained by combining smoking cessation and lung cancer screening.

Detection of secondary causes of spontaneous pneumothorax: Comparison between computed tomography and chest X-ray.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of chest X-ray to that of thoracic computed tomography (CT) for the detection of the causes of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). METHODS: A prospective cohort of patients with SP was studied. All chest X-ray and CT examinations of the patients were reviewed retrospectively by an expert radiologist blinded to clinical data. The concordance between the CT examination and chest X-ray was assessed using the Cohen Kappa coefficient (κ), based on a bootstrap resampling method. RESULTS: A total of 105 patients with SP were included. There were 78 men and 27 women, with a mean age of 34.5 years±14.2 (SD) (range: 16-87 years). Of these, 44/105 (41%) patients had primary SP and 61/105 (59%) had secondary SP due to emphysema (47/61; 77%), tuberculosis (3/61, 5%), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (3/61; 5%), lung cancer (2/61, 3%) or other causes (6/61; 10%). Apart from pneumothorax, CT showed abnormal findings in 85/105 (81%) patients and chest X-ray in 29/105 (28%). Clinically relevant abnormalities were detected on 62/105 (59%) CT examinations. The concordance between chest X-ray and CT was fair for detecting emphysema (κ=0.39; 95% CI: 0.2420-0.55), moderate for a mass or nodule (κ=0.60; 95% CI: 0.28-0.90), fair for alveolar opacities (κ=0.39; 95% CI: -0.02-1.00), and slight for interstitial syndrome (κ=0.20; 95% CI: -0.02-0.85). CONCLUSION: Chest X-ray is not sufficient for detecting the cause of secondary SP. As the detection of the cause of secondary SP may alter the therapeutic approach and long-term follow-up in patients with SP, the usefulness of a systematic CT examination should be assessed in a prospective trial.

[Peri-operative management of smoking]. / Prise en charge du tabagisme en périoperatoire.

Smoking is a public health issue, especially during the perioperative period. Tobacco increases the risk of hospital mortality by 20% and major postoperative complications by 40%. Active smoking is associated with respiratory complications particularly bronchospasm and pneumonia, but also all surgical complications as scar infections, local thrombosis, suture release and delayed bone healing. The perioperative period is an opportunity to stop smoking. Smoking cessation should always be recommended, regardless of the surgery and the date of intervention. All health professionals, doctors, surgeons, anesthetists, but also nurses and physiotherapists, must inform smokers of the benefits of stopping smoking, offer them a dedicated support and a personalized follow-up. Tobacco consultation and the prescription of nicotine replacement increase the rate of smoking cessation. Stopping smoking reduces perioperative complications and is associated with health benefits that increase with time.

Effect of cannabis and tobacco on emphysema in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax.

PURPOSE: To compare imaging findings on thoracic computed tomography (CT) examination in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (SP), depending on their tobacco and/or cannabis consumption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 83 patients who had thoracic CT for primary SP were prospectively included. There were 65 men and 18 women with a median age of 33 years (IQR: 27; 44 years). The patients were further categorized into three groups according to their smoking habits. Thirteen patients were non-smokers, 38 were tobacco only smokers and 32 were tobacco and cannabis smokers. CT examinations were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of blebs, centrilobular and paraseptal emphysema and lung nodules in each group for comparison. RESULTS: Emphysema was detected in 43/85 patients (51.8%), including 1/13 patients (7.7%) in the non-smoking group, 19/38 patients (50%) in the tobacco only group and 23/32 patients (71.9%) in the tobacco and cannabis smokers, with no difference between tobacco only and tobacco and cannabis smokers. No differences in type and location of emphysema was found between tobacco only and tobacco and cannabis smokers. Tobacco and cannabis smokers with emphysema were significantly younger than tobacco only smokers with emphysema (35 vs. 46 years, respectively) (P=0.009). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of emphysema visible on CT is not different between tobacco and tobacco/cannabis smokers, however, it occurs at a younger age in tobacco and cannabis smokers. This result suggests that cannabis, when added to tobacco, may lead to emphysema at a younger age.

[Role of the Sonic Hedgehog pathway in thoracic cancers]. / Rôle de la voie Sonic Hedgehog dans les cancers thoraciques.

INTRODUCTION: Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway is physiologically activated during embryogenesis and development. It plays a role in idiopathic lung fibrosis and is also activated in several solid cancers. STATE OF THE ART: Shh pathway is reactivated in thoracic cancers, as small cell lung carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Shh pathway is associated with cancer stem cells and seems to have a crucial role in tumor proliferation, aggressiveness and chemoresistance in these cancers. This review describes the activation mode of Shh pathway in thoracic cancers and its role in small cell lung carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma, using in vitro and in vivo models. Notably, data from literature show that inhibition of Shh pathway has an antitumor action and sensitizes to chemotherapy. PERSPECTIVES: These results incite to develop targeted therapies against Shh pathway in the treatment of thoracic cancers.