Association Between Lung Immune Prognostic Index and Durvalumab Consolidation Outcomes in Patients With Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The LIPI, based on pretreatment derived neutrophils/[leukocytes-neutrophils] ratio (dNLR) and LDH, is associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) outcomes in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to assess baseline LIPI correlation with durvalumab consolidation outcomes in the locally advanced setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicentre retrospective study (330 patients) with stage III unresectable NSCLC treated with durvalumab after chemo-radiotherapy between April 2015 and December 2020; 65 patients treated with chemo-radiotherapy only. Baseline LIPI characterized 3 groups: good (dNLR≤3+LDH≤ULN), intermediate (dNLR>3/LDH>ULN) and poor (dNLR>3+LDH>ULN). Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). RESULTS: In the durvalumab cohort, median age was 67 years, 95% smokers, 98% with a performance status of 0-1; 60% had nonsquamous histology and 16% a PD-L1 expression <1%. Radiotherapy was delivered concurrently in 81%. LIPI was evaluable in 216 patients: 66% good, 31% intermediate, 3% poor. LIPI significantly correlated with median OS (median follow-up: 19 months): 18.1 months vs. 47.0 months vs. not reached in poor, intermediate and good LIPI groups, respectively (P = .03). A trend between objective response rate and LIPI groups was observed: 0% vs. 41% vs. 45%, respectively (P = .05). The pooled intermediate/poor LIPI group was associated with shorter OS (HR 1.97; P = .03) and higher risk of progressive disease (OR 2.68; P = .047). Survivals and response were not influenced in the control cohort. CONCLUSION: Baseline LIPI correlated with outcomes in patients with locally advanced NSCLC treated with durvalumab consolidation, but not in those who only received chemo-radiotherapy, providing further evidence of its prognostic and potential predictive role of ICI benefit in NSCLC.

Human virome profiling identified CMV as the major viral driver of a high accumulation of senescent CD8+ T cells in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Circulating senescent CD8+ T (T8sen) cells are characterized by a lack of proliferative capacities but retain cytotoxic activity and have been associated to resistance to immunotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC). We aimed to better characterize T8sen and to determine which factors were associated with their accumulation in patients with aNSCLC. Circulating T8sen cells were characterized by a higher expression of SA-ßgal and the transcription factor T-bet, confirming their senescent status. Using whole virome profiling, cytomegalovirus (CMV) was the only virus associated with T8sen. CMV was necessary but not sufficient to explain high accumulation of T8sen (T8senhigh status). In CMV+ patients, the proportion of T8sen cells increased with cancer progression. Last, CMV-induced T8senhigh phenotype but not CMV seropositivity itself was associated with worse progression-free and overall survival in patients treated with anti-PD-(L)1 therapy but not with chemotherapy. Overall, CMV is the unique viral driver of T8sen-driven resistance to anti-PD-(L)1 antibodies in patients with aNSCLC.

Preliminary results in tracheal replacement using stented aortic matrices for primary extensive tracheal cancer.

Objective: Recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility and favorable long-term results of tracheobronchial replacement using stented cryopreserved aortic allografts. We propose to investigate the outcomes of this emerging technique in the subgroup of patients with extensive tracheal cancer. Methods: This study was based on 13 patients with primary extensive tracheal cancer extracted from the prospective registry TRITON-01 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04263129), which included 40 patients in total. We analyzed early and late outcomes in this subset of patients. Results: From March 2019 to September 2022, 13 patients were included in the study. There were 9 female and 4 male patients, with a mean age of 53.9 years [36-71 years]. They had tracheal replacement for extended adenoid cystic carcinoma (n = 11), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 1), and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n = 1). A venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used in the 6 last cases. The mean length of resection was 81 mm [50-120 mm]. There was no 30-day postoperative mortality. A complete resection (R0) was achieved in 11 patients. The main late complications consisted of tracheal granulomas related to the stent and requiring repeated bronchoscopies (n = 9), pneumonia (n = 3), airway infection (n = 1), bronchoesophageal fistula (n = 1), mechanical stent obstruction requiring change (n = 2), and mediastinitis treated by antibiotics, drainage, and omentoplasty (n = 1). With a maximal follow-up of 3 years and 7 months, cancer recurrence was observed in 2 patients. All patients were alive at last follow-up except 2 (84.6%). Conclusions: Airway replacement using stented CAA represents a feasible and promising solution for extensive tracheal cancer.

Radiation-induced lung injury after breast cancer treatment: incidence in the CANTO-RT cohort and associated clinical and dosimetric risk factors.

Purpose: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is strongly associated with various clinical conditions and dosimetric parameters. Former studies have led to reducing radiotherapy (RT) doses to the lung and have favored the discontinuation of tamoxifen during RT. However, the monocentric design and variability of dosimetric parameters chosen have limited further improvement. The aim of our study was to assess the incidence of RILI in current practice and to determine clinical and dosimetric risk factors associated with RILI occurrence. Material and methods: Data from 3 out of the 10 top recruiting centers in CANTO-RT, a subset of the CANTO prospective longitudinal cohort (NCT01993498), were retrospectively analyzed for RILI occurrence. This cohort, which recruited invasive cT0-3 cN0-3 M0 breast cancer patients from 2012 to 2018, prospectively recorded the occurrence of adverse events by questionnaires and medical visits at the end of, and up to 60 months after treatment. RILI adverse events were defined in all patients by the association of clinical symptoms and compatible medical imaging. Results: RILI was found in 38/1565 (2.4%) patients. Grade II RILI represented 15/38 events (39%) and grade III or IV 2/38 events (6%). There were no grade V events. The most frequently used technique for treatment was 3D conformational RT (96%). In univariable analyses, we confirmed the association of RILI occurrence with pulmonary medical history, absence of cardiovascular disease medical history, high pT and pN, chemotherapy use, nodal RT. All dosimetric parameters were highly correlated and had close predictive value. In the multivariable analysis adjusted for chemotherapy use and nodal involvement, pulmonary medical history (OR=3.05, p<0.01) and high V30 Gy (OR=1.06, p=0.04) remained statistically significant risk factors for RILI occurrence. V30 Gy >15% was significantly associated with RILI occurrence in a multivariable analysis (OR=3.07, p=0.03). Conclusion: Our study confirms the pulmonary safety of breast 3D RT in CANTO-RT. Further analyses with modern radiation therapy techniques such as IMRT are needed. Our results argue in favor of a dose constraint to the ipsilateral lung using V30 Gy not exceeding 15%, especially in patients presenting pulmonary medical history. Pulmonary disease records should be taken into account for RT planning.

[Diagnosis and management of interstitial lung disease induced by antibody-drug conjugates in breast cancer: A French expert opinion paper]. / Diagnostic et prise en charge de la pneumopathie interstitielle diffuse induite par les anticorps conjugués dans le cancer du sein : avis d'expert.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) has been reported with many cancer drugs including some recent antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The mechanisms of ILD induced by many chemotherapy drugs, other drug classes and ADCs used in cancer, including breast cancer, are not clearly elucidated. In the absence of specific clinical or radiological signs, the diagnosis of drug-induced ILD is often a diagnosis of exclusion. When present, the most frequent symptoms are respiratory signs (cough, dyspnea, chest pain) and general signs (fatigue, fever). Any suspicion of ILD should be evaluated by imaging and, if in doubt, the CT scan should be evaluated by a pulmonologist and a radiologist. A network of multidisciplinary experts for proactive early management of ILD is important, including oncologist, radiologist, pulmonologist, infectious disease specialist and nurses. Patient education is essential to report new or exacerbated lung symptoms and prevent high-grade ILD. Study drug is discontinued temporarily or permanently according to ILD severity and type of ADC. For asymptomatic cases (Grade 1), the efficacy of corticosteroids is not clearly established; for higher grades, the benefit/risk balance of long-term corticosteroid therapy should be considered for the dose and treatment duration. Hospitalization and oxygen supplementation are required for severe cases (Grades 3-4). For patient follow-up, the expertise of a pulmonologist is necessary with repeated chest scans, spirometry and DLCO. Preventing ADC-induced ILDs and evolution to high grade rests on a network of multidisciplinary experts for assessment of individual risk factors, early management, close follow-up and patient education.

PDL1-status predicts primary resistance of metastatic, EGFR-mutated non small cell lung cancers to EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the reference treatment for metastatic, EGFR-mutated, non-small-cell lung cancers (EGFRm NSCLCs). However, 16-20% of those tumors progress early (3-6 months) and factors predicting that resistance are unknown. This study was undertaken to examine PDL1 status as such a factor. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included metastatic, EGFRm-NSCLC patients who received first-line 1st-, 2nd- or 3rd-generation EGFR TKIs with PDL1 expression determined in pretreatment biopsies. Kaplan-Meier estimations of probabilities of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared with log-rank test, and logistic-regression analyses. RESULTS: PDL1 status of the 145 included patients was ≥1% (47%), 1-49% (33%) or ≥50% (14%). For PDL1-positive vs PDL1-negative patients, respectively, median PFS lasted 8 (95% CI: 6-12) vs 12 (95% CI: 11-17) months (p = 0.008), with 18% vs. 8% (NS) of NSCLCs progressing at 3 months, and 47% vs. 18% (HR 0.25 [95% CI 0.10-0.566], p<0.001) at 6 months. Multivariate analysis retained 1st- or 2nd-generation EGFR TKI, brain metastases and albuminemia <35 g/L at diagnosis as significantly associated with shorter PFS, but not PDL1 status, which was independently associated with progression at 6 months (HR 3.76 [1.23-12.63], p = 0.02). PDL1-negative and PDL1-positive patients' OS lasted 27 (95% CI 24-39) and 22 (95% CI 19-41) months, respectively (NS). Multivariate analysis retained only brain metastases or albuminemia <35 g/L at diagnosis as being independently associated with OS. CONCLUSION: PDL1 expression ≥1% seems to be associated with early progression during the first 6 months of first-line EGFR-TKI treatment of metastatic EGFRm NSCLCs, without impacting OS.

Total Metabolic Tumor Volume on 18F-FDG PET/CT Is a Useful Prognostic Biomarker for Patients with Extensive Small-Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing First-Line Chemo-Immunotherapy.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of imaging biomarkers on 18F-FDG PET/CT in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) patients undergoing first-line chemo-immunotherapy. Methods: In this multicenter and retrospective study, we considered two cohorts, depending on the type of first-line therapy: chemo-immunotherapy (CIT) versus chemotherapy alone (CT). All patients underwent baseline 18-FDG PET/CT before therapy between June 2016 and September 2021. We evaluated clinical, biological, and PET parameters, and used cutoffs from previously published studies or predictiveness curves to assess the association with progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) with Cox prediction models. Results: Sixty-eight patients were included (CIT: CT) (36: 32 patients). The median PFS was 5.9:6.5 months, while the median OS was 12.1:9.8 months. dNLR (the derived neutrophils/(leucocytes-neutrophils) ratio) was an independent predictor of short PFS and OS in the two cohorts (p < 0.05). High total metabolic tumor volume (TMTVhigh if > 241 cm3) correlated with outcomes, but only in the CIT cohort (PFS for TMTVhigh in multivariable analysis: HR 2.5; 95%CI 1.1-5.9). Conclusion: Baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT using TMTV could help to predict worse outcomes for ES-SCLC patients undergoing first-line CIT. This suggests that baseline TMTV may be used to identify patients that are unlikely to benefit from CIT.

Differential diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis: a review.

Diagnosing pulmonary sarcoidosis raises challenges due to both the absence of a specific diagnostic criterion and the varied presentations capable of mimicking many other conditions. The aim of this review is to help non-sarcoidosis experts establish optimal differential-diagnosis strategies tailored to each situation. Alternative granulomatous diseases that must be ruled out include infections (notably tuberculosis, nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, and histoplasmosis), chronic beryllium disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, granulomatous talcosis, drug-induced granulomatosis (notably due to TNF-a antagonists, immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapies, and interferons), immune deficiencies, genetic disorders (Blau syndrome), Crohn's disease, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and malignancy-associated granulomatosis. Ruling out lymphoproliferative disorders may also be very challenging before obtaining typical biopsy specimen. The first step is an assessment of epidemiological factors, notably the incidence of sarcoidosis and of alternative diagnoses; exposure to risk factors (e.g., infectious, occupational, and environmental agents); and exposure to drugs taken for therapeutic or recreational purposes. The clinical history, physical examination and, above all, chest computed tomography indicate which differential diagnoses are most likely, thereby guiding the choice of subsequent investigations (e.g., microbiological investigations, lymphocyte proliferation tests with metals, autoantibody assays, and genetic tests). The goal is to rule out all diagnoses other than sarcoidosis that are consistent with the clinical situation. Chest computed tomography findings, from common to rare and from typical to atypical, are described for sarcoidosis and the alternatives. The pathology of granulomas and associated lesions is discussed and diagnostically helpful stains specified. In some patients, the definite diagnosis may require the continuous gathering of information during follow-up. Diseases that often closely mimic sarcoidosis include chronic beryllium disease and drug-induced granulomatosis. Tuberculosis rarely resembles sarcoidosis but is a leading differential diagnosis in regions of high tuberculosis endemicity.

ICU admission for solid cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized the management of cancer. They can induce immune-related adverse events (irAE) leading to intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We aimed to describe irAEs for ICU admissions in solid cancer patients treated with ICIs. METHODS: This prospective multicenter study was conducted in France and Belgium. Adult patients with solid tumor and treated with systemic ICIs within the last 6 months, requiring non-programmed ICU admission were included. Patients admitted for microbiologically documented sepsis were excluded. Imputability of irAEs in ICU admissions was described according to the WHO-UMC classification system at ICU admission and at ICU discharge. The use of immunosuppressant treatment was reported. RESULTS: 115 patients were eligible. Solid tumor was mainly lung cancer (n = 76, 66%) and melanoma (n = 18, 16%). They were mainly treated with an anti-PD-(L)1 alone (n = 110, 96%). Main ICU admission reasons were acute respiratory failure (n = 66, 57%), colitis (n = 14, 13%), and cardiovascular disease (n = 13, 11%). ICU admission was considered "likely" associated with irAE for 48% (n = 55) of patients. Factors independently associated with irAE were a good ECOG performance status (PS) (ECOG-PS of 0 or 1 vs. ECOG-PS of 2-3, odds ratio [OR] = 6.34, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.13-18.90, and OR = 3.66, 95% CI 1.33-10.03, respectively), and a history of irAE (OR = 3.28, 95% CI 1.19-9.01). Steroids were prescribed for 41/55 (75%) patients with ICU admission "likely" related to irAE. Three patients were subsequently treated with immunosuppressants. CONCLUSION: IrAEs accounted for half of ICU admissions in cancer patients receiving ICIs. They could be treated with steroids. Identifying the imputability of irAEs in ICU admissions remains a challenge.

Outcome following nivolumab treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and comorbid interstitial lung disease in a real-world setting.

Background: Up to 10% of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) have pre-existing interstitial lung disease (ILD). These patients are usually excluded from immunotherapy clinical trials. Consequently, knowledge on outcomes following nivolumab treatment in these patients remains limited. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate survival outcome following nivolumab treatment in ILD patients with pre-treated aNSCLC in the real-world setting. Patients and methods: The study included all patients with aNSCLC recorded in the French hospital database, starting nivolumab in 2015-2016. Patients were stratified by pre-existing ILD and three subgroups were studied [auto-immune or granulomatous (AI/G) ILD, other known causes ILD and idiopathic ILD]. Time to discontinuation of nivolumab treatment [time to treatment duration (TTD)] and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: Of 10,452 aNSCLC patients initiating nivolumab, 148 (1.4%) had pre-existing ILD. Mean age at nivolumab initiation was 64.6 ± 9.4 years in ILD and 63.8 ± 9.6 years in non-ILD. Compared to non-ILD, patients in the ILD group were more frequently men (p < 0.05) and had more comorbidities (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between ILD and non-ILD groups for median TTD (2.5 versus 2.8 months; p = 0.6) or median OS (9.6 versus 11.9 months; p = 0.1). Median OS in AI/G ILD (n = 14), other known causes ILD (n = 75), and idiopathic ILD (n = 59) were 8.6, 10.7, and 9.6 months, respectively. Conclusion: In this large cohort of aNSCLC patients with ILD, outcomes are similar to those obtained in the non-ILD population. Immunotherapy could be beneficial for these patients.

Incidence, management, and outcome of lung cancer in patients with long-term oxygen therapy.

BACKGROUND: Here, we aimed to assess the specific features of lung cancer in patients with long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), and compare their outcomes with patients suffering from lung cancer without LTOT. METHODS: This retrospective, case-controlled study included patients with LTOT and an incident diagnosis of lung cancer treated at Rouen University Hospital. RESULTS: Out of 2201 patients with LTOT, 31 were diagnosed with lung cancer. Among 24 patients with proven lung cancer, the most frequent histological type was squamous cell carcinoma (n = 12/24, 50%). Active treatment of any type was given in 19/31 (61%) and 41/62 (66%) of patients in the LTOT and control groups, respectively (p = 0.83). In the LTOT group, median survival was 38 days with best supportive care and 462 days with active treatment (p = 0.003). However, when adjusting on performance status and disease stage, LTOT was not significantly associated with a worse outcome. Hazard ratio (HR): 1.56 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87 to 2.81) (p = 0.137). Administration of any treatment was associated with a better prognostic: HR: 0.35 (95% CI: 0.19 to 0.66). Both groups had a similar treatment safety profile. CONCLUSION: Incidence of lung cancer in patients with LTOT was comparable to the general population. The proportion of LTOT patients who received active treatment was similar to controls, and overall survival did not differ from controls in a multivariate analysis. Although reaching a histological diagnosis may be challenging in LTOT patients, the efficacy and safety of the management strategies of lung cancer seem preserved.

[Postoperative radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer stage IIIA - N2: Focus and perspectives]. / La radiothérapie postopératoire dans les cancers non à petites cellules de stade IIIA ­ N2 : mise au point et perspectives.

Patients with resectable stage IIIA - N2 lung cancer represent a very heterogeneous population with variable risks of postoperative recurrence depending on the type of N2 involvement (unisite N2, multisite N2, bulky N2, extra-capsular rupture, incomplete resection…). This heterogeneity associated with the difficulty of carrying out prospective randomized studies with sufficient power in stages IIIA - 2, results in the absence of clear and consensual recommendations (except for stages IIIA - N2 resectable R0, since LungART and PORT-C studies). The objective of this article is to make an update on the place of postoperative radiotherapy in the management of stages IIIA - N2 following the publication of two recent randomized trials (PORT-C and LungART) but also compare them fort a better understanding of the current issues raised by these first published results. Indeed, these two trials do not find any benefit in terms of progression free survival and overall survival of postoperative radiotherapy but exploratory analyzes from these two studies seem to show a potential benefit of postoperative in some pN2 populations at high risk of locoregional recurrence (N2 multisite, N2 bulky…). In addition, the advent of immunotherapy (atezolizumab or pembrolizumab) and targeted therapies (osimertinib) in the adjuvant situation are redebating the place of a possible indication for postoperative radiotherapy in stage IIIA - 2.

Histomolecular Resistance Mechanisms to First-Line Osimertinib in EGFR-Mutated Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicentric Retrospective French Study.

BACKGROUND: Osimertinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) used in first line for the treatment of advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). OBJECTIVE: The identification of related histomolecular resistance mechanisms to first-line osimertinib is a critical step to define the optimal treatment strategy beyond progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients treated in the first line with osimertinib for advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC at 10 hospitals in the Greater Paris area between April 2015 and January 2021 were included. Histomolecular data from plasma and tissue samples taken at progression under osimertinib were collected, and all samples were analyzed using DNA next-generation sequencing. Data on objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and time to treatment discontinuation (TTD) were also collected. RESULTS: Overall, 104 patients were included. Most patients had adenocarcinoma (n = 102, 98%) with an exon 19 EGFR deletion (n = 54, 52%). Forty-two patients (50%) had central nervous system (CNS) metastasis at the time of osimertinib initiation. ORR was 76%, median PFS and OS were 12.6 months and 52 months, respectively, and TTD was 33 months. At the time of analysis, 44 patients (42%) had tumor progression, and among these patients, 27 (61%) contributive samples were available. The most frequent molecular alterations at progression were mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET) amplification (15%; n = 4) and EGFR C797S mutation (11%; n = 3). Histological transformation was found in one patient (4%). RNA next-generation sequencing was performed in eight patients and showed a CCDC6-RET fusion in one patient (12%). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the efficacy of osimertinib in patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC. At progression, the most frequent histomolecular alterations were MET amplification and EGFR C797S mutation.

Successful sequential tyrosine kinase inhibitors to overcome a rare compound of EGFR exon 18-18 and EGFR amplification: A case report.

Background: New mutational detection techniques like next-generation sequencing have resulted in an increased number of cases with uncommon mutation and compound mutations [3%-14% of all epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations]. In rare exon 18 mutations (3%-6%), G719X and E709X represent the majority, but CMut associating these exon 18 points mutations are even rarer, making the understanding of the impact of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors still limited. Three generations of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are available to target EGFR mutations, but according to the types of mutations, the sensitivity to TKI is different. Afatinib, osimertinib, and neratinib have showed some effectiveness in single exon 18, but no report has precisely described their efficiency and acquired mechanism of resistance in a CMut of exon 18-18 (G719A and E709A). Case presentation: We report a case of a 26-year-old woman with bilateral advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung harboring a compound mutation associating G719A and E709A in exon 18, who developed an EGFR amplification as resistance mechanism to osimertinib. She presented a significant clinical and morphological response under sequential TKIs treatment (afatinib, osimertinib, and then neratinib). Conclusion: A non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with rare compound mutation exon 18-exon 18 (G719A and E709A) and EGFR amplification can be overcome with adapted sequential second- and third-generation TKIs. This report has potential implications in guiding decisions for the treatment of these rare EGFR mutations.

Airway replacement using stented aortic matrices: Long-term follow-up and results of the TRITON-01 study in 35 adult patients.

Over the past 25 years, we have demonstrated the feasibility of airway bioengineering using stented aortic matrices experimentally then in a first-in-human trial (n = 13). The present TRITON-01 study analyzed all the patients who had airway replacement at our center to confirm that this innovative approach can be now used as usual care. For each patient, the following data were prospectively collected: postoperative mortality and morbidity, late airway complications, stent removal and status at last follow-up on November 2, 2021. From October 2009 to October 2021, 35 patients had airway replacement for malignant (n = 29) or benign (n = 6) lesions. The 30-day postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 2.9% (n = 1/35) and 22.9% (n = 8/35) respectively. At a median follow-up of 29.5 months (range 1-133 months), 27 patients were alive. There have been no deaths directly related to the implanted bioprosthesis. Eighteen patients (52.9%) had stent-related granulomas requiring a bronchoscopic treatment. Ten among 35 patients (28.6%) achieved a stent free survival. The actuarial 2- and 5-year survival rates (Kaplan-Meier estimates) were respectively 88% and 75%. The TRITON-01 study confirmed that airway replacement using stented aortic matrices can be proposed as usual care at our center. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04263129.

Durvalumab consolidation in patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer with driver genomic alterations.

INTRODUCTION: Durvalumab is the standard-of-care as consolidation therapy after chemo-radiotherapy in stage III unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, its activity across patients with NSCLC harbouring driver genomic alterations (dGA) is poorly characterised. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicentre retrospective study including patients with stage III unresectable NSCLC treated with durvalumab after chemo-radiotherapy between April 2015 and October 2020 at 26 centres in Europe and America. Clinical and biological data were collected; dGA included: EGFR/BRAF/KRAS mutations (m) and ALK/ROS1 rearrangements (r). We evaluated progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) based on dGA. RESULTS: Out of 323 patients included, 43 patients had one dGA: KRASm (n = 26; 8 G12C), EGFRm (n = 8; 6 del19/ex21), BRAFm (n = 5; 4 V600E) and ALKr (n = 4). The median age was 66 years [39-84], gender ratio 1:1, with 98% performance status (PS) 0-1 and 19% non-smokers; 88% had adenocarcinoma. PD-L1 was positive in 85% (n = 4 missing). In the whole cohort, the median PFS was 17.5 months (mo.) (95% CI, 13.2-24.9) and median OS 47 mo (95%CI, 47-not reached [NR]). No statistically significant differences in terms of the median PFS were observed between patients with dGA vs. non-dGA: 14.9 mo (95% CI, 8.1-NR) vs. 18 mo. (95% CI, 13.4-28.3) (P = 1.0); however, when analysed separately: the median PFS was NR (11.3-NR) in the KRASm G12C vs. 8.1 mo (5.8-NR) in the EGFRm del19/ex21 vs. 7.8 mo (7.7-NR) in the BRAFm V600E/ALKr (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: We observed limited activity of durvalumab consolidation in patients with stage III unresectable NSCLC with EGFR/BRAFm and ALKr but not for those harbouring KRASm. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Adoptive cell therapies in thoracic malignancies.

Immunotherapy has gained great interest in thoracic malignancies in the last decade, first in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but also more recently in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). However, while 15-20% of patients will greatly benefit from immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs), a vast majority will rapidly exhibit resistance. Reasons for this are multiple: non-immunogenic tumors, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment or defects in immune cells trafficking to the tumor sites being some of the most frequent. Current progress in adoptive cell therapies could offer a way to overcome these hurdles and bring effective immune cells to the tumor site. In this review, we discuss advantages, limits and future perspectives of adoptive cell therapy (ACT) in thoracic malignancies from lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK), cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK), natural killer cells (NK), dendritic cells (DC) vaccines and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) to TCR engineering and CARs. Trials are still in their early phases, and while there may still be many limitations to overcome, a combination of these different approaches with ICBs, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy could vastly improve the way we treat thoracic cancers.

CD8+PD-1+ to CD4+PD-1+ ratio (PERLS) is associated with prognosis of patients with advanced NSCLC treated with PD-(L)1 blockers.

BACKGROUND: Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) expression has been associated with activation and exhaustion of both the CD4 and CD8 populations in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC). Nevertheless, the impact of the balance between circulating CD8+PD-1+ and CD4+PD-1+ in patients treated with immune checkpoint blockers (ICB) is unknown. METHODS: The CD8+PD-1+ to CD4+PD-1+ ratio (PD-1-Expressing Ratio on Lymphocytes in a Systemic blood sample, or 'PERLS') was determined by cytometry in fresh whole blood from patients with aNSCLC before treatment with single-agent ICB targeting PD-1 or programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1 (discovery cohort). A PERLS cut-off was identified by log-rank maximization. Patients treated with ICB (validation cohort) or polychemotherapy (control cohort) were classified as PERLS+/- (above/below cut-off). Circulating immune cell phenotype and function were correlated with PERLS. A composite score (good, intermediate and poor) was determined using the combination of PERLS and senescent immune phenotype as previously described in aNSCLC. RESULTS: In the discovery cohort (N=75), the PERLS cut-off was 1.91, and 11% of patients were PERLS+. PERLS + correlated significantly with median progression-free survival (PFS) of 9.63 months (95% CI 7.82 to not reached (NR)) versus 2.69 months (95% CI 1.81 to 5.52; p=0.03). In an independent validation cohort (N=36), median PFS was NR (95% CI 7.9 to NR) versus 2.00 months (95% CI 1.3 to 4.5; p=0.04) for PERLS + and PERLS-, respectively; overall survival (OS) followed a similar but non-significant trend. In the pooled cohort (N=111), PERLS + correlated significantly with PFS and OS. PERLS did not correlate with outcome in the polychemotherapy cohort. PERLS did not correlate with clinical characteristics but was significantly associated with baseline circulating naïve CD4+ T cells and the increase of memory T cells post-ICB treatment. Accumulation of memory T cells during treatment was linked to CD4+ T cell polyfunctionality. The composite score was evaluated in the pooled cohort (N=68). The median OS for good, intermediate and poor composite scores was NR (95% CI NR to NR), 8.54 months (95% CI 4.96 to NR) and 2.42 months (95% CI 1.97 to 15.5; p=0.001), respectively. The median PFS was 12.60 months (95% CI 9.63 to NR), 2.58 months (95% CI 1.74 to 7.29) and 1.76 months (95% CI 1.31 to 4.57; p<0.0001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated PERLS, determined from a blood sample before immunotherapy, was correlated with benefit from PD-(L)1 blockers in aNSCLC.