Predictive and Prognostic Value of Early Disease Progression by PET Evaluation in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive and prognostic value of progressive metabolic disease (PMD) by the use of early 18Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) in patients with clinical stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with first-line chemotherapy. METHODS: An 18FDG-PET performed following the first cycle of chemotherapy (PET-1) was compared with a pretreatment 18FDG-PET (PET-0) and a computed tomography (CT) scan after the third cycle (CT-3). The primary endpoint was the positive predictive value (PPV) of PMD. Secondary endpoints included the prognostic value of PMD. RESULTS: Eleven of 38 patients (29%) had a PMD by PET-1, and 15 (39%), including all patients with a PMD, experienced a progressive disease by CT-3. The PPV of PMD was 100% according to both the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) criteria and the PET Response Criteria In Solid Tumors (PERCIST) (p value for both, <0.0001). Patients with a PMD by PET-1 had a median overall survival of 7.0 months versus 14.0 months for those without a PMD (p = 0.04, according to the EORTC criteria). CONCLUSIONS: Early 18FDG-PET assessment deserves further investigation for the identification of NSCLC patients who do not benefit from first-line chemotherapy.

Epidermal growth factor receptor exon 20 p.S768I mutation in non-small cell lung carcinoma: A case report combined with a review of the literature and investigation of clinical significance.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a significant role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most prevalent form of lung cancer worldwide. Therefore, EGFR may be a useful molecular target for personalized therapy utilizing tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Somatic activating EGFR mutations may be used to identify tumors sensitive to the effects of small-molecule EGFR-TKIs (gefitinib and erlotinib), and alternative, less frequently observed mutations, including the majority of mutations identified within exon 20, may be associated with a lack of response to TKIs. However, due to the comparative rarity of EGFR exon 20 mutations, clinical information concerning the association between EGFR exon 20 mutations and responsiveness to TKIs has been limited within the relevant literature, particularly for certain rare mutations, including p.S768I. The current study reports the case of a patient with NSCLC harboring a p.S768I mutation in the EGFR gene [a substitution at codon 768 of exon 20 (c.2303G>T, p.S768I)], as well as a mutation at codon 719, exon 18 (p.G719A). The relevant literature concerning this rare EGFR somatic mutation is also reviewed.

Correlation between histological grade and positron emission tomography parameters in cervical carcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in cervical cancer glucose metabolism for different levels of cellular differentiation. The metabolic activity was measured by standardized uptake value (SUV), SUV normalized to lean body mass, metabolic tumor volume and total lesion glycolysis using fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET). A correlation study of these values could be used to facilitate therapeutic choice and to improve clinical practice and outcome. This study considered 32 patients with diagnosed cervical cancers, at different International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages. Glucose metabolism was assessed by PET examination, and histological specimens were examined to determine their initial grade of differentiation. A correlation study of these values was evaluated. Histological examination showed that all cases were of squamous cell carcinoma. Regarding the differentiation of the tumor, 19 well- to moderately-differentiated tumors and 13 poorly-differentiated tumors were determined. Negative findings for correlations between metabolic parameters and initial grade of histological differentiation were found, and considering that histological grade has been shown to have no consistent prognostic value in cervical cancer treatment, PET imaging could play a significant role in cervical cancer prognosis.

New developments in the management of advanced melanoma - role of pembrolizumab.

Cancer immunotherapy is now recognized to be fundamental in modern oncology, because immune system recruitment may represent a powerful and innovative strategy in cancer therapy. Pembrolizumab, a highly selective humanized monoclonal antibody directly blocking the interaction between programmed cell death-1 expressed by tumor-associated T-cells and its ligand programmed cell death-L1 present on tumor and stromal cells, was recently approved by US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and disease progression upon ipilimumab and BRAF inhibitor. This review will focus on the clinical development and use of pembrolizumab in the clinical practice and in the management of advanced melanoma.

Efficacy and tolerability of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced cervical carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a neoadjuvant paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma. METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed locally advanced cervical carcinoma, aged ≥18 years, were treated with intravenous ifosfamide 5,000 mg/m² and mesna 5,000 mg/m², on day 1; intravenous paclitaxel 175 mg/m² and cisplatin 75 mg/m², on day 2; every 3 weeks for three cycles. Following chemotherapy, operable patients underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy, and, if necessary, adjuvant radiotherapy. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-two patients with median age 53 years (range, 24 to 79 years), FIGO stage IIB in 126 (89%), were treated with chemotherapy for median 3 cycles (range, 1 to 3). Treatment was delayed or withdrawn in 23 patients (15%). One hundred thirty-nine patients (91%) underwent surgery. Postchemotherapy pathological complete response rate was 18% (25 patients). Postoperative radiotherapy was administered in 100 patients (72%). The 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival were 87.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.5 to 90.3) and 76.4% (95% CI, 73.5 to 79.5), respectively. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin chemotherapy was feasible and effective in the treatment of locally advanced cervical carcinoma patients with older age and more advanced disease stage than reported in previous studies. Hematological and renal toxicity could be carefully prevented.