The incidence and prognosis of other iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders of the lung related to methotrexate: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Other iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (OIIA-LPD) are rare but well-known diseases that manifest during or after methotrexate (MTX) administration. Limited information is available on the clinical characteristics of OIIA-LPD of the lung because only a few cases have been reported. Thus, we aimed to assess the incidence and prognosis of patients with OIIA-LPD of the lung. METHODS: Patients with OIIA-LPD of the lung treated at our institution between January 2008 and July 2020 were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Among the 51 patients with OIIA-LPD, 16 (31.3%, 7 men, 9 women) had OIIA-LPD of the lung (median age, 69 [range, 63-82] years). Peripheral lesions were observed in 10 (62.5%), central lesions in two (12.5%), and both lesions in four (25.0%) patients. Nine of the 16 patients underwent bronchoscopic biopsy, seven were diagnosed (diagnostic yield, 77.8%) and, re-biopsy was performed in 2 patients. Eight (50.0%) patients had LPD and six (37.5%) had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. In the 14 patients with confirmed treatment efficacy, the overall response rate to MTX withdrawal was 71.4%. However, chemotherapy was required in case of larger lesions (three patients). Death related to OIIA-LPD occurred in only one patient, and 11 of the 14 patients were alive during the study period (median follow-up time, 53.7 [range, 4.3-84.2] months). CONCLUSION: The incidence of OIIA-LPD of the lung is 31.3% and higher than that reported previously. The treatment effect of MTX withdrawal seems to be sufficient; however, in some cases, chemotherapy may be required from the beginning.

J-AVENUE: A retrospective, real-world study evaluating patient characteristics and outcomes in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma treated with avelumab first-line maintenance therapy in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: The JAVELIN Bladder 100 phase 3 trial showed that avelumab first-line maintenance + best supportive care significantly prolonged overall survival and progression-free survival versus best supportive care alone in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma who were progression-free following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. We report findings from J-AVENUE (NCT05431777), a real-world study of avelumab first-line maintenance therapy in Japan. METHODS: Medical charts of patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma without disease progression following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, who received avelumab maintenance between February and November 2021, were reviewed. Patients were followed until June 2022. The primary endpoint was patient characteristics; secondary endpoints included time to treatment failure and progression-free survival. RESULTS: In 79 patients analyzed, median age was 72 years (range, 44-86). Primary tumor site was upper tract in 45.6% and bladder in 54.4%. The most common first-line chemotherapy regimen was cisplatin + gemcitabine (63.3%). Median number of chemotherapy cycles received was four. Best response to chemotherapy was complete response in 10.1%, partial response in 58.2%, and stable disease in 31.6%. Median treatment-free interval before avelumab was 4.9 weeks. With avelumab first-line maintenance therapy, the disease control rate was 58.2%, median time to treatment failure was 4.6 months (95% CI, 3.3-6.4), and median progression-free survival was 6.1 months (95% CI, 3.6-9.7). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from J-AVENUE show the effectiveness of avelumab first-line maintenance in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma in Japan in clinical practice, with similar progression-free survival to JAVELIN Bladder 100 and previous real-world studies, supporting its use as a standard of care.

[A Case of Undifferentiated Sarcoma of the Liver in an Adult Treated with Right Hepatectomy Followed by Adjuvant Chemotherapy].

Undifferentiated sarcoma of the liver is rare, especially in adults, and is an aggressive malignancy that originates from the primary mesenchymal tissues. A 53-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further evaluation of a low-grade fever. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed an 18-cm tumor in the right lobe of the liver. The tumor was characterized by low-density areas suspected of cystic components, a high-density area suspected of hemorrhage, and contrast enhancement in the thickened marginal and internal septa. MRI revealed a high-intensity tumor with a heterogeneous structure on T2-weighted images. Angiosarcoma of the liver with intratumoral hemorrhage was suspected, and right hepatectomy was performed. The pathological diagnosis was an undifferentiated sarcoma based on the presence of undifferentiated mesenchymal tumor cells with a stellate to spindle-shaped pleomorphism. Following a multidisciplinary discussion, 4 courses of the AI regimen (doxorubicin and ifosfamide)were administered as adjuvant chemotherapy, and no recurrence was confirmed at 2 years and 6 months follow-up. Our case suggests that radical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy may contribute to a favorable prognosis for undifferentiated sarcoma of the liver.

The Impact of Nutritional Support on Survival Outcomes in Patients with Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma Treated with Chemotherapy.

Malnutrition and cachexia occur commonly in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). This study elucidated the effect of nutritional support (NS) on survival outcomes among patients with AGC undergoing chemotherapy. We retrospectively evaluated new AGC cases at our institute between January 2015 and January 2021. Inclusion criteria were unresectable or recurrent chemotherapy-treated gastric adenocarcinoma, ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2, and adequate organ function. Time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated, and univariate and multivariate analyses identified prognostic factors. A total of 103 eligible patients were separated into groups: 69 patients (67%) into NS and 34 (33%) into routine care (RC). The median follow-up time was 11.0 mo, (0.5-92). NS was offered to patients with poorer PS (p = 0.03), Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) positivity (p = 0.001), and high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (cut-off ≤ 3, p = 0.02). Median OS and TTF in the RC and NS groups were 11.6 and 10.4 mo, (p = 0.99) and 4.2 and 5.5 mo, (p = 0.07), respectively. Multivariate analyses identified NS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.53, p = 0.01) and GPS positivity for TTF, and low body mass index (HR = 2.03, p = 0.007) and GPS positivity (HR = 2.25, p = 0.001) for OS as significant prognostic factors. Thus, NS with chemotherapy is a potentially effective intervention for AGC.

Ultrathin bronchoscopic cryobiopsy of peripheral pulmonary lesions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ultrathin bronchoscopy aids in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions. However, both the working channel and the specimens are small. A 1.1-mm ultrathin cryoprobe that can enter the working channel of the ultrathin bronchoscope is now available, which may overcome the limitations of small specimen size. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of ultrathin bronchoscopic cryobiopsy using an ultrathin cryoprobe for diagnosing peripheral pulmonary lesions. METHODS: Patients with peripheral pulmonary lesions ≤30 mm in diameter were prospectively enrolled in the study. All patients underwent forceps biopsy followed by cryobiopsy using a 3.0-mm ultrathin bronchoscope under radial probe endobronchial ultrasound guidance, virtual bronchoscopic navigation and fluoroscopic guidance. The primary endpoint was the feasibility of cryobiopsy. RESULTS: In total, 50 patients with peripheral pulmonary lesions were enrolled in the study; the median longest diameter on computed tomography was 17.9 mm. Cryobiopsy was performed successfully in 49 patients (98%). Forceps biopsy, cryobiopsy and the combination of these two methods provided a specific diagnosis in 54% (27/50), 62% (31/50) and 74% (37/50) of patients, respectively. The median size of specimens obtained via cryobiopsy was significantly larger than the median size obtained via forceps biopsy (7.0 vs. 1.3 mm2 , respectively, p < 0.001). Mild bleeding during cryobiopsy occurred in 47 patients (94%). No moderate/severe bleeding or pneumothorax occurred. CONCLUSION: Ultrathin bronchoscopic cryobiopsy is feasible, effective and sufficiently safe for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions.

Differential properties of KRAS transversion and transition mutations in non-small cell lung cancer: associations with environmental factors and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: KRAS-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 23-35% and 13-20% of all NSCLCs in white patients and East Asians, respectively, and is therefore regarded as a major therapeutic target. However, its epidemiology and clinical characteristics have not been fully elucidated because of its wide variety of mutational subtypes. Here, we focused on two distinct base substitution types: transversion mutations and transition mutations, as well as their association with environmental factors and clinical outcome. METHODS: Dataset from the Japan Molecular Epidemiology Study, which is a prospective, multicenter, and molecular study epidemiology cohort study involving 957 NSCLC patients who underwent surgery, was used for this study. Questionnaire-based detailed information on clinical background and lifestyles was also used to assess their association with mutational subtypes. Somatic mutations in 72 cancer-related genes were analyzed by next-generation sequencing, and KRAS mutations were classified into three categories: transversions (G > C or G > T; G12A, G12C, G12R, G12V), transitions (G > A; G12D, G12S, G13D), and wild-type (WT). Clinical correlations between these subtypes have been investigated, and recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 957 patients, KRAS mutations were detected in 80 (8.4%). Of these, 61 were transversions and 19 were transitions mutations. Both pack-years of smoking and smoking duration had significant positive correlation with the occurrence of transversion mutations (p = 0.03 and < 0.01, respectively). Notably, transitions showed an inverse correlation with vegetable intake (p = 0.01). Patients with KRAS transitions had the shortest RFS and OS compared to KRAS transversions and WT. Multivariate analysis revealed that KRAS transitions, along with age and stage, were significant predictors of shorter RFS and OS (HR 2.15, p = 0.01; and HR 2.84, p < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking exposure positively correlated with transversions occurrence in a dose-dependent manner. However, vegetable intake negatively correlated with transitions. Overall, KRAS transition mutations are significantly poor prognostic factors among resected NSCLC patients.

Prognostic impact of pretreatment T790M mutation on outcomes for patients with resected, EGFR-mutated, non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Many previous studies have demonstrated that minor-frequency pretreatment T790M mutation (preT790M) could be detected by ultrasensitive methods in a considerable number of treatment-naïve, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. However, the impact of preT790M in resected cases on prognosis remains unclear. METHODS: We previously reported that preT790M could be detected in 298 (79.9%) of 373 surgically resected, EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients. Therefore, we investigated the impact of preT790M on recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in this cohort by multivariate analysis. All patients were enrolled from July 2012 to December 2013, with follow-up until November 30, 2017. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 48.6 months. Using a cutoff value of the median preT790M allele frequency, the high-preT790M group (n = 151) had significantly shorter RFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-2.25, P = 0.045) and a tendency for a shorter OS (HR = 1.87, 95% CI: 0.99-3.55, P = 0.055) than the low-preT790M group (n = 222). On multivariate analysis, higher preT790M was independently associated with shorter RFS (high vs low, HR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.03-2.36, P = 0.035), irrespective of advanced stage, older age, and male sex, and was also associated with shorter OS (high vs low, HR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.11-4.20, P = 0.024) irrespective of advanced stage, older age, EGFR mutation subtype, and history of adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Minor-frequency, especially high-abundance of, preT790M was an independent factor associated with a poor prognosis in patients with surgically resected, EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

EUS-B-FNA Enhances the Diagnostic Yield of EBUS Bronchoscope for Intrathoracic Lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) bronchoscopes have been used mainly through the airway for EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA); however, they can also be used through the esophagus. The esophageal approach, endoscopic ultrasound with bronchoscope-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-B-FNA), has gradually become popular, as it can evaluate lesions that cannot be accessed through the airway. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the value of adding EUS-B-FNA to EBUS-TBNA performed by pulmonologists for intrathoracic lesions in the clinical setting. METHODS: Between March 2009 and March 2020, all patients who underwent EUS-B-FNA and EBUS-TBNA for diagnostic purposes were included and retrospectively analyzed at a single institution. RESULTS: A total of 1794 procedures using an EBUS bronchoscope including, EBUS-TBNA, EUS-B-FNA, and the combination of EBUS-TBNA and EUS-B-FNA for evaluating intrathoracic lesions, were performed. We finally analyzed 276 patients who underwent EUS-B-FNA for diagnostic purposes. EUS-B-FNA provided diagnostic materials from only EBUS-TBNA-inaccessible lesions in 26 patients and in 18 patients whose conditions were inappropriate for bronchoscopy (e.g., respiratory failure, airway stenosis, etc.). EUS-B-FNA provided diagnostic results in four patients with non-diagnostic EBUS-TBNA results. EUS-B-FNA was preferable to EBUS-TBNA in 4.4% (48 of 1091) of patients; therefore, adding EUS-B-FNA to EBUS-TBNA increased the diagnostic yield from 72.6% (1043 of 1437) to 75.9% (1091 of 1437). CONCLUSION: Pulmonologists are able to enhance diagnostic yields by acquiring the EUS-B-FNA technique.

Thin bronchoscopic cryobiopsy using a nasobronchial tube.

BACKGROUND: Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy is useful when diagnosing lung lesions. However, prevention of associated bleeding complications is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of our novel bronchoscopic cryobiopsy technique, which uses a long nasobronchial tube to prevent blood flooding the central airway. METHODS: Patients with localized or diffuse lung lesions were prospectively enrolled and underwent cryobiopsy using a 1.9 mm diameter cryoprobe and a 4.0 mm diameter thin bronchoscope under conscious sedation. For cryobiopsy, a long silicone tube (inner diameter, 5.0 mm) was advanced through the nose to the target bronchus, then wedged to drain blood under thin-tube bronchoscopic control. The primary endpoint was the frequency of bleeding complications. RESULTS: Of the 80 patients initially enrolled, 73 that underwent at least one cryobiopsy were ultimately included. Mild bleeding during cryobiopsy occurred in 58 patients (79.5%), but there was no moderate or severe bleeding. Other complications occurred in four patients (two pneumothorax, one pneumomediastinum, and one pneumonia). Tube dislocation was noted in eight patients (11%). Cryobiopsy specimens were significantly larger than forceps biopsy specimens (9.0 mm2 vs. 2.7 mm2, P < .001) and allowed specific diagnoses in 50 patients (68.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Thin bronchoscopic cryobiopsy using a nasobronchial tube in consciously sedated patients is safe and effective. Trial registration Date of registration: 24/06/2019. UMIN-Clinical Trials Registry; Identifier: UMIN000037156 https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm.

The Role of Rigid Bronchoscopic Intervention for Bronchial Carcinoid.

Bronchial carcinoid is a rare malignant tumor that is categorized as a typical carcinoid or atypical carcinoid. Many institutions use flexible bronchoscopy for diagnosis. However, due to the hemorrhagic nature of the tumor, the amount of specimen obtained is often small, making it difficult to obtain an accurate diagnosis. The use of rigid bronchoscopy may not only contribute to obtaining a diagnosis but also be beneficial in the treatment plan. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rigid bronchoscopic interventions for the diagnosis and treatment of bronchial carcinoids. All patients with bronchial carcinoids who underwent rigid bronchoscopic intervention under general anesthesia at our institution between June 2006 and August 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Eight patients [3 men and 5 women; median age, 71 years (range 45-82 years)] were eligible for the analysis. None of the cases had accurate subtyping preoperatively before intervention. In contrast, all cases were diagnosed as carcinoid with subtypes (5 patients had typical carcinoid and 3 had atypical carcinoid) following rigid bronchoscopic intervention. All respiratory symptoms improved immediately after the procedure. One instance of bleeding occurred, and was easily controlled by argon plasma coagulation and intraluminal administration of epinephrine under flexible and rigid bronchoscopy. Four patients (3 with typical carcinoid and 1 with atypical carcinoid) underwent radical surgery sequentially, and no recurrences were observed. We conclude that rigid bronchoscopic intervention is safe and effective for accurate diagnosis and improvement of respiratory symptoms in patients with bronchial carcinoids.

Sterilized talc pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusions: a Phase II study for investigational new drug application in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural effusion is a commonly seen complication of malignancies such as lung and breast cancers. In Western countries, talc is frequently used as a standard therapeutic agent (pleurodesis agent) with the aim of alleviating symptoms including dyspnea and chest pain. Talc is not recognized as a pleurodesis agent in Japan. The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy and safety of sterilized talc (NPC-05) for the introduction of talc in Japan. METHODS: The study was a single-arm, open-label, investigator-initiated trial conducted jointly at six institutions. The subjects were 30 patients with malignant pleural effusions. A solution of 4 g NPC-05 suspended in 50 ml physiological saline was instilled into the pleural space to perform pleurodesis. RESULTS: The efficacy of NPC-05 for pleural adhesion 30 days after pleurodesis was 83.3% (25/30 cases). Amelioration of dyspnea and pain (chest pain) was seen. Commonly seen adverse effects were increased C-reactive protein (CRP) and fever. Nearly all adverse events were phenomena previously reported as adverse effects of talc. No acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or other serious side effects occurred. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of NPC-05 for malignant pleural effusion in Japanese patients was verified, and the clinical outcomes with talc were confirmed to be the same as previously reported in other countries. There is thought to be a high level of need for this agent in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion in Japan.

How Many Passes Are Needed for Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for Sarcoidosis? A Prospective Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: While endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is widely used as an initial diagnostic procedure for pathological confirmation of sarcoidosis, it is unclear how many passes are required to obtain diagnostic materials. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the number of needle passes needed for the diagnosis of stage I/II sarcoidosis using EBUS-TBNA. METHODS: At three institutions, 109 patients with suspected stage I/II sarcoidosis were recruited and underwent 6 passes of EBUS-TBNA for the main target lesion. Additional EBUS-TBNA for other lesions was permitted. The cumulative yields of needle passes for detecting noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 109 patients underwent EBUS-TBNA for 184 lesions. EBUS-TBNA identified specimens containing granulomas in 81 of 92 patients (88%) with a final diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The cumulative yields through the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth passes for the main target lesion were 63, 75, 82, 85, 86 and 88%, respectively. In the 55 patients that underwent EBUS-TBNA for multiple lesions, the cumulative yields of 2 passes per lesion for 2 lesions (total of 4 passes) and of 4 passes for single lesions were 86 and 84%, respectively (p = 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: If rapid on-site cytological evaluation is not available, we recommend at least 4 passes per patient for either single or multiple lesions with EBUS-TBNA for pathological diagnosis of stage I/II sarcoidosis.

Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitor AZD4547 in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumours: a Phase I study.

Background AZD4547 is a potent, oral, highly selective fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor in clinical development for treating tumours with a range of FGFR aberrations, including FGFR mutations, amplifications and fusions. Methods This open-label, Phase I, multicentre study (NCT01213160) evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumour efficacy (RECIST v1.1) of AZD4547 monotherapy in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumours. Part A was a dose-escalation part; Part B was a dose-expansion part in patients with FGFR-amplified tumours, confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results Thirty patients enrolled in Part A (dose range: 40 mg twice daily [bid] to 120 mg bid; 160 mg once daily [qd]), four in Part B (80 mg bid). No dose-limiting toxicities were observed and maximum tolerated dose was not determined. Most common adverse events (AEs; any grade) were: dysgeusia (50% of patients); stomatitis (41%); diarrhoea (38%); hyperphosphataemia (38%); dry mouth (35%). Common grade ≥3 AEs were nausea (12% of patients) and neutropenia (9%). No complete or partial responses were observed: 21/30 patients had stable disease ≥4 weeks in Part A, and 1/4 patients had stable disease ≥10 weeks in Part B. Following single and multiple dosing, absorption rate appeared moderate; peak plasma concentrations generally occurred 3-4 h post-dose, then declined biphasically with terminal half-life ~30 h. Steady state was reached by day 8. Compared with single dosing, plasma concentrations were, on average, 2.4- and 3.3- to 5.4-fold higher after qd and bid dosing, respectively. Conclusions AZD4547 was well tolerated in Japanese patients, with best response of stable disease ≥4 weeks.

Control of nausea with palonosetron versus granisetron, both combined with dexamethasone, in patients receiving cisplatin- or anthracycline plus cyclophosphamide-based regimens.

PURPOSE: In a comparative phase 3 study involving 1114 Japanese patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC), palonosetron (PALO) was found to be superior to granisetron (GRA) for the prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in the delayed phase. This post hoc analysis of the phase 3 study evaluated the efficacy of PALO for the control of nausea. METHODS: The proportion of patients without nausea was assessed at 24-h intervals during the acute phase (0-24 h), delayed phase (24-120 h), and overall (0-120 h). No nausea rates were also evaluated by sex, type of chemotherapy (cisplatin or doxorubicin/epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide [AC/EC]), and age (<55 vs. ≥55 years). Nausea severity was categorized using a 4-point Likert scale (0 = no nausea to 3 = severe nausea). RESULTS: The proportion of patients without nausea was significantly higher in the PALO arm than in the GRA arm in the delayed phase (37.8 % vs. 27.2 %; p = 0.002) and overall (31.9 % vs. 25.0 %; p = 0.0117). When analyzed by stratification factors, the proportion of patients without nausea was significantly higher in the PALO arm in the delayed phase and overall in patients who were female, younger, or treated with cisplatin and in the delayed phase in patients who were older or treated with doxorubicin or epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PALO was more effective than GRA in prophylaxis of HEC-induced nausea in the delayed phase and overall. In addition, PALO was more effective than GRA in young and female patients, who are at high risk of CINV, both in the delayed phase and overall.

Ultrathin Bronchoscopy with Multimodal Devices for Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions. A Randomized Trial.

RATIONALE: The combination of an ultrathin bronchoscope, navigational technology, and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) seems to combine the best of mutual abilities for evaluating peripheral pulmonary lesions, but ultrathin bronchoscopes that allow the use of EBUS have not been developed so far. OBJECTIVES: To compare the diagnostic yield of transbronchial biopsy under EBUS, fluoroscopy, and virtual bronchoscopic navigation guidance using a novel ultrathin bronchoscope with that using a thin bronchoscope with a guide sheath for peripheral pulmonary lesions. METHODS: In four centers, patients with suspected peripheral pulmonary lesions less than or equal to 30 mm in the longest diameter were included and randomized to undergo transbronchial biopsy with EBUS, fluoroscopy, and virtual bronchoscopic navigation guidance using a 3.0-mm ultrathin bronchoscope (UTB group) or a 4.0-mm thin bronchoscope with a guide sheath (TB-GS group). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 310 patients were enrolled and randomized, among whom 305 patients (150, UTB group; 155, TB-GS group) were analyzed. The ultrathin bronchoscope could reach more distal bronchi than the thin bronchoscope (median fifth- vs. fourth-generation bronchi; P < 0.001). Diagnostic histologic specimens were obtained in 74% (42% for benign and 81% for malignant lesions) of the UTB group and 59% (36% for benign and 70% for malignant lesions) of the TB-GS group (P = 0.044, Mantel-Haenszel test). Complications including pneumothorax, bleeding, chest pain, and pneumonia occurred in 3% and 5% in the respective groups. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic yield of the UTB method is higher than that of the TB-GS method. Clinical trial registered with www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/ (UMIN 000003177).

Feasibility and accuracy of molecular testing in specimens obtained with small biopsy forceps: comparison with the results of surgical specimens.

BACKGROUND: During bronchoscopy, small biopsy forceps are increasingly used for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions. However, it is unclear whether the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens sampled with the small biopsy forceps are suitable for the determination of genotypes which become indispensable for the management decision regarding patients with non-small cell lung cancer. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of molecular testing in the specimens obtained with 1.5-mm small biopsy forceps. METHODS: We examined specimens in 91 patients, who were enrolled in our previous 3 studies on the usefulness of thin bronchoscopes and given a diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer by bronchoscopy with the 1.5-mm biopsy forceps, and then underwent surgical resection. An experienced pathologist examined paraffin-embedded specimens obtained by bronchoscopic biopsy or surgical resection in a blind fashion on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements and KRAS mutations. RESULTS: Twenty-five (27%), 2 (2%) and 5 (5%) patients had an EGFR mutation, ALK rearrangement and KRAS mutation, respectively, based on the results in surgical specimens. EGFR, ALK and KRAS testing with bronchoscopic specimens was feasible in 82 (90%), 86 (95%) and 83 (91%) patients, respectively. If molecular testing was feasible, the accuracy of EGFR, ALK and KRAS testing with bronchoscopic specimens for the results with surgical specimens was 98, 100 and 98%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of molecular testing in the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens obtained with the small forceps, in which the genotype could be evaluated, correlated well with those in surgically resected specimens.

Immunotherapy for Unresectable Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The efficacy of systemic therapy for unresectable small bowel adenocarcinoma that is refractory to fluoropyrimidines and oxaliplatin has not yet been established because of the rarity of this cancer. Although immunotherapy with anti-PD-1 antibodies has shown robust efficacy in the treatment of esophagogastric adenocarcinoma, its effectiveness in small bowel adenocarcinoma remains unclear. CASE REPORT: In the first case, a 75-year-old man was diagnosed with metastatic moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the jejunum with stable microsatellite instability. After receiving multiple lines of therapy, including fluoropyrimidines plus oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and paclitaxel, the patient was treated with nivolumab and achieved a partial response that lasted for 12 months. In the second case, a 65-year-old man was diagnosed with an unresectable locally advanced duodenal adenocarcinoma. High microsatellite instability was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction-based testing. After showing resistance to 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin, the patient received nivolumab and ipilimumab therapy. Although therapy was discontinued because of immune-related colitis and skin rash, a partial response was achieved. CONCLUSION: Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors is effective for refractory small bowel adenocarcinoma, irrespective of the microsatellite status.

A case of community-acquired Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) necrotizing pneumonia successfully treated with two anti-MRSA drugs.

A 22-year-old Vietnamese man was referred to our hospital owing to cough, dyspnea, and difficulty moving. The patient was diagnosed with community-acquired Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia and necrotizing pneumonia. Treatment involved vancomycin (VCM) and meropenem, and the MRSA bacteremia improved. However, lung tissue destruction progressed. Therefore, linezolid was added to the VCM regimen, and this intervention led to the patient's recovery, and he was discharged from the hospital. Here, we report a case in which the patient was treated with a combination of two anti-MRSA drugs and was cured.

Talc slurry pleurodesis in patients with secondary intractable pneumothorax: A phase 2 study.

BACKGROUND: Secondary pneumothorax, which occurs most commonly in the elderly, is caused by underlying diseases. Cardiac dysfunction and other organ inefficiencies may render surgical repair impossible. Such non-operative and poor-risk cases are targets for pleurodesis, which involves the instillation of chemicals or irritants to the thoracic cavity through injection, bronchoscopic bronchial occlusion, or other procedures. Sterile graded talc has been used for pleurodesis mainly in Europe and the United States; however, only a few studies and case series investigating this topic have been published. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of talc slurry pleurodesis. METHODS: Patients with inoperable secondary intractable pneumothorax, who were not candidates for surgical repair, were recruited. Four grams of sterilized talc was suspended in 50 mL of physiological saline and injected through a tube into the pleural cavity. Additional 50 mL of saline was subsequently injected through the same channel to clean the residual saline in the injection tube. Another additional talc instillation was allowed to control persistent air leakage. The primary endpoint was the proportion of drainage tube removal within 30 days after talc pleurodesis. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were included in this study. In 23 out of 28 patients, the drainage tube could be removed within 30 days of talc instillation (82.1 %, 95 % CI = 63.1-93.9), exceeding the threshold of 36.0 % (p < 0.0001). The most common event was pain (11/28 patients, 39.3 %). CONCLUSIONS: Talc slurry pleurodesis is effective for intractable secondary pneumothorax, with minor side effects.

Transesophageal bronchoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration for diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported that specimens from mediastinal lesions located adjacent to the esophagus can be sampled using an ultrasound bronchoscope instead of an ultrasound endoscope. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of transesophageal bronchoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration using an ultrasound bronchoscope in patients with stage I/II sarcoidosis. METHODS: Thirty-three patients suspected of having stage I/II sarcoidosis were included in this prospective study. Needle aspiration through the esophagus using an ultrasound bronchoscope was performed for hilar and/or mediastinal lymph nodes. The final diagnosis of sarcoidosis was based on clinicoradiological compatibility and pathological findings. RESULTS: A total of 62 lymph nodes with a mean shortest diameter of 13.6 mm were examined. Of the 33 patients enrolled, 29 were given a final diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Four of the residual patients had other diseases (1 lung cancer, 1 tuberculosis, 2 non-specific lymphadenitis). Transesophageal bronchoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration showed noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas in 25 of 29 patients (86%; 95% confidence interval 73-100) with the final diagnosis of sarcoidosis. No complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Transesophageal bronchoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration is feasible, safe and accurate for the diagnosis of stage I/II sarcoidosis.