Randomized open-label controlled study of cancer vaccine OSE2101 versus chemotherapy in HLA-A2-positive patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with resistance to immunotherapy: ATALANTE-1.

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) ultimately progress either rapidly (primary resistance) or after durable benefit (secondary resistance). The cancer vaccine OSE2101 may invigorate antitumor-specific immune responses after ICB failure. The objective of ATALANTE-1 was to evaluate its efficacy and safety in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ATALANTE-1 was a two-step open-label study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OSE2101 compared to standard-of-care (SoC) chemotherapy (CT). Patients with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2-positive advanced NSCLC without actionable alterations, failing sequential or concurrent CT and ICB were randomized (2 : 1) to OSE2101 or SoC (docetaxel or pemetrexed). Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Interim OS futility analysis was planned as per Fleming design. In April 2020 at the time of interim analysis, a decision was taken to prematurely stop the accrual due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Final analysis was carried out in all patients and in the subgroup of patients with ICB secondary resistance defined as failure after ICB monotherapy second line ≥12 weeks. RESULTS: Two hundred and nineteen patients were randomized (139 OSE2101, 80 SoC); 118 had secondary resistance to sequential ICB. Overall, median OS non-significantly favored OSE2101 over SoC {hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] 0.86 [0.62-1.19], P = 0.36}. In the secondary resistance subgroup, OSE2101 significantly improved median OS versus SoC [11.1 versus 7.5 months; HR (95% CI) 0.59 (0.38-0.91), P = 0.017], and significantly improved post-progression survival (HR 0.46, P = 0.004), time to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status deterioration (HR 0.43, P = 0.006) and Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) global health status compared to SoC (P = 0.045). Six-month disease control rates and progression-free survival were similar between groups. Grade ≥3 adverse effects occurred in 11.4% of patients with OSE2101 and 35.1% in SoC (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In HLA-A2-positive patients with advanced NSCLC and secondary resistance to immunotherapy, OSE2101 increased survival with better safety compared to CT. Further evaluation in this population is warranted.

Clinical and molecular characteristics of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutation: results of the nationwide French Cooperative Thoracic Intergroup (IFCT) program.

BACKGROUND: EGFR mutations cause inconsistent response to EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI). To better understand these features, we reviewed all cases of EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer collected in the Biomarkers France database. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 17 664 patients, 1837 (11%) with EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer were retrospectively analyzed for clinical and molecular characteristics. Results were correlated with survival and treatment response for the 848 stage IV patients. RESULTS: EGFR exon 18, 19, 20 and 21 mutations were found in 102 (5.5%), 931 (51%), 102 (5.5%) and 702 (38%) patients, respectively. Over 50% of exon 18 and 20 mutated patients were smokers. The median follow-up was 51.7 months. EGFR mutation type was prognostic of overall survival (OS) versus wild-type {exon 19: hazard ratio (HR)=0.51 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.41-0.64], P < 0.0001; exon 21: HR = 0.76 (95% CI: 0.61-0.95), P = 0.002; exon 20: HR = 1.56 (95% CI: 1.02-2.38), P = 0.004}. EGFR mutation type was prognostic of progression-free survival versus wild-type [exon 19: HR = 0.62 (95% CI: 0.49-0.78), P < 0.0001; exon 20: HR = 1.46 (95% CI: 0.96-2.21), P = 0.07]. First-line treatment choice did not influence OS in multivariate analysis. First-line TKI predicted improved progression-free survival versus chemotherapy [HR = 0.67 (95% CI: 0.53-0.85), P = 0.001]. OS was longer for del19 versus L858R, which was associated with better OS compared with other exon 21 mutations, including L861Q. TKI improved survival in patients with exon 18 mutations, while chemotherapy was more beneficial for exon 20-mutated patients. CONCLUSION: EGFR mutation type can inform the most appropriate treatment. Therapeutic schedule had no impact on OS in our study, although TKI should be prescribed in first-line considering the risk of missing the opportunity to use this treatment.

Pazopanib or placebo in completely resected stage I NSCLC patients: results of the phase II IFCT-0703 trial.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant treatment in resected stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is generally not recommended. Pazopanib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGFR-1/2/3 and PDGFR-α/ß. We explored the feasibility and efficacy of adjuvant pazopanib in this population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this double-blind phase II/III trial, patients with resected stage I NSCLC were randomized to placebo or pazopanib 800 mg/day (P800) for 6 months with a two-step Fleming design. The primary endpoint was compliance (percentage of patients receiving ≥3 months pazopanib). From the interim analysis after 64 patients were included, the IDMC recommended reducing to pazopanib 400 mg/day (P400) due to insufficient compliance, with a one-step Fleming. Although unplanned, survival data were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients were enrolled in each arm; 61% were male, 91% were smokers, median age was 60 years, 80% had pathological stage IA, and 16% had squamous cell carcinoma. Pazopanib compliance was 38% [95% confidence interval (CI) 23-55] with P800, increasing to 69% (95% CI 50-84; P = 0.027) with P400. Two patients had grade 4 toxicities with P800. The most common grade 3 toxicities were increased transaminases (16%), hypertension (13%), and diarrhea (9%) with P800, and gastrointestinal disorders (16%; 6% diarrhea) and hypertension (6%) with P400. Median follow-up was 47 months. Three-year recurrence-free survival was 76% (95% CI 65%-86%) with pazopanib and 83% (95% CI 74%-92%) with placebo [hazard ratio = 1.3 (95% CI 0.6-2.7), P = 0.53]. Five-year overall survival was 83% (95% CI 72-94) with pazopanib and 94% [95% CI 88-100] with placebo [hazard ratio = 1.8 (95% CI 0.6-5.5), P = 0.26]. CONCLUSIONS: In resected stage I NSCLC patients adjuvant 400 mg/day pazopanib but not 800 mg/day was feasible, although possibly infra-therapeutic and failed to improve relapse-free survival.

Risk factors for early mortality from lung cancer: evolution over the last 20 years in the French nationwide KBP cohorts.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the most recent advances, including targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors, on early (3-month) mortality in lung cancer is unknown. The aims of this study were to evaluate the real-world rate of and risk factors for early mortality, as well as trends in early mortality over the last 20 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The KBP prospective observational multicenter studies have been conducted every 10 years since 2000. These studies collect data on all newly diagnosed patients with lung cancer (all stages and histologies) over 1 year in non-academic public hospital pulmonology or oncology units in France. In this study, we analyzed data on patient and tumor characteristics from participants in the KBP-2020 cohort and compared the characteristics of patients who died within 3 months of diagnosis with those of all other patients within the cohort. We also carried out a comparative analysis with the KBP-2000 and KBP-2010 cohorts. RESULTS: Overall, 8999 patients from 82 centers were included in the KBP-2020 cohort. Three-month survival data were available for 8827 patients, of whom 1792 (20.3%) had died. Risk factors for early mortality were: male sex, age >70 years, symptomatic disease at diagnosis, ever smoker, weight loss >10 kg, poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (≥1), large-cell carcinoma or not otherwise specified, and stage ≥IIIC disease. The overall 3-month mortality rate was found to have decreased significantly over the last 20 years, from 24.7% in KBP-2000 to 23.4% in KBP-2010 and 20.3% in KBP-2020 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Early mortality among patients with lung cancer has significantly decreased over the last 20 years which may reflect recent improvements in treatments. However, early mortality remained extremely high in 2020, particularly when viewed in light of improvements in longer-term survival. Delays in lung cancer diagnosis and management could contribute to this finding.

Clinical characteristic and survival outcomes of patients with advanced NSCLC according to KRAS mutational status in the French real-life ESME cohort.

PURPOSE: The RAS/MEK signaling pathway is essential in carcinogenesis and frequently altered in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), notably by KRAS mutations (KRASm) that affect 25%-30% of non-squamous NSCLC. This study aims to explore the impact of KRASm subtypes on disease phenotype and survival outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the French Epidemiological Strategy and Medical Economics database for advanced or metastatic lung cancer from 2011 to 2021. Patient demographics, histology, KRASm status, treatment strategies, and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Of 10 177 assessable patients for KRAS status, 17.6% had KRAS p.G12C mutation, 22.6% had KRAS non-p.G12C mutation, and 59.8% were KRASwt. KRASm patients were more often smokers (96.3%) compared with KRASwt (85.8%). A higher proportion of programmed death-ligand 1 ≥50% was found for KRASm patients: 43.5% versus 38.0% (P < 0.01). KRASm correlated with poorer outcomes. First-line median progression-free survival was shorter in the KRASm than the KRASwt cohort: 4.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.7-4.3 months] versus 5.1 months (95% CI 4.8-5.3 months), P < 0.001. First-line overall survival was shorter for KRASm than KRASwt patients: 12.6 months (95% CI 11.6-13.6 months) versus 15.4 months (95% CI 14.6-16.2 months), P = 0.012. First-line chemoimmunotherapy offered better overall survival in KRAS p.G12C (48.8 months) compared with KRAS non-p.G12C (24.0 months) and KRASwt (22.5 months) patients. Second-line overall survival with immunotherapy was superior in the KRAS p.G12C subgroup: 12.6 months (95% CI 8.1-18.6 months) compared with 9.4 months (95% CI 8.0-11.4 months) for KRAS non-p.G12C and 9.6 months (8.4-11.0 months) for KRASwt patients. CONCLUSION: We highlighted distinct clinical profiles and survival outcomes according to KRASm subtypes. Notably KRAS p.G12C mutations may provide increased sensitivity to immunotherapy, suggesting potential therapeutic implications for sequencing or combination of therapies. Further research on the impact of emerging KRAS specific inhibitors are warranted in real-world cohorts.

Reduced risk of secondary primary extra pulmonary cancer in advanced/metastatic lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer survivors are at high risk of developing a second primary cancer (SPC). We explored the Unicancer Epidemiology Strategy Medical-Economics for advanced or metastatic lung cancer (AMLC) database to assess the impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) on the risk of SPC in patients with advanced/metastatic lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study used data from patients with AMLC, with treatment initiated between January 1st 2015 and December 31st 2018. Patients with lung cancer as the second primary cancer were excluded and a 6-months landmark threshold was applied to exclude patients with synchronous SPC, patients dead without SPC or with a follow-up inferior to 6 months. A propensity score (PS) was calculated on the following baseline covariates: Age at locally advanced or metastatic diagnosis, sex, smoking status, metastatic status, performance status and histological type. The inverse probability of treatment weighting approach was used on the analyses aiming to assess the impact of ICI administered for AMLC, on the risk of occurrence of SPC. RESULTS: Among the 10 796 patients, 148 (1.4%) patients had a diagnosis of SPC in a median interval of 22 (min-max: 7-173) months. All the patients (100%) with locally advanced or metastatic LC received at least one systemic treatment including (chemotherapy regimen (n = 9 851, 91.2%); ICI (n = 4 648, 43.0%); targeted treatment (n = 3 500; 32.4%). 40 (0.9%) SPC were reported in the 4 648 patients with metastatic LC treated with ICI vs 108 (1.7%) out of the 6 148 who did not receive immunotherapy (p < 0.0001). The multivariate analysis identified that treatment with ICI in patients with AMLC is associated with a reduced risk of SPC (HR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.27-0.58). CONCLUSION: Treatment with ICI in AMLC patients was associated with a significantly reduced risk of SPC. Prospective studies are required to confirm these results.

[Management of immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer presenting durable oncological response]. / Prescription de l'immunothérapie chez les patients « long-répondeurs ¼.

INTRODUCTION: Concerns about the proper schedule for discontinuing immunotherapy have been raised by many clinicians, as well as the minimal check-up required to assess residual disease before stopping immunotherapy. In fact, there currently exist no recommendations concerning immunotherapy prescription and optimal assessment in the event of persistent oncological response in cases of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We conducted an online survey among board-certified French Thoracic Oncologists belonging to two professional associations. The survey included multiple-choice questions that either stood alone or were included in case reports. RESULTS: The survey was sent to 490 physicians, of whom 88 responded. For minimal residual disease assessment after 2 years of immunotherapy, PET-scan is prescribed by 92% of respondents and cerebral MRI by 59%. In the event of complete response after 2 years of treatment, 83% of physicians stop prescribing pembrolizumab and 70% discontinue nivolumab. In the event of partial response, 88% of respondents continue immunotherapy. In this case, only 33% use a complementary locoregional treatment such as radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Our survey highlights a pronounced tendency to stop immunotherapy in the event of complete oncological response. In the event of partial morphologic response, on the other hand, there is a tendency to continue immunotherapy. However, the use of locoregional treatments remains more heterogeneous.

[French practical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of IPF - 2021 update, full version]. / Recommandations pratiques pour le diagnostic et la prise en charge de la fibrose pulmonaire idiopathique ­ Actualisation 2021. Version intégrale.

BACKGROUND: Since the previous French guidelines were published in 2017, substantial additional knowledge about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has accumulated. METHODS: Under the auspices of the French-speaking Learned Society of Pulmonology and at the initiative of the coordinating reference center, practical guidelines for treatment of rare pulmonary diseases have been established. They were elaborated by groups of writers, reviewers and coordinators with the help of the OrphaLung network, as well as pulmonologists with varying practice modalities, radiologists, pathologists, a general practitioner, a head nurse, and a patients' association. The method was developed according to rules entitled "Good clinical practice" in the overall framework of the "Guidelines for clinical practice" of the official French health authority (HAS), taking into account the results of an online vote using a Likert scale. RESULTS: After analysis of the literature, 54 recommendations were formulated, improved, and validated by the working groups. The recommendations covered a wide-ranging aspects of the disease and its treatment: epidemiology, diagnostic modalities, quality criteria and interpretation of chest CT, indication and modalities of lung biopsy, etiologic workup, approach to familial disease entailing indications and modalities of genetic testing, evaluation of possible functional impairments and prognosis, indications for and use of antifibrotic therapy, lung transplantation, symptom management, comorbidities and complications, treatment of chronic respiratory failure, diagnosis and management of acute exacerbations of fibrosis. CONCLUSION: These evidence-based guidelines are aimed at guiding the diagnosis and the management in clinical practice of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

[French practical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of IPF - 2021 update, short version]. / Recommandations pratiques pour le diagnostic et la prise en charge de la fibrose pulmonaire idiopathique ­ Actualisation 2021. Version courte.

BACKGROUND: Since the previous French guidelines were published in 2017, substantial additional knowledge about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has accumulated. METHODS: Under the auspices of the French-speaking Learned Society of Pulmonology and at the initiative of the coordinating reference center, practical guidelines for treatment of rare pulmonary diseases have been established. They were elaborated by groups of writers, reviewers and coordinators with the help of the OrphaLung network, as well as pulmonologists with varying practice modalities, radiologists, pathologists, a general practitioner, a head nurse, and a patients' association. The method was developed according to rules entitled "Good clinical practice" in the overall framework of the "Guidelines for clinical practice" of the official French health authority (HAS), taking into account the results of an online vote using a Likert scale. RESULTS: After analysis of the literature, 54 recommendations were formulated, improved, and validated by the working groups. The recommendations covered a wide-ranging aspects of the disease and its treatment: epidemiology, diagnostic modalities, quality criteria and interpretation of chest CT, indication and modalities of lung biopsy, etiologic workup, approach to familial disease entailing indications and modalities of genetic testing, evaluation of possible functional impairments and prognosis, indications for and use of antifibrotic therapy, lung transplantation, symptom management, comorbidities and complications, treatment of chronic respiratory failure, diagnosis and management of acute exacerbations of fibrosis. CONCLUSION: These evidence-based guidelines are aimed at guiding the diagnosis and the management in clinical practice of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

[Guide for management of patients with possible respiratory sequelae after a SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Support proposals developed by the French-speaking Respiratory Medicine Society. Version of 10 November 2020]. / Guide de prise en charge des séquelles respiratoires post infection à SARS-CoV-2. Propositions de prise en charge élaborées par la Société de Pneumologie de Langue Française. Version du 10 novembre 2020.

The French-speaking Respiratory Medicine Society (SPLF) proposes a guide for the management of possible respiratory sequelae in patients who have presented with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (COVID-19). The proposals are based on known data from previous epidemics, preliminary published data on post COVID-19 follow-up and on expert opinion. The proposals were developed by a group of experts and then submitted, using the Delphi method, to a panel of 22 pulmonologists. Seventeen proposals were validated ranging from additional examinations after the minimum assessment proposed in the SPLF monitoring guide, to inhaled or systemic corticosteroid therapy and antifibrotic agents. These proposals may evolve over time as knowledge accumulates. This guide emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary discussion.

[Severe adult asthma and treatment adherence: Results of the FASE-CPHG study]. / Asthme sévère de l'adulte et observance : résultats de l'étude FASE-CPHG.

INTRODUCTION: Data on severe asthma in France are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate adherence to asthma treatments and its determinants in a population of severe asthmatics. METHODS: From May 2016 to June 2017, the French Collège des Pneumologues des Hôpitaux Généraux organized a large-scale prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study on this topic; 1502 patients with severe asthma were included. RESULTS: The average number of substantive treatments was 2.5±1.1. Assessed by self-questionnaire in 1289 patients, overall adherence was 64.8%, in good agreement with the findings of the pneumologist in charge (p<0.0001). Control of asthma according to the GINA criteria was more successful in compliant patients (p<0.01). In univariate analysis, the most compliant participants were frequent exacerbator patients (p=0.02), those with nasal polyposis (p=0.01) and those receiving an anticholinergic agent (p<0.01), anti-IgE biotherapy (p<0.0001) or oral corticosteroids (p<0.01). The least compliant participants were younger (p<0.0001), active smokers (p<0.001), with shorter average disease duration (24.2±15.7 vs 29.1±18.7 years, p<0.0001) and a lower number of substantive asthma treatments (2.2±1 vs 2.6±1, p<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, age, length of disease and anti-IgE treatment were the only factors affecting therapeutic compliance. CONCLUSION: In this large-scale study of severe asthmatic patients, 64.8% were compliant according to the MMAS-4© self-administered questionnaire and appeared to be better monitored according to the criteria defined in our study. Overall, adherence was more satisfactory among older patients and those whose disease had been evolving over a long period of time or were receiving anti-IgE biotherapy.

Real world data of efficacy and safety of erlotinib as first-line TKI treatment in EGFR mutation-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer: Results from the EGFR-2013-CPHG study.

BACKGROUND: Phase III clinical trials have demonstrated the merits of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR-activating mutations. Using a cohort of unselected patients treated with erlotinib, we sought to further describe patient and tumour characteristics, and to evaluate their progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). METHODS: Overall, 44 pulmonologists included patients with the required characteristics as follows: Stage IIIB-IV NSCLC, EGFR-activating mutation, age≥18 years, and having to start erlotinib therapy or receiving erlotinib therapy as the first-line TKI, regardless of treatment-line. The analyses were performed using R software, with survival rates calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A total of 177 patients, aged 72 years on average, were enrolled over a 2-year period. The cohort included 123 women (69.5%), 158 Caucasians (89.3%), 112 non-smokers (63.2%), and 167 adenocarcinomas (94.3%), at either stage IIIB (21) or IV (156), with a good performance status (PS 0-1, 127). Overall, 40 exhibited brain metastases at baseline (22.6%), while 75 had undergone earlier treatment (42.4%). Median PFS was 11.7 months and OS 25.8 months, with respectively a 1-year rate of 48.6% and 74%. The risk of death correlated with ECOG status (PS=2, HR=4.48, P<0.001) but not with brain metastasis (HR=1.67, P=0.278). CONCLUSIONS: This study has confirmed erlotinib's efficacy and safety for unselected patients, with PFS and OS comparable to those obtained in phase III trials.

Management of lung cancer patients' quality of life in clinical practice: a Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has seen exponential growth in oncology clinical trials. However, the measurement of HRQoL has yet to be optimised in routine clinical practice. This study aimed at exploring the operationalisation of HRQoL in clinical practice with the goal of reaching a consensus from a panel of physicians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Physicians involved in the management of lung cancer patients in France were recruited to participate in a Delphi study. The study involved three rounds of iterated queries to gain consensus on management aspects of HRQoL, including timing of discussion on HRQoL, which specific domains of HRQoL should be discussed, and what was the most appropriate method of assessment. The threshold adopted for consensus was at least 70% agreement among physicians. A scientific committee reviewed results following each round of the Delphi study. RESULTS: A representative panel of 60 physicians participated in this study. Consensus was obtained for HRQoL management at all time points in the patient care pathway. Panellists agreed that HRQoL discussions should occur during routine visits and hospitalisation. The involvement of patients' relatives was also recognised as important, except when discussing side-effects and involvement of a multidisciplinary team. There was a lack of consensus on a systematic assessment for all patients at each visit and no consensus on how HRQoL should be measured in clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL discussions are considered an integral part in the management of lung cancer patients, and are deemed key to success in patient-physician interaction. Further research is required to harmonise how best to implement HRQoL assessment.

PTEN, ATM, IDH1 mutations and MAPK pathway activation as modulators of PFS and OS in patients treated by first line EGFR TKI, an ancillary study of the French Cooperative Thoracic Intergroup (IFCT) Biomarkers France project.

OBJECTIVES: Tumor mutation screening is standard of care for patients with stage IV NSCLC. Since a couple of years, widespread NGS approaches used in routine diagnostics to detect driver mutations such as EGFR, KRAS, BRAF or MET allows the identification of other alterations that could modulated the intensity or duration of response to targeted therapies. The prevalence of co-occurring alterations that could affect response or prognosis as not been largely analyzed in clinical settings and large cohorts of patients. Thanks to the IFCT program "Biomarkers France", a collection of samples and data at a nation-wide level was available to test the impact of co-mutations on first line EGFR TKI in patients with EGFR mutated cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Targeted NGS was assessed on available (n = 208) samples using the Ion AmpliSeq™ Cancer Hotspot Panel v2 to screen for mutations in 50 different cancer genes. RESULTS: This study showed that PTEN inactivating mutations, ATM alterations, IDH1 mutations and complex EGFR mutations were predictors of short PFS in patients with a stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma receiving first line EGFR TKI and that PTEN, ATM, IDH1 and KRAS mutations as well as alterations in the MAPK pathway were related to shorter OS. CONCLUSION: These findings may lead to new treatment options in patients with unfavorable genotypes to optimize first line responses.

[Cerebral air embolism: A rare complication of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy]. / Embolie gazeuse cérébrale : une complication rare de la fibroscopie bronchique souple.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral air embolism is a rare complication of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. It is a serious, life-threatening complication. The treatment consists of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. CASE REPORT: We report the case of cerebral air embolism that occurred in an 80-year-old woman after a flexible bronchial fibroscopy with bronchial spur biopsies. The patient showed neurological signs after the procedure. The brain CT-scan found disseminated air emboli. The progress was fatal in the absence of specific treatment, taking account of the context, the patient's comorbidities and the wishes of the family. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral air embolism is a serious complication that can occur during a bronchial biopsy even though this complication is rare.

Five-year survival and prognostic factors according to histology in 6101 non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate five-year survival in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients according to histology and to identify independent prognostic factors by histology. METHODS: Data were obtained during the KBP-2010-CPHG study, which included all new cases of primary lung cancer diagnosed in 2010 in 104 non-academic hospitals. RESULTS: In all, 3199 patients had adenocarcinoma (ADC), 1852 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 754 large cell carcinoma (LCC). Five-year survival was 13.3% [12.1%-14.5%] for ADC, 14.3% [12.7%-16.0%] for SCC, 9.6% [7.6%-11.9%] for LCC (P<0.001). Performance status, weight loss prior to diagnosis and tumour stage were consistently significant independent prognostic factors. Age (>70 years; P=0.004), male gender (P<0.001), and smoking (P<0.001) were independent negative prognostic factors for ADC. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-mutation tests, performed in 1638 ADC patients, were positive for 186. Five-year survival was 14.7% [10.3%-21%] and 10.9% [9.4%-12.6%] for mutated and wild-type EGFR, respectively (P<0.001). EFGR mutation was an independent positive prognostic factor (HR=0.5 [0.4-0.6], P<0.001); however, the proportional hazards assumption was not fulfilled and hazards were inverted after 35 months. CONCLUSIONS: Five-year survival in patients managed in French non-academic hospitals for primary NSCLC in 2010 remained poor (<15%), whatever the histologic type. The independent negative prognostic factors for five-year survival were: weight, particularly weight loss prior to diagnosis; smoking (active or former) at diagnosis in ADC and LCC and smoking level at diagnosis in smoker patients with SCC. The independent positive prognostic factors were young age and female gender for ADC.

[Physical activity in severe asthma: Results of the FASE-CPHG Study]. / Activité physique et asthme sévère : résultats de l'étude FASE-CPHG.

INTRODUCTION: Data on physical activity in severe asthma are scarce. From May 2016 to June 2017, 1502 adult patients with severe asthma visiting a pulmonologist practicing in one of the 104 non-academic hospitals participating in the study were included in this prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study, provided they gave consent. Physical activity was classified according to 4 levels: 1 (no activity), 2 (occasional), 3 (regular), or 4 (frequent). Clinical and therapeutic parameters were described according to these levels. RESULTS: Respectively, 440, 528, 323, and 99 patients had physical activity of level 1, 2, 3, and 4. The percentage of patients with controlled asthma increased with physical activity. Treatment adherence did not differ with physical activity. Percentages of obese patients, patients with FEV1 <60%, and patients with anxiety, depressive syndrome, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, arterial hypertension, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome, and osteoporosis decreased with physical activity. Respiratory rehabilitation was offered to only 5% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this large study, physical activity is associated with disease control in severe asthma and with less comorbidity. Its practice should be encouraged and respiratory rehabilitation offered more often.

[Guide for follow-up of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Management proposals developed by the French-language Respiratory Medicine Society. Version of 10 May 2020]. / Guide pour le suivi respiratoire des patients ayant présenté une pneumonie à SARS-CoV-2. Propositions de prise en charge élaborées par la Société de pneumologie de langue française. Version du 10 mai 2020.

The French-language Respiratory Medicine Society (SPLF) proposes a guide for the follow-up of patients who have presented with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. The proposals are based on known data from previous epidemics, on acute lesions observed in SARS-CoV-2 patients and on expert opinion. This guide proposes a follow-up based on three categories of patients: (1) patients managed outside hospital for possible or proven SARS-CoV-2 infection, referred by their physician for persistent dyspnoea; (2) patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in a medical unit; (3) patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in an intensive care unit. The subsequent follow-up will have to be adapted to the initial assessment. This guide emphasises the possibility of others causes of dyspnoea (cardiac, thromboembolic, hyperventilation syndrome…). These proposals may evolve over time as more knowledge becomes available.

Metastatic NSCLC: Clinical, molecular, and therapeutic factors associated with long-term survival.

BACKGROUND: Patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who survive more than 2 years are considered long-term survivors (LTSs). The present study examined factors associated with long-term survival and collected information for future comparison. METHODS: Clinical, molecular, and therapeutic data were collected from patients followed for primary stage IV (7th TNM classification) NSCLC within 2 years from diagnosis in the respiratory medicine departments of 53 French non-teaching hospitals. LTS and non-LTS records were compared. Factors associated with long-term survival were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Vital status at least 2 years after diagnosis was known for 1977 stage IV NSCLC patients; 220 (11.1%) were LTSs. On multivariate analysis, independent positive factors comprised: TTF-1(+) immunochemistry, EGFR-mutation, surgery, rescue radiotherapy, and targeted therapy. Independent negative factors comprised: prediagnosis weight loss>5kg, ECOG performance status>1, and primary radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular biology and targeted therapy were decisive for long-term survival. With their development and their widespread implementation in clinical practice, the percentage of LTSs is expected to grow. Factors determining long-term survival found in this study should be taken into account when considering treatment options for patients with stage IV NSCLC.

[Second- or third-line treatment with erlotinib in EGFR wild-type non-small cell lung cancer: Real-life data]. / Erlotinib en 2e ou 3e ligne pour les cancers bronchiques non à petites cellules sans mutation de l'EGFR : données en vie réelle.

INTRODUCTION: The benefit of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for patients with an EGFR wild-type non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. METHODS: The survival of patients with an EGFR wild-type NSCLC who received second- or third-line erlotinib treatment was assessed using real-life data that had been collected in a prospective, national, multicenter, non-interventional cohort study. RESULTS: Data from 274 patients were analysed, 185 (68%) treated with erlotinib and 89 (32%) treated with supportive care only. The median overall survival was 4.2months (95% CI [3.5; 5.4]) with erlotinib, and 1.3months (95% CI [1.0; 1.8]) with supportive care. Survival rate at 3, 6, and 12months was 62%, 37%, and 17%, respectively, with erlotinib, versus 20%, 8%, et 3%, with exclusive supportive care. Significant predictive factors for longer overall survival were the presence of adenocarcinoma, and use of 1st line chemotherapy including either taxanes, pemetrexed or vinorelbine (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Erlotinib remains a valuable therapeutic option to treat inoperable locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen in fragile patients who are not eligible for chemotherapy.