Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis in ROS1-rearranged lung cancer: a report of two cases.

Background: Lung cancer is one of the tumor types with highest incidence of thromboembolic events (TE), especially adenocarcinoma subtype. ROS1 rearrangements confer higher risk of TE. Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a rare event, frequently diagnosed on autopsy. Clinical suspicion is key to reach the diagnosis and start early treatment of the underlying cause and anticoagulation in order to improve patients' outcomes. Case Description: Here we present two cases of NBTE in patients with ROS1-rearranged lung cancer with different clinical debuts. A 42-year-old woman presented initial tetraplegia and impaired level of consciousness, and the other patient, a 54-year-old man, was diagnosed of stroke with sensitive loss of left body. Both were diagnosed of NBTE, confirmed by the finding of cardiac vegetation on echocardiogram and no microorganisms found on blood cultures. Both responded well to targeted therapy with lorlatinib and crizotinib and anticoagulation with heparin. Conclusions: NBTE is an infrequent disease which can cause severe neurological symptoms that impair quality of life, performance status and survival. Early clinical suspicion in patients with higher risk of TEs such as patients with rearrangements of ROS1 gene is of essence. Adequate management of underlying disease and anticoagulation may impact in the recovery of symptoms.

The S-REAL study: Spanish real-world data on unresectable stage III NSCLC patients treated with durvalumab after chemoradiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: The S-REAL study aimed to assess the effectiveness of durvalumab as consolidation therapy after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in a real-world cohort of patients with locally advanced, unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) included in a Spanish early access program (EAP). METHODS: In this multicentre, observational, retrospective study we analysed data from patients treated in 39 Spanish hospitals, who started intravenous durvalumab (10 mg/kg every 2 weeks) between September 2017 and December 2018. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included patient characterization and adverse events of special interest (AESI). RESULTS: A total of 244 patients were followed up for a median of 21.9 months [range 1.2-34.7]. Median duration of durvalumab was 45.5 weeks (11.4 months) [0-145]. Median PFS was 16.7 months (95% CI 12.2-25). No remarkable differences in PFS were observed between patients with programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression ≥ 1% or < 1% (16.7 versus 15.6 months, respectively). However, PFS was higher in patients who had received prior concurrent CRT (cCRT) versus sequential CRT (sCRT) (20.6 versus 9.4 months). AESIs leading to durvalumab discontinuation were registered in 11.1% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results are in line with prior published evidence and confirm the benefits of durvalumab in the treatment of LA-NSCLC patients in a real-world setting. We also observed a lower incidence of important treatment-associated toxicities, such as pneumonitis, compared with the pivotal phase III PACIFIC clinical study.

Plasmatic KRAS Kinetics for the Prediction of Treatment Response and Progression in Patients With KRAS-mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma / Estudio de la cinética del KRAS plasmático para predecir la respuesta al tratamiento y la progresión en pacientes con adenocarcinoma de pulmón con mutación de KRAS

Introduction: KRAS is the most common driver mutation in lung cancer. ctDNA-based assessment offers advantages over tumor as a minimally invasive method able to capture tumor heterogeneity. Monitoring KRAS mutational load in ctDNA may be useful in the management of the patients.Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with KRAS mutant lung adenocarcinoma in the tumor biopsy were included in this study. Plasma samples were obtained at different time points during the course of the disease. KRAS mutations in plasma were quantified using digital PCR and correlated with mutations in tumor and with radiological response and progression.Results: Two hundred and forty-five plasma samples from 56 patients were analyzed. The rate of detection of KRAS mutations in plasma in our previously characterized KRAS-mutant cases was 82% overall, reaching 96% in cases with more than 1 metastatic location. The dynamics of KRAS mutational load predicted response in 93% and progression in 63% of cases, 33 and 50 days respectively in advance of radiological evaluation. Progression-free survival for patients in whom ctDNA was not detectable in plasma after treatment initiation was significantly longer than for those in whom ctDNA remained detectable (7.7 versus 3.2 months; HR: 0.44, p=0.004).Conclusions: The detection of KRAS mutations in ctDNA showed a good correlation with that in tumor biopsy and, in most cases, predicted tumor response and progression to chemotherapy in advance of radiographic evaluation. The liquid biopsies for ctDNA-based molecular analyses are a reliable tool for KRAS testing in clinical practice. (AU)

Introducción: La mutación en KRAS es la mutación iniciadora más común en el cáncer de pulmón. La valoración basada en el ctDNA ofrece ventajas frente a la tumoral, al ser un método mínimamente invasivo capaz de capturar la heterogeneidad del tumor. La monitorización de la carga de KRAS mutado en el ctDNA puede ser útil en el manejo de los pacientes.Métodos: En este estudio se incluyó, mediante selección consecutiva, a pacientes diagnosticados con adenocarcinoma de pulmón con mutación en KRAS en la biopsia tumoral. Se obtuvieron muestras de plasma en diferentes momentos durante el curso de la enfermedad. Las mutaciones de KRAS en plasma se cuantificaron mediante PCR digital y se correlacionaron con las mutaciones en el tumor y con la respuesta radiológica y la progresión.Resultados: Se analizaron 245 muestras de plasma de 56 pacientes. La tasa de detección de mutaciones KRAS en plasma en aquellos casos previamente definidos con dicha mutación fue del 82% globalmente, porcentaje que alcanzó el 96% en aquellos casos con más de una ubicación metastásica. La dinámica de la carga de KRAS mutado predijo la respuesta en el 93% de los casos y la progresión en el 63%, a los 33 y 50 días, respectivamente, anteriores a la evaluación radiológica. La supervivencia libre de progresión para pacientes en los que el ctDNA no era detectable en plasma después del inicio del tratamiento fue significativamente más larga que para aquellos en los que el ctDNA permaneció detectable (7,7 frente a 3,2 meses; HR: 0,44; p = 0,004).Conclusiones: La detección de mutaciones KRAS en el ctDNA mostró una buena correlación con la de la biopsia tumoral y, en la mayoría de los casos, predijo la respuesta tumoral a la quimioterapia y la progresión antes de la evaluación radiológica. Las biopsias líquidas para análisis moleculares basados en ctDNA son una herramienta fiable para la valoración de KRAS en la práctica clínica. (AU)

Open-label phase II clinical trial of ketoconazole as CYP17 inhibitor in metastatic or advanced non-resectable granulosa cell ovarian tumors: the GREKO (GRanulosa Et KetOconazole) trial, GETHI 2011-03

Background Granulosa cell ovarian tumor (GCT) is characterized by a pathognomonic mutation in the FOXL2 gene (402 C > G) that leads to an overactivation of steroidogenesis. CYP17 is a key enzyme in such process and can be inhibited by ketoconazole. Methods We designed a phase II clinical trial to assess the efficacy of ketoconazole in advanced GCT and conducted several in vitro studies to support the clinical findings. Results From October 1st 2012 to January 31st 2014, six evaluable patients were recruited in ten hospitals of the Spanish Group for Transversal Oncology and Research in Orphan and Infrequent Tumors” (GETTHI). FOXL2 (402C > G) mutation was confirmed in three; two cases were wild type and it could not be assessed in one. No objective response by RECIST was observed, but five cases achieved stable disease longer than 12 months. Median progression-free survival was 14.06 months (CI 95% 5.43–22.69) for the whole study population (3.38 and 13.47 months for wild-type cases and 14.06, 20.67 and 26.51 for those with confirmed FOXL2 mutation). Median overall survival was 22·99 months (CI 95% 8.99–36.99). In vitro assays confirmed the activity of ketoconazole in this tumor and suggested potential synergisms with other hormone therapies. Conclusion Ketoconazole has shown activity in advanced GCT in clinical and in vitro studies. Based on these data, an orphan designation was granted by the European Medicines Agency for ketoconazole in GCT (EU/3/17/1857) (AU)

Impacto del 18F-FDG PET/TC en el abordaje terapéutico del cáncer de pulmón no microcítico / Impact of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the Treatment of Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Introducción: El estadio de la enfermedad es el factor pronóstico más importante en el cáncer de pulmón, y una estadificación óptima es importante para determinar la mejor opción terapéutica. La FDG-PET/TC ha resultado útil en el estadio inicial del cáncer de pulmón no microcítico (CPNM) pero los datos existentes continúan siendo insuficientes para definir su papel en otros estadios. Hipótesis: La información aportada por la FDG-PET/TC tiene repercusiones en el enfoque terapéutico adoptado ante los pacientes con CPNM. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión retrospectiva de los pacientes a los que se practicó una FDG-PET/TC en el proceso diagnóstico del CPNM entre enero de 2008 y diciembre de 2010. Se obtuvieron datos relativos al estadio clínico antes y después de la FDG-PET/TC así como información sobre el cambio de la decisión terapéutica como consecuencia de la información aportada por la FDG-PET/TC. Utilizando como patrón de referencia el examen anatomopatológico, se calcularon los valores de sensibilidad, especificidad y valor predictivo positivo y negativo de la TC y la FDG-PET/TC. Resultados: De los 522 pacientes con un diagnóstico de CPNM, en 246 (47,1%) se realizó una FDG-PET/TC. En 85 casos (34,6%) la FDG-PET/TC comportó una migración del estadio. El abordaje terapéutico se modificó en 60 pacientes (24,4% del total de las FDG-PET/TC realizadas), y ello permitió evitar una toracotomía fútil en 13 casos (5,2%), e hizo posible un tratamiento con intención curativa en 26 (10,5%). De los 90 pacientes (36,5%) clasificados en el estadio III mediante la estadificación de TC, la FDG-PET/TC modificó el abordaje terapéutico en 36 (40%). En los 133 casos (54%) con una evaluación anatomopatológica de los ganglios linfáticos mediastínicos, la sensibilidad, la especificidad, el valor predictivo positivo y el valor predictivo negativo fueron de 0,57; 0,64; 0,48 y 0,72 con la TC; y de 0,68; 0,86; 0,75 y 0,81 con la FDG-PET/TC. Discusión: Nuestros datos respaldan los de trabajos previos que indican que la FDG-PET/TC es esencial en el proceso de estadificación, no solo en los pacientes con un CPNM potencialmente operable, sino también en los pacientes en estadio III , tal como ponen de manifiesto nuestros datos

Introduction: Disease stage is the most important prognostic factor in lung cancer, and optimal staging is important to determine the best therapeutic option. FDG-PET/CT has demonstrated its value in early stagen on-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but there is still insufficient data to define its role in other stages. Hypothesis: Information provided by FDG-PET/CT has an impact on the therapeutic management of patients with NSCLC. Methods: A retrospective review was made of patients who underwent FDG-PET/CT between January 2008 and December 2010 for the diagnosis of NSCLC. Clinical stage before and after FDG-PET/CT and information about any change in therapeutic decision due to information provided by FDG-PET/CT were collected. Using pathologic evaluation as the gold standard, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for CT and FDG-PET/CT were calculated. Results: Of the 522 patients diagnosed of NSCLC, FDG-PET/CT was performed in 246 (47.1%). In 85 cases (34.6%) FDG-PET/CT led to stage migration. Treatment was modified in 60 patients (24.4% of all FDG-PET/CT performed), avoiding a futile thoracotomy in 13 cases (5.2%), and allowing treatment with curative intent in 26 (10.5%). Out of 90 patients (36.5%) evaluated as stage III by CT staging, FDG-PET/CT modified the therapeutic approach in 36 (40%). For the 133 cases (54%) with pathological assessment of the mediastinal lymph nodes, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 0.57, 0.64, 0.48 and 0.72 for CT, and 0.68, 0.86, 0.75 and 0.81 for FDG-PET/CT. Discussion: Our data support previous reports that FDG-PET/CT is essential in the staging process not only for patients with potentially operable NSCLC but also for stage III patients, as demonstrated by our data

Toxicidad asociada a la inhibición de EGFR: Revisión y aspectos clave del manejo de afatinib / Toxicity associated with EGRF inhibition: review and key aspects in the management of afatinib

Afatinib es un inhibidor irreversible de la tirosincinasa de la familia ErbB, aprobado para el tratamiento de pacientes con cáncer de pulmón no microcítico y mutaciones sensibilizadoras del gen EGFR. Como otros inhibidores de EGFR, afatinib puede provocar efectos adversos de clase como la diarrea, el exantema, la paroniquia o la mucositis. El manejo adecuado de estos efectos adversos es clave para mantener la calidad de vida de los pacientes y obtener el máximo beneficio del tratamiento con afatinib. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar la toxicidad y resumir las recomendaciones de prevención y tratamiento de los efectos adversos más significativos de afatinib (AU)

Afatinib is an irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the ErbB family, approved for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR-sensitizing mutations. Like other EGFR inhibitors, afatinib can provoke adverse events such as diarrhoea, rash, paronychia or mucositis. The correct management of these adverse events is essential to maintain quality of life in these patients and obtain the maximum benefit from afatinib therapy. This study aimed to review the toxicity of the drug and summarize recommendations for the prevention and treatment of the most significant adverse events associated with afatinib (AU)

Mutaciones de sensibilidad y resistencia del gen epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) en el cáncer de pulmón de célula no pequeña: una realidad clínica / Activating and Resistance Mutations Of The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Gene and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Clinical Reality

En el cáncer de pulmón de célula no pequeña, las mutaciones del gen de EGFR identifican una subpoblación de pacientes con unas características clínicas y de respuesta al tratamiento diferente de aquellos que no presentan dichas mutaciones. Existen tanto mutaciones que derivan en un aumento de sensibilidad al tratamiento dirigido contra estas alteraciones génicas, como mutaciones que confieren resistencia a los mismos tratamientos. La determinación de las mutaciones de EGFR implica cambios en la actitud terapéutica de los pacientes con cáncer de pulmón en la práctica clínica habitual. En este artículo presentamos un caso de una paciente afecta de un adenocarcinoma pulmonar metastático con una mutación activadora al diagnóstico, inicialmente respondedora a tratamiento con erlotinib, que posteriormente desarrolla una resistencia secundaria mediante la adquisición de la mutación T790M en el exón 20 del gen EGFR(AU)

In non-small cell lung cancer, the EGFR gene mutations identify a patient sub-population with different clinical characteristics and treatment responses to those that do not have these mutations. There are mutations that derive in increased sensitive to EGFR targeted therapy, as well as mutations that result in resistance. The determination of EGFR mutations involves a change in the therapeutic approach to lung cancer patients in current clinical practice. In this article we present a case of a patient suffering from a metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with an activating mutation on diagnosis, initially responding to treatment with erlotinib, who subsequently developed a secondary resistance due to acquiring the T790M mutation in exon 20 of the EGFR gene(AU)