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2.
Thorac Cancer ; 14(36): 3556-3560, 2023 Dec.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37926435

Lung spindle cell carcinoma is an aggressive subtype of pleomorphic lung cancer resistant to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors have been reported to have clinical effects in patients with spindle cell carcinoma; however, the resistance mechanism to PD-1 inhibitors is yet to be fully elucidated. Herein, we report the case of an 88-year-old man with G-CSF-producing spindle cell carcinoma who acquired resistance to PD-1/PD-ligand 1 (L1) inhibitor in an early setting after a remarkable response. A histopathological review of the resistant specimen revealed a low count of CD8+ T cells and a predominant presence of M2 and TIM-3+ macrophages, indicating the presence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Our findings suggest a novel resistance mechanism to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in G-CSF-producing spindle cell carcinoma.


Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung , Carcinoma , Lung Neoplasms , Male , Humans , Aged, 80 and over , Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor/therapeutic use , Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2/therapeutic use , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/metabolism , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Lung/pathology , B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism , Tumor Microenvironment
3.
Sci Rep ; 13(1): 20848, 2023 11 27.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38012343

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) provides molecular information on tumor heterogeneity. The prognostic usefulness of ctDNA after first-line epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are limited. Therefore, the present study evaluated ctDNA during osimertinib administration as a second-line or more setting to identify the relationship between EGFR mutation levels and outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Forty patients with EGFR T790M-positive NSCLC receiving osimertinib after prior EGFR-TKI treatment were registered. Plasma samples were collected at osimertinib pretreatment, after 1 month of treatment, and at the time of progressive disease (PD). ctDNA analysis was performed by digital polymerase chain reaction. The detection rate of copy numbers of exon 19 deletion, L858R, and T790M in plasma samples was significantly lower 1 month after osimertinib than at pretreatment, and significantly higher at PD than at 1 month, whereas that of C797S was significantly higher at PD than at 1 month. No statistically significant difference was observed in the copy numbers of exon 19 deletion, L858R, T790M, and C797S between complete response or partial response and stable disease or PD. The detection of T790M at PD after osimertinib initiation was a significant independent prognostic factor for predicting shorter prognosis, and the presence of major EGFR mutations at pretreatment and PD was closely linked to worse survival after osimertinib initiation. Molecular testing based on ctDNA is helpful for predicting outcomes of osimertinib treatment in T790M-positive NSCLC after previous EGFR-TKI treatment.


Antineoplastic Agents , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung , Circulating Tumor DNA , Lung Neoplasms , Humans , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Circulating Tumor DNA/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , ErbB Receptors , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Mutation , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Aniline Compounds/therapeutic use
4.
Thorac Cancer ; 14(28): 2890-2894, 2023 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37675546

INTRODUCTION: Combined treatment using anti-programmed death-ligand 1 antibody (anti-PD-L1) and platinum-etoposide is the current standard first-line treatment for patients with extensive-stage (ES) small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, the best treatment for relapsed ES-SCLC after the first-line treatment remains unclear. There are some approved chemotherapeutic agents that can be used against ES-SCLC, and treatment with irinotecan is well established as both a monotherapy and a combined therapy, in combination with platinum. Therefore, we conduct a phase II study with irinotecan in the second- or later-line setting for patients with ES-SCLC who have been previously treated with combined treatment. METHODS: Our study will enroll total 30 patients who are diagnosed with ES-SCLC and have experienced disease progression after the combined treatment. Patients will receive irinotecan on days 1, 8, and 15, which will be repeated every 4 weeks. Doses of irinotecan (100/80/60 mg/m2 ) will be determined according to the type of UGT1A1 gene polymorphism, and the treatment will be discontinued following disease progression, intolerance, withdrawal of patient consent, and based on the investigator's decision. The primary endpoint of the study is the response rate, and the secondary endpoints are overall survival, progression-free survival, and safety. DISCUSSION: Since the present first-line treatment has been changed to the combined treatment, the second- or later-line treatment should be re-evaluated for patients with relapsed SCLC. Irinotecan is a major chemotherapeutic agent used for SCLC. This study demonstrates and re-evaluates the clinical benefits of irinotecan after combined treatment with anti-PD-L1 and platinum-etoposide for patients with ES-SCLC. REGISTRATION DETAILS: This study was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (no. jRCT s071210090) on November 4, 2021.


Lung Neoplasms , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma , Humans , Irinotecan/pharmacology , Irinotecan/therapeutic use , Etoposide , Platinum/therapeutic use , Cisplatin/therapeutic use , Camptothecin/therapeutic use , Camptothecin/adverse effects , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/etiology , Immunotherapy , Disease Progression , Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
5.
Transl Lung Cancer Res ; 12(4): 707-718, 2023 Apr 28.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37197618

Background: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are prone to developing in East Asian populations. However, little is known about the genomic profile of TETs in East Asian populations, and the genomic aberrations in TETs have not yet been fully clarified. Thus, molecular targeted therapies for patients with TETs have not been established. This prospective study was conducted to explore the genetic abnormalities of surgically resected TETs in a Japanese cohort and to identify clues for carcinogenesis and potential therapeutic targets in TETs. Methods: Genetic profiles of TETs were investigated using fresh-frozen specimens resected from operable cases with TETs. DNA sequencing was performed using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) gene panel test with Ion Reporter™ and CLC Genomics Workbench 11.0. The mutation sites were further confirmed by Sanger sequencing, digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), and TA cloning for validation. Results: Among 43 patients diagnosed with anterior mediastinal tumors between January 2013 and March 2019, NGS and validation analyses were performed in 31 patients [29 thymomas and two thymic cancers (TCs)] who met the study criteria. Of these, 12 cases of thymoma types A, AB, B1, and B2 harbored the general transcription factor 2-I (GTF2I) mutation (L424H). Conversely, the mutation was not detected in type B3 thymoma or TC, suggesting that the GTF2I mutation existed in indolent types of TETs. Rat sarcoma viral oncogene (RAS) mutations were detected in three cases [Harvey RAS (HRAS) in two cases of type AB thymoma and neuroblastoma RAS (NRAS)] in one case of type B1 thymoma), and additional sex combs like 1 (ASXL1) mutation was present in one case of TC. All RAS mutations were observed in GTF2I-mutated cases. Conclusions: The GTF2I mutation (L424H) is the most frequently occurring mutation in the limited histology of thymoma, consistent with those in the non-Asian population. HRAS and NRAS mutations co-occurred in cases harboring the GTF2I mutation. These findings suggest that the existence of the GTF2I mutation might be related to indolent types of TETs, and RAS mutations could be candidates as therapeutic targets in TETs.

6.
Thorac Cancer ; 14(14): 1320-1324, 2023 05.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36967655

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is a paraneoplastic syndrome, the exact pathogenesis of which remains to be elucidated. The case of a 69-year-old man who developed intractably painful HOA secondary to lung cancer is presented. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the chest showed an 80-mm solid nodule with a large low-density area. The patient was diagnosed as having stage IIIA undifferentiated non-small cell lung cancer. The combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel with bevacizumab reduced tumor size and plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, relieving his leg pain. On immunohistochemical examination, lung cancer cells were positive for VEGF. A hypoxic tumor microenvironment may have caused some lung cancer cells to express hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, which contributed, at least in part, to the production of VEGF. The deep dermis vessels showed proliferation in the shin, with their thickened walls positive for VEGF. These findings may encourage investigators to explore novel management strategies for painful HOA.


Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung , Lung Neoplasms , Aged , Humans , Male , Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit , Lung Neoplasms/complications , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/metabolism , Tumor Microenvironment , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
7.
Thorac Cancer ; 13(19): 2812-2816, 2022 Oct.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35974707

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMCS) is an undifferentiated mesenchymal malignancy; however, its immune microenvironment remains to be elucidated. The case of a 34-year-old woman who developed EMCS metastasizing to the pleura is presented here. The pleural EMCS showed hypervascularity, absent PD-L1 expression, and a lack of tumor mutational burden and pathogenic variants. Immunohistological examination of the pleural lesions showed predominant M2 macrophages and sparse CD8+ T cells. EMCS and the tumor stroma were positive for transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In contrast, a small number of the stromal vessels were positive for hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). TGF-ß1 and VEGF in the tumor stroma and low antigenicity of the tumor cells may help explain how EMCS induced the immunosuppressive microenvironment. These findings may encourage investigators to explore novel combined immunotherapy for EMCS, such as TGF-ß1 and VEGF inhibitors, and specific therapy for enhancing tumor antigens.


Chondrosarcoma , Transforming Growth Factor beta1 , Adult , Antigens, Neoplasm , B7-H1 Antigen , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Chondrosarcoma/genetics , Female , Humans , Neoplasms, Connective and Soft Tissue , Pleura , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/genetics , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/pharmacology , Tumor Microenvironment , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
8.
Thorac Cancer ; 13(16): 2404-2409, 2022 08.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35808894

BACKGROUND: Etoposide plus cisplatin (EP) combined with concurrent accelerated hyperfractionated thoracic radiotherapy (AHTRT) is the standard treatment strategy for unresectable limited-disease (LD) small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which has remained unchanged for over two decades. Based on a previous study that confirmed the non-inferiority of amrubicin (AMR) plus cisplatin (AP) when compared with EP for extensive-disease (ED) SCLC, we have previously conducted a phase I study assessing AP with concurrent TRT (2 Gy/time, once daily, 50 Gy in total) for LD-SCLC therapy. Our findings revealed that AP with concurrent TRT could prolong overall survival to 39.5 months with manageable toxicities. Therefore, we plan to conduct a phase I study to investigate and determine the effect of AP combined with AHTRT, recommended dose (RD), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of AP in patients with LD-SCLC. METHODS: Treatment-naive patients with LD-SCLC, age between 20 and 75 years, who had a performance status of 0 or 1 and adequate organ functions will be enrolled. For chemotherapy, cisplatin 60 mg/m2 /day (day 1) and AMR (day 1 to 3) will be administered with AHTRT (1.5 Gy/time, twice daily, 45 Gy in total). The initial AMR dose is set to 25 mg/m2 /day. RD and MTD will be determined by evaluating toxicities. DISCUSSION: Based on our previous study, the initial dose of AMR 25 mg/m2 is expected to be tolerated and acceptable. Here, we aim to determine whether treatment with AP and concurrent AHTRT would be an optimal choice with manageable toxicities for LD-SCLC.


Chemoradiotherapy , Lung Neoplasms , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma , Adult , Aged , Anthracyclines , Chemoradiotherapy/adverse effects , Cisplatin/therapeutic use , Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic , Etoposide , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Middle Aged , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/therapy , Young Adult
9.
Thorac Cancer ; 13(1): 133-136, 2022 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34821472

How Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) occasionally occurs following chronic inflammation remains to be elucidated. The case of a 57-year-old man who developed pulmonary EBV-positive DLBCL from underlying silicosis lesions is presented. Immunohistochemical examination of the resected silicosis lesions showed predominant helper T cells and M1/M2 macrophages, with a lack of B cells, regulatory T cells, and resident memory T cells. Two years later, EBV-positive DLBCL emerged unexpectedly from the silicosis. The imbalance of the immune cells in the microenvironment, at least in part, may help explain how chronic inflammation contributes to EBV-positive DLBCL.


Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/virology , Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/virology , Occupational Diseases/complications , Silicosis/complications , Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/immunology , Fatal Outcome , Herpesvirus 4, Human , Humans , Inhalation Exposure , Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Occupational Diseases/immunology , Occupational Diseases/virology , Silicosis/immunology , Silicosis/virology , Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
10.
J Clin Med ; 10(18)2021 Sep 17.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34575334

BACKGROUND: Single-agent amrubicin chemotherapy is a key regimen, especially for small cell lung cancer (SCLC); however, it can cause severe myelosuppression. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the real-world incidence of febrile neutropenia (FN) among patients treated with single-agent amrubicin chemotherapy for thoracic malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of consecutive patients with thoracic malignancies, including SCLC and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), who were treated with single-agent amrubicin chemotherapy in cycle 1 between January 2010 and March 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-six patients from four institutions were enrolled. Their characteristics were as follows: median age (range): 68 (32-86); male/female: 126/30; performance status (0/1/2): 9/108/39; SCLC/NSCLC/others: 111/30/15; and prior treatment (0/1/2/3-): 1/96/31/28. One hundred and thirty-four (86%) and 97 (62%) patients experienced grade 3/4 and grade 4 neutropenia, respectively. One hundred and twelve patients (72%) required therapeutic G-CSF treatment, and 47 (30%) developed FN. Prophylactic PEG-G-CSF was not used in cycle 1 in any case. The median overall survival of the patients with FN was significantly shorter than that of the patients without FN (7.2 vs. 10.0 months, p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The real-world incidence rate of FN among patients with thoracic malignancies that were treated with single-agent amrubicin chemotherapy was 30%. It is suggested that prophylactic G-CSF should be administered during the practical use of single-agent amrubicin chemotherapy for patients who have already received chemotherapy.

11.
Thorac Cancer ; 11(7): 1972-1978, 2020 07.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32462731

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of amrubicin for previously treated malignant pleural mesothelioma. METHODS: The eligibility criteria were: previously treated unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma; performance status 0-1; age ≤ 75; adequate hematological, hepatic, and renal function. The patients were injected with 35 mg/m2 amrubicin on days one, two, and three every 3-4 weeks. The planned number of patients was 32. RESULTS: The study was terminated due to delay in enrollment and 10 patients were subsequently enrolled (nine males and one female; median age 67 [range 49-73]), of which four had epithelioid tumors, three had sarcomatoid tumors and three had biphasic tumors, respectively. According to the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (IMIG), one, four, and four patients had stage II, III, and IV, respectively, and one had postoperative recurrence. There was one (10%) partial response, four (40%) had stable disease, and five (50%) patients exhibited disease progression. The overall response and disease control rates were 10% (95% CI: 0.3-44.5%) and 60% (95% CI: 26.2-87.8%), respectively. The median progression-free survival time was 1.6 months. The median overall survival time was 6.6 months, and the one-, two-, and three-year survival rates were 23%, 23%, and 0%, respectively. The observed grade 3 or 4 toxicities included neutropenia in six (60%) patients; leukopenia in five (50%) patients; and febrile neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and pneumonia in one (10%) patient each. CONCLUSIONS: There was not enough data to evaluate the efficacy because the study was terminated early. However, amrubicin showed limited activity and acceptable toxicities when used in previously treated malignant pleural mesothelioma patients.


Anthracyclines/therapeutic use , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Mesothelioma, Malignant/drug therapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy , Pleural Neoplasms/drug therapy , Salvage Therapy , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Mesothelioma, Malignant/pathology , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology , Pleural Neoplasms/pathology , Prognosis , Survival Rate
12.
J Clin Med ; 9(4)2020 Apr 07.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32272762

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pre-existing interstitial lung disease (ILD) in lung cancer patients is considered a risk factor for anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia; however, a method for evaluating ILD, including mild cases, has not yet been established. We aimed to elucidate whether the quantitative high-resolution computed tomography fibrosis score (HFS) is correlated with the risk of anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia in lung cancer patients, even in those with mild pre-existing ILD. METHODS: The retrospective single-institute study cohort comprised 214 lung cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy between April 2013 and March 2016. The HFS quantitatively evaluated the grade of pre-existing ILD. We extracted data regarding age, sex, smoking history, and coexisting factors that could affect the incidence of anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the effects of the HFS and other factors on the risk of anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia. RESULTS: Pre-existing ILD was detected in 61 (29%) of 214 patients, while honeycombing and traction bronchiectasis were observed in only 15 (7.0%) and 10 (4.7%) patients, respectively. Anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia developed in 19 (8.9%) patients. The risk of anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia increased in proportion to the HFS (hazard ratio, 1.16 per point; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.22; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The quantitative HFS was correlated with the risk of developing anti-cancer drug-induced pneumonia in lung cancer patients, even in the absence of honeycombing or traction bronchiectasis. The quantitative HFS may lead to better management of lung cancer patients with pre-existing ILD.

13.
Thorac Cancer ; 11(2): 470-474, 2020 02.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31908161

The association between gut microbiota and the lung immune system has been attracting increasing interest. Here, we report a case of pancreatic cancer in which the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor vildagliptin induced unusual manifestations of interstitial pneumonia, possibly under the influence of Lactobacillus paraplantarum probiotic supplementation. Chest computed tomography and positron emission tomography showed multiple ground-glass nodules (GGNs) mimicking metastatic lung cancer. Transbronchial biopsy specimens showed mild fibrosis and infiltration of lymphocytes consisting of more CD4+ than CD8+ cells. The CD4+ cells did not include FOXP3+ regulatory T cells. Bronchoalveolar lavage confirmed lymphocytosis with a markedly increased CD4+ /CD8+ ratio of 7.4. The nodules disappeared shortly after vildagliptin and probiotics were withheld. If unusual interstitial pneumonia is observed in some cancer patients, physicians should pay careful attention to their medication history, including probiotic supplements.


Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors/adverse effects , Lactobacillus/chemistry , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Probiotics/adverse effects , Solitary Pulmonary Nodule/diagnosis , Vildagliptin/adverse effects , Aged , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/etiology , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Prognosis , Solitary Pulmonary Nodule/etiology
14.
Thorac Cancer ; 11(2): 389-393, 2020 02.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31851428

INTRODUCTION: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy has been shown to be effective in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE); however, there are no data to suggest that ramucirumab has the same effects. METHODS: We therefore decided to conduct a phase II study of ramucirumab plus docetaxel for NSCLC patients with MPE. The MPE control rate at eight weeks after the start of treatment will be the primary endpoint, and the objective response rate, progression-free survival, one-year survival rate, overall survival, and toxicity profile will be secondary endpoints. DISCUSSION: A previous study indicated that administering chemotherapy in combination with bevacizumab was effective at controlling pleural effusion in patients with NSCLC with carcinomatous pleurisy. It is expected that ramucirumab will have a similar effect to the same group.


Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Pleural Effusion, Malignant/drug therapy , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/administration & dosage , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic , Docetaxel/administration & dosage , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Multicenter Studies as Topic , Pleural Effusion, Malignant/pathology , Prognosis , Salvage Therapy , Survival Rate , Ramucirumab
15.
Intern Med ; 59(8): 1081-1086, 2020 Apr 15.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31875636

Secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (sPAP) is a complication of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). A 60-year-old woman was diagnosed with MDS with excess blasts-1. Fifty-four months after the initial diagnosis, treatment with azacitidine was initiated. Seventy-three months after the diagnosis, a bone marrow examination revealed increased myeloblasts, at which time computed tomography showed diffuse ground-glass opacities and interlobular septal thickening in the bilateral lower lung fields. A lung biopsy revealed the presence of PAP; therefore, the clinical diagnosis of MDS/sPAP was confirmed. Careful attention should be paid to the development of sPAP in MDS patients with pulmonary lesions during azacitidine treatment.


Azacitidine/therapeutic use , Myelodysplastic Syndromes/complications , Myelodysplastic Syndromes/drug therapy , Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis/etiology , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
16.
Thorac Cancer ; 10(10): 2026-2030, 2019 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31379060

Immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a monoclonal plasma cell neoplasm that has a tendency to bleed easily. However, the potential risks of transbronchial biopsy in such cases have not been fully proven. Here, we report a case of parotid and intrathoracic AL amyloid tumors that presented as endobronchial protrusions that bled easily. Bronchoscopy under conventional white light and narrow band imaging revealed yellowish multinodular protrusions, in which irregular tortuous or dotted vessels were observed. Unexpectedly, biopsy of the lesion resulted in persistent bleeding. The biopsy specimen showed a large amount of amyloid deposition and calcification directly under the bronchial epithelium, as well as amyloid deposits in the blood vessel walls. In patients suspected to have amyloidosis, the presence of yellowish multinodular endobronchial protrusions, particularly with irregular vascularity, should prompt careful attention to avoid fatal postprocedural bleeding.


Bronchial Diseases/diagnosis , Hemorrhage/diagnosis , Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis/diagnosis , Neovascularization, Pathologic/diagnosis , Biopsy , Bronchoscopes , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Male , Middle Aged , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
17.
Thorac Cancer ; 10(9): 1764-1769, 2019 09.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31309738

BACKGROUND: The first-line treatment for squamous cell lung cancer (SCC) has not necessarily been established; however, our previous exploratory study suggested that the combination of nedaplatin and amrubicin would be a promising treatment approach for patients with SCC. Therefore, a phase II study of this chemotherapeutic combination was designed to evaluate its efficacy and safety for treatment-naïve patients with advanced SCC. METHODS: A total of 21 treatment-naïve patients with stage IIIB/IV or postoperative recurrent SCC were enrolled from six institutions. Nedaplatin (100 mg/m2 ) on day 1 and amrubicin (25 mg/m2 ) on days 1-3 were administered intravenously every 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR), while the secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and drug toxicities. RESULTS: Partial response was observed in seven of 21 cases (ORR, 33.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 14.5-52.2). Disease control rate, which includes stable disease, was 71.4%. Median OS and PFS was 14.6 and 4.1 months, respectively. This regimen did not cause any treatment-related deaths. Grade 3/4 neutropenia developed in 8 of 21 cases (38.1%); however, febrile neutropenia developed in only 9.5% of the cases. Grade 3/4 gastrointestinal or neuromuscular toxicities were not observed. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of the combination of nedaplatin and amrubicin was comparable to that of other conventional chemotherapeutic regimens for treatment-naïve patients with advanced SCC, and no severe gastrointestinal or neuromuscular toxicities were observed. This combination therapy may be an alternative treatment approach, particularly in patients who cannot tolerate gastrointestinal or neuromuscular toxicities.


Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy , Aged , Anthracyclines/administration & dosage , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology , Organoplatinum Compounds/administration & dosage , Prognosis , Survival Rate
18.
Thorac Cancer ; 10(2): 341-346, 2019 02.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30582295

Several recent studies have shown that salvage chemotherapy following PD-1 blockade produces high antitumor activity in some patients with non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the underlying synergistic mechanisms remain uncertain. The blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) can reflect the number of circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells and tumor-associated neutrophils. The immunosuppressive status of the tumor microenvironment could be monitored by the time-series patterns of NLR and ANC. The dynamics of NLR and ANC during nivolumab treatment were retrospectively explored in 15 patients: 8 patients receiving subsequent salvage chemotherapy (2 groups: 3 non-responders and 5 responders), and 7 responders to nivolumab alone (2 groups: 4 partial response and 3 complete response). The dynamics of NLR and ANC during nivolumab differed among these four groups (NLR P = 0.045, ANC P = 0.067). NLR and ANC during nivolumab treatment increased over time in non-responders to salvage chemotherapy, with an inverse relationship between drug response and NLR or ANC at four to six weeks among the four groups. We hypothesize that the early dynamics of NLR and ANC during nivolumab may be associated with the late efficacy of subsequent salvage chemotherapy. Further studies involving a large cohort are needed to confirm these findings, which could provide insight into the role of myeloid immunosuppressor cells in combination PD-1 blockade and chemotherapy.


Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Lymphocytes/pathology , Neutrophils/pathology , Salvage Therapy , Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Aged , Albumins/administration & dosage , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/administration & dosage , Carboplatin/administration & dosage , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Case-Control Studies , Docetaxel/administration & dosage , Drug Combinations , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Nivolumab/administration & dosage , Oxonic Acid/administration & dosage , Paclitaxel/administration & dosage , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Survival Rate , Tegafur/administration & dosage , Ramucirumab
19.
Thorac Cancer ; 9(10): 1305-1311, 2018 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30126069

BACKGROUND: The combination of PD-1 inhibitors and cytotoxic drugs is reported to enhance anti-tumor activity in non-small cell lung cancer; however, the underlying synergistic mechanisms remain uncertain. This retrospective case series was designed to investigate objective response and survival rates of salvage chemotherapy following nivolumab and explore the immunohistochemical profiles of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. METHODS: The medical records of 37 patients administered nivolumab were retrospectively reviewed. Overall response rate and progression-free survival were compared among three groups: salvage chemotherapy following nivolumab, nivolumab therapy alone, and chemotherapy preceding nivolumab. RESULTS: Eight cases met the study criteria. Salvage chemotherapy following nivolumab improved the overall response rate to 62.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 34.4-90.6%; P = 0.004) and median progression-free survival to six months (95% CI 4.6-7.4; P = 0.016), compared to nivolumab alone and preceding chemotherapy. The response to salvage chemotherapy was not associated with tumor PD-L1 expression. A partial response was achieved in four cases with ≤ 5% and ≤ 2.9 cells/mm2 of PD-1+ immune cells, whereas stable disease and progressive disease were observed in three cases with ≥ 30% and ≥ 12.7 cells/mm2 . Responders had fewer PD-1+ immune cells than non-responders (percentage P = 0.028; density P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Salvage chemotherapy following nivolumab improved anti-tumor activity regardless of tumor PD-L1 status, but nivolumab following chemotherapy did not. The presence of few PD-1+ tumor-infiltrating immune cells may serve as a potential predictor of response to salvage chemotherapy. Further studies involving a large cohort are needed to clarify how nivolumab re-sensitizes the tumor immune microenvironment to chemotherapy.


Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Nivolumab/therapeutic use , Aged , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Nivolumab/pharmacology , Retrospective Studies , Salvage Therapy , Tumor Microenvironment
20.
Intern Med ; 57(23): 3485-3490, 2018 Dec 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30101932

Scedosporium apiospermum is an opportunistic fungus that can cause various types of infections, including localized infections and life-threatening disseminated infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Treatment is especially challenging due to its multidrug resistance. We herein report the case of a 73-year-old woman who was non-immunocompromised but developed S. apiospermum lung infection and a pulmonary tumorlet. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the coexistence of pulmonary S. apiospermum infection and tumorlet. The lung lesion was successfully treated by surgical excision without any antifungal agents, and no recurrence of the tumorlet or S. apiospermum infection has occurred.


Lung Diseases, Fungal/complications , Lung Diseases, Fungal/microbiology , Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/complications , Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/microbiology , Scedosporium/isolation & purification , Aged , Female , Humans , Immunocompetence , Lung Diseases, Fungal/surgery , Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/surgery
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