Effect of cannabis and tobacco on emphysema in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax.

PURPOSE: To compare imaging findings on thoracic computed tomography (CT) examination in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (SP), depending on their tobacco and/or cannabis consumption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 83 patients who had thoracic CT for primary SP were prospectively included. There were 65 men and 18 women with a median age of 33 years (IQR: 27; 44 years). The patients were further categorized into three groups according to their smoking habits. Thirteen patients were non-smokers, 38 were tobacco only smokers and 32 were tobacco and cannabis smokers. CT examinations were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of blebs, centrilobular and paraseptal emphysema and lung nodules in each group for comparison. RESULTS: Emphysema was detected in 43/85 patients (51.8%), including 1/13 patients (7.7%) in the non-smoking group, 19/38 patients (50%) in the tobacco only group and 23/32 patients (71.9%) in the tobacco and cannabis smokers, with no difference between tobacco only and tobacco and cannabis smokers. No differences in type and location of emphysema was found between tobacco only and tobacco and cannabis smokers. Tobacco and cannabis smokers with emphysema were significantly younger than tobacco only smokers with emphysema (35 vs. 46 years, respectively) (P=0.009). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of emphysema visible on CT is not different between tobacco and tobacco/cannabis smokers, however, it occurs at a younger age in tobacco and cannabis smokers. This result suggests that cannabis, when added to tobacco, may lead to emphysema at a younger age.

Clinical benefit, price and approval characteristics of FDA-approved new drugs for treating advanced solid cancer, 2000-2015.

Background: Prices of anti-cancer drugs are skyrocking. We aimed to assess the clinical benefit of new drugs for treating advanced solid tumors at the time of their approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to search for a relation between price and clinical benefit of drugs. Materials and methods: We included all new molecular entities and new biologics for treating advanced solid cancer that were approved by the FDA between 2000 and 2015. The clinical benefit of drugs was graded based on FDA medical review of pivotal clinical trials using the 2016-updated of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Value Framework (ASCO-VF) and the European Society for Medical Oncology Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (ESMO-MCBS). Characteristics of drugs and approvals were obtained from publicly available FDA documents and price was evaluated according to US Medicare, US Veterans Health Administration and United Kingdom market systems. Results: The FDA approved 51 new drugs for advanced solid cancer from 2000 to 2015; we could evaluate the value of 37 drugs (73%). By the ESMO-MCBS, five drugs (14%) were grade one (the lowest), nine (24%) grade two, 10 (27%) grade three, 11 (30%) grade four and two (5%) grade five (the highest). Thus, 13 drugs (35%) showed a meaningful clinical benefit (scale levels 4 and 5). By the ASCO-VF which had a range of 3.4-67, the median drug value was 37 (interquartile range 20-52). We found no relationship between clinical benefit and drug price (P = 0.9). No characteristic of drugs and of approval was significantly associated with clinical benefit. Conclusion: Many recently FDA-approved new cancer drugs did not have high clinical benefit as measured by current scales. We found no relation between the price of drugs and benefit to society and patients.

[Chemotherapy at the end of life for patients with lung cancer. A practice analysis]. / Chimiothérapie et fin de vie dans les cancers broncho-pulmonaires : analyse des pratiques.

RATIONALE: Few studies have analyzed the aggressiveness of the care (continuation of active treatments) at the end of life in patients with lung cancer. The objective of this study was to assess practices in this setting in a university department of respiratory medicine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study has consecutively included all patients who were managed for lung cancer and died over a period of 18 months. The analysis focused on the characteristics of the patients, the modalities of cancer treatment and the delays between the last active treatment and death. RESULTS: The overall median survival of the 94 patients included was 9.6 months; 92% of patients having received at least one active treatment. During the 4 and 2 weeks periods preceding death, respectively 55% and 22% of the patients received active treatments. The median time between the last day of active treatment and death was 27 days. CONCLUSION: These results, in concordance with the published data, showed that end of life active treatment in patients with lung cancer is a complex problem. We need prospective multicentric studies, with testing tools allowing better sharing of the decisions on active treatment between the medical team, the patient and his family.

[Adjuvant chemotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer: Tolerance of combined cisplatin-pemetrexed therapy]. / Traitement adjuvant des cancers bronchiques non à petite cellules : tolérance de l'association platine-pemetrexed.

RATIONALE: Adjuvant chemotherapy is standard for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after surgical resection. In this context, the tolerance of the treatment is an essential criterion in the choice of chemotherapy. This exploratory study evaluated, in the situation of adjuvant chemotherapy, the tolerance of combined cisplatin-pemetrexed. The study analyzed a cohort of non-squamous NSCLC patients treated in an adjuvant setting by combined cisplatin (75 mg/m(2)) and pemetrexed (500 mg/m(2)), under vitamin B12 and folic acid cover, 4 cycles at 21-day intervals. RESULTS: The analysis included 23 patients (age: 58.7 ± 5 years, men: 56%, average creatinin clearance (Clea): 94 ± 22 mL/min, average haemoglobin: 13.8 ± 1.6g/dL). Over 92 planned courses, 7.6% are postponed (neutropenia), 4.3% were not given (asthenia). We noted 7 episodes of vomiting (4 grade 3), with two hospitalizations in the same patient; 5 episodes of anaemia grade 1-2 not requiring EPO prescription or transfusion and no febrile neutropenia. At the end of the treatment, three patients had a Clea<50 mL/mn and 5 a haemoglobin between 9 and 11 g/dL. CONCLUSION: Combined cisplatin-pemetrexed in an adjuvant situation has a satisfactory tolerance.

[Management of malignant pericardial effusion in lung cancer]. / Prise en charge des péricardites secondaires à un cancer broncho-pulmonaire.

Acute pericarditis associated with lung cancer is a relatively frequent complication but is usually not symptomatic unless it causes tamponade. The clinical presentation is classically with dyspnea, thoracic pain, signs of right cardiac failure then left cardiac failure and syncope but it is often a difficult diagnosis in a patient with multi-symptomatic disease. The diagnosis is based on cardiac echography. Toxicity due to radiotherapy or more rarely an infectious etiology must be considered. Clinically significant effusions must be drained because of the high rate of recurrence after a simple aspiration. Drainage is formally indicated when, at echocardiography, the effusion exceeds 20mm in diastole, in cases of tamponade or in cases of compromised hemodynamic status. The formation of a pericardial window at thoracotomy prevents recurrences. Based on old, retrospective, very heterogeneous case series the prognosis, is generally considered to be poor with a median survival which does not exceed 100 days and a one year survival generally lower than 10%. Prognosis is better where diagnosis occurs at an earlier stage allowing regular follow-up and surgical intervention in a non-emergency setting.

2014 update on non-small cell lung cancer (excluding diagnosis).

Lung cancer (LC) is a major public health issue because of its frequency, but especially because of the severity of this disease. The epidemiology has changed with an increased incidence in non-smokers and women. The ATS/ERS/IASLC classification of adenocarcinomas was modified in 2011, and they are now the most frequent histological subtype. More than half the cases of LC are diagnosed at the metastatic stage. Biopsies must provide tissue samples that are quantitatively large enough and of a good enough quality for diagnosis and to search for biomarkers. When the cancer seems to be localized, precise staging must be obtained. Treatment is based on the TNM classification. In localized stages, lobectomy associated with lymph node dissection is the standard therapy. Intraoperative chemotherapy improves survival in case of lymph node infiltration. Stereotactic radiation therapy and radiofrequency can be considered as specific cases. In cases with local progression, treatment is more controversial. In the presence of metastases, the goal is not a cure, but improving survival and quality of life. Numerous advances have been made with personalized treatment, (in particular in relation to the histological type and oncogenic addiction in tumors, access to new drugs, and improved management). Clinical research in thoracic cancer is very active. The fight against tobacco should remain a priority.