Large-vessel vasculitis possibly induced by BRAF and MEK inhibitors for BRAF V600E positive lung adenocarcinoma.

The combination therapy of v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors is approved for treating patients with BRAF V600E-positive tumours, including melanoma and lung cancer. Several case reports indicated autoimmune side effects associated with the use of BRAF and MEK inhibitors. Still, the effects of these drugs on the immune system were not fully elucidated. Here, we report a patient with large-vessel vasculitis diagnosed after initiation of treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib for BRAF V600E-positive metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. She was a never-smoker woman in her early 70s who presented with a chronic cough and was diagnosed with BRAF V600E-positive metastatic lung adenocarcinoma by transbronchial lung biopsy. She was successfully treated with prednisolone and methotrexate while BRAF and MEK inhibitors were continued. We should be careful about autoimmune diseases using BRAF and MEK inhibitors.

Improved diagnostic accuracy with three lung tumor markers compared to six-marker panel.

Background: Combining multiple tumor markers increases sensitivity for lung cancer diagnosis in the cost of false positive. However, some would like to check as many as tumor markers in the fear of missing cancer. We though to propose a panel of fewer tumor markers for lung cancer diagnosis. Methods: Patients with suspected lung cancer who simultaneously underwent all six tests [carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin-19 fragment (CYFRA), squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen (SCC), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP), and sialyl Lewis-X antigen (SLX)] were included. Tumor markers with significant impact on the lung cancer in a logistic regression model were included in our panel. Area under the curve (AUC) was compared between our panel and the panel of all six. Results: We included 1,733 [median 72 years, 1,128 men, 605 women, 779 (45%) confirmed lung cancer]. Logistic regression analysis suggested CEA, CYFRA, and NSE were independently associated with the lung cancer diagnosis. The panel of these three tumor markers [AUC =0.656, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.630-0.682, sensitivity 0.650, specificity 0.662] had better (P<0.001) diagnostic performance than six tumor markers (AUC =0.575, 95% CI: 0.548-0.602, sensitivity 0.829, specificity 0.321). Conclusions: Compared to applying all six markers (at least one marker above the upper limit of normal), the panel with three markers (at least one marker above the upper limit of normal) led to a better predictive value by lowering the risk of false positives.

Real-World Data on Subsequent Therapy for First-Line Osimertinib-Induced Pneumonitis: Safety of EGFR-TKI Rechallenge (Osi-risk Study TORG-TG2101).

BACKGROUND: Although osimertinib is a promising therapeutic agent for advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive lung cancer, the incidence of pneumonitis is particularly high among Japanese patients receiving the drug. Furthermore, the safety and efficacy of subsequent anticancer treatments, including EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) rechallenge, which are to be administered after pneumonitis recovery, remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the safety of EGFR-TKI rechallenge in patients who experienced first-line osimertinib-induced pneumonitis, with a primary focus on recurrent pneumonitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients with EGFR mutation-positive lung cancer who developed initial pneumonitis following first-line osimertinib treatment across 34 institutions in Japan between August 2018 and September 2020. RESULTS: Among the 124 patients included, 68 (54.8%) patients underwent EGFR-TKI rechallenge. The recurrence rate of pneumonitis following EGFR-TKI rechallenge was 27% (95% confidence interval [CI] 17-39) at 12 months. The cumulative incidence of recurrent pneumonitis was significantly higher in the osimertinib group than in the first- and second-generation EGFR-TKI (conventional EGFR-TKI) groups (hazard ratio [HR] 3.1; 95% CI 1.3-7.5; p = 0.013). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between EGFR-TKI type (osimertinib or conventional EGFR-TKI) and pneumonitis recurrence, regardless of severity or status of initial pneumonitis (HR 3.29; 95% CI 1.12-9.68; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Osimertinib rechallenge after initial pneumonitis was associated with significantly higher recurrence rates than conventional EGFR-TKI rechallenge.

Atezolizumab addition to platinum doublet: evaluating survival outcomes for patients with extensive disease small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of adding atezolizumab to the platinum doublet regimen for extensive disease small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) remains marginally limited. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed the real-world efficacy and safety of atezolizumab in addition to carboplatin and etoposide (EP + A), versus carboplatin and etoposide (EP) alone in previously untreated ED-SCLC patients. RESULTS: From a total of 99 patients, 46 were assigned to the EP + A group, and 53 to the EP group. No significant difference was observed in progression-free survival between the groups. However, the overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in the EP + A group (20.8 vs 12.1 months; HR: 0.52; p = 0.0127). Patients older than 70 years, male, with performance status 0-1, without liver metastasis, and low levels of C-reactive protein and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, experienced longer OS in the EP + A group compared to the EP group. CONCLUSION: The addition of atezolizumab to the platinum doublet regimen significantly extended OS in ED-SCLC patients, particularly among certain subgroups, suggesting its potential value in personalized treatment strategies. Further investigation is warranted to validate these findings.

Predictors of lung injury during durvalumab maintenance therapy following concurrent chemoradiotherapy in unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Based on the results of the PACIFIC trial, maintenance with durvalumab has emerged as the standard treatment following concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). However, adverse events attributed to durvalumab, especially lung injuries, including immune-related adverse events, and radiation pneumonitis, are concerning. This study retrospectively investigated the factors related to lung injury in patients receiving the PACIFIC regimen. METHODS: Patients with unresectable locally advanced NSCLC who received durvalumab maintenance therapy following concurrent chemoradiotherapy at Yokohama City University Medical Centre between July 2018 and March 2022 were included. Clinical data, volume of normal lung receiving 20 or 5 Gy or more (V20 or V5), planning target volume (PTV), and relative lung parenchyma volume in emphysematous lung receiving 20 or 5 Gy or more (RLPV20 or 5; V20 or V5/100-percentage of low-attenuation volume) were evaluated. RESULTS: Performance status (PS), V20, V5, PTV, RLPV20, and RLPV5 were significantly higher in the lung injury group in the univariate analysis. Furthermore, RLPV20 was the most significant factor in the lung injury group in the multivariate analysis comprising PS, PTV, V20, and RLPV20. CONCLUSION: RLPV20 and RLPV5 are useful in estimating lung inflammation. RLPV20 could be considered the most reliable risk factor for maintenance therapy with durvalumab following concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced NSCLC.

Thymic atypical carcinoid tumors with elevated mitotic counts in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia: A case report.

Thymic neuroendocrine tumors associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia are only defined as carcinoid and are not associated with large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). We report the case of a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 patient with atypical carcinoid tumors with elevated mitotic counts (AC-h), an intermediate condition between carcinoid and LCNEC. A 27-year-old man underwent surgery for an anterior mediastinal mass and was diagnosed with thymic LCNEC. Fifteen years later, a mass appeared at the same site, which was determined to be a postoperative recurrence based on the pathological results of a needle biopsy and the clinical course. The patient's disease remained stable for 10 months on anti-programmed death-ligand 1 antibody and platinum-containing chemotherapy. The needle biopsy specimen was submitted for next-generation sequencing, which revealed a MEN1 gene mutation, and after further examination, a diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 was made. A re-examination of the surgical specimen from 15 years prior showed that it corresponded to AC-h. Although thymic AC-h is classified as thymic LCNEC according to the current definition, our data suggests that a search for multiple endocrine neoplasia is warranted in such patients.

Regional differences in epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy in lung cancer treatment using a national database in Japan.

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are extensively used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); hence, equal access to them is important. Therefore, this study aimed to identify regional differences in the prescription of EGFR-TKIs and the factors contributing to these differences. In this ecological study, we collected data using the National Database Open Data and the National Cancer Registry. The standardized claim ratio (SCR) was used as an indicator of the number of EGFR-TKI prescriptions. Additionally, we examined the association between SCR and various factors to identify the factors associated with this difference. The average SCR for the top three provinces was 153.4, while the average for the bottom three provinces was 61.6. Multivariate analysis used for evaluating the association of SCR with variables revealed that the number of designated cancer hospitals and radiation therapies were independent factors associated with the SCR of EGFR-TKIs. There were significant regional differences in the prescriptions of EGFR-TKIs in Japan based on the number of coordinated designated cancer hospitals and the number of patients receiving radiotherapy alone. These findings emphasize the need to implement policies to increase the number of hospitals to reduce regional differences.

Primary tracheal small-cell carcinoma detected 11 months after surgery for pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report.

Primary tracheal small-cell carcinoma is rare, and is often treated using small-cell lung cancer guidelines given that no standard treatment has been established for it. We report a patient in whom nodules appeared in the trachea and left main bronchus 11 months after surgery for pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma; a biopsy revealed small-cell carcinoma. Given the absence of malignant lesions elsewhere in the body, the lesions were diagnosed as primary tracheal small-cell carcinoma. Respiratory failure progressed rapidly owing to airway stenosis caused by the growing lesion, and the patient required nasal high-flow therapy. However, the lesions shrank a few days after commencing first-line chemotherapy, and his respiratory failure resolved. Accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy was administered in conjunction with the third course of chemotherapy, and the patient ultimately achieved a complete response. Although the lesions were initially suspected of being postoperative recurrence of pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, the fact that the biopsy revealed them to be primary tracheal small-cell carcinoma indicates that intra-airway nodules that appear after lung cancer surgery may possibly be primary tracheal tumors.

Liquid biopsy for detecting epidermal growth factor receptor mutation among patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with afatinib: a multicenter prospective study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of liquid biopsy in detecting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations at diagnosis, disease progression, and intermediate stages. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter, observational study included 30 patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with afatinib, harboring a major EGFR mutation confirmed by tumor tissue biopsy. We collected blood samples for liquid biopsy at diagnosis, intermediate stage, and progressive disease. Tissue and liquid biopsies were examined using Cobas ® EGFR Mutation Test v2. RESULTS: Liquid biopsy detected EGFR mutations in 63.6% of the patients at diagnosis. The presence of metastasis in the extrathoracic, brain, and adrenal glands correlated positively with the detection of EGFR mutations. Patients with positive EGFR mutations at diagnosis had significantly shorter overall and progression-free survival than patients with negative EGFR mutations. Four of the 18 patients (22.2%) who reached progressive disease had positive EGFR T790M mutations. Three of 10 patients (30.0%) with progressive disease were positive and negative for T790M using tumor re-biopsy and liquid biopsy, respectively. The results of EGFR mutation by tissue re-biopsy were the same as those of liquid biopsy in the three patients who were positive for significant EGFR mutations but negative for the T790M mutation using liquid biopsy at progressing disease. Only two patients were positive for major EGFR mutations at intermediate levels. CONCLUSIONS: Liquid biopsy can be a prognostic factor in EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatments at diagnosis. Tumor re-biopsy can be omitted in patients with positive EGFR mutations by liquid biopsy at PD.

Persistence of Robust Humoral Immune Response in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Convalescent Individuals Over 12 Months After Infection.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection elicits varying degrees of protective immunity conferred by neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). In this study, we report the persistence of nAb responses over 12 months after infection despite their decreasing trend noticed from 6 months. METHODS: The study included sera from 497 individuals who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 between January and August 2020. Samples were collected at 6 and 12 months after onset. The titers of immunoglobulin (Ig)G to the viral nucleocapsid protein (NP) and receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein were measured by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay. The nAb titer was determined using lentivirus-based pseudovirus or authentic virus. RESULTS: Antibody titers of NP-IgG, RBD-IgG, and nAbs were higher in severe and moderate cases than in mild cases at 12 months after onset. Although the nAb levels were likely to confer adequate protection against wild-type viral infection, the neutralization activity to recently circulating variants in some of the mild cases (~30%) was undermined, implying the susceptibility to reinfection with the variants of concerns (VOCs). CONCLUSIONS: Coronavirus disease 2019 convalescent individuals have robust humoral immunity even at 12 months after infection albeit that the medical history and background of patients could affect the function and dynamics of antibody response to the VOCs.

Pembrolizumab monotherapy versus pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: A multicenter retrospective trial.

BACKGROUND: Pembrolizumab alone or in combination with chemotherapy is a standard treatment for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. However, no study has compared the efficacies of these two regimens. Therefore, we aimed to compare the efficacy of pembrolizumab alone and in combination with chemotherapy in NSCLC patients with high PD-L1 expression. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective trial involving patients with diagnosed unresectable or recurrent NSCLCs who had received pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy in the first-line setting. Patients were divided into monotherapy and combination therapy groups. The progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and response rate (RR) were analyzed and compared between the groups. Clinical characteristics of patients were analyzed to assess their possible relationship with treatment outcomes. RESULTS: We enrolled 96 patients from five hospitals. Of these, 47 and 49 patients received monotherapy and combination therapy, respectively. The median PFS was 343 and 328 days in the monotherapy and combination therapy groups, respectively (hazard ratio 1.003, p = 0.99). No statistically significant differences were observed in the OS and RR between the two groups. However, in patients with metastases to the liver, lung, adrenal glands, bone, or lymph nodes, the PFS was longer in the monotherapy group than in the combination therapy group. CONCLUSION: Although the PFS, OS, and RR were not significantly different between patients treated with pembrolizumab alone and or with pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy, patients with NSCLC having metastases to specific sites may benefit more from monotherapy.

Identification of serum prognostic biomarkers of severe COVID-19 using a quantitative proteomic approach.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented threat to humanity that has provoked global health concerns. Since the etiopathogenesis of this illness is not fully characterized, the prognostic factors enabling treatment decisions have not been well documented. Accurately predicting the progression of the disease would aid in appropriate patient categorization and thus help determine the best treatment option. Here, we have introduced a proteomic approach utilizing data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) to identify the serum proteins that are closely associated with COVID-19 prognosis. Twenty-seven proteins were differentially expressed between severely ill COVID-19 patients with an adverse or favorable prognosis. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed that 15 of the 27 proteins might be regulated by cytokine signaling relevant to interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and their differential expression was implicated in the systemic inflammatory response and in cardiovascular disorders. We further evaluated practical predictors of the clinical prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients. Subsequent ELISA assays revealed that CHI3L1 and IGFALS may serve as highly sensitive prognostic markers. Our findings can help formulate a diagnostic approach for accurately identifying COVID-19 patients with severe disease and for providing appropriate treatment based on their predicted prognosis.

Sustained Neutralizing Antibodies 6 Months Following Infection in 376 Japanese COVID-19 Survivors.

Objective: There is scarce evidence regarding the long-term persistence of neutralizing antibodies among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors. This study determined neutralizing antibody titers (NT50) and antibodies against spike protein (SP) or nucleocapsid protein (NP) antigens approximately 6 months after the diagnosis of COVID-19. Methods: COVID-19 survivors in Japan were recruited. Serum samples and data related to patients' characteristics and COVID-19 history were collected. NT50 and titers of antibodies against NP and SP antigens were measured at 20-32 weeks after the first positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test results. Factors associated with NT50 were identified using the multivariable linear regression and the correlations among NT50 and titers of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and total immunoglobulins (Igs) against NP and SP were assessed by Spearman's correlation. Results: Among 376 participants (median [range] days after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, 180 (147-224); median [range] years of age, 50 (20-78); 188 [50%] male), most tested positive for NT50 (n = 367, 98%), SP-IgG (n = 344, 91%), SP-total Ig (n = 369, 98%), NP-IgG (n = 314, 84%), and NP-total Ig (n = 365, 97%). Regression analysis indicated that higher BMI, fever, and the requirement of mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were significantly associated with higher NT50. Anti-SP antibodies correlated moderately with NT50 (Spearman's correlation: 0.63 for SP IgG; 0.57 for SP-total Ig), while the correlation was weak for anti-NP antibodies (0.37 for NP IgG; 0.32 for NP-total Ig). Conclusions: Most COVID-19 survivors had sustained neutralizing antibodies and tested positive for SP-total Ig and NP-total Ig approximately 6 months after infection.

T-cell response to phytohemagglutinin in the interferon-γ release assay as a potential biomarker for the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a standard treatment for advanced lung cancer, although it remains important to identify biomarkers that can accurately predict treatment response. Immune checkpoint inhibitors enhance the antitumor T-cell response, and interferon-γ plays an important role in this process. Therefore, this study evaluated whether the number of interferon-γ-releasing peripheral T cells after phytohemagglutinin stimulation in the interferon-γ release assay might act as a biomarker for the response of non-small cell lung cancer to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected regarding 74 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who had received immune checkpoint inhibitors. Pretreatment screening tests had been performed using the T-SPOT.TB assay, which quantifies the number of interferon-γ-releasing T cells (as immunospots) in response to phytohemagglutinin and tuberculosis-specific antigen stimulation. Clinical factors and the number of spots in the T-SPOT fields were evaluated for associations with patient outcomes. The median number of spots was used to categorize patients as having high or low values, and the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Relative to patients with a low ratio, patients with a high ratio of phytohemagglutinin/tuberculosis-specific antigen spots (i.e. more responsive T cells) had significantly better progression-free survival after immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. When we only considered patients with negative T-SPOT results, a high number of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated spots corresponded to significantly longer progression-free survival. CONCLUSION: The T-SPOT.TB assay can be used to quantify the number of immunospots in response to antigen stimulation, which may predict the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Identification of a novel biomarker based on lymphocyte count, albumin level, and TBAg/PHA ratio for differentiation between active and latent tuberculosis infection in Japan.

Data from China have shown that the ratio of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigen (TBAg) spots obtained from the T-SPOT.TB test to the number of positive control phytohemagglutinin (PHA) spots (TBAg/PHA ratio) could help distinguish between active tuberculosis infection (ATBI) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). As the applicability of the T-SPOT.TB test may differ according to region and race, we retrospectively verified the utility of the TBAg/PHA ratio in distinguishing between ATBI and LTBI in Japan. The TBAg/PHA ratio was significantly lower in the LTBI group than in the ATBI group. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis between ATBI and LTBI according to the TBAg/PHA ratio was 0.76, with a sensitivity of 65.8% and a specificity of 75.6%. The best AUC was obtained when the TBAg/PHA ratio was divided by both lymphocyte count and albumin levels. Our results demonstrate that, in Japan, the TBAg/PHA ratio is superior to TBAg alone for distinguishing between ATBI and LTBI. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity were improved by combining the TBAg/PHA ratio with lymphocyte count and albumin levels.

MicroRNA-200b is a potential biomarker of the expression of PD-L1 in patients with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a high mortality rate and poor prognosis. However, outcomes have gradually improved after the introduction of novel immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Although programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor tissues is a known biomarker for guiding ICI treatment of NSCLC, challenges such as difficulty of liquid biopsy and heterogeneous results during treatment persist. This study evaluated the potential of miR200b as a surrogate biomarker for PD-L1 expression. METHODS: We used the human lung cancer cell lines H226, H460, H520, A549, and H1975. miR200b expression in blood and bronchoscopy specimens of NSCLC patients was evaluated using reverse-transcription-quantitative PCR. Using flow cytometry, PD-L1 expression in vitro, as well as in tumor tissues, was evaluated after transfection with a mimic miR200b or siRNA. RESULTS: miR200b expression negatively correlated with PD-L1 expression in all cell lines. The induction or knockdown of miR200b also altered PD-L1 expression in vitro. The patient group with a PD-L1 tumor proportion score ≥ 50% had significantly lower miR200b expression in the bronchoscopy specimens (P = 0.025) and serum-derived exosomes (P = 0.022) than that with PD-L1 tumor proportion score < 50%. CONCLUSIONS: miR200b can regulate PD-L1 expression in lung cancer cells, and miR200b expression in clinical specimens negatively correlated with PD-L1 expression. Thus, miR200b may be a useful surrogate biomarker for PD-L1 expression in lung cancer patients. KEY POINTS: SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: High PD-L1 expression was linked to low miR200b expression, whereas low PD-L1 expression was linked to high miR200b expression in human lung cancer patients. Thus, miR200b overexpression or silencing can control PD-L1 expression in cancer cells. What this study adds We demonstrated the potential of miR200b as a surrogate biomarker for PD-L1 expression in lung cancer patients.

Identification of Biomarkers for Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated With an Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have an important role in lung cancer therapy. Although the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score (TPS) and tumor mutational burden are known prognostic factors, they are insufficient to predict clinical outcomes. This study was conducted to identify novel biomarkers for ICI treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed univariable and multivariable analyses of 110 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with an ICI to identify novel biomarkers related to prognosis. We assessed their backgrounds, such as performance status (PS), PD-L1 TPS, smoking status, and peripheral white blood cell counts at baseline and on the day the second course of ICI administration. RESULTS: In the multivariable analysis, PS, driver gene, immune-related adverse events, and post-treatment absolute neutrophil counts (post-ANCs) were significantly associated with progression-free survival. CONCLUSION: A high level of post-ANCs was associated with poor outcome in ICI-treated NSCLC patients.

Afatinib + bevacizumab combination therapy in EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with osimertinib resistance: Protocol of an open-label, phase II, multicenter, single-arm trial.

INTRODUCTION: As most patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) develop progressive disease after treatment with osimertinib, it is important to develop more effective treatment options. Afatinib has been shown to be more effective in in vitro studies than osimertinib when used in cancer cell lines containing some specific EGFR mutations. Therefore, afatinib may be an effective solution, especially when used in combination with an anti-VEGF agent such as bevacizumab. METHODS: A phase II multicenter, open-label, single-arm trial has been initiated to evaluate the efficacy and safety of afatinib and bevacizumab combination as salvage therapy for EGFR-mutated lung cancer in patients previously treated with osimertinib. The primary endpoint will be the objective response rate (ORR) and secondary endpoints are progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), and adverse events (AEs). DISCUSSION: A previous study indicated that afatinib inhibits lung cancer cells with specific EGFR mutations more effectively than other EGFR-TKIs such as osimertinib. Therefore, we expect that combination therapy using afatinib and bevacizumab will be effective in patients previously treated with osimertinib (registration no. jRCTs031190077).

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe pneumonia: COVID-19 case in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is one of the ultimate treatments for acute respiratory failure. However, the effectiveness of ECMO in patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is unknown. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old woman who was a passenger of a cruise ship tested positive for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) while in quarantine on board using throat swab. Three days after admission, her condition deteriorated, and she was subsequently intubated. On day 6, VV-ECMO was introduced. Lopinavir/ritonavir was given; continuous renal replacement therapy was also introduced. On day 10, her chest radiography and lung compliance improved. She was weaned off ECMO on day 12. CONCLUSION: Treatment of severe pneumonia in COVID-19 by ECMO should recognize lung plasticity considering time to ECMO introduction and interstitial biomarkers. In Japan, centralization of ECMO patients has not been sufficient. Thus, we suggest nationwide centralization and further research to respond to the crisis caused by COVID-19.

Class A CpG oligodeoxynucleotide inhibits IFN-γ-induced signaling and apoptosis in lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Currently, anticancer immunotherapy based on PD-1/PD-L1 blockade with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is being used as a standard therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, more effective treatments are required as these tumors are often resistant and refractory. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of immunomodulatory oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) in terms of the presence or absence of CpG motifs and the number of consecutive guanosines. METHODS: Western blots were used to measure the molecules which regulate the expression of PD-L1 in human lung cancer cell lines after incubation with several cytokines and ODNs. The expression of PD-L1 and ß2-microglobulin (ß2-MG) on A549 cells, and IFN-γ-induced apoptosis with ODNs were examined by flow cytometry. The relationship between IFN-γ receptor and ODN was analyzed by ELISA and immunofluorescence chemistry. RESULTS: Our results verified that A-CpG ODNs suppress the upregulation of IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 and ß2-MG expression. In addition, we found that ODNs with six or more consecutive guanosines (ODNs with poly-G sequences) may competitively inhibit the IFN-γ receptor and abolish the effect of IFN-γ, thereby suppressing apoptosis and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 expression in human lung cancer cells. The tumor microenvironment regulates whether this action will promote or suppress tumor immunity. Thus, in immunotherapy with CpG ODNs, it is essential to consider the effect of ODNs with poly-G sequences. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that ODNs containing six or more consecutive guanosines may inhibit the binding of IFN-γ to IFN-γ receptor. However, it does not directly show that ODNs containing six or more consecutive guanosines competitively inhibit the IFN-γ receptor, and further studies are warranted to confirm this finding. KEY POINTS: Significant findings of the study: Oligodeoxynucleotides with a contiguous sequence of six or more guanosines may competitively inhibit the IFN-γ receptor and abolish the action of IFN-γ. This may suppress IFN-γ-induced apoptosis and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase-1 expression in human lung cancer cells. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: A-CpG and poly-G ODN may overcome tolerance if the cause of ICI tolerance is high IDO expression. However, IFN-γ also has the effect of suppressing apoptosis of cancer cells, and it is necessary to identify the cause of resistance.