Progenitor-like exhausted SPRY1+CD8+ T cells potentiate responsiveness to neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) demonstrates promise in operable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but lacks available efficacy biomarkers. Here, we perform single-cell RNA-sequencing of tumors from patients with ESCC undergoing neoadjuvant ICB, revealing a subset of exhausted CD8+ T cells expressing SPRY1 (CD8+ Tex-SPRY1) that displays a progenitor exhausted T cell (Tpex) phenotype and correlates with complete response to ICB. We validate CD8+ Tex-SPRY1 cells as an ICB-specific predictor of improved response and survival using independent ICB-/non-ICB cohorts and demonstrate that expression of SPRY1 in CD8+ T cells enforces Tpex phenotype and enhances ICB efficacy. Additionally, CD8+ Tex-SPRY1 cells contribute to proinflammatory phenotype of macrophages and functional state of B cells, which thereby promotes antitumor immunity by enhancing CD8+ T cell effector functions. Overall, our findings unravel progenitor-like CD8+ Tex-SPRY1 cells' role in effective responses to ICB for ESCC and inform mechanistic biomarkers for future individualized immunotherapy.

miRNome profiling of lung cancer metastases revealed a key role for miRNA-PD-L1 axis in the modulation of chemotherapy response.

Locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is frequent at diagnosis and requires multimodal treatment approaches. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by surgery is the treatment of choice for operable locally advanced NSCLC (Stage IIIA). However, the majority of patients are NACT-resistant and show persistent lymph nodal metastases (LNmets) and an adverse outcome. Therefore, the identification of mechanisms and biomarkers of NACT resistance is paramount for ameliorating the prognosis of patients with Stage IIIA NSCLC. Here, we investigated the miRNome and transcriptome of chemo-naïve LNmets collected from patients with Stage IIIA NSCLC (N = 64). We found that a microRNA signature accurately predicts NACT response. Mechanistically, we discovered a miR-455-5p/PD-L1 regulatory axis which drives chemotherapy resistance, hallmarks metastases with active IFN-γ response pathway (an inducer of PD-L1 expression), and impacts T cells viability and relative abundances in tumor microenvironment (TME). Our data provide new biomarkers to predict NACT response and add molecular insights relevant for improving the management of patients with locally advanced NSCLC.

Handling and standardization of EBUS needle aspiration in NSCLC patients: The value of the cell block, a monoinstitutional experience.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and 85% of all lung tumors are non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). More than 60% of all lung tumors are diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to poor prognosis. Given the growing demand for NSCLC profiling for selection of the most appropriate therapy, the acquisition of adequate tumor samples has become increasingly crucial, mostly in advanced NSCLC patients due to old age and/or comorbidities. Being a mini-invasive sampling technique, endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) represents a valuable alternative to traditional transthoracic or surgical sampling in these patients, and perfoming cell block (CB) could be crucial to maximize the potential biological information. The aim of this study is to describe a monoinstitutional interprofessional experience in handling EBUS-TBNA and CB in 464 patients. METHODS: We retrospectively collected all the consecutive CBs obtained from EBUS TBNA performed between 2014 and 2021 on the lung lesions or mediastinal lymph nodes. All the CBs were handled in a standardized method. RESULTS: A total of 95.5% (448/464 samples) of adequacy for site and 92.6% (430/464) of adequacy for diagnosis were observed. Moreover, in the adenocarcinoma histotype, ALK, ROS1 and tumor proportion score (TPS) PD-L1 assessment by IHC was possible in 96% (140/146) of cases, and molecular profile was obtained in 93.8% (137/146) of cases. In the squamous cell carcinoma histotype, TPS PD-L1 assessment was possible in 81% (13/16) of cases. All four CB results obtained from carcinoma NOS were adequate for ALK, ROS1 and PD-L1 assessment and molecular profiling. All 39 metastatic samples from extra-pulmonary primary were adequate for immunohistochemical characterization and molecular profiling. Finally, reporting of the tumor sample adequacy to the clinicians took a median time of about 30 h (range: 24-80 h). CONCLUSION: Careful cytological smear management together with the handling and standardization of CB obtained from EBUS-TBNA could represent an effective method to increase the adequacy of the tumor specimen for both diagnosis and molecular profile.

Watch the Mime Carefully! A Refractory Interstitial Lung Disease.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare neoplasm of a vascular origin which can arise in different locations such as the lungs, liver, soft tissue, and rarely, in the bones. In the lungs, pulmonary hemangioendothelioma (PEH) shows a variable clinical behavior, displaying a range from either an asymptomatic course to a highly aggressive progression with metastases. Based on radiological features, PEH differential diagnosis mainly includes primary or metastatic lymphangitic carcinomatosis, granulomatous infections, and diffuse interstitial lung diseases where ground glass pattern predominates. In this case, a transbronchial biopsy and subsequent histological and immunohistochemical analysis allowed for the attribution of the scenario to a pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. Clinicians should always consider bronchoscopy as a useful and effective tool to better investigate indeterminate and questionable clinical pictures, sparing patients the morbidity and mortality associated with more invasive techniques such as surgical or thoracoscopic biopsy.

COL11A1 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma proliferation and metastasis and is inversely regulated by miR-335-5p.

BACKGROUND: Esophagus squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a sort of cancer that occurs in the esophageal epithelial tissue. This study performed integrated bioinformatics analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets GSE32424, GSE29968, and GSE130078. Collagen type XI alpha 1 (COL11A1) was identified as the hub gene in ESCC progression. The involvement of COL11A1 in ESCC development was next determined using in vitro functional tests. METHODS: Hub genes were identified through integrated bioinformatics analysis. The real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was implemented for detecting the expression of COL11A1 mRNA in esophageal cancer cells. KYSE-30 cells were transfected using a vector encoding COL11A1. The proliferation of cells was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Detection of the cell migration and invasion was made through making use of the transwell test. The development of ESCC cells in vivo was evaluated in naked mice. The interplay among COL11A1 and microRNA-335-5p (miR-335-5p) was discovered using a luciferase reporter experiment. RESULTS: In vitro studies showed the upregulation of COL11A1 in ESCC cell lines obtained from ESCC patients and upregulation of COL11A1 was correlated with poor disease-free survival of ESCC patients, thereby implying an oncogenic involvement of COL11A1 in ESCC. Overexpression of COL11A1 enhanced the proliferation of ESCC cells, invasion, and migration; whereas COL11A1 knockdown impeded the proliferation of ESCC cells, invasion, and migration. Additionally, miRNA pathway analysis in combination with TargetScan's online prediction and the luciferase reporter assay suggested miR-335-5p targeting and negatively regulating the COL11A1 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) within ESCC cells. MiR-335-5p overexpression diminished the development of ESCC cells. Additionally, co-expression of COL11A1 ameliorated the repressive influence of miR-335-5p overexpression on the growth and metastasis of ESCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: Using comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, the current study identified COL11A1 as an oncogene in ESCC. The mechanistic studies indicated that COL11A1 promoted ESCC cell progression and that miR-335-5p negatively regulated the expression of COL11A1 in ESCC.

A "Galactic" Chest X-ray.

Clinical manifestations accompanying respiratory failure with insidious and rapidly progressive onset are often non-specific. Symptoms such as a cough, dyspnea, and fever are common to a large number of inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic it is essential to limit the use of hospital services and inappropriate diagnostic techniques. A particular radiological pattern can orient the clinical and laboratory scenario and guide the diagnostic workup. A 58-year-old woman was admitted to our COVID-19 unit for suspected coronavirus infection. She was complaining of worsening dyspnea, tachycardia, and low grade fever. A chest X-ray showed diffuse, alveolar, and interstitial lung involvement with micronodules tending to coalescence. This radiographic pattern known as "galaxy sign", consistent with diffuse, coalescing nodular miliary pulmonary involvement, simulating a non-specific alveolar opacification of the lungs is typical of a few pneumological differential diagnoses, represented by sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, and metastatic lesions, and virtually excludes an interstitial viral pneumonitis. The use of endoscopic techniques can, in such cases, confirm the clinical suspicion for initiating appropriate targeted therapies.

Which are the limiting factors in lung tissue sampling and diagnostic accuracy for a new Interventional Pulmonology Unit? From expert consensus-based evidence to results of a new-born Unit.

BACKGROUND: There is a gap of knowledge about the factors that may determine the quality and the accuracy of diagnostic bronchoscopic procedures when setting up a new Interventional Pulmonology Unit. As little evidence-based medicine is available on this matter, an online consensus opinion of experts was gathered and compared with real-life data coming from a new Interventional Pulmonology (IP) Unit. METHODS: A survey was emailed to the heads of all Italian IP Units to investigate the factors influencing the success of the diagnostic yield of a new IP Unit. The survey consisted of 24 items grouped by topic; the level of agreement ranged from 1 (no influence) to 7 (strong influence). After responses were collected, we submitted the data on the accuracy of the endoscopic procedures performed during the first two years of our new IP Unit to the attention of the participants for a second round of survey; the level of consistency between the first and second round of responses was assessed. RESULTS: After having been shown the results of the first two years of activity of our Unit, in the second round of the survey the responders indicated the personal skills of the Interventional Pulmonologist, the availability of echoendoscopic technology and the expertise in evaluating cytological samples as the factors able to positively influence the performance of a newly established IP Unit. Neither the role of dedicated nursing assistance, the availability of a rapid on-site evaluation, nor the presence of anesthesiology assistance were considered to be limiting factors for the final accuracy results. CONCLUSIONS: A consensus of opinion of a group of expert interventional pulmonologists highlighted the factors that may be responsible for the diagnostic success of a newly established Italian IP Unit. These factors are mainly three: personal skills of the interventional pulmonologist, the availability of echoendoscopic technology, and the expertise in reading cytological samples.

Diagnosis of COVID-19 in Patients with Negative Nasopharyngeal Swabs: Reliability of Radiological and Clinical Diagnosis and Accuracy Versus Serology.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relies on the positivity of nasopharyngeal swab. However, a significant percentage of symptomatic patients may test negative. We evaluated the reliability of COVID-19 diagnosis made by radiologists and clinicians and its accuracy versus serology in a sample of patients hospitalized for suspected COVID-19 with multiple negative swabs. METHODS: Admission chest CT-scans and clinical records of swab-negative patients, treated according to the COVID-19 protocol or deceased during hospitalization, were retrospectively evaluated by two radiologists and two clinicians, respectively. RESULTS: Of 254 patients, 169 swab-confirmed cases and one patient without chest CT-scan were excluded. A total of 84 patients were eligible for the reliability study. Of these, 21 patients died during hospitalization; the remaining 63 underwent serological testing and were eligible for the accuracy evaluation. Of the 63, 26 patients showed anti-Sars-Cov-2 antibodies, while 37 did not. The inter-rater agreement was "substantial" (kappa 0.683) between radiologists, "moderate" (kappa 0.454) between clinicians, and only "fair" (kappa 0.341) between radiologists and clinicians. Both radiologic and clinical evaluations showed good accuracy compared to serology. CONCLUSIONS: The radiologic and clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 for swab-negative patients proved to be sufficiently reliable and accurate to allow a diagnosis of COVID-19, which needs to be confirmed by serology and follow-up.

Diagnosis of Hodgkin Lymphoma from Cell Block: A Reliable and Helpful Tool in "Selected" Diagnostic Practice.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of lymphoma requires surgical specimens to perform morphological evaluation, immunohistochemical and molecular analyses. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration may represent an appropriate first approach to obtain cytological samples in impalpable lesions and/or in patients unsuitable for surgical procedures. Although cytology has intrinsic limitations, the cell block method may increase the possibility of achieving an accurate diagnosis. METHODS: We retrospectively selected a total of 47 ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and drainage samples taken from patients with effusion and deep-seated lesions which are clinically suspicious in terms of malignancy. RESULTS: In 27 cases, both cell block and conventional cytology were performed: 21/27 cell blocks were adequate for the diagnosis of lymphoma and suitable for immunocytochemistry and molecular analyses vs. 12/20 samples to which only conventional cytology was applied. Moreover, in five patients we were able to make a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma with the cell block (CB) technique. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to conventional cytology, the cell block method may allow immunocytochemistry and molecular studies providing useful information for the diagnosis and subtypization of lymphoma in patients unsuitable for surgical procedure or with deep-seated lesions or extra-nodal diseases; additionally, it is a daily, simple and helpful approach. Moreover, we describe the usefulness of cell blocks in the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma.

Pharmacokinetic drug evaluation of osimertinib for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: First- and second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), such as gefitinib, erlotinib, icotinib, and afatinib are the standard-of-care for first-line therapy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring activating EGFR mutations. Unfortunately, after initial activity of an average 9-13 months, disease progression has been reported in the majority of patients. In about 50% of cases the progression is due to the onset of the T790M mutation in exon 20 of the EGFR gene. Third-generation EGFR-TKIs targeting this mutation were investigated, with osimertinib the only reaching clinical practice. Areas covered: A structured search of bibliographic databases for peer-reviewed research literature and of main meetings using a focused review question addressing osimertinib, was undertaken. Expert opinion: Osimertinib is the standard-of-care for EGFR-mutated patients progressing to first-line EGFR-TKIs due to the acquired EGFR T790M mutation. Results from the head-to-head first-line trial comparing osimertinib versus gefitinib or erlotinib in activating EGFR mutations might change the front-line approach. Osimertinib in combination regimens, such as immunotherapy, and in adjuvant setting are ongoing. Thus, the strategic approach for the management of EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients will change further in the next few years.

Coexistent Sarcoidosis and Tuberculosis: A Case Report.

Necrotizing granulomatous diseases of the lungs are usually dependent on a narrow range of differential diagnoses. Tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for the largest number of cases, while necrotizing sarcoidosis is generally considered a rare and easily distinguishable disease substantially based on histological features. However, this entity has become a viable diagnosis in the absence of mycobacteria isolation or when a remarkable clinical improvement cannot be achieved with the combination of anti-TB drugs at full dosage. The classic manifestations of TB and sarcoidosis have an overlapping range for which it is sometimes difficult to make a clinical diagnosis. Furthermore, the role of mycobacteria as a trigger antigen capable of evoking the clinical expression of sarcoidosis is a hypothesis supported by evidence from some cases. We report a case of bilateral tuberculous pleurisy in a 45-year-old male native of a North-African region with an atypical severe multisystem disease characterized by a fever resistant to anti-TB therapy and respondent to corticosteroid treatment. The choice to continue both steroid and anti-TB therapy proved to be correct for the late evidence of TB mycobacterial growth only on pleural specimens. The case described is suggestive of a coexistent systemic sarcoid manifestation and low-antigen TB, which is an underrecognized entity in the medical literature.

Endobronchial Hamartoma Subtotally Occluding the Right Main Bronchus and Mimicking Bronchial Carcinoid Tumor.

Hamartomas are very rarely identified as an endobronchial lesion. Herein, we describe a peculiar case of a 55-year-old woman with persistent cough and increasing dyspnea and radiological detection of a solid lesion subtotally occluding the main right bronchus. Despite the radiological and radiometabolic (18-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computer tomography scan) features were highly suspected for bronchial carcinoid, the definitive diagnosis after endoscopic removal was indicative of an endobronchial hamartoma. When considering differential diagnosis of an endobronchial lesion, the physicians should take firmly in mind such rare entity and, accordingly, bronchoscopy and bronchoscopic biopsy should be done as first step in management of all cases presenting with endobronchial lesions.

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia syndrome.

The term diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) may be used to describe a clinico-pathological syndrome, as well as an incidental finding on histological examination, although there are obvious differences between these two scenarios. According to the World Health Organization, the definition of DIPNECH is purely histological. However, DIPNECH encompasses symptomatic patients with airway disease, as well as asymptomatic patients with neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia associated with multiple tumourlets/carcinoid tumours. DIPNECH is also considered a pre-neoplastic lesion in the spectrum of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours, because it is commonly found in patients with peripheral carcinoid tumours.In this review, we summarise clinical, physiological, radiological and histological features of DIPNECH and critically discuss recently proposed diagnostic criteria. In addition, we propose that the term "DIPNECH syndrome" be used to indicate a sufficiently distinct patient subgroup characterised by respiratory symptoms, airflow obstruction, mosaic attenuation with air trapping on chest imaging and constrictive obliterative bronchiolitis, often with nodular proliferation of neuroendocrine cells with/without tumourlets/carcinoid tumours on histology. Surgical lung biopsy is the diagnostic gold standard. However, in the appropriate clinical and radiological setting, transbronchial lung biopsy may also allow a confident diagnosis of DIPNECH syndrome.

A 79-Year-Old Man With Interstitial Lung Disease and Cryptic Area of High 18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake in Left Upper Lobe.

Seven years after left hemicolectomy and radical lymph nodal dissection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (histotype, adenocarcinoma; stage, pT3N2M0; grading, G2), a slight increase in carcinoembryonic antigen levels (6.2 ng/mL; range, 0-5 ng/mL) was detected in a 79-year-old man. He was a heavy smoker with history of an interstitial fibrotic lung disease with associated areas of emphysema.

Levels of circulating endothelial cells are low in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and are further reduced by anti-fibrotic treatments.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that circulating fibrocytes and endothelial cells actively participate in the intense remodelling of the pulmonary vasculature in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Indeed, fibrotic areas exist that have fewer blood vessels, whereas adjacent non-fibrotic tissue is highly vascularized. The number of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) might reflect the balance between vascular injury and repair. Thus, fibrocytes as well as endothelial cells could potentially be used as biomarkers of disease progression and treatment outcome. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 67 patients with a multidisciplinary diagnosis of IPF and from 45 age-matched and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Buffy coat was isolated according to standard procedures and at least 20 million cells were stained with different monoclonal antibodies for the detection of CEC, EPC and circulating fibrocytes. For the detection of CEC and EPC, cells were stained with anti-CD45, anti-CD34, anti-CD133, anti-CD14, anti-CD309 and with the viability probe Far-Red LIVE/DEAD. For the detection of circulating fibrocytes, cells were first stained with LIVE/DEAD and the following monoclonal antibodies: anti-CD3, anti-CD19, anti-CD45, anti-CD34 and anti-CD14, then cells were fixed, permeabilized and stained with fluorochrome-conjugated anti-collagen I monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: Patients with IPF displayed almost undetectable levels of circulating fibrocytes, low levels of CEC, and normal levels of EPC. Patients treated with nintedanib displayed higher levels of CEC, but lower levels of endothelial cells expressing CD309 (the type II receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor). Treatment with both nintedanib and pirfenidone reduced the percentage of CEC and circulating fibrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of CEC were reduced in patients with IPF as compared to healthy individuals. The anti-fibrotic treatments nintedanib and pirfenidone further reduced CEC levels. These findings might help explain the mechanism of action of these drugs and should be explored as predictive biomarkers in IPF.