The associates of anxiety among lung cancer patients: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as a potential biomarker.

OBJECTIVE: Anxiety is a prevalent comorbidity in lung cancer (LC) patients associated with a decline in quality of life. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a neuroactive steroid, levels rise in response to stress. Prior research on the association between DHEA and anxiety has yielded contradictory results and no study has investigated this association in LC patients. METHODS: A total of 213 patients with LC were recruited from a general hospital. Data on demographic and cancer-related variables were collected. Using the Chinese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the degree of anxiety was determined. Cortisol, DHEA, and Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels in saliva were measured. Adjusting for confounding variables, a multivariate regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: 147 men and 66 women comprised our group with an average age of 63.75 years. After accounting for demographic and treatment-related factors, anxiety levels were significantly correlated with, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) (ß = 0.332, p < 0.001) and fatigue (ß = 0.247, p = 0.02). Association between anxiety and three factors, including DHEA, PTSSs, and fatigue, was observed in patients with advanced cancer stages (III and IV) (DHEA ß = 0.319, p = 0.004; PTSS ß = 0.396, p = 0.001; fatigue ß = 0.289, p = 0.027) and those undergoing chemotherapy (DHEA ß = 0.346, p = 0.001; PTSS ß = 0.407, p = 0.001; fatigue ß = 0.326, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The association between anxiety and DHEA remained positive in advanced cancer stages and chemotherapy patients. Further study is necessary to determine whether DHEA is a potential biomarker of anxiety in LC patients.

Lung adenocarcinoma discovered during the follow-up of lung-dominant connective tissue disease: a case report and literature review.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) can lead to lung cancer, which brings great challenges to differential diagnosis and comprehensive treatment. However, the clinical features of lung-dominant connective tissue disease (LD-CTD) related ILD combined with lung cancer has not been validated. We report the case of an 80-year-old woman with LD-CTD treated regularly with nintedanib who presented progressive dyspnoea and hypoxemia after recurrent viral infections. Her chest computed tomography (CT) showed aggravated interstitial fibrosis in both lower lungs with moderate right pleural effusion. Clinicians should be alert to lung cancer in patients who are experiencing poor responsiveness to treatment or acute progression of ILD. The available literatures about the differential diagnosis of clinical manifestations, imaging, treatment and prognosis of LD-CTD are reviewed and discussed in this study.

Pembrolizumab-associated anti-MDA5 dermatomyositis in a patient with lung cancer: a first case report.

We report the first case of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5)-positive dermatomyositis as a systemic immune-related adverse event in a 64-year-old man receiving pembrolizumab to treat advanced lung cancer. The patient experienced hypothyroidism, myalgia, skin involvement, dyspnoea and diarrhoea. Laboratory tests revealed raised inflammatory markers, hypercreatinekinasemia and anti-MDA5 autoantibodies. Electroneuromyography and pathognomonic signs on physical examination confirmed the diagnosis of pauci-myopathic dermatomyositis. Pembrolizumab was discontinued and immunosuppressive therapy led to rapid and progressive improvement, with complete remission of dermatomyositis. This case report widens the spectrum of systemic immune-related adverse events associated with pembrolizumab.

[Correlation Analysis between Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio 
and the Risk of Malnutrition in Stage IV Primary Lung Cancer].

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is commonly associated with poor prognosis in patients with malignant tumors. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an indicator of inflammation in the body and predicts the risk of malnutrition in a variety of diseases; however, its association with malnutrition in lung cancer patients is unclear. The aim of this study is to clarify the association between NLR and nutritional status in stage IV primary lung cancer and to further determine the optimal NLR cut-off that best predicts the risk of malnutrition. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 209 patients admitted to the Department of Medical Oncology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital with a primary diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer from May 2019 to February 2021 was performed, and the nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002) was used to examine their nutritional status. Patient demographic information, pathology, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities and clinical biochemical indicators were also included. The correlation between NLR and NRS 2002 was investigated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the best NLR cut-off predi cting malnutrition risk. Multivariable Logistic regression was used to assess the association between NLR and malnutrition risk. RESULTS: The rate of patients with stage IV primary lung cancer at nutritional risk was 36.36% (76/209). A significant positive correlation was observed between NLR values and NRS 2002 risk score (r=0.765, P<0.001). The ROC curve analysis indicated that an NLR of 3.94 was the optimal cut-off for predicting malnutrition risk (area under the curve=0.747, 95%CI: 0.678-0.815, P<0.001), which showed a sensitivity of 55%, a specificity of 86%, a positive predictive value of 68%, and a negative predictive value of 77%. Patients in the NLR>3.94 group had a significantly higher risk of malnutrition compared to those in the NLR≤3.94 group (69.49% vs 23.33%, P<0.001). Furthermore, NLR was identified as a risk factor for malnutrition in stage IV primary lung cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: NLR is associated with the risk of malnutrition in stage IV primary lung cancer, and NLR can be used as one of the indicators for screening nutritional risk in patients with stage IV primary lung cancer.

Risk factors for interstitial lung disease in patients with non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The use of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) can potentially result in interstitial lung disease (ILD), which can substantially impact a patient's quality of life, subsequently leading to the interruption or discontinuation of EGRF-TKI treatment. Clinicians, therefore, need to thoroughly assess patients to determine if they are at risk for ILD. METHODS: We searched for observational study in the following databases: MEDLINE via the PubMed, CENTRAL, and IchushiWeb. The primary outcome was risk factors for the development of ILD, while the secondary outcome was risk factors for the severity of ILD. Of the 1602 studies returned, we selected 11 for meta-analysis, performed using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Risk factors for developing ILD were sex (odds ratio (OR), 1.87; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08-3.22; I2 = 0%; P = 0.02), smoking history (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.51-3.00; I2 = 3 4%; P = 0.0001), and history of ILD (OR = 5.95; 95% CI, 3.34-10.59; I2 = 67%; P = 0.0009). Age, previous thoracic surgery or radiotherapy, performance status, histological type of lung cancer, and treatment line were not statistically significant risk factors for ILD. Risk factors identified in one study were serum albumin level, history of nivolumab use, radiographic residual lung volume, and history of pulmonary infection. CONCLUSIONS: We identified risk factors for developing ILD in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with EGFR-TKIs.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveal metastatic CLDN4+ cancer cells underlying the recurrence of malignant pleural effusion in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent malignant pleural effusion (MPE) resulting from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is easily refractory to conventional therapeutics and lacks predictive markers. The cellular or genetic signatures of recurrent MPE still remain largely uncertain. METHODS: 16 NSCLC patients with pleural effusions were recruited, followed by corresponding treatments based on primary tumours. Non-recurrent or recurrent MPE was determined after 3-6 weeks of treatments. The status of MPE was verified by computer tomography (CT) and cytopathology, and the baseline pleural fluids were collected for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Samples were then integrated and profiled. Cellular communications and trajectories were inferred by bioinformatic algorithms. Comparative analysis was conducted and the results were further validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in a larger MPE cohort from the authors' centre (n = 64). RESULTS: The scRNA-seq revealed that 33 590 cells were annotated as 7 major cell types and further characterized into 14 cell clusters precisely. The cell cluster C1, classified as Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM)+ metastatic cancer cell and correlated with activation of tight junction and adherence junction, was significantly enriched in the recurrent MPE group, in which Claudin-4 (CLDN4) was identified. The subset cell cluster C3 of C1, which was enriched in recurrent MPE and demonstrated a phenotype of ameboidal-type cell migration, also showed a markedly higher expression of CLDN4. Meanwhile, the expression of CLDN4 was positively correlated with E74 Like ETS Transcription Factor 3 (ELF3), EpCAM and Tumour Associated Calcium Signal Transducer 2 (TACSTD2), independent of driver-gene status. CLDN4 was also found to be associated with the expression of Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 Subunit Alpha (HIF1A) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA), and the cell cluster C1 was the major mediator in cellular communication of VEGFA signalling. In the extensive MPE cohort, a notably increased expression of CLDN4 in cells from pleural effusion among patients diagnosed with recurrent MPE was observed, compared with the non-recurrent group, which was also associated with a trend towards worse overall survival (OS). CONCLUSIONS: CLDN4 could be considered as a predictive marker of recurrent MPE among patients with advanced NSCLC. Further validation for its clinical value in cohorts with larger sample size and in-depth mechanism studies on its biological function are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Analysis of related factors of CRA in lung cancer patients with different serum iron levels: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Serum iron, an essential component of hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis in vivo, is a crucial parameter for evaluating the body's iron storage and metabolism capacity. Iron deficiency leads to reduced Hb synthesis in red blood cells and smaller red blood cell volume, ultimately resulting in iron-deficiency anemia. Although serum iron cannot independently evaluate iron storage or metabolism ability, it can reflect iron concentration in vivo and serve as a good predictor of iron-deficiency anemia. Therefore, exploring the influence of different serum iron levels on anemia and diagnosing and treating iron deficiency in the early stages is of great significance for patients with lung cancer. AIM: This study aims to explore the related factors of cancer-related anemia (CRA) in lung cancer and construct a nomogram prediction model to evaluate the risk of CRA in patients with different serum iron levels. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 1610 patients with lung cancer, of whom 1040 had CRA. The relationship between CRA and its influencing factors was analyzed using multiple linear regression models. Lung cancer patients were divided into two groups according to their serum iron levels: decreased serum iron and normal serum iron. Each group was randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort at a ratio of 7:3. The influencing factors were screened by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and nomogram models were constructed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the models. RESULTS: CRA in lung cancer is mainly related to surgery, chemotherapy, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score, serum iron, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and total cholesterol (p < 0.05). CRA in lung cancer patients with decreased serum iron is primarily associated with albumin, age, and cancer staging, while CRA in lung cancer patients with normal serum iron is mainly related to CRP, albumin, total cholesterol, and cancer staging. The area under the ROC curve of the training cohort and validation cohort for the prediction model of lung cancer patients with decreased serum iron was 0.758 and 0.760, respectively. Similarly, the area under the ROC curve of the training cohort and validation cohort for the prediction model of lung cancer patients with normal serum iron was 0.715 and 0.730, respectively. The calibration curves of both prediction models were around the ideal 45° line, suggesting good discrimination and calibration. DCA showed that the nomograms had good clinical utility. CONCLUSION: Both models have good reliability and validity and have significant clinical value. They can help doctors better assess the risk of developing CRA in lung cancer patients. CRP is a risk factor for CRA in lung cancer patients with normal serum iron but not in patients with decreased serum iron. Therefore, whether CRP and the inflammatory state represented by CRP will further aggravate the decrease in serum iron levels, thus contributing to anemia, warrants further study.

Longitudinal Study on Changes of Cancer-Related Fatigue in Elderly Patients with Postoperative Chemotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) stands out as one of the most prevalent subjective adverse reactions experienced by patients following chemotherapy, often resulting in unfavorable symptoms for elderly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients during chemotherapy. Hence, the aim of this study was to explore the fluctuations in CRF levels among elderly NSCLC patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 400 elderly patients diagnosed with NSCLC. Standardized guidelines were employed to direct patient care following lung cancer surgery (T0), subsequent to the first (T1), second (T2), third (T3), and fourth (T4) cycles of chemotherapy. At various intervals, all patients underwent assessments utilizing the Piper Fatigue Scale, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Scale, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Additionally, serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Throughout the treatment regimen, patients exhibited a declining trend in CRF, CD-RISC, and KPS scores (p < 0.05, T0 vs T4), whereas the PSQI score demonstrated a notable increase (p < 0.05, T0 vs T4). Furthermore, ELISA results revealed that as treatment advanced, the average levels of inflammatory markers interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α during the T4 period significantly decreased compared to those at T0 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As the number of chemotherapy treatments for elderly NSCLC patients increased, the severity of CRF and the manifestations of sleep disorders were escalated. Additionally, physical function, psychological resilience, as well as IL-6 and TNF-α levels, exhibited a downward trend.

[Resected Right Upper Lobe Lung Cancer with Displaced Bronchus and Anomalous Pulmonary Vein].

The patient is a 77-year-old man. He was referred to our hospital after a chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a 6.5 cm-sized mass in the right lung apex. Bronchoscopy revealed adenocarcinoma, clinical stageⅡB, and the patient was referred for surgery. Preoperative 3D-CT revealed the presence of a displaced bronchus, probably B1a, branching from the right main bronchus centrally from the upper lobe bronchus, and an abnormal vessel (V2) running dorsal to the upper lobe bronchus and the right main bronchus, and returning directly to the left atrium. Surgery was performed by resectioning the right upper lobe through a posterolateral incision, combined resection of the wall pleura, and lymph node dissection (ND2a-2). Because lung cancer surgery is sometimes accompanied by abnormal bronchial and pulmonary vascular branches, it is essential to thoroughly examine the patient before surgery for checking abnormal branches by bronchoscopy and 3D-CT.

Effect of postoperative exercise training on physical function and quality of life of lung cancer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative rehabilitation programs consisting of exercise training are considered effective for unselected lung cancer patients. However, whether postoperative exercise is beneficial to lung cancer patients comorbid with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remains unknown. METHODS: Eighty-four patients diagnosed with both lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were randomized into the exercise group and control group. Both groups were given standard postoperative rehabilitation for 1 week. After that, oxygen therapy (if needed) and nebulization were given to the control group, while patients in the exercise group started to participate in exercise programs on the basis of receiving oxygen therapy and nebulization as in the control group. The exercise programs consisted of 24 training sessions. RESULTS: In both groups, the functional status and the results of the pulmonary function test decreased from baseline to the endpoint. However, after surgery and the intervention program, both the maximal oxygen consumption in the cardiopulmonary exercise test and walking distance in the 6-minute walk test in the exercise group were significantly better than those in the control group [15.5 (±1.4) mL/kg/min vs 13.1 (±1.3) mL/kg/min, P = 0.016; 437.4 (±48.6) m vs 381.7 (±40.5) m, P = 0.040]. Force vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in the first second in the exercise group were better than those in the control group, but the differences were not statistically significant [1798.1 (±298.9) mL vs 1664.0 (±329.7) mL, P = 0.254; 1155.7 (±174.3) mL vs 967.4 (±219.4) mL, P = 0.497]. The decline in the standard score of the QLQ-C30 (V3.0) was smaller in the exercise group, but the difference did not meet a statistically significant level [61.7 (±5.7) vs 58.4 (±9.3), P = 0.318]. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that a short-term postoperative exercise training program can facilitate the recovery of functional capacity in lung cancer patients with comorbidities of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Risk factors and a nomogram for predicting cognitive frailty in Chinese patients with lung cancer receiving drug therapy: A single-center cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To identify independent factors of cognitive frailty (CF) and construct a nomogram to predict cognitive frailty risk in patients with lung cancer receiving drug therapy. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients with lung cancer undergoing drug therapy from October 2022 to July 2023 were enrolled. The data collected includes general demographic characteristics, clinical data characteristics and assessment of tools for cognitive frailty and other factors. Logistic regression was harnessed to determine the influencing factors, R software was used to establish a nomogram model to predict the risk of cognitive frailty. The enhanced bootstrap method was employed for internal verification of the model. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated by using calibration curves, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 372 patients were recruited, with a cognitive frailty prevalence of 56.2%. Age, education background, diabetes mellitus, insomnia, sarcopenia, and nutrition status were identified as independent factors. Then, a nomogram model was constructed and patients were classified into high- and low-risk groups with a cutoff value of 0.552. The internal validation results revealed good concordance, calibration and discrimination. The decision curve analysis presented prominent clinical utility. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cognitive frailty was higher in lung cancer patients receiving drug therapy. The nomogram could identify the risk of cognitive frailty intuitively and simply in patients with lung cancer, so as to provide references for early screening and intervention for cognitive frailty at the early phases of drug treatment.

Effective Differences between 2D and 3D Planned Brachytherapy in Lung Cancer: An Institutional Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: Advanced lung cancer is usually manifested by endoluminal tumor propagation, resulting in central airway obstruction. The objective of this study is to compare the high dose rate brachytherapy treatment outcomes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) depending on the treatment planning pattern-two-dimension (2D) or three-dimension (3D) treatment planning. Materials and Methods: The study was retrospective and two groups of patients were compared in it (a group of 101 patients who underwent 2D planned high-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDR-EBBT) in 2017/18 and a group of 83 patients who underwent 3D planned HDR-EBBT between January 2021 and June 2023). Results: In the group of 3D planned brachytherapy patients, there was a significant improvement in terms of loss of symptoms of bronchial obstruction (p = 0.038), but no improvement in terms of ECOG PS (European Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status) of the patient (p = 0.847) and loss of lung atelectasis (if there was any at the beginning of the disease) (p = 0.781). Two-year overall survival and time-to-progression periods were similar for both groups of patients (p = 0.110 and 0.154). Fewer treatment complications were observed, and 91.4% were in 3D planned brachytherapy (BT) patients. Conclusions: Three-dimensionally planned HDR-EBBT is a suggestive, effective palliative method for the disobstruction of large airways caused by endobronchial lung tumor growth. Independent or more often combined with other types of specific oncological treatment, it certainly leads to the loss of symptoms caused by bronchial obstruction and the improvement of the quality of life of patients with advanced NSCLC. Complications of the procedure with 3D planning are less compared to 2D planned HDR-EBBT.

Role of body mass index and weight change in the risk of cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 66 cohort studies.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of body mass index (BMI) and weight change on the risk of developing cancer overall and cancer at different sites. Methods: We searched PubMed and other databases up to July 2023 using the keywords related to 'risk', 'cancer', 'weight', 'overweight', and 'obesity'. We identified eligible studies, and the inclusion criteria encompassed cohort studies in English that focused on cancer diagnosis and included BMI or weight change as an exposure factor. Multiple authors performed data extraction and quality assessment, and statistical analyses were carried out using RevMan and R software. We used random- or fixed-effects models to calculate the pooled relative risk (RR) or hazard ratio along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess study quality. Results: Analysis included 66 cohort studies. Compared to underweight or normal weight, overweight or obesity was associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, and liver cancer but a decreased risk of prostate cancer and lung cancer. Being underweight was associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer and lung cancer but not that of postmenopausal breast cancer or female reproductive cancer. In addition, weight loss of more than five kg was protective against overall cancer risk. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity increase the risk of most cancers, and weight loss of >5 kg reduces overall cancer risk. These findings provide insights for cancer prevention and help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying cancer development. Registration: Reviewregistry1786.

Fulminant myocarditis during postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for lung cancer with atezolizumab: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative adjuvant systemic therapy with atezolizumab for lung cancer has been reported to be effective. Although myocarditis is a rare immune adverse event associated with atezolizumab, it can have a serious course and should be treated with caution. We herein report a case of fulminant myocarditis during adjuvant systemic therapy with atezolizumab. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 49-year-old Asian woman. She was diagnosed with pT2aN1M0 stage IIB (Programmed Death Ligand 1(PD-L1), 50%) after surgery for right upper lobe lung adenocarcinoma. Atezolizumab was administered following platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy. On day 14, the patient was hospitalized because of deterioration in her general condition caused by fever. On day 16, she developed dyspnea, which worsened, and on day 17, she experienced shock. Blood tests, echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization were performed, and the patient was diagnosed with cardiogenic shock due to myocarditis. Initial measures did not improve the patient's shock state. The patient was transferred to hospital for the use of an assistive circulatory system. Pulse steroid therapy was administered, and myocarditis showed a tendency toward improvement. A retrospective review of the patient's history revealed a decreased lymphocyte count and an increase in the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, which may be useful for detecting severe immune-related adverse events. The troponin levels were elevated, but creatine phosphokinase level remained within the normal range. CONCLUSION: Myocarditis can be fatal due to the rapid progression of symptoms. Close follow-up, a prompt diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention are important. Decreased lymphocyte counts, increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios, and the measurement of multiple myocardial biomarkers are considered useful for the early diagnosis of myocarditis.

[Hypertensive Emergency as the Debut of Paraneoplastic Cushing Syndrome]. / Emergencia hipertensiva como debut de síndrome de Cushing paraneoplásico.

We present the case of a patient with a history of renal-vascular hypertension treated with stent one year previously, who attended the emergency room due to hypertensive emergency and dyspnea. Once the first suspicion of renal artery restenosis was ruled out with CT angiography, the study was completed, confirming the diagnosis of lung cancer through imaging and pathological anatomy. In the hormonal study, elevation of ACTH, hypercortisolism and analytical data of hyperaldosteronism were detected. With the final diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome secondary to ectopic production of ACTH, medical treatment was started, without being able to receive anything else due to the death of the patient after a few days.

[Severe complications of systemic treatment in thoracic oncology]. / Complications sévères des traitements systémiques du patient cancéreux thoracique (complications hors infections et urgences respiratoires).

Primary thoracic cancers affect a large number of patients, mainly those with lung cancer and to a lesser extent those with pleural mesothelioma and thymic tumours. Given their frequency and associated comorbidities, in patients whose mean age is high, these diseases are associated with multiple complications. This article, the last of a series dedicated to emergencies in onco-haematological patients, aims to present a clinical picture of the severe complications (side effects, immune-related adverse events) associated with systemic treatments, excluding infections and respiratory emergencies, with which general practitioners and specialists can be confronted. New toxicities are to be expected with the implementation of innovative therapeutic approaches, such as CAR-T cells, along with immunomodulators and antibody-drug conjugates.

The preventative effects of statin on lung cancer development in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis using the National Health Insurance Service Database in Korea.

Little is known about the effect of statin use in lung cancer development in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We analyzed the database of the National Health Insurance Service to further investigate the clinical impacts of statin on lung cancer development and overall survival (OS) in IPF patients. The analysis included 9,182 individuals diagnosed with IPF, of which 3,372 (36.7%) were statin users. Compared to statin non-users, the time from diagnosis of IPF to lung cancer development and OS were longer in statin users in IPF patients. In Cox proportional hazard regression models, higher statin compliance, statin use, and being female had an inverse association with lung cancer risk, while older age at diagnosis of IPF and smoking history were associated with higher risk of lung cancer in IPF patients. For OS, statin use, female sex, higher physical activity frequency, and diabetes were associated with longer survival. In contrast, older age at diagnosis of IPF and smoking history were associated with shorter OS in IPF patients. These data from a large population indicate that statin had an independent protective association with lung cancer development and mortality in IPF patients.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of lung cancer in patients with fibrosing interstitial lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer (LC) is an important comorbidity of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and has a poor prognosis. The clinical characteristics and outcome of each ILD subtype in LC patients have not been sufficiently investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the difference between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and non-IPF ILD as well as prognostic factors in patients with ILD-LC. METHODS: The medical records of 163 patients diagnosed with ILD-LC at Asan Medical Center from January 2018 to May 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between the IPF-LC and non-IPF ILD-LC groups, and prognostic factors were analyzed using the Cox proportional-hazard model. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 11 months after the cancer diagnosis. No statistically significant differences were observed in clinical characteristics and mortality rates (median survival: 26 vs. 20 months, p = 0.530) between the groups. The independent prognostic factors in patients with ILD-LC were higher level of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (≥ 1000 U/mL, hazard ratio [HR] 1.970, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.026-3.783, p = 0.025) and advanced clinical stage of LC (compared with stage I, HR 3.876 for stage II, p = 0.025, HR 5.092 for stage III, p = 0.002, and HR 5.626 for stage IV, p = 0.002). In terms of treatment, surgery was the significant factor for survival (HR 0.235; 95% CI 0.106-0.520; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: No survival difference was observed between IPF-LC and non-IPF ILD-LC patients. A higher level of Krebs von den Lungen-6 may act as a prognostic marker in ILD-LC patients.

[The Second Web Questionnaire Survey on Cancer Cachexia Japanese Evidence for Patients Of Cancer Cachexia â ¡ (J-EPOCC â ¡)-Disease Awareness and Issues Related to Cancer Cachexia Among Healthcare Professionals].

In 2019, the Cancer Cachexia Web Questionnaire Survey(J-EPOCC)was conducted among cancer patients, their families and healthcare professionals in Japan, and it showed that the term"cancer cachexia"was highly recognized among health care professionals, whereas the staging and criteria for cancer cachexia defined by European Palliative Care Research Collaborative( EPCRC)was less understood. Also, many healthcare professionals tended to consider the term"cancer cachexia" as the terminal stage of cancer, and most of them lacked the knowledge that cancer cachexia is a disease complication which is potentially developed from the early stage of cancer. Since anamorelin was approved in 2021 for"Cancer cachexia in unresectable advanced or recurrent of non-small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer", the treatment environment for cancer cachexia has greatly changed. Thus, the second Web Questionnaire Survey(J-EPOCC Ⅱ) was conducted in June 2022 to investigate changes in the problem awareness of cancer cachexia, especially appetite loss and weight loss, among patients and their families and healthcare professionals1). The results for healthcare professionals showed that the awareness of the staging and criteria has increased among doctors in 2022 compared with 2019, and an increasing number of doctors considered"cancer cachexia"was associated with loss of muscle mass, totally body weight loss, appetite loss and systemic inflammation that may occur in early stages of cancer. On the other hand, awareness of staging and diagnostic criteria for cancer cachexia has not remarkably changed among medical staff since 2019, with levels of awareness varying among those with different job categories. Therefore, in order to achieve early detection and intervention of cancer cachexia, it is necessary to raise the awareness of cancer cachexia among not only doctors but also medical staff by increasing their opportunities to get to know the disease condition, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer cachexia.