Does nivolumab for progressed metastatic lung cancer fulfill its promises? An efficacy and safety analysis in 20 general hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: In patients with refractory or recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after first line chemotherapy, phase III trials showed superiority of nivolumab, an IgG4 programmed death-1 immune-checkpoint-inhibitor antibody, over docetaxel. We evaluated case mix, effectiveness and safety of nivolumab upon implementation in general practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 20 general hospitals, all consecutive NSCLC patients treated with nivolumab within the medical need program (inclusion period 12 months) in Flanders - Belgium were evaluated. RESULTS: There were 267 patients, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score was 2 in 24% and 0-1 in 76%. In 48%, two or more systemic regimens were given before nivolumab. The median overall survival was 7.8 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 6.3-9.3). At one year, the overall survival rate was 36.5±0.34%. Median progression-free survival was 3.7 months (95% CI 2.9-4.5). An objective response was obtained in 23.2%. ECOG score 2 and presence of liver metastasis strongly correlated with worse survival (p<0.00001). Treatment related adverse events grade 3 or 4 were reported in 21%, colitis (4%) and pneumonitis (7%) were most frequent. CONCLUSION: Upon implementation of nivolumab therapy in general hospitals, the case mix was characterized by a more heavily pretreated population with a substantial fraction of patients with ECOG score 2. The median overall survival is slightly inferior to what was published in the randomized phase III trials. An ECOG score 2 and the presence of liver metastasis correlated strongly with a worse survival. We report a high prevalence of serious adverse events.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura with associated hypoglycemia: Doege-Potter syndrome: a case report.

Tumor-associated hypoglycemia as a paraneoplastic phenomenon is a well-known entity and is referred to as Doege-Potter syndrome. A man was admitted because of acute confusion and drowsiness. Laboratory results showed profound hypoglycemia. All investigations proved to be normal, except for a chest x-ray, which showed a large pleural mass. On transthoracic puncture, a tumor of pleural origin was diagnosed. This tumor, presenting as a large, well-circumscribed encapsulated mass, was removed by thoracotomy. On pathologic examination, the diagnosis of a solitary fibrous tumor with benign characteristics was made. After surgical removal, the hypoglycemia resolved. Solitary fibrous tumors are localized tumors of the pleura with an unpredictable behavior. The therapy consists of resection.