Particular findings on lung CT in patients undergoing immunotherapy for bronchogenic carcinoma

Metabolic tumor volume and sites of organ involvement predict outcome in NSCLC immune-checkpoint inhibitor therapy

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of pretreatment PET parameters and peripheral blood biomarkers to predict progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients treated with ICIT.

METHODS

We prospectively included 87 patients in this study who underwent pre-treatment [18F]-FDG PET/CT. Organ-specific and total metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were measured using a semiautomatic software. Sites of organ involvement (SOI) were assessed by PET/CT. The log-rank test and Cox-regression analysis were used to assess associations between clinical, laboratory, and imaging parameters with PFS and OS. Time dependent ROC were calculated and model performance was evaluated in terms of its clinical utility.

RESULTS

MTV increased with the number of SOI and was correlated with neutrophil and lymphocyte cell count (Spearman's rho = 0.27 or 0.32; p =.02 or 0.003; respectively). Even after adjustment for known risk factors, such as PD-1 expression and neutrophil cell count, the MTV and the number of SOI were independent risk factors for progression (per 100 cm3; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.13; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.01-1.28; p =.04; single SOI vs. ≥ 4 SOI: aHR: 2.26, 95%CI: 1.04-4.94; p =.04). MTV and the number of SOI were independent risk factors for overall survival (per 100 cm3 aHR: 1.11, 95%CI: 1.01-1.23; p =.03; single SOI vs. ≥ 4 SOI: aHR: 4.54, 95%CI: 1.64-12.58; p =.04). The combination of MTV and the number of SOI improved the risk stratification for PFS and OS (log-rank test p <.001; C-index: 0.64 and 0.67).

CONCLUSION

The MTV and the number of SOI are simple imaging markers that provide complementary information to facilitate risk stratification in NSCLC patients scheduled for ICIT.

Neoadjuvant immune-checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer - a primer for radiologists

The introduction of neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors plus platinum-based chemotherapy has changed treatment regimens of patient's early-stage lung cancer. This treatment combination induces high rates of complete pathologic response and improves clinical endpoints. Imaging plays a fundamental role in assessment of treatment response, monitoring of (immune-related) adverse events and enables both the surgeon and pathologist optimal treatment and diagnostic workup of the resected tumor samples. Knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of diagnostic imaging in this setting are essential for radiologists to provide valuable input in multidisciplinary team decisions.

The radiological appearances of lung cancer treated with immunotherapy

Therapy and prognosis of several solid and hematologic malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), have been favourably impacted by the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Their mechanism of action relies on the principle that some cancers can evade immune surveillance by expressing surface inhibitor molecules, known as "immune checkpoints". ICIs aim to conceal tumoural checkpoints on the cell surface and reinvigorate the ability of the host immune system to recognize tumour cells, triggering an antitumoural immune response.In this review, we will focus on the imaging patterns of different responses occurring in patients treated by ICIs. We will also discuss imaging findings of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), along with current and future perspectives of metabolic imaging. Finally, we will explore the role of radiomics in the setting of ICI-treated patients.

Case Report: Hepatic Sarcoid-Like Reaction Associated With Checkpoint Inhibition in a NSCLC Patient and a Literature Review

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment has dramatically revolutionized the landscape of therapeutic approaches in multiple cancers, particularly, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With the increasing use of programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors in the clinic, the emerging toxicity profile presents a novel learning curve for clinicians. Here we report the first case of an NSCLC patient displaying sarcoid/granulomatous-like reaction (SLR, also known as GLR) in the liver during an anti-PD-1 therapy which showed efficacious response of complete regression. Also, this is the first report describing the SLR induced by toripalimab, a novel PD-1 inhibitor. Given this kind of hepatic findings can be easily mistaken as metastasis, even resulting in premature use of second-line treatments. In particular, we briefly review the clinical features of all those cases reporting sarcoidosis and SLRs manifested on different organs during anti-PD-(L)1 therapy. We anticipate that these clinical cases would help to alert the attention of clinicians that SLRs, as a rare immune-related adverse event (irAE), is manageable and that histopathological analysis is necessary before interpreting it as disease progression.

Development of thoracic sarcoid reactions associated with complete response to anti-PD-1 therapy in a patient with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

In patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), positive efficacy data were reported for anti-PD-1 antibodies. However, anti-PD-1 treatment is associated with a wide range of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Here, we report on a 78-year-old woman with a huge cSCC on the right cheek spanning from the temporal to the cervical region with evidence for infiltration of the parotid gland, right masseter muscle and right auditory canal. Ultrasound revealed cervical, submandibular and supraclavicular lymph node metastases on patient's right side. On the basis of a medical hardship application, treatment with pembrolizumab was initiated. After two applications, a dramatic regression of the tumour was observed. At this point, the patient was switched to cemiplimab, which, in the meantime, had become available in Germany. After 3 months on cemiplimab, the tumour-related ulcer on the right cheek showed almost complete regression and all previously affected lymph nodes displayed no evidence for malignancy. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) scans revealed enlarged mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymph nodes assessed as primarily reactive. Three months later, however, mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymph nodes further increased in size, accompanied by radiological alterations of the lung parenchyma. Lymph node biopsies revealed sarcoid reactions (SRs) including fibrotic non-caseating epitheloid cell granulomas surrounded by lymphocytes. Since the patient did not display any clinical symptoms, cemiplimab treatment was continued following a 4-week break. Three months later, CT showed significant regression of the described enlarged lymph nodes and parenchymal lung changes. Twenty months after anti-PD-1 treatment, the patient was still in complete remission. In conclusion, we describe, for the first time, the case of a patient with advanced cSCC who developed disseminated thoracic SRs which were associated with dramatic regression of tumour masses. Thus, as with other irAEs, development of SRs might be indicative of an anti-tumour response to anti-PD-1 therapy.

Imaging diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma (the forgotten disease) during times of COVID-19 pandemic: Current and future perspectives

Patients with bronchogenic carcinoma comprise a high-risk group for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), pneumonia and related complications. Symptoms of COVID-19 related pulmonary syndrome may be similar to deteriorating symptoms encountered during bronchogenic carcinoma progression. These resemblances add further complexity for imaging assessment of bronchogenic carcinoma. Similarities between clinical and imaging findings can pose a major challenge to clinicians in distinguishing COVID-19 super-infection from evolving bronchogenic carcinoma, as the above-mentioned entities require very different therapeutic approaches. However, the goal of bronchogenic carcinoma management during the pandemic is to minimize the risk of exposing patients to COVID-19, whilst still managing all life-threatening events related to bronchogenic carcinoma. The current pandemic has forced all healthcare stakeholders to prioritize per value resources and reorganize therapeutic strategies for timely management of patients with COVID-19 related pulmonary syndrome. Processing of radiographic and computed tomography images by means of artificial intelligence techniques can facilitate triage of patients. Modified and newer therapeutic strategies for patients with bronchogenic carcinoma have been adopted by oncologists around the world for providing uncompromised care within the accepted standards and new guidelines.