Multiple primary malignancies involving lung cancer-clinical characteristics and prognosis

Clinical characteristics and survival of breast cancer patients with extramammary malignancies in a single Asian center over the past 23 years

BACKGROUND

The rise of multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMNs) necessitates exploration. MPMNs represent 18% of U.S. cancers. Breast cancer is the predominant malignancy among female Americans. However, most studies on breast cancer with MPMNs are confined to case reports with small sample sizes. Hence, this article scrutinizes 280 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and extramammary primary malignancies via long-term follow-up.

METHODS

We reviewed 280 breast cancer cases with extramammary primary malignancies from January 2000 to December 2022 at our institute, excluding those diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. The double primary malignant neoplasms (DPMNs) were used as focal points and segregated into the first primary breast cancer (FPBC) and second primary breast cancer (SPBC) subgroups. With a median follow-up period of 107 months (8.9 years), we examined the characteristics of these diseases in various patients.

RESULTS

Concerning breast cancer patients with extramammary primary malignancies, DPMNs were predominant, comprising 77.1% (216/280). Among these DPNMs, gynecology, thyroid, and lung were the primary site of extramammary tumors, predominantly. Nearly all (93.9%) of FPBC patients exhibited metachronous cancer whereas 55.9% of SPBC patients experienced this. The median interval between the onset of breast cancer and extramammary malignancy in metachronous FPBC and metachronous SPBC patients was 60 months and 48 months, respectively. Over time, both metachronous FPBC and metachronous SPBC patients demonstrated a diminishing prevalence of second tumors. The distinction lay in that in the metachronous FPBC group, second tumors ceased to occur after 300 months, whereas in the metachronous SPBC group, their emergence persisted. Synchronous cancer, negative ER/PR status, and advanced extramammary malignancy stage portend poor prognosis among patients with DPMNs.

CONCLUSIONS

Careful monitoring of MPMNs necessitates precise guidelines, differing amongst FPBC and SPBC patients. Synchronous cancer, ER/PR-negative, and advanced extramammary malignancy stage indicate poor prognosis in DPMNs patients.

Survival analysis and prognostic factors of diffuse bilateral intrapulmonary metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

The study aimed to develop a nomogram utilizing the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database to predict the survival probability of diffuse bilateral intrapulmonary metastases (DBIM) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinical data from 2010 to 2020 were retrieved from the SEER database. Independent prognostic factors influencing overall survival (OS) were identified through univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses conducted on the training cohort. Subsequently, a nomogram was constructed and its performance was assessed using concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) results. Propensity score matching was employed to reduce variability in subgroup analysis comparing patients who received chemotherapy alone versus chemoradiotherapy. A total of 2075 patients were included in this study, wherein race, sex, marital status, age, household income, AJCC N stage, AJCC M stage, tumor size, total number of in situ/malignant tumors, bone metastasis, brain metastasis (BM), liver metastasis, surgery, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors. The nomogram demonstrated excellent performance, as evidenced by the high C-indexes, AUC results, and calibration curves. Subgroup analysis revealed potential benefits for women, patients with combined BM, and high-income individuals who received chemotherapy in conjunction with local radiotherapy. However, no significant impact on the 0.5-year survival rate was observed. Notably, a reliable nomogram was successfully developed to estimate the probability of survival in patients with DBIM. Overall, our study highlights the potential benefit of adding radiotherapy to chemotherapy specifically for women, those with combined BM, and high-income individuals.

Effectiveness of CT Histogram Analysis to Differentiate Lung Metastases From Second Primary Lung Cancer to Decrease Need for Lung Biopsy

OBJECTIVE

Differentiating lung metastasis from second primary lung cancer is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment strategy. Lung biopsy, the gold standard for diagnosis, is an invasive procedure. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of CT histogram analysis as a noninvasive method for differentiating these 2 conditions in solitary pulmonary nodules.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on CT images of patients with solitary pulmonary nodule, confirmed to be either lung metastasis or second primary lung cancer histopathologically. Histogram analysis features of the lesion and perilesional area were extracted from the CT images and subjected to statistical analysis to identify significant differences between the 2 groups. The performance of histogram analysis was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve.

RESULTS

The data of 26 (46%) patients whose lung biopsy pathology was determined as second primary lung cancer and 30 (54%) patients defined as lung metastasis were investigated. The second primary lung cancer's mean pathologic tumor diameter was statistically higher than the lung metastasis [25.3 (5.7) mm, 18.3(5.6) mm; P=0.003]. The mean skewness (P=0.020) and entropy (P=0.018) values in the second primary lung cancer were statistically significantly lower in the lesion area. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean measurement of SD (P=0.001), skewness (P<0.001), kurtosis (P<0.001), and entropy (P<0.001) values between the 2 groups in the perilesional area.

CONCLUSION

CT histogram analysis shows promise as a noninvasive method for differentiating lung metastasis from second primary lung cancer in solitary pulmonary nodules.

Clinicopathological features, prognostic factor analysis, and survival nomogram of patients with double primary cancers involving lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Although the incidence of double primary cancers (DPCs) involving lung cancer is rising, they have not been studied sufficiently. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological and prognostic characteristics of DPC patients with lung cancer and developed a survival nomogram to predict the individual OS rates.

METHODS

We included 103 DPC patients with lung cancer from Shengjing Hospital between 2016 and 2021. Based on the 6-month cancer occurrence interval, the cases were categorized as synchronous DPCs (sDPCs) or metachronous DPCs (mDPCs). Furthermore, the mDPCs were subdivided based on whether the lung cancer occurred first (LCF cohort) or the other cancer occurred first (OCF cohort).

RESULTS

Among the patients, 35 (33.98%) and 68 (66.02%) had sDPCs and mDPCs, respectively. In the mDPCs cohort, 18 (26.47%) belonged to the LCF cohort and 50 (73.53%) to the OCF cohort. The most frequent primary cancer sites were the breast (27.18%), colorectum (22.33%), and urinary system (18.45%). Independent risk factors for progression-free survival were Stage IV lung cancer (p = 0.008) and failure to undergo radical lung cancer surgery (p = 0.028). The risk factors for OS included squamous carcinoma (p = 0.048), Stage IV lung cancer (p = 0.001), single cancer resection plus drug therapy (p < 0.001), drug therapy alone (p = 0.002), failure to undergo radical lung cancer surgery (p = 0.014), and chemotherapy (p = 0.042). The median OS was 37 months, with 3- and 5-year rates of 50.9% and 35.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

DPCs involving lung cancer account for 1.11% of cases. The breast, colorectum, and urinary system were the most common extra-pulmonary sites, and mDPCs were more frequent than sDPCs. Radical lung cancer surgery significantly affects prognosis, and drug therapy alone may be preferable when only one tumor is operable. The developed nomogram can accurately predict individual 3-year and 5-year OS rates.

Germline Mutations of Holliday Junction Resolvase Genes in Multiple Primary Malignancies Involving Lung Cancer Lead to PARP Inhibitor Sensitization

PURPOSE

The incidence of multiple primary malignancies (MPM) involving lung cancer has increased in recent decades. There is an urgent need to clarify the genetic profile of such patients and explore more efficacious therapy for them.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Peripheral blood samples from MPM involving patients with lung cancer were assessed by whole-exome sequencing (WES), and the identified variants were referenced for pathogenicity using the public available database. Pathway enrichment analysis of mutated genes was performed to identify the most relevant pathway. Next, the effects of mutations in relevant pathway on function and response to targeted drugs were verified by in vitro and in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

Germline exomes of 71 patients diagnosed with MPM involving lung cancer were sequenced. Pathway enrichment analysis shows that the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway has the strongest correlation. Moreover, HRR genes, especially key Holliday junction resolvases (HJR) genes (GEN1, BLM, SXL4, and RMI1), were most frequently mutated, unlike the status in the samples from patients with lung cancer only. Next, we identified a total of seven mutations in HJR genes led to homologous recombination DNA repair deficiency and rendered lung cancer cells sensitive to PARP inhibitor treatment, both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to map the profile of germline mutations in patients with MPM involving lung cancer. This study may shed light on early prevention and novel targeted therapies for MPM involving patients with lung cancer with HJR mutations.

Triple Primary Malignancies: Tumor Associations, Survival, and Clinicopathological Analysis: A 25-Year Single-Institution Experience

The detection of multiple primary malignancies is on the rise despite their rare occurrence rate. This research aims to determine the prevalence, tumor association patterns, overall survival, and the correlation between survival time and independent factors in patients with triple primary malignancies. This single-center retrospective study included 117 patients with triple primary malignancies admitted to a tertiary cancer center between 1996 and 2021. The observed prevalence was 0.082%. The majority of patients (73%) were over the age of fifty at the first tumor diagnosis, and regardless of gender, the lowest median age occurred in the metachronous group. The most common tumor associations were found between genital-skin-breast, skin-skin-skin, digestive-genital-breast, and genital-breast-lung cancer. The male gender and being over the age of fifty at the first tumor diagnosis are associated with a higher risk of mortality. Compared with the metachronous group, patients with three synchronous tumors demonstrate a risk of mortality 6.5 times higher, whereas patients with one metachronous and two synchronous tumors demonstrate a risk of mortality three times higher. The likelihood of subsequent malignancies should always be considered throughout cancer patients' short- and long-term surveillance to ensure prompt tumor diagnosis and treatment.

Additional Primary Tumors Detected Incidentally on FDG PET/CT at Staging in Patients with First Diagnosis of NSCLC: Frequency, Impact on Patient Management and Survival

We aimed to assess the frequency of additional primary malignancies detected incidentally on [¹⁸F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) at staging in NSCLC patients. Moreover, their impact on patient management and survival was assessed. Consecutive NSCLC patients with available staging FDG-PET/CT between 2020 and 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. We reported whether further investigations of suspicious findings presumably not related to NSCLC were recommended and performed after FDG-PET/CT. Any additional imaging, surgery or multimodal management was considered as an impact on patient management. Patient survival was defined using overall survival OS and progression-free survival PFS. A total of 125 NSCLC patients were included, while 26 findings in 26 different patients were suspicious for an additional malignancy on FDG-PET/CT at staging. The most frequent anatomical site was the colon. A total of 54.2% of all additional suspicious lesions turned out to be malignant. Almost every malignant finding had an impact on patient management. No significant differences were found between NSCLC patients with suspicious findings versus no suspicious findings with regards to their survival. FDG-PET/CT performed for staging might be a valuable tool to identify additional primary tumors in NSCLC patients. Identification of additional primary tumors might have substantial implications for patient management. An early detection together with interdisciplinary patient management could prevent a worsening of survival compared to patients with NSCLC only.

The impact of previous extrapulmonary malignancies on survival of surgically treated primary lung cancer: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis

Whether a history of previous extrapulmonary malignancies had an impact on the survival of surgically treated primary lung cancer patients remains unknown. To better answer this question, we, therefore, conducted the first meta-analysis to compare the survival of lung cancer patients after surgical resection with previous extrapulmonary malignancies and those without. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant studies up to April 1, 2022. Data for analysis were obtained directly from the text results or calculated from the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, which mainly included 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed by the fixed-effect model test or standard random-effect model test depending on the heterogeneity of the included studies. The Q-test and I²-test were used to assess heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the stability of the pooled results. We finally included 7 retrospective studies consisting of 19,723 surgically treated primary lung cancer patients with (7.7%) or without (92.3%) previous extrapulmonary malignancies. The final results showed that lung patients with previous extrapulmonary malignancies had an inferior OS (HR 1.18, 95% CI [1.07, 1.31], P = 0.001) than those without, but no significant difference in RFS (HR 1.15, 95% CI [0.89-1.47], P = 0.29) was observed between the two groups. Moreover, when only focusing on stage-I primary lung cancer patients with or without previous extrapulmonary malignancies, the results still held true (OS: HR 1.39, 95% CI [1.04, 1.85], P = 0.02; RFS: HR 1.10, 95% CI [0.82-1.49], P = 0.51, respectively). No significant heterogeneities or publication bias were observed among these studies. Our meta-analysis showed that surgically treated primary lung cancer patients with a previous extrapulmonary cancer history had a worse overall survival than those without. However, a history of previous extrapulmonary cancer was not associated with postsurgical lung cancer recurrence, and more large-scale prospective studies should be encouraged to update our conclusions.

One Patient With 4 Different Primary Cancers: A Case Report

Background

The development of medicine, especially in oncology, has been helping prolong the cancer patients' survival, but also leads to increasing the possibility of getting multiple cancers. However, the possibility of getting 4 primary cancers in 4 different sites is extremely rare.

Case presentation

A 63-year-old female patient was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2018, and then with right colon cancer in 2019. In 2020, this patient was diagnosed with left renal pelvis cancer, and most recently, in April 2022, she was hospitalized with bladder cancer diagnosis. Thanks to being closely and regularly followed-up, her malignancies had been detected early and treated suitably. Her health remains stable now and she is under following-up.

Conclusion

Even though developing another primary cancer in a cancer survivor is not uncommon now and has the tendency to increase, a patient having 4 primary cancers in 4 different sites is still extremely rare and should be noticed, further followed up and investigated. Cancer patients and survivors need to be followed-up regularly, to early detect not only the progression or recurrence but also the second cancer (if it exists), to get timely and suitable treatment.

Spinal Metastasis in Multiple Primary Malignancies Involving Lung Cancer: Clinical Characteristics and Survival

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of multiple primary malignancies (MPM) has increased in recent decades. Our aim was to evaluate incidence, clinical features, and survival in cases of spinal metastases from MPM in which one of the malignancies is lung cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed an institutional database of lung cancer patients with spinal metastasis and extracted all cases of MPM.

RESULTS

Among 275 patients who had spinal metastasis with lung cancer as one of the diagnoses, 21 (7.6%) patients with MPM were identified. Mean patient age was 68.5 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 65.3-71.7). The most common cancers diagnosed in addition to lung cancer were breast cancer (5 patients, 24%), upper aerodigestive tract cancer (4 patients, 19%), and prostate cancer (4 patients, 19%). Eighteen (86%) patients walked independently, and 3 (14%) patients walked with help. Seventeen (80.9%) patients had a good Karnofsky performance scale score. The median survivals from the date of first cancer diagnosis, last cancer diagnosis, and spinal metastasis diagnosis were 109.8 months (95% CI, 23.5-196.1), 17.8 months (95% CI, 5.8-29.8), and 10.3 months (95% CI, 5.4-15.2), respectively. Actual rates of survival at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months from the date of spinal metastasis diagnosis were 81%, 42.9%, and 23.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study is the first series to our knowledge to show that survival of patients with spinal metastasis and MPM involving lung cancer is not clearly inferior to that of patients with spinal metastasis and lung cancer alone.

Survival Analysis in Patients with Lung Cancer and Subsequent Primary Cancer: A Nationwide Cancer Registry Study

With improved survival in patients with cancer, the risk of developing multiple primary malignancies (MPMs) has increased. We aimed to characterize MPMs involving lung cancer and compare these characteristics between patients with single lung cancer and those with lung cancer and subsequent primary cancer (known as lung cancer first [LCF]). Methods: This retrospective study was conducted based on Taiwan Cancer Database from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Registry Database. Patients with lung cancer (n = 72,219) from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015, were included in this study, and their medical records were traced back to 1 January 2002, and followed until 31 December 2019. Results: MPMs occurred in 10,577 (14.65%) patients with lung cancer, and LCF and other cancer first (OCF) accounted for 35.55% and 64.45% of these patients, with a mean age at lung cancer diagnosis of 65.18 and 68.92 years, respectively. The median interval between primary malignancies in the OCF group was significantly longer than that in the LCF group (3.26 vs. 0.11 years, p < 0.001). Patients in the single lung cancer group were significantly older than those in the LCF group (67.12 vs. 65.18 years, p < 0.001). The mean survival time of patients with LCF was longer than that of patients with single lung cancer. Following initial lung cancer, the three most common second primary malignancies were lung, colon, and breast cancers. For patients with advanced lung cancer, survival in patients with mutant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was longer than that in patients with undetected EGFR. In stage 3 and 4 patients with EGFR mutations, the LCF group showed better survival than the single lung cancer group. Conversely, in stage 1 patients with mutant EGFR, the LCF group exhibited worse survival than the single lung cancer group. Conclusions: Survival in patients with MPMs depends on baseline characteristics and treatments. Our findings may contribute to the development of precision medicine for improving personalized treatment and survival as well as the reduction of medical costs.

Treating with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) Accompanying Lower Incidence of Second Primary Cancers

Lung cancer survivors are at risk of developing second primary cancers (SPCs). Although some risk factors for the development of SPCs have been addressed, their impacts have not been clarified. This study, based on Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), a nationwide database, was designed to investigate the risk factors for SPCs in patients with initial lung cancer and identify the impacts of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment on the development of SPCs. In this study, 37,954 individuals were included, of whom 2819 had SPCs. These patients were further divided into the second primary lung cancers (SPLC) and second primary extrapulmonary cancer (SPEC) groups. Among the patients with lung cancer without SPCs, those aged <65 years accounted for 53.15%. Patients aged ≥65 years accounted for 40.18% and 53.24% in the SPLC and SPEC groups, respectively. Females accounted for 50.3% of patients without SPC, 54% of the SPLC group, and 44.3% of the SPEC group. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models showed increased hazard ratios for smoking, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, and lower HRs for surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and TKIs. Patients undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy were associated with a lower risk of SPCs. Treatment with EGFR TKIs was a significant and independent factor associated with lower incidence of SPCs. This study may encourage researchers to establish predictive models based on our results to assess the risk factors for SPCs, and therefore, early screening and intervention could be applied, and the SPCs-related mortality and relevant medical costs could be reduced.

Synchronous/Metachronous Multiple Primary Malignancies: Review of Associated Risk Factors

The incidence of secondary primary malignancy (SPM) has been reported to range from 1.33% to 5.8%, according to the location of the primary cancer and the follow-up duration. The highest occurrence rate of SPM, of 36.6% within 6 months, has been reported in lung cancer. Genitourinary malignancies were reported to be the third-most-common SPM in several reports. However, the incidence of genitourinary malignancy as the first primary cancer associated with SPM has not been reported. Several risk factors are related to the occurrence of SPM, including viral infection chemotherapy, radiation, genetics, smoking, betel quid chewing, and environmental factors. An early survey for SPM is indicated in first primary malignancy patients with these associated factors. In this study, we summarize several risk factors related to the occurrence of SPMs and preventive tests, which may help in their early detection and, consequently, better survival.

Pathological and clinical features of multiple cancers and lung adenocarcinoma: a multicentre study

OBJECTIVES

Lung cancer is increasingly diagnosed as a second cancer. Our goal was to analyse the characteristics and outcomes of early-stage resected lung adenocarcinomas in patients with previous cancers (PC) and correlations with adenocarcinoma subtypes.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed data of patients radically operated on for stage I-II lung adenocarcinoma in 9 thoracic surgery departments between 2014 and 2017. Overall survival (OS) and time to disease relapse were evaluated between subgroups.

RESULTS

We included 700 consecutive patients. PC were present in 260 (37.1%). Breast adenocarcinoma, lung cancer and prostate cancer were the most frequent (21.5%, 11.5% and 11.2%, respectively). No significant differences in OS were observed between the PC and non-PC groups (P = 0.378), with 31 and 75 deaths, respectively. Patients with PC had smaller tumours and were more likely to receive sublobar resection and to be operated on with a minimally invasive approach. Previous gastric cancer (P = 0.042) and synchronous PC (when diagnosed up to 6 months before lung adenocarcinoma; P = 0.044) were related, with a worse OS. Colon and breast adenocarcinomas and melanomas were significantly related to a lower incidence of high grade (solid or micropapillary, P = 0.0039, P = 0.005 and P = 0.028 respectively), whereas patients affected by a previous lymphoma had a higher incidence of a micropapillary pattern (P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with PC, we found smaller tumours more frequently treated with minimally invasive techniques and sublobar resection, probably due to a more careful follow-up. The impact on survival is not uniform and predictable; however, breast and colon cancers and melanoma showed a lower incidence of solid or micropapillary patterns whereas patients with lymphomas had a higher incidence of a micropapillary pattern.

Second Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma After Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective

The improvement of the efficacy of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) has prolonged the survival of patients, and the incidence of the second tumor has gradually increased. Among them, second primary lung adenocarcinoma (SPLAC) attributes the highest incidence. This study aimed to determine the long-term risk of SPLAC in NPC patients after IMRT.

Methods

From May 2005 to May 2018, a total of 1,102 non-metastatic NPC patients who received IMRT in our hospital were enrolled, and the incidence and efficacy of SPLAC were followed up in the long term.

Results

Over a median follow-up period of 66 months, a total of 22 cases of SPLAC were observed, with an incidence of 2.0%. The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year cumulative risks of SPLAC were 0.4%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 1.1%, and 1.7%, respectively. During follow-up, 90.9% (20/22) of the SPLAC detected was in early stage, and the recurrence rate of surgery alone was 5.3% (1/19).

Conclusion

In NPC patients, the proportion of SPLAC after IMRT was similar to that of the normal population, and most of them were found in early stage during follow-up, with good surgical efficacy.

Clinical and surgical approaches for malignant pulmonary lesions after a previous extrapulmonary malignancy

BACKGROUND

In our study, since the operative histopathological distinction of new malignant pulmonary lesions as either a primary lung cancer or a pulmonary metastasis is difficult, we aimed to identify the clinical variables which might allow distinction between a new lung cancer and a pulmonary metastasis, and the appropriate surgical management.

METHODS

We divided 55 cases into two groups: patients with new lung cancer (NLC, n = 32) and patients with pulmonary metastases (PM, n = 23). Based on the primary organ, the previous malignancy was classified into four categories: head and neck, colorectal, genitourinary, and breast cancer. The parameters included in the study were age, sex, smoking history, a family history of cancer, disease-free interval, primary organ, treatments for previous malignancies, size, and SUV max of the lung lesion on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan and high-resolution computed tomography findings of the lung lesion.

RESULTS

A predisposition for larger lesions was found in the NLC group. In addition, in the NLC group, disease-free interval was noted to be longer, patients were significantly older and SUV-max values of solitary pulmonary lesions were significantly higher than in the PM group. Pulmonary lesions in patients with prior head and neck cancers were more likely to develop NLC. No significant difference in statistical analysis was observed between the groups in terms of sex, smoking, a family history of cancer, a history of adjuvant therapy, radiological pulmonary lesions signs, and localization.

CONCLUSION

PL monitoring on CT surveillance is essential, particularly in patients with previous head and neck cancers, who appear to have a higher risk for NLC. If pathological MLN accompanies PL in a patient with previous extrapulmonary malignancy, cervical mediastinoscopy may help acquire a possible PL diagnosis besides mediastinal staging. Intraoperative frozen section may have difficulty in distinguishing between PM and NLC when the lesion is of the same histological type as the previous malignancy. When precise distinction cannot be achieved by frozen section, we speculate that DFI, age, and radiological findings of the PL may help thoracic surgeons take initiative peroperatively while designating the subsequent surgical intervention. Lastly, pulmonary segmentectomy is also better be considered along with lobectomy in NLC cases.

Multiple primary malignancies involving lung cancer: a single-center experience

OBJECTIVE

Currently, unlike earlier years, patients affected by multiple primary malignancies (MPM) are significantly increased, thus representing a clinical-pathologic category worthy of attention. Their clinical features and prognosis still need to be studied thoroughly, and this is the aim of our study.

METHODS

Patients with MPM involving lung cancer admitted in our center between January 2006 and December 2016 were considered. Parametric and nonparametric testing was used for statistical comparisons. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the variables associated with a prognostic value.

RESULTS

MPM incidence was 19.8%. Among the 222 patients with MPM enrolled, 204 (91.8%) had two malignancies, while 18 (8.2%) had three malignancies, 38 (17.1%) were synchronous, 41 (18.5%) had lung cancer first (LCF) and 181 (81.5%) had other cancer first (OCF). A significant difference between the time of first cancer diagnosis to the second cancer diagnosis in the LCF vs OCF group was found (median 32 vs 51 months; p-value: 0.038). The most frequent anatomical sites of malignancies preceding or following lung cancer were prostate, colorectal, bladder, and larynx. Multivariate analysis revealed that sex, histologic pattern, and time and order of occurrence were independent factors for overall survival, with male sex, squamous cell lung carcinoma, synchronous and LCF MPM significantly associated with poorer overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Prostate, colorectal, bladder, and larynx were the most frequent anatomical sites of malignancies preceding or following lung cancer. Male sex, squamous cell lung carcinoma, synchronous and LCF MPM might be associated with poorer prognosis.

[Analysis of Clinical Characteristics of Lung Cancer Combined with Multiple Primary Malignancies in Other Organs]

BACKGROUND

With the popularization of chest computed tomography (CT) early screening for lung cancer, the detection rate of lung cancer combined with multiple primary malignancies (MPM) in other organs has been increasing. In this paper, the incidence, pathological characteristics, diagnosis and treatment characteristics and prognosis were discussed and analyzed to provide research basis for improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

METHODS

From September 2011 to September 2015, a total of 5,570 patients with lung cancer were treated in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital. The clinicopathological characteristics of 61 patients with lung cancer combined with MPM in other organs were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of lung cancer combined with MPM in other organs in this group was 1.1%, of which 15 cases were synchronous MPM (SMPM), 46 cases were metachronous MPM (MMPM). Colorectal cancer, breast cancer and thyroid cancer accounted for the top three of lung cancer combined with MPM in other organs. The overall 5-year survival rate was 39.3% and 71.4% of patients died from metastasis or recurrence of lung cancer. Multivariate analysis showed that the clinical stage of lung cancer patients, the order of occurrence of lung cancer and other tumors, the treatment status of patients with other organ tumors and the presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation were important factors for the survival of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence rate of lung cancer combined with MPM in other organs is not uncommon. Lung cancer is the main cause of death compared with other organs tumors. Patients with advanced lung cancer, SMPM, lung cancer first, combined with tumor only receiving palliative treatment and without EGFR gene mutation had a poor prognosis.

Clinic image surveillance reduces mortality in patients with primary hepato-gastrointestinal cancer who develop second primary lung cancer: A STROBE-compliant retrospective study

Second primary cancer is prevalent in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, for which lung cancer is the most common and associated with high lethality. Image screening for lung cancer was proved to be effective in early diagnosis and lower mortality. However, trials of screen for lung cancer generally excluded patients with a previous diagnosis of malignancy. The study aimed to investigate the outcome of second primary lung cancer and the factor that improve survival in patients with hepato-GI cancer.A total of 276 patients with secondary lung cancer were found among 3723 newly-diagnosed lung cancer patients diagnosed in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, between 2010 and 2014. Patients' clinical characteristics, stages and survival were recorded and analyzed. The patients were separated into 2 groups: Group I was defined as lung cancer detected in original primary cancer clinic and group II patients defined as lung cancer detected in other medical places.Sixty-nine cases with primary GI-hepatic and secondary lung cancer were diagnosed (42 (60.8%) in Group I and 27 (39.1%) in Group II). Although both groups had comparable primary cancer stages and treatment, more patients in Group I than Group II were diagnosed as early stage lung cancer (stage I-II: 40.5% vs 11.1%; P = .023). Group II had larger lung tumor sizes than Group I (4.7 vs 3.5 cm; P = .025). Group I showed better 5-year overall survival than Group II (P = .014, median survival: 27 vs 10 months). Among Group II, only 37% had received image follow up in clinic compared with 67% of Group I cases (P = .025). Patients with chest image follow up in clinics also had better 5-year overall survival (P = .043).GI-hepatic cancer was the most common primary malignancy in the lung cancer cohort. Patients had better survival outcome when secondary lung cancer was diagnosed in original primary cancer clinic. Chest image screening strategy may contribute better survival in secondary lung cancer due to detection at an earlier stage.

Dual Primary Cancer Patients With Lung Cancer as a Second Primary Malignancy: A Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Research on patients with lung cancer as a second primary malignancy (LCSPM) remains limited. This study aims to determine the clinical characteristics, prognosis, and temporal relationship of other cancers to lung cancer in these patients.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed 3465 patients with dual primary cancers from the 5253 patients with LCSPM retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from 2010 to 2015.

RESULTS

2285 eligible patients were further analyzed in this study cohort with 59.3% of 1-year OS, 34.7% of 3-year OS, and 25.2% of 5-year OS. The most common first primary cancer (FPC) in dual primary cancer patients with LCSPM was prostate cancer, followed by female breast cancer and urinary bladder cancer. In the entire study population, the median interval between the two primary malignancies was 21 months (range: 3.5-52 months). Age, sex, FPC location, surgery, stage, and histology of lung cancer were regarded as independent prognostic factors for these patients. The prognosis of patients with urinary bladder cancer as FPC was the worst in the univariate (p = 0.024) and multivariate (p < 0.001) Cox analyses. Lung cancer-directed surgery could significantly improve long-term survival (HR = 0.22, p < 0.001). Additionally, the C-index of the established nomogram with acceptable calibration curves was 0.760 (95% CI: 0.744-0.776) in the training cohort and was 0.759 (95% CI: 0.737-0.781) in the validation cohort, showing an ideal model discrimination ability. The corresponding decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated the nomogram had relatively ideal clinical utility.

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer patients still have the risk of developing a new primary lung cancer. Close, lifelong follow-up is recommended for all these patients. Early detection for surgical treatment will significantly improve the prognosis of dual primary cancer patients with LCSPM. The nomogram developed to predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates has relatively good performance.

Incidental early diagnosis of biphasic pulmonary blastoma in a patient with history of stage IV lung adenocarcinoma

Biphasic pulmonary blastoma is a rare but lethal type of lung malignancy with characteristic histology of both epithelial and mesenchymal components. Previously reported cases have been limited to presentation at advanced stages, suggesting that the clinical course of the disease is usually aggressive. Here, we report a case of incidental diagnosis of biphasic pulmonary blastoma by imaging surveillance in a patient previously treated for adenocarcinoma of the lung. The patient was diagnosed with stage 1 disease and underwent successful resection. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) revealed a high mutation burden, a finding not previously reported in a patient with biphasic pulmonary blastoma.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer in octogenarians and older: an alternative treatment

Surgery is the standard modality for early-stage I-II non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Generally, patients who are >80 years old tend to have more comorbidities and inferior physical status than younger patients. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) may provide an alternative treatment for this group of patients. Here, we report our experience using SBRT to in the management of early-stage NSCLC in patients >80 years old. Patients aged ≥80 years old who were diagnosed with early-stage NSCLC and treated with definitive lung SBRT from January 2000 to January 2018 were retrospectively analysed. Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and treatment-related toxicities were analysed for patients >80 years old. A total of 153 patients were included, with a median age of 85 years (range, 80-94). The median follow-up period and OS was 39.8 months (range, 10-101 months) and 76 months, respectively. The 3-year OS, PFS, CSS, RRFS and LRFS were 65.3, 58.0, 75.7, 73.9 and 85.3%, respectively. Radiation pneumonitis grade 0-1, grade 2, grade 3 and grade 4 was observed in 135 (88.2%), 13 (8.5%), 4 (2.61%) and 1 (0.6%) patient(s), respectively. On multivariate analyses, tumor size, pretreatment C-reactive protein (CRP) value, histology and pretreatment physical state were significantly associated with OS. Definitive lung SBRT appears to have high LRFS and OS without causing high-grade radiation-related toxicities in early-stage NSCLC patients who were >80 years old.

Combined Atezolizumab and Chemotherapy for a Patient With Double Primary Cancers

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are indicated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and head and neck cancer, and combined treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitor and chemotherapy has recently been carried out in patients with NSCLC. However, there is no established standard therapy for synchronous locally advanced or metastatic cancers of lung and nasopharynx.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of a metastatic lung adenocarcinoma and locally advanced epipharyngeal carcinoma successfully treated with chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor, paclitaxel, carboplatin, bevacizumab and atezolizumab. The tumor proportion score of programmed death ligand 1 was 5-10% and 70-80% for metastatic lung adenocarcinoma and locally advanced epipharyngeal carcinoma, respectively. Shrinkage of both carcinomas was confirmed, and the treatment effect was judged to be a partial response.

CONCLUSION

This was the first patient who was treated with this combination treatment. Our clinical experience suggests that this treatment could be one of the options for patients with these advanced cancers and an overall good clinical condition.

Hazards of Recurrence, Second Primary, or Other Tumor at Ten Years After Surgery for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Better treatment options entail the risk of multiple tumors in a patient's lifetime. We studied the incidence, risk factors, and prognostic impact of second primaries and other malignancies in patients with operated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 342 consecutive patients with curatively resected NSCLC between 2003 and 2007.

RESULTS

Among the 342 patients analyzed, 172 (50.3%) developed locoregional and/or distant recurrence; 25 (7.3%) had a second primary lung cancer, 97 (28.3%) had 1 or more malignancies other than NSCLC either in their history (n = 61; 17.8%) or following resection (n = 64; 18.7%). One hundred fifteen patients (33.6%) had a malignancy other than primary NSCLC. Eight patients developed both a second primary lung cancer and another malignancy. Older age and lower N-stage were significantly correlated with the occurrence of an additional tumor, as shown by a logistic regression nomogram. Whereas the risk of recurrence decreases over time, the risk of developing a second tumor, particularly a second primary lung cancer, remains high during up to 10 years of follow-up. One hundred seventy patients (49.7%) died of the primary (n = 158; 46.2%) or second primary (n = 12; 3.5%) NSCLC, 23 (6.7%) died of another malignancy, and 66 (19.3%) died due to unrelated causes (overall 10-year survival, 33.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Second primary lung cancer or other malignancy occurs in 33% of patients with NSCLC; 26% of patients are affected within 10 years after resection of lung cancer. With curative treatment of secondary tumors, there is no negative influence on long-term prognosis of NSCLC; therefore, follow-up beyond 5 years is strongly advisable.

Impact of examined lymph node count on long-term survival of T1-2N0M0 double primary NSCLC patients after surgery: a SEER study

Purpose

The relationship between examined lymph nodes (ELN) and survival has been confirmed in several single early-stage malignancies. We studied the association between the ELN count and the long-term survival of T1-2N0M0 double primary non-small cell lung cancer (DP-NSCLC) patients after surgery, based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database.

Methods

A total of 948 patients were identified and their independent prognostic factors were analyzed. These factors included the ELN count, which related to overall survival (OS) and the cancer-specific survival (CSS) of synchronous (n = 426) and metachronous (n = 522) T1-2N0M0 DP-NSCLC patients after surgery.

Results

X-tile analysis indicated that the cutoff value for the sum of ELNs was 22 for both OS and CSS in the synchronous DP-NSCLC group. Patients with a sum of ELNs >22 were statistically more likely to survive than those with ≤22 ELNs. X-tile analysis revealed that the ELN count of the second lesion was related to both OS and CSS in the metachronous DP-NSCLC group. The optimal cutoff value was nine. These results were confirmed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that ELN count was highly correlated with the long-term survival of T1-2N0M0 double primary NSCLC patients after surgery.

Breast Cancer and Multiple Primary Malignant Tumors: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Multiple primary malignant neoplasms are multiple tumors with different pathogenetic origin. They may be synchronous or metachronous. The management of these conditions represents an interesting clinical scenario. A crucial aspect is the decision regarding which tumor to treat initially, and how to schedule further treatments according to individual tumor risk. This process involves a multidisciplinary physician team to ensure favorable outcomes. We describe a case report of a female patient affected by primary synchronous tumors of the breast and pectoral skin, which raised a series of diagnostic, etiological and therapeutic issues persuading us to carry out a critical review of the literature.

The Conundrum of Dual Primary Malignancies: Four Years’ Experience of a Single Tertiary Care Institute in India

Background: Encountering more than one malignancy in a cancer patient is no longer uncommon; this increasing incidence is mostly attributable to the improvements in life expectancy, awareness, and diagnostic facilities. This article aims to highlight this institute’s experience in diagnosis and treatment of patients of multiple primary malignancies and a comprehensive review of literature. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study of retrospectively collected data of a single institution over 4 years from 2013 to 2016. Known cases of cancer who were diagnosed with a second primary malignancy were included in the study. Various details such as age, sex, site of disease, temporal relation of two cancers (synchronous or metachronous), family history, tobacco use, treatment given, and survival at 1 year were recorded, organized in a tabular form, analyzed, and described. Results: A total of 29 cases of dual malignancies comprising 0.74% of a total of 3879 patients of cancer were encountered. Seventy-two percent of the cases were metachronous and 5 years was the mean time interval between tumors. There was a female preponderance, and the average age was 56 years. Breast was the most common site of malignancy. At 1 year from diagnosis of second primary, 69% of the patients were alive and 27% were disease-free. Conclusion: Second primary in a patient of cancer is becoming increasingly common and the suspicion of the same should always be borne in mind during follow-up. Prognosis as well as intent of treatment depends on respective stages of the two malignancies.

A case of successful concurrent anti-cancer treatment in a patient who developed follicular lymphoma during treatment with afatinib for advanced lung adenocarcinoma

The present report describes the case of a 64-year-old woman with advanced lung adenocarcinoma expressing mutant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The patient developed follicular lymphoma during treatment with the EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor afatinib. Standard immunochemotherapy for follicular lymphoma was introduced in addition to continuing treatment with afatinib for lung cancer. Immunochemotherapy was effective and improved the patient's performance status while afatinib controlled the progression of lung cancer. Our case study suggests that it is safe to introduce standard immunochemotherapy for patients who develop malignant lymphoma while continuing treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors for lung adenocarcinoma expressing mutant EGFR.

Analysis of Overall Survival in Patients With Multiple Primary Malignancies: A Single-center Experience

Introduction Multiple primary malignancies (MPMs) are seen in ~5% of all tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative impact on overall survival (OS) and treatment choices in patients with MPMs. Methods A retrospective analysis to determine patients with MPMs was conducted over a six-year period. Patients were defined as simultaneous MPMs if the second malignancy was discovered within 60 days of the first, and as sequential MPMs if discovered after 60 days of the first. Results Fifty-six patients with MPMs as defined above were identified, 38 (68%) simultaneous and 18 (32%) sequential. Development of second malignancy did not affect treatment in 47 (84%) of patients. Median OS after diagnosis of first malignancy was 13.0 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 10.3-15.8 months), compared to 10.6 months (95% CI 7.1-13.9 months) after the diagnosis of second malignancy. Median OS for the simultaneous MPM group was 13.5 months (95% CI 7.1-19.9 months), compared to 3.2 months (95% CI 0.0-9.8 months) for the sequential MPM group. Conclusions The development of a second malignancy impacts OS and treatment decisions. Patients who developed sequential MPM performed poorer than those who developed simultaneous MPM. This was likely in part due to effects of existing treatment on performance status as well as treatment preferences when second MPM is diagnosed (as many patients opted for supportive care after second MPM). Further analysis with larger patient cohorts is necessary to ascertain the aforementioned effects of OS and treatment options with respect to tumor pathology, stage, and performance status.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic analysis of multiple primary malignant neoplasms in patients with lung cancer

Retrospective analysis of data from 14,528 lung cancer patients with multiple primary malignant neoplasm (MPMN) revealed that 2.5% (364/14,528) were MPMN cases and 96.2% (350/364) were diagnosed with two primary malignancies, 3.6% (13/364) with three primary malignancies, and 0.3% (1/364) with four primary malignancies. Among 350 lung cancer patients diagnosed with two primary malignancies, 26.6% (93/350) had lung cancer diagnosed first (LCF) and 73.4% (257/350) had other cancers diagnosed initially (OCF), whereas synchronous MPMN (SMPMN) accounted for 21.1% (74/350) and metachronous MPMN (MMPMN) accounted for 78.9% (276/350) of the cases. Detection of first primary neoplasms were at an early stage for LCF patients and the age of the first lung cancer diagnosis was 59.3 years vs. 55.4 years in the OCF group (P = 0.008), whereas the onset age of second primary neoplasm diagnosis was similar in both groups (62.5 and 61.6 years, P = 0.544). Median survival times of MMPMN and SMPMN patients in the LCF group were 6.83 and 2.42 years and in the OCF group 8.67 years and 2.25 years, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that SMPMN, LCF and the age of the primary cancer diagnosed first ( ≥ 60 years) and NSCL staging  > II were significant independent factors for inferior prognosis of patients.

Variable impact of prior cancer history on the survival of lung cancer patients

INTRODUCTION

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is commonly diagnosed in patients who have survived a prior malignancy. However, it is currently unclear whether NSCLC patient survival is impacted by the potential for previously-treated malignancies to recur. Understanding the impact of a prior cancer history on NSCLC survival could not only enhance decision making but could affect eligibility for NSCLC studies.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for NSCLC patients (stage I-IV) diagnosed between 2004-2014. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were estimated to analyze overall survival across a variety of treatment approaches and stages in the presence and absence of a prior cancer history.

RESULTS

A total of 821,323 patients with a newly diagnosed NSCLC were identified including 179,512 (21.9%) with a prior history of cancer. The unadjusted 5-year overall survival of patients with a prior cancer history (9.8%) was slightly better to those without a cancer history (9.5%, 95% CI 11.76-11.84, P < 0.0001). However, adjusted analyses revealed the impact of prior cancer history was extremely heterogenous across stage and treatment approach. Ultimately, 51.4% of patients fell into a subgroup in which prior cancer history appeared to compromise survival, 16.3% in which the difference was not significant, and 32.3% in which prior cancer was associated with increased survival. Patients with earlier-staged tumors were the most negatively NSCLC impacted by prior cancer history.

CONCLUSIONS

The association between prior cancer history and survival of newly diagnosed NSCLC patients is highly variable and to some degree reflects a patient's potential for cure.

Prognosis associated with synchronous or metachronous multiple primary malignancies in patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE

To investigate the influence of multiple primary malignancies (MPMs) on the prognosis of patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

The subjects of this retrospective study were 521 patients who underwent complete curative pulmonary resection for NSCLC. Patients were divided into two groups: those with and those without MPMs.

RESULTS

The 521 NSCLC patients included 184 patients (35.3%) with MPMs and 337 patients without MPMs. The overall 5-year survival rates for patients with vs those without MPMs were 66.1 and 75.6%, respectively (p = 0.0061). According to multivariate analysis, MPMs, age, gender, pathological stage, and interstitial pneumonia were independent predictors of prognosis. The 47 patients with synchronous MPMs and the 82 patients with metachronous MPMs found within the last 5 years had significantly poorer prognoses than patients without MPMs (p = 0.0048 and p = 0.0051, respectively). However, the prognoses of the 55 patients with metachronous MPMs that had been present for over 5 years did not differ from those of the patients without MPMs.

CONCLUSIONS

NSCLC patients with synchronous MPMs or metachronous MPMs diagnosed within the last 5 years had poor prognoses. Decisions about the best therapeutic strategies require comprehensive consideration of the organ location, malignant potential, recurrence, and prognosis of the MPMs. In contrast, decisions about the best therapeutic strategies for NSCLC patients with metachronous MPMs present for over 5 years should be based solely on the NSCLC.

Clinical characteristics and survival of lung cancer patients associated with multiple primary malignancies

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the characteristics and survival of lung cancer patients with additional malignant primary cancers.

METHODS

Records of lung cancer patients newly diagnosed in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital between January 2000 and January 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with second primary lung cancer and those with lung cancer only were included for detailed analysis.

RESULTS

Of 27642 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients, 283 patients (1.02%) suffered previous additional primary cancers. Compared with single primary lung cancer, patients with secondary lung cancer associated other primary cancers were more often women (female to male ratio 1:1.72 vs 1:2.58, P = 0.018), older (64.2 vs 60.5 years old, P<0.001), more squamous cell type (30.7% vs 20.5%, P = 0.004), less small cell (3.9% vs 15.5%, P<0.001) type, at earlier stages (17.7% vs 11.0% for stage I, P = 0.014), and more frequently with family history of cancers (7.8% vs 3.9%, P = 0.038). The most common previous primary cancers observed were colorectal (22.0%), breast (18.4%), gastric (14.4%) and larynx cancers (11.9%). Approximately 42.9% of patients were diagnosed with lung cancer 2 to 6 years after diagnosis of initial primary cancers. The survival of patients with secondary lung cancer associated other malignancies was not significantly different from those with single lung cancer (P = 0.491), while synchronous multiple primary malignancies showed worse prognosis compared with those with metachronous ones or single lung cancer (p = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

The possibility of second primary lung cancer should always be considered during the follow-up of related cancer types, especially those with family history of cancers. Patients with secondary lung cancer associated other primary malignancies have non-inferior survival than those with single lung cancer.

Long non-coding RNAs may serve as biomarkers in breast cancer combined with primary lung cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play important regulatory role in certain type of cancers biology, including breast and lung cancers. However, the lncRNA expression in breast cancer combined with primary lung cancer remains unknown. In this study, databases of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the lncRNA profiler of contained candidate 192 lncRNAs were utilized. 11 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in breast cancer, 9 candidate lncRNAs were differentially expressed in lung cancer. In order to find the aberrant expression of lncRNAs in breast cancer combined with primary lung cancer, seven samples of primary breast cancer and lung cancer were studied for the expression of selected lncRNAs. The results showed that SNHG6 and NEAT1 were reversely expressed in breast cancer combined with primary lung cancer compared with primary breast or lung cancer. In addition, a significant correlation of lncRNAs was found in the patients whose age was above 56 in breast cancer. What's more, PVT1 expression was negatively correlated with the pathological stage, and the level of ER, PR, HER2, p53 in breast cancer. Furthermore, lncRNA expression did not have significant relationship with the 5-year survival of patients with breast cancer combined with primary lung cancer. The findings revealed that PVT1, SNHG6, NEAT1 may serve as a prognostic marker for breast cancer combined with primary lung cancer. Therefore, these lncRNAs are potential molecular indicators in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer in the future.

Multiple primary malignancies of laryngeal cancer, small cell lung cancer and squamous cell lung cancer in a patient: how to approach MPMs

Lung malignancies presenting in association with head and neck cancers are well documented, while laryngeal cancers presenting with simultaneous small cell lung cancer and squamous cell lung cancer have been rarely reported. We report a case of a man aged 65 years with a triple primary malignancy of the lung and larynx. Without a meticulous approach, the patients may not receive curative aim treatment due to incomplete staging. The patient underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced laryngeal cancer, small cell lung cancer and squamous cell lung cancer followed by combination chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin for synchronous double primary lung cancer. Following this therapy, he achieved a complete response of larynx cancer, but a partial response of small cell lung cancer and a stable disease of squamous cell lung cancer. A meticulous diagnostic approach should be encouraged to pursue the possibility of curative treatment and achieve better outcomes for such patients.

Is cancer history really an exclusion criterion for clinical trial of lung cancer? Influence of gastrointestinal tract cancer history on the outcomes of lung cancer surgery

Objective

Exclusion of patients with a history of other cancer treatment except in situ situation has been considered to be inevitable for clinical trials investigating survival outcome. However, there have been few reports confirming these influences on surgical outcome of lung cancer patients ever.

Methods

Multi-institutional, individual data from patients with non–small cell lung cancer resected between 2000 and 2013 were collected. The patients were divided into two groups: those with a history of gastrointestinal tract cancer (GI group) and those without any history (non-GI group). We compared the outcomes with well-matched groups using propensity scoring to minimize bias related to the nonrandomness. The influence of gastrointestinal tract cancer stage, disease-free interval, and treatment method for gastrointestinal tract cancer on the surgical outcome of non–small cell lung cancer was examined.

Results

We analyzed 196 patients in the GI group and 3732 in the non-GI group. In unmatched cohort, multivariate analyses showed that a history of gastrointestinal tract cancer did not affect overall survival or recurrence-free survival. Independent predictors of poor prognosis included older age, male sex, high carcinoembryonic antigen levels and advanced clinical stage of non–small cell lung cancer. The two groups in the matched cohort demonstrated equivalent overall survival and recurrence-free survival, even in patients with clinical stage I. Gastrointestinal tract cancer stage, disease-free interval and treatment method for gastrointestinal tract cancer were not associated with outcomes.

Conclusions

History of early gastrointestinal tract cancer completely resected is not always necessary for exclusion criteria in clinical trial of lung cancer.

Revisiting a longstanding clinical trial exclusion criterion: impact of prior cancer in early-stage lung cancer

Background:

Early-stage lung cancer represents a key focus of numerous multicenter clinical trials, but common exclusion criteria such as a prior cancer diagnosis may limit enrollment. We examined the prevalence and prognostic impact of a prior cancer diagnosis among patients with early-stage lung cancer.

Methods:

We identified patients>65 years of age with early-stage lung cancer diagnosed 1996–2009 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database. Prior cancers were characterized by type, stage, and timing with respect to the lung cancer diagnosis. All-cause and lung cancer specific-survival rates were compared between patients with and without prior cancer using Cox regression analyses and propensity scores.

Results:

Among 42,910 patients with early-stage lung cancer, one-fifth (21%) had a prior cancer. The most common prior cancers were prostate (21%), breast (18%), gastrointestinal (17%), and other genitourinary (15%). Most prior cancers were localized, and 61% were diagnosed within 5 years of the lung cancer diagnosis. There was no difference in all-cause survival between patients with and without prior cancer (hazard ratio [HR] 1.01; P=0.52). Lung cancer specific survival was improved among patients with prior cancer (HR 0.79; P<0.001).

Conclusions:

A prior cancer history may exclude a substantial proportion of patients with early-stage lung cancer from enrollment in clinical trials. Without adverse effect on clinical outcomes, inclusion of patients age >65 years with prior cancer in clinical trials should be considered to improve study accrual, completion rates, and generalizability.

Clinical outcome in lung cancer with a second malignancy: The time sequence matters

The aim of the study was to determine the clinical outcome of lung cancer patients with a secondary malignancy according to the time sequence between the lung cancer and the secondary malignancy.Retrospective review of all lung cancer patients with any secondary cancer treated from June 2004 to July 2012. The survival of patients with a secondary malignancy was compared to those patients without a secondary malignancy. According to the time sequence between the lung cancer and the secondary malignancy, patients were divided into 4 groups. Group I: lung cancer without any other malignancy, Group II: lung cancer with a secondary malignancy at follow-up, Group III: lung cancer with a pre-existing malignancy, Group IV: synchronous malignancies (diagnosis interval between lung cancer and a secondary malignancy of less than 3 months).Patients with any secondary cancer in their history or at follow up included 157 patients (9.5%). Collectively; the median survival was significantly better for patients with a secondary malignancy, 19.09 months, compared to those without a secondary malignancy, 9.53 months, P < 0.001, HR 0.66 (95% CI 0.55 - 0.79). However, the survival differed significantly according to the time sequence between the lung cancer and the secondary malignancy. The median survival was 47.9 months for group II patients, 12.19 months for group III, 17.51 months for group IV, and 9.53 months for group I; P = 0.001. In Cox proportional hazard analysis, the risk of dying decreased by 68% in group II patients compared to group I patients, HR 0.32 (95% CI 0.21-0.5), P < 0.001. Although the risk of dying for group III and IV decreased by 19% and 16% respectively compared to group I patients, it did not reach statistical significance.Nowadays, secondary malignancy in lung cancer patients is a frequent finding. Better survival was observed for patient with secondary malignancy following lung cancer.

Prior cancer does not adversely affect survival in locally advanced lung cancer: A national SEER-medicare analysis

INTRODUCTION

Management of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer is among the most highly contested areas in thoracic oncology. In this population, a history of prior cancer frequently results in exclusion from clinical trials and may influence therapeutic decisions. We therefore determined prevalence and prognostic impact of prior cancer among these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified patients>65years of age diagnosed 1992-2009 with locally advanced lung cancer in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked dataset. We characterized prior cancer by prevalence, type, stage, and timing. We compared all-cause and lung cancer-specific survival between patients with and without prior cancer using propensity score-adjusted Cox regression.

RESULTS

51,542 locally advanced lung cancer patients were included; 15.8% had a history of prior cancer. Prostate (25%), gastrointestinal (17%), breast (16%), and other genitourinary (15%) were the most common types of prior cancer, and 76% percent of prior cancers were localized or in situ stage. Approximately half (54%) of prior cancers were diagnosed within 5 years of the index lung cancer date. Patients with prior cancer had similar (propensity-score adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99; P=0.005) and improved lung cancer-specific (HR 0.84; 95% CI, 0.81-0.86; P<0.001) survival compared to patients with no prior cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with locally advanced lung cancer, prior cancer does not adversely impact clinical outcomes. Patients with locally advanced lung cancer and a history of prior cancer should not be excluded from clinical trials, and should be offered aggressive, potentially curative therapies if otherwise appropriate.

Survival impact of locoregional metachronous malignancy in survival of lung cancer patients who received curative treatment

BACKGROUND

Metachronous malignancy is also found in the lung cancer population and may be identified before or after diagnosis of lung cancer. No prior studies have documented lung cancer patients with metachronous malignancy and its survival impact in this population. The aim of this study was to try to clarify the survival impact of locoregional metachronous malignancy in the lung cancer population with resectable disease from a pathology point of view.

METHODS

From January 2005 to December 2009, 199 lung cancer patients received curative treatment in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, of which 34 were identified as having lung cancer and metachronous malignancy and 165 patients as having lung cancer only. Clinico-pathologic factors were collected from the medical records. Differences in clinical presentations between the two groups and survival impact were further analyzed.

RESULTS

Of these patients, 165 patients (82.9%) had lung cancer only (lung cancer group), and the remaining 34 patients (17.1%) had lung cancer and metachronous malignancy (metachronous malignancy group). There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups. The disease free survival (P=0.3199) and overall survival (P=0.71) between these two groups showed no statistically significant difference. Metachronous malignancy only showed survival impact in lung cancer patients with pathologic stage IIIA (P=0.0389).

CONCLUSIONS

Metachronous malignancy is also seen in the lung cancer population and may be identified before or after diagnosis of lung cancer. Locoregional metachronous malignancy has no survival impact on lung cancer patients who receive curative treatment. Anatomic resection with regional lymph node (LN) dissection is recommended if different tumor cell type and resectable disease are confirmed.

Multiple primary malignancies involving lung cancer

Background

The incidence of multiple primary malignancies (MPM) has increased sharply in recent decades. However, the clinical characteristics and prognosis of MPM patients involving lung cancer were not fully elucidated. This retrospective study was designed to explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of MPM patients involving lung cancer in the People’s Republic of China.

Methods

Of 5405 lung cancer cases diagnosed at the Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute between 2005 and 2013, we analyzed 185 patients (3.4 %) with MPM involving lung cancer.

Results

Among 185 patients with MPM involving lung cancer, 10 (5.4 %)had three malignancies and 175 (94.6 %) had two malignancies. 10 patients with three malignancies were excluded from the analysis to avoid misunderstanding. Of 175 accompanying malignancies, 64 (36.6 %) were synchronous MPM patients and 111 (63.4 %) were metachronous MPM patients; 49 (28.0 %) were lung cancer first MPM patients and 126 (72.0 %) were other cancer first MPM patients. The most frequent accompanying malignancy was colon cancer (25/175), followed by rectal cancer (18/175), esophageal cancer (17/175), and thyroid cancer (13/175). Metachronous MPM patients showed significantly better overall survival (OS) than synchronous MPM, with a median OS of 72.8 (range 12.2–391.0) and 12.9 (range 0.8–86.3)months, respectively (P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis revealed that time of occurrence and stage were independent factors for OS.

Conclusions

Colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, and thyroid cancer were the tumors that most frequently accompanying lung cancer. Metachronous MPM patients showed significantly better OS compared with synchronous MPM patients.

The association between tumor epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and multiple primary malignancies in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lungs

OBJECTIVES

An increased incidence of multiple primary malignancies has been found in recent decades. However, the nature of the association between the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status and multiple primary malignancies in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lungs is not clearly understood at this time.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of our patients with adenocarcinoma of the lungs, and evaluated the association between the tumor EGFR mutation status and multiple primary malignancies.

RESULTS

From December 2008 to November 2011, 655 pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients with tumor EGFR mutation data were available for analysis. Of them, 359 had EGFR mutations (including 336 classic EGFR mutations), 63 had double primary malignancies, and 7 had triple primary malignancies. Patients with classic EGFR mutations had a higher incidence of multiple primary malignancies than those without (P=0.042). Multiple primary malignancies occurred more frequently in patients with exon 19 mutations (including insertions, point mutations, or deletions) or exon 19 deletions than in patients without (P=0.037 and 0.032, respectively). Patients with any EGFR mutations or classic EGFR mutations survived longer than those who did not (P<0.001 and <0.001, respectively). Patients with multiple primary malignancies survived for a longer period than those without (P=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple primary malignancies occurred more frequently in patients with classic EGFR mutations, especially those with exon 19 deletions.

Multiple primary cancers involving lung cancer at a single tertiary hospital: Clinical features and prognosis

Background

The development of other primary cancers in patients with lung cancer is unfortunate and uncommon, although the frequency is increasing. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical features and prognosis in patients with multiple primary cancers (MPC) involving lung cancer.

Methods

After a retrospective review of 1644 patients who were newly diagnosed with primary lung cancer between 1998 and August 2012 at a tertiary hospital, 105 patients were included.

Results

The median age at the time of lung cancer diagnosis was 67 years, and 68 patients were male. Synchronous primary cancers occurred in 47% of the study population (49/105). Among those with metachronous cancer (56/105), the median interval between the diagnosis of lung cancer and another malignancy was 47.1 months; 21 patients were diagnosed with lung cancer as the first primary tumor. The most frequent type of other malignancy was urogenital (30%), followed by gastrointestinal (30%) and thyroid malignancies (16%). Advanced stage of lung cancer (hazard ratio (HR), 3.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.8–5.7; P < 0.001), supportive care only as treatment for lung cancer (HR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.3–6.0; P = 0.006), and head and neck cancer as another malignancy (HR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.4–10.8; P = 0.010) were independent predictors of shorter survival from the time of diagnosis of the second primary cancer.

Conclusion

Advanced lung cancer stage, symptomatic supportive care only without antitumor therapy for lung cancer, and head and neck cancer as another primary malignancy were poor prognostic factors in patients with MPC involving primary lung cancer.

Effect of prior cancer on outcomes in advanced lung cancer: implications for clinical trial eligibility and accrual

BACKGROUND

Prior cancer is a common exclusion criterion in lung cancer trials. This practice reflects concerns that prior cancer may affect trial conduct or outcomes. However, the impact of prior cancer on survival in lung cancer is not known.

METHODS

We identified patients older than age 65 years with stage IV lung cancer diagnosed between 1992 and 2009 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked registry. Prior cancer was characterized by type, stage, and timing. All-cause and lung cancer-specific survival were compared between patients with and without prior cancer using propensity score-adjusted Cox regression.

RESULTS

Overall, 102 929 patients with stage IV lung cancer were identified, of whom 14.7% had a history of prior cancer. More than two-thirds (76.0%) of prior cancers were localized or regional stage; most were diagnosed five or fewer years prior to the lung cancer diagnosis. In propensity score-adjusted analysis, patients with prior cancer had better all-cause (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.91 to 0.94) and lung cancer-specific (HR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.79 to 0.82) survival. In a simulated clinical trial-eligible population (age <75 years, no comorbidity, treated with chemotherapy), similar trends were noted. In subset analyses according to stage, type, and timing of prior cancer, no group of patients with prior cancer had inferior survival compared with patients without prior cancer.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with stage IV lung cancer, prior cancer does not convey an adverse effect on clinical outcomes, regardless of prior cancer stage, type, or timing. Broader inclusion in clinical trials of advanced lung cancer patients with a history of prior cancer should be considered.

Dual primary malignancy: a rare organ combination

A 63-year-old female smoker was evaluated for lump over the right breast, fine needle aspiration cytology of which showed infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Investigations also revealed the presence of left upper lobe mass lesion, the biopsy of which suggested small cell carcinoma. The existence of two malignancies having different histopathologies at anatomically distinct sites suggests the diagnosis of dual primary malignancy involving the breast and the lung which, being a rare combination, prompted us to report the case.

Prognosis of lung cancer patients with a past history of colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVES

The prognosis in lung cancer patients with a prior history of extrapulmonary cancer is controversial. In the current multicenter joint research in Japan, we focused on the relationship between a history of colorectal cancer and its prognostic impact in patients with subsequent lung cancer.

METHODS

Between 2000 and 2013, we designed a retrospective multicenter study at three institutes in Japan to evaluate the prognostic factors in lung cancer patients with a previous surgery for colorectal cancer.

RESULTS

The cohorts consisted of 123/4431 lung cancer patients with/without a previous history of surgery for colorectal cancer. The median follow-up period was 6.1 years after lung cancer surgery. The 5-year overall survival in lung cancer patients with/without colorectal cancer was not significantly different, regardless of the stage of lung cancer (overall: 71.3 versus 74.7%, P = 0.1426; Stage I lung cancer: 83.3 versus 84.8%, P = 0.3779; Stage II or more lung cancer: 47.7 versus 54.4%, P = 0.1445). Based on multivariate Cox regression analysis in 4554 lung cancer patients, a past history of colorectal cancer was not a significant prognostic factor (P = 0.5335). Among the 123 lung cancer patients with colorectal cancer, age and absence of adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer were significant prognostic factors based on multivariate analysis (P = 0.0001 and 0.0236). Furthermore, there was no difference in the overall survival of lung cancer patients according to the stage of colorectal cancer (Stage I: 74.7%; Stage II/III: 66.5%, P = 0.7239).

CONCLUSIONS

A history of antecedent colorectal cancer did not contribute to the prognosis in patients with subsequent lung cancers.

Characteristics of additional primary malignancies in Korean patients with non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Long-term cancer survival results in increasing numbers of multiple primary malignancies in one person, which represents growing clinical challenge in patients with lung cancer. This study was intended to assess the incidence rate, temporal relationship, and characteristics of additional primary malignancies (APM) in Korean patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed all 632 NSCLCs (313 adenocarcinomas, 276 squamous cell carcinomas, and 43 other NSCLCs) patients who underwent curative resection of NSCLC at the Dong-A University Medical Center from January 1991 to December 2009. We used the hospital information system and medical record to collect data about these patients and their tumors. In the data base, the following parameters were recorded: patient's demographics (age, gender and smoking habit), time interval between the diagnosis of the NSCLC and APM, NSCLC characteristics (date of diagnosis, histology, TNM staging, operative details, and survival) and characteristics of APM (site of tumor, date of diagnosis, histology, TNM staging, operative details, and survival).

RESULTS

Eighty-one (12.8%) of the 632 patients with NSCLC had APMs. Thirty-three patients (40.8%) had APM in their history [occurring earlier than six months or more before NSCLC diagnosis; prior (P) group], 18 patients (22.2%) were diagnosed with an APM synchronously [diagnosed within six months before or after NSCLC; synchronous (S) group], and the remaining 30 patients (37.0%) were diagnosed with an APM during the follow-up period [occurring six months or more after NSCLC diagnosis; metachronous (M) group]. The second primary malignancy occurred most often two to five years in both P group (39.4%) and M group (36.7%). The most frequent APM was stomach cancer (25.0%), followed by colorectal cancer (19.0%), and thyroid cancer (10.7%). Interestingly, we found difference in the incidence of APM between different NSCLC histotypes. In the adenocarcinoma group, colorectal cancer was the most frequently discovered [12 of 46 events (26.1%)], followed by thyroid cancer [9 of 46 events (19.6%)]. In the squamous cell carcinoma group, stomach cancer occurred most frequently [12 of 36 events (33.3%)].

CONCLUSIONS

APMs are commonly seen in patients with NSCLC, either preceding or following its occurrence. Therefore, it is important to recognize the characteristic of NSCLC patients with APM in order to detect the second primary malignancy as early as possible and to achieve a possible cure of disease.

Incidence and prognostic significance of second primary cancers in renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The survival of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has improved in recent years. However, data on the risk of developing a second cancer after a diagnosis of RCC is limited. We used the data available in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database to estimate the risk of second metachronous primary cancers in patients diagnosed with RCC between 1973 and 2006. Furthermore, we also investigated the effect of the second primary cancers (SPCs) on the survival of RCC patients.

RESULTS

A total of 3795 cases of SPCs were registered in the SEER between 1973 and 2006. The ratio of observed/expected number of SPCs in RCC was 1.18, which was significantly greater than expected. Solid tumors comprised 90% of all second malignancies in RCC patients, with the most second cancers reported in the prostate gland and the digestive and respiratory systems. The overall risk of second primaries was highest in patients aged over 30 years at the time of diagnosis. The site-specific risk of second cancers varied with the age at diagnosis, sex, race of the patient, size of the primary renal tumor, and history of radiation therapy. Patients with second primaries had a significantly longer overall survival than those without second malignancies. An interval of <1 year between the diagnosis of RCC and the second primary was the strongest predictor of poor overall survival in RCC patients with a second malignancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with RCC are at a significantly higher risk of developing a second malignancy, suggesting the need for careful surveillance for their early detection and management.