Abstract P5-01-03: Evaluation of novel diagnostic kits using the semi-dry dot-blot method combined with an automatic reader for detecting metastases in sentinel lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer: a multi-center prospective study

Background: The semi-dry dot-blot (SDB) method, a diagnostic procedure for detecting lymph node (LN) metastases using an anti-cytokeratin (CK) antibody, is based on the theory that epithelial components, such as CK, are not found in normal LNs. Thus, metastases are diagnosed according to the presence of CK in the lavage fluid of sectioned LNs. We prospectively evaluated novel SDB kits that use a newly developed anti-CK19 antibody and an automatic reader for diagnosing sentinel LN metastases in patients with breast cancer as a multi-center study. Methods: We obtained 924 sentinel LNs dissected from 405 patients with breast cancer between January 2021 and December 2021 at six institutes in Japan. We excluded patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. LNs were sectioned at 2-mm intervals and washed with phosphate-buffered saline. Cells suspended in the lavage fluid of sectioned LNs were centrifuged and lysed to extract protein. The extracted protein was applied to the SDB kit to diagnose LN metastasis using an automatic absorbance reader. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained and washed LNs were blindly examined by pathologists using intraoperative and permanent histological examination. Diagnoses based on SDB kit and automatic reader findings were compared with diagnoses made by permanent histological examination of paraffin-embedded H&E-stained sections of LNs. Primary endpoints were the sensitivity, specificity, and overall agreement of the SDB kit for distinguishing macrometastases from non-macrometastases. Results: Ninety-four of the 924 LNs were assessed as macrometastases, 40 as micrometastases, and 790 as isolated tumor cells by histological examination. Compared with patients with non-macrometastases, those with macrometastases had significantly younger age (p< 0.01), larger primary tumor (p< 0.01), higher nuclear grade (p=0.04), increased lymphatic invasion (p< 0.01), and increased venous invasion (p=0.01). Using a borderline CK19 absorbance of 11.9 milli-absorbance for detecting macrometastases with an area under the curve of 0.989, the sensitivity, specificity, and overall agreement of the SDB kit were 94.7%, 98.3%, and 97.9%, respectively. Moreover, the sensitivity, specificity, and overall agreement of the intraoperative histological examination compared with permanent histological examination for distinguishing macrometastases from non-macrometastases were 91.4%, 99.1%, and 98.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the kits and automatic reader yielded diagnoses within approximately 20 min at a cost of < 30 USD for the SDB kit and < 3,000 USD for the automatic reader. Conclusions: The kits with an automatic reader used in our study were accurate, quick, and cost-effective in diagnosing LN metastases without the loss of LN tissue and were particularly useful for distinguishing macrometastases. We plan to make the SDB kit and automatic reader commercially available worldwide soon.

Citation Format: Megumi Matsumoto, Masaaki Baba, Aya Tanaka, Sayaka Kuba, Michi Morita, Fujiko Kaseida, Hiroko Hayashi, Shigeto Maeda, Hiroshi Yano, Eiko Inamasu, Akiko Ogiya, Kenta Sekiya, Masahiro Nakashima, Hideki Ikari, Shinji Ohno, Hiroyuki Takei, Katsunori Yanagihara, Susumu Eguchi, Takeshi Nagayasu, Ryota Otsubo. Evaluation of novel diagnostic kits using the semi-dry dot-blot method combined with an automatic reader for detecting metastases in sentinel lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer: a multi-center prospective study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-01-03.

Anticancer agent α-sulfoquinovosyl-acylpropanediol enhances the radiosensitivity of human malignant mesothelioma in nude mouse models

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly malignant disease that develops after asbestos exposure. Although the number of MPM cases is predicted to increase, no effective standard therapies have been established. The novel radiosensitizer α-sulfoquinovosyl-acylpropanediol (SQAP) enhances the effects of γ-radiation in human lung and prostate cancer cell lines and in animal models. In this study, we explored the radiosensitizing effect of SQAP and its mechanisms in MPM. The human MPM cell lines MSTO-211H and MESO-4 were implanted subcutaneously into the backs and thoracic cavities of immunodeficient KSN/Slc mice, then 2 mg/kg SQAP was intravenously administered with or without irradiation with a total body dose of 8 Gy. In both the orthotopic and ectopic xenograft murine models, the combination of irradiation plus SQAP delayed the implanted human MSTO-211H tumor growth. The analysis of the changes in the relative tumor volume of the MSTO-211H indicated a statistically significant difference after 8 Gy total body combined with 2 mg/kg SQAP, compared to both the untreated control (P = 0.0127) and the radiation treatment alone (P = 0.0171). After the treatment in each case, immunostaining of the harvested tumors revealed decreased cell proliferation, increased apoptosis and normalization of tumor blood vessels in the SQAP- and irradiation-treated group. Furthermore, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) 1 mRNA and protein expression were decreased, indicating reoxygenation in this group. In conclusion, SQAP improved hypoxic conditions in tumor tissue and may elicit a radiosensitizing effect in malignant mesothelioma models.

The Efficacy of Software to Help Patients Understand Drug for Adjuvant Treatment for Breast Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

We assessed the usefulness of ChemoCalc, a software package for calculating drug costs, in helping patients understand these costs. We randomly assigned, in a 1 : 1 ratio, 20 women who had undergone surgery for early breast cancer to a group that discussed adjuvant treatment with their physicians using the ChemoCalc software (ChemoCalc group) or a group that discussed adjuvant treatment without ChemoCalc (Usual Explanation group). The participants completed a five-grade evaluation questionnaire after these discussions. The primary endpoint was the intergroup comparison of the questionnaire scores regarding participants' understanding of their treatment-associated drug costs. Median age was not significantly different between the ChemoCalc group and Usual Explanation group (57 vs. 50, respectively; p=0.27). Patients in the ChemoCalc group had a significantly higher perceived level of understanding of the drug cost than those in the Usual Explanation group (5 [4-5] vs. 2.5 [1-5], respectively; p=0.002). Scores related to the patients' perception that understanding drug costs is an important part of breast cancer treatment were also higher in the ChemoCalc group than the Usual Explanation group (5 [2-5] vs. 3 [1-5], respectively; p=0.049). ChemoCalc was found to be useful for understanding drug costs.

Study protocol for efficacy and safety of steroid-containing mouthwash to prevent chemotherapy-induced stomatitis in women with breast cancer: a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase 2 study

INTRODUCTION

Stomatitis is a frequent adverse event in patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Stomatitis can hamper oral nutrition resulting in malnutrition, reduce quality of life and introduce the need for dose reductions and interruption of chemotherapy; however, there is currently no standard approach for preventing chemotherapy-induced stomatitis. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of a dexamethasone-based elixir mouthwash for preventing chemotherapy-induced stomatitis in patients with early breast cancer.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

In this multicenter, randomised, controlled phase 2 trial, we will randomly assign 120 women with early breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy to use of a dexamethasone-based elixir or standard oral care, to compare their preventive effects on chemotherapy-induced stomatitis. Patients will be assigned in a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the intervention group will receive chemotherapy, oral care and a dexamethasone-based elixir (10 mL 0.1 mg/mL; swish for 2 min and spit, four times daily for 9 weeks), and patients in the control group will receive chemotherapy and oral care. The primary endpoint is the difference in incidence of stomatitis between the two groups. The sample size allows for the detection of a minimum difference of 20% in the incidence of stomatitis between the two groups. Secondary endpoints are severity of stomatitis, duration of stomatitis, completion rate of chemotherapy and adverse events.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

All participants signed a written consent form, and the study protocol has been reviewed and approved by the Clinical Research Review Board of Nagasaki University (CRB7180001).

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000030489).

Asymptomatic versus symptomatic metastatic breast cancer: Potential effects on prognosis and treatment strategies

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Background: Early breast cancer (BC) patients in Japan can receive a follow-up CT scan, which can diagnose asymptomatic metastatic (M)BC. How symptomatic and asymptomatic MBC differ regarding prognosis and whether treatment strategies should differ is unclear. Methods: A retrospective, multicenter, cohort study was performed. We reviewed records of MBC women treated at four institutions between 2008 and 2018. Follow-up CTs were not routinely performed. Patients were divided into three BC subtypes: Luminal (ER+, PgR+, or both, but HER2-), HER2 (HER2+), and triple negative (TN) (ER-, PgR-, HER2-). Results: Of 205 MBC patients, 120 were luminal, 51 HER2, and 34 TN. Ninety were diagnosed with symptomatic and 115 with asymptomatic MBC. Symptomatic MBC patients had the following symptoms: locoregional metastasis (43%), bone pain (25%), cough or dyspnea (16%), and brain-related symptoms (10%). Diagnosis of asymptomatic MBC was based on follow-up imaging (71%) and elevated tumor markers (27%). The proportion of the patients with symptomatic MBC were different in each subtype: 38% luminal, 45% HER2, and 65% TN (p = 0.02). Among luminal patients, median overall survival (OS) after metastasis was longer for those with asymptomatic versus symptomatic MBC (62 vs 41 M, respectively; p = 0.04), although disease-free interval (48 vs 54 M, respectively; p = 0.40) and OS after breast surgery (119 vs 126 M, respectively; p = 0.93) did not differ significantly. Conversely, among TN patients, those with asymptomatic MBC had significantly longer median OS after metastasis and after breast surgery. Although the median period of cumulative endocrine therapy after metastasis did not differ between groups, luminal BC patients with asymptomatic MBC received chemotherapy longer than those with symptomatic MBC (20 vs 12 M, respectively; p = 0.02). Most patients switched to chemotherapy because of endocrine resistance without life threatening disease. To diagnose asymptomatic MBC might lead to longer use chemotherapy. Conclusions: Physicians should take symptomatic versus asymptomatic MBC into consideration in predicting prognosis to optimize treatment strategies.

Abstract P3-03-35: Prevalence and risk factors associated with development of lymphedema after axillary lymph node dissection among breast cancer patients: Single center retrospective study

Background: Lymphedema in breast cancer is one of the most important complications, and causes symptoms of arm swelling, heaviness and limited movement. Once lymphedema has occurred, it is difficult to cure. Nowadays, treatment with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has been decreasing among breast cancer patients as a result of the ACOSOG Z0011, AMAROS and IBCSG 23-01 trials. However, some cases require ALND for ALN metastasis. ALND increases the risk of lymphedema and detracts from quality of life, but the surgical procedure based on anatomical landmarks has not been changed for several decades. The upper borderline for ALND might cause injury to lymph ducts from arms, and incidence and risk factors for lymphedema after ALND are still unclear. Our aim was to identify prevalence and risk factors associated with development of lymphedema after ALND among breast cancer patients.

Methods: This retrospective study was based on data collected from 178 breast cancer patients who underwent ALND in Nagasaki University Hospital, Japan, between 2005 and 2017. Lymphedema was defined as symptomatic arm swelling with >2 cm difference in circumference of the arm compared with that of the contralateral arm. We classified the patients with and without lymphedema, and compared them regarding surgical and pathological findings. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors, using the χ2 test, Student's t-test and Cox logistic regression analysis.

Results: Prevalence of lymphedema was 16% (28/178 patients) and mean time interval from surgery to development of lymphedema was 463 days. In univariate analysis, there was a significant difference in postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) (p = 0.02) and the number of patients with >18 dissected ALNs (p = 0.02). Body mass index (p = 0.6), administration of docetaxel (p = 0.2), and smoking (p = 0.07) did not significantly increase lymphedema. In multivariate analysis, PMRT (p = 0.01) and dissection of >18 ALNs (p = 0.001) significantly increased the risk of lymphedema, whereas smoking did not (p = 0.4).

Conclusion: Our study suggested that PMRT and number of dissected ALNs were risk factors for lymphedema. Aggressive and empiric ALND might be associated with axillary lymph duct damage. Therefore, we plan to introduce axillary reverse mapping using indocyanine green to reduce the risk of lymphedema in breast cancer patients who undergo ALND.

Citation Format: Hara Y, Otsubo R, Inamasu E, Matsumoto M, Yano H, Sakimura C, Kuba S, Yamanouchi K, Eguchi S, Nagayasu T. Prevalence and risk factors associated with development of lymphedema after axillary lymph node dissection among breast cancer patients: Single center retrospective study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-03-35.

Validation of a Novel Diagnostic Kit Using the Semidry Dot-Blot Method to Detect Metastatic Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer: Distinguishing Macrometastases From Nonmacrometastases

BACKGROUND

The semidry dot-blot method is a diagnostic procedure for detecting lymph node (LN) metastases using the presence of cytokeratin (CK) in lavage fluid from sectioned LNs. We evaluated 2 novel kits that use newly developed anti-CK-19 antibodies to diagnose LN metastases in breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We examined 159 LNs dissected that we sliced at 2-mm intervals and washed with phosphate-buffered saline. The suspended cells in the lavage were centrifuged and lysed to extract protein. This extracted protein was used with a low-power and a high-power kit to diagnose LN metastasis. Diagnoses on the basis of the kits were compared with pathological diagnoses.

RESULTS

Of the 159 LNs, 68 were assessed as positive and 91 as negative in permanent section examination. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the low-power kit for detecting LN metastases was 83.8%, 100%, and 93.1%, respectively. Those of the high-power kit were 92.6%, 92.3%, and 92.5%, respectively. Combining the low- and high-power kit results, those for distinguishing macrometastases were 94.5%, 95.2%, and 95.0%, respectively. Diagnosis was achieved in approximately 20 minutes, at a cost of less than $30 USD.

CONCLUSION

The kits were accurate, fast, and cost-effective in diagnosing LN metastases without the loss of LN tissue.

Abstract P2-01-31: Validation of novel diagnostic kits using the semi-dry dot-blot method for detecting metastatic lymph nodes in breast cancer; distinguishing macrometastases and micrometastases

Background: The semi-dry dot-blot (SDB) method is a diagnostic procedure for detecting lymph node (LN) metastases. Metastases are confirmed by the presence of cytokeratin (CK) in lavage fluid of sectioned LNs that contain anti-pancytokeratin antibody, based on the theory that epithelial components such as CK are not found in normal LNs. We evaluated two novel SDB kits that use the newly developed anti-CK19 antibody for diagnosing LN metastases in breast cancer.

Methods: We obtained 159 LNs dissected from 93 breast cancer patients from July 2013 to December 2015 at Nagasaki University Hospital, including 38 dissected axillary LNs and 121 sentinel LNs, sliced at 2-mm intervals and washed with phosphate-buffered saline. The suspended cells in the lavage fluid of sliced LNs were centrifuged and lysed to extract protein. This extracted protein was used with a low-power and a high-power kit to diagnose LN metastasis. The washed LNs were blindly diagnosed by pathologists using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. Diagnoses based on the kit were compared with their H&E counterparts.

Results: Of the 159 LNs, 68 were assessed as positive and 91 as negative by permanent pathological examination with H&E. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the low-power kit for detecting LN metastases was 83.8%, 100%, and 93.1%, respectively. In 11 false-negative cases, there were nine micrometastases, producing a sensitivity of 96.4% for detecting macrometastases. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the high-power kit for detecting LN metastases was 92.6%, 92.3%, and 92.5%, respectively. Combining the low- and high-power kit results, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for distinguishing macrometastases from micrometastases was 94.5%, 95.2%, and 95.0%, respectively. Diagnosis was achieved in approximately 20 min using the kits, at a cost of less than 25 USD.

Conclusions: The kits in our study were accurate, quick, and cost-effective in diagnosing LN metastases without the loss of LN tissue. The kits' ability to distinguish macrometastases from micrometastases was excellent, which is important, clinically.

Citation Format: Otsubo R, Hirakawa H, Oikawa M, Inamasu E, Baba M, Matsumoto M, Yano H, Kinoshita N, Abe K, Fukuoka J, Nagayasu T. Validation of novel diagnostic kits using the semi-dry dot-blot method for detecting metastatic lymph nodes in breast cancer; distinguishing macrometastases and micrometastases [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-01-31.

Influence of the distance between home and the hospital on patients with surgically resected non-small-cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

There have been no previous reports examining how the travel distance affects the outcomes of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In this study, we examined the influence of the distance from home to the hospital on patients with NSCLC who underwent surgical resection.

METHODS

From 2006 to 2011, 607 consecutive patients with NSCLC who had undergone pulmonary resection were enrolled. The patients were divided into three groups according to the distance from their home to the hospital: 0 < 10, 10-30 and >30 km. We analysed the short-term and long-term outcomes according to the group.

RESULTS

Two hundred and ninety-six patients lived less than 10 km from the hospital, 111 patients lived 10-30 km and 200 patients lived more than 30 km. There were no differences in the demographics, including age, European Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, histological type, surgical procedure and pathological stage, between the three groups. The mean postoperative hospital stay was as follows: 13.9 days in the <10 km group, 13.3 days in the 10-30 km group and 14.3 days in the >30 km group (P = 0.04). There were no significant differences in the median length of follow-up (50, 47, 43 months, P = 0.24), disease-free survival (DFS) (5-year DFS, 68.1, 68.2 and 70.1%, P = 0.89) or overall survival (OS) (5-year OS, 80.6, 78.8 and 79.4%, P = 0.99) between the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The distance between home and the hospital was not found to influence the long-term outcomes of the patients with surgically resected NSCLC. Therefore, the travel distance should not represent a contraindication to surgical resection and postoperative therapy for NSCLC.

Post-recurrence survival of elderly patients 75 years of age or older with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of elderly patients 75 years of age or older with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

A total of 1237 consecutive patients with NSCLC underwent pulmonary resection at our institution. Of these patients, 280 experienced postoperative recurrence. The rate of the post-recurrence survival and predictors were analyzed independently in a group of younger patients (<75 years) and a group of elderly patients (≥75 years).

RESULTS

There were 215 younger patients (<75 years) and 65 elderly (≥75 years) patients at the time of diagnosis of recurrence. The median post-recurrence survival time and the five-year survival rate of all cases were 25 months and 20.8%, respectively. There were no significant survival differences between the younger and elderly groups (p = 0.20). A univariate analysis determined that gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, smoking status, histological type and epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status were factors influencing the post-recurrence survival among the elderly patients. In addition, a multivariate analysis determined the EGFR mutation status to be an independent prognostic factor for the post-recurrence survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients 75 years of age or older in this study achieved satisfactory long-term outcomes.

Role of surgical resection for patients with limited disease-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy are recommended for patients with limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC), several series have reported favorable survival outcomes even in patients with stages II and III disease who underwent surgical resection. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of the use of surgical resection to the other conventional non-surgical treatments in patients with LD-SCLC with respect to each clinical stage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 277 patients who received treatment for LD-SCLC and compared the outcomes of the use of surgical resection to the other conventional non-surgical treatments.

RESULTS

The clinical stage was stage I in 50 cases (18%), stage II in 53 cases (19%) and stage III in 174 cases (63%). Eighty-eight patients received surgical resection and 189 patients were treated with non-surgical treatment. Surgery was performed in 44 patients (88%) with stage I, 27 patients (52%) with stage II and 17 patients (10%) with stage III disease. The five-year survival rates of the patients according to clinical stage were 58% in stage I, 29% in stage II and 18% in stage III. The five-year survival rates of the patients with and without surgical resection according to clinical stage were as follows: 62% and 25% in stage I (p<0.01), 33% and 24% in stage II (p=0.95), 18% and 18% in stage III (p=0.35), respectively. In 44 propensity score-matched pairs with stages II and III disease, including matching for variables such as age, gender and the PS, the five-year survival rates was better in patients with surgical resection than in those without surgery (p=0.04).

CONCLUSION

Surgical resection is effective for the patients with stage I LD-SCLC and some cases of stage II or III disease.

Results of S-1-based chemotherapy for platinum (and antrathycline)-refractory advanced thymic carcinoma

AIM

The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the role of S-1-based chemotherapy for patients with relapsed advanced thymic carcinoma (TC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study was a retrospective review of TC patients who had received S-1-based chemotherapy for patients with platinum- and antrathycline-failure TC. Patients received S-1 monotherapy or S-1/gemcitabine combination therapy, that were repeated until disease progression.

RESULTS

The patients consisted of 4 males and 4 females with a median age of 59 years (range=41-71); 2 with squamous cell carcinoma, 3 with undifferentiated carcinoma, 1 with poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma and 2 not otherwise specified. Grade 3 or higher toxicity was only neutropenia (25.0%). No treatment-related death was observed. The response rate was 50.0% (95% confidence interval (CI)=21.5-78.5%). The median progression free-survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of S-1-based chemotherapy were 6.0 and 13.5 months, respectively.

CONCLUSION

S-1-based chemotherapy was found to be potentially useful for patients with relapsed TC.

Non-small cell lung cancer patients with EML4-ALK fusion gene are insensitive to cytotoxic chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Although patients with the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (EML4-ALK) re-arrangement and epidermal growth factor gene EGFR mutations have proven sensitive to specific inhibitors, there is currently no consensus regarding the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with such mutations to cytotoxic chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The responses to first-line cytotoxic chemotherapy were retrospectively compared between advanced or postoperative recurrent patients with non-squamous NSCLC who harbor the EML4-ALK fusion gene (ALK+), EGFR mutation (EGFR+), or neither abnormality (wild-type).

RESULTS

Data for 22 ALK+, 30 EGFR+, and 60 wild-type patients were analyzed. The ALK+ group had a significantly lower response rate than the other two groups. Progression-free survival was significantly shorter in the ALK+ cohort compared to the EGFR+ (p<0.001) and wild-type cohorts (p=0.0121).

CONCLUSION

NSCLC patients with the EML4-ALK fusion gene might be relatively insensitivite to cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Impact of the epidermal growth factor receptor mutation status on the post-recurrence survival of patients with surgically resected non-small-cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

The impact of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status and the use of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy have not been well discussed only in recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to identify the prognostic factors associated with post-recurrence survival after surgical resection of NSCLC in terms of the EGFR mutation status and the use of EGFR-TKI therapy.

METHODS

From 2000 through 2011, 1237 consecutive patients with NSCLC underwent pulmonary resection at our institution. Of these patients, 280 experienced postoperative recurrence by the end of 2012. We reviewed the cases of recurrence and analysed the predictors and length of post-recurrence survival.

RESULTS

The median post-recurrence survival time and the 5-year survival rate of all patients were 25 months and 20.8%, respectively. A multivariate analysis identified the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), brain metastasis, number of sites of recurrence and EGFR mutation status to be independent prognostic factors for post-recurrence survival. Among all cases, the median post-recurrence survival time according to the use of EGFR-TKI therapy was as follows: 49 months in the EGFR mutation-positive patients treated with EGFR-TKI therapy, 20 months in the EGFR wild or unknown cases treated with EGFR-TKI therapy and 17 months in the patients not treated with EGFR-TKI therapy. As to EGFR mutation-positive cases, the patients treated with EGFR-TKIs exhibited significantly longer post-recurrence survival time than the patients treated without EGFR-TKIs (49 vs 12 months).

CONCLUSIONS

It is essential for recurrent NSCLC patients to be examined for the EGFR mutation status. Patients with a positive EGFR mutation status receive significant benefits from EGFR-TKI therapy.

Split-dose cisplatin and vinorelbine as adjuvant chemotherapy for completely resected non-small cell lung cancer

AIM

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of, and compliance with a regimen using split-dose cisplatin and vinorelbine (split-CV) as adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The treatment schedule included cisplatin at 40 mg/m(2) and vinorelbine at 25 mg/m(2) administered intravenously on days 1 and 8, every three weeks for four cycles.

RESULTS

This study included 22 patients (male/female; 12/10) with a median age of 67 (range 50-76) years; 10 had clinical stage II and 12 stage III; 21 had ECOG 0 and 1 patient ECOG 1; 15 patients had adenocarcinoma, 5 squamous cell and 2 adenosquamous carcinoma; 18 patients had undergone lobectomy, 3 pneumonectomy and 1 segmentectomy. Seventeen out of 22 patients (77%) received the planned 4 cycles. The main adverse events were grade 3/4 neutropenia (76%) and anemia (12%). The average total doses of cisplatin and vinorelbine were 285 mg/m(2) and 177 mg/m(2), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The split-CV regimen is well-tolerated as adjuvant chemotherapy for completely resected NSCLC.

Gemcitabine and vinorelbine as second-line or beyond treatment in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma pretreated with platinum plus pemetrexed chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive neoplasm that responds poorly to chemotherapy. Although treatment with pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin serves as first-line chemotherapy for MPM, the optimal second-line and beyond therapy has not yet been fully examined.

METHODS

Between March 2008 and October 2011, 17 consecutive Japanese patients pretreated with at least one regimen of platinum plus pemetrexed chemotherapy received gemcitabine and vinorelbine. Responses, survival time, and toxicity were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

Response [partial response (PR) + complete response (CR)] and disease control [stable disease (SD) + PR + CR] rates were 18 and 82 %, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) after combination chemotherapy was 6.0 months, whereas the median overall survival (OS) was 11.2 months. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and anemia were observed in 41 and 29 % of patients, respectively, and one patient experienced febrile neutropenia. Grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicities included constipation (6 %) and phlebitis (6 %).

CONCLUSION

Combination chemotherapy using gemcitabine with vinorelbine was shown to have moderate activity in Japanese MPM patients pretreated with platinum plus pemetrexed chemotherapy. A further multicenter phase II trial is warranted to confirm the efficacy and safety of this combination treatment.

Amrubicin as second-line and beyond treatment for platinum-refractory advanced thymic carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Thymic carcinoma is a rare mediastinal neoplasm, and the prognosis of patients with advanced thymic carcinoma is poor. No standard chemotherapeutic regimen has yet been established for the disease. This is the first report to evaluate the role of amrubicin, a novel anthracycline anticancer drug, in second-line and beyond treatment for patients with platinum-refractory advanced thymic carcinoma.

METHODS

This study was a review of thymic carcinoma patients who had received amrubicin monotherapy between June 2003 and December 2011 for the progression of disease previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Amrubicin was administered at 35 or 40 mg/m(2) for three consecutive days every 3 weeks, until progression.

RESULTS

Nine patients with recurrent thymic carcinoma were registered. Their median age was 61 years (range 45-72), and the patients included five males and four females. All nine patients had Masaoka's Stage IVb disease. There were three squamous cell carcinomas, one adenocarcinoma, one small-cell carcinoma and two other histological types. The mean number of chemotherapy cycles was five (range 2-13). Grade 3 or higher toxicities included mainly neutropenia (55.5%), anemia (25.0%) and febrile neutropenia (11.1%). No treatment-related deaths were observed. The response rate was 44.4% (95% confidence interval: 19-73). The median progression-free survival after the amrubicin monotherapy was 4.9 months, while the median overall survival was 6.4 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-agent amrubicin was found to be potentially useful as second-line and beyond chemotherapy for patients with advanced thymic carcinoma. Further multi-institutional prospective studies are warranted.

Recurrence of thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma 24 years after total excision: A case report

A 77-year-old male presented with chest pain in March 2012. The individual had undergone surgery for an anterior mediastinal tumor 24 years earlier and the pathological diagnosis was that of a thymoma. The patient underwent a medical check-up every 6 months for the next 20 years. However, ∼3 years following the final check-up, sudden chest pain was reported and the patient was referred again. Computed axial tomography revealed a mediastinal mass adjacent to the left lung, pericardium and sternum. There was no apparent invasion to the adjacent structures. The patient underwent surgical resection following a diagnosis of recurrent thymoma. A posterolateral thoracotomy was performed under video-assisted thoracoscopy. Severe adhesions were observed around the tumor, which appeared to invade the left lung and pericardium, but not the chest wall. The tumor was extirpated in combination with partial resection of the left lung and pericardium. The pathological diagnosis of the tumor was of a well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the thymus. The specimen that was excised 24 years earlier was re-examined by a pathologist and was reported to exhibit the same histology. Primary NECs of the thymus are rare among anterior mediastinal tumors and the 5-year survival rate is ∼30%. The present case study reports a case of a thymic NEC and describes the pathological and clinical features.

[Efficacy and safety of administration of low-dose unfractionated heparin (LDUH) for the prevention of pulmonary thromboembolism after surgery for lung cancer; the long term outcome]

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the administration of low-dose unfractionated heparin(LDUH)for the prevention of pulmonary thromboembolism after lung cancer surgery. We operated on 206 patients with primary lung cancer for 8 years;128 males and 78 females, mean age:69.9±8.8 years. All patients were administrated LDUH 5,000 units every 12 hours from the operation day until the day when the patient could walk around the floor. No patients suffered from clinical pulmonary thromboembolism in this period. The duration of treatment was 4.6±2.6 days and the chest tube duration was 5.4±3.0 days. We experienced post-operative intra-thoracic bleeding in 2 patients during the previous 4 years. Based on this experience, we introduced new eligibility criteria;we discontinued LDUH administration on the operation day if diffuse adhesion in the thoracic cavity was observed at operation or intraoperative blood loss was over 500 ml. The dose of LDUH was decreased to 2,500 unit every 12 hours if the postoperative bleeding was over 400 ml on the operation day or the patient's body weight was less than 40 kg. After introduction of the new criteria, no severe bleeding complications occurred during the latter 4 years.

No evidence of ARAF, CRAF and MET mutations in BRAFT1799A negative human papillary thyroid carcinoma

The MAPK signaling pathway plays a crucial role in tumorgenesis and cell proliferation in human papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Ret/PTC rearrangements, RAS and BRAF mutations, the main non-overlapping genetic alterations all leading to MAPK cascade activation, are cumulatively identified in 60-80% of PTCs. In approximately one-fourth of the cases, oncogenic background potentially contributing to MAPK activation in PTC might be different. We therefore attempted to evaluate the mutational status of genes encoding other members of RAF family known to act upstream of MAPKs, ARAF and CRAF (RAF-1). In addition we also analyzed the MET gene that encodes hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor receptor overexpressed in most of PTCs and a MAPK cascade contributor. In 129 Japanese patients with PTC, BRAF(T1799A) was detected in 65 cases (50.4%), and the remaining 64 tumor specimens were subjected to mutation analysis of kinase domains of ARAF, CRAF and MET genes, and hotspots of K- and N-RAS genes. No ARAF, CRAF, MET, K- and N-RAS mutations were revealed. Based on these observations, we concluded that despite the fact that ARAF, CRAF and MET are actively expressed, alterations of these genes are rare in PTC and unlikely to play a perceptible role in the molecular pathogenesis of this type of human malignancy.