Clinical characteristics, proteins, and genes related to interstitial pneumonia-associated squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common histological type of lung carcinoma that is associated with interstitial pneumonia (IP). We hypothesized that identifying specific genetic alterations or molecular markers of SCC with IP may aid the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the same. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to identify tumorigenic genetic alterations and molecular markers in cases of SCC with IP. We included 28 lung SCC cases (14 cases with IP and 14 cases without IP). We performed immunohistochemistry for STAT3, STAT5, and TLE1, and next-generation sequencing was performed using an iSeq 100 system. The panel used in this study targeted 50 cancer-associated genes. Immunohistochemically, the rate of TLE1 positivity was higher in the SCC without IP group (93 %) than in the SCC with IP group (29 %), while that of STAT5 was higher in the SCC with IP group (79 %) than in the SCC without IP group (14 %). STAT3 expression was high in both the groups (SCC with IP, 64 %; SCC without IP, 71 %). Eighteen genes were mutated in more than six samples, and FBXW7 mutation was mainly observed in the SCC with IP group (p < 0.01). Mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis in SCC with IP included STAT5 activation via inflammation, while that in SCC without IP included squamous TLE1-mediated metaplasia. These findings are based on smoking-induced STAT3 activation; therefore, patients with IP who smoke are more likely to have progressive SCC. We also found that FBXW7 mutations may be associated with SCC with IP and keratinization. ERBB4 and KDR mutations were observed in both with or without IP, and these genes may be tumor-related genes in SCC. These molecular markers may help determine the prognoses of patients with SCC with IP and direct the development of treatment approaches.

Challenges in Robotic Lung Lobectomy through the Anterior Approach

PURPOSE

Robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) has become popular because of its minimally invasive nature and reduced burden on surgeons. The anterior approach (AA) is beneficial because it utilizes the same field of view and procedures as thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery, although the disadvantages are less well-known.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined 35 consecutive patients who underwent RATS lobectomy via the AA, focusing on clinical factors and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

The study included 12 males and 23 females with a median console time of 177 (120-346) min, median blood loss of 0 (0-100) mL, and median stapler usage of 5 (2-10) units. Postoperative complications, classified as Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III, included three cases of grade IIIa (prolonged air leakage) and one case each of grade IIIb and grade IVa (middle lobe torsion and ventricular arrhythmia). The influence of stapling device operation cannot be ruled out in prolonged air leakage and middle lobe torsion. A moderate correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.492, p = 0.003) was observed between console time and the number of staplers used.

CONCLUSION

Although no severe incidence of vascular injury was observed with the AA, complications related to the use of stapling devices were noted.

Five-Year Overall Survival Analysis of the JIPANG Study: Pemetrexed or Vinorelbine Plus Cisplatin for Resected Stage II-IIIA Nonsquamous Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.The JIPANG study is an open-label phase III trial evaluating the efficacy of pemetrexed plus cisplatin (PemP) versus vinorelbine plus cisplatin (NP) as adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II-IIIA nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we report the long follow-up overall survival (OS) data. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive either PemP or NP. The primary end point was recurrence-free survival (RFS), and the secondary end point included OS. This analysis was performed using data collected 5 years after the last patient enrollment. Among 804 patients enrolled, 783 patients were eligible (384 for NP and 389 for PemP). The updated median RFS was 37.5 months in the NP arm and 43.4 months in the PemP arm with a hazard ratio of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.79 to 1.14). At a median follow-up of 77.3 months, the OS rates at 3 and 5 years were 84.1% and 75.6% versus 87.0% and 75.0% with a hazard ratio of 1.04 (95% CI, 0.81 to 1.34). This long-term follow-up analysis showed that PemP had similar efficacy to NP in both RFS and OS for this population, with one of the longest OS data compared with the historical data.

A Phase 2 Single-Arm Study of Osimertinib for Radiotherapy-Naive Central Nervous System Metastasis NSCLC: Results for the First-Line Cohort of the OCEAN Study (LOGIK 1603/WJOG 9116L)

Introduction

Osimertinib may be effective in treating central nervous system (CNS) metastasis, but its efficacy in treating radiation therapy (RT)-naive metastasis is unclear. The OCEAN study assessed the efficacy of osimertinib against RT-naive CNS metastasis in patients previously treated (T790M cohort) and untreated patients (first-line cohort) with EGFR mutation. Here, we report the results of the first-line cohort.

Methods

Previously untreated patients with RT-naive CNS metastasis and EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC were treated with osimertinib. The brain metastasis response rate (BMRR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival in the first-line cohort were secondary end points.

Results

A total of 26 patients were enrolled in the study between September 2019 and July 2020. The median age was 72.0 years with 80.8% female. There were 20 patients who had multiple CNS metastases. BMRR assessed by PAREXEL criteria was 76.9% (90% confidence interval [CI]: 63.3%-90.5%), BMRR assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors was 76.9% (95% CI: 54.0%-99.8%), and median PFS of CNS metastasis was 22.0 months (95% CI: 9.7 mo-not reached). The overall response rate was 64.0% (95% CI: 45.2%-82.8%), median PFS was 11.5 months (95% CI: 6.9 mo-not reached), and median survival time was 23.7 months (95% CI: 16.5 mo-not reached). Paronychia and increased creatinine level were the most frequent nonhematological toxicities observed in 13 patients (50%). Grade three and higher adverse events were less than 10%, and there were no treatment-related deaths. Pneumonitis was observed in five patients (19.2%).

Conclusions

These results suggest that osimertinib is effective in untreated patients with RT-naive asymptomatic CNS metastasis in a clinical practice first-line setting.

Trial registration

UMIN identifier: UMIN000024218. jRCT identifier: jRCTs071180017.

Giant benign intrathoracic schwannoma: a decade-long progression towards fatality

BACKGROUND

Intrathoracic neurogenic tumors arise from sympathetic nerve trunks and intercostal nerves; more than 90% are benign. Schwannomas are the most common histological variety, but fatalities due to giant schwannomas are rare.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of a 65-year-old woman who presented with chest pain and cough. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a large left chest wall mass of 130-mm in size, and the patient was referred to our department. Tumor biopsy was performed under local anesthesia, and a diagnosis of schwannoma was made. Ten years previously, a 30-mm tumor had been noted in the left third intercostal space by a previous doctor, but follow-up had been interrupted owing to depressive disorder. Although we planned to perform intercostal artery embolization followed by chest wall tumor resection, the patient did not consent to surgery due to uncontrolled depression. After four months, she developed respiratory failure caused by compression due to an enlarged tumor and died. Autopsy also revealed a benign schwannoma with no malignant findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Although schwannomas are benign tumors, there are some very rare cases in which they can become huge and life-threatening. Therefore, a benign tumor should not be neglected, and if surgery is not possible at the time of diagnosis, a regular follow up is necessary, in order not to miss the right timing for surgery.

Osimertinib as first-line treatment for recurrent lung cancer patients with EGFR mutation

Background

Although osimertinib was approved as adjuvant therapy for lung cancer patients with EGFR mutation in various countries, there is still some ongoing debate as osimertinib has been approved based on disease-free survival (DFS) rather than overall survival (OS). We curated a case series in which we documented patterns of recurrence and efficacy and safety of osimertinib after recurrence.

Methods

Patients who received osimertinib as first-line treatment for postoperative recurrence between September 2018 and January 2023 were included. Clinicopathological factors, duration of osimertinib treatment (DoT), and adverse events were collected and analyzed.

Results

Twenty patients received osimertinib [male, n=6; median age, 75 years (range, 55-85 years)]. The EGFR mutation type was L858R in 11 patients and exon 19 deletion in eight patients. The performance status (PS) was 0 or 1 in all but two patients, who had symptomatic brain metastasis and were therefore PS 3. The first site of postoperative recurrence was locoregional in five patients and distant in 15 patients, including seven with brain metastasis. As of February 2023, 10 patients were still on osimertinib, including three with brain metastasis. Patients with brain metastasis or poor PS had a considerably shorter DoT than their counterparts. Three patients with symptomatic brain metastasis or leptomeningeal metastasis initially responded to osimertinib, but all died of disease progression. Five patients discontinued osimertinib due to serious adverse effects (pneumonitis, drug eruption, and heart failure).

Conclusions

Although osimertinib exerts great disease control, even in patients with brain metastasis or poor PS, their presence was associated with a poor prognosis, even with osimertinib treatment. Therefore, adjuvant osimertinib is recommended unless contraindicated.

Significance of programmed death-ligand 1 expression in resected lung cancer and its relationship with EGFR mutation

BACKGROUND

Several studies have reported that the high expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) within tumor cells predicts a poor prognosis. However, the relationship between the PD-L1 expression and lymph node metastasis or driver mutations in lung cancer remains poorly understood.

METHODS

A total of 356 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for primary lung cancer were included in the study. There were 268 adenocarcinomas including 100 EGFR mutations, 67 squamous cell carcinomas (Sq), and 21 other histologies. The high expression of PD-L1 was defined as a tumor proportion score (TPS) of ≥50. The relationship between the PD-L1 expression and clinicopathological factors and recurrence-free survival (RFS) was analyzed.

RESULTS

The PD-L1 expression was high in 75 patients. It was significantly related to smoking history, Sq histology, driver mutation negative, elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels, and lymph node metastasis. Among patients with driver mutations, a high PD-L1 TPS was found in patients with EGFR G719X mutation. A significant difference in RFS was observed in adenocarcinoma patients. A multivariate analysis of adenocarcinoma cases revealed that tumor size and lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors for poor RFS, while the PD-L1 expression was not. A logistic regression analysis revealed that the absence of driver mutations, lymph node metastasis, and a history of smoking were significantly associated with the high expression of PD-L1.

CONCLUSION

Lymph node metastasis was positively related with the high expression of PD-L1, resulting in poor RFS. A high PD-L1 TPS was observed in patients with the EGFR G719X mutation.

The efficacy of thoracoscopic surgery for descending necrotizing mediastinitis

OBJECTIVES

Thoracotomy is a reliable approach for descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM), and the use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), a minimally invasive procedure, has been increasing. However, which approach is more effective for DNM treatment is controversial.

METHODS

We analysed patients who underwent mediastinal drainage via VATS or thoracotomy, using a database with DNM from 2012 to 2016 in Japan, which was constructed by the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery and the Japan Broncho-esophagological Society. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality, and the adjusted risk difference between the VATS and thoracotomy groups using a regression model, which incorporated the propensity score, was estimated.

RESULTS

VATS was performed on 83 patients and thoracotomy on 58 patients. Patients with a poor performance status commonly underwent VATS. Meanwhile, patients with infection extending to both the anterior and posterior lower mediastinum frequently underwent thoracotomy. Although the postoperative 90-day mortality was different between the VATS and thoracotomy groups (4.8% vs 8.6%), the adjusted risk difference was almost the same, -0.0077 with 95% confidence interval of -0.0959 to 0.0805 (P = 0.8649). Moreover, we could not find any clinical and statistical differences between the 2 groups in terms of postoperative 30-day and 1-year mortality. Although patients who underwent VATS had higher postoperative complication (53.0% vs 24.1%) and reoperation (37.9% vs 15.5%) rates than those who underwent thoracotomy, the complications were not serious and most could be treated with reoperation and intensive care.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome of DNM treatment does not depend on thoracotomy or VATS.

MET kinase inhibitor reverses resistance to entrectinib induced by hepatocyte growth factor in tumors with NTRK1 or ROS1 rearrangements

BACKGROUND

Entrectinib is an effective drug for treating solid tumors with NTRK gene rearrangement and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ROS1 gene rearrangement. However, its efficacy is limited by tolerance and acquired resistance, the mechanisms of which are not fully understood. The growth factors produced by the tumor microenvironment, including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) produced by tumor-associated fibroblasts, critically affect the sensitivity to targeted drugs.

METHODS

We investigated whether growth factors that can be produced by the microenvironment affect sensitivity of NTRK1-rearranged colon cancer KM12SM cells and ROS1-rearranged NSCLC HCC78 cells to entrectinib both in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

Among the growth factors assessed, HGF most potently induced entrectinib resistance in KM12SM and HCC78 cells by activating its receptor MET. HGF-induced entrectinib resistance was reversed by the active-HGF-specific macrocyclic peptide HiP-8 and the MET kinase inhibitor capmatinib in vitro. In addition, HGF-producing fibroblasts promoted entrectinib resistance in vitro (culture model) and in vivo (subcutaneous tumor model). The use of capmatinib circumvented entrectinib resistance in a subcutaneous tumor model inoculated with KM12SM and HGF-producing fibroblasts.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that growth factors in the tumor microenvironment, such as HGF, may induce resistance to entrectinib in tumors with NTRK1 or ROS1 rearrangements. Our results further suggest that optimally co-administering inhibitors of resistance-inducing growth factors may maximize the therapeutic efficacy of entrectinib.

Phase 2 Study of Osimertinib in Combination with Platinum and Pemetrexed in Patients with Previously Untreated EGFR-Mutated Advanced Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: The OPAL Study

BACKGROUND

This multicenter phase 2 trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of osimertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy (OPP) in patients with previously untreated EGFR-mutated advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients received osimertinib 80 mg once daily (QD), with either cisplatin 75 mg/m² (arm A) or carboplatin (area under the curve [AUC] = 5; arm B), plus pemetrexed 500 mg/m² for four cycles and maintenance therapy of osimertinib 80 mg QD with pemetrexed 500 mg/m² every 3 weeks. The primary end-points were safety and objective response rate (ORR), and the secondary end-points were complete response rate (CRR), disease control rate (DCR), and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

In total, 67 patients (34 in arm A and 33 in arm B) were enrolled between July 2019 and February 2020. At the data cutoff (28th February 2022), 35 (52.2%) patients had discontinued the protocol treatment, including 10 (14.9%) due to adverse events. No treatment-related deaths occurred. In the full analysis set, the ORR, CRR, and DCR were 90.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.0-97.8), 3.0% (0.0-7.2), and 97.0% (92.8-100.0), respectively. Based on updated survival data (data cutoff on August 31, 2022, median follow-up time: 33.4 months), the median PFS was 31.0 months (95% CI, 26.8 months-not reached) and median overall survival was not reached.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to show that OPP has excellent efficacy with acceptable toxicity in previously untreated EGFR-mutated advanced non-squamous NSCLC patients.

Tracheal injury from dog bite in a child

BACKGROUND

Dog bites associated with the head and neck area in children are a common problem. Most of the lacerations are found in the upper lip and the nose region, and tracheal injury is rare [1]. Tracheal injury requires prompt and accurate diagnosis and treatment to rescue the patient. Especially in children, securing the airway is often more difficult than in adults because of their short neck and narrow trachea. In this report, we experienced a pediatric case of multiple dog bites with tracheal injuries in the neck.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the case of a 3-year-old girl who presented with multiple dog bites. There were multiple wounds on the head, face, neck, and anterior chest, and air leakage was observed from the cervical wound at the time of transfer. It was difficult to perform oral endotracheal intubation, therefore, we extended the neck wound, probed the trachea with finger, and inserted a tracheal tube directly from the cervical wound in the emergency room. Tracheoplasty and another wound cleansing were performed in the operating room. The patient was discharged on the 18th day after surgery, without further complications.

CONCLUSION

Tracheal injury from a dog bite is rare. It is important to prompt and accurate diagnosis and treatment. Children should be especially careful because of their short necks and narrow tracheas.

Aspergillus Nodule in a Patient With Autoimmune Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis

Although autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (APAP) is more likely to be associated with infectious diseases, clinical case-based evidence is too limited to confirm this. We describe a case of a man in his late forties diagnosed with APAP nine years prior to the current presentation. A nodule in the right upper lobe gradually increased from 8 to 12 mm over a period of 6 months and was suspicious of malignancy. The pathological analyses revealed Aspergillus nodule without any malignant features. This study aims to report a case of Aspergillus nodule with APAP and discuss the differential diagnosis of solitary lung nodule developed in APAP.

Phase II study of S‐1 plus cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy for locally advanced thymic carcinoma: Results of the LOGIK1605 / JART ‐1501 study

Background

Combination chemotherapy is used to treat advanced thymic carcinoma; however, the effects are insufficient.

Methods

Previously untreated patients with unresectable locally advanced thymic carcinoma received two cycles of 80 mg/m²/day S‐1 orally on days 1–14 plus 60 mg/m²/day cisplatin intravenously on day 1, and concurrent radiotherapy (60 Gy).

Results

Three patients were enrolled into the study. Toxicity and survival were assessable in all patients, but the treatment response was only assessable in one patient. The study was terminated because of poor case recruitment. The patients' characteristics were as follows: male/female = 2/1; PS 0/1 = 2/1; median age (range) = 59 (55–72); and stage III/IV = 2/1. The patient in which the treatment response was assessed exhibited SD (response rate: 0%). In both nonevaluable cases, the second course of chemotherapy was judged to be post‐protocol treatment because it was delayed by ≥14 days, but a CR and PR were achieved after the end of the study, respectively. G4 leukopenia/neutropenia and G3 febrile neutropenia occurred in one patient each (33%). The median time to tumor progression was 17.6 months, and the 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, and 4‐year survival rates were 67, 33, 33, and 33%, respectively. The median overall survival time was not reached, and the 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, and 4‐year survival rates were 100, 67, 67, and 67%, respectively.

Conclusions

Although it was difficult to recruit patients, there was a long‐term survivor >4 years who appeared to have achieved a CR, indicating that such chemoradiotherapy may be effective against locally advanced thymic carcinoma.

A phase II study of osimertinib in combination with platinum plus pemetrexed in patients with EGFR-mutated, advanced non–small cell lung cancer: The OPAL study (NEJ032C/LOGIK1801)

9097

Background: Osimertinib (OSI), a third-generation EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), is now a standard treatment for previously untreated EGFR-mutated (EGFRm) advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the two randomized phase 3 studies, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were statistically significant and clinically longer with gefitinib and platinum-based chemotherapy compared with gefitinib monotherapy. Based on these data, we have planned this phase 2 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of OSI combined with platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: This multicenter phase 2 study enrolled patients (pts) with clinical stage IIIB, IIIC, IVA, IVB or postoperative recurrent, previously untreated EGFRm NSCLC. Pts received oral OSI 80mg once daily (QD), with either cisplatin 75mg/m2 (arm A) or carboplatin [area under the curve (AUC) = 5, arm B], plus pemetrexed (PEM) 500 mg/ m2 every 3 weeks (Q3W) for four cycles. In both arms, maintenance was OSI 80mg QD with PEM 500 mg/ m2 Q3W until disease progression or discontinuation. The co-primary endpoints were the safety and the objective response rate (ORR), and the secondary endpoints included the complete response rate (CRR), disease control rate (DCR), and PFS. Results: From July 2019 to February 2020, 67 pts (34 pts in Arm A; 33 pts in arm B) were enrolled: median (range) age 67 (26-75) years; 43 (64.2%) female; 46 (68.7%) ECOG PS 0; 66 (98.5%) adenocarcinoma; 31 (46.3%) EGFR exon19 deletion, 35 (52.2) L858R, and 1 (1.5%) both. One pt did not comply with the eligibility criteria and was excluded from the efficacy analysis. At data cut off (August 31, 2021), 27 (40.3%) pts [15 (44.1%) in arm A and 12 (36.4%) in arm B] had discontinued the protocol treatment, including 9 (13.4%) pts [5 (14.7%) in arm A and 4 (12.1%) in arm B] due to the adverse event (AE). The rate of grade (G) ≥ 3 AEs were 91.0% (88.2% in arm A and 93.9% in arm B). For the safety, neutropenia, anemia and thromobocytopenia were numerically higher in arm B and the rates of G ≥ 3 were 29.4%/60.6%, 14.7%/27.3% and 0.0%/42.4% in arm A/B, respectively. G ≥ 3 QTc interval prolonged and G ≥ 2 anorexia were observed in 14.7%/21.2% and 26.5%/24.2%, respectively. For the efficacy, the ORR was 90.9% [95% confidence interval (CI); 84.0-97.8%]. The CRR/DCR were 3.0%/97.0% (95% CI; 0.0-7.2%/92.8%-100.0%), respectively. At a median follow-up time of 21.4 months (range, 18.2-25.7), median PFS was not reached in both A and B, with an estimated 12-/24-months PFS rate of 90.4%/70.0%. Conclusions: OSI combined with platinum-based chemotherapy for previously untreated EGFRm advanced NSCLC showed the excellent efficacy with tolerable toxicity. This combination treatment is highly promising and should be validated in the phase 3 study. Clinical trial information: jRCTs031180226.

A prospective observational study of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer in elderly patients (≥ 75 years)

BACKGROUND

To examine the effects of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for elderly (≥ 75 years of age) patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we conducted a multi-institutional and prospective observational study.

METHODS

Patients were recruited between January 2014 and December 2017, and assigned to two cohort groups based on the patients' choice either to receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (Cohort B) or not (Cohort A). All the patients were observed for 2 years after enrollment. The primary endpoint was the postoperative change of Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) at 2 years. The secondary endpoints were postoperative recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) at 2 years, and the completion rate of the adjuvant chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Two hundred and seventy-two patients were enrolled (Cohort A, n = 225; Cohort B, n = 47). At any time point after surgery, no marked difference of KPS was observed between Cohort B and Cohort A. The RFS at 2 years was 70.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 64.3-76.4) in Cohort A and 76.0% (95% CI 60.8-85.9) in Cohort B. The OS at 2 years was 85.9% (95% CI 80.4-89.9) in Cohort A and 89.1% (95% CI 75.8-95.3) in Cohort B. The completion rate of planned chemotherapy was 49.9% (95% CI 34.1-63.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

The elderly patients were not likely to choose to receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy; however, no significant adverse effect on postoperative KPS was identified.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trial Registration ID: UMIN000020736.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis and the proposal of a new classification

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Randomized Phase III Study of Gefitinib Versus Cisplatin Plus Vinorelbine for Patients With Resected Stage II-IIIA Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer With EGFR Mutation (IMPACT)

PURPOSE

To investigate the efficacy of gefitinib as an adjuvant therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer patients with EGFR mutation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

IMPACT (WJOG6410L; University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000006252), a randomized, open-label, phase III study, included patients with completely resected pathologic stage II-III non-small-cell lung cancer harboring EGFR mutations (exon 19 deletion or L858R) during September 2011 to December 2015. Patients were randomly assigned to receive gefitinib (250 mg once daily) for 24 months or cisplatin (80 mg/m² on day 1) plus vinorelbine (25 mg/m² on days 1 and 8; cis/vin) once every 3 weeks for four cycles. The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

Overall, 234 patients were randomly assigned. Among 232 eligible patients (116 each; excluding two who withdrew consent), the median DFS was 35.9 and 25.1 months in the gefitinib and cis/vin groups, respectively. However, Kaplan-Meier curves crossed around 4 years after surgery with no statistically significant difference (stratified log-rank P = .63; hazard ratio by stratified Cox proportional hazards model = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.67 to 1.28). Overall survival (OS) was also not different (stratified log-rank P = .89; hazard ratio = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.65 to 1.65), with the 5-year OS rates being 78.0% and 74.6% in the gefitinib and cis/vin groups, respectively. Treatment-related deaths occurred in 0 and three patients in the gefitinib and cis/vin groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Although adjuvant gefitinib appeared to prevent early relapse, it did not prolong DFS or OS. However, similar DFS and OS may justify adjuvant gefitinib in the selected patient subsets, especially those deemed ineligible for platinum-doublet adjuvant therapy; however, this was not a noninferiority trial.

Predictive value of EGFR mutation in non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with platinum doublet postoperative chemotherapy

The mutation status of tumor tissue DNA (n = 389) of resected stage II‐III non‐squamous non–small‐cell lung cancer (Ns‐NSCLC) was analyzed using targeted deep sequencing as an exploratory biomarker study (JIPANG‐TR) for the JIPANG study, a randomized phase III study of pemetrexed/cisplatin (Pem/Cis) vs vinorelbine/cisplatin (Vnr/Cis). The TP53 mutation, common EGFR mutations (exon 19 deletion and L858R), and KRAS mutations were frequently detected. The frequency of the EGFR mutation was significant among female patients. Patients with an EGFR mutation‐positive status had a significantly shorter recurrence‐free survival (RFS) time (24 mo vs not reached) (HR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.22‐2.21; P = .0011 for EGFR mutation status). Multivariable analysis identified both the pathological stage and EGFR mutation status as independent prognostic factors for RFS (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.30‐2.44; P = .0003 for disease stage; and HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.15‐2.16; P = .0050 for EGFR mutation status). This study demonstrated that the EGFR mutation has either a poor prognostic or predictive impact on a poor response to postoperative chemotherapy with platinum doublet chemotherapy for stage II‐III Ns‐NSCLC patients. This result supports a role for mandatory molecular diagnosis of early‐stage Ns‐NSCLC for precision oncology and signifies the importance of adjuvant for the 3rd generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor rather than platinum‐based chemotherapy. This study is registered with the UMIN Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN 000012237).

High Incidence of C797S Mutation in Patients With Long Treatment History of EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Including Osimertinib

Introduction

Although treatment with osimertinib confers survival benefits in patients with lung cancer with the EGFR T790M mutation, the mechanism of acquired resistance to osimertinib remains poorly understood. We conducted a prospective observational study to identify the mechanism on the basis of repeated tissue biopsies.

Methods

Patients with EGFR-mutated advanced lung cancer with a T790M mutation detected on a tissue biopsy underwent a rebiopsy after developing acquired resistance to osimertinib. Nucleic acids extracted from the biopsy samples were subjected to targeted resequencing (Oncomine Comprehensive Assay), and circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) was analyzed by CAncer Personalized Profiling by deep Sequencing (AVENIO ctDNA Surveillance Kit).

Results

Between November 2016 and March 2020, a total of 87 patients were screened. Among them, 44 developed acquired resistance. Of these, 19 samples from rebiopsies and 12 from preosimertinib biopsies were able to be analyzed by an Oncomine Comprehensive Assay. A ccfDNA analysis was performed in 16 patients. Regarding the mechanisms of acquired resistance, structural change in EGFR, namely, C797S, G796S, or L792V, was the most frequent alteration, being observed in 57.9% of the cases. MET gain was observed in 31.6% of the cases, and gains in cell cycle genes were observed in 26.3% of the cases. In addition, we identified GAS6 gain and an ATM mutation in a patient with small-cell transformation and a BRAF V600E mutation in a patient with oligoprogressive disease.

Conclusions

A repeated tissue biopsy and a ccfDNA analysis were useful in analyzing the mechanisms underlying acquired resistance. A long treatment history of EGFR TKIs may result in a high percentage of EGFR structural change.

Clinical significance of part-solid lung cancer in the eighth edition TNM staging system

 

OBJECTIVES

The ground-glass component of part-solid tumour (PST) was eliminated as a clinical T (cT) descriptor in the eighth edition of the tumour, node and metastasis (TNM) staging system. We aimed to validate the new cT descriptor and investigate the prognostic impact of PST in the new staging system.

METHODS

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (n = 1061) who underwent lung resection and were available for the assessment of thin-section computed tomography images were retrospectively reviewed. Tumours with a solid component (SC) size-to-whole tumour size (STR) ratio of 0, those with 0 < STR < 1 and those with an STR of 1 were defined as pure ground-glass tumours, PSTs and solid tumours (STs), respectively.

RESULTS

Tumours with an SC diameter of >30 mm were less frequently observed among PSTs than among STs (4.83% vs 32.6%, P < 0.001). The postoperative 5-year survival of NSCLC patients with ground-glass tumour, PST and ST was 97.6%, 89.0% and 76.3%, respectively. In the survival analysis of patients with an SC diameter ≤30 mm, significant differences were observed among PST and ST (5-year survival, 90.7% vs 74.6%, P < 0.001). The multivariable analysis showed that age <70 years old, female sex, procedures with a lobectomy or more, SC size, pN0 disease and PST were independent predictors of a better survival among all PST and ST patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with cT1 tumours, those with PST showed a significantly better survival than did those with ST. Small-sized PST tumours may not be suitable for the new cT descriptor.

A Phase II Study of Osimertinib for Radiotherapy-Naive Central Nervous System Metastasis From NSCLC: Results for the T790M Cohort of the OCEAN Study (LOGIK1603/WJOG9116L)

OBJECTIVES

Osimertinib has been reported to be effective against central nervous system (CNS) metastasis from activating EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC. Nevertheless, the true antitumor effects of osimertinib alone for CNS metastasis are unclear because the aforementioned studies included previously irradiated cases, in which tumor shrinkage can occur later owing to the effects of radiotherapy (RT). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of osimertinib against RT-naive CNS metastasis from sensitizing EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC.

METHODS

The OCEAN study was a two-cohort trial, involving 66 patients (T790M cohort [n = 40] and first-line cohort [n = 26]) with RT-naive CNS metastasis from sensitizing EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC. The patients were treated once daily with 80 mg osimertinib. The primary end point was brain metastasis response rate (BMRR) according to the PAREXEL criteria. In this report, we present the results for the T790M cohort with analysis of drug concentrations and plasma circulating tumor DNA.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 69 years, and 30% of them were males. Eight patients (20%) were symptomatic, and most had multiple CNS metastases (78%). Among the eligible 39 patients, the BMRR (PAREXEL criteria), median brain metastasis-related progression-free survival (PFS), median overall survival, overall response rate, and median PFS were 66.7% (90% confidence interval: 54.3%-79.1%), 25.2 months, 19.8 months, 40.5%, and 7.1 months, respectively. The BMRR according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria was 70.0% (n = 20). The brain metastasis-related PFS of patients with EGFR exon 19 deletion was significantly longer than that of exon 21 L858R (median = 31.8 versus 8.3 mo; log-rank p = 0.032). The treatment-related pneumonitis was observed in four patients (10%). On or after day 22, the median trough blood and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of osimertinib were 568 nM and 4.10 nM, respectively, and those of its metabolite AZ5104 were 68.0 nM and 0.260 nM, respectively. The median blood to cerebrospinal fluid penetration rates of osimertinib and AZ5104 were 0.79% and 0.53%, respectively. The blood trough concentration at day 22 was not correlated with the efficacy of osimertinib against CNS metastasis. Plasma T790M and C797S mutations were detected in 83% and 3% of the patients before treatment, 11% and 3% of the patients on day 22, and 39% and 22% of the patients at the detection of progressive disease, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study evaluated the efficacy of osimertinib against RT-naive CNS metastasis from T790M-positive NSCLC. The primary end point was met, and the results revealed the efficacy of osimertinib in patients with CNS metastasis harboring EGFR T790M mutations especially for EGFR-sensitizing mutation of exon 19 deletion.

Caste development and sex ratio of the Ryukyu drywood termite Neotermes sugioi and its potential mechanisms

Sex allocation is one of the most studied traits in evolutionary biology because its theoretical predictions match the empirical data. Here, using the Ryukyu dry-wood termite Neotermes sugioi, we investigated several factors that could bias the sex allocation in three populations (Okinawa, Ishigaki/Iriomote, and Yonaguni). Our survey showed that there were more queen-only colonies than king-only colonies in these populations, suggesting a longer lifespan of the queens than that of the kings. In this condition, sex-asymmetric reproductive value (SRV) theory predicts female bias, because even after the short-lived kings die, the long-lived queens can continue reproduction with their sons. However, sex allocation in this species seemed to be biased toward males. Furthermore, we examined the possibility of intrasexual competition among siblings (ICS). If ICS is the cause of the bias, the allocation is expected to change depending on the total investment in sexual offspring. However, the biomass of both male and female alates increased linearly with the increase in the total biomass of the alates in these populations. Thus, neither the SRV nor the ICS theory could explain the male-biased sex ratio of N. sugioi. On the basis of these results, we discuss the remaining possibilities in this species.

Thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis coexisting with myotonic dystrophy: a case report

BACKGROUND

Myotonic dystrophy (dystrophia myotonica [DM]) is an autosomal-dominant inheritance, and myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease characterized by weakness of skeletal muscles. Cases of both DM and MG are extremely rare and distinguishing DM and MG symptoms is challenging.

CASE PRESENTATION

We herein report a 49-year-old woman presenting with subacute dyspnea and muscle weakness. She had previously been diagnosed with DM 24 years earlier. Computed tomography (CT) revealed an anterior mediastinal 32-mm solid mass that was suspected of being thymoma. The clinical features and neurological examination findings confirmed the diagnosis of thymoma-associated MG coexisting with DM. Intensive treatment for MG, including surgery, resulted in an improvement in some of her neurological symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The symptoms of DM usually progress slowly, so the sudden exacerbation of symptoms indicates the involvement of other factors. It is important to be aware of these associations, as an early diagnosis with proper treatment will result in a better outcome.

Gefitinib induction followed by chemoradiotherapy in EGFR-mutant, locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: LOGIK0902/OLCSG0905 phase II study

Background

The role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) induction coupled with standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is unclear in unresectable, stage III, EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, a phase II trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib induction followed by CRT in this disease setting.

Patients and methods

Patients with unresectable, EGFR-mutant, stage III NSCLC were administered gefitinib monotherapy (250 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Subsequently, patients without disease progression during induction therapy were administered cisplatin and docetaxel (40 mg/m² each) on days 1, 8, 29, and 36 with concurrent radiotherapy at a total dose of 60 Gy. The primary endpoint was the 2-year overall survival (OS) rate, which was hypothesized to reach 85%, with a threshold of the lower limit of 60%.

Results

Twenty patients (median age: 66 years; male/female: 9/11; histology: 20 adenocarcinoma; stage IIIA/IIIB: 9/11; and exon 19/21: 10/10) were enrolled. The 2-year OS rate was 90% (90% confidence interval: 71.4% to 96.8%), indicating that this trial met the primary objective. The overall response rate and 1- and 2-year progression-free survival rates were 85.0%, 58.1%, and 36.9%, respectively. Grade ≥3 adverse events (>10%) included hepatic toxicity during the induction phase and neutropenia and febrile neutropenia in the CRT phase. Radiation pneumonitis grade ≥3 or treatment-related death did not occur.

Conclusions

This is the first prospective study to demonstrate the favorable efficacy and safety of EGFR-TKI induction followed by standard CRT in EGFR-mutant, stage III NSCLC. Further confirmatory studies are needed.

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This is the first prospective study evaluating gefitinib induction followed by CRT in EGFR-mutated, locally advanced NSCLC.

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The 2-year OS rate was 90% (90% confidence interval: 71.4% to 96.8%), indicating that this trial met the primary objective.

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The objective response rate throughout the treatment protocol was 85.0% (17 of 20).

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The safety findings were consistent with the known safety profiles of all agents administered.

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Our results might raise a critical point that needs to be evaluated in further studies to improve the cure rate.

Adjuvant gefitinib versus cisplatin/vinorelbine in Japanese patients with completely resected, EGFR-mutated, stage II-III non-small cell lung cancer (IMPACT, WJOG6410L): A randomized phase 3 trial

8501

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor is a standard of care for EGFR mutation-positive, untreated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the efficacy and safety of adjuvant gefitinib for patients with completely resected lung cancer harboring EGFR mutation over cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy were not known in 2011 when this study was initiated. Methods: From September 2011 to December 2015, we randomly assigned 234 patients with completely resected, EGFR mutation-positive (exon 19 deletion or L858R), stage II–III NSCLC to receive either gefitinib (250 mg, once daily) for 24 months or cisplatin (80 mg/m2 on day 1) plus vinorelbine (25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8) (cis/vin) every 3 weeks for four cycles. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) according to a central review in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. Results: Two patients in the gefitinib arm withdrew consent and were excluded from the ITT population. No treatment-related deaths were seen in the gefitinib arm, but three treatment-related deaths were reported in the cis/vin arm. Median duration of follow-up was 71 months. Median DFS was numerically longer in the gefitinib arm (36 months) than in the cis/vin arm (25.2 months). However, Kaplan-Meier curves began to overlap around 5 years after surgery, and no significant difference in DFS was seen, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.92 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.67–1.28; P = 0.63). Overall survival was also not significantly different (median not reached in either arm). Five-year survival rates for gefitinib and cis/vin arms were 78.0% and 74.6%, respectively, with an HR for death of 1.03; 95%CI, 0.65–1.65; P = 0.89. Exploratory subset analysis revealed that patients ³70 years old in the gefitinib arm (n = 19/27 with G to cis/vin) survived longer than those in the cis/vin arm (HR 0.31; 95%CI, 0.10–0.98; P = 0.046). Conclusions: Adjuvant gefitinib appeared to prevent early relapse, but did not significantly prolong DFS or OS in patients with completely resected stage II–III, EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The apparent non-inferiority of DFS/OS may justify the use of adjuvant gefitinib in selected subset of patients, especially those deemed unsuitable for cis/vin adjuvant therapy. Clinical trial information: UMIN000006252.

Osimertinib versus osimertinib plus chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR (T790M)-associated resistance to initial EGFR inhibitor treatment: An open-label, randomised phase 2 clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Osimertinib is now a standard treatment for patients with previously untreated EGFR-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We here investigated whether the combination of osimertinib with cytotoxic chemotherapy might hold additive efficacy, as well as tolerability.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted an open-label randomised phase 2 study to evaluate osimertinib and carboplatin-pemetrexed combination in comparison with osimertinib monotherapy in EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC patients who experienced disease progression associated with the emergence of the T790M resistance mutation of EGFR during first-line EGFR-TKI therapy. The primary endpoint was PFS, with secondary endpoints, including OS, response, and safety. Given that osimertinib was approved as a first-line treatment during the study, patient accrual was discontinued, and a final analysis was performed for the 62 enrolled patients.

RESULTS

Median PFS was 15.8 months for the osimertinib monotherapy group and 14.6 months for the combination therapy group (hazard ratio of 1.09, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.51-2.32; P = .83). Median OS was not reached in either group. The overall response rate was 71.4% in the osimertinib monotherapy group and 53.6% in the combination group. The frequency or severity of known adverse events in the combination group was comparable to those with carboplatin and pemetrexed previously reported, and novel adverse events were not observed in this study.

CONCLUSION

This is the first randomised study to investigate the efficacy and safety of the combination of osimertinib and cytotoxic chemotherapy for EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The addition of chemotherapy to osimertinib as a second-line treatment did not prolong survival, while it was found to be generally tolerable. This combination strategy will be further validated in the first-line setting.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT) identifier: jRCTs071180062.

A Phase II Study of Osimertinib Combined With Platinum Plus Pemetrexed in Patients With EGFR-Mutated Advanced Non-Small-cell Lung Cancer: The OPAL Study (NEJ032C/LOGIK1801)

BACKGROUND

Osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is now a standard treatment of previously untreated EGFR-mutated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, disease progression occurs within 19 months of treatment. In the NEJ009 study, gefitinib plus carboplatin plus pemetrexed demonstrated significantly better progression-free and overall survival compared with gefitinib monotherapy. Furthermore, the Lung Oncology Group in Kyushu and North East Japan Study Group, major clinical trial groups in Japan, conducted a randomized phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of second-line osimertinib plus carboplatin plus pemetrexed versus osimertinib monotherapy for patients with disease progression during first-line EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy and the EGFR T790M resistance mutation (TAKUMI trial; trial registration no., jRCTs071180062). In the first treatment course for the initial 24 patients, no safety issues were reported in the combination arm. Thus, we have planned this phase II study to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of osimertinib plus cisplatin/carboplatin plus pemetrexed therapy for patients with previously untreated EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 66 patients will be enrolled, because this sample size will be adequate for assessing treatment safety and efficacy. The co-primary endpoints include safety and the objective response rate, and the secondary endpoints include the complete response rate, disease control rate, and progression-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to explore the efficacy and safety of osimertinib combined with platinum-based chemotherapy in previously untreated NSCLC patients with EGFR-sensitizing mutations. Our findings could provide valuable information for phase III studies such as FLAURA2 and for developing treatment strategies for EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

A single-arm, phase 2 study of adjuvant chemotherapy with oral tegafur-uracil for pathologically lymphovascular invasion positive stage IA non-small cell lung cancer: LOGIK0602 study

BACKGROUND

Lymphovascular invasion (LVI), which includes vascular or lymphatic invasions, is a representative prognostic factor even in patients with resected stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Because tegafur-uracil is effective on cancers with LVI, we conducted a multi-center single-arm phase II study to estimate the efficacy of adjuvant tegafur-uracil in patients with LVI-positive stage IA NSCLC.

METHODS

Patients with completely resected LVI-positive stage IA NSCLC were registered. LVI was diagnosed by consensus of two of three pathologists. Adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of 2 years of oral tegafur-uracil at 250 mg/m²/day. Fifty-five patients from 7 institutions were enrolled from June 2007 to September 2012.

RESULTS

Among the 52 eligible patients, 36 (69.2%) completed the treatment course. There were 39 male and 13 female patients. The observation period was calculated as 562 to 3107 days using the reverse Kaplan-Meier method. The 5-year overall and relapse free survival rates were 94.2 and 88.5% respectively, which were significantly better than that of any other studies conducted on patients with LVI-positive stage IA NSCLC. Notably, the overall survival rate was 15% better than that of our prior retrospective study. The retrospective analysis of stage IA NSCLC patients who had received an operation in the same period revealed that the 5-year overall survival rate of the LVI positive group was 73.6% when adjuvant chemotherapy was not applied. Among 55 safety analysis sets, 4 cases of grade 3 hepatic function disorder (9.1%) and 5 cases of grade 2 anorexia (10.9%) were most frequently observed. No grade 4 adverse effects were encountered.

CONCLUSION

A 2-year course of oral tegafur-uracil administration is feasible and might have a significant benefit in the adjuvant treatment of LVI-positive stage IA NSCLC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN identifier: UMIN000005921 ; Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: 19 June 2007; Date of registration: 5 July 2011 (retrospectively registered).

Tumor mutation burden as a biomarker for lung cancer patients treated with pemetrexed and cisplatin (the JIPANG-TR)

The JIPANG study is a randomized phase III study of pemetrexed/cisplatin (Pem/Cis) versus vinorelbine/cisplatin (Vnr/Cis) for completely resected stage II-IIIA non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (Ns-NSCLC). This study did not meet the primary endpoint (recurrence-free survival, RFS) but Pem/Cis had a similar efficacy to Vnr/Cis with a better tolerability. Tumor mutation burden (TMB) is thought to have a predictive value of immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, the relevance of TMB to cytotoxic chemotherapy remains unknown. This exploratory study investigates the relationship between tumor mutation profiles and clinical outcome of Pem/Cis. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissues (n = 389) were obtained from the patients. Mutation status of tissue DNA was analyzed by targeted deep sequencing. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations were detected frequently in Ns-NSCLC (139/374). Patients without any EGFR mutations experienced longer RFS in the Pem/Cis arm versus Vnr/Cis arms. Pem/Cis in patients with high TMB (≥12-16 mut/Mb) tended to have improved survival. In patients with wild-type EGFR, TMB ≥ 12 mut/Mb was significantly associated with improved RFS with Pem/Cis versus Vnr/Cis (not reached vs 52.5 months; hazard ratio (HR) 0.477). It could be proposed that TMB was predictive of RFS benefit with Pem/Cis versus Vnr/Cis in Ns-NSCLC. Further investigation is required to determine whether TMB combined with EGFR mutation status could be used as a predictive biomarker.

Erlotinib for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Leptomeningeal Metastases: A Phase II Study (LOGIK1101)

LESSONS LEARNED

This phase II trial evaluated the efficacy of erlotinib for patients with non-small cell lung cancer with leptomeningeal metastasis. The 17 cerebrospinal fluid specimens that were available for epidermal growth factor receptor mutation analysis were all negative for the resistance-conferring T790M mutation. The cytological objective clearance rate was 30.0% (95% confidence interval: 11.9%-54.3%). The median time to progression was 2.2 months. The rate of cerebrospinal fluid penetration among these patients was equivalent to those in previous reports regarding leptomeningeal metastasis.

BACKGROUND

Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) occur in approximately 5% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are associated with a poor prognosis. However, no prospective study has identified an active chemotherapeutic drug in this setting.

METHODS

Patients were considered eligible to receive erlotinib if they had NSCLC with cytologically confirmed LM. The objective cytological clearance rate, time to LM progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), quality of life outcomes, and pharmacokinetics were analyzed. This study was closed because of slow accrual at 21 of the intended 32 patients (66%).

RESULTS

Between December 2011 and May 2015, 21 patients (17 with activating epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] mutations) were enrolled. The 17 cerebrospinal fluid specimens available were all negative for the T790M mutation, which confers erlotinib resistance. The clearance rate was 30.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.9%-54.3%), the median TTP was 2.2 months, and the median OS was 3.4 months. Significantly longer TTP and OS times were observed in patients with mutant EGFR (p = .0113 and p < .0054, respectively). The mean cerebrospinal fluid penetration rate was 3.31% ± 0.77%. There was a good correlation between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations, although there was no clear correlation between pharmacokinetic parameters and clinical outcome.

CONCLUSION

Erlotinib was active for LM and may be a treatment option for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC and LM.

Evaluating the Platelet Distribution Width-to-Plateletcrit Ratio as a Prognostic Marker for Patients With Breast Cancer

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate plateletcrit (PCT) and platelet distribution width-to-PCT ratio (PDW/PCT) as potential prognostic biomarkers in patients with breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Information of 337 patients was retrospectively reviewed. The Cox regression proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the prognostic value of PCT and PDW/PCT compared to the platelet distribution width-to-platelet count ratio (PDW/P) and red cell distribution width-to-platelet count ratio (RDW/P).

RESULTS

Large tumor size (p<0.01), lymph node involvement, and increased PDW/P, RDW/P, and PDW/PCT (p<0.05) were significantly associated with inferior disease-free survival (DFS) according to the univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis showed that large tumor size (p<0.01) and increased PDW/PCT (p<0.05) were significant prognostic factors for poor DFS.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first report to show that PDW/PCT is a significant prognostic factor for patients with breast cancer. Therefore, it might be an attractive biomarker providing additional prognostic information for these patients.

Randomized Phase II Study of First-Line Biweekly Gemcitabine and Carboplatin Versus Biweekly Gemcitabine and Carboplatin plus Maintenance Gemcitabine in Elderly Patients with Untreated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: LOGIK0801

LESSONS LEARNED

The usefulness of maintenance gemcitabine (GEM) after biweekly carboplatin + GEM in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer could not be proved. Superior overall survival was obtained in the group that did not receive maintenance therapy.

BACKGROUND

The primary objective of this randomized phase II study was to assess progression-free survival (PFS) in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with gemcitabine (GEM) maintenance therapy versus best supportive care following first-line GEM plus carboplatin (CBDCA).

METHODS

Elderly chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were randomly assigned 1:1 to the control arm or the study arm. All patients received biweekly combination therapy with GEM and CBDCA (1,000 mg/m² GEM and CBDCA at an area under the curve [AUC] of 3 on days 1 and 15, every 4 weeks). In the study arm, patients with objective response or stable disease following three or four cycles of initial chemotherapy received maintenance GEM.

RESULTS

Eighty-four patients were enrolled. The objective response rates (ORRs) were 17.5% in the control arm and 14.0% in the study arm. The most common toxicity was neutropenia (control arm: 47.5% and study arm: 69.8%). The median progression-free survivals were 4.99 months (control arm) and 4.44 months (study arm), and the median overall survivals (OSs) were 21.7 months (control arm) and 8.2 months (study arm).

CONCLUSION

Our data do not support maintenance GEM after biweekly CBDCA+GEM in elderly patients with NSCLC.

A phase II study of osimertinib for patients with radiotherapy-naïve CNS metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR mutations: The OCEAN study (LOGIK 1603/WJOG 9116L)

9597

Background: Approximately 15%–30% of patients treated with EGFR-TKIs experience central nervous system (CNS) progression. Although radiotherapy is a standard treatment for CNS metastasis, the efficacy of radiotherapy against CNS is poor. The aim of OCEAN study was to assess the efficacy of osimertinib for patients with radiotherapy-naïve CNS metastasis of NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations. Methods: OCEAN study was two-cohort phase II trial, 65 patients (T790M cohort; 40 patients and first-line cohort; 25 patients) with radiotherapy-naïve CNS metastasis of EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC was included. Patients were treated with osimertinib 80 mg once daily. The primary endpoint was the response rate of brain metastasis (BMRR) assessed by the PAREXEL criteria. We set a threshold value of 50% and an expected value of 70% based on the overall response rate (ORR) of AURA trial. Based on one-sided alpha = 0.05 and power = 0.8, the sample size of T790M cohort was calculated to be 40. Key secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), and ORR, BMRR assessed by the RECIST criteria. We are exploratorily assessing the blood concentration of osimertinib at day 22, which considered to represent steady state. In this report, we present the results of T790M cohort. Results: Between October 2016 to July 2019, 40 participants were recruited in the T790M cohort. The median age was 66.5 with 30.0% male. Eight patients had symptomatic CNS metastasis and most patient had multiple CNS metastasis (77.5%). BMRR assessed by PAREXEL criteria was 66.7% (95%CI: 54.3 – 79.1%) and BMRR assessed by RECIST was 70.0% (95%CI, 49.9 – 90.1%). Median PFS was 7.1 months (95%CI, 3.4 – 13.6 months) and ORR assessed by RECIST was 40.5% (95%CI, 24.7 – 57.9%). Treatment related pneumonitis was observed in 4 patients (10.0%). There was no grade 3 or higher toxicities that were found in more than 10%. Conclusions: This first study assessed the efficacy of osimertinib for patients with radiotherapy-naïve CNS metastasis of EGFR T790M mutation-positive NSCLC. The OCEAN study met primary endpoint. The results of this study suggested that patients with brain metastasis harboring EGFR T790M mutations had better to receive osimertinib prior to brain radiotherapy. Clinical trial information: 071180017 .

Final analysis of a phase II, open label, randomized study of osimertinib versus osimertinib plus carboplatin/pemetrexed for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has progressed with previous EGFR-TKI and whose tumours harbour a T790M mutation (LOGIK1604/NEJ032A)

e21594

Background: Osimertinib is now available not only as a second line treatment for the patients with EGFR and T790M-mutation positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after initial tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) but as a first line treantment for those who are TKI-naive. The efficacy and the safety of osimertinib plus palatinum-based chemotherapy has not yet been evaluated. Methods: This phase 2, open-label, randomized study enrolled adult patients (pts) with clinical stage IIIB or IV, or postoperative recurrent NSCLC harbouring susceptible EGFR and T790M mutations after preceded EGFR-TKI failure. Pts were randomly assigned to receive either an osimertinib [80 mg/day 1-21; q3w] or a combination of osimertinib [80 mg/day 1-21] with carboplatin/pemetrexed (hereafter combination) [area under the curve (AUC) = 5 and 500 mg/m2 day 1; q3w]. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included incidence of adverse events, response rate and overall survival. As indiction of osimertinib was expanded to a first line, we amended the protocol to discontinue the enrollment and perform final analyses. Results: From October 2016 to January 2019, 62 pts were enrolled [31 pts osimertinib; 31 pts combination] (median age 68 (37-80); 53.2% male; 83.3% stage IV; 100% adenocarcinoma; 59.7% exon 19 deletion and 40.3% L858R; 45.2% never smoker). The rate of grade (G) ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events was 32.2% in the osimertinib group and 83.9% in the combination group. Neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia were more common in the combination group and the rates of G ≥ 3 were 0%, 0% and 6.4% in the osimertinib group and 38.7%, 25.8% and 29.1% in the combination group, respectively. Three episodes (9.7%) of G ≥ 3 infection and one episode (3.2%) of G ≥ 3 febrile neutropenia were uniquely observed in the combination group, however, these were well managed. Two episodes (6.5%) of G ≥ 3 pneumonitis was observed only in the osimertinib group. Exaggeration of adverse events specific for osimertinib or any unknown adverse event was not observed in the combination group. Final PFS analysis is to be demonstrated in the presentation. Conclusions: Combination of osimertinib with carboplatin and pemetrexed demonstrated safety in patients with EGFR and T790M mutation-positive NSCLC and the efficacy should be validated in the future phase 3 study. Clinical trial information: 000024438.

Randomized Phase III Study of Pemetrexed Plus Cisplatin Versus Vinorelbine Plus Cisplatin for Completely Resected Stage II to IIIA Nonsquamous Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of pemetrexed plus cisplatin versus vinorelbine plus cisplatin as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with pathologic stage II-IIIA nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a randomized, open-label, phase III study at 50 institutions within 7 clinical study groups in Japan. Patients with completely resected pathologic stage II-IIIA (TNM 7th edition) nonsquamous NSCLC were randomly assigned to receive either pemetrexed (500 mg/m², day 1) plus cisplatin (75 mg/m², day 1) or vinorelbine (25 mg/m², days 1 and 8) plus cisplatin (80 mg/m², day 1) with stratification by sex, age, pathologic stage, EGFR mutation, and institution. These treatments were planned to be given every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. The primary end point was recurrence-free survival in the modified intent-to-treat population, excluding ineligible patients.

RESULT

Between March 2012 and August 2016, 804 patients were enrolled (402 assigned to vinorelbine plus cisplatin and 402 assigned to pemetrexed plus cisplatin). Of 784 eligible patients, 410 (52%) had stage IIIA disease and 192 (24%) had EGFR-sensitive mutations. At a median follow-up of 45.2 months, median recurrence-free survival was 37.3 months for vinorelbine plus cisplatin and 38.9 months for pemetrexed plus cisplatin, with a hazard ratio of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.81 to 1.20; 1-sided P = .474). Grade 3-4 toxicities reported more frequently for vinorelbine plus cisplatin than for pemetrexed plus cisplatin were febrile neutropenia (11.6% v 0.3%, respectively), neutropenia (81.1% v 22.7%, respectively), and anemia (9.3% v 2.8%, respectively). One treatment-related death occurred in each arm.

CONCLUSION

Although this study failed to show the superiority of pemetrexed plus cisplatin for patients with resected nonsquamous NSCLC, this regimen showed a better tolerability as adjuvant chemotherapy.

A phase II study of Osimertinib for patients with radiotherapy-naïve CNS metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer: treatment rationale and protocol design of the OCEAN study (LOGIK 1603/WJOG 9116L)

BACKGROUND

Patients with activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are highly responsive to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, it has been reported that approximately 15-30% of patients treated with EGFR-TKIs experience central nervous system (CNS) progression, and patients with EGFR mutations exhibit a higher incidence of brain metastasis than those without such mutations. The efficacy of osimertinib for treating CNS metastasis has been reported, but its efficacy for CNS metastasis in radiotherapy-naïve patients is unclear.

METHODS

In the present prospective two-cohort phase II trial, 65 patients (T790M cohort, 40 patients; first-line cohort, 25 patients) with radiotherapy-naïve CNS metastasis of EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will be included. Patients will be treated once-daily with osimertinib 80 mg. The primary endpoint is the response rate of brain metastasis as assessed using the PAREXEL criteria. Key secondary endpoints are progression-free survival and the response rate of brain metastasis as assessed using the RECIST criteria. We will exploratorily analyze the relationships of the blood concentration of osimertinib with its efficacy against brain metastasis of NSCLC and the accumulation of osimertinib in cerebrospinal fluid and evaluate tumor-derived DNA from plasma specimens for mutations in EGFR and other genes. Recruitment, which in October 2016, is ongoing.

DISCUSSION

Although previous reports revealed the efficacy of osimertinib for CNS metastasis, these reports only involved subgroup analysis, and the efficacy of osimertinib for patients with previously untreated CNS metastasis remains unclear. The OCEAN study is the only trial of osimertinib for patients with untreated brain metastasis of NSCLC. This study should provide novel data about osimertinib. If the results of the OCEAN study are positive, then avoidance of radiotherapy will be recommended to patients harboring EGFR mutations and brain metastasis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN identifier: UMIN000024218 (date of initial registration: 29 September 2016). jRCT identifier: jRCTs071180017 (date of initial registration: 13 February 2019).

S-1 plus cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy for locally advanced thymic carcinoma: Study protocol of LOGIK1605/JART-1501

Thymic carcinoma is a rare epithelial tumor of the thymus with a poor prognosis, and multimodal approaches are important for its treatment. Recently, a number of studies have indicated that S-1 treatment is effective against thymic carcinoma. S-1 plus cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy is a commonly used treatment for other malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In addition, its safety has been confirmed, and it has been reported to have a marked effect against thymic carcinoma. Therefore, we conducted a phase II study of S-1 plus cisplatin with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy for locally advanced thymic carcinoma, in which the overall response rate was employed as the primary endpoint. The secondary endpoints were overall survival, progression-free survival, and safety.

Abstract B004: Revealing the mechanisms of acquired resistance to osimertinib from re-biopsy specimens in advanced non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR T790M mutation (LOGIK1607)

Background: Although treatment with osimertinib confers survival benefits in the second-line treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated lung cancer with the EGFR T790M mutation, the mechanism of acquired resistance to osimertinib has not been well understood. Here, we planned a multicenter, prospective observational study in order to clarify the possible acquired resistance mechanisms to second-line treatment using osimertinib in Japanese non-small cell lung cancer patients. Methods: EGFR T790M positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients were included in this study. We excluded EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor naïve patients, patients whose EGFR T790M proved only by liquid biopsy, and patients whose tumor specimens were not adequate for targeted resequencing analysis. Re-biopsy was planned after the patient developed acquired resistance to osimertinib under written informed consent. Nucleic acids were extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tumor sections and targeted resequencing was performed using a panel consisting of 143 genes (Oncomine Comprehensive Assay, OCA, ThermoFisher Scientific, USA) in a CLIA-certified laboratory (SRL Inc., Japan), and then analyzed using IonReporter software (ThermoFisher Scientific, USA). Results: Between November 2016 and February 2019, 86 patients from 25 institutions were screened. Among 71 patients who were eligible, 31 patients were still on osimertinib and 33 patients developed acquired resistance. Among the 33 patients who developed acquired resistance, 16 patients proceeded to re-biopsy (4 males, 8 Del19 and 7 L858R EGFR mutations). 15/16 samples from re-biopsies and 9/16 samples from pre-osimertinib biopsies proceeded to OCA analyses. Others were excluded because of low quality of extracted nucleic acids. The acquired resistance mechanisms were as follows: T790M maintained in 10 patients with EGFR G796S being found in 1 patient. T790M loss observed in 5 patients with 1 patient having copy number gain in growth-arrest specific gene 6 (GAS6). Another patient possibly had copy number alterations in cell cycle genes. All patients had equal or reduced mutation counts during the therapeutic course, suggesting clonal selections by the therapies. Conclusions: EGFR C797S mutation was not observed in this series. Copy number alteration in GAS6-AXL pathway and cell cycle pathway could be targets of therapy.

Citation Format: Atsushi Osoegawa, Masafumi Yamaguchi, Tomomi Nakamura, Ryotaro Morinaga, Kentaro Tanaka, Kosuke Kashiwabara, Kenichi Taguchi, Kazuki Nabeshima, Junji Kishimoto, Kenji Sugio. Revealing the mechanisms of acquired resistance to osimertinib from re-biopsy specimens in advanced non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR T790M mutation (LOGIK1607) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B004. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-B004

Survival Analysis for Patients with ALK Rearrangement-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and a Poor Performance Status Treated with Alectinib: Updated Results of Lung Oncology Group in Kyushu 1401

LESSONS LEARNED

Alectinib confers a pronounced survival benefit in patients with ALK rearrangement-positive non-small cell lung cancer and a poor performance status. Survival benefit of alectinib for patients with a poor performance status was consistent regardless of the presence of central nervous system metastases.

BACKGROUND

We previously reported a marked objective response rate (ORR) and safety for alectinib treatment in patients with ALK rearrangement-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a poor performance status (PS) in the Lung Oncology Group in Kyushu (LOGiK) 1401 study. It remained unclear, however, whether alectinib might also confer a long-term survival benefit in such patients.

METHODS

Eighteen patients with ALK rearrangement-positive advanced NSCLC and a PS of 2, 3, or 4 (n = 12, 5, and 1, respectively) were enrolled in LOGiK1401 between September 2014 and December 2015 and received alectinib. We have now updated the survival data for the study.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time for all patients was 27.3 months. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 16.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.1-30.8 months), and the median survival time (MST) and the 3-year overall survival rate were 30.3 months (95% CI, 11.5 months to not reached) and 43.8% (95% CI, 20.8-64.7%), respectively. This survival benefit was similarly manifest in patients with a PS of 2 (MST, 20.5 months) and those with a PS of ≥3 (MST, not reached). PFS did not differ between patients with or without central nervous system (CNS) metastases at baseline (median of 17.5 and 16.2 months, respectively, p = .886).

CONCLUSION

Alectinib showed a pronounced survival benefit for patients with ALK rearrangement-positive NSCLC and a poor PS regardless of the presence of CNS metastases, a patient population for which chemotherapy is not indicated.

Randomized phase III study of pemetrexed/cisplatin (Pem/Cis) versus vinorelbine /cisplatin (Vnr/Cis) for completely resected stage II-IIIA non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (Ns-NSCLC): The JIPANG study

8501

Background: Although previous trials demonstrated the efficacy and safety of postoperative cisplatin–based adjuvant chemotherapy for resected NSCLC, no phase III study has so far evaluated Pem/Cis in this population. Methods: Patients with completely resected pathological stage II-IIIA Ns-NSCLC were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either Pem (500 mg/m2, day 1)/Cis (75 mg/m2, day 1) or vinorelbine (Vnr) (25 mg/m2, days 1 and 8)/Cis (80 mg/m2, day 1), and stratified according to sex, age, pathologic stage, EGFR mutation status and institution. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS), and, the planned sample size was 800 patients in total to detect the superiority of Pem/Cis over Vnr/Cis (Trial Identifier, UMIN000006737). Results: Between March 2012 and August 2016, 804 patients were randomized. Of 784 for the efficacy analysis (389 in Pem/Cis and 395 in Vnr/Cis), median age was 65/65 years; stage IIIA 52/52%; Adenocarcinoma, 96/96%; and EGFR mutation, 24/25%. With a median follow-up of 45.2 months (mo), median RFS was 38.9mo in Pem/Cis and 37.3mo in Vnr/Cis with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.81—1.20; log-rank test, P= 0.948), whereas HRs in patients with and without EGFR mutations were 1.38 (95% CI, 0.95—1.99) and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.69—1.09), respectively (Interaction, P= 0.046). Overall survival rate at 3 years was 83.5% versus 87.2% with a HR of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.71—1.35). Incidences of grade 3 or 4 febrile neutropenia (0.3/11.6%, P< 0.001), neutropenia (22.8/81.1%, P< 0.001), and anemia (2.8/9.3%, P< 0.001); any grade alopecia (12.8/30.1%, P< 0.001). One treatment-related death was observed in each arm. Rates of treatment completions were 87.9% (Pem/Cis) and 72.7% (Vnr/Cis), respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Although this phase III study did not meet the primary endpoint, Pem/Cis had a similar efficacy to Vnr/Cis with a better tolerability as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for Ns-NSCLC patients. A significant interaction for RFS was found between treatment and EGFR mutation status. Clinical trial information: UMIN000006737.

Randomized phase II study of pemetrexed or pemetrexed plus bevacizumab for elderly patients with previously untreated non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer: Results of the Lung Oncology Group in Kyushu (LOGIK1201)

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety, we conducted a randomized phase II study of pemetrexed (Pem) versus Pem + bevacizumab (Bev) for elderly patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSqNSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The eligibility criteria were as follows: NSqNSCLC, no prior therapy, stage IIIB/IV disease or postoperative recurrence, age: ≥75 years, performance status (PS): 0-1, and adequate bone marrow function. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to receive Pem or Pem + Bev. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints were the response rate, OS, toxicities, and cost-effectiveness.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients were enrolled and 40 (20 from each group) were assessable. Their characteristics were as follows: male/female = 23/17; median age (range) = 78 (75-83); stage IIIB/IV/postoperative recurrence = 1/30/9; PS 0/1 = 11/29. All cases involved adenocarcinoma. There was no significant intergroup difference in PFS and the median PFS (95% confidence interval) values of the Pem and Pem + Bev groups were 5.4 (3.0-7.4) and 5.5 (3.6-9.9) months, respectively (p = 0.66). The response rate was significantly higher in the Pem + Bev group (15% vs. 55%, p = 0.0146), and there was no significant difference in OS (median: 16.0 vs. 16.4 months, p = 0.58). Grade 3 and 4 leukopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia were seen in 10 and 30, 20 and 55, and 5 and 5 cases, respectively. Drug costs were higher in the Pem + Bev group (median: 1,522,008 vs. 3,368,428 JPY, p = 0.01). No treatment-related deaths occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Adding Bev to Pem did not result in improved survival in the elderly NSqNSCLC patients. Compared with Pem + Bev, Pem monotherapy had similar effects on survival, a more favorable toxicity profile, and was more cost-effective in elderly NSqNSCLC patients. Pem monotherapy might be one of the optional regimen for NSqNSCLC patients aged ≥75 years.

A phase II randomized trial of adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 versus S-1 plus cisplatin for completely resected pathological stage II/IIIA non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

Platinum-based combination chemotherapy is the standard postoperative adjuvant treatment for pathological stage II/III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Oral S-1 therapy has good efficacy and relatively low toxicity for the treatment of advanced NSCLC. We investigated whether long-term S-1 monotherapy is also useful as an adjuvant therapy after surgery in patients with NSCLC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a phase II randomized open-label multi-institutional study in patients with pathological stage II/IIIA NSCLC (7^th TNM classification) who underwent complete resection from 2009 to 2013. The primary endpoint, the 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate, was evaluated using the Bayesian method. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to two arms: oral S-1 monotherapy (S-1 arm) and S-1 plus cisplatin combination therapy followed by S-1 (S-1 plus cisplatin arm) both for a total of 1 year.

RESULTS

A total of 70 and 71 patients were enrolled in S-1 arm and S-1 plus cisplatin arm, respectively. The 2-year DFS rates were 52% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-0.63) and 61% (95% CI, 0.48-0.70) for S-1 arm and S-1 plus cisplatin arm, respectively. Both arms met the primary endpoint. Neither DFS nor OS was significantly different between the arms (log-rank test: P =  0.1695 and P =  0.8684, respectively). The main G3/4 adverse events were loss of appetite and anemia (S-1 vs. S-1 plus cisplatin: 4.3% vs. 11.6% and 0% vs. 5.8%, respectively). The treatment completion rate did not differ between the two arms (S-1 vs. S-1 plus cisplatin: 45.7%, 95% CI, 41.9-66.3% vs. 43.5% 95% CI, 44.0-68.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 was a feasible and promising treatment for patients with completely resected NSCLC, regardless of cisplatin addition. S-1 monotherapy should be investigated further, based on its low toxicity and practical convenience.