Lung cancer patients with HER2 mutations treated with chemotherapy and HER2-targeted drugs: results from the European EUHER2 cohort

BACKGROUND

HER2 mutations have been identified as oncogenic drivers in lung cancers and are found in 1-2% of lung adenocarcinomas. There is, to date, no standard of care for these patients. We thus aim to study the therapeutic outcomes of patients harboring HER2 mutations and establish the efficacy of various drug regimens.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study in European centers assessed patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a known HER2 exon-20 insertion, treated with chemotherapy and/or HER2-targeted drugs.

RESULTS

We identified 101 eligible patients from 38 centers: median age 61 years (range: 30-87), 62.4% women, 60.4% never-smokers. All tumors were adenocarcinomas. Concomitant EGFR mutations, ALK translocations, and ROS translocations were observed in 5, 1, and 1 patients, respectively. The median number of treatment lines was 3 (range: 1-11). The median overall survival was 24 months. Overall response rate (ORR) and the median progression-free survival (PFS) with conventional chemotherapy (excluding targeted therapies) were 43.5% and 6 months in first-line (n = 93), and 10% and 4.3 months in second-line (n = 52) therapies. Sixty-five patients received HER2-targeted therapies: trastuzumab = 57, neratinib = 14, afatinib = 9, lapatinib = 5, T-DM1 = 1. ORR was 50.9% and PFS was 4.8 months with trastuzumab or T-DM1.

CONCLUSION

This series shows the chemosensitivity of HER2-driven NSCLC, and the potential interest of HER2-targeted agents. Our results should help to define the best therapeutic strategy for these patients and to orient future clinical trials.

Multicenter observational study of erlotinib therapy (OBSTAR) for non small-cell lung cancer: a GFPC study

CONTEXT

Erlotinib therapy for non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has mainly been evaluated in randomized trials.

METHOD

OBSTAR was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study involving all patients treated with erlotinib in 18 French centers between June 2005 and September 2007. The analyses focused on the patients' characteristics, previous treatments, and treatment efficacy during a three-year follow-up period.

RESULTS

534 patients were included in this study. The median survival times were respectively 5.2 [3.7-7.4] and 4.7 [4.1-5.7] months, depending to whether erlotinib was used as second- (n=190), or ≥ third-line treatment (n=305). The disease control rate were 39.1% [30.2-48.7] and 29.9% [29.6-36.9] according to the line of treatment. Factors predictive of an objective response were gender, age, and smoking status. Factors predictive of progression were age, sex, smoking status, the line of treatment, and the number of metastases. Treatment had to be interrupted for toxicity in 8.5% of cases.

CONCLUSION

This study of erlotinib therapy in 2005-2007 confirms, in the general NSCLC patient population, the results of pivotal trials.

[Incidence and characteristics of bronchial colonisation in patient with lung cancer: a retrospective study of 388 cases]

INTRODUCTION

Bronchial colonisation is frequently reported in patients with lung cancer. These colonisations could influence patient therapeutic management and prognosis. The aim of our study is refine incidence and nature of bronchial colonisations in patients presenting with lung cancer.

METHODS

Three hundred and eighty-eight patients with lung cancer underwent a flexible bronchoscopy at the time of diagnosis. Among them, 216 patients had a bacteriological, mycobacteriological and fungal investigation. Type and frequency of these colonisations were analyzed.

RESULTS

Potential pathogens were found in 39.8% of samples, including mainly 39.8% of Gram-negative bacilli (Haemophilus influenzae, Enterobacter sp., Escherichia coli). In addition, we found 0.9% of mycobacteria and 13.9% of Candida albicans. Among these 216 patients where microbiological analysis was performed, patient features and tumor stage were not significantly correlated to microbial colonisation.

CONCLUSIONS

Colonisation of airways is frequently reported when a lung cancer is diagnosed. Our data suggest that bronchial colonisation should be prospectively collected due to its potential interest in the management of lung cancer patients.

[Radiofrequency ablation of primary lung cancer: a single centre experience]

INTRODUCTION

Radiofrequency ablation is a new interventional radiological technique for the treatment of primary or secondary lung tumors of small size (less than 3 cm) in inoperable patients or patients unsuitable for external radiotherapy. This procedure is already used in liver and renal cancers and metastases, and is now being evaluated in primary and secondary lung tumors.

METHODS

We have followed-up, by CT scanning, 12 consecutive patients with primary lung tumors treated by radiofrequency ablation in our institution between 2004 and 2008.

RESULTS

Our study shows that radiofrequency ablation is well-tolerated with few minor side effects (75% pneumothorax) and no major side effects. Moreover, it gives good local control (8.3% local progression).

CONCLUSIONS

Radiofrequency appears to be a valuable alternative to surgery for inoperable patients presenting with a small primary lung tumor.

[Stenting for superior vena cava obstruction associated with lung cancer: monocentric study]

INTRODUCTION

Superior vena cava obstruction is an urgent complication of lung cancer. Superior vena cava stent insertion can be considered to provide rapid relief of the symptoms.

METHODS

To estimate the efficiency and the complications of this procedure, we retrospectively analyzed 41 consecutive patients treated during the last 5 years by self-expanding nitinol stent insertion for superior vena cava obstruction due to lung cancer. It was combined with anticoagulation and corticosteroids.

RESULTS

41 patients benefited from this treatment (30 men and 11 women) with an average age of 59 years. Etiologies of the vena cava obstruction were: small cell carcinoma (11), adenocarcinoma (8), squamous cell carcinoma (9), large cell carcinoma (9) and others (4). All patients were symptomatic. The average period between the onset of symptoms and the vascular stenting was 14 days. Specific treatment was chemotherapy (18 patients), radiotherapy (1 patient), or both (14 patients), and no specific treatment for 6 patients. The procedure consisted of the insertion of 1 (73%) or 2 (27%) stents, with an average length and caliber of 7.5 cm and 14 mm respectively. No major complication was reported in short and long-term follow up. Symptomatic improvement was observed for all the patients within 48 hours. Median survival after the stenting was of 6.7 months.

CONCLUSION

In our study, vascular stenting for malignant superior cava vena obstruction allows a rapid improvement of the symptoms with very few complications, suggesting a possible role as first line treatment for chemo or radio-resistant tumours.

Pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin as adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage NSCLC

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Background: Platinum based chemotherapy after complete resection of stage I-IIIa non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has improved 5-yr survival by 4–15%. Pemetrexed (P) in combination with cisplatin (C) or carboplatin (Carb) has shown to be effective and safe in first-line Tx of advanced NSCLC, thus being a promising option in the adjuvant setting. Methods: Multicenter, open phase 2 in pts with resected stage Ib/II NSCLC. Pts were randomized to P (500 mg/m2)+C (75mg/m2) or P (500 mg/m2)+Carb (AUC5) d1 q3 wks, for 4 cycles; adequate organ function and ECOG PS 0–1 required. Primary endpoint was feasibility of the regimen defined as compliance to 4 Tx cycles with ≥ 95% of planned dose without ≥ Grade 3 toxicities (tox) at 30 d after last infusion. A regimen was deemed feasible if the rate (feasible pts/total pts) was >60%. Results: Please see Table for results. Conclusions: According to the strict definitions in this protocol neither regimen was feasible. The reason was poor compliance with at least one of the components that defined feasibility, but dose intensity and % pts completing cycle 4 was notably high, compared to other adjuvant trials. P+C was the more favourable regimen concerning feasibility and tolerability. In terms of tolerability pemetrexed could be combined with either platinum compound.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

[Efficacy and tolerance of bevacizumab in non-small cell lung cancer: preliminary report]

INTRODUCTION

Bevacizumab is an antiangiogenic drug targeting VEGF. Its interest, in combination with chemotherapy, has been demonstrated in two recent trials in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and its approval is awaited within few weeks. Due its original mechanism of action, bevacizumab has a very specific safety profile and radiological response patterns.

METHOD

Based upon selected observations reported from patients included in clinical trials and on recent literature, we bring some clue for a better and safer use of bevacizumab.

RESULTS

We report toxicity associated with bevacizumab, especially vascular side-effects and unusual radiological responses.

CONCLUSION

Bevacizumab use in NSCLC is associated with some unexpected side effects and responses that worth to be known by pulmonologists. Selections criteria should be rigorously followed.