Second-line docetaxel for patients with platinum-refractory advanced non-small cell lung cancer and interstitial pneumonia

Japanese guidelines for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis 2023:Revised edition

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial lung disease with a poor prognosis and an unknown cause that generally progresses to pulmonary fibrosis and leads to irreversible tissue alteration. The "Guidelines for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis 2017," specializing in the treatment of IPF for the first time in Japan and presenting evidence-based standard treatment methods suited to the state of affairs in Japan, was published in 2017, in line with the 2014 version of "Formulation procedure for Minds Clinical Practice Guidelines." Because new evidence had accumulated, we formulated the "Guidelines for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis 2023 (revised 2nd edition)." While keeping the revision consistent with the ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT IPF treatment guidelines, new clinical questions (CQs) on pulmonary hypertension were added to the chronic stage, in addition to acute exacerbation and comorbid lung cancer, which greatly affect the prognosis but are not described in the ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT IPF guidelines. Regarding the advanced stages, we additionally created expert consensus-based advice for palliative care and lung transplantation. The number of CQs increased from 17 in the first edition to 24. It is important that these guidelines be used not only by respiratory specialists but also by general practitioners, patients, and their families; therefore, we plan to revise them appropriately in line with ever-advancing medical progress.

Treatment Strategies for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Comorbid Respiratory Disease; Interstitial Pneumonia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Tuberculosis

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are often complicated by other respiratory diseases, including interstitial pneumonia (IP), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), and the management of which can be problematic. NSCLC patients with IP sometimes develop fatal acute exacerbation induced by pharmacotherapy, and the establishment of a safe treatment strategy is desirable. For advanced NSCLC with IP, carboplatin plus nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel is a relatively safe and effective first-line treatment option. Although the safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for these populations remains controversial, ICIs have the potential to provide long-term survival. The severity of COPD is an important prognostic factor in NSCLC patients. Although COPD complications do not necessarily limit treatment options, it is important to select drugs with fewer side effects on the heart and blood vessels as well as the lungs. Active TB is complicated by 2-5% of NSCLC cases during their disease course. Since pharmacotherapy, especially ICIs, reportedly induces the development of TB, the possibility of developing TB should always be kept in mind during NSCLC treatment. To date, there is no coherent review article on NSCLC with these pulmonary complications. This review article summarizes the current evidence and discusses future prospects for treatment strategies for NSCLC patients complicated with IP, severe COPD, and TB.

Risk factors for acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease during chemotherapy for lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for acute exacerbation (AE) of interstitial lung disease caused by chemotherapy for lung cancer.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library databases from the establishment of each database to April 2023. Eligible studies were included, and the data on risk factors related to AE caused by chemotherapy in interstitial lung disease were extracted.

Results

A total of 878 articles were retrieved and 21 met the inclusion criteria. The studies included 1,275 patients with lung cancer combined with interstitial lung disease. The results of the meta-analysis showed four significant risk factors for AE of interstitial lung disease, namely age < 70 years (odds ratio [OR]: 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-3.72), forced vital capacity (FVC) (MD=-9.33, 95% CI: -13.7-4.97), usually interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern on computed tomography (CT) (OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.43-3.11), and serum surfactant protein D (SP-D) (SMD: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.03-0.67).

Conclusion

When patients with lung cancer complicated with interstitial lung disease are aged < 70 years, have a UIP pattern on CT, have lower FVC values, and have higher serum levels of SP-D, chemotherapy should be carried out with care.

Reply to: Pharmacotherapy for lung cancer with comorbid interstitial pneumonia: limited evidence requires appropriate evaluation

The divergent views on lung cancer treatments in fibrosing lung patients reflect differences due to variable side-effect incidences in different countries and among ethnicities. International efforts are needed to better define treatment approaches. https://bit.ly/3DX40fq.

Pharmacotherapy for lung cancer with comorbid interstitial pneumonia: limited evidence requires appropriate evaluation

This article is a correspondence to the review article on lung cancer with comorbid interstitial pneumonia, particularly with regard to pharmacotherapy. Limited evidence needs to be accurately evaluated and utilised for these patients with poor prognosis. https://bit.ly/3BGRCz4.

Is Thoracic Radiotherapy an Absolute Contraindication for Treatment of Lung Cancer Patients With Interstitial Lung Disease? A Systematic Review

Thoracic radiotherapy decisions in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) are complex due to concerns about severe or even fatal radiation pneumonitis. This systematic review analysed the published evidence regarding the incidence of radiation pneumonitis and mortality after thoracic radiotherapy and investigated clinical and dosimetric predictors of radiation pneumonitis in lung cancer patients with ILD. A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Medline, Embase and the Cochrane database for articles published between January 2000 and April 2021. Two authors independently screened eligible studies that met our predefined criteria. Studies were assessed for design and quality and a qualitative data synthesis was carried out. The search strategy resulted in 1750 articles. After two rounds of screening, 24 publications were included. The median overall incidence of grade ≥3 radiation pneumonitis was 19.7% (range 8-46%). The incidence was greater in conventional radical radiotherapy-treated patients (median 31.8%) compared with particle beam therapy- or stereotactic ablative radiotherapy-treated patients (median 12.5%). The median rate of grade 5 radiation pneumonitis was 11.9% (range 0-60%). The presence of ILD was an independent predictor of severe radiation pneumonitis. Severe radiation pneumonitis was more common in the presence of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) than non-UIP or non-IPF subtype. Several other clinical predictors were reported in the literature. V5, V10, V20 and mean lung dose were the most common dosimetric predictors for severe radiation pneumonitis, often with stricter dose constraints than conventionally used. Patients with lung cancer associated with ILD had a poorer overall survival compared with patients without ILD. In conclusion, patients with lung cancer associated with ILD have a poor prognosis. They are at high risk of severe and even fatal radiation pneumonitis. Careful patient selection is necessary, appropriate high-risk consenting and strict lung dose-volume constraints should be used, if these patients are to be treated with thoracic radiotherapy.

Efficacy and safety of second-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer complicated by interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND

Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) is limited because of the risk of its acute exacerbation (AE). Furthermore, the efficacy and safety of second-line chemotherapy for these patients is unclear.

METHODS

To investigate the efficacy and safety of second-line chemotherapy for NSCLC patients with ILD, we retrospectively reviewed patients who were treated at our institute between April 2010 and December 2018.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients received two or more regimens. Thirty-four patients were male and the median age at the initiation of second-line chemotherapy was 70 years. Almost all patients had a smoking history. Fourteen patients had adenocarcinoma and 15 had squamous cell carcinoma histology. Stages III and IV were observed in 20 and 11 patients, respectively. With respect to the type of ILD, 12 patients had usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). The overall response rate and disease control rate were 11.4 and 68.6%, respectively. The median progression-free and median overall survival were 4.1 and 6.4 months, respectively. The AE of ILD was observed in eight patients, five of whom died. UIP and low percentage vital capacity were detected as significant risk factors for the AE of ILD.

CONCLUSION

Second-line chemotherapy among patients with NSCLC complicated by ILD showed a certain effectiveness, but some patients experienced the AE of ILD, which may lead to death. The risk of the AE of ILD must be considered especially for patients with UIP and low percentage VC.

Successful treatment with docetaxel plus nintedanib in a patient with lung adenocarcinoma and pulmonary fibrosis: A case report and literature review

Despite the rare incidence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), coexisting IPF and lung cancer is common. Both diseases have unfavorable outcomes and are often associated with impaired quality of life. In this study, we present a clinical case of a patient with coexisting IPF and lung adenocarcinoma who was successfully treated with nintedanib plus docetaxel as a second-line treatment, and achieved a substantial improvement in the quality of life. To our knowledge, very few cases in the literature address the concurrent treatment of both diseases, which makes this case a valuable illustration of a successful treatment strategy and a basis for future investigations.

Disease activity of lung cancer at the time of acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease during cytotoxic chemotherapy

Background

The prognosis of lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) is poor, and acute exacerbation (AE) of ILD can occur during chemotherapy as a fatal adverse event. Although AE‐ILD development is correlated with various factors, no reports are investigating the disease activity of lung cancer at the time of AE‐ILD development.

Methods

All consecutive lung cancer patients with ILD who developed chemotherapy‐related AE‐ILD within 28 days after the last administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy between 2011 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

Among 206 lung cancer patients with ILD who were treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy, 30 patients were included. The median age was 72 years and all patients were men with smoking history. Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and non‐UIP patterns of ILD was observed in 17 and 13 patients. Most of AE‐ILD occurred during second‐ or later‐line (22/30, 73.3%) and developed within first or second courses during chemotherapy (19/30, 63.3%). Regarding tumor response to chemotherapy at AE‐ILD development, majority of patients (18 patients, 60.0%) experienced progressive disease and only one patient (3.3%) experienced a partial response. Notably, 27 patients (90.0%) did not exhibit any tumor shrinkage of the thoracic lesions.

Conclusion

Lung cancer was uncontrolled with cytotoxic chemotherapy at the time of AE‐ILD development. Although AE‐ILD during chemotherapy has been generally discussed in terms of drug‐specific adverse effects, uncontrolled lung cancer may be also correlated with AE‐ILD development.

Atezolizumab for Pretreated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia: Final Analysis of Phase II AMBITIOUS Study

Background

Interstitial pneumonia (IP) is a poor prognostic comorbidity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is also a risk factor for pneumonitis. The TORG1936/AMBITIOUS trial, the first known phase II study of atezolizumab in patients with NSCLC with comorbid IP, was terminated early because of the high incidence of severe pneumonitis.

Methods

This study included patients with idiopathic chronic fibrotic IP, with a predicted forced vital capacity (%FVC) of >70%, with or without honeycomb lung, who had previously been treated for NSCLC. The patients received atezolizumab every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was the 1-year survival rate.

Results

A total of 17 patients were registered; the median %FVC was 85.4%, and 41.2% had honeycomb lungs. The 1-year survival rate was 53.3% (95% CI, 25.9-74.6). The median overall and progression-free survival times were 15.3 months (95% CI, 3.1-not reached) and 3.2 months (95% CI, 1.2-7.4), respectively. The incidence of pneumonitis was 29.4% for all grades, and 23.5% for grade ≥3. Tumor mutational burden and any of the detected somatic mutations were not associated with efficacy or risk of pneumonitis.

Conclusion

Atezolizumab may be one of the treatment options for patients with NSCLC with comorbid IP, despite the high risk of developing pneumonitis. This clinical trial was retrospectively registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials on August 26, 2019, (registry number: jRCTs031190084, https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs031190084).

The DIAMORFOSIS (DIAgnosis and Management Of lung canceR and FibrOSIS) survey: international survey and call for consensus

Background

Currently there is major lack of agreement on the diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer. Our aim was to identify variations in diagnostic and management strategies across different institutions and provide rationale for a consensus statement on this issue.

Methods

This was a joint-survey by European Respiratory Society (ERS) Assemblies 8, 11 and 12. The survey consisted of 25 questions.

Results

Four hundred and ninety-four (n=494) physicians from 68 different countries and five continents responded to the survey. Ninety-four per cent of participants were pulmonologists, 1.8% thoracic surgeons and 1.9% oncologists; 97.7% were involved in multidisciplinary team approaches on diagnosis and management. Regular low-dose high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan was used by 49.5% of the respondents to screen for lung cancer in IPF. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is performed by 60% and 88% to diagnose nodular lesions with mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with advanced and mild IPF, respectively. Eighty-three per cent of respondents continue anti-fibrotics following lung cancer diagnosis; safety precautions during surgical interventions including low tidal volume are applied by 67%. Stereotactic radiotherapy is used to treat patients with advanced IPF (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D _LCO) <35%) and otherwise operable nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by 54% of respondents and doublet platinum regimens and immunotherapy for metastatic disease by 25% and 31.9%, respectively. Almost all participants (93%) replied that a consensus statement for the management of these patients is highly warranted.

Conclusion

The diagnosis and management of IPF-lung cancer (LC) is heterogeneous with most respondents calling for a consensus statement.

The Efficacy and Safety of First-Line Chemotherapy in Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Interstitial Lung Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Lung cancer is a well-known comorbidity of interstitial lung disease (ILD), and the actual efficacy and safety of chemotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer and interstitial lung disease (NSCLC-ILD) have not been determined. We conducted this meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy for patients with NSCLC-ILD.

Methods: We searched related studies from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase. The endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), 1-year overall survival rate (1-yOS rate), and first-line chemotherapy-related acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease rate (AE-ILD rate).

Results: We included 21 studies involving 684 patients in our analysis. The pooled ORR was 43% (95% CI: 38.0–49.0%), and the pooled DCR was 80.0% (95% CI: 75.7–83.9%). The modified overall 1-yOS rate was 33.0% (95% CI: 29.0–37.0%). The pooled AE-ILD rate was 8.07% (95% CI: 6.12–10.26%). Subgroup analysis revealed a trend for lower AE-ILD rate (4.98%; 95% CI: 2.44–8.37%) in patients with carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel. Lung function and AE-ILD may be associated with the prognosis of patients with NSCLC-ILD.

Conclusions: First-line chemotherapy is effective in patients with NSCLC-ILD, and the AE-ILD rate is acceptable, but the prognosis is limited. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to explore more appropriate treatment regimens to improve the prognosis of patients with NSCLC-ILD.

Current and emerging treatment options for lung cancer in patients with pre-existing connective tissue disease

An association between connective tissue disease (CTD) and lung cancer has been claimed in accumulating studies. However, the management of lung cancer with CTD is challenging because the pre-existing CTDs have proved to be significant risk factors for treatment-related toxicity, resulting in poor survival. In this review, we summarize the available information related to the treatment for lung cancer with CTD, discuss risk factors for treatment-related toxicities and management recommendations, which attempts to approach lung cancer with comorbid CTD systematically. Preliminary data show that: i) limited studies have focused on the effect of traditional therapeutic modalities, such as surgical treatment and chemotherapy; ii) with the development of the modern radiation techniques, radiotherapy would be well tolerated in this challenging clinical situation, but a cautious decision should be made for patients with CTD associated interstitial lung disease (ILD); iii) for patients with inactive CTD, immunotherapy was shown to have excellent local control with acceptable toxicity; iv) little information is available on the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors because of acute exacerbation (AE) of ILD risks; v) antiangiogenic therapy might be useful in preventing the progression in both lung cancer and CTD without increasing the AE-ILD risk; vi) Nintedanib would be a potentially promising novel therapy since it has recently been developed with promising results for both lung cancer and CTD-ILD. Further large-scale, randomized, controlled studies are still required to develop better therapeutic management for patients with lung cancer and pre-existing CTD.

Acute exacerbation of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias related to chemotherapy for lung cancer: nationwide surveillance in Japan

Background

Chemotherapy-induced acute exacerbation (AEx) of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) seriously compromises the success of treatment of Japanese lung cancer patients. Here, we conducted a nationwide surveillance to clarify the risk of AEx and compare it with the survival benefit of chemotherapy for this population.

Methods

Advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients with IIPs were retrospectively analysed. For the surveillance of first-line chemotherapy in 2009, we gathered clinical data from 396 patients who received chemotherapy at 19 institutions between January 1990 and July 2009. In a consecutive retrospective study in 2012, we analysed data from 278 patients from 17 institutions who received second-line chemotherapy between April 2002 and March 2012.

Results

Of the 396 patients analysed, 13.1% developed chemotherapy-related AEx. Combination chemotherapies of carboplatin plus paclitaxel (CP) or carboplatin plus etoposide (CE) were frequently used as first-line treatments. The lowest incidence of AEx was 3.7% in CE, followed by 8.6% in CP. In the retrospective study, 16.2% of the 278 patients developed a second-line chemotherapy-related AEx. The overall response rate by second-line chemotherapy was 7.4% in NSCLC and 25.7% in SCLC. The median overall survival from second-line and first-line chemotherapy was 8.0 and 14.3 months in NSCLC, and 8.7 and 16.0 months in SCLC, respectively.

Conclusion

Combination chemotherapies consisting of CP or CE are candidates for standard first-line treatments for patients with advanced lung cancer accompanied by IIP. Second-line chemotherapy should be considered for patients remaining fit enough to receive it.

The Japanese are at high risk of acute exacerbation of IPF. Therefore, chemotherapy for Japanese lung cancer patients with IIPs is challenging. However, appropriate chemotherapy may give a survival benefit, despite the risk of acute deterioration of IIPs.http://bit.ly/3cROaCy

A phase II study of atezolizumab for pretreated advanced/recurrent non-small cell lung cancer with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias: rationale and design for the TORG1936/AMBITIOUS study

Background:

Approximately 10% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are complicated with comorbid interstitial pneumonia (IP) with a poor prognosis. The pharmacotherapy for advanced lung cancer occasionally induces fatal acute exacerbation of pre-existing IP. Due to the lack of prospective studies, there is an urgent need to establish a safe and effective pharmacotherapy, especially for second-line or later settings. Atezolizumab, an anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 antibody, is thought to be the safest candidate for second-line therapy among various immune checkpoint inhibitors. Moreover, compared with patients without IP, the patients with comorbid IP may have higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) or microsatellite instability (MSI), which are partly associated with a more favorable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Methods:

The Thoracic Oncology Research Group 1936/AMBITIOUS study is an ongoing, multicenter, single-arm, phase II trial to assess the safety and efficacy of atezolizumab for pretreated advanced/recurrent patients with NSCLC complicated with idiopathic, chronic fibrotic IP with a forced vital capacity of >70%. The patients will receive atezolizumab (1200 mg, day 1) every 3 weeks until the discontinuation criteria are met. The primary end point of this study is the 1-year survival rate, and a sample size of 38 patients is set. As a translational research, we will perform the analysis of TMB, somatic mutations, and MSI for nucleic acids extracted from archival tumor samples.

Discussion:

Since there is no standard second-line or later therapy of advanced NSCLC with IP, the results of this study are expected to have a major impact on clinical practice.

Trial registration:

Japan Registry of Clinical Trials, jRCTs031190084, registered 26 August 2019 - retrospectively registered, https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs031190084

[A Review of Drug Therapy of Lung Cancer with Interstitial Lung Disease]

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a risk factor for lung cancer. Patients with lung cancer associated with ILD (LC-ILD) often appear clinically. During the treatment of LC-ILD, there is a risk of causing acute exacerbation or even death in the treatment of lung cancer. At the same time, combining ILD has become the exclusion criteria for prospective clinical trials of most lung cancers. Therefore, when lung cancer is combined with ILD, it often becomes a difficult point for the treatment of lung cancer. Because LC-ILD patients have a certain proportion in the clinic, it is necessary to explore the best treatment options. Here we review the results of existing clinical studies for reference.

Summary of the Japanese Respiratory Society statement for the treatment of lung cancer with comorbid interstitial pneumonia

Dramatic progress in targeted therapy and immunotherapy has been changing clinical practices in lung cancer. With the accumulation of clinical practice, it has become clear that pre-existing interstitial pneumonia (IP) could be a risk factor for drug-induced lung injury, which has enhanced awareness regarding the difficulty in treating lung cancer with comorbid IP. Unfortunately, there is only low-grade evidence in the field of lung cancer with comorbid IP, because almost all clinical trials exclude such patients. There have been very few specialized clinical trials for patients with lung cancer and underlying IPs thus far. Therefore, it is necessary to treat such cases empirically or to give up on the treatment itself. Considering these circumstances, establishing how to treat lung cancer with comorbid IP is an urgent issue. This paper is a summary of the official statement reported by the Diffuse Lung Disease/Thoracic Oncology Assembly and the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) in 2017, which attempts to approach lung cancer with comorbid IP systematically.

Weekly paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer complicated by idiopathic interstitial pneumonias: a single-arm phase II study

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) are associated with increased risk of lung cancer. In Japan, acute exaberation of IIPs induced by anticancer treatment is a critical issue. For this reason, there is limited available evidence regarding the optimal treatment approach for lung cancer patients complicated with IIPs. Our previous prospective pilot study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of weekly paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with IIPs. The current study was conducted to confirm the results of the same combination therapy used in a larger patient population.

METHODS

Chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced stage or post-operative recurrent NSCLC patients complicated by IIPs were enrolled. Patients received paclitaxel (100 mg/m²) on days 1, 8, and 15, and carboplatin (AUC 5.0) once every 4 weeks.

RESULTS

Thirty-three of 35 enrolled patients were evaluable for analysis and received a median of four treatment cycles (range 1-6). Four patients (12.1%; 95% confidence interval 3.4-28.2%) had acute exacerbation (AEx)-related IIPs to the study treatment. However, no fatalities due to AEx were observed. The overall response was 69.7%. The median progression-free survival, median survival time, and 1-year survival were 6.3 months, 19.8 months, and 55.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of carboplatin plus weekly paclitaxel treatment for advanced NSCLC patients with IIPs was comparable to that of conventional chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients without IIPs. Moreover, the primary endpoint was set to the frequency of treatment-related acute exacerbation, and the primary endpoint was met. These results suggest that patients with advanced NSCLC complicated by IIPs may benefit from this combination chemotherapy.

Nivolumab for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with mild idiopathic interstitial pneumonia: A multicenter, open-label single-arm phase II trial

OBJECTIVES

The efficacy of nivolumab against metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been demonstrated; however, pneumonitis is relatively common and is a potentially life-threatening immune-related adverse event. Patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) have a higher risk of pneumonitis and are generally excluded from clinical trials. Additionally, to date, a multicenter prospective trial for previously-treated NSCLC patients with IIP has not been performed. To fulfill this unmet medical need, we conducted a multicenter, open-label single-arm phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in NSCLC patients with mild IIP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eligible patients had previously-treated, inoperable NSCLC with mild IIPs. Mild IIP was defined as a predicted vital capacity of at least 80% and possible usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) or inconsistent with UIP pattern by chest high-resolution computed tomography. Primary end point was the 6 months PFS rate and secondary end point was the safety of this therapy.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were enrolled in this trial. Six months PFS rate was 56%, response rate was 39%, and disease control rate was 72%. There were no treatment-related deaths. One drug-related grade 3/4 nonhematologic event (grade 3 neurotoxicity) was observed. Two patients had grade 2 pneumonitis which improved by corticosteroid therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Nivolumab could be an effective therapy for NSCLC patients with mild IIPs.

The Safety and Efficacy of Treatment with Nab-paclitaxel and Carboplatin for Patients with Advanced Squamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Concurrent with Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias

Objective Although lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounts for 20-30% of lung cancer cases, new treatment options are limited. The CA031 study showed that nanoparticle albumin-bound-paclitaxel (nab-PTX) plus carboplatin produced a significantly higher overall response rate (41%) than solvent-based paclitaxel plus carboplatin in patients with lung SCC. However, the safety and efficacy of combination chemotherapy of nab-PTX and carboplatin has not yet been established for patients with concurrent lung SCC and idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs). The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy profiles of nab-PTX and carboplatin in patients with lung SCC and concurrent IIPs. Methods Eight patients with inoperable-stage lung SCC and IIPs were treated with nab-PTX plus carboplatin in a first-line setting between June 2013 and December 2016. One of the eight was a woman, and the median age was 77 (range=72-80) years. Their clinical outcomes, including chemotherapy-associated acute exacerbation of IIPs, were retrospectively investigated. Results The overall response rate was 50%, the median progression-free survival time was 5.6 months, and the median overall survival time was 8.1 months. No patients experienced chemotherapy-related exacerbation of IIPs in the first-line treatment with nab-PTX plus carboplatin. However, IIPs worsened in two of four patients who received second-line chemotherapy. Conclusion Combination chemotherapy of nab-PTX and carboplatin may be an effective and safe treatment option for patients with inoperable lung SCC with IIPs. To confirm this, a large-scale prospective study is needed.

Lung cancer and interstitial lung disease: a literature review

The association between lung cancer (LC) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) can be explained by the shared risk factors like smoking and physiopathology of fibrogenesis and cancerogenesis. The relative LC risk is shown to be 3.5- to 7.3-times higher in ILD, with LC occurrence estimated at 10-20% in ILD, with >15% of ILD patients likely to die from LC. ILD incidence upon LC diagnosis varied from 2.4-10.9%. Primary radiological presentations consist of peripheral lesions, mostly in the inferior pulmonary lobes, either close to or within the ILD areas. There is a trend towards inverted proportion of adenocarcinomas and squamous-cell carcinomas, with EGFR mutations very rarely found. ILD negatively impacted LC prognosis, with surgery associated with increased morbidity-mortality, particularly due to acute exacerbation (AE) of ILD. Limited resection reduced this risk, whilst increasing that of cancer mortality. Studies on radiotherapy that can induce AE-ILD are scarce. Chemotherapy was associated with similar response rates to those in LC patients without ILD, yet worse survival. This difference may be accounted for by ILD patients' poorer health and higher risk of drug-induced pneumonitis. Further studies are warranted to better understand cancer physiopathology within the fibrotic areas, along with the therapeutic strategies required.

Anticancer drug treatment for advanced lung cancer with interstitial lung disease

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a risk factor for lung cancer development and is frequently observed in patients with lung cancer. Individuals with ILD have been excluded from most prospective clinical trials of lung cancer therapies because of the risk of ILD acute exacerbation. Thus, the optimal anticancer drug treatment for such patients has yet to be established. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are avoided for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ILD because of the concern of acute exacerbation, and information on the effects of immune-checkpoint inhibitors is limited in these patients. Only three prospective single-arm studies of cytotoxic chemotherapies for advanced lung cancer with ILD have been reported. Based on the results of these studies and those of retrospective analyses, carboplatin and either paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel are often selected in daily clinical practice for patients with NSCLC and ILD, whereas platinum plus etoposide is selected for those with small cell lung cancer and ILD. Although the antitumor activity of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy appears similar in advanced lung cancer patients with and without ILD, its impact on overall survival of the former patients is limited. The risks and benefits of chemotherapy must therefore be carefully explained before treatment initiation, and careful follow-up is necessary for such patients, especially those with the usual interstitial pneumonia pattern, a risk factor for chemotherapy-related exacerbation. Prospective clinical studies with large patient populations are still required to establish the appropriate treatments for advanced lung cancer with ILD.

The extent of ground-glass attenuation is a risk factor of chemotherapy-related exacerbation of interstitial lung disease in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

Chemotherapy-related acute exacerbation (AE) of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is observed in certain patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have ILD. Although the prognosis of AE-ILD is extremely poor, there are no established risk factors for its occurrence. Therefore, we retrospectively investigated whether high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings could identify risk factors for AE-ILD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between January 2005 and December 2016, 35 patients with NSCLC who received chemotherapy at Hiroshima University Hospital and were diagnosed with ILD on HRCT were enrolled. The extent of ground-glass attenuation (GGA), reticulation, honeycomb appearance, and emphysema, as well as the presence of micronodules, traction bronchiectasis, and consolidation were evaluated in five levels of the lung bilaterally. The HRCT scores of GGA, reticulation, honeycomb appearance, and emphysema were determined by the following formula: 100 × sum of the extent of the HRCT findings/lung area.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients underwent various first- to fifth-line chemotherapy regimens. Nine patients (25.7%) developed AE-ILD. The median HRCT scores of GGA and reticulation were significantly higher in patients with AE-ILD than in those without. On univariate analysis, a GGA area score ≥ 24.8, reticulation area score ≥ 19.5, and KL-6 level ≥ 946 U/mL were significant risk factors. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that only a GGA area score ≥ 24.8 was an independent risk factor of AE-ILD.

CONCLUSIONS

The GGA area on HRCT is a risk factor for chemotherapy-related AE-ILD. Therefore, this parameter can be used to predict the risk of AE-ILD before administering chemotherapy.

Lung cancer in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic fibrotic lung disease of unknown etiology. With a gradually increasing worldwide prevalence and a mortality rate exceeding that of many cancers, IPF diagnosis and management are critically important and require a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach. This approach also involves assessment of comorbid conditions, such as lung cancer, that exerts a dramatic impact on disease survival. Emerging evidence suggests that progressive lung scarring in the context of IPF represents a risk factor for lung carcinogenesis. Both disease entities present with major similarities in terms of pathogenetic pathways, as well as potential causative factors, such as smoking and viral infections. Besides disease pathogenesis, anti-cancer agents, including nintedanib, have been successfully applied in the treatment of patients with IPF while an oncologic approach with a cocktail of several pleiotropic anti-fibrotic agents is currently in the therapeutic pipeline of IPF. Nevertheless, epidemiologic association between IPF and lung cancer does not prove causality. Currently there is significant lack of knowledge supporting a direct association between lung fibrosis and cancer reflecting to disappointing therapeutic algorithms. An optimal therapeutic strategy for patients with both IPF and lung cancer represents an amenable need. This review article synthesizes the current state of knowledge regarding pathogenetic commonalities between IPF and lung cancer and focuses on clinical and therapeutic data that involve both disease entities.

Impact of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis on advanced non-small cell lung cancer survival

Purpose

The clinical features of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) have not fully been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of these patients, particularly with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Methods

Data on 218 patients with pathologically confirmed diagnoses of NSCLC who had been treated with chemotherapy and/or molecular targeted therapy were retrospectively analyzed for progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), responses to first-line therapy, and incidence of acute exacerbations (AEs).

Results

Fifty-three of the 218 patients were diagnosed with ILD, and 34 of them with IPF. The frequency of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation was significantly lower in ILD and IPF patients than in non-ILD patients (2 or 0 vs. 32 %, respectively). Median PFS and OS were significantly shorter in both ILD and IPF patients than in non-ILD patients (118, 92, and 196 days for PFS, and 267, 223, and 539 days for OS, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that poor performance status, absence of EGFR mutation, and presence of IPF were poor prognostic factors for PFS and OS. Disease control rate (DCR) was significantly lower in ILD and IPF patients than in non-ILD patients regardless of the presence of EGFR mutation (67 or 53 vs. 85 %, respectively). The incidence of AEs of ILD was significantly higher during chemotherapy with docetaxel-containing regimens (seven of 38; 18.4 %).

Conclusions

Both IPF and ILD were associated with lower EGFR positivity, lower DCR, and shorter PFS and OS in advanced NSCLC patients.