Reossification of osteolytic metastases at the acetabulum following gefitinib and multidisciplinary treatment for lung cancer: a case report with autopsy findings

Osteosclerotic change as a therapeutic response to gefitinib in symptomatic non-small cell lung cancer bone metastasis

BACKGROUND

Despite improvement in the overall survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, the effects of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) treatment on bone metastasis remain unclear. This study investigated radiological responses to gefitinib regarding bone metastasis in patients.

METHODS

We treated 260 patients with NSCLC and symptomatic bone metastasis. Thirty-seven patients harboring EGFR mutation were treated with gefitinib for more than 30 days and followed up for more than 3 months (GEF group). We performed a retrospective observational study by selecting 36 cases without EGFR-TKI treatment, at least 3 months of follow-up, and at least two radiological evaluations as the control group. We assessed the best overall radiological response, interval from treatment initiation to appearance of a radiological response, and the local response maintenance rate.

RESULTS

The best effect in the GEF group was 98% partial response or better, which was significantly higher than the 57% observed in the control group (p < 0.001). The GEF and control groups maintained 83% and 42% local response maintenance rates at one year, respectively (p < 0.001). In the GEF with radiotherapy group, the local response maintenance rate was maintained at 92% at 1 year, while in the GEF without RT group, there was a decrease in the local response maintenance rate from 270 days.

CONCLUSION

Gefitinib treatment for bone metastases in patients harboring EGFR mutation resulted in a beneficial osteosclerotic change in most patients. Combined gefitinib and radiotherapy provide long-lasting local control of bone metastases.

PATHOLOGICAL FRACTURES DUE TO BONE METASTASES FROM LUNG CANCER: RISK FACTORS AND SURVIVAL

INTRODUCTION

Pathological fractures are frequent skeletal-related events among lung cancer patients, which result in high morbidity and decreased overall survival and make operative treatment decisions challenging.

OBJECTIVES

To identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of pathological fractures in patients with lung cancer and to determine survival.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study with 407 lung carcinoma patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2015. The prevalence of bone metastases and pathological fractures was calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted using a chi-squared test, and the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated. Overall survival was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method and differences were compared using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

The prevalence of bone metastases and pathological fractures was 28.2% (n = 115) and 19.1% (n = 22), respectively. Pathological fractures were more frequent among patients with bone metastases at the time of diagnosis of lung cancer (24.7% [n = 20] vs. 5.9% [n = 2]; p < 0.05). The median overall survival following the diagnosis of lung cancer, bone metastases, and pathological fracture was 6, 4, and 2 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathological fracture was associated with synchronous bone metastases and overall survival times were considerably reduced. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series.