Single-agent chemotherapy compared with combination chemotherapy as second-line treatment in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: a retrospective analysis

Current Diagnosis and Management of Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease with distinct pathological, clinical, and molecular characteristics from non-small-cell lung cancer. SCLC has high metastatic potential, resulting in a clinically poor prognosis. Early concurrent chemo-radiation is the standard of care for limited-stage SCLC (LS-SCLC). Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is recommended for patients with LS-SCLC without progression of disease after initial therapy. A combination of etoposide and cisplatin or carboplatin remains the mainstay of first-line treatment for ES-SCLC, with the addition of atezolizumab, now becoming standard. Most SCLCs initially respond to therapy but almost invariably recur. Topotecan and amrubicin (in Japan) remain the primary chemotherapy options for relapsed SCLC. Immunotherapy, including nivolumab with or without ipilimumab, is now available for refractory disease. In general, the poor prognosis of SCLC has not improved significantly for more than 3 decades. Recently, next-generation molecular profiling studies have identified new therapeutic targets for SCLC. A variety of proapoptotic agents, compounds capitalizing on DNA-repair defects, immunotherapy agents, and antibody-drug conjugates are being evaluated in SCLC, with a number of them showing early promise.

Altered status of programmed death-ligand 1 after recurrence in resected lung adenocarcinoma patients

Purpose

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is found to be overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer. The present study intended to evaluate the status of PD-L1 expression in patients with resection and recurrent lung adenocarcinoma.

Patients and methods

Matched resection and recurrent tumor samples were harvested from 65 lung adenocarcinoma patients. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the status of PD-L1 expression. Kaplan–Meier method was used for survival analysis.

Results

A total of 65 patients of lung adenocarcinoma were enrolled. They underwent complete resection and had recurrence after adjuvant treatment. PD-L1 expression was identified in 43.1% (28/65) of resection samples vs 55.4% (36/65) of recurrent samples. Ten patients shifted from negative to positive, whereas another two samples showed the opposite. Patients with PD-L1 expression showed worse disease-free survival than the PD-L1-negative counterparts. The expression of PD-L1 in recurrent samples was a significant favorable factor for epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) (11.2 vs 8.2 months, P=0.030).

Conclusion

The status of PD-L1 expression may alter between resection and recurrent samples. Also, the status of PD-L1 expression after recurrence is a better prognostic factor for EGFR-TKIs.

Quantitative and qualitative assessment of real world data comparative effectiveness research of systemic therapies in lung oncology: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The growing interest in comparative effectiveness research (CER) based on data from routine clinical practice also extends towards lung oncology. Although CER studies using real world data (RWD) have the potential to assist clinical decision-making, concerns about the quality and validity of studies with observational data subsist. The primary objective of the present study is to assess the current status of observational CER in the field of lung oncology, both quantitatively as qualitatively.

METHODS

We performed a systematic electronic literature database search in MEDLINE and EMBASE (up to 1 July 2015). The quality of all selected studies was assessed according to the Good ReseArch for Comparative Effectiveness (GRACE) checklist.

RESULTS

The first selection included 657 publications. After screening the corresponding abstracts and full-text papers, 38 studies remained. A total of 36 studies included patients with advanced NSCLC. The comparison of the effectiveness of gefitinib versus erlotinib was the main objective in 22% of the studies. The median number of patients per study was 202 (range 21-10064). The number of publications increased over the years whereas the quality score remained stable over the years with several common shortcomings (checklist items M5, D1, D4, D6).

DISCUSSION

The growing interest in clinical oncology CER studies using RWD is reflected in an increasing number of publications in the recent years. The studies have several common methodological shortcomings possibly limiting their applicability in clinical decision-making. To fulfil the promise of RWD CER in lung oncology effort should be continued to overcome these shortcomings.

Survival analysis in second-line and third-line chemotherapy with irinotecan followed by topotecan or topotecan followed by irinotecan for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer patients: a single-center retrospective study

Purpose

The number of patients who make it to receive third-line chemotherapy is increasing owing to the improvements in adverse-event management of chemotherapy for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Sequencing of optimal treatment for SCLC is still a challenge for oncologists. In this paper, we aim to present a different approach to the treatment of SCLC.

Methods

Between January 2008 and July 2014, all patients diagnosed with extensive-stage SCLC and treated with third-line chemotherapy at Gaziantep University Oncology Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Disease control rates and progression-free survival (PFS) for first-, second-, and third-line chemotherapy, and overall survival (OS) were recorded. Survival analysis was calculated by using Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

A total of 255 SCLC patients were screened, and 25 of those patients who received third-line chemotherapy were included in this study. Median age was 57±10.131 years (range: 39–74 years). Disease control rates at first-, second-, and third-line chemotherapy were 92%, 68%, and 44%, respectively. Fourteen patients received irinotecan followed by topotecan, and eleven patients received topotecan followed by irinotecan. Second-line median PFS was statistically better in patients treated with irinotecan at second-line compared with those treated with topotecan (21 vs 12 weeks, P=0.018). Comparison of third-line median PFS of the two groups was not statistically significant (14 vs 12 weeks, P=0.986). Median OS was not statistically significant in patients who received irinotecan followed by topotecan vs those who received topotecan followed by irinotecan (18 vs 14 months, P=0.112).

Conclusion

Sequential monotherapy with topotecan and irinotecan provides a considerable contribution to OS, and second-line irinotecan showed a better PFS, despite a similar OS, compared with topotecan.

[Second-line chemotherapy and its survival analysis of 181 patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer in a single institute]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most malignant neuroendocrine tumor and sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, most patients who receive first-line chemotherapy will relapse within one to two years. Once recurrent, it indicates poor prognosis. Currently, the standard first-line chemotherapy regimen of extensive-stage SCLC is platinum combined etoposide regimen while the standard second-line chemotherapy regimen is open to debate. The aim of this study is to analysis the prognostic factors of second-line chemotherapy in extensive-stage SCLC and to compare the differences of objective response rate, side effects and survival among different second-line chemotherapy regimens.

METHODS

181 patients who were diagnosed as extensive-stage SCLC and received second-line chemotherapy were collected. χ(2) test was used to analysis the differences of enumeration data and between different groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Univariate analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to detect the prognostic factors. Objective response rate was evaluated by RECIST criteria and side effects were evaluated by WHO criteria.

RESULTS

The patients who received second-line chemotherapy can be divided into 6 groups, namly group A (CE/EP regimen) 27 cases, group B (regimens containing TPT) 44 cases, group C (regimens containing CPT-11) 33 cases, group D (regimens containing TAX/DXL) 20 cases, group E (regimens containing IFO) 28 cases and group F (other regimens) 29 cases. The median OS in second-line chemotherapy as 7.0 months and was relevant with smoking history (P=0.004), ECOG PS (P<0.001), liver metastasis (P=0.019) and bone metastasis (P=0.028) independently. The median PFS in second-line chemotherapy as 3.0 months and was relevant with smoking history (P=0.034), ECOG PS (P=0.011) and bone metastasis (P=0.005). The response rate among six regimens was significantly different (P=0.017); There was not statistical significance between each group. As to side effects, the incidence of gastrointestinal reaction in group C was higher than any other group. The differences of OS and PFS between six regimens in second-line therapy were not statistically different (P=0.914, P=0.293).

CONCLUSIONS

The most significant prognostic factor of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients who received second-line chemotherapy was ECOG PS. The most optimal second-line chemotherapy regimen with definite curatice effect was controversial.