Prognostic Value of Clinical Staging According to TNM in Patients With SCLC: A Real-World Surveillance Epidemiology and End-Results Database Analysis

Risk stratification and overall survival prediction in extensive stage small cell lung cancer after chemotherapy with immunotherapy based on CT radiomics

The prognosis of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer is usually poor. In this study, a combined model based on pre-treatment CT radiomics and clinical features was constructed to predict the OS of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer after chemotherapy with immunotherapy.Clinical data of 111 patients with extensive stage small-cell lung cancer who received first-line immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in our hospital from December 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively collected. Finally, 93 patients were selected for inclusion in the study, and CT images were obtained through PACS system before treatment. All patients were randomly divided into a training set (n = 66) and a validation set (n = 27). Images were imported into ITK-SNAP to outline areas of interest, and Python software was used to extract radiomics features. A total of 1781 radiomics features were extracted from each patient's images. The feature dimensions were reduced by MRMR and LASSO methods, and the radiomics features with the greatest predictive value were screened. The weight coefficient of radiomics features was calculated, and the linear combination of the feature parameters and the weight coefficient was used to calculate Radscore. Univariate cox regression analysis was used to screen out the factors significantly associated with prognosis from the radiomics and clinical features, and multivariate cox regression analysis was performed to establish the prognosis prediction model of extensive stage small cell lung cancer. The degree of metastases was selected as a significant clinical prognostic factor by univariate cox regression analysis. Seven radiomics features with significance were selected by LASSO-COX regression analysis, and the Radscore was calculated according to the coefficient of the radiomics features. An alignment diagram survival prediction model was constructed by combining Radscore with the number of metastatic lesions. The study population was stratified into those who survived less than 11 months, and those with a greater than 11 month survival. The C-index was 0.722 (se = 0.044) and 0.68(se = 0.074) in the training and the validation sets, respectively. The Log_rank test results of the combination model were as follows: training set: p < 0.0001, validation set: p = 0.00042. In this study, a combined model based on radiomics and clinical features could predict OS in patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer after chemotherapy with immunotherapy, which could help guide clinical treatment strategies.

Reinitiating Chemotherapy beyond Progression after Maintenance Immunotherapy in Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Introduction: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive form of cancer with a poor prognosis. The two-year survival rate is 8% of all cases. Case presentation: We present the case of a male patient who was 50 years old at the time of diagnosis in May 2022. He was diagnosed with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer, treated with immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy (Durvalumab in combination with Etoposide plus Carboplatin) as a first-line treatment, followed by maintenance immunotherapy. In December 2023, a PET-CT scan revealed progressive disease with multiple metastases. Chemotherapy was reinitiated with Etoposide plus Cisplatin in January 2024. After two cycles of chemotherapy, the patient developed post-chemotherapy anemia, for which treatment with Epoetinum alpha was initiated. Chemotherapy was continued for another five cycles, until May 2024, with the maintenance of hemoglobin at a level within 9.9 mg/dL-11 mg/dL. Upon assessment at the end of May 2024, the patient presented an ECOG = 2 performance status, with a moderate general state, moderate-intensity fatigue, no pain, no anxiety or depression and no dyspnea. Discussions, Literature Review and Conclusions: Reinitiating chemotherapy after the failure of maintenance immunotherapy may be an option in patients with SCLC. Epoetinum allows oncological treatment by preventing chemotherapy-induced anemia.

A retrospective analysis of prognostic factors and treatment choices in small cell lung cancer with liver metastasis

Background

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by high aggressiveness and early dissemination, with the liver being the most common site of metastasis. Although it has been established that the prognosis for SCLC with liver metastasis is exceedingly poor, comprehensive data on clinical features, prognostic factors, treatment options, and outcomes of this patient population remain limited. This retrospective study aims to examine the clinicopathological features and current treatment landscape and to identify prognostic factors associated with SCLC with liver metastasis in real-world settings.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of data on SCLC patients with liver metastasis at initial diagnosis between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2022. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests were employed to estimate the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Cox regression models were utilized to identify independent prognostic factors.

Results

A total of 349 patients were included in the study, with 97.7% of patients exhibiting pure SCLC and 42.4% of patients presenting with concomitant bone metastasis. Approximately one-fourth of the patients had metastases in ≥3 organs, and 18.9% of patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) ≥2. The median OS was 10.97 months (95% CI: 9.88-12.06) for those who received first-line therapy (n=286). Of these, 263 patients were treated with chemotherapy, showing a median OS of 11.37 months. Furthermore, 43.8% of patients received second-line treatment, and 81 patients proceeded to third-line treatment. ECOG PS ≥2 and mixed-SCLC were identified as independent adverse prognostic factors in SCLC with liver metastasis, whereas treatments including systemic treatment alone or in combination with local radiotherapy were associated with better prognoses.

Conclusions

This retrospective study substantiated that ECOG PS ≥2 and mixed SCLC are independent predictors of poor prognosis for SCLC with liver metastasis. Additionally, different treatment strategies can improve the survival of this patient population, with chemotherapy currently being the main treatment option.

Real-world predictors of survival in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer in Manitoba, Canada: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is an incurable cancer with poor prognosis in which characteristics predictive of long-term survival are debated. The utility of agents such as immune checkpoint inhibitors highlights the importance of identifying key characteristics and treatment strategies that contribute to long-term survival and could help guide therapeutic decisions.

Objective

This real-world analysis examines the characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes of patients receiving chemotherapy without immunotherapy for ES-SCLC in Manitoba, Canada.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study assessed patient characteristics, treatment, and survival duration (short: <6 months; medium: 6-24 months; long: >24 months) using the Manitoba Cancer Registry and CancerCare Manitoba records. Eligible patients were aged >18 years with cytologically confirmed ES-SCLC diagnosed between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2018, and received cytotoxic chemotherapy (CT). The one-, two-, and five-year probabilities of overall survival (OS) were assessed relative to patient, disease, and treatment characteristics using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

This analysis included 537 patients. Cisplatin was used in 56.1% of patients, 45.6% received thoracic radiotherapy (RT), and few received prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). In the overall cohort, one-, two- and five-year OS rates were 26%, 8%, and 3%, respectively. For patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) 0, OS rates at one, two, and five years were 43%, 17%, and 10%, respectively, vs. 27%, 8%, and 2% for those with ECOG PS 1-2, and 16%, 3%, and 3% for those with ECOG PS 3-4. In long-term survivors, ECOG PS scores were lower and abnormal laboratory test results were less frequent. Overall, 74.4% of long-term survivors received thoracic RT and 53.5% received PCI. Known poor prognostic factors - including brain/liver metastases, high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), abnormal sodium, and low hemoglobin levels - were less common but still seen in long-term survivors.

Conclusion

Although rare, patients with ES-SCLC may experience long-term survival with CT ± thoracic RT ± PCI. Factors predicting long-term survival include traditional prognostic factors such as ECOG PS, LDH level, and receipt of thoracic RT or PCI. These findings support current treatment algorithms for ES-SCLC and provide baseline survival estimates to assess the real-world impact of adding immune checkpoint inhibitors in the future.

Serum cytokine levels and other associated factors as possible immunotherapeutic targets and prognostic indicators for lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancer types and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80-85% of all cancer incidences. Lung cancer therapy and prognosis largely depend on the disease's degree at the diagnosis time. Cytokines are soluble polypeptides that contribute to cell-to-cell communication, acting paracrine or autocrine on neighboring or distant cells. Cytokines are essential for developing neoplastic growth, but they are also known to operate as biological inducers following cancer therapy. Early indications are that inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8 play a predictive role in lung cancer. Nevertheless, the biological significance of cytokine levels in lung cancer has not yet been investigated. This review aimed to assess the existing literature on serum cytokine levels and additional factors as potential immunotherapeutic targets and lung cancer prognostic indicators. Changes in serum cytokine levels have been identified as immunological biomarkers for lung cancer and predict the effectiveness of targeted immunotherapy.