Randomised phase III trial of carboplatin plus etoposide vs split doses of cisplatin plus etoposide in elderly or poor-risk patients with extensive disease small-cell lung cancer: JCOG 9702

Durvalumab plus platinum-etoposide chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: a retrospective real-world study

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitor plus platinum-etoposide (PE) improved overall survival (OS) in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). While the CASPIAN trial demonstrated the efficacy of durvalumab plus PE, the clinical trial results may not be representative of the general, real-world population because clinical trials often have strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. We herein report the efficacy and safety of durvalumab plus PE in patients with ES-SCLC in real-world, clinical practice.

Methods

The present, monocentric, retrospective study evaluated patients with ES-SCLC or recurrent, limited-stage SCLC who received durvalumab plus PE between September 2020 and February 2023. The efficacy and incidence of adverse events (AEs) were also evaluated.

Results

The study included 40 patients, of whom 17 were elderly (age >70 years), and 15 had performance status (PS) 2 or 3. The median follow-up time was 13.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.0-22.2 months]. The objective response rate was 80.0% (95% CI: 63.1-91.6%), and the disease control rate was 88.6% (95% CI: 73.3-96.8%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.9 months (95% CI: 4.9-6.9), and the median OS was 25.4 months (95% CI: 4.6-46.2). Factors such as advanced age, poor PS, and presence of brain metastases were not associated with lower PFS and OS. Twenty-six patients (65.0%) experienced grade 3 or higher AEs, mainly hematological toxicity. AEs leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in three patients (8%).

Conclusions

Durvalumab plus PE in patients with ES-SCLC showed good efficacy and safety according to our real-world data, suggesting that this treatment is well tolerated in clinical practice, even in elderly patients and those with poor PS.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor has the potential to attenuate the therapeutic efficacy of chemo-immunotherapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has the potential to attenuate the anti-tumor immune responses of T-cells by increasing immune suppressive neutrophils and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. However, the clinical impact of G-CSF on the efficacy of immunotherapy remains unknown. This multi-center retrospective analysis evaluated the impact of G-CSF in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) treated with chemo-immunotherapy.

METHODS

We analyzed 65 patients with ES-SCLC who completed four cycles of induction chemo-immunotherapy and evaluated the effects of G-CSF on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and a durable response to immunotherapy (defined as PFS ≥ 12 months).

RESULTS

Fifty patients (76.9%) received ≥ 1 dose of G-CSF. The PFS of the patients with G-CSF was poorer than that of the patients without G-CSF (median PFS 8.3 vs. 4.9 months, p = 0.009). The OS of the patients with G-CSF tended to be shorter, but not statistically significant, than that of the patients without G-CSF (median OS 24.3 vs. 16.4 months, p = 0.137). In the multivariate analysis, G-CSF administration was associated with poorer PFS (hazard ratio 2.78, 95% CI 1.36-5.69, p = 0.005) and was identified as a determinant of a durable response (odds ratio 0.18, 95% CI 0.04-0.80, p = 0.024). These results were consistent with other definitions of G-CSF administration (administration of ≥ 1 dose of pegfilgrastim, or either ≥ 5 doses of filgrastim or ≥ 1 dose of pegfilgrastim).

CONCLUSIONS

G-CSF has the potential to attenuate the efficacy of immunotherapy; therefore, the indication for G-CSF during chemo-immunotherapy should be carefully considered for ES-SCLC.

Therapeutic Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Limited Disease Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Decade of Analysis at a Tertiary Cancer Center

In this study, we investigated the outcomes and factors influencing treatment efficacy in 93 patients with limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC), with a median age of 64 years. We focused on the impact of chemotherapy regimens, prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI), and patient-related variables. The median follow-up for OS was 17.3 months. We observed a statistically significant difference in PFS between LD-SCLC patients treated with cisplatin and etoposide (EP) and those treated with carboplatin and etoposide (CP) (PFS: EP 13.63 months vs. CP 6.54 months, p < 0.01). Patients treated with EP had better overall survival (OS) than CP-treated patients (OS: EP 26.9 months vs. CP 16.16 months, p < 0.01). Concomitant chemotherapy was associated with improved PFS (p = 0.003) and OS (p = 0.002). Patients receiving PCI showed superior OS (p = 0.05) and a trend towards improved PFS (p = 0.057). Female gender was associated with better OS (p = 0.025). Most patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 (71%). This real-world study underscores the importance of multidisciplinary LD-SCLC management, emphasizing the roles of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and PCI. These findings inform personalized treatment strategies and emphasize the need for prospective trials to validate these results and optimize LD-SCLC treatment.

Recent advances and future strategies in first-line treatment of ES-SCLC

Recent advancements in treating extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) have been significantly marked by incorporating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) into platinum-based chemotherapy, leading to modest yet notable improvements in patient outcomes, which become more evident with longer follow-up. However, critical challenges persist, such as identifying effective biomarkers for accurate patient selection or finding more effective drugs. This review delves into the current and evolving treatment landscape for ES-SCLC, focusing on the most promising therapeutic strategies under investigation. We discuss the latest developments in the use of newer ICIs, antiangiogenic agents, PARP inhibitors (PARPi), lurbinectedin, and anti-DLL3 agents, offering insights into potential future directions in the management of this aggressive cancer.

Oncogenic alterations in advanced NSCLC: a molecular super-highway

Lung cancer ranks among the most common cancers world-wide and is the first cancer-related cause of death. The classification of lung cancer has evolved tremendously over the past two decades. Today, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly lung adenocarcinoma, comprises a multitude of molecular oncogenic subsets that change both the prognosis and management of disease.Since the first targeted oncogenic alteration identified in 2004, with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), there has been unprecedented progress in identifying and targeting new molecular alterations. Almost two decades of experience have allowed scientists to elucidate the biological function of oncogenic drivers and understand and often overcome the molecular basis of acquired resistance mechanisms. Today, targetable molecular alterations are identified in approximately 60% of lung adenocarcinoma patients in Western populations and 80% among Asian populations. Oncogenic drivers are largely enriched among non-smokers, east Asians, and younger patients, though each alteration has its own patient phenotype.The current landscape of druggable molecular targets includes EGFR, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF), ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1), Kirstin rat sarcoma virus (KRAS), human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2), c-MET proto-oncogene (MET), neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK), rearranged during transfection (RET), neuregulin 1 (NRG1). In addition to these known targets, others including Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) have garnered significant attention and are the subject of numerous ongoing trials.In this era of personalized, precision medicine, it is of paramount importance to identify known or potential oncogenic drivers in each patient. The development of targeted therapy is mirrored by diagnostic progress. Next generation sequencing offers high-throughput, speed and breadth to identify molecular alterations in entire genomes or targeted regions of DNA or RNA. It is the basis for the identification of the majority of current druggable alterations and offers a unique window into novel alterations, and de novo and acquired resistance mechanisms.In this review, we discuss the diagnostic approach in advanced NSCLC, focusing on current oncogenic driver alterations, through their pathophysiology, management, and future perspectives. We also explore the shortcomings and hurdles encountered in this rapidly evolving field.

Left Main Bronchus Obstruction in a Patient with Small-cell Lung Cancer Successfully Treated with Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Lung cancer can cause fatal central airway obstruction. Rapid airway clearance is necessary in some cases, but ventilator management may be insufficient to maintain oxygenation levels. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) may be an effective rescue therapy for respiratory failure, but its efficacy in treating tumor-related airway obstruction is unknown. We herein report a case of central airway obstruction and severe acute respiratory failure due to small-cell lung cancer successfully treated with VV-ECMO, bronchoscopic airway intervention, and chemotherapy. VV-ECMO can be an effective option for the treatment of central airway obstruction with acute respiratory failure due to lung cancer.

Second-Line Treatment Options for Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Light at the End of the Tunnel

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a subtype of lung tumor characterized by rapid growth and early metastatic dissemination. It represents approximately 15% of all diagnosed lung cancers, with an annual incidence of over 200,000 cases worldwide. At the time of initial diagnosis, approximately 75-80% of patients already have extrathoracic spread. Almost all patients with SCLC also relapse after achieving a complete response with first-line treatment. Outcomes achievable in second-line treatment are related to the length of time between completion of first-line therapy and disease progression. While first-line chemo-immunotherapy remains the standard of care for initial management, the role of second-line treatment strategies in SCLC has been a topic of significant research and discussion. Second-line treatment options are limited and the results are still disappointing. Several molecules are currently being studied in lines following the first, using immunological targets and cell cycle checkpoints. Among these, particular interest has been placed on anti-PD-1 (programmed cell death-1 protein) and anti-PD-L1 (programmed cell death-ligand 1) monoclonal antibodies, and DLL3 (Delta-like ligand 3), which are being evaluated alone or in combination. Tarlatamab is a novel promising therapeutic antibody currently under investigation for its potential use in previously treated SCLC patients. This mini-review will explore the current state of second-line treatment options for SCLC, their clinical efficacy, and future directions.

Systemic Therapy for Small-Cell Lung Cancer: ASCO-Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) Guideline

PURPOSE

To provide evidence-based recommendations to practicing clinicians on the management of patients with small-cell lung cancer.

METHODS

An Expert Panel of medical oncology, thoracic surgery, radiation oncology, pulmonary, community oncology, research methodology, and advocacy experts were convened to conduct a literature search, which included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials published from 1990 through 2022. Outcomes of interest included response rates, overall survival, disease-free survival or recurrence-free survival, and quality of life. Expert Panel members used available evidence and informal consensus to develop evidence-based guideline recommendations.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 95 relevant studies to inform the evidence base for this guideline.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Evidence-based recommendations were developed to address systemic therapy options, timing of therapy, treatment in patients who are older or with poor performance status, role of biomarkers, and use of myeloid-supporting agents in patients with small-cell lung cancer.Additional information is available at www.asco.org/thoracic-cancer-guidelines.

Survival outcomes and prognostic nutritional index in very elderly small-cell lung cancer patients: importance of active treatment and nutritional support

BACKGROUND

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive tumor with a high metastatic potential, particularly affecting current or former heavy smokers. Treatment typically involves chemotherapy, often combined with radiotherapy, and immunotherapy for extensive disease. Prophylactic cranial irradiation is recommended to reduce brain metastases. Elderly SCLC patients face unique challenges due to frailty and comorbidities, leading to increased risks of treatment-related toxicity and malnutrition. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI), a composite marker of nutritional and immune status, has shown promise in predicting outcomes in various malignancies. However, the optimal treatment approach for very elderly SCLC patients remains unclear, as they are often excluded from clinical trials.

AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate the survival outcomes of SCLC patients aged 75 years or older and their correlation with PNI.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

The study retrospectively analyzed data from 71 SCLC patients aged ≥75 years, focusing on age, gender, smoking status, chronic diseases, performance status, clinical stage, treatment modality, and pretreatment PNI. Survival estimates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that 26.8% of very elderly SCLC patients received no active treatment, resulting in a significantly shorter median survival time of 1.3 months. In contrast, patients who underwent aggressive treatment, such as palliative chemotherapy or chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, had significantly longer median survival times. Multivariate analysis revealed that receiving chemotherapy plus radiotherapy was associated with a significant survival benefit compared to no treatment. Furthermore, low PNI (≤40) was independently associated with decreased OS.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the importance of active treatment and nutritional support in improving survival outcomes for very elderly SCLC patients. The findings suggest that low PNI and lack of oncological treatment are associated with worse survival outcomes. Therefore, integrating nutritional assessment, interventions, and appropriate treatment strategies are crucial in managing lung cancer patients. Larger, multicenter studies are needed to validate these findings and explore potential interventions to optimize nutritional status and improve outcomes for elderly patients with SCLC.

Phase II study of IRInotecan treatment after COmbined chemo-immunotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: Protocol of IRICO study

INTRODUCTION

Combined treatment using anti-programmed death-ligand 1 antibody (anti-PD-L1) and platinum-etoposide is the current standard first-line treatment for patients with extensive-stage (ES) small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, the best treatment for relapsed ES-SCLC after the first-line treatment remains unclear. There are some approved chemotherapeutic agents that can be used against ES-SCLC, and treatment with irinotecan is well established as both a monotherapy and a combined therapy, in combination with platinum. Therefore, we conduct a phase II study with irinotecan in the second- or later-line setting for patients with ES-SCLC who have been previously treated with combined treatment.

METHODS

Our study will enroll total 30 patients who are diagnosed with ES-SCLC and have experienced disease progression after the combined treatment. Patients will receive irinotecan on days 1, 8, and 15, which will be repeated every 4 weeks. Doses of irinotecan (100/80/60 mg/m2 ) will be determined according to the type of UGT1A1 gene polymorphism, and the treatment will be discontinued following disease progression, intolerance, withdrawal of patient consent, and based on the investigator's decision. The primary endpoint of the study is the response rate, and the secondary endpoints are overall survival, progression-free survival, and safety.

DISCUSSION

Since the present first-line treatment has been changed to the combined treatment, the second- or later-line treatment should be re-evaluated for patients with relapsed SCLC. Irinotecan is a major chemotherapeutic agent used for SCLC. This study demonstrates and re-evaluates the clinical benefits of irinotecan after combined treatment with anti-PD-L1 and platinum-etoposide for patients with ES-SCLC.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

This study was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (no. jRCT s071210090) on November 4, 2021.

Targeting Cell Signaling Pathways in Lung Cancer by Bioactive Phytocompounds

Lung cancer is a heterogeneous group of malignancies with high incidence worldwide. It is the most frequently occurring cancer in men and the second most common in women. Due to its frequent diagnosis and variable response to treatment, lung cancer was reported as the top cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide in 2020. Many aberrant signaling cascades are implicated in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, including those involved in apoptosis (B cell lymphoma protein, Bcl-2-associated X protein, first apoptosis signal ligand), growth inhibition (tumor suppressor protein or gene and serine/threonine kinase 11), and growth promotion (epidermal growth factor receptor/proto-oncogenes/phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase). Accordingly, these pathways and their signaling molecules have become promising targets for chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents. Recent research provides compelling evidence for the use of plant-based compounds, known collectively as phytochemicals, as anticancer agents. This review discusses major contributing signaling pathways involved in the pathophysiology of lung cancer, as well as currently available treatments and prospective drug candidates. The anticancer potential of naturally occurring bioactive compounds in the context of lung cancer is also discussed, with critical analysis of their mechanistic actions presented by preclinical and clinical studies.

Carboplatin and irinotecan (CI) vs. carboplatin and etoposide (CE) for the treatment of extended-stage small-cell lung cancer in an elderly population: A phase II/III randomized control trial

OBJECTIVES

Cisplatin plus irinotecan has been considered as the standard therapy in younger (<70 years old) patients for extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) in Japan. However, there is a lack of high-quality evidence for the use of irinotecan in elderly patients with ED-SCLC. This study aimed to demonstrate that carboplatin plus irinotecan (CI) improves overall survival (OS) in elderly patients with ED-SCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a randomized Phase II/III trial which enrolled elderly patients with ED-SCLC. Patients were randomized to the CI or carboplatin plus etoposide (CE) arm in a 1:1 ratio. The CE group intravenously received carboplatin (AUC 5 mg/ml/min on day 1) and etoposide (80 mg/m2 on days 1-3) every 3 weeks for four cycles. The CI group received carboplatin (AUC 4 mg/ml/min on day 1) and irinotecan (50 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8) intravenously every 3 weeks for 4 cycles.

RESULTS

In total, 258 patients were enrolled and randomized (CE arm, 129 patients; CI arm, 129 patients). The median overall survival, progression-free survival, and objective response rate of the CE vs. CI arms were 12.0 (95% CI, 9.3-13.7) vs. 13.2 (95% CI, 11.1-14.6) months (HR, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.65-1.11)) (one-sided P = 0.11), 4.4 (95% CI, 4.0-4.7) vs. 4.9 (95% CI, 4.5-5.2) months (HR, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.66-1.09)), and 59.5% vs. 63.2%, respectively. A higher incidence of myelosuppression was observed in the CE group, whereas a higher incidence of gastrointestinal toxicity was observed in the CI group. Three treatment-related deaths occurred (one due to lung infection in the CE arm, and one due to lung infection and sepsis each in the CI arm).

CONCLUSIONS

The CI treatment showed favorable efficacy; however, the difference was not statistically significant. These results suggest that CE should remain as the standard chemotherapy regimen for elderly patients with ED-SCLC.

Clinicopathological Features and First-Line Treatment Outcomes of Geriatric Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicenter Study

Introduction The geriatric patient population diagnosed with extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is underrepresented in clinical studies. We aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics, first-line treatment patterns and treatment outcomes of patients aged 65 years or older with extensive stage SCLC. Material and methods In this multicenter, retrospective cohort study, patients aged 65 years or older, diagnosed with extensive-stage SCLC, between January 2009 and December 2021 were included. Patients who were under 65 years of age at the time of diagnosis and did not develop progression after curative treatment and patients with a second malignancy were excluded from the study. The clinicopathological characteristics, first-line treatment patterns and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Results A total of 132 patients were included in the study. The median age was 70 years (range:65-91), and 118 (89.4%) patients were male. There were 77 (58.3%) patients with eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0-1. There were 26 (19.7%) patients in the limited stage disease and 106 (80.3%) patients in the extensive stage disease at the time of diagnosis. First-line chemotherapy was given to 86 (65.2%) patients. Of the patients who could not receive treatment, 18 patients (13.6%) due to patient refusal, and 28 patients (21.2%) due to comorbid diseases and poor performance status with organ dysfunctions. The most common treatment regimen used as first-line treatment was cisplatin+etoposide (n=47, 54.7%), and followed by carboplatin+etoposide (n=39, 45.3%). First-line chemotherapy responses were complete response in 4 (4.7%) patients, partial response in 35 (40.7%) patients, stable disease in 13 (15.1%) patients, and progressive disease in 34 (39.5%) patients. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events was neutropenia in 33 (38.4%) patients. Forty nine patients (57.0%) completed the planned first-line treatment. The mPFS was 6.1 months and the mOS was 8.2 months with first-line treatment. We found that ECOG PS status was the most important negative prognostic factor for both PFS and OS. There was no difference between carboplatin+etoposide and cisplatin+etoposide regimens in terms of PFS, OS, adverse events and treatment compliance. Conclusion Thus, it may be an appropriate approach not to give up chemotherapy treatment easily in elderly patients with a diagnosis of extensive stage SCLC. It should be kept in mind that finding factors that might affect the prognosis and tailoring the tretment precisely on case-by-case basis in geriatric cancer patients have an impact on survival.

Intermittent administration of atezolizumab with combined carboplatin and etoposide therapy for patients with extensive‑disease small cell lung cancer

To the best of our knowledge, no published reports have examined the significance of additional immune checkpoint inhibitors in treating malignancies, including lung cancer. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the efficacy and feasibility of adding atezolizumab to carboplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer with extensive disease (ED-SCLC). The present retrospective analysis examined 16 patients with ED-SCLC who received the addition of atezolizumab to carboplatin and etoposide therapy during treatment at four institutions between August 2019 and September 2020. The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated based on tumor response, survival time and adverse events. Within the study cohort, there were 14 males (87.5%) and 2 females (12.5%), with a median age of 73.5 years (range, 62-79 years); 7 patients had a performance status (PS) of 0-1 (43.8%) and 9 had a PS of 2-3 (56.3%). The median follow-up period was 12.1 months. The overall response rate, median progression-free survival time and median overall survival time were 75.0%, 5.3 and 13.0 months, respectively. Regarding the frequency of hematological adverse events, the occurrence of grade ≥3 adverse events was observed, including decreased neutrophil (56.3%), white blood cell (50.0%) and platelet (43.8%) counts, as well as febrile neutropenia (12.5%). Although 1 patient developed grade 3 pneumonitis as a serious adverse event, no treatment-related deaths were observed. Despite the aforementioned hematological toxicities, the addition of atezolizumab to carboplatin and etoposide therapy during treatment demonstrated favorable efficacy and acceptable toxicity in ED-SCLC. Thus, adding atezolizumab to carboplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy may be a treatment option for ED-SCLC.

Efficacy and safety of carboplatin and etoposide in older extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer patients with a poor performance status

Carboplatin plus etoposide is a standard treatment for older extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) patients with performance status (PS) 2. However, older patients often exhibit poor PS (3, 4), and the treatment effect in them is poorly understood. To determine the therapeutic efficacy and safety of carboplatin plus etoposide therapy for this population, we retrospectively analyzed 63 patients with ES-SCLC with PS ≥2, aged ≥71 years, who had received first-line carboplatin plus etoposide therapy. We compared the treatment efficacy and safety in patients with baseline PS 2 versus those with PS 3-4. In the PS 2 (38 patients) and PS ≥3 (25 patients) groups, the overall response rate was 71.1% and 72.0%, median progression-free survival was 4.6 and 3.1 months, and overall survival was 7.7 and 5.1 months, respectively. PS improved to 0-1 post-treatment in 65.8% and 48.0% of the patients in the PS 2 and PS ≥3 groups, respectively. Patients with PS ≥3 showing improved PS had a progression-free survival of 6.1 months. A higher incidence of grade ≥3 decreased neutrophil counts, febrile neutropenia, and treatment-related death was observed in the PS ≥3 group. The progression-free survival of patients administered prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was 5.2 and 6.1 months in the PS2 and PS ≥3 groups. Overall, carboplatin plus etoposide therapy provided comparable tumor shrinkage, but shorter progression-free and overall survival in older ES-SCLC patients with PS ≥3 than in those with PS 2. Thus, supportive care, such as prophylactic G-CSF administration, may be necessary to ensure safety and survival.

Real-world comparison of survival outcomes with cisplatin versus carboplatin in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

Limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) is potentially curable with concurrent chemoradiation (CRT). Cisplatin is the preferred platinum for the chemotherapy backbone in national guidelines. Unfortunately, many LS-SCLC patients are elderly, with comorbidities and poor performance status (PS), which preclude the use of cisplatin. Carboplatin may be a suitable alternative. This analysis evaluates the overall survival (OS) and time to next treatment (TTNT) in LS-SCLC patients receiving concurrent CRT by platinum use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included LS-SCLC patients in the Flatiron Health nationwide de-identified electronic health record-derived database who received CRT in 2013-2019 with follow-up through May 2020. TTNT and OS were compared using both unadjusted and inverse propensity-weighted Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

This study included patients treated with carboplatin (n = 600) or cisplatin (n = 572) in combination with etoposide and radiation. Cisplatin patients were younger, had a shorter time from diagnosis to radiation, and had less kidney disease. In an unadjusted analysis, median overall survival (mOS) was greater in the cisplatin group than the carboplatin group with mOS of 22.3 months vs. 19.2 months and Hazard Ratio (HR) of 0.83 (p = 0.01). In the inverse propensity-weighted analysis, this difference was no longer significant (HR 0.93, p = 0.37). No differences were seen in TTNT.

CONCLUSION

When balancing on key clinical factors, we observed no statistical difference in OS or TTNT by platinum choice in real-world LS-SCLC patients treated with CRT.  Although observational, the results from this large data set are consistent with the hypothesis that either cisplatin or carboplatin is an appropriate therapy regardless of health status.

Surgical resection combined with perioperative chemotherapy for a patient with locally recurrent, previously stage IV thymic small-cell carcinoma: A case report

An 83-year-old Japanese man visited our hospital with dyspnea and general fatigue. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a tumor in the anterior mediastinum, bilateral pleural effusion, pericardial fluid, and multiple liver nodules. We performed a CT-guided tumor biopsy, and the patient was diagnosed with thymic small-cell carcinoma, Masaoka-Koga stage classification IVb. The patient received four cycles of carboplatin and etoposide, and all lesions disappeared on CT. However, after 6 months, CT revealed a recurrent tumor in the anterior mediastinum. After one cycle of rechallenge chemotherapy, we performed extended total thymectomy followed by another three cycles of chemotherapy. More than 2.5 years after the last chemotherapy session, the patient's carcinoma did not recur. Thus, this case suggests that salvage surgery may be a treatment option for local recurrence of thymic carcinoma after complete remission with chemotherapy, even in patients with stage IV cancer.

Combination of chemotherapy and immune checkpoint therapy by the immunoconjugates-based nanocomplexes synergistically improves therapeutic efficacy in SCLC

Although the etoposide and carboplatin (EP) combination strategy has been the first-line chemotherapy, patients with extensive-stage disease small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) still have poor survival outcomes. Our retrospective analysis revealed that 46 patients with SCLC only achieved medium overall survival (OS) of 11.6 months after treated by EP. Recently, it was demonstrated that combination therapy of PD1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blocker and EP could significantly improve the OS of SCLC patients. However, the serious treatment-related toxicity leaded to a high rate of treatment-discontinuation or even death. In the present study, we have developed a novel TPP1-conjugated nanocomplex, abbreviated as TPP1NP-EP, which was co-loaded with carboplatin (CBP) and etoposide (VP16). The TPP1 was a PD-L1 targeting peptide and conjugated on the surface of nanocomplex by a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2/9)-cleavable peptide linker sequence PLGLAG. For dual-loading of CBP and VP16, the CBP was chemically conjugated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-poly(caprolactone) (PCL) by pH-sensitive hydrazone bond and the VP16 was physically encapsulated by emulsion-solvent evaporation method. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated an excellent anti-tumor effect of TPP1NP-EP on SCLC and improved safety. In conclusion, the present study has provided a promising strategy for treatment of malignant SCLC.

Recent advances in small cell lung cancer: the future is now?

Small cell lung cancer is a relevant clinical issue as it is a highly malignant cancer, often diagnosed in advanced stage. Similarly to non-small cell lung cancer, tobacco smoking is currently the main risk factor. Its incidence, at least in males, has declined over the past decades, due to the worldwide decreased percentage of active smokers. The typical small cells of this tumor type are characterized by a high Proliferation Index, chromosomal deletions such as 3p(14-23) involving the tumor-suppressor gene FHIT, alterations of the MYC or Notch family proteins and the frequent expression of neuroendocrine markers. The combination of thoracic radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the standard treatment for limited stage disease, while platinum-based chemotherapy is the most effective choice for extensive stage disease. Unfortunately, whatever chemotherapy is used, the results are disappointing. No regimen has proved to be effective in the long run, indeed small cell lung cancer rapidly progresses after a frequent initial strong response, and the mortality rate remains still high. The advent of immunotherapy is actually changing the landscape in oncology. As well as in other cancers, recent trials have demonstrated the efficacy of the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy, opening new perspectives for the future of our patients.

Phase II study of durvalumab (MEDI 4736) plus carboplatin and etoposide in elderly patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer: Study protocol of turtle study (LOGIK 2003)

BACKGROUND

Recently, the addition of antiprogrammed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) monoclonal antibodies, including durvalumab and atezolizumab to platinum-based chemotherapy, has demonstrated clinical benefits in patients with untreated advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, these clinical trials comprised small populations of elderly patients with SCLC. Therefore, the safety of anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy plus platinum and etoposide in elderly patients remains unclear.

METHODS

This prospective, multicenter, single-arm study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of durvalumab plus carboplatin and etoposide in untreated elderly patients (aged > 75) with extensive stage (ES) SCLC. A total of 40 patients were recruited. Patients received up to four cycles of durvalumab 1500 mg and carboplatin at a dose equivalent to an area under the curve of 5 on day 1, and etoposide 80 mg/m² on days 1 to 3 every 3 weeks as induction treatment, followed by durvalumab maintenance treatment every 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was safety as measured by adverse events according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0, laboratory analyses, vital signs, and physical examination. Key secondary endpoints were objective response rate, median progression-free survival, 12-month overall survival rate, and the completion rate for four cycles of induction chemotherapy.

DISCUSSION

The present study was designed to evaluate the safety of durvalumab plus carboplatin and etoposide in elderly patients with ES-SCLC.

A phase II study of carboplatin and etoposide plus durvalumab for previously untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) patients with a poor performance status (PS): NEJ045A study protocol

Background

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 12–15% of lung cancers and has a limited prognosis, with approximately one-third of SCLC patients having a poor performance status (PS). Patients with extensive-stage (ES) SCLC and a poor PS have a poor prognosis. For this population, overall survival from carboplatin and etoposide treatment is 7–8 months, and treatment development is an unmet medical need. Recently, the combination of an anti-PD-L1 (a ligand for programmed cell death 1) antibody and platinum-based chemotherapy has become the standard of care for ES-SCLC patients with a good PS (PS 0–1). We hypothesized that the combination of the anti-PD-L1 antibody durvalumab with carboplatin and etoposide would be feasible and effective for such patients.

Methods

We initiated a multicenter phase II study of durvalumab combined with carboplatin and etoposide in previously untreated ES-SCLC patients with a poor PS (PS 2–3). Eligible patients will receive durvalumab plus carboplatin and etoposide every 3 to 4 weeks for up to 4 cycles, followed by durvalumab every 4 weeks until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The dosages of carboplatin and etoposide for the second and subsequent cycles will be adaptively determined based on the adverse events of the first cycle. A total of 56 patients (43 patients with a PS of 2 and 13 patients with a PS of 3) will be enrolled in this study, with a 24-month enrollment period and a 12-month follow-up. The primary endpoint is the tolerability of carboplatin and etoposide plus durvalumab in previously untreated ES-SCLC patients with a poor PS. The secondary endpoints are the 1-year survival rate, objective response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, ratio of PS improvement, and safety.

Discussion

The results of this study are intended to establish the safety and efficacy of carboplatin and etoposide plus durvalumab in patients with ES-SCLC and a poor PS.

Trial registration

Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT), jRCTs031200319. Registered 21 January 2021, https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs031200319

Comparison of Carboplatin With Cisplatin in Small Cell Lung Cancer in US Veterans

IMPORTANCE

The current standard of care for the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is concurrent chemoradiation for patients with limited-stage SCLC (LS-SCLC) and chemoimmunotherapy for extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). The backbone of chemotherapy regimens in both is a platinum-etoposide doublet: cisplatin is traditionally the preferred platinum agent in the curative intent setting, whereas carboplatin is preferred in ES-SCLC because of its favorable toxicity profile.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether cisplatin is associated with better survival outcomes than carboplatin in treating LS-SCLC and ES-SCLC.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this cohort study, data were compiled from the National Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry for patients with SCLC who received platinum-based multiagent chemotherapy between 2000 and 2020 for ES-SCLC and 2000 and 2021 for LS-SCLC. Only patients with pathologically confirmed cases of LS-SCLC who received concurrent chemoradiation and ES-SCLC who received chemotherapy were included.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary end point was overall survival (OS). The secondary end points included OS by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, age, and laterality. Interval-censored Weibull and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate median OS and hazard ratios (HRs), respectively. Survival curves were compared by a Wald test.

RESULTS

A total of 4408 SCLC cases were studied. Most patients were White (3589 patients [81.4%]), male (4252 [96.5%]), and non-Hispanic (4142 [94.0%]); 2262 patients (51.3%) were 60 to 69 years old, followed by 1476 patients (33.5%) aged 70 years or older, 631 patients (14.3%) aged 50 to 59 years, and 39 patients (0.9%) aged 30 to 49 years. Among 2652 patients with ES-SCLC, 2032 were treated with carboplatin-based therapy and 660 received cisplatin; the median OS was 8.45 months (95% CI, 7.75-9.20 months) for cisplatin and 8.51 months (95% CI, 8.07-8.97 months) for carboplatin (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.91-1.12; P = .90). Subset analysis showed no survival difference between the 2 agents in different age or performance status groups except for patients aged 70 years and older, for whom the median OS was 6.36 months (95% CI, 5.31-7.56 months) for cisplatin and 8.47 months (95% CI, 7.79-9.19 months) for carboplatin (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.96; P = .02). Multivariable analysis of performance status and age did not show a significant difference in survival between the 2 groups (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.83-1.10; P = .54). Of 1756 patients with LS-SCLC, 801 received carboplatin, and 1018 received cisplatin. The median OS was 26.92 months (95% CI, 25.03-28.81 months) for cisplatin and 25.58 months (95% CI, 23.64-27.72 months) for carboplatin (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.94-1.16; P = .46). The median OS was not significantly different between 2 agents according to cancer stage (I-III), performance status, and age groups. A multivariable analysis of factors associated with OS accounting for stage (I-III), performance status, and age did not demonstrate a significant difference in survival between carboplatin and cisplatin in patients with LS-SCLC (HR, 0.995; 95% CI, 0.86-1.15; P = .95).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Cisplatin is not associated with a survival advantage over carboplatin among patients with either ES-SCLC or LS-SCLC, irrespective of performance status and age. The favorable toxicity profile of carboplatin and comparable OS support its use in both LS-SCLC and ES-SCLC in clinical practice and may allow more room for combination with novel treatment strategies in clinical trials.

Supportive therapies in patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma submitted to standard EDP-M regimen

PURPOSE

The management of patients with advanced/metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is challenging, EDP-M (etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin combined with mitotane) is the standard regimen. However, it is quite toxic, so an adequate supportive therapy is crucial to reduce as much as possible the side effects and maintain the dose intensity of cytotoxic agents.

METHODS

We describe the main side effects of the EDP-M scheme and the best way to manage them based on the experience of the Medical Oncology Unit of the Spedali Civili of Brescia. We also deal with the administration of EDP-M in specific frail patients, such as those with huge disease extent and poor performance status (PS) and those with mild renal insufficiency.

RESULTS

In patients with hormone secreting ACC the rapid control of Cushing syndrome using adrenal steroidogenesis inhibitors such as metyrapone or osilodrostat is mandatory before starting EDP-M. Primary prophylaxis of neutropenia with Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factors is crucial and should be introduced at the first chemotherapy cycle. Possible mitotane induced hypoadrenalism should be always considered in case of persistent nausea and vomiting and asthenia in the interval between one cycle to another. In case of poor PS. A 24 h continuous infusion schedule of cisplatin could be an initial option in patients with poor PS as well as to reduce the risk of nefrotoxocity in patients with mild renal impairment.

CONCLUSION

A careful and accurate supportive care is essential to mitigate EDP-M side effects as much as possible and avoid that, due to toxicity, patients have to reduce doses and or postpone cytotoxic treatment with a negative impact on efficacy of this chemotherapy regimen.

Medical management of older patients with lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death globally. In addition, its incidence increases with age, with approximately half of all cases diagnosed in patients aged ≥70. Molecular targeted therapies and immunotherapies for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer have markedly improved outcomes over the past two decades. Despite the high incidence of lung cancer in older people, most trials excluded such patients from enrollment. Therefore, the optimal treatment strategies for older patients remain unclear. The present review summarizes the published literature and provides guidance on the treatment of older patients with lung cancer within three broad stages: (i) early-stage lung cancer, (ii) locally advanced lung cancer and (iii) metastatic lung cancer. We also discuss the use of the latest evidence for older patients.

Chemotherapy for patients with advanced lung cancer with interstitial lung disease: a prospective observational study

Introduction:

Although recent advances in chemotherapy for lung cancer are remarkable, most clinical trials have excluded patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) due to the concern of developing acute exacerbation (AE) of ILD. Hence, accumulating original evidence of cancer treatment for this population is important.

Methods:

Between 2016 and 2020, a prospective observational study was conducted across 11 Japanese hospitals. Patients with chemotherapy-naïve, inoperable, advanced lung cancer with ILD were included. The primary outcome was the frequency of AE-ILD after registration; the secondary outcomes were the risk factor of AE-ILD and the efficacy of chemotherapy.

Results:

Among 124 patients enrolled, 109 patients who received chemotherapy were analyzed. The median age was 72 years, and the majority showed usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)/probable UIP pattern upon chest computed tomography. The median percent-predicted forced vital capacity (%FVC) was 81% (interquartile range: 66–95%). After registration, 23 patients (21.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.4–29.7%) developed AE-ILD. The logistic analysis revealed that lower %FVC slightly but significantly increased the risk of AE-ILD (odds ratio per 10% decrease: 1.27; 95% CI: > 1.00–1.62). Overall response rates/median overall survival times in non-small-cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer for the first-line chemotherapy were 41% (95% CI: 31–53)/8.9 months (95% CI: 7.6–11.8) and 91% (95% CI: 76–98)/12.2 months (95% CI: 9.2–14.5), respectively.

Conclusion:

AE-ILD during chemotherapy is a frequent complication among patients with lung cancer with ILD, particularly those with lower %FVC. Conversely, even in this population, passable treatment response can be expected.

Real-world data of atezolizumab plus carboplatin and etoposide in elderly patients with extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of atezolizumab plus carboplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy in elderly patients with extensive-disease (ED) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated 65 SCLC patients who received atezolizumab, carboplatin, and etoposide for ED-SCLC in nine study institutions between August 2019 and September 2020. Clinical efficacy, assessed according to response rate and survival, and toxicity were compared between the elderly (n = 36 patients; median age: 74 years [range: 70-89 years]) and the non-elderly group (n = 29 patients; median age: 67 years [range: 43-69 years]).

RESULTS

The response rate was 73.8% (80.5% in the elderly group and 65.5% in the non-elderly group). There was no significant difference in both the median progression-free survival (5.5 months vs. 4.9 months, p = 0.18) and the median overall survival (15.4 months vs. 15.9 months, p = 0.24) between the elderly group and the non-elderly group. The frequencies of grade ≥3 hematological adverse events in the elderly patients were as follows: decreased white blood cells, 36.1%; decreased neutrophil count, 61.1%; decreased platelet count, 8.3%; and febrile neutropenia, 8.3%. One treatment-related death due to lung infection occurred in the elderly group.

CONCLUSION

Despite hematologic toxicities, especially decreased neutrophil count, atezolizumab, carboplatin, and etoposide combination chemotherapy demonstrates favorable effectiveness and acceptable toxicity in elderly patients. Thus, atezolizumab plus carboplatin and etoposide could be the preferred standard treatment modality for elderly patients with ED-SCLC.

First-Line Treatment for Advanced SCLC: What Is Left Behind and Beyond Chemoimmunotherapy

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is still a lethal disease. Three phase III randomized clinical trials (IMpower133, CASPIAN, and KEYNOTE-604) have highlighted the survival gain of adding immune checkpoint inhibitors to first-line standard chemotherapy in advanced SCLC patients. In this review, we discuss the data from the three trials above. Furtherly, we analyze issues that still need to be elucidated, like the role of biomarkers, poor performance status at baseline, the presence of brain metastases, and the platinum compound's choice. Moreover, we depict the future of SCLC first-line therapy management, focusing on new therapeutic strategies currently under investigation.

Anlotinib plus platinum‐etoposide as a first‐line treatment for extensive‐stage small cell lung cancer: A single‐arm trial

Background

Anlotinib as a third‐line or beyond therapy for extensive‐stage small‐cell lung cancer (ES‐SCLC) was studied. This single‐arm phase II trial was to investigate the value of anlotinib plus platinum‐etoposide as first‐line treatment in ES SCLC.

Methods

The primary endpoint was progression‐free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). The secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), time to progression (TTP), duration of remission (DoR), and safety. The subgroups of preset liver metastasis and brain metastasis were analyzed.

Results

In 35 ES‐SCLC patients, the median PFS, ORR, DCR, and OS were 8.02 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.90–9.66], 85.71% (95% CI: 69.74–95.19), 94.29% (95% CI: 80.84–99.30), and 15.87 months (95% CI: 10.38–18.89), respectively. The median PFS in the liver metastasis and brain metastasis subgroups was 7.33 months (95% CI: 4.76–9.69) and 7.34 months (95% CI: 5.68–9.20), respectively. The most common AEs with grade 3–4 were hand–foot syndrome (17%), granulocytosis (17%), stomatitis (14%), hypertriglyceridemia (11%), hypercholesterolemia (11%), as well as nausea and vomiting (11%), and no grade 5 AEs were recorded.

Conclusions

Anlotinib combined with platinum‐etoposide provided an effective and safe therapy for patients with ES‐SCLC.

Effect of MUC16 mutations on tumor mutation burden and its potential prognostic significance for cutaneous melanoma

OBJECTIVES

MUC16, a mucin marker with a high mutation probability, is closely related to the occurrence, development, response to treatment, and prognosis of melanoma. As melanoma has high immunogenicity, immunotherapy has become a routine treatment. Tumor mutation burden (TMB) is the most common indicator for determining appropriate immunotherapy. The relationship between the mutation and expression of MUC16 and the prognosis, TMB, level of immune infiltration, and drug sensitivity in melanoma was investigated in this study.

METHODS

Melanoma data were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas and the International Cancer Genome Consortium database, and the "GenVisR" package was used to visualize the gene mutation types and frequencies. Intersections of the top 30 genes with the highest mutation frequencies were determined. Thereafter, we investigated the effects of MUC16 mutations on overall survival (OS) and TMB of melanoma patients by multivariate Cox regression and multivariate logistic analyses. Related pathways that were enriched by MUC16 and BRAF were investigated using gene-set enrichment analysis and gene-set variation analysis. The CIBERSORT calculation method was used to analyze the proportion of tumor-infiltrating immune subsets. The relationship between MUC16 expression and drug sensitivity was also discussed.

RESULTS

Twenty-two genes with high mutation frequencies were identified in both datasets. MUC16 and ADGRV1 mutations were associated with higher TMB and good clinical prognosis (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, clinical stage, and MUC16 mutations were independent prognostic factors affecting OS of melanoma patients. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that gender and MUC16 mutations were independent prognostic factors affecting the TMB. MUC16 mutations and high-expression groups were primarily enriched in immune-related pathways. Furthermore, T-cell CD4 memory activation and T-cell CD8 were positively correlated with MUC16 expression and activated dendritic cells were significantly enriched in the MUC16 mutant group. Abnormal MUC16 expression may be related to abnormal methylation and drug resistance.

CONCLUSION

MUC16 was found to have a higher mutation frequency in melanoma patients, which is associated with a higher TMB. The mutation and/or expression of MUC16 may affect immune-related pathways and tumor-infiltrating immune cell subsets, which may improve the prognosis for melanoma patients.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic model for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: A retrospective study over an 8-year period

Background

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine tumor with a short replication time and a rapid growth rate. Prognostic factors for SCLC in clinical practice are scarce. Retrospective analysis of 8‐year extensive‐stage SCLC data from the Department Respiratory and Intensive Care Unit, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Beijing, China) was performed to develop a risk prediction model that can facilitate the identification of extensive‐stage SCLC with differing prognosis in clinical practice.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of data from patients with extensive‐stage SCLC at a single‐center from January 2013 to January 2021, including age, sex, ECOG physical score, immunohistochemistry (CgA, Syn, CD56, TTF1, and Ki67), staging, treatment regimen, laboratory examinations, and survival period, was performed. Clinical variables with potential prognostic significance were screened by univariate Cox analysis. Next, multifactor Cox risk prediction regression analysis was performed to establish an extensive‐stage SCLC risk prognostic model. Survival curves and ROC curves for high and low risk groups were plotted according to risk scores. Nomogram and calibration curves were developed to assess the accuracy of the risk prediction model.

Results

This study included 300 patients who were diagnosed with extensive‐stage SCLC at our center from January 2013 to January 2021. The most common first presentation was respiratory symptoms, especially cough (162, 54%). The most common extra‐thoracic metastatic organs were bone (36.3%), liver (24.7%), brain (15.7%), and adrenal glands (15.7%). A total of 99% of patients received first‐line systemic therapy, with 86.3% of patients treated with platinum‐etoposide and 10.7% of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor combined with platinum‐etoposide backbone. First‐line progression‐free survival was up to 198 days, and the median OS was 439 days. After Cox regression screening and backward stepwise selection, “time from initial therapy to relapse or progression (PFS1), liver metastases, adrenal metastases, M stage and first‐line treatment pattern” were retained to establish a prognostic model with an AUC value of 0.763. The prognostic model was shown as a nomogram with good agreement between predicted and observed outcomes.

Conclusions

The first‐line treatment of SCLC patients admitted to our hospital in the past 8 years was relatively standardized, and the progression‐free survival and OS were slightly longer than those reported in the literature. We developed a prognostic risk score model for extensive‐stage SCLC to calculate individual survival in clinical practice.

FRESC: French Real world Extensive stage SCLC Cohorts: A retrospective study on patient characteristics and treatment strategy based on KBP-2010

OBJECTIVES

FRESC reanalyzed extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) patient data from the French KBP-2010 cohort to describe the characteristics and therapeutic management of ES-SCLC and provide real-world estimates of survival.

METHODS

A target population of first line (1L) ES-SCLC was identified at initial diagnosis in KBP-2010 (KBP population, N = 796). A KBP-2010 subpopulation was defined as patients who also met the IMpower133 clinicaltrial PS ≤ 1 inclusion criteria (KBP-PS_0/1 population, N = 394). Subgroups were defined according to the 1L ES-SCLC chemotherapy regimens: carboplatin or cisplatin with etoposide (Carb-E or Cisp-E subgroups).

RESULTS

The vast majority of KBP populations exhibited stage IV ES-SCLC (84.9%) at initial diagnosis. Median age was 66 years; patients were mostly male and smokers. Patients receiving Cisp + Eto were younger (median age 61 years [55.0-67.0]) and fitter (25.5% had PS ≥ 2) than those receiving Carb + Eto (71 years [62.5-77.5]; 44.1%had PS ≥ 2). Median overall survival (OS) of chemotherapy-treated 1L ES-SCLC patients varied from 7.0 months [95% CI, 6.1; 7.8] in the KBPCarb-Esubgroups to 9.6 months [95% CI, 8.4;10.8] in the KBP Cisp-E subgroup. KBP-PS_0/1 population showed better median OS, especially for the Cisp-E subgroup (10 months [95% CI, 8.7; 11.3]).

CONCLUSION

In the KBP-PS_0/1 population, median OS was close to the one that was found in the IMpower133 control arm. Although this needs to be confirmed by further research, it suggests the transposability of the IMpower133 results to real-life conditions.

Small Cell Lung Cancer, Version 2.2022, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) provide recommended management for patients with SCLC, including diagnosis, primary treatment, surveillance for relapse, and subsequent treatment. This selection for the journal focuses on metastatic (known as extensive-stage) SCLC, which is more common than limited-stage SCLC. Systemic therapy alone can palliate symptoms and prolong survival in most patients with extensive-stage disease. Smoking cessation counseling and intervention should be strongly promoted in patients with SCLC and other high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas. The "Summary of the Guidelines Updates" section in the SCLC algorithm outlines the most recent revisions for the 2022 update, which are described in greater detail in this revised Discussion text.

Carboplatin versus cisplatin in combination with etoposide in the first-line treatment of small cell lung cancer: a pooled analysis

Background

Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is an aggressive disease with poor survival, and platinum-etoposide chemotherapy is indicated as the mainstay of treatment. In this study, we compared the efficacy and safety between the cisplatin plus etoposide (EP) and carboplatin plus etoposide (EC) regimens.

Methods

A total of 1305 patients with previously untreated ES-SCLC were included in this study. Data from five trials were collected from the public database Project Data Sphere. Survival analysis and adverse events (AEs) analysis were conducted.

Results

Of the 1305 patients, 800 received the EC regimen whereas 505 received the EP regimen as their front-line treatment. Overall, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and the median overall survival (OS) were 172 and 289 days, respectively. The EP and EC treatment groups did not have significantly different PFS or OS. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), the EP regimen was independently associated with better PFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.63–0.92, p = 0.0041) and OS (HR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.64–0.97, p = 0.0220) among patients who were overweight and obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²). In the safety analysis, patients who received the EC treatment experienced significantly more grade ≥ 3 AEs (n = 599, 74.9%) than those who received the EP treatment (n = 337, 66.7%; p = 0.002). Furthermore, the EC regimen was associated with a higher risk of grade 3–4 neutropaenia (p = 0.001), thrombocytopaenia (p < 0.001) and hyponatraemia (p = 0.036), whereas the EP regimen was associated with a higher risk of grade 3–4 vomiting (p = 0.021).

Conclusions

In summary, this study presented the efficacy and safety of the EC and EP regimens in patients with ES-SCLC in the first-line setting. Patients who are overweight and obese benefit more from the EP regimen than EC regimen. Approaches to define the optimal chemotherapy regimen in different BMI subgroups are needed.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-09034-6.

Prophylactic granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in patients with lung neuroendocrine carcinoma receiving platinum agents plus etoposide

BACKGROUND

The clinical utility of prophylactic granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients receiving platinum agents plus etoposide for neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is unknown.

METHODS

Chemotherapy-naïve patients with NEC who received platinum agents plus etoposide were retrospectively evaluated. The occurrence of severe neutropenia and febrile neutropenia (FN) and efficacy of chemotherapy were compared between patients who did (G-CSF group) and did not receive prophylactic G-CSF (non-G-CSF group).

RESULTS

Among 58 patients, 51 (87.9%) and 7 (12.1%) had small-cell lung cancer and large-cell NEC, respectively, and 24 (41.4%) and 34 (58.6%) received cisplatin and carboplatin, respectively. The G-CSF and non-G-CSF groups included 32 and 26 patients, respectively. The non-G-CSF group displayed significantly higher rates of grade 3-4 neutropenia {88.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 69.8% - 97.6%] vs. 56.2% [95% CI = 37.7% - 73.6%], P = 0.009} and FN [50.9% (95% CI = 30% - 70%) vs. 18.8% (95% CI = 7.2% - 36.4%), P = 0.023] than the G-CSF group. In multivariate analysis, non-G-CSF was an independent risk factor for grade 3-4 neutropenia and FN. The rate of treatment delay was significantly higher in the non-G-CSF group (69.2% vs. 31.2%, P = 0.001). The relative dose intensity was significantly higher in the G-CSF group (86.7% vs. 74.1%, P < 0.001). The overall response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival were comparable between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with NEC receiving platinum agents plus etoposide, prophylactic G-CSF significantly reduced the risks of severe neutropenia and FN.

ALK Rearrangement in Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Durable Response to Alectinib: A Case Report

Background

With the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS), several anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion partner genes have been identified. However, ALK fusion is extremely rare in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and there is no standard treatment option. Here, we report a patient with SCLC who carried an ALK- Intergenic Region (IR) rearrangement and responded to Alectinib.

Case Presentation

A 26-year-old man was pathologically diagnosed with extensive-stage SCLC. After 2 cycles of first-line chemotherapy, CT showed a large soft tissue mass in the middle lobe of the right lung and increased liver nodules, left kidney lesions and right kidney lesions. To seek potential therapeutic regimens, ALK rearrangement was identified. The patient achieved a rapid and durable partial response with Alectinib (600 mg BID). The patient experienced a significant clinical response with a progression-free survival of more than 6 months. There were no grade 3 or more adverse events reported, and there was no dose reduction during treatment. Following Alectinib treatment, the allele frequency of ALK rearrangement and RB1 and TP53 mutations in plasma circulating tumor DNA decreased with the reduction in tumor size.

Conclusion

This case provides a meaningful reference for the treatment of SCLC patients with ALK rearrangement. This case also provides valuable information on the response to ALK inhibitors in patients with ALK-IR rearrangement and better understanding of ALK-TKI applications in the future.

mRNA Network: Solution for Tracking Chemotherapy Insensitivity in Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Background

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) has poor prognosis and is prone to drug resistance. It is necessary to search for possible influencing factors for SCLC chemotherapy insensitivity. Therefore, we proposed an mRNA network to track the chemotherapy insensitivity in SCLC.

Methods

Six samples of patients with SCLC were recruited for RNA sequencing. TopHat2 and Cufflinks were used to make differential analysis. Functional analysis was applied as well. Finally, multidimensional validation was applied for verifying the results we obtained by experiment.

Results

This study was a trial of drug resistance in 6 SCLC patients after first-line chemotherapy. The top 10 downregulated genes differentially expressed in the chemo-insensitive group were SERPING1, DRD5, PARVG, PRAME, NKX1-1, MCTP2, PID1, PLEKHA4, SPP1, and SLN. Cell-cell signaling by Wnt (p=6.98E - 21) was the most significantly enriched GO term in biological process, while systemic lupus erythematosus (p=6.97E - 10), alcoholism (p=1.01E - 09), and transcriptional misregulation in cancer (p=0.00227988) were the top three ones of KEGG pathways. In multiple public databases, we also highlighted and verified the vital role of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway and corresponding genes in chemo-insensitivity in SCLC.

Conclusion

Our study confirmed some SCLC chemotherapy insensitivity-related genes, biological processes, and pathways, thus constructing the chemotherapy-insensitive network for SCLC.

Clinical considerations for the management of androgen indifferent prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Many systemic therapies for advanced prostate cancer work by disrupting androgen receptor signaling. Androgen indifferent prostate cancer (AIPC) variants, including aggressive variant prostate cancer (AVPC), neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), and double-negative prostate cancer (DNPC), are increasingly common and often overlapping resistance phenotypes following treatment with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and are associated with poor outcomes. Understanding the underlying biology and identifying effective therapies for AIPC is paramount for improving survival for men with prostate cancer.

METHODS

In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on AIPC variants, including our current understanding of the clinical, morphologic, and molecular features as well as current therapeutic approaches. We also explore emerging therapies and biomarkers aimed at improving outcomes for men with AIPC.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Establishing consensus definitions, developing novel biomarkers for early and accurate detection, further characterization of molecular drivers of each phenotype, and developing effective therapies will be critical to improving outcomes for men with AIPC. Significant progress has been made toward defining the clinical and molecular characteristics of AVPC, NEPC, and DNPC. Novel diagnostic approaches, including cell-free DNA, circulating tumor cells, and molecular imaging are promising tools for detecting AIPC in clinical practice. Building on previous treatment advances, several clinical trials are underway evaluating novel therapeutic approaches in patients with AIPC informed by an understanding of variant-specific biology. In this review, we discuss how these recent and ongoing studies will help to improve diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy for men with AIPC.

Glasgow prognostic score for prediction of chemotherapy-triggered acute exacerbation interstitial lung disease in patients with small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Predicting the incidence of chemotherapy-triggered acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease (AE-ILD) in patients with lung cancer is important because AE-ILD confers a poor prognosis. The Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), which is an inflammation-based index composed of serum levels of C-reactive protein and albumin, predicts prognosis in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) without ILD. In this study, we investigated AE-ILD and survival outcome based on the GPS in patients with ILD associated with SCLC who were receiving chemotherapy.

METHODS

Medical records of patients who received platinum-based first-line chemotherapy between June 2010 and May 2019 were retrospectively reviewed to compare the incidence of AE-ILD and overall survival (OS) between GPS 0, 1, and 2.

RESULTS

Among our cohort of 31 patients, six (19.3%) experienced chemotherapy-triggered AE-ILD. The AE-ILD incidence increased from 9.5% to 25.0% and 50.0% with increase in GPS of 0, 1, and 2, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed remarkable associations between GPS 2 and both AE-ILD (odds ratio for GPS 2, 18.69; p = 0.046) and prognosis (hazard ratio of GPS 2, 13.52; p = 0.002). Furthermore, median OS in the GPS 0, 1, and 2 groups was 16.2, 9.8, and 7.1 months, respectively (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that GPS 2 is both a predictor of risk of chemotherapy-triggered AE-ILD and a prognostic indicator in patients with ILD associated with SCLC. We propose that GPS may be used as a guide to distinguish chemotherapy-tolerant patients from those at high risk of AE-ILD.

Economic Evaluation of First-Line Atezolizumab for Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer in the US

Introduction: This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab + chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy as first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in the United States (US).

Methods: The three health states partitioned survival (PS) model was used over the lifetime. Effectiveness and safety data were derived from the IMpower133 trial. The parametric survival model and mixture cure model were used for the atezolizumab + chemotherapy group to explore the long-term uncertainty of the effect of immunotherapy, and the parametric survival model was used for the chemotherapy group. Costs were derived from the pricing files of Medicare and Medicaid Services, and utility values were derived from previous studies. Sensitivity analyses were performed to observe model stability.

Results: If the mixture cure model was considered for the intervention group, compared with chemotherapy alone, atezolizumab + chemotherapy yielded an additional 0.11 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), with an incremental cost of US$84,257. The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) was US$785,848/QALY. If the parametric survival model was considered for the intervention group, atezolizumab + chemotherapy yielded an additional 0.10 QALYs, with an incremental cost of US$84,257; the ICUR was US$827,610/QALY. In the one-way sensitivity analysis, progression-free (PF) and postprogression (PP) utilities were the main drivers. In the scenario analysis (PF utility = 0.673, PP utility = 0.473), the results showed that the ICUR was US$910,557/QALY and US$965,607/QALY when the mixture cure model and parametric survival model was considered for the intervention group, respectively. In the PSA, the probabilities that atezolizumab + chemotherapy would not be cost-effective were 100% if the willingness-to-pay threshold was US$100,000/QALY.

Conclusions: The findings of the present analysis suggest that atezolizumab + chemotherapy is not cost-effective in patients receiving first-line treatment for extensive-stage SCLC in the US.

Novel Cytotoxic Chemotherapies in Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the deadliest thoracic neoplasms, in part due to its fast doubling time and early metastatic spread. Historically, cytotoxic chemotherapy consisting of platinum-etoposide or anthracycline-based regimens has demonstrated a high response rate, but early chemoresistance leads to a poor prognosis in advanced SCLC. Only a fraction of patients with limited-disease can be cured by chemo-radiotherapy. Given the disappointing survival rates in advanced SCLC, new cytotoxic agents are eagerly awaited. Unfortunately, few novel chemotherapy drugs have been developed in the latest decades. This review describes the results and potential application in the clinical practice of novel chemotherapy agents for SCLC.

Systematic evaluation of the efficacy-effectiveness gap of systemic treatments in extensive disease small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to assess how clinical outcomes in real-world (effectiveness) correspond to the outcomes in clinical trials (efficacy) of systemic treatments for extensive disease small cell lung cancer (ED SCLC).

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with ED SCLC between 2008 and 2014 in six Dutch large teaching hospitals (Santeon network) were identified and followed-up from date of diagnosis until death or end of data collection. For every patient, an efficacy-effectiveness factor (EE factor) was calculated by dividing individual patients' overall survival (OS) by the pooled median OS assessed from clinical trials with the respective treatment.

RESULTS

From 792 diagnosed patients, 568 (72%) started with first-line treatment. Overall, the median EE factor was 0.79 (P < .001 from 1.00). Poor performance status (ECOG≥2) and a higher age at diagnosis (age ≥ 65 years) were independent predictors for a lower EE factor. The EE gap was 43% in patients with both age ≥ 65 years and ECOG ≥2 (EE factor 0.57). The mean age and the proportion of patients with ECOG≥2 in real-world were different from those in clinical trials (mean age of 66 versus 62 years, and ECOG≥2 25% versus 17%; both P < .001).

CONCLUSION

OS of patients with ED SCLC treated with systemic therapy in real-world practice is 21% shorter than for patients included in trials. Age at diagnosis and performance status partly explain this gap.

Systematic review of first-line chemotherapy for chemo-naïve extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Our goal was to organize the data from randomized controlled trials that evaluated first-line chemotherapy for chemo-naïve extensive disease small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC).

METHODS

The protocol following PRISMA methodology was submitted as PROSPERO 154049. We included individually randomized trials comparing two or more chemotherapy regimens as the first-line treatment for chemo-naïve ED-SCLC regardless of the age, sex, performance status, co-morbidities, and organ functions written in the English language since 2000. Molecular targeted agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors were considered chemotherapy along with cytotoxic medications. We pooled the logarithm of hazard ratio (HR) and its standard error using the frequentist weighted least squares approach random-model network meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 46 eligible trials that involved 11,987 patients were included. The primary endpoint, HR of overall survival (OS, HRos) of the selected comparisons was as follows: carboplatin+amrubicin (HRos 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33-0.96), carboplatin+etoposide+atezolizumab (HRos 0.70, 95% CI 0.53-0.92), and carboplatin+irinotecan (HRos 0.73, 95% CI 0.58-0.91) were compared with carboplatin+etoposide. The carboplatin+etoposide+atezolizumab regimen was compared with carboplatin+irinotecan (HRos 0.97, 95% CI 0.68-1.37) and cisplatin+irinotecan regimen (HRos 0.87, 95% CI 0.58-1.31). "Selective carboplatin or cisplatin (CBDCA/CDDP)"+etoposide+durvalumab was compared with CBDCA/CDDP+etoposide (HRos 0.73, 95% CI 0.59-0.91). Platinum+etoposide+durvalumab was compared with platinum+irinotecan (HRos 0.88, 95% CI 0.67-1.15). Cumulative meta-analysis suggested that platinum+irinotecan was associated with better OS than platinum+etoposide as of 2010 through 40 out of 46 trials in our review that used platinum+etoposide as a reference regimen.

CONCLUSION

Patients treated with carboplatin+amrubicin, carboplatin+etoposide+atezolizumab, CBDCA/CDDP+etoposide+durvalumab, and platinum+irinotecan showed better HRos than those treated with platinum+etoposide, one of the standard regimens.

Impact of Amrubicin Monotherapy as Second-Line Chemotherapy on Outcomes in Elderly Patients with Relapsed Extensive-Disease Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose

Amrubicin (AMR) is an anticancer drug for patients with relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, the efficacy of AMR in elderly patients with relapsed SCLC after chemotherapy by carboplatin plus etoposide (CE) has not been sufficiently evaluated.

Patients and Methods

The medical records of patients with relapsed SCLC who received AMR as second-line chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed, and their treatment outcomes were evaluated.

Results

Forty-one patients with a median age of 76 years were analyzed. The overall response rate was 26.8%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3.5 and 8.1 months, respectively. While the median PFS of 4.7 and 2.8 months in the sensitive relapse and the refractory relapse group differed significantly (P=0.043), respectively, the median OS of 10.7 and 6.8 months in the respective relapse groups did not indicate a statistically significant difference (P=0.24). The median PFS in a group with a modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) of 0 and a group with a mGPS 1 or 2 were 4.5 and 1.6 months (P=0.052), respectively, and the median OS in the respective mGPS groups were 10.7 and 4.4 months (P=0.034). Multivariate analysis identified good performance status, limited disease, and mGPS 0 as favorable independent predictors of PFS and OS of AMR monotherapy. Grade 3 or higher neutropenia was observed in 23 patients (56%), and febrile neutropenia was observed in nine patients (22%). Non-hematological toxic effects were relatively mild, and pneumonitis and treatment-related deaths were not observed.

Conclusion

AMR is an effective and feasible regimen for elderly patients with relapsed SCLC after CE therapy.

History of Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) Lung Cancer Study Group

The Japan Clinical Oncology Group Lung Cancer Study Group has been carrying out clinical studies, exploring new strategies of treatment, supportive therapies (antiemetics, etc.), etc., for a variety of cancers, including not only small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer but also rare chest tumours (represented by thymoma) and cancer-associated conditions (cancerous pericarditis, cancerous pleuritis, etc.). In this review, an overview of all studies conducted from 1985 to 2019 is provided.

New insights into small-cell lung cancer development and therapy

Small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for approximately 15% of lung cancer cases; however, it is characterized by easy relapse and low survival rate, leading to one of the most intractable diseases in clinical practice. Despite decades of basic and clinical research, little progress has been made in the management of SCLC. The current standard first‐line regimens of SCLC still remain to be cisplatin or carboplatin combined with etoposide, and the adverse events of chemotherapy are by no means negligible. Besides, the immunotherapy on SCLC is still in an early stage and novel studies are urgently needed. In this review, we describe SCLC development and current therapy, aiming at providing useful advices on basic research and clinical strategy.

Geriatric Research Policy: Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) policy

Due to the rapid aging of Japan’s population, clinical research focusing on older patients with cancer is urgently needed. The Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) has conducted several such clinical trials, but there has been no formal policy for geriatric research. We have therefore established a JCOG policy for geriatric cancer research.

We defined the patient selection policy based on treatment tolerance and chronological age. Older patients are categorized into three conceptual groups: ‘fit patients’ who can undergo the same standard treatment given to younger patients, ‘frail patients’ for whom best supportive or palliative care is indicated and ‘vulnerable patients’ who fall between the fit and frail categories. Unmet needs often exist for vulnerable patients.

The policy recommends that study endpoints include not only survival but also other endpoints such as physical and cognitive function because the objective of therapy in older patients is not only extended life expectancy but also maintenance of the patient’s general condition. In this viewpoint, co-primary or composite endpoints that incorporate geriatric assessment in the study design are often applicable.

Study design will differ depending on the study population, clinical question, and treatment. Even for older patients, a randomized clinical trial is still the gold standard when the clinical question asks which treatment is better. An observational study of a broader population is applicable for investigating actual conditions of older patients.

This JCOG Geriatric Research Policy includes several practical solutions for various issues in geriatric research. We plan to revise this policy periodically to guide future geriatric research.

Comparative Study of the Safety and Efficacy of First-Line Cisplatin and Carboplatin Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients with Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). However, considering elderly patients often experience comorbidities and frailty, the utility of cisplatin-based chemotherapy for elderly patients is still debatable. We conducted this study to compare the safety and efficacy of carboplatin and cisplatin in elderly patients with mUC.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled elderly patients with mUC (defined as aged ≥70 years) who underwent first-line platinum-based chemotherapy between September 2001 and October 2018. The primary endpoints were chemotherapy-related adverse events (AEs), including treatment-related hospitalization or death. The secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 108 elderly patients with mUC were enrolled and allocated into the cisplatin or carboplatin group. Patients treated with carboplatin-based chemotherapy had a significantly higher incidence of all grade ≥3 AEs (78.8 vs. 50.0%, p = 0.008) than those on cisplatin. AE-related hospitalization (47.5 vs. 19.1%, p = 0.002) and treatment-related death (17.5 vs. 4.4%, p = 0.02) were significantly increased in the carboplatin group. In the univariate analysis, the median OS in the cisplatin group was significantly increased compared with the carboplatin group (13.6 vs. 7.2 months, p = 0.045). The Cox multivariate regression model indicated that leukocytosis (HR 3.17, 95% CI 1.84-5.46, p < 0.001) and anemia (HR 2.02, 95% CI 1.11-3.65, p = 0.02) were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients with mUC treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy had better survival and safety profiles than those treated with carboplatin. Age itself was not a crucial factor in determining cisplatin eligibility.

Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Patients with Poor Performance Status

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is highly sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapy. However, its indication in patients with a poor performance status (PS) at initial diagnosis is controversial. We retrospectively reviewed all clinical courses of pathologically diagnosed SCLC patients with poor PS, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS 3 and 4. Among 18 patients, 12 were treated with chemotherapy and 6 with supportive care alone. During the chemotherapy courses, PS improved in 7 (58.3%, including the PS 4 cases), remained stable in 2 (16.7%), and deteriorated in 3 (25%) patients. Moreover, 5 patients showed partial responses to chemotherapy (response rate of 41.7%). Grade 3–4 neutropenia developed in 10 (83.3%) patients and grade 3 febrile neutropenia occurred in 5 (41.7%) patients, but no grade 4 non-hematological toxicity was noted. Mortality associated with lung toxicity (grade 5) due to treatment occurred in a 77-year-old-male patient with PS 3. No substantial difference in survival was observed between patients with PS 3 and 4, even when including those treated with supportive care alone. Treatment had a positive effect on survival: after chemotherapy, the 6-month survival rate of PS 3 and 4 patients was 66.7%. In contrast, all patients treated with supportive care alone died within 5 months. These findings suggest that chemotherapy is indicated in selected SCLC patients not only with PS 3, but also with PS 4.