Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in a Patient with Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report

Absence of Biomarker-Driven Treatment Options in Small Cell Lung Cancer, and Selected Preclinical Candidates for Next Generation Combination Therapies

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for about 15% of all lung cancers. In SCLC, more than other malignancies, the standard of care is based on clinical demonstration of efficacy, and less on a mechanistic understanding of why certain treatments work better than others. This is in large part due to the virulence of the disease, and lack of clinically or biologically relevant biomarkers beyond routine histopathology. While first line therapies work in the majority of patients with extensive stage disease, development of resistance is nearly universal. Although neuroendocrine features, Rb and p53 mutations are common, the current lack of actionable biomarkers has made it difficult to develop more effective treatments. Some progress has been made with the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors. There are new agents, such as lurbinectedin, that have completed late-phase clinical testing while other agents are still in the pre-clinical phase. ONC201/TIC10 is an imipridone with strong in vivo and in vitro antitumor properties and activity against neuroendocrine tumors in phase 1 clinical testing. ONC201 activates the cellular integrated stress response and induces the TRAIL pro-apoptotic pathway. Combination treatment of lurbinectedin with ONC201 are currently being investigated in preclinical studies that may facilitate translation into clinical trials for SCLC patients.

Patient with respiratory distress, facial oedema and refractory hypokalaemia

Small cell lung carcinoma, when associated with co-occurrence of complications such as paraneoplastic syndrome and superior vena cava syndrome, poses a greater management challenge to the clinical team. We report a 56-year-old man who was eventually diagnosed with stage III small cell lung carcinoma, presenting with respiratory distress, facial and upper body oedema, proximal muscle weakness, hypokalaemia, new-onset hypertension and hyperglycaemia. His medical management was complicated by associated superior vena cava syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome leading to refractory hypokalemia, immunosuppression and depression. Although the patient improved clinically and biochemically with the chemotherapy and other treatments, the development of neutropenic pneumonia led to his demise. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to achieve better patient care and the need for good clinical vigilance to identify possible humoral manifestations of aggressive malignancies such as small cell carcinoma of the lung to assist their early detection.

Signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma of unknown primary presenting with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome: rare type of cancer

A 53-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of progressive, non-productive cough followed by occasional swelling of the face and upper extremities. Physical examination on admission revealed prominent superficial vessels at the neck and upper extremity swelling. Bronchoscopy revealed the superior segment of the right lower lobe was narrow but without visible mass; cell block and biopsy done revealed signet-ring cell carcinoma with an immunohistochemistry pattern favouring the primary site of malignancy as either gastric or of the pancreaticobiliary tree. However, CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with triple contrast revealed only slight gastric wall thickening; the pancreas was unremarkable. The patient underwent radiotherapy with noted improvement of symptoms. He was then discharged with plans for further work-up on an outpatient basis. This work highlights the importance of a comprehensive histopathological and immunohistochemical work-up which can help predict a site of origin to be able to provide the appropriate management.

Case report: Management of Progressive Lung Cancer Patients after First-Line EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy

Various tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) drugs have been widely used as therapy for cancer that has EGFR mutations, or abnormal EGFR activation. However, patients who have a mutation in the gene that activates EGFR only benefit from EGFR-TKI therapy for less than one year, because after that resistance occurs. In the management of patients according to NCCN 2017, patients who experience progress after receiving TKI as the first-line therapy must undergo an examination to identify the presence of T790M mutation. If the T790M mutation is positive, the choice of therapy that needs to be provided is the third generation (Osimertinib). Many recent studies have proved the significance of the effectiveness and response of Osimertinib therapy in lung cancer with EGFR T790M mutation. We reported the management of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma patient with positive EGFR mutation who had received first-line EGFR TKI who had progressive disease and T790M mutation in Dr. Seotomo Hospital. The patient finally received Osimertinib through an Early Access Program with a therapeutic response that improved significantly.