The impact of rescue or maintenance therapy with EGFR TKIs for Stage IIIb-IV non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer patients requiring mechanical ventilation

[Severe complications of systemic treatment in thoracic oncology]

Primary thoracic cancers affect a large number of patients, mainly those with lung cancer and to a lesser extent those with pleural mesothelioma and thymic tumours. Given their frequency and associated comorbidities, in patients whose mean age is high, these diseases are associated with multiple complications. This article, the last of a series dedicated to emergencies in onco-haematological patients, aims to present a clinical picture of the severe complications (side effects, immune-related adverse events) associated with systemic treatments, excluding infections and respiratory emergencies, with which general practitioners and specialists can be confronted. New toxicities are to be expected with the implementation of innovative therapeutic approaches, such as CAR-T cells, along with immunomodulators and antibody-drug conjugates.

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Improved Survival of Critically Ill EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Mechanical Ventilation

Background: Respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation is the major reason for lung cancer patients being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Though molecular targeted therapies, especially epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), have largely improved the survival of oncogene-driven lung cancer patients, few studies have focused on the performance of TKI in such settings. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study enrolling non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who harbored sensitizing EGFR mutation and had received EGFR-TKIs as first-line cancer therapy in the ICU with mechanical ventilator use. The primary outcome was the 28-day ICU survival rate, and secondary outcomes were the rate of successful weaning from the ventilator and overall survival. Results: A total of 35 patients were included. The 28-day ICU survival rate was 77%, and the median overall survival was 67 days. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that shock status was associated with a lower 28-day ICU survival rate independently (odds ratio (OR) 0.017, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.000–0.629, p = 0.027), and that L858R mutation (L858R compared with exon 19 deletion, OR, 0.014, 95% CI 0.000–0.450, p = 0.016) and comorbidities of diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR, 0.032, 95% CI, 0.000–0.416, p = 0.014)) were independently predictive of weaning failure. The successful weaning rate was 43%, and the median of ventilator-dependent duration was 22 days (IQR, 12–29). Conclusions: For EGFR mutant lung cancer patients suffering from respiratory failure and undergoing mechanical ventilation, TKI may still be useful, especially in those with EGFR del19 mutation or without shock and DM comorbidity.

Etiologies of delayed diagnosis and six-month outcome of patients with newly diagnosed advanced lung cancer with respiratory failure at initial presentation

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of patients with newly diagnosed advanced lung cancer who initially presented with respiratory failure.

Methods

This was a retrospective study which analyzed patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) with newly diagnosed advanced lung cancer who were placed on mechanical ventilation (MV). We defined newly diagnosed lung cancer as pathological or molecular results for treatment decisions not yet determined when the patient was admitted to ICU.

Results

During the 14‐year inclusion period, 845 lung cancer patients requiring MV were screened. A total of 56 newly diagnosed extensive lung cancer patients were analyzed. Cancer‐related to central airway obstruction (n = 29, 51.8%) was the leading cause of respiratory failure. The significant etiologies of delay in the diagnosis of lung cancer were diagnostic error, mistaking cancer for tuberculosis, and missed hilar lesions. The six‐month survival rate was only 7.1% (n = 4). The sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score was significantly associated with mortality (HR = 1.142, 95% CI = 1.012–1.288, P = 0.031). The six‐month survival rate in patients receiving suitable targeted therapy and accepting chemotherapy and best supportive care was 40% (2/5), 0% (0/7), and 4.5% (2/44), respectively.

Conclusions

Patients with newly diagnosed advanced lung cancer with acute life‐threatening respiratory failure have poor outcomes. Cancer‐related to central airway obstruction is a leading cause of respiratory failure. Diagnostic errors such as tuberculosis and missed hilar lesions are the two main etiologies of a delay in diagnosis. The SOFA score is correlated with mortality. Targeted therapy can raise the six‐month survival rates in patients with oncogenic mutation adenocarcinoma, who survive after presentation in a critical condition.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy in the intensive care unit

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of adult patients with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy in the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

This was a retrospective single-center study comparing the outcomes of patients with solid tumors who received chemotherapy in the ICU with a matched cohort of ICU patients (by age, sex, and tumor type) who did not receive chemotherapy. Conditional logistic regression and shared frailty Cox regression were used to assess short-term (ICU and hospital) mortality and death by 12-month post-hospital discharge, respectively.

RESULTS

Seventy-three patients with solid tumors who received chemotherapy in the ICU were successfully matched. The most common solid tumors included thoracic (30%), genitourinary (26%), and breast (16%). The ICU, hospital, and 12-month (post discharge)  mortality rates of patients who recieved chomtherapy in the ICU were 23%, 36%, and 43%, respectively. When compared to the matched cohort of patients who did not receive chemotherapy, patients who received chemotherapy had a significantly longer length of stay in the ICU (median 7 vs. 4 days, p < 0.001) and hospital (median 15 vs. 11 days, p = 0.011) but similar short-term ICU and hospital mortality rates (23% vs. 18% and 36% vs. 38%, respectively). Patients who received chemotherapy in the ICU were at a lower risk of death by 12 months (HR 0.31, p < 0.001) compared to the matched cohort on multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with solid tumors who received chemotherapy had increased ICU and hospital length of stay compared to patients who did not. Although short-term mortality did not differ, patients who received chemotherapy in the ICU had improved long-term survival. Our data can inform critical care triage decisions to include patients who are to receive chemotherapy in the ICU.

Outcomes of cancer therapy administered to treatment-naïve lung cancer patients in the intensive care unit

Objectives: Therapy outcomes for newly diagnosed, critically ill lung cancer patients have seldom been evaluated. This study evaluated therapy outcomes for treatment-naïve lung cancer patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods: Patients were excluded if they had previously received lung cancer treatment, such as systemic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, or surgical lung resection before ICU admission. The therapeutic strategies for the treatment-naïve patients were determined while they were in the ICU. The patients' demographic data, clinical outcomes, and treatment-related toxicities were analyzed. Results: Newly diagnosed lung cancer patients (n = 72) who did not receive any anticancer treatment before ICU admission were included. Most patients had locally advanced disease, and 61 (84.7%) required intensive care due to cancer-related events. In the ICU, 24 (33.3%) patients received chemotherapy, 24 (33.3%) received epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy and 24 (33.3%) received best supportive care (BSC). Patients receiving chemotherapy or EGFR-TKIs in the ICU demonstrated better ICU (p = 0.011) and in-hospital (p = 0.034) survival than those receiving BSC only. Among patients requiring mechanical ventilation, those receiving chemotherapy had higher weaning rates than those receiving EGFR-TKIs or BSC (p = 0.002). In multivariate analysis, receipt of chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.443; p = 0.083) and mechanical ventilation (HR, 0.270; p = 0.022) were significantly associated with longer ICU survival after adjusting for clinical factors. Conclusions: Anticancer therapy in the ICU might provide better short-term ICU survival for treatment-naïve, critically ill lung cancer patients.

[Effectiveness of erlotinib in Critical Care Unit in patients with non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutation]

INTRODUCTION

The search for mutations epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has changed the therapeutic approach and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) has been demonstrated orally in patients with EGFR mutation. We report the case of a patient for whom treatment with TKI was started effectively in a Critical Care Unit.

OBSERVATION

A patient of 59 years is followed for a stage IV lung adenocarcinoma with metastases in liver, brain, adrenal, lung and pleura. After a first course of chemotherapy (cisplatin-gemcitabine), the patient presents a multi-factorial acute respiratory distress. Due to an EGFR mutation, transfer to intensive care is decided then orotracheal intubation with mechanical ventilation. It is decided to initiate treatment with erlotinib via nasogastric tube. The evolution will be marked by a tumor response leading to a favorable issue.

CONCLUSIONS

This case shows the value of initiate TKI despite hospitalization in Intensive Care Unit and highlights the question of the transfer in ICU patients with EGFR mutation.

Critical care of patients with cancer

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE The increasing prevalence of patients living with cancer in conjunction with the rapid progress in cancer therapy will lead to a growing number of patients with cancer who will require intensive care treatment. Fortunately, the development of more effective oncologic therapies, advances in critical care, and improvements in patient selection have led to an increased survival of critically ill patients with cancer. As a consequence, critical care has become an important cornerstone in the continuum of modern cancer care. Although, in many aspects, critical care for patients with cancer does not differ from intensive care for other seriously ill patients, there are several challenging issues that are unique to this patient population and require special knowledge and skills. The optimal management of critically ill patients with cancer necessitates expertise in oncology, critical care, and palliative medicine. Cancer specialists therefore have to be familiar with key principles of intensive care for critically ill patients with cancer. This review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art in the individualized management of critically ill patients with cancer. CA Cancer J Clin 2016;66:496-517. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Lazarus response to treatment of patients with lung cancer and oncogenic mutations in the intensive care unit

Novel targeted therapy for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and oncogenic mutations along with poor performance status (PS) sometimes evokes a "Lazarus" response. Moreover, for critically ill patients with NSCLC and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) in the intensive care unit (ICU), only a few case reports have demonstrated positive outcomes with targeted therapy. This perspective review describes in detail the most recently published data in order to highlight the findings and the main pitfalls of targeted therapy for patients with NSCLC in the ICU.