Survival and Toxicity After Cisplatin Plus Etoposide Versus Carboplatin Plus Etoposide for Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Elderly Patients

Clinical insights into small cell lung cancer: Tumor heterogeneity, diagnosis, therapy, and future directions

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by rapid growth and high metastatic capacity. It has strong epidemiologic and biologic links to tobacco carcinogens. Although the majority of SCLCs exhibit neuroendocrine features, an important subset of tumors lacks these properties. Genomic profiling of SCLC reveals genetic instability, almost universal inactivation of the tumor suppressor genes TP53 and RB1, and a high mutation burden. Because of early metastasis, only a small fraction of patients are amenable to curative-intent lung resection, and these individuals require adjuvant platinum-etoposide chemotherapy. Therefore, the vast majority of patients are currently being treated with chemoradiation with or without immunotherapy. In patients with disease confined to the chest, standard therapy includes thoracic radiotherapy and concurrent platinum-etoposide chemotherapy. Patients with metastatic (extensive-stage) disease are treated with a combination of platinum-etoposide chemotherapy plus immunotherapy with an anti-programmed death-ligand 1 monoclonal antibody. Although SCLC is initially very responsive to platinum-based chemotherapy, these responses are transient because of the development of drug resistance. In recent years, the authors have witnessed an accelerating pace of biologic insights into the disease, leading to the redefinition of the SCLC classification scheme. This emerging knowledge of SCLC molecular subtypes has the potential to define unique therapeutic vulnerabilities. Synthesizing these new discoveries with the current knowledge of SCLC biology and clinical management may lead to unprecedented advances in SCLC patient care. Here, the authors present an overview of multimodal clinical approaches in SCLC, with a special focus on illuminating how recent advancements in SCLC research could accelerate clinical development.

Canadian Consensus Recommendations on the Management of Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive, neuroendocrine tumour with high relapse rates, and significant morbidity and mortality. Apart from advances in radiation therapy, progress in the systemic treatment of SCLC had been stagnant for over three decades despite multiple attempts to develop alternative therapeutic options that could improve responses and survival. Recent promising developments in first-line and subsequent therapeutic approaches prompted a Canadian Expert Panel to convene to review evidence, discuss practice patterns, and reach a consensus on the treatment of extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). The literature search included guidelines, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials. Regular meetings were held from September 2022 to March 2023 to discuss the available evidence to propose and agree upon specific recommendations. The panel addressed biomarkers and histological features that distinguish SCLC from non-SCLC and other neuroendocrine tumours. Evidence for initial and subsequent systemic therapies was reviewed with consideration for patient performance status, comorbidities, and the involvement and function of other organs. The resulting consensus recommendations herein will help clarify evidence-based management of ES-SCLC in routine practice, help clinician decision-making, and facilitate the best patient outcomes.

Dose Modification of Etoposide plus Platinum in Elderly Patients with Extensive-Disease Small-Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients with extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) have a high risk of chemotherapy toxicity due to multiple comorbidities and poor performance status. Although dose modification is often used to avoid toxicity in elderly patients with ED-SCLC, there is little data on the effect of initial dose-reduced chemotherapy on survival outcomes.

METHODS AND PATIENTS

We retrospectively reviewed 100 elderly patients with ED-SCLC who received first-line etoposide plus platinum chemotherapy between January 2006 and December 2020.

RESULTS

The median age was 74 years. Eighty-nine patients (89%) had a history of smoking, and 38 (38%) had chronic lung disease. Thirty-four patients (34%) received dose-reduced etoposide plus platinum in the first cycle. The dose-reduced group had significantly higher age, lower body mass index, and poor ECOG PS. There were no significant differences in survival outcomes between the dose-reduced and full-dose chemotherapy [median overall survival (OS), 4.9 vs. 6.5 months, p=0.440; median progression free survival (PFS), 3.7 vs. 4.6 months, p=0.272]. In multivariate analyses, dose reduction in the first cycle (hazard ratio 0.519, 95% CI 0.269-1.000, p=0.050) was significantly associated with OS. Following subgroup analysis of 59 patients who received minimum four cycles, no significant differences in survival outcomes between the two groups (median OS, 10.9 vs. 9.4 months, p=0.817; median PFS, 6.3 vs. 6.5 months, p=0.902) was noted.

CONCLUSIONS

The dose-reduced chemotherapy with first-line etoposide plus platinum had non-inferior survival outcomes compared to the full-dose chemotherapy in elderly patients with ED-SCLC.

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.

Curative efficacy might be an early predictor of prognosis in patients with small cell lung cancer treated with 2 cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Platinum-based chemotherapy remains the essential therapy for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Here, we conducted a statistical analysis to explore whether the curative efficacy of 2-cycle platinum-based chemotherapy can predict the survival of patients with SCLC.

METHODS

Fifty-six SCLC patients who had each received 2 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled. The curative efficacy of the chemotherapy was evaluated, mainly by chest computed tomography, and the treatment response was categorized according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. Patients were continuously followed up for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival. The 55 patients were separated into 2 groups by the curative efficacy of the 2-cycle first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software (version 17.0; SPSS, Inc.; Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTS

Patients who responded to 2-cycle chemotherapy (partial response, PR) had significantly better survival than others who did not (stable disease, SD or progressive disease, PD). The median progression-free survival (mPFS) in the PR group was 6.330 months, which was significantly longer than the 2.870 months seen in SD+PD group (95% CI: 4.631-8.029 vs. 0.000-5.790, P=0.022). The median overall survival (mOS) was 10.870 months in the PR group, which was remarkably longer than the 8.970 months observed in the SD+PD group (95% CI: 9.546-12.194 vs. 6.517-11.423, P=0.028). Curative efficacy had no correlation with clinical features.

CONCLUSIONS

The curative efficacy of 2-cycle first-line platinum-based chemotherapy was significantly correlated with PFS and OS, and showed prognostic value in SCLC patients. Patients who were sensitive to chemotherapy had superior survival to those who were chemotherapy insensitive.

Effect of Hospitalization During First Chemotherapy and Performance Status on Small-cell Lung Cancer Outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is highly responsive to chemotherapy (CT) and one of the few malignancies treated in hospitalized patients with poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS). Because of the little current information available on the outcomes experienced by hospitalized patients with SCLC receiving CT, we explored the outcomes for these patients to improve the evidence base for practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate patients with a diagnosis of SCLC and treated with CT during a 10-year period. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated according to site of first CT (inpatient vs. outpatient) and PS. Multivariable analysis was completed to assess for independent survival predictors.

RESULTS

A total of 530 patients with SCLC were treated, with 82 (15%) receiving their first CT in hospital. Inpatients had a greater burden of disease and poorer PS. Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, nephrotoxicity, and fatigue were all experienced less often by the inpatient cohort (P < .001, P < .001, P < .001, and P = .007, respectively). For inpatients and outpatients, the OS rate at 12, 24, and 60 months was 22%, 9%, and 7% and 43%, 20%, and 9%, respectively (P < .001 for all). The median PFS and OS were longer for outpatients and highly functional patients. On multivariable analysis, ECOG PS was an independent predictor of the outcome and the site of first CT was not (P = .04 and P = .49, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Patients with SCLC initially treated as inpatients and those with poor functional status had shorter PFS and OS; however, some experienced long-term survival, including 5-year survival of 7% for the inpatient cohort and 5% for the ECOG PS 3-4 cohort. CT toxicities were less common in the inpatient cohort, validating that administration of CT in hospital should be considered for these patients because they could experience a meaningful long-term response to therapy.

Utilization of Antineoplastic Agents and Medicare Spending in Elderly Patients With Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer Between 2001 and 2013

PURPOSE

Some elderly patients (≥ 65 years old) with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) do not receive chemotherapy likely because of fear of toxicity and uncertainty regarding benefits. Thus, we aimed to study real-world trends in utilization of antineoplastics over the years and predictors of utilization, survival, and Medicare expenditure in elderly patients with extensive-stage (ES) SCLC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using the linked SEER and Medicare database, we identified elderly patients with newly diagnosed ES-SCLC between 2001 and 2013. The Wald test was used to determine the significance of trends. Cox proportional hazards models were applied for survival analyses. We used SAS, version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC).

RESULTS

We identified 15,763 patients with newly diagnosed ES-SCLC. Approximately 6,838 patients (43.38%) received antineoplastics, and 8,925 patients (56.61%) received supportive care only. Every year since 2001, the percentage of patients receiving antineoplastics has decreased (45.8% v 36.6% in 2001 and 2013, respectively; P_trend < .0001). Patients with advanced age (P < .001), patients from high-poverty areas (P < .001) or rural areas (P = .005), patients with Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3 (P < .001), and non-Hispanic blacks (P = .003) and Hispanics (P = .001) were less likely to receive antineoplastics. Mean Medicare spending per patient decreased over the study period for patients treated with antineoplastics ($45,998 in 2001 and $35,053 in 2013; P_trend < .001) and for those receiving supportive care only ($34,197 in 2001 and $25,265 in 2013; P_trend < .001).

CONCLUSION

Decreasing utilization of antineoplastics in elderly patients with ES-SCLC since 2001 could be partly secondary to higher comorbidities and physiologic age, leading to poor candidacy. Medicare expenditures decreased likely as a result of value-based treatment initiatives by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. However, expenditures are likely to increase with use of expensive novel agents.

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.

A one-stop microfluidic-based lung cancer organoid culture platform for testing drug sensitivity

Microfluidic devices as translational research tools provide a potential alternative to animal experiments due to their ability to mimic physiological parameters. Several approaches that can be used to predict the efficacy or toxicity of anticancer drugs are available. In general, standard cell culture systems have the advantages of being relatively cost-effective, having high-throughput capability, and providing convenience. However, these models are inadequate to accurately recapitulate the complex organ-level physiological and pharmacological responses. Here, we present a one-stop microfluidic device enabling both 3-dimensional (3D) lung cancer organoid culturing and drug sensitivity tests directly on a microphysiological system (MPS). Our platform reproducibly yields 3D lung cancer organoids in a size-controllable manner and demonstrates for the first time the production of lung cancer organoids from patients with small-cell lung cancer. Lung cancer organoids derived from primary small-cell lung cancer tumors can rapidly proliferate and exhibit disease-specific characteristics in our MPS. Cisplatin and etoposide, the standard regimen for lung cancer, showed increased apoptosis induction in a concentration-dependent manner, but the organoids contained chemo-resistant cells in the core. We envision that this system may provide important information to guide therapeutic approaches at the preclinical level.

Antitumor effect of kurarinone and underlying mechanism in small cell lung carcinoma cells

Background

Kurarinone, a prenylated flavonone isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens, is known to be cytotoxic against many human cancer cells but not human small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) yet. Also, the exact molecular mechanism of kurarinone for induction cytotoxicity remains unknown.

Material and methods

We investigated the effects of kurarinone on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration in H1688 SCLC cells. Cell viability was determined by the MTT assay. Apoptotic indices such as cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, caspase activity, and death receptors were evaluated by flow cytometry. Transwell migration and invasion assays were also included.

Results

Our results indicated that kurarinone significantly decreased H1688 cell viability and induced the accumulation of sub-G1 fractions by activating caspase-3, -9, and PARP cleavage accompanied by the elevated release of cytochrome c and mitochondrial dysfunction in H1688 cells. Additionally, kurarinone promoted Fas and TRAIL receptor-1 and -2 expression via the caspase-8/Bid pathway, suggesting that kurarinone triggered apoptosis via the mitochondria-mediated and receptor-mediated apoptotic pathways. We also observed that kurarinone repressed migration and invasion capabilities of SCLC cells by suppressing the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins and matrix metalloproteinases.

Conclusion

Our findings provided evidence that kurarinone can induce apoptosis in SCLC cells via multiple mechanisms and delayed the cell migration and invasion of SCLC cells.

Cisplatin or carboplatin? Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio may serve as a useful factor in small cell lung cancer therapy selection

The present study aimed to investigate the significance of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in peripheral blood of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) when selecting a first-line treatment. A total of 73 patients with SCLC who had complete clinical data and sought treatment at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital between January 2014 and May 2016 were included. Data were retrospectively analyzed, utilizing a receiver operating characteristic curve to determine the NLR cut-off value. Out of the 73 patients, 39 were classified as high-NLR (NLR ≥3.80) and 34 as low-NLR (NLR <3.80). Compared with the high-NLR group, patients in the low-NLR group had a longer progression free survival (PFS); however, there was no statistically significant difference in overall survival (OS) time. Patients with a high NLR had a significantly longer PFS (P=0.021) and OS time (P=0.042) when treated with a etoposide/cisplatin (EP) therapy regimen, compared with those treated with etoposide/carboplatin (EC). PFS was the longest in the high-NLR patients with limited stage (LS; P=0.002). Among the patients receiving the EC regimen, the PFS of the low-NLR group was significantly longer compared with the high-NLR group (P=0.003). Patients in the low-NLR group who received thoracic radiotherapy had a longer PFS (P=0.011), when comparing patients in the low-NLR group who did not receive thoracic radiotherapy, and within this group the therapeutic effect of radiation was the greatest in LS patients. Compared with the high-NLR group, the low-NLR group patients who received cranial radiotherapy had a significantly longer PFS (P=0.039). For the initial evaluation of patients with SCLC, pre-treatment NLR may be of significance for selecting first-line chemotherapy agents. As the present study was retrospective and investigated a limited number of patients, further research and prospective studies are warranted.

Hospitalization and Survival of Medicare Patients Treated With Carboplatin Plus Paclitaxel or Pemetrexed for Metastatic, Nonsquamous, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

IMPORTANCE

Chemotherapy is a mainstay treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. However, little is known about the comparative risk of hospitalization associated with commonly used chemotherapy regimens.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the real-world association of specific lung cancer chemotherapy regimens with measures of acute hospital care (primary objective) and survival (secondary objective).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Retrospective, propensity-matched, cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked data for cancer diagnoses between 2008 and 2013, with follow-up through 2014. Patients were Medicare beneficiaries 66 years of age or older receiving initial chemotherapy for treatment of stage IV, nonsquamous, non-small cell lung cancer. Analyses were performed between September 2017 and April 2018.

EXPOSURES

Receipt of chemotherapy with carboplatin-pemetrexed or carboplatin-paclitaxel, with or without concurrent bevacizumab.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was risk of hospitalization within 30 days of chemotherapy initiation. Secondary measures included cumulative 90-day hospitalizations, 90-day mean hospital-free survival time, and overall survival.

RESULTS

Of the 3310 eligible patients, 1823 received carboplatin-pemetrexed, and 1487 received carboplatin-paclitaxel. The median age at diagnosis was 73 years (interquartile range, 69-77 years), 1784 patients (53.9%) were men, and 2909 patients (87.9%) were non-Hispanic white. In total, 2182 patients were included in the propensity-matched analysis. The 30-day hospitalization risk was 20.7% (95% CI, 18.3%-23.1%) among patients receiving carboplatin-pemetrexed vs 26.0% (95% CI, 23.4%-28.6%) among patients receiving carboplatin-paclitaxel (5.3% difference; P = .003). The 90-day cumulative hospitalizations did not differ significantly between the 2 treatment groups; however, the 90-day mean hospital-free survival time was improved for patients receiving carboplatin-pemetrexed (68.4 days [95% CI, 66.5-70.4 days] vs 63.6 days [95% CI, 61.6-65.7 days]; P = .001). The median survival time was 9.0 months (95% CI, 8.4-9.5 months) with carboplatin-pemetrexed therapy vs 7.6 months (95% CI, 7.0-8.4 months) with carboplatin-paclitaxel therapy (P = .005). Stratified analyses showed no association of bevacizumab use with hospitalization risk or survival when combined with either chemotherapy regimen.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The findings from this study suggest that patients receiving carboplatin-pemetrexed compared with those receiving carboplatin-paclitaxel have a lower 30-day hospitalization risk, a greater 90-day hospital-free survival, and improved overall survival. Information about hospitalization risk may provide valuable context for evaluating real-world cancer treatment outcomes.