Impact of Third‐Generation Drugs on the Activity of First‐Line Chemotherapy in Advanced Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta‐Analytical Approach

Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody plus chemotherapy for treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The use of standard cytotoxic chemotherapy seems to have reached a "treatment plateau". The application of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is a new strategy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy. We aimed to comprehensively assess the efficacy and safety of anti-EGFR-mAbs plus chemotherapy as first-line therapy for advanced NSCLC.

METHODS

According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, we conducted a comprehensive literature search of electronic databases. From the included trials, information on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events (AEs) was extracted.

RESULTS

The research showed that compared with chemotherapy alone, anti-EGFR-mAb plus chemotherapy combinations significantly improved OS (HR = 0.88, 95%CI: 0.83-0.94, P < .0001), PFS (HR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.83-0.95, P = 0.0004) and ORR (OR = 1.39, 95%CI: 1.13-1.69, P = .001). Meta subgroup analyses manifested that the OS of patients with squamous NSCLC treated with anti-EGFR-mAb plus chemotherapy combinations was notably better than that of patients with non-squamous NSCLC treated with the same combinations (HR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.73-0.92, P = .0005). Compared with the chemotherapy group, combination of chemotherapy and anti-EGFR mAb showed increase in incidences of severe AEs (> = grade 3) that mainly include, leukopenia (OR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.28-1.82, P < .00001), febrile neutropenia (OR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.06-1.71, P = .02), hypomagnesemia (OR = 5.68, 95%CI: 3.54-9.10, P < .00001), acneiform rash (OR = 35.88, 95%CI: 17.37-74.10, P < .00001), fatigue (OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.02-1.49, P = .03), diarrhea (OR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.16-2.47, P = .006), and infusion-related reactions (OR = 3.78, 95%CI: 1.93-7.41, P = .0001).

CONCLUSION

Adding an anti-EGFR-mAb to the standard platinum-based chemotherapy regimens used for the first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC resulted in statistically notable improvements in OS, PFS, and ORR. In particular, anti-EGFR-mAb and chemotherapy combinations achieved greater survival benefits in patients with squamous NSCLC than in those with non-squamous NSCLC. In addition, the safety profile of chemotherapy plus anti-EGFR-mAb combinations was acceptable compared to that of chemotherapy alone.

Pemetrexed-based first-line chemotherapy had particularly prominent objective response rate for advanced NSCLC: A network meta-analysis

Objective

The aim of the present work was to investigate the clinical efficacy of first-line chemotherapy regimens in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through a comprehensive network meta-analysis (NMA).

Methods

The prospective randomized controlled clinical trials relevant to 10 first-line chemotherapy regimens in the treatment of advanced NSCLC were systematic electronic search in the databases of Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library and CNKI. The combined direct or indirect objective response rate (ORR) between each of the 10 first-line chemotherapy regimens was calculated.

Results

Seventeen prospective clinical trials of first-line chemotherapy regimens in treatment of advanced NSCLC were included in the NMA. The 10 treatment regimens including A = cisplatin + gemcitabine, B = carboplatin + gemcitabine, C = gemcitabine, D = carboplatin + paclitaxel, E = paclitaxel + gemcitabine, F = docetaxel + carboplatin, G = gemcitabine + vinorelbine, H = pemetrexed + carboplatin, I = cisplatin + pemetrexed and J = cisplatin + docetaxel were compared in the present NMA. Direct pooled results indicated that the ORR was not statistically different (P_all > 0.05). However, NMA showed that the combined ORR for regimens A (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 0.80–2.81), B (OR = 3.22, 95% CI: 1.45–6.923), D (OR = 3.30, 95% CI: 1.22–9.33), E (OR = 4.36, 95% CI: 1.64–12.82), G (OR = 3.72, 95% CI: 1.12–12.83) and I (OR = 5.80, 95% CI: 2.04–17.86) was superior to regimen C. Rank probability analysis indicated that regimen C = gemcitabine and regimen I = cisplatin + pemetrexed had the highest probability of inferior and superior treatment ORR among the 10 first-line chemotherapy regimens.

Conclusion

Cisplatin + pemetrexed may have particularly prominent ORR for advanced NSCLC as the first-line chemotherapy regimen.

Vinorelbine in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Real-World Data From a Single-Institution Experience

The use of vinorelbine as a single agent or in combination regimens in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with satisfactory clinical activity. However, the role of vinorelbine-based chemotherapy in chemonaive locally advanced unresectable or metastatic NSCLC patients, according to real-world treatment patterns, has still not been widely explored. Eighty-one patients treated at a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-seven received standard first-line single-agent vinorelbine, and 44 received vinorelbine plus platinum drugs, based on physician’s choice; 61.7% were older than 70 years, and 60.5% were affected by ≥2 comorbidities. Sixty-three patients were evaluable for objective response: 22% achieved partial response and 41% stable disease. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.4 months. A benefit in PFS was observed in patients treated with combinations vs. single-agent vinorelbine (6.7 vs. 3.5 months, p = 0.043). Median overall survival (OS) was 10.4 months without a statistically significant difference between treatments (12.4 vs. 7.5 months). In 55 stage IV patients, OS was positively correlated with combination regimens, M1a stage, or ≤2 metastatic lesions. Grade 3–4 toxicity occurred in 33% of patients, and dose reduction in 11%. A statistically significant higher incidence of toxicity was observed in patients receiving combinations, in women, in patients younger than 75 years, or patients with metastases. In this real-word analysis, we confirmed the efficacy and tolerability of vinorelbine as a single agent or combined with platinums in patients usually underrepresented in controlled clinical trials. Single-agent vinorelbine may represent a suitable option in elderly or unfit NSCLC patients and warrants investigation as a potential drug candidate for immunochemotherapy combination regimens.

Treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: The 2019 AIOM (Italian Association of Medical Oncology) clinical practice guidelines

The Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) has developed clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the current paper a panel of AIOM experts in the field of thoracic malignancies discussed the available scientific evidences, with the final aim of providing a summary of clinical recommendations, which may guide physicians in their current practice.

Pan-Asian adapted Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: a CSCO-ESMO initiative endorsed by JSMO, KSMO, MOS, SSO and TOS

The most recent version of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was published in 2016. At the ESMO Asia Meeting in November 2017 it was decided by both ESMO and the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) to convene a special guidelines meeting immediately after the Chinese Thoracic Oncology Group Annual Meeting 2018, in Guangzhou, China. The aim was to adapt the ESMO 2016 guidelines to take into account the ethnic differences associated with the treatment of metastatic NSCLC cancer in Asian patients. These guidelines represent the consensus opinions reached by experts in the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC representing the oncological societies of China (CSCO), Japan (JSMO), Korea (KSMO), Malaysia (MOS), Singapore (SSO) and Taiwan (TOS). The voting was based on scientific evidence, and was independent of both the current treatment practices and the drug availability and reimbursement situations in the six participating Asian countries. During the review process, the updated ESMO 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for metastatic NSCLC were released and were also considered, during the final stages of the development of the Pan-Asian adapted Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Targeting Neovasculature with Multitargeted Antiangiogenesis Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Chemotherapy has reached a plateau in the efforts for survival improvement in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The growing knowledge of NSCLC molecular pathobiology has led to the development of new treatments that target specific tumor functions. Angiogenesis is a tumor function leading to the formation of new tumor vessels that are crucial for its survival. Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a primary role in angiogenesis, the inhibition of the VEGF pathway with VEGF-receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is associated with a modest survival benefit due to the development of resistance by the tumor that has been mainly attributed to the up-regulation of other stimulators of angiogenesis. Thus, the use of multitargeted antiangiogenesis TKIs (MATKIs) for simultaneous inhibition of multiple angiogenic pathways has been proposed. This review summarizes data about novel treatment strategies incorporating the inhibition of angiogenesis with MATKIs in NSCLC. The data from all relevant studies shows that MATKIs do not offer additional survival benefit to currently available chemotherapeutic options in unselected NSCLC patients. However, the diversity in disease response to MATKI-containing regimens implies that specific patient subgroups may benefit from or be harmed by these agents. In this context, most studies agree that the VEGFR-targeting MATKIs are harmful in squamous NSCLC while specific MATKIs (i.e., motesanib, vandetanib and nintedanib) are associated with improved progression free survival in non-squamous NSCLC. However, overall survival benefit was found only in adenocarcinoma and Asian non-squamous NSCLC patients with the use of nintedanib and motesanib, respectively.

The efficacy and safety of platinum plus gemcitabine (PG) chemotherapy with or without molecular targeted agent (MTA) in first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

BACKGROUND

Trials investigating the efficacy and safety of combining molecular targeted agent (MTA) with platinum-gemcitabine (PG) in first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have shown inconsistent findings. This meta-analysis aimed to explore whether the addition of MTAs to PG in NSCLC could provide a survival benefit with a tolerable toxicity.

METHODS

Web of knowledge, PubMed, Ovid, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant studies and extract data on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and common grade 3 or 4 adverse events. Subgroup analyses were conducted on the basis of race and the type of MTA.

RESULTS

Twelve trials with a total of 6143 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with PG chemotherapy, combination therapy of MTA with PG did not improve OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.90-1.01) but improved PFS (HR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.66-0.89) and ORR (risk ratio [RR] = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.11-1.60). Subanalysis indicated that there was more incidence of grade 3 or 4 rash (RR = 11.20, 95% CI = 6.07-20.68), anemia (RR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01-1.46), diarrhea (RR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.21-5.65), and anorexia (RR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.12-3.88) in combining epidermal growth factor receptor targeted therapy group compared to PG group. An increased risk of grade 3 or 4 rash (RR = 5.08, 95% CI = 1.53-16.79), thrombocytopenia (RR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.03-2.18), and hypertension (RR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.05-5.32) was observed in sorafenib combination group.

CONCLUSION

The combination of PG plus MTA was superior to PG alone in terms of PFS and ORR but not in OS. The combination chemotherapy also showed a higher frequency of grade 3 or higher toxic effects in patients with advanced NSCLC than PG chemotherapy.

Short-term effect analysis of radiofrequency ablation combined chemotherapy on middle and late period non-small cell lung cancer

In this study, we investigated the effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined chemotherapy on middle and late period non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In total, 85 cases of middle and late period NSCLC patients were selected, and were randomly divided into the RFA combined chemotherapy group, RFA treatment group and chemotherapy group. After treatment, the three groups were followed up for computed tomography (CT) scan, and were analyzed for the effect of RFA combined chemotherapy on middle and late period NSCLC. It was found that CT value of RFA combined chemotherapy group decreased significantly compared to before surgery (P<0.05). The CT value of the RFA group decreased significantly compared to before surgery (P<0.05). The CT value of chemotherapy group was not significantly changed compared to before surgery (P>0.05). The postoperative CT value of the RFA combined chemotherapy group and RFA group was smaller compared to that of the chemotherapy group (P<0.05). Effective rate [complete response (CR) + partial response (PR)] of RFA combined chemotherapy group was significantly higher than that of the EFA and chemotherapy groups (P<0.05). Effective rate (CR+PR) of the RFA group was significantly higher than that of the chemotherapy group (P<0.05). By contrast, the progressive rate (P) of RFA combined chemotherapy group was significantly lower than that of the RFA and chemotherapy groups (P<0.05). In conclusion, RFA combined chemotherapy has obvious effect on middle and late period NSCLC, and is safe and feasible.

A phase Ia/Ib clinical trial of metronomic chemotherapy based on a mathematical model of oral vinorelbine in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma: rationale and study protocol

Background

Metronomic oral vinorelbine is effective in metastatic NSCLC and malignant pleural mesothelioma, but all the studies published thus far were based upon a variety of empirical and possibly suboptimal schedules, with inconsistent results. Mathematical modelling showed by simulation that a new metronomic protocol could lead to a better safety and efficacy profile.

Design

This phase Ia/Ib trial was designed to confirm safety (phase Ia) and evaluate efficacy (phase Ib) of a new metronomic oral vinorelbine schedule. Patients with metastatic NSCLC or malignant pleural mesothelioma in whom standard treatments failed and who exhibited ECOG performance status 0–2 and adequate organ function will be eligible. Our mathematical PK-PD model suggested an alternative weekly D1, D2 and D4 schedule (named Vinorelbine Theoretical Protocol) with a respective dose of 60, 30 and 60 mg. Trial recruitment will be two-staged, as 12 patients are planned to participate in phase Ia to confirm safety and consolidate the calibration of the model parameters. Depending on the phase Ia results and after a favourable decision from a consultative committee, the extension phase (phase Ib) will be an efficacy study including 20 patients who will receive the Optimal Vinorelbine Theoretical Protocol. The primary endpoint is the tolerance (assessed by CTC v4.0) for the phase Ia and the objective response according to RECIST 1.1 for phase Ib.

An ancillary study on circulating angiogenesis biomarkers will be a subproject of the trial.

Discussion

This ongoing trial is the first to prospectively test a mathematically optimized schedule in metronomic chemotherapy. As such, this trial can be considered as a proof-of-concept study demonstrating the feasibility to run a computational-driven protocol to ensure an optimal efficacy/toxicity balance in patients with cancer.

Trial registration

EudraCT N°: 2015-000138-31

Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells for the immunotherapy of patients with EGFR-expressing advanced relapsed/refractory non-small cell lung cancer

The successes achieved by chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cells in hematological malignancies raised the possibility of their use in non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). In this phase I clinical study (NCT01869166), patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive (>50% expression), relapsed/refractory NSCLC received escalating doses of EGFR-targeted CAR-T cell infusions. The EGFR-targeted CAR-T cells were generated from peripheral blood after a 10 to 13-day in vitro expansion. Serum cytokines in peripheral blood and copy numbers of CAR-EGFR transgene in peripheral blood and in tissue biopsy were monitored periodically. Clinical responses were evaluated with RECIST1.1 and immune- related response criteria, and adverse events were graded with CTCAE 4.0. The EGFR-targeted CAR-T cell infusions were well-tolerated without severe toxicity. Of 11 evaluable patients, two patients obtained partial response and five had stable disease for two to eight months. The median dose of transfused CAR(+) T cells was 0.97×10(7) cells kg(-1) (interquartile range (IQR), 0.45 to 1.09×10(7) cells kg(-1)). Pathological eradication of EGFR positive tumor cells after EGFR-targeted CAR-T cell treatment can be observed in tumor biopsies, along with the CAR-EGFR gene detected in tumor-infiltrating T cells in all four biopsied patients. The EGFR-targeted CAR-T cell therapy is safe and feasible for EGFR-positive advanced relapsed/refractory NSCLC.

[Sequential Treatment of Advanced Squamous Lung Cancer: First-line Gemcitabine +/- platinum Followed by Second-line Taxanes +/- platinum Versus Reverse Sequence]

背景与目的

吉西他滨和紫杉类药物是晚期肺鳞癌常用的化疗药物，但二者在一、二线治疗中的最佳顺序尚未明确，本研究旨在分析吉西他滨单药/或联合铂类同紫杉类药物单药/或联合铂类在一、二线治疗中不同化疗顺序的疗效及毒副作用。

方法

回顾性分析了105例Ⅲb期-Ⅳ期肺鳞癌患者，49例为一线予吉西他滨单药/或联合铂类，进展后二线予紫杉类单药/或联合铂类治疗（G-T组）；56例为一线予紫杉类单药/或联合铂类，进展后二线予吉西他滨单药/或联合铂类治疗（T-G组）。主要研究终点为总生存（overall survival, OS），次要研究终点为无进展生存期（progression-free survival, PFS）、客观缓解率（objective response rate, ORR）、疾病控制率（disease control rate, DCR）及不良反应。

结果

① G-T组与T-G组中位OS分别为为18.5个月和19.0个月（P=0.520）。②G-T组与T-G组一线化疗中位PFS1分别为5.0个月和4.0个月（P=0.584）；两组二线化疗中位PFS2为2.5个月和2.7个月（P=0.432）。③G-T组与T-G组一线化疗ORR1分别为36.73%和33.92%（P=0.577），DCR1分别为79.59%和89.29%（P=0.186）；二线化疗ORR2分别为4.08%和5.36%（P=0.085），DCR2分别为51.02%和66.07%（P=0.118）。④G-T组与T-G组毒副作用相似，但G-T组更易出现Ⅲ级-Ⅳ级红细胞减低（P=0.027）和血小板减低（P=0.002）。

结论

一线吉西他滨单药/或联合铂类序贯二线紫杉类单药/或联合铂类与一线紫杉类单药/或联合铂类序贯二线吉西他滨单药/或联合铂类疗效相当，不良反应可耐受，两种序贯模式均对初治晚期肺鳞癌患者有效。

Trial watch - inhibiting PARP enzymes for anticancer therapy

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) are a members of family of enzymes that catalyze poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) and/or mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation (MARylation), two post-translational protein modifications involved in crucial cellular processes including (but not limited to) the DNA damage response (DDR). PARP1, the most abundant family member, is a nuclear protein that is activated upon sensing distinct types of DNA damage and contributes to their resolution by PARylating multiple DDR players. Recent evidence suggests that, along with DDR, activated PARP1 mediates a series of prosurvival and proapoptotic processes aimed at preserving genomic stability. Despite this potential oncosuppressive role, upregulation and/or overactivation of PARP1 or other PARP enzymes has been reported in a variety of human neoplasms. Over the last few decades, several pharmacologic inhibitors of PARP1 and PARP2 have been assessed in preclinical and clinical studies showing potent antineoplastic activity, particularly against homologous recombination (HR)-deficient ovarian and breast cancers. In this Trial Watch, we describe the impact of PARP enzymes and PARylation in cancer, discuss the mechanism of cancer cell killing by PARP1 inactivation, and summarize the results of recent clinical studies aimed at evaluating the safety and therapeutic profile of PARP inhibitors in cancer patients.

Expression of fucosyltransferase 8 is associated with an unfavorable clinical outcome in non-small cell lung cancers

Objecitive: Fucosyltransferase 8 (FUT8), the only enzyme responsible for the core α1,6-fucosylation of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins, is a vital enzyme in cancer development and progression. We examined FUT8 expression in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) to analyze its clinical significance. We also examined the expression of guanosine diphosphate-mannose-4,6-dehydratase (GMD), which is imperative for the synthesis of fucosylated oligosaccharides.

METHODS

Using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated the expression of FUT8 and GMD in relation to patient survival and prognosis in potentially curatively resected NSCLCs.

RESULTS

High expression of FUT8 was found in 67 of 129 NSCLCs (51.9%) and was significantly found in non-squamous cell carcinomas (p = 0.008). High expression of FUT8 was associated with poor survival (p = 0.03) and was also a significant and independent unfavorable prognostic factor in patients with potentially curatively resected NSCLCs (p = 0.047). High expression of GMD was significantly associated with high FUT8 expression (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

High expression of FUT8 is associated with an unfavorable clinical outcome in patients with potentially curatively resected NSCLCs, suggesting that FUT8 can be a prognostic factor. The analysis of FUT8 expression and its core fucosylated products may provide new insights for the therapeutic targets of NSCLCs.

Oral vinorelbine in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

Originally formulated as an intravenous (i.v.) agent, vinorelbine is also currently available as an oral chemotherapeutic agent. Oral vinorelbine has demonstrated significant activity in different settings for NSCLC, including adjuvant treatment for resected disease, concurrent chemoradiation for locally advanced NSCLC and palliative chemotherapy for recurrent/metastatic NSCLC, as part of combination schedules or as a single-agent treatment.

AREAS COVERED

The authors explored the available data describing the use of oral vinorelbine in NSCLC. PubMed articles and abstracts presented at international conferences were analysed, and relevant trials were reported and discussed. Specific settings, including the treatment of elderly and unfit patients and metronomic schedules including oral vinorelbine, were evaluated. Available pharmacoeconomic data were also assessed.

EXPERT OPINION

Oral vinorelbine is an appealing agent, particularly as part of combination regimens containing platinum derivatives, although it can have a role as a single-agent treatment as well. Its safety profile is generally favourable and its route of administration is generally preferred by patients receiving chemotherapy. Compared to i.v. vinorelbine and other antineoplastic agents, oral vinorelbine has been reported to be advantageous in terms of cost savings.

Palliative chemotherapy in carcinoma penis: Does platinum and taxane combination holds a promise?

Aim:

To report safety and efficacy of chemotherapy incorporating the combination of paclitaxel and platinum in patients with advanced penile carcinoma.

Materials and Methods:

Retrospective analysis of patient with advanced penile carcinoma undergoing palliative chemotherapy with paclitaxel and platinum combination. The demographic profile, indication of treatment, chemotherapy details, toxicity and survival outcome were noted. Statistical analysis was done for estimation of progression free survival and overall survival. Factors affecting these outcomes were sought for.

Results:

Eighteen patients with a median age of 47.5 years (31-68 years) were offered palliative intent chemotherapy over a period of 2.5 years. ECOG performance was 1 in 12 patients (66.7%) and 2 in 6 patients (33.3%). The grade of tumor was poorly differentiated in 8 patients (44.4%), moderately differentiated in 5 (27.8%) and we1l differentiated in 5 patients (27.8%). Twelve patients had previous surgical treatment (66.7%), with 2 of them having received groin radiation in past. The indication for treatment was metastatic disease in 7 patients (38.9%) and locally advanced disease in 11 patients (61.1%). Out of 18 patients 13 received chemotherapy. Paclitaxel and carboplatin combination was given in 10 patients (76.9%) while paclitaxel and cisplatin was received by 3 patients (23.1%). The median numbers of cycles received were 3 (1-6 cycles). Response rate was 30.8%. The median estimated progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for patients receiving atleast one cycle of chemotherapy (n = 13) were 96 days and 246 days respectively. Among tested variables the median OS in patients who had received 2 or more cycles was 351 days versus 55 days in those who received less than 2 cycles (P = 0.025). However, after applying Bonferroni correction, the difference was no longer significant. There was no toxicity related death or life threatening complication.

Conclusion:

Our institutional protocol of platinum-based doublet with paclitaxel is effective, well-tolerated and has the advantage being delivered on an outpatient basis alone. Overall, we believe that paclitaxel-platinum is an effective regimen that needs to be investigated further in larger studies.

Network meta-analysis of erlotinib, gefitinib, afatinib and icotinib in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer harboring EGFR mutations

Background

Several EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) including erlotinib, gefitinib, afatinib and icotinib are currently available as treatment for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who harbor EGFR mutations. However, no head to head trials between these TKIs in mutated populations have been reported, which provides room for indirect and integrated comparisons.

Methods

We searched electronic databases for eligible literatures. Pooled data on objective response rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) were calculated. Appropriate networks for different outcomes were established to incorporate all evidences. Multiple-treatments comparisons (MTCs) based on Bayesian network integrated the efficacy and specific toxicities of all included treatments.

Results

Twelve phase III RCTs that investigated EGFR-TKIs involving 1821 participants with EGFR mutation were included. For mutant patients, the weighted pooled ORR and 1-year PFS of EGFR-TKIs were significant superior to that of standard chemotherapy (ORR: 66.6% vs. 30.9%, OR 5.46, 95%CI 3.59 to 8.30, P<0.00001; 1-year PFS: 42.9% vs. 9.7%, OR 7.83, 95%CI 4.50 to 13.61; P<0.00001) through direct meta-analysis. In the network meta-analyses, no statistically significant differences in efficacy were found between these four TKIs with respect to all outcome measures. Trend analyses of rank probabilities revealed that the cumulative probabilities of being the most efficacious treatments were (ORR, 1-year PFS, 1-year OS, 2-year OS): erlotinib (51%, 38%, 14%, 19%), gefitinib (1%, 6%, 5%, 16%), afatinib (29%, 27%, 30%, 27%) and icotinib (19%, 29%, NA, NA), respectively. However, afatinib and erlotinib showed significant severer rash and diarrhea compared with gefitinib and icotinib.

Conclusions

The current study indicated that erlotinib, gefitinib, afatinib and icotinib shared equivalent efficacy but presented different efficacy-toxicity pattern for EGFR-mutated patients. Erlotinib and afatinib revealed potentially better efficacy but significant higher toxicities compared with gefitinib and icotinib.

Extending survival of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer

Most of patients with newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present with locally advanced or metastatic disease. In this setting the goal of treatment is to prolong survival and to control disease- and treatment-related symptoms. Currently systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the first-line treatment for most patients with stage IV NSCLC, but preferred treatments are now defined by histology and based on the presence of specific molecular abnormalities. In first-line the combination of platinum plus pemetrexed with or without bevacizumab is a reasonable choice in patients with non-squamous NSCLC. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first-line therapy are the recommended for patients with EGFR-sensitizing mutations. A small-molecule TKI of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), crizotinib, showed pronounced clinical activity in the treatment of patients with NSCLC positive for EML4-ALK and it has rapidly entered into daily clinical practice. Currently no agents are specifically approved for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Second-line treatments include docetaxel, pemetrexed, or erlotinib as single agents. There is a growing evidence that cytotoxics are better than EGFR-TKIs in EGFR wild-type patients. In the setting of the third line, the only approved agent is erlotinib. In elderly patients with good performance status (PS), doublet chemotherapy including platinum should not be excluded, especially for those patients 70-75 years of age without comorbidities. The better selection of patients, the identification of specific predictive biomarkers, a reasonable sequencing of all active and available treatments, including targeted therapies and cytotoxic, may significantly contribute to extend the natural history of stage IV NSCLC.

Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized trials of chemotherapy plus cetuximab as first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

Four randomized phase II/III trials investigated the addition of cetuximab to platinum-based, first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A meta-analysis was performed to examine the benefit/risk ratio for the addition of cetuximab to chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The meta-analysis included individual patient efficacy data from 2018 patients and individual patient safety data from 1970 patients comprising respectively the combined intention-to-treat and safety populations of the four trials. The effect of adding cetuximab to chemotherapy was measured by hazard ratios (HRs) obtained using a Cox proportional hazards model and odds ratios calculated by logistic regression. Survival rates at 1 year were calculated. All applied models were stratified by trial. Tests on heterogeneity of treatment effects across the trials and sensitivity analyses were performed for all endpoints.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis demonstrated that the addition of cetuximab to chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival (HR 0.88, p=0.009, median 10.3 vs 9.4 months), progression-free survival (HR 0.90, p=0.045, median 4.7 vs 4.5 months) and response (odds ratio 1.46, p<0.001, overall response rate 32.2% vs 24.4%) compared with chemotherapy alone. The safety profile of chemotherapy plus cetuximab in the meta-analysis population was confirmed as manageable. Neither trials nor patient subgroups defined by key baseline characteristics showed significant heterogeneity for any endpoint.

CONCLUSION

The addition of cetuximab to platinum-based, first-line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC significantly improved outcome for all efficacy endpoints with an acceptable safety profile, indicating a favorable benefit/risk ratio.

Tumor cell expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 is an adverse prognostic factor in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

A robust immunohistochemical (IHC) assay for VEGFR2 was developed to investigate its utility for patient tailoring in clinical trials. The sensitivity, specificity, and selectivity of the IHC assay were established by siRNA knockdown, immunoblotting, mass spectrometry, and pre-absorption experiments. Characterization of the assay included screening a panel of multiple human cancer tissues and an independent cohort of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC, n = 118) characterized by TTF-1, p63, CK5/6, and CK7 IHC. VEGFR2 immunoreactivity was interpreted qualitatively (VEGFR2 positive/negative) in blood vessels and by semi-quantitative evaluation using H-scores in tumor cells (0-300). Associations were determined among combinations of VEGFR2 expression in blood vessels and tumor cells, and clinico-pathologic characteristics (age, sex, race, histologic subtype, disease stage) and overall survival using Kaplan-Meier analyses and appropriate statistical models. VEGFR2 expression both in blood vessels and in tumor cells in carcinomas of the lung, cervix, larynx, breast, and others was demonstrated. In the validation cohort, 99/118 (83.9%) NSCLC tissues expressed VEGFR2 in the blood vessels and 46/118 (39.0%) showed high tumor cell positivity (H-score ≥10). Vascular and tumor cell expression were inversely correlated (p = 0.0175). High tumor cell expression of VEGFR2 was associated with a 3.7-fold reduction in median overall survival in lung squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC, n = 25, p = 0.0134). The inverse correlation between vascular and tumor cell expression of VEGFR2 and the adverse prognosis associated with high VEGFR2 expression in immunohistochemically characterized pulmonary SCC are new findings with potential therapeutic implications. The robustness of this novel IHC assay will support further evaluation of its utility for patient tailoring in clinical trials of antiangiogenic agents.

Efficacy of third-generation chemotherapeutic agents combined with cisplatin or carboplatin in 3100 Chinese patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Recently, differences in tumor biology have been observed between Asian and Caucasian lung cancer patients, resulting in different sensitivities to targeted therapy. To date, all registered third-generation chemotherapeutic agents have been investigated mainly in Caucasians, but little is known whether this data can be transferred to an Asian population. The aim of this study was to provide evidence about the efficacy of chemotherapy in a Chinese population.

METHODS

Three thousand one hundred patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer NSCLC, treated between 2002 and 2009 with a platinum-based doublet first-line chemotherapy, including vinorelbine, gemcitabine, docetaxel or paclitaxel, were included for retrospective survival analysis.

RESULTS

Overall survival (OS) was 12.1 months and progression free survival (PFS) was four months for all patients. No advantage in OS was seen for any of the four compounds. Gemcitabine was associated with a better PFS compared to the other three (P < 0.001). Docetaxel led to higher response rates, but this finding didn't reach statistical significance (P = 0,054). Chinese patients appear to have longer survival times compared to historical data in Caucasians.

CONCLUSION

Our retrospective analysis suggests, that there is no difference in efficacy of third-generation chemotherapy between Asians and Caucasians.

Thymidylate synthase and ERCC1 as predictive markers in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma treated with pemetrexed and cisplatin

Increased expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) is thought to be associated with resistance to antifolate drugs such as pemetrexed. Excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) is a predictive marker for platinum-based chemotherapy. This study evaluated whether the expression of TS and ERCC1 proteins is associated with clinical outcomes of the patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma who were treated with pemetrexed/cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy. The expressions of TS and ERCC1 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in biopsy specimens obtained from patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma who had received pemetrexed/cisplatin as first-line treatment. Patients were categorized according to median H-score. Response rate (RR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed retrospectively. Both low TS and ERCC1 expressions were significantly associated with better RR (p = 0.037 and p = 0.015, respectively) and longer PFS (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). Low ERCC1 expression was also associated with longer OS (p = 0.003) while TS only showed a trend (p = 0.105). TS expression was independent predictor for the better PFS in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.14-0.76). Combining the two markers, the low TS/low ERCC1 group showed significantly longer PFS (HR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.26-0.75) and OS (HR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.36-0.89) compared with high TS/high ERCC1 group. Protein expressions of TS and ERCC1 were associated with clinical outcomes in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma who were treated with pemetrexed/cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy. TS and ERCC1 protein expressions can be potential predictive markers in this setting.

Improving Outcomes in Advanced Lung Cancer: Maintenance therapy in non-small-cell lung carcinoma

Systemic chemotherapy has remained the traditional treatment for metastatic non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), enhancing survival rate at 1 year to 29%. The median survival had plateaued at around 10 months until early 2008, and in an attempt to enhance survival in advanced disease, maintenance chemotherapy trials were initiated which had recently demonstrated prolongation of survival by an additional 2-3 months in patients who had performance status (PS) 0-1 and well-preserved organ functions. Suitable patients with any degree of clinical benefit are treated with 4-6 cycles, and then one of the active agents is continued until best response, or toxicity (continued maintenance), or changed to a cross non-resistant single agent (switch maintenance). The article briefly reviews the evolution of systemic therapy and describes key randomised trials of maintenance therapy instituting chemotherapy and targeted agents in an attempt to improve outcomes in advanced metastatic NSCLC, based on certain clinical features, histology, and genetics.

Thymidylate synthase protein expression by IHC and gene copy number by SISH correlate and show great variability in non-small cell lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

Increased expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) is thought to be associated with resistance to TS-targeting drugs, e.g., pemetrexed.

METHODS

TS protein expression (PE) and gene copy number (GCN) were assayed using immunohistochemistry and silver in situ hybridization, respectively, on primary tumors of 189 resected non-small cell lung patients. Associations with pathological and clinical features and prognosis were explored.

RESULTS

Median immunohistochemistry H-score was 220 (range, 10-380) on a 0 to 400 scale; 17% of the patients had a TS expression of 300 or more. TS PE expression did not significantly differ by histology and did not significantly associate with disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS). However, there was a tendency for increased DFS (p = 0.12) and OS (p = 0.12) in PE positive (>median) squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) patients. Median GCN was 2.5 genes/nucleus (range, 1.4-9.6); 29% of patients had GCN of 3 or more, 7% of 4 or more and 0.8% amplification. GCN differed by histology (p = 0.015); 50% of SCCs having GCN more than 2.5 versus 32% of adenocarcinomas. There was no significant relationship between TS GCN and DFS or OS; however, a trend toward better DFS (p = 0.18) and OS (p = 0.10) with increased GCN in SCCs was observed. TS GCN was significantly correlated with PE (r = 0.30, p = 0.0009).

CONCLUSIONS

TS PE and GCN vary widely in non-small cell lung and correlate significantly with each other. TS GCN is higher in SCCs, whereas TS PE does not associate with histological subtypes, clinical features, or survival. Variability of TS PE and GCN may indicate potential benefit from pemetrexed therapy in selected SCC patients.

Non-platinum doublets were as effective as platinum-based doublets for chemotherapy-naïve advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in the era of third-generation agents

PURPOSE

The aim was to compare the efficacy between doublets of third-generation agents (non-platinum) and doublets of platinum plus a third-generation agent (platinum-based) for chemotherapy-naïve advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

We conducted a literature-based meta-analysis to compare the efficacy between doublets of third-generation agents and doublets of platinum plus a third-generation agent for chemotherapy-naïve advanced NSCLC. The primary end point was overall survival, and the secondary end points were progression-free survival (PFS) and response rate. Subgroup analyses were also conducted by different non-platinum doublet regimens or different platinum-based doublets. A descriptive review for toxicity was performed.

RESULTS

Sixteen randomized controlled trials were identified ultimately. Results demonstrated that the efficacy of non-platinum doublets was comparable with platinum-based doublets according to the overall survival (HR = 1.03, 95 % CI = 0.98-1.08, p = 0.29). Subgroup analyses by different non-platinum doublets also showed the efficacy of all the third-generation doublets, such as vinorelbine plus gemcitabine, vinorelbine plus paclitaxel, gemcitabine plus paclitaxel, and gemcitabine plus docetaxel, was comparable with platinum-based doublets (HR = 1.00, 95 % CI = 0.78-1.27, p = 0.98; HR = 0.97, 95 % CI = 0.80-1.18, p = 0.79; HR = 1.05, 95 % CI = 0.99-1.12, p = 0.11; HR = 1.01, 95 % CI = 0.92-1.10, p = 0.87; respectively). Subgroup analyses by different platinum-based doublets indicated that the efficacy of the third-generation doublets were equal to both cisplatin-based doublets and carboplatin-based doublets (HR = 1.08, 95 % CI = 1.00-1.17, p = 0.05; HR = 1.00, 95 % CI = 0.94-1.05, p = 0.94; respectively). The secondary end points indicated that platinum-based doublets might have an advantage in PFS but not in response rate (HR = 1.06, 95 % CI = 1.01-1.12, p = 0.03; RR = 0.99, 95 % CI = 0.90-1.08, p = 0.81; respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Non-platinum doublets were as effective as platinum-based doublets with different toxicity profile for chemotherapy-naïve advanced NSCLC in the era of third-generation agents.

Pemetrexed plus platinum as the first-line treatment option for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

To compare the efficacy and toxicities of pemetrexed plus platinum with other platinum regimens in patients with previously untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A meta-analysis was performed using trials identified through PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Two investigators independently assessed the quality of the trials and extracted data. The outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response rate (RR), and different types of toxicity. Hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using RevMan software. Results: Four trials involving 2,518 patients with previously untreated advanced NSCLC met the inclusion criteria. Pemetrexed plus platinum chemotherapy (PPC) improved survival compared with other platinum-based regimens (PBR) in patients with advanced NSCLC (HR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.83–1.00, p = 0.04), especially in those with non-squamous histology (HR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77–0.98, p = 0.02). No statistically significant improvement in either PFS or RR was found in PPC group as compared with PBR group (HR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.94–1.13, p = 0.57; OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.95–1.39, p = 0.15, respectively). Compared with PBR, PPC led to less grade 3–4 neutropenia and leukopenia but more grade 3–4 nausea. However, hematological toxicity analysis revealed significant heterogeneities. Conclusion: Our results suggest that PPC in the first-line setting leads to a significant survival advantage with acceptable toxicities for advanced NSCLC patients, especially those with non-squamous histology, as compared with other PRB. PPC could be considered as the first-line treatment option for advanced NSCLC patients, especially those with non-squamous histology.

Molecular imaging in therapeutic efficacy assessment of targeted therapy for nonsmall cell lung cancer

Membrane distillation is a thermally driven membrane process for seawater desalination and purification at moderate temperatures and pressures. A hydrophobic micro-porous membrane is used in this process, which separates hot and cold water, allowing water vapor to pass through; while restricting the movement of liquid water, due to its hydrophobic nature. This paper provides an experimental investigation of heat and mass transfer in tubular membrane module for water desalination. Different operating parameters have been examined to determine the mass transport mechanism of water vapor. Based on the experimental results, the effects of operating parameters on permeate flux and the heat transfer analysis have been presented and discussed in details.

A meta-analysis of paclitaxel-based chemotherapies administered once every week compared with once every 3 weeks first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

The published data on the curative effects of comparing the once weekly paclitaxel-based chemotherapies (W-paclitaxel) with the standard every 3 weeks paclitaxel-based chemotherapies (S-paclitaxel) in the first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were still controversial. To derive a more precise estimation of the two regimens, a meta-analysis was performed.

METHODS

Medical databases and conference proceedings were searched for randomized controlled trials which compared W-paclitaxel with S-paclitaxel in patients with first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC. The following keywords were used: "paclitaxel", "weekly schedule" and "non-small cell lung cancer". Reference lists of original articles and review articles were also examined. The published languages and years were not limited. Endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR) and adverse events. Statistical tests for heterogeneity were one-sided; statistical tests for effect estimates were two-sided.

RESULTS

Five eligible trials involved 940 patients were identified. They were all published as full-text articles. The intention to treatment (ITT) analysis demonstrated that the ORR of W-paclitaxel regimens patients was 30.89% (143/463), whereas the ORR of S-paclitaxel regimens patients was 27.09% (123/454). The overall pooled relative ratio (RR) for ORR was 1.24 (95% confidence intervals (CI)=0.93-1.66; P=0.14) when W-paclitaxel regimens patients were compared with S-paclitaxel regimens patients. Although the patients with W-paclitaxel regimens had an similar OS and PFS in comparison with S-paclitaxel regimens (median OS was 9.8 versus 10.7 months; hazard ratio (HR)=1.00; 95%CI=0.86-1.17; P=0.99; median PFS was 5.2 versus 4.7 months; HR=0.90; 95%CI=0.79-1.03; P=0.13, respectively), the W-paclitaxel regimens led to significantly less frequent adverse events of hematological toxicities and nonhematological toxicities.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the W-paclitaxel is not superior than S-paclitaxel regimens. The paclitaxel-based chemotherapies given by every 3 weeks are still standard regimens. For patients, especially for the elder or the people with poor conditions who cannot tolerate the standard regimen, the weekly schedule can be considered.

[A randomized study of gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin versus gemcitabine plus cisplatin as the 1st line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer in elderly patients]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Platinum-based chemotherapy is considered the standard treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin (GO) versus gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) regimens as the 1st line chemotherapy for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC.

METHODS

Sixty-six advanced NSCLC patients confirmed with pathology or cytology, who had not received treatment, were randomly divided into GO group (The patients received gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m² on day 1 and day 8 and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² on day 1 by intravenous infusion, with 21 days as one cycle) and GP group (The patients received gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m² on day 1 and day 8 and cisplatin 25 mg/m² on day 1, day 2 and day 3) by intravenous infusion, with 21 days as one cycle). All patients who received 2 or more cycles could be evaluated.

RESULTS

There were no statistical differences between GO and GP groups in the efficiency of disease (36.4% vs 40.6%, P=0.801), the median progression-free survival (24 weeks vs 18 weeks, P=0.565), the median survival time (44 weeks vs 36 weeks, P=0.918), but anemia at grade III and IV (0 vs 33.3%, P<0.001) and nausea/vomiting at grade III and IV (0 vs 27.3%, P=0.004) were significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical efficiency of GO and GP regimens as the 1st line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC in elderly patients was similar, but the toxicity of GO regimen has the tendency to be more tolerable and safer.

Future scenarios for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: focus on taxane-containing regimens

Despite recent progress in the development of new molecularly targeted agents, the chemotherapy regimens considered standard at the end of the last century--that is, two-drug combinations consisting of either cisplatin or carboplatin plus a third-generation agent (docetaxel, paclitaxel, gemcitabine, or vinorelbine)--remain the primary treatment option for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Most recently, the existing standard of care has been amended to reflect the significant survival advantage of cisplatin-pemetrexed over cisplatin-gemcitabine as first-line treatment of nonsquamous NSCLC. The addition of a biological drug (bevacizumab, cetuximab) or the use of a single-agent epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor may further improve outcomes in selected patients. It has become increasingly clear, primarily through recent meta-analyses, that although the therapeutic equivalence of any combination of a platinum agent plus either gemcitabine, vinorelbine, docetaxel, or paclitaxel has been long accepted, each regimen has different side effects and therapeutic outcomes that allow clinicians to select the most appropriate treatment for chemotherapy-naïve patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC. In this review, we evaluate the available evidence and explore the role and importance of various modern chemotherapy regimens, with the aim of optimizing treatment selection and combination with biological agents. Emphasis is placed on the role of taxanes (docetaxel versus paclitaxel) in this changing landscape.

Failure rates and patterns of recurrence in patients with resected N1 non-small-cell lung cancer

PURPOSE

To examine the local and distant recurrence rates and patterns of failure in patients undergoing potentially curative resection of N1 non-small-cell lung cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The study included 60 consecutive unirradiated patients treated from 2000 to 2006. Median follow-up was 30 months. Failure rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. A univariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess factors associated with recurrence.

RESULTS

Local and distant failure rates (as the first site of failure) at 2, 3, and 5 years were 33%, 33%, and 46%; and 26%, 26%, and 32%, respectively. The most common site of local failure was in the mediastinum; 12 of 18 local recurrences would have been included within proposed postoperative radiotherapy fields. Patients who received chemotherapy were found to be at increased risk of local failure, whereas those who underwent pneumonectomy or who had more positive nodes had significantly increased risks of distant failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with resected non-small-cell lung cancer who have N1 disease are at substantial risk of local recurrence as the first site of relapse, which is greater than the risk of distant failure. The role of postoperative radiotherapy in such patients should be revisited in the era of adjuvant chemotherapy.