Efficacy assessment of pemetrexed treatment of an NSCLC case with brain metastasis

First-line pemetrexed and carboplatin plus anlotinib for epidermal growth factor receptor wild-type and anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative lung adenocarcinoma with brain metastasis: A case report and review of the literature

RATIONALE

Brain metastasis (BM) is a serious complication in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Pemetrexed is one of the preferred agents in nonsquamous NSCLC with BM; however, the traditional chemotherapy demonstrated limited efficacy partly due to drug resistance and the blood-brain barrier.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 52-year-old male non-smoker was admitted for irritating cough, chest distress, and back pain.

DIAGNOSES

Epidermal growth factor receptor wild-type, anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative primary lung adenocarcinoma with an asymptomatic solitary BM (cTxNxM1b, IVA).

INTERVENTIONS

Pemetrexed (500 mg/m of body surface area) and carboplatin (area under the curve of 5) were firstly administered every 3 weeks for 3 cycles, followed by pemetrexed/carboplatin plus anlotinib (12 mg daily; 2 weeks on and 1 week off) for another 3 cycles. Then maintenance anlotinib monotherapy was continued for a year, without unacceptable adverse events.

OUTCOMES

The BM was slightly enlarged after 3 cycles of pemetrexed/carboplatin; however, a complete remission was achieved after the combination therapy. His intracranial progression-free survival was more than 2 years.

LESSONS

Pemetrexed/carboplatin plus anlotinib could be considered for the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor wild-type, anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative lung adenocarcinoma with BM. Further well-designed trials are warranted to verify this occasional finding.

CSF-1R regulates non-small cell lung cancer cells dissemination through Wnt3a signaling

Therapeutic antibodies targeting colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R) to block colony stimulating factor-1/colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1/CSF-R) signaling axis have exhibit remarkable efficacy in the treatment of malignant tumor. Yet, little is known about the effects of intrinsic CSF-1R in human non-small-cell carcinoma (NSCLC). Here we demonstrated that NSCLC cell-intrinsic CSF-1R promoted cells growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. CSF-1R knocked-down by transfecting with shRNA target CSF-1R suppressed NSCLC cells proliferation and tumor growth in nude mice. Conversely, ectopic expression of CSF-1R promoted cells proliferation and accelerated tumor growth. Mechanistically, the NSCLC CSF-1R modulated downstream effectors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. In addition, CSF-1R overexpression significantly enhanced NSCLC cells mobility, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, whereas silencing CSF-1R inhibits these phenotypes. Microarray analysis suggested that Wnt family member 3a (Wnt3a) function as a downstream factor of CSF-1R. On account of this, we future identified CSF-1R/Wnt3a a signaling pathway sustained NSCLC cells metastasis. Finally, in patients, CSF-1R and Wnt3a expression positively correlated with the of NSCLC patients. Our results identify NSCLC cell intrinsic functions of CSF-1R/Wnt3a axis in dissemination of NSCLC.

Pemetrexed/cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy for advanced lung cancer with brain metastases: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Brain metastases (BMs) are a common and serious complication of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), surgery, and molecular targeted therapy are usually used to treat NSCLC with BM. Chemotherapeutic options for BM are limited by tumor resistance, ineffective agents, and the blood-brain barrier. Pemetrexed/cisplatin is the preferred chemotherapy in nonsquamous NSCLC, but the efficacy of this treatment for nonsquamous NSCLC with BM is uncertain.

METHODS

We present a case of nonsquamous NSCLC with asymptomatic BM presenting with irritating cough and right shoulder back pain (unknown sensitizing epidermal growth factor receptor mutations or anaplastic lymphoma kinase).

RESULTS

He benefited from administration of first-line chemotherapy of pemetrexed/cisplatin. Partial remission was achieved in the primary lesion of the lungs and BM lesion. He was further given 3 cycles of pemetrexed monotherapy and WBRT. Complete remission was further achieved in BM lesion.

CONCLUSION

The findings of clinical trials and theoretical studies about the current pemetrexed/cisplatin in the treatment of nonsquamous NSCLC with BM are also summarized to provide a reference for the application of pemetrexed/cisplatin in nonsquamous NSCLC with BM. Whether or not pemetrexed/cisplatin is definitely effective in nonsquamous NSCLC with BM must be proven by subsequent phase III clinical trials.

Number of cerebral lesions predicts freedom from new brain metastases after radiosurgery alone in lung cancer patients

Numerous patients with few brain metastases receive radiosurgery, either alone or in combination with whole-brain irradiation. The addition of whole-brain irradiation to radiosurgery reduces the rate of intracerebral failures, particularly the development of new cerebral lesions distant from those treated with radiosurgery. Less intracerebral failures mean less neurocognitive deficits. However, whole-brain irradiation itself may lead to a decline in neurocognitive functions. Therefore, a number of physicians have reservations with regard to adding whole-brain irradiation to radiosurgery. Prognostic factors that allow an estimation of the risk of developing new cerebral metastases can facilitate the decision regarding additional whole-brain irradiation. Since primary tumors show a different biology and clinical course, prognostic factors should be identified separately for each primary tumor leading to brain metastasis. The present study investigated 10 characteristics in a series of 98 patients receiving radiosurgery alone for 1-2 cerebral metastases from lung cancer, the most common primary tumor associated with brain metastasis. These characteristics included radiosurgery dose, age, gender, performance status, histology, number of cerebral lesions, maximum total diameter of cerebral lesions, main location of cerebral lesions, extracranial spread and interval from first diagnosis of lung cancer to administration of radiosurgery. On univariate analysis, the number of cerebral lesions prior to radiosurgery (1 vs. 2 lesions) was the only characteristic significantly associated with freedom from new brain metastases (P=0.002). In cases of 2 lesions, 73% of patients developed new cerebral lesions within 1 year. On multivariate analysis, the number of brain metastases remained significant (risk ratio, 2.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-4.58; P=0.004). Given the high rates of new cerebral lesions in patients with 2 brain metastases, these patients should be strongly considered for additional whole-brain irradiation.