Scope on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Upper Egypt

Real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer: results of KINDLE-Egypt cohort

Background

Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being highly heterogeneous requires multimodal therapeutic strategies for optimal management. We present findings on treatment patterns and their associated survival outcomes in patients with stage III NSCLC from the Egypt subset of the KINDLE global real-world study conducted across countries from Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Method

Retrospective data from the Egypt subset (21 centers) of adult patients diagnosed with stage III NSCLC between January 2013 and December 2017 were analyzed. Descriptive and inferential statistics summarized treatment modalities, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

Results

Of 421 patients enrolled (median age: 59.0 years), 77.9% were males, 53.5% had stage IIIA disease, 60.8% had adenocarcinoma, 78.4% had an unresectable disease, and 81.5% had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ⩽1. Overall, chemotherapy alone (40.4%) was predominantly used in the initial line, whereas definite radiotherapy was used in only 5.0% of patients. In resectable patients, chemotherapy plus surgery (33.8%), surgery alone (20.6%), or other surgery (20.6%) were the top three modalities used in initial line of treatment. Chemotherapy alone was most preferred (48.8%) in unresectable patients, followed by sequential chemoradiotherapy (CRT) (17.6%) and concurrent CRT (9.3%). The overall median PFS was 10.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 9.43-12.02], whereas the median OS was 18.5 months (95% CI, 16.46-21.88). Overall, female gender, adenocarcinoma histology, and radical therapy as surgery or CRT predicted significantly longer OS (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

KINDLE-Egypt cohort revealed wide heterogeneities in the treatment patterns of stage III NSCLC. Although deemed resectable, few patients did not undergo surgery, probably due to high smoking rates leading to poor lung function. Lower survival outcomes than other published real-world studies highlight the need for timely approval and availability of novel targeted and immunotherapies to enhance patient outcomes.

Trial registration

NCT03725475.

Prevalence, risk factors, and impact of lung Cancer on outcomes of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a study from the Middle East

Background

No studies have addressed the impact of lung cancer (LC) on prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in Upper Egypt. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for LC among IPF patients and its impact on their outcomes and survival in Upper Egypt.

Methods

A total of 246 patients with IPF who had complete clinical and follow up data were reviewed. They were categorized into 2 groups: 34 patients with biopsy-proven LC and IPF (LC-IPF) and 212 patients with IPF only (IPF). Survival and clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared.

Results

Prevalence of LC was 13.8%. Pack/years was the most significant predictor for LC development in IPF (Odds ratio; 3.225, CI 1.257–1.669, p = 0.001). Survival in patients with LC-IPF was significantly worse than in patients with IPF without LC; median survival, 35 months vs 55 months; p = 0.000. LC accompanying IPF was one of the most significant independent predictors of survival in IPF patients (Hazard ratio 5.431, CI 2.186–13.492, p = 0.000). Mortality in LC-IPF patients was mainly due to LC progression in 36% and LC therapy-related complications in 22%.

Conclusions

Prevalence of LC in IPF patients was 13.8%. Lung cancer has significant impacts on patients with IPF in Upper Egypt, in terms of clinical outcomes and survival. Smoking is the most significant independent predictor of LC development in IPF patients. A poorer survival was observed for patients with IPF developing LC, mainly due to LC progression, and to complications of its therapies. Further prospective, multicenter and larger studies are warranted.