Successful treatment of simultaneous malignant pleural mesothelioma and pulmonary adenocarcinoma: A case report

The present report described the case of a 74-year-old male patient with asbestos exposure whose chest computed tomography revealed a right lower lobe nodule and right pleural effusion. Pleural biopsy led to the diagnosis of epithelial malignant pleural mesothelioma (cT2N0M0, stage IB). Combination therapy with cisplatin + pemetrexed led to the complete remission of malignant pleural mesothelioma; however, the right lower lobe nodule grew in size over time. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma (cT1aN0M0, stage IA1) by computed tomography-guided biopsy performed 18 months after chemotherapy initiation and achieved remission of lung adenocarcinoma with stereotactic radiotherapy. The patient was alive without recurrence at the 12-month follow-up. The present case illustrated that multiple active regimens are currently available for malignant pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer that can aid in the treatment of complex cases.

Efficacy of dupilumab for airway hypersecretion and airway wall thickening in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma: A prospective, observational study

BACKGROUND

Dupilumab has clinical effects in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma. When considering interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 signaling, effects of dupilumab on airway mucus hypersecretion and airway remodeling are expected, but they have been reported in only a few short-term studies. Its efficacy for airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) remains unknown. We comprehensively assessed the efficacy of dupilumab, especially for subjective and objective measures of airway mucus hypersecretion and airway dimensions in moderate-to-severe asthmatic patients.

METHODS

In 28 adult patients with moderate-to-severe uncontrolled asthma, the comprehensive efficacy of 48-week dupilumab treatment, including the Cough and Sputum Assessment Questionnaire (CASA-Q), radiological mucus scores and airway dimensions on computed tomography (CT), was assessed prospectively. Treatment responsiveness to dupilumab was analyzed.

RESULTS

With 48-week dupilumab treatment, all four cough and sputum domain scores of CASA-Q improved significantly. Radiological mucus scores and airway wall thickening on CT were significantly decreased. The decreases in mucus scores were significantly associated with improvements in Asthma Control Questionnaire scores, Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) overall scores, airway obstruction, and airway type 2 inflammation. When defined by > 0.5 improvement in AQLQ overall scores, 18 patients (64%) were identified as responders.

CONCLUSIONS

Dupilumab reversed subjective and objective measures of airway mucus hypersecretion and some aspects of airway remodeling in patients with moderate-to-severe uncontrolled asthma.

Elements of End-of-Life Discussions Associated With Patients' Reported Outcomes and Actual End-of-Life Care in Patients With Pretreated Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

End-of-life discussions for patients with advanced cancer are internationally recommended to ensure consistency of end-of-life care with patients' values. This study examined the elements of end-of-life discussions associated with end-of-life care.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a prospective observational study among consecutive patients with pretreated non-small cell lung cancer after the failure of first-line chemotherapy. We asked oncologists whether they had ever discussed "prognosis," "do not attempt resuscitation," "hospice," and "preferred place of death" with a patient at baseline. The quality of life (QOL) and depressive symptoms of patients were assessed using validated questionnaires at baseline and 3 months later. The end-of-life care that patients received was investigated using medical records. Oncologists' compassion and caregivers' preferences for hospice care were also assessed using questionnaires. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between elements of end-of-life discussions and patient-reported outcomes as well as actual end-of-life care.

RESULTS

We obtained 200 valid responses at baseline, 147 valid responses 3 months later, and 145 data points for medical care at the end-of-life stage. No element of the end-of-life discussion between the patient and their oncologist was significantly associated with patients' reported outcomes or actual end-of-life care. In addition, oncologists' compassion was significantly associated with improvement in both comprehensive QOL and depressive symptoms, and caregivers' preferences for hospice care and high educational level were significantly associated with hospice death.

CONCLUSION

Oncologist-patient alliances and caregivers' involvement in end-of-life discussions may be influential in achieving optimal end-of-life care.

Steroid reduction-resistant pulmonary involvement with Sweet's syndrome suspected of being vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic syndrome: A case report

In cases of Sweet's syndrome with pulmonary involvement, fever of unknown origin, and macrocytic anaemia, VEXAS syndrome can be considered in the differential diagnosis. A 67-year-old man who was taking prednisolone for a fever of unknown origin and Sweet's syndrome was referred to us because of an abnormal chest shadow. Computed tomography revealed a nonfibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis-like opacity, and blood test results indicated macrocytic anaemia. His pulmonary symptoms spontaneously improved but again exacerbated approximately 1 month later. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy improved his condition, but he had recurring fever flare and pulmonary involvement post-treatment. A peripheral blood UBA1 gene test planned at a specialized institution was not performed, making the diagnosis difficult. We attempted careful tapering of methylprednisolone, but his macrocytic anaemia led to pancytopenia and he unfortunately died of sepsis due to neutropenia.

Adjustment of creatinine clearance for carboplatin dosing in Calvert's formula and clinical efficacy for lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The Cockcroft-Gault formula is commonly used as a substitute for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Calvert's formula for carboplatin dosing, where adjusting serum creatinine measured using the enzymatic method with 0.2 mg/dL has been suggested in Japan. However, the effects of these adjustments on efficacy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer remain unknown.

METHODS

We conducted a post hoc analysis of the PREDICT1 study (CJLSG1201), a multicenter prospective observational trial of carboplatin-pemetrexed. Glomerular filtration rate values in Calvert's formula were back-calculated from the administered dosages of carboplatin and the reported value of the target area under the curve. We estimated the serum creatinine adjustments and divided the patients into crude and adjusted groups.

RESULTS

Patients in the crude group (N = 169) demonstrated similar efficacy to those in the adjusted group (N = 104) in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-1.35; p = 0.916 vs. HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.65-1.17; p = 0.363), with higher grade 3-4 hematologic toxicity. Among patients aged ≥75 years, the crude group (N = 47) showed superior efficacy compared with the adjusted group (N = 17) in PFS and OS (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.20-0.69; p = 0.002 vs. HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23-0.82; p = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum creatinine adjustment may be associated with similar efficacy compared to the crude serum creatinine value. In older patients, the adjustment should be cautiously applied owing to the potential for reduced efficacy.

Bronchial thermoplasty improves cough hypersensitivity and cough in severe asthmatics

BACKGROUND

Cough is a troublesome symptom of asthma because it is associated with disease severity and poor asthma control. Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) may be effective in improving cough severity and cough-related quality of life in severe uncontrolled asthma.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of BT for cough in severe uncontrolled asthma.

METHODS

Twelve patients with severe uncontrolled asthma were enrolled in this study between 2018 May and March 2021 and arbitrarily divided into cough-predominant [cough severity Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ≥ 40 mm, n = 8] and typical asthma (cough VAS <40 mm, n = 4) groups. Clinical parameters, such as capsaicin cough sensitivity [C-CS: the concentrations to inhaled capsaicin required to induce at least two (C2) and five (C5) coughs], lung function, and type-2-related biomarkers (fractional nitric oxides and absolute eosinophil counts) and cough-related indices [cough severity VAS and the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ)] were evaluated before and 3 months after performing BT.

RESULTS

BT significantly improved both cough-related indices and C-CS in the cough-predominant group. Changes in C-CS were significantly correlated with changes in the LCQ scores (C5: r = 0.65, p = 0.02 for all patients, and r = 0.81, p = 0.01 for the cough-predominant group).

CONCLUSIONS

BT may be effective for cough in severe uncontrolled asthma by improving C-CS. However, further larger cohort studies are necessary to confirm the effect of BT for cough in asthma.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (Registry ID UMIN: 000031982).

Targeting the IL-5 pathway improves cough hypersensitivity in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma

BACKGROUND

Capsaicin cough sensitivity (C-CS) reflects airway neuronal dysfunction and may be a significant biomarker of asthma. Although mepolizumab reduces cough in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma, it is unclear whether the cough reduction is associated with improved C-CS.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to clarify the effect of biologics on C-CS and cough-specific quality of life (QoL) in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma using our previous study cohort.

METHODS

Overall, 52 consecutive patients who visited our hospital for severe uncontrolled asthma were included in the original study cohort, and 30 patients were eligible for this study. Changes in C-CS and cough-specific QoL were compared between patients treated with the anti-IL-5 pathway (n = 16) and those treated with other biologics (n = 14). C-CS was measured as the concentration of capsaicin required to induce at least five coughs (C5).

RESULTS

Biologics significantly improved C-CS (P = 0.03). Anti-IL-5 pathway therapies significantly improved C-CS, whereas other biologics did not (P < 0.01 and P = 0.89, respectively). C-CS improved significantly more in the anti-IL-5 pathway group than in the group treated with other biologics (P = 0.02). Changes in C-CS significantly correlated with improvements in cough-specific QoL in the anti-IL-5 pathway group (r = 0.58, P = 0.01) but not in the group treated with other biologics (r = 0.35, P = 0.22).

CONCLUSION

Anti-IL-5 pathway therapies improve C-CS and cough-specific QoL, and targeting the IL-5 pathway may be a therapeutic strategy for cough hypersensitivity in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma.

Tiotropium for refractory cough in asthma via cough reflex sensitivity: a randomized, parallel, open-label, trial

BACKGROUND

We previously reported in an uncontrolled study that tiotropium alleviated chronic cough in asthma refractory to inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2 agonists (ICS/LABA) by modulating capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity (C-CRS).

OBJECTIVE

We sought to demonstrate the antitussive effects of tiotropium for refractory cough in asthma in a randomized, parallel, open-label, trial.

METHODS

Fifty-eight asthmatics with chronic cough refractory to ICS/LABA were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to add tiotropium 5 μg (39 patients) or theophylline 400 mg (19 patients) for 4 weeks. Patients underwent workup, including capsaicin cough challenge test and subjective measures such as cough severity visual analog scales (VAS). We adopted C5, the lowest capsaicin concentration to induce at least 5 coughs, as an index of C-CRS. We also performed a post hoc analysis to identify factors predicting tiotropium responders, who showed an improvement of ≥15 mm in cough severity VAS.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients (tiotropium; 38, theophylline; 14) completed the study. Both tiotropium and theophylline significantly improved cough severity VAS and cough-specific quality of life. Tiotropium, but not theophylline, significantly increased C5 values, whereas pulmonary function did not change in either group. Additionally, changes in cough severity VAS correlated with changes in C5 values in the tiotropium group. A post hoc analysis revealed that heightened C-CRS (C5 ≤1.22 µM) before the addition of tiotropium was an independent predictor for tiotropium responders.

CONCLUSION

Tiotropium may alleviate chronic cough in asthma refractory to ICS/LABA by modulating C-CRS. Heightened C-CRS may predict responsiveness to tiotropium for refractory cough in asthma.

Decreased capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity predicts hospitalisation due to COPD

INTRODUCTION

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often hospitalised due to severe acute exacerbation (AE) or community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Previous studies revealed the association of cough reflex sensitivity with the pathophysiology of COPD and pneumonia. We hypothesised that cough reflex sensitivity may be associated with severe AE or CAP requiring hospitalisation in patients with COPD.

METHODS

We prospectively recruited 68 patients with COPD between June 2018 and January 2020. Patient characteristics, lung and cardiac functions, and biomarkers, including capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity and blood eosinophil count, were evaluated at enrolment. All participants were monitored for AE or CAP requiring hospitalisation for 12 months. We determined the risk factors and ORs for hospitalisation in patients with COPD using a multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Eight patients experienced AE (n=3) or CAP (n=5) and required hospitalisation during follow-up. Patients in the hospitalisation+ group had higher modified Medical Research Council scores and blood eosinophil counts (≥300 µL) than those in the hospitalisation- group. Capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity tended to decrease in the hospitalisation+ group compared with that in the hospitalisation- group. Multivariate analysis revealed that a decreased capsaicin cough reflex and high eosinophil count (≥300 µL) were predictive risk factors for future hospitalisation due to AE-COPD or CAP.

CONCLUSION

In addition to eosinophils, decreased capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity was associated with hospitalisation due to AE-COPD or CAP. Capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity in patients with COPD may play a role in the prevention of severe AE or pneumonia requiring hospitalisation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000032497.

Specific IgE Response and Omalizumab Responsiveness in Severe Allergic Asthma

Objective

Omalizumab has demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with severe allergic asthma sensitized to perennial allergens and/or severe pollinosis through inhibition of IgE-dependent allergic response. When considering the "one airway, one disease" concept, sensitization to pollen could predict responsiveness to omalizumab. This study aimed to assess whether the pretreatment specific IgE response could be a predictor of responsiveness to omalizumab in severe allergic asthma sensitized to perennial allergens.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 41 adult patients with severe allergic asthma sensitized to perennial allergens (27 females; mean age 59 years) who had completed 52-week omalizumab treatment were enrolled. The Global Evaluation of Treatment Effectiveness was performed, and demographic characteristics and the positive ratios of specific IgE responses classified into five subgroups (pollen, dust mite, house dust, mold, and animal dander) were compared between responders and non-responders. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of responsiveness to omalizumab.

Results

Thirty-one patients (76%) were identified as responders. The number of sensitized aeroallergen subgroups and sensitization to pollens were significantly higher in responders than in non-responders (both p<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sensitization to pollen (OR = 8.41, p = 0.02) was independently associated with the effectiveness of omalizumab.

Conclusion

Pretreatment serum pollen-specific IgE could be a predictor of responsiveness to omalizumab.

Overall survival analysis of patients enrolled in a randomized phase III trial comparing gefitinib and erlotinib for previously treated advanced lung adenocarcinoma (WJOG5108LFS)

BACKGROUND

Since the overall survival (OS) of patients enrolled in the first clinical phase III trial (WJOG5108L) was not recorded owing to time constraints, the present study (WJOG5108LFS) with a longer follow-up (66.6 months) aimed to compare OS of those treated with erlotinib (ER) and gefitinib (GE) for lung adenocarcinoma with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation.

METHODS

Among 536 enrolled patients, 362 (67.5%) were EGFR mutation-positive, including 182 in the ER arm and 180 in the GE arm. Median survival time (MST) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. OS and PFS were determined for patients with EGFR mutation.

RESULTS

MSTs of ER (n = 182) and GE arms (n = 180) were 31.97 and 27.98 months, respectively (P = 0.3573, hazard ratio = 1.116). MSTs of exon 19 mutation patients in ER (n = 99) and GE arms (n = 89) were 37.49 and 28.91 months, respectively (P = 0.3791). MSTs of L858 mutation patients in ER (n = 82) and GE arms (n = 89) were 22.98 and 27.79 months, respectively (P = 0.7836). In patients with brain metastasis harboring mutation, response rates were 32.8% and 22.2% (P = 0.160), MSTs were 23.46 and 23.89 months (P = 0.7410), and PFS were 9.49 and 6.98 months (P = 0.1481) in the ER (n = 67) and GE arms (n = 72), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant differences in OS were observed between the ER and GE arms in all patients with EGFR mutation and those with brain metastasis harboring EGFR mutation.

Tracheal Glomus Tumor Complicated with Asthma Exacerbation in a Pregnant Woman

A 34-year-old pregnant woman in the 34th week of gestation with uncontrolled asthma was admitted because of asthma exacerbation. Although she received bronchodilators and systemic corticosteroids, respiratory failure rapidly progressed. Chest computed tomography revealed a mass occluding approximately 80% of the tracheal lumen. After urgent Caesarean section, endobronchial resection was performed. The pathological findings of the resected tumor were compatible with tracheal glomus tumor. Tracheal tumors are often misdiagnosed as asthma, but its complication with asthma is rare. Even if the diagnosis of asthma is definitive, clinicians should consider coexisting diseases, including tracheal tumors, when asthma control is poor.

Residual Dyspnea May Predict Small Airways Dysfunction and Poor Responsiveness to Single-Inhaler Triple Therapy in Asthmatic Patients

PURPOSE

Recently, single-inhaler triple therapy (SITT) has demonstrated efficacy in patients with uncontrolled asthma who were symptomatic despite treatment with inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting β2 agonists. However, the characteristics of patients who benefit from SITT remain unclear in the real-world. The aim of this study was to examine the predictors of responsiveness to SITT in patients with asthma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 45 patients with asthma who had regularly visited our respiratory clinic and were started on SITT from March 2019 to March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients' demographic characteristics, residual respiratory symptoms, type 2 biomarkers, and lung function before SITT were assessed from the patients' medical records. Predictors of responsiveness to four-week SITT were evaluated in these patients. The definition of responders was based on the physician-assessed global evaluation of treatment effectiveness.

RESULTS

Thirty-four (75%) of 45 patients were identified as responders to SITT. Non-responders showed significantly lower forced vital capacity (FVC) (%predicted) values, and complained of dyspnea more frequently than responders before SITT (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics and type 2 biomarkers between responders and non-responders. Clinical predictors of poor response to SITT were residual dyspnea (OR = 0.14, p = 0.02), low FVC (%predicted) values (OR = 1.05, p = 0.01), and FVC (%predicted) <80% (OR = 0.11, p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis showed that poor response to SITT was associated with residual dyspnea before SITT (OR = 0.14, p = 0.02). On the other hand, patients with residual dyspnea had significantly lower FEF_25-75 (%predicted) values than patients without residual dyspnea before SITT (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Residual dyspnea, reflecting small airways dysfunction, may predict poor responsiveness to short-term SITT in patients with asthma.

Nab-Paclitaxel for Previously Treated Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Analysis of Safety and Efficacy for Patients With Renal Impairment

BACKGROUND

Renal impairment can affect treatment tolerability and outcome in individuals with cancer. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of nab-paclitaxel for previously treated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and renal impairment enrolled in a phase 3 trial of nab-paclitaxel vs. docetaxel.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Previously treated NSCLC patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive docetaxel (60 mg/m²) on day 1 or nab-paclitaxel (100 mg/m²) on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 21-day cycle. Safety and efficacy outcomes of treatment were evaluated according to renal function.

RESULTS

Among the 503 patients enrolled in the phase 3 trial, 17.3% had moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance of ≤50 mL/min, n = 49 for docetaxel and n = 38 for nab-paclitaxel) and 53.1% had mild renal impairment (creatinine clearance of >50 to ≤80 mL/min, n = 133 for docetaxel and n = 134 for nab-paclitaxel). For patients with renal impairment, the incidence of febrile neutropenia was lower in the nab-paclitaxel group than in the docetaxel group. The difference in treatment efficacy for nab-paclitaxel vs. docetaxel among patients with moderate or mild renal impairment was similar to that among the overall study population.

CONCLUSION

Nab-paclitaxel was found to be tolerable and beneficial for previously treated patients with advanced NSCLC and mild or moderate renal impairment.

Erratum: Change original to "Characteristics of the European Thoracic Society/American Thoracic Society severe asthma definition as a determinant of future use of biologics/bronchial thermoplasty"

[This corrects the article e13 in vol. 12, PMID: 35571548.].

Prognostic Awareness and Discussions of Incurability in Patients with Pretreated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Caregivers: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Although patients with advanced cancer often have poor prognostic awareness, the most effective communication approach for improving prognostic awareness is unclear. In addition, the association between prognostic awareness and preferences for future medical treatment remains unexplored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a prospective observational study of consecutive patients with advanced or post-operative recurrent non-small cell lung cancer whose disease had progressed after first-line chemotherapy, and their caregivers. We evaluated patterns of clinical discussions about incurability, prognostic awareness, and preference for future medical treatment at baseline and 3 months later.

RESULTS

We obtained 200 valid responses to the questionnaires at baseline and 147 valid responses 3 months later. In addition, 180 caregivers returned valid responses. A total of 54% of patients and 51% of caregivers had accurate awareness at baseline, and 52% of patients had accurate awareness 3 months later. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that patients who were informed about incurability in recent and past discussions were significantly more likely to have accurate awareness 3 months later, compared with those who were only informed recently (adjusted odds ratio 5.08; 95% CI, 1.31-19.78; P = .019). Accurate awareness at 3 months was significantly negatively associated with preference for life-prolonging treatment at 3 months after adjusting for covariates (adjusted odds ratio 0.39; 95% CI, 0.17-0.90; P = .028).

CONCLUSION

Patients with advanced cancer who had both recent and past discussions about incurability with their oncologists have more accurate prognostic awareness. Improving prognostic awareness could reduce the preference for life-prolonging treatment.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are associated with capsaicin cough sensitivity in severe asthma

BACKGROUND

Although sensory nerve dysfunction is related to the pathology of severe uncontrolled asthma and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), the impact of comorbid FGIDs on the pathophysiology of severe uncontrolled asthma remains poorly understood. The aim was to clarify the physiological relationships between severe uncontrolled asthma and FGIDs.

METHODS

Fifty-two patients with severe uncontrolled asthma who visited our hospital between September 2016 and August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical characteristics, other comorbidities including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and biomarkers such as fractional nitric oxide (FeNO) and capsaicin cough sensitivity (C-CS) before the beginning of biologics or bronchial thermoplasty, were compared between patients with and without comorbid FGIDs. C-CS was evaluated by C5 (concentration of inhaled capsaicin that induced five or more coughs), and C5 ≤2.44 μM was defined as heightened C-CS.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients had comorbid FGIDs. These patients had a lower FeNO level (21.9 ± 1.7 ppb vs. 33.9 ± 2.8 ppb, P = 0.04), a lower C5 threshold (2.24 ± 2.88 μM vs. 8.91 ± 5.5 μM, P < 0.001), a higher prevalence of comorbid GERD (64.7% vs. 31.7%, P = 0.03), and a higher prevalence of heightened C-CS (70.6% vs. 28.6%, P = 0.007) than those without FGIDs. Analysis of covariance showed a significant effect of FGIDs on C-CS in severe uncontrolled asthma without being affected by GERD.

CONCLUSIONS

Comorbid FGIDs are associated with heightened C-CS in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma, and they may be an important extra-respiratory manifestation of the airway neuronal dysfunction phenotype of severe uncontrolled asthma.

Serum creatinine/cystatin C ratio is a surrogate marker for sarcopenia in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

BACKGROUND

The serum creatinine/cystatin C (Cr/CysC) ratio has attracted attention as a marker for sarcopenia, but has not been studied in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This study aimed to confirm the utility of the serum Cr/CysC ratio in predicting sarcopenia and investigate its clinical relevance.

METHODS

This cross-sectional pilot study prospectively enrolled patients with stable IPF. IPF was diagnosed through multidisciplinary discussions according to the 2018 international guidelines, and sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the 2019 consensus report of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were evaluated using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (CAT), and King's Brief Interstitial Lung Disease (K-BILD) questionnaire. The associations between serum Cr/CysC ratio and the presence of sarcopenia and other clinical parameters, including PROs scores, were examined.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 49 Japanese patients with IPF with a mean age of 73.0 ± 7.7 years and a mean percentage of predicted forced vital capacity of 80.4 ± 15.5%. Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 18 patients (36.7%), and the serum Cr/CysC ratio was 0.86 [0.76-0.94] (median [interquartile range]). The receiver operating characteristic curve analyses for the detection of sarcopenia according to the serum Cr/CysC showed that the area under the curve, optimal cutoff value, specificity, and sensitivity were 0.85, 0.88, 0.65, and 0.94, respectively. Sarcopenia was identified in 13% of patients with a high serum Cr/CysC ratio (≥ 0.88) and 60% of patients with a low serum Cr/CysC ratio (< 0.88) (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the serum Cr/CysC ratio was an independent predictive marker of worse PROs evaluated using mMRC (P < 0.05), CAT (P < 0.05), and K-BILD (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the serum Cr/CysC ratio may be a surrogate marker of sarcopenia in patients with IPF. Furthermore, it is important to pay attention to the serum Cr/CysC ratio because a lower serum Cr/CysC ratio is associated with worse PROs. Further studies are required to validate these observations to determine whether the Cr/CysC ratio can be used to detect sarcopenia in patients with IPF.

Predictive role of CYFRA 21-1 for S-1 monotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients

BACKGROUND

S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine derivative, is widely used for the treatment of several solid tumors. However, there are no predictive markers for its effectiveness.

METHODS

We retrospectively screened 108 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated via S-1 monotherapy and investigated its relationship with cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA 21-1) and CEA pretreatment levels.

RESULTS

Sixty-one patients with high CYFRA 21-1 levels had a statistically significant shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than 46 patients with normal levels (median PFS = 42 days vs. 70 days, respectively; p = 0.0014; median OS = 197 days vs. 316 days, respectively, p = 0.0239).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum CYFRA 21-1 levels have predictive and prognostic roles in the management of patients with advanced NSCLC on S-1 monotherapy.

Reflux-related symptoms reflect poor asthma control and the presence of airway neuronal dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal reflux may be associated with the worsening of asthma by increasing cough reflex sensitivity. Hull Airway Reflux Questionnaire (HARQ) consists of 14 prevalent reflux-related symptoms. It may be useful in predicting the presence of cough reflex hypersensitivity in asthma.

METHODS

From August 2018 to July 2020, 266 asthmatic patients completed the HARQ. They underwent blood analysis, spirometry, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement, and the capsaicin cough challenge test. Patients were considered to have reflux-related symptoms if their HARQ scores were 13 points or higher. We evaluated the association between reflux-related symptoms and clinical asthma outcomes. Finally, we performed a multivariate analysis to determine the clinical significance of the HARQ for asthma. This study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000040732).

RESULTS

The mean HARQ scores were 13.1 (standard deviation 12.0). Patients in the high HARQ scores group (HARQ ≥13, n = 105) showed a lower prevalence of atopic predisposition, lower levels of FeNO, heightened capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity, poorer asthma control, and more frequent admissions due to asthma than those in the low HARQ groups (all p values < 0.05). The HARQ was useful in selecting patients with poor controlled asthma and those with severe cough when the cut-off value was set at 13. Multivariate analysis revealed that heightened capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity affected reflux-related symptoms, as well as lower levels of FeNO and younger age.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher HARQ scores (≥13) may be useful in predicting not only poor asthma condition but also the presence of airway neuronal dysfunction in patients with asthma to some extent.

Pretreatment Alveolar Nitric Oxide Levels Predict Improvement of Pulmonary Function 1 Year Following Anti-Asthma Treatments in Patients with Inhaled Corticosteroid-Naïve Asthma

INTRODUCTION

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are fundamental agents to subside airway inflammation and improve forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) among asthmatics. Alveolar concentrations of nitric oxide (CANO), as well as the classical fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO50), are associated with the pathophysiology of asthma. However, the association between pretreatment CANO levels and response to anti-asthma treatments, including ICS, remains unknown.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 107 patients newly diagnosed with asthma. ICS in combination with long-acting β2-agonists (ICS/LABA) was initiated. FEV1 and FeNO levels were evaluated at diagnosis and were followed up at 6 and 12 months after the treatment intervention. CANO levels were estimated using various expiratory flows of FeNO measurements. Factors associated with annual changes in FEV1 (ΔFEV1) were analyzed. Patients with a ΔFEV1 <-20 mL were defined as "poor-responders."

RESULTS

FEV1, FeNO50, and CANO levels significantly improved by anti-asthma treatments. The average ΔFEV1 was 85 (176) mL. Eighty-two patients continuously took ICS/LABA treatment. Higher pretreatment CANO levels and continuous use of LABA were independent predictive factors for the improvement of FEV1 on multivariate analysis. The decline in FeNO50 and CANO levels by the anti-asthma treatments was significantly greater in 81 responders than in 26 poor-responders. CANO, but not FeNO50, levels at 12 months were significantly higher in poor-responders than in responders (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Levels of CANO, but not FeNO50, predict changes in pulmonary function in ICS-naïve asthmatics. Meanwhile, persistently high levels of CANO may be related to poor responsiveness to treatments assessed by ΔFEV1.

An autopsy case of immune-related severe colitis due to long-term use of nivolumab in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been developed as cornerstones of cancer therapy, but the growing use of ICIs has induced immune-related adverse effects (irAEs). Immune-related colitis, which is one of the most common irAEs, generally occurs 2–4 months after ICI treatment initiation and can be life threatening. Therefore, early diagnosis and appropriate management are required. A rare autopsy case of nivolumab-related severe colitis that occurred 34 months after the start of treatment and recurred despite temporal remission with corticosteroids and infliximab is presented. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of late-onset irAEs in patients on receiving long-term ICI treatment.

•

Immune-related severe colitis could occur in patients on long-term ICI treatment and could be life-threatening.

•

Early diagnosis and appropriate management of immune-related adverse effects based on grading are critical in patients on long-term ICI treatment.

•

Future clinical studies are needed to determine the optimal duration of ICI treatment especially in responders.

Decreased peak expiratory flow rate associated with mortality in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A preliminary report

Objectives

The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is known to decrease in patients with sarcopenia. However, little is known about the clinical impact of the PEFR in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This study aimed to confirm whether a decrease in PEFR over 6 months was associated with survival in IPF patients.

Methods

Consecutive IPF patients who had been assessed at a single center were retrospectively analyzed. The relative decline in PEFR over 6 months was assessed. Survival analyses were performed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

A total of 61 eligible cases (average age 70 years) were examined, and 21 patients (34.4%) died. The univariate Cox regression analysis showed that the body mass index, baseline % predicted forced vital capacity (FVC), baseline % predicted PEFR, % predicted diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DL_CO), relative decline in FVC, and relative decline in PEFR were prognostic factors. On multivariate analyses, relative decline in PEFR (hazard ratio [HR] 1.037, p < .05) and baseline % predicted FVC (HR 0.932, p < .001) were independent prognostic factors, whereas relative decline in FVC was not.

Conclusion

A decrease in PEFR after 6 months may predict worse survival in patients with IPF.

Characteristics of the European Thoracic Society/American Thoracic Society severe asthma definition as a determinant of future use of biologics/bronchial thermoplasty

Background

International guidelines define severe uncontrolled asthma. Biologics or bronchial thermoplasty (Bio/BT) are recommended for such patients.

Objectives

To determine which definitions of severe uncontrolled asthma are associated with an additional Bio/BT treatment in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma.

Methods

Consecutive 107 asthmatics (including 15 patients for whom Bio/BT was introduced within 3 months after examination), classified as treatment step 4 according to the Global Initiative for Asthma 2015 guideline, were eligible for this analysis. Patients were assessed using the European Thoracic Society/American Thoracic Society (ERS/ATS) severe uncontrolled asthma guideline as defined by these 4 characteristics: poor control (ACT < 20), frequent exacerbations (≥2/yr), admissions (≥1/yr), and airflow limitation (forced expiratory volume in 1 second < 80% of predicted), along with comorbidities, and biomarkers, including blood granulocytes, fractional nitric oxide, and capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity (C-CS). These indices were compared between patients with and without Bio/BT introduction, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association of the 4 definitions with treatment needs for Bio/BT.

Results

Patients who were introduced to Bio/BT had heightened C-CS, heavier smoking history, and a greater prevalence of diabetes mellitus than those without (p < 0.05). Poor asthma control (ACT < 20), frequent exacerbations (≥2/yr), and admissions (≥1/yr) were relevant to the future use of Bio/BT in the multivariate regression analysis. Type 2-related biomarkers including absolute eosinophil counts were higher in patients in the Bio introduction group than in the BT introduction group. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference of the 4 characteristics of severe uncontrolled asthma definition between patients in the Bio and those in the BT groups.

Conclusion

Although multiple factors such as treatment cost and asthma phenotypes affect treatment decision-making, the definition of poor asthma control, frequent exacerbations and admission by the ERS/ATS guidelines were important factors for an additional intensive treatment for severe uncontrolled asthma.

Trial Registration

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000024734

Frequency and impact on clinical outcomes of sarcopenia in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Objectives

Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by reduced muscle mass and function. It is well-recognized as a complication in chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, little is known about sarcopenia in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of sarcopenia and the association between quality of life and sarcopenia in patients with IPF.

Methods

In this pilot cross-sectional study, 56 Japanese outpatients with IPF (49 men) were enrolled prospectively. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019. Its associations with clinical parameters including age, pulmonary functions, physical performance, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were examined.

Results

The frequency of sarcopenia was 39.3% (n = 22) in this cohort. There were significant differences in St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (p = .005), modified Medical Research Council score (p = .004), and Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale depression score (p = .030) between the sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic groups. On multivariate regression analysis, 6-min walk distance (6MWD) was an independent factor associated with sarcopenia (odds ratio 1.241, 95% confidence interval 1.016–1.515, p = .034).

Conclusion

Sarcopenia was associated with PROs and physical performance in patients with IPF.

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Presenting with Central Retinal Artery Occlusion During Treatment with Anti-interleukin-5 Receptor Monoclonal Antibody

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is an anti-neutrophilic cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis characterized by asthma and eosinophilia. Although EGPA involves multiple organs, ocular involvement is infrequent and often carries a poor visual prognosis. We herein report a rare case of EGPA presenting with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) in which visual loss developed during treatment with anti-interleukin (IL)-5 receptor monoclonal antibody, and improvement in visual outcomes was attained after treatment combining high-dose oral corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and an anticoagulant. Physicians should consider CRAO as an ophthalmic manifestation of EGPA in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.

Asthma caused by durvalumab after chemoradiotherapy in two patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Durvalumab, an anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody, is currently used in the maintenance therapy for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer after platinum-based chemoradiotherapy. A 69-year-old male with lung adenocarcinoma, clinical stage IIIA, was treated with chemoradiotherapy. As the treatments progressed, his dry cough gradually subsided. After chemoradiotherapy had been completed, we started durvalumab administration. One month later, his dry cough relapsed and persisted. Based on the changes of his blood eosinophil counts, we clinically diagnosed him with asthma. A 71-year-old male with lung adenocarcinoma, clinical stage IIIB, was treated with chemoradiotherapy. After completing chemoradiotherapy, we initiated durvalumab administration. After 6 months, his dry cough was noticed to involve wheezing. Based on his spirometric values and the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, a clinical diagnosis of asthma was established. Asthma should be considered as one of the possible side effects when immune checkpoint inhibitors are used in cancer treatment.

Phase 3 Trial Comparing Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel With Docetaxel for Previously Treated Advanced NSCLC

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab-) paclitaxel for previously treated patients with advanced NSCLC.

METHODS

In this randomized, open-label, noninferiority phase 3 trial, we enrolled patients with advanced NSCLC previously treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive docetaxel (60 mg/m²) on day 1 or nab-paclitaxel (100 mg/m²) on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 21-day cycle. The primary end point was overall survival (OS) analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis.

RESULTS

Between May 22, 2015, and March 12, 2018, a total of 503 patients were randomly allocated to the treatment. Median OS was 16.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.4-19.0) for the 252 patients allocated to nab-paclitaxel and 13.6 months (95% CI: 10.9-16.5) for the 251 patients allocated to docetaxel (hazard ratio = 0.85, 95.2% CI: 0.68-1.07). Median progression-free survival was 4.2 months (95% CI: 3.9-5.0) for the nab-paclitaxel group versus 3.4 months (95% CI: 2.9-4.1) for the docetaxel group (hazard ratio = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63-0.92, p = 0.0042). The objective response rate was 29.9% (95% CI: 24.0-36.2) for the nab-paclitaxel group and 15.4% (95% CI: 10.9-20.7) for the docetaxel group (p = 0.0002). Adverse events of grade greater than or equal to 3 included febrile neutropenia (5 of 245 patients [2%] in the nab-paclitaxel group versus 55 of 249 patients [22%] in the docetaxel group) and peripheral sensory neuropathy (24 [10%] versus 2 [1%], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Nab-paclitaxel was noninferior to docetaxel in terms of OS. It should, thus, be considered a standard treatment option for previously treated patients with advanced NSCLC.

Nasal polyp eosinophilia and FeNO may predict asthma symptoms development after endoscopic sinus surgery in CRS patients without asthma

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a significant comorbidity of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Type2-driven biomarkers such as sinus tissue eosinophilia and fractional nitric oxide (FeNO) may be utilized to detect high risk patients who develop asthma symptoms after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in CRS patients.

METHODS

Thirty-six CRS patients without asthma who agreed to undergo ESS between October 2015 and December 2017 were prospectively observed for 12 months following ESS. They were monitored for the development of typical asthma symptoms including dyspnea, wheezes, and cough which responded to anti-asthma medication. Biomarkers were compared between patients who developed asthma symptoms after ESS (asthma symptoms group) and those who did not (non-asthma group). Biomarker changes following ESS intervention were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Six patients were lost to follow after ESS. Thus, 30 CRS patients [16 with nasal polyps (NPs) proved by surgery] were followed. Seven (23%) newly complained of asthma symptoms during follow-up. Levels of FeNO and the prevalence of eosinophilic NPs (eosinophils ≥ 70/high power fields) were significantly higher in the asthma symptom group than in non-asthma group [50.7 ppb vs 22.4 ppb for FeNO levels, and 100% (n = 3) vs 23% (n = 3) for eosinophilic NP prevalence, both p < 0.05]. Levels of sputum periostin decreased significantly by ESS in the non-asthma group. However, changes of biomarkers after ESS were comparable between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Eosinophils in NPs (≥70/high power fields) and preoperative FeNO may be significant biomarkers for predicting the development of asthma symptoms after ESS.

Clinical utility of liquid biopsy for EGFR driver, T790M mutation and EGFR amplification in plasma in patients with acquired resistance to afatinib

Background

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) genotyping in plasma using the cobas EGFR Mutation Test v2 (cobas) is the first liquid biopsy as a companion diagnosis to identify the EGFR T790M mutation (T790M) after the failure of treatment of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) (1st generation, gefitinib [G] and erlotinib [E] and 2nd generation, afatinib [A]). This study investigated the clinical utility of a liquid biopsy for patients who acquired resistance to afatinib.

Methods

We prospectively collected plasma from 51 patients who had acquired resistance to afatinib between April 2015 and November 2016 to evaluate the frequency of T790M by cobas and digital droplet PCR (UMIN000025112). Additionally, we retrospectively reviewed 38 patients who tested by cobas in plasma after G/E failure to compare for T790M detection between A and with G/E.

Results

The detection rate of EGFR-driver and T790M in plasma in patients treated with A (A group) as a first-line EGFR-TKI was lower than with G/E followed by A (G/E→A group), although the differences were not significant (EGFR-driver: 41% [A] vs. 67% [G/E→A], P=0.1867; and T790M: 8% [A] vs. 17% [G/E→A], P=0.5798). In first-line setting, the detection rate for EGFR-driver and T790M in plasma by cobas was lower in A group than in G/E group, although there was no significant difference (EGFR-driver: 34% [A] vs. 52% [G/E], P=0.2072; and T790M: 10% [A] vs. 27% [G/E], P=0.1161).

Conclusion

The detection of EGFR-driver and T790M in plasma by cobas in patients treated with afatinib might be lower than with G/E in a real-world setting.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-020-07777-2.

Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia Induced by Switching from Conventional Cigarette Smoking to Heated Tobacco Product Smoking

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) is an acute respiratory illness with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and pulmonary eosinophilia. While the etiology of AEP remains unclear, a relationship between cigarette smoking and AEP onset has been suggested. The use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) has been growing, but the impact of these products on our health is not fully understood. We herein report a case of AEP that developed after switching from conventional cigarette to HTP smoking. The patient's condition improved after the cessation of HTP smoking and corticosteroid treatment initiation. In cases of AEP, physicians should consider HTPs use as a possible cause.

Moulds and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins are relevant allergens to affect Type 2 inflammation and clinical outcomes in chronic rhinosinusitis patients

Background

Sensitisation to moulds and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins (SEs) is associated with the pathophysiology of both asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The purpose of this study was to clarify the contribution of sensitisation to these allergens to Type 2 inflammation in the blood, nose and the lower airways, and clinical outcomes in CRS patients.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 56 CRS patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) (20 with comorbid asthma) and 28 healthy controls between October 2015 and December 2017. CRS patients were followed up for 12 months after surgery. Type 2 inflammation-related biomarkers were analysed using blood, resected tissue samples and sputum. 10 allergens including Alternaria, Aspergillus and SEs were measured. Type 2 inflammation-related biomarkers and clinical outcomes were compared in the stratification with the presence or absence of allergen sensitisation.

Results

Sensitisation rate to moulds and SEs in asthmatic patients was increased when changing the cut-off value of specific IgE titre from 0.35 UA·mL⁻¹ to 0.10 UA·mL⁻¹ (1.7- and 4.5-fold, respectively). Moulds and SEs affected the prevalence of asthma and eosinophilic CRS by interacting with each other. All Type 2 inflammation-related biomarkers except for eosinophils in sinus tissue were significantly higher in patients with mould or SE (mould/SE) sensitisation (≥0.10 UA·mL⁻¹) (n=19) than in those without (n=37) and healthy subjects (all p<0.05). Meanwhile, mould/SE sensitisation did not affect longitudinal changes in clinical outcomes after ESS. Changes in serum mould/SE-IgE levels after ESS remained unclear.

Conclusion

Mould/SE sensitisation (≥0.10 UA·mL⁻¹) may affect the development of Type 2 inflammation and clinical outcomes in CRS patients.

Alternaria,Aspergillusand S. aureus enterotoxins are important allergens affecting Type 2 inflammation and clinical outcomes in CRS patients. Sensitisation to moulds/SEs (≥0.10 UA·mL⁻¹) would be meaningful in the pathophysiology of CRS.https://bit.ly/3bUG8ZT

The impact of budesonide inhalation suspension for asthma hospitalization: In terms of length of stay, recovery time from symptoms, and hospitalization costs

BACKGROUND

Hospitalization is a major cause of medical expenditure for asthma. Budesonide inhalation suspension (BIS) may assist in reducing asthma-related symptoms in severe asthma exacerbation. However, its effectiveness for hospitalized patients remains poorly known. The objective of this study is to determine associations of BIS with asthma hospitalization.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 98 patients who were admitted to our hospital due to severe asthma exacerbation (24 treated with BIS in combination with procaterol) from April 2014 to January 2019. Length of stay, recovery time from symptoms (wheezes), and hospitalization costs were compared between the 2 groups according to clinical factors including the use of BIS and sings of respiratory infections (i.e. C-reactive protein, the presence of phlegm, and the use of antibiotics). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors contributing to hospitalization outcomes.

RESULTS

The use of BIS was associated with shorter length of stay, faster recovery time from symptoms, and more reduced hospitalization costs (6.0 vs 8.5 days, 2.5 vs 5.0 days, and 258,260 vs 343,350 JPY). Signs of respiratory infection were also associated with hospitalization outcomes. On a multivariate regression analysis, the use of BIS was a determinant of shortened length of stay and reduced symptoms and medical costs for asthma hospitalization along with signs of respiratory infection.

CONCLUSIONS

BIS may contribute to shorten length of hospital stay and to reduce symptoms and medical expenditure irrespective of the presence or absence of respiratory infection.

Variants of SLC22A16 Predict the Efficacy of Platinum Combination Chemotherapy in Advanced Non-small-cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

Organic cation transporter 6 (OCT6) encoded by solute carrier family 22 member 16 (SLC22A16) is involved in regulating cellular sensitivity and resistance to platinum derivatives. SLC22A16 has functional genetic variants but the association between these variants and the effectiveness of antitumor drugs remains unexplored.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed data from 160 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy for first-line chemotherapy between October 2010 and May 2018. We investigated the association between the genetic variant of SLC22A16 and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Patients with the rs714368 GG genotype had a shorter progression-free survival than those with AA or AG. Gene polymorphism was not associated with adverse effects. The predictive effect of rs714368 was confirmed in multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model.

CONCLUSION

A genetic variant of SLC22A16 is a potential predictive biomarker for response to platinum-based chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Increased Capsaicin Sensitivity in Patients with Severe Asthma Is Associated with Worse Clinical Outcome

Rationale: Capsaicin cough reflex sensitivity (C-CS) is associated with poorly controlled asthma, although its association with severe asthma remains unknown.Objectives: To determine the clinical impact of C-CS on severe asthma.Methods: We prospectively enrolled 157 patients with asthma (including 122 patients with severe asthma who were in step 4 or 5 according to the Global Initiative for Asthma 2015 guidelines) between November 2016 and October 2019. A capsaicin cough challenge was performed along with spirometry and assessment of biomarkers. The concentration required to induce at least five coughs by capsaicin was adopted as an index of C-CS. An Asthma Control Test and comorbidities were also evaluated. Associations of biomarkers with four clinical features of severe asthma made by the European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society guidelines (poor control [Asthma Control Test < 20; n = 58], frequent exacerbations [≥2/yr; n = 28], admissions [≥1/yr; n = 17], and airflow limitation [FEV₁% predicted < 80%; n = 30]) were assessed.Measurements and Main Results: Heightened C-CS was associated with poor asthma control, frequent exacerbations, and admissions, particularly in patients without atopy (n = 54). Meanwhile, C-CS was not related to airflow limitation. Multivariate regression analysis has revealed that heightened C-CS (at least five coughs by capsaicin ≤ 2.44 μM) was a significant risk for poor asthma control and frequent exacerbations. Regarding general factors and comorbidities, ex-smoking status, diabetes mellitus, and chronic rhinosinusitis were associated with clinical features of severe asthma (all P < 0.05).Conclusions: Heightened C-CS is a risk factor for severe asthma. The present study suggests the association of airway neuronal dysfunction with the pathophysiology of non-type 2 severe asthma.

The diagnostic utility of the frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (FSSG) for patients with subacute/chronic cough

BACKGROUND

The frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD (FSSG) questionnaire, which originally consists of acid-reflux and dysmotility symptom domains, is a succinct questionnaire to evaluate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the utility of subjective questionnaire of GERD for the diagnosis of GERD-related cough by using FSSG questionnaire.

METHODS

We recruited 256 patients with subacute/chronic cough between April 2012 and March 2018, who were analyzed using FSSG questionnaire and blood eosinophil counts. GERD-related cough was inferred through the presence of classic reflux symptoms including heartburn and/or typical coughing trigger (e.g. phonation, rising, lying, eating, and intake of certain food). The diagnosis was confirmed by response to specific treatments for GERD. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the cutoff score for the diagnosis.

RESULTS

One-hundred ten patients (43%) were diagnosed as having GERD-related cough. FSSG questionnaire was relevant for diagnosing GERD-related cough, with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.70 (p < 0.0001, cutoff score 7 points, sensitivity 75%, specificity 62%). When limited to patients with blood eosinophils of ≤150/μL or those with sputum eosinophils of ≤3%, sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis was increased, respectively (sensitivity and specificity; 79% and 65% for blood eosinophils and 82% and 68% for sputum eosinophils. p < 0.0001, AUC 0.74 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

The subjective questionnaire of GERD (FSSG) would be helpful in diagnosing GERD-related cough, particularly in patients with low blood or sputum eosinophil counts.

Nestin Expression Affects Resistance to Chemotherapy and Clinical Outcome in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Objectives: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive and highly metastatic lung cancer subtype. Nestin is a member of the intermediate filament family and serves as a potential proliferative and multipotency marker in neural progenitor and stem cells. Aberrant expression of nestin is linked to poor prognosis in different cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer. However, the association between nestin expression and clinicopathological feature or prognosis has remained unclear for SCLC. This study examined whether nestin expression was associated with malignant features and clinical outcomes in SCLC.

Materials and Methods: Using previously established Nestin knock-down cells and a newly established Nestin-overexpressing cell line, we examined the relationship between nestin expression and cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo and chemosensitivity. We also analyzed nestin expression in three drug-resistant lung cancer cell lines. Furthermore, we examined samples from 84 SCLC patients (16 patients with surgical resection, and 68 patients with biopsy), and immunohistochemically analyzed nestin expression.

Results: Nestin expression correlated positively with cell proliferation, but negatively with chemosensitivity. Nestin expression in drug-resistant cell lines was upregulated compared to their parental cells. Among the 84 SCLC patients, 24 patients (28.6%) showed nestin-positive tumor. Nestin-positive ratio tended to be higher in operated patients than in biopsied patients. Nestin-positive and -negative patients showed no significant differences in response rate (RR) or progression-free survival (PFS) following first-line chemotherapy. However, positive expression of nestin was associated with shorter PFS following second-line chemotherapy (median PFS: nestin-positive, 81 days vs. nestin-negative, 117 days; P = 0.029).

Conclusions: Nestin expression may be associated with malignant phenotype and worse outcome in SCLC patients.

Increased Serum Periostin Levels and Eosinophils in Nasal Polyps Are Associated with the Preventive Effect of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Asthma Exacerbations in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic nasal polyps (NPs) are associated with the presence of asthma in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. Serum periostin has been considered a relevant biomarker for unified airway diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the utility of biomarkers including serum periostin that reflects reduction of exacerbations of comorbid asthma in CRS patients.

METHODS

We prospectively recruited 56 CRS patients who were subjected to undergo endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) (20 with asthma) between October 2015 and December 2017 and followed them for 1 year after ESS. Blood eosinophil count, serum periostin, and fractional nitric oxide (FeNO) were measured at enrollment. How these type 2-driven biomarkers reflect comorbid asthma was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The frequency of asthma exacerbations during 1 year was counted both before and after ESS. Associations between preoperative biomarkers including eosinophils in NPs and asthma exacerbations were evaluated.

RESULTS

Blood eosinophil count, FeNO, and serum periostin levels were significantly higher in CRS patients with asthma than in those without (p < 0.01 for all) and discriminated comorbid asthma among CRS patients (p < 0.05; AUC > 0.80 for all). The increased preoperative serum periostin correlated with lower absolute number of postoperative exacerbations (ρ = -0.49, p = 0.03) and its relative reduction after ESS (ρ = 0.53, p = 0.03) in asthmatic patients. Increased eosinophils in NPs were also associated with reduced asthma exacerbations.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative increased serum periostin and eosinophils in NPs are associated with the preventive effect of ESS for asthma exacerbations in CRS patients comorbid with asthma.

Value of TTF-1 expression in non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer for assessing docetaxel monotherapy after chemotherapy failure

Docetaxel is one of the standard second/third-line treatments for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following a failed response to prior cytotoxic chemotherapy. The predictive biomarker for the effectiveness of docetaxel therapy remains undetermined. However, thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) is known to be a good prognostic factor for a variety of chemotherapies. To investigate the association between TTF-1 expression and docetaxel monotherapy outcome, 82 patients with non-squamous NSCLC who received second/third-line docetaxel monotherapy were retrospectively screened. All backgrounds were well-balanced whether or not tumor TTF-1 was expressed, and the present clinical outcomes were similar to those reported by previous clinical studies. A better clinical outcome was indicated in TTF-1 positive compared with TTF-1 negative patients, with disease control rates of 69% vs. 42%, respectively (P=0.03) and median overall survival of 393 days vs. 221.5 days, respectively (P<0.01). Furthermore, progression free survival tended to be longer in TTF-1 positive compared with TTF-1 negative patients (median, 100 days vs. 67 days; P=0.09). Multivariate analysis revealed that TTF-1 positivity was a unique significant predictor for assessing overall survival after docetaxel monotherapy. TTF-1 positivity may be useful for predicting survival outcome in patients who received docetaxel monotherapy after failure of prior chemotherapy.

A randomized phase 3 study of maintenance therapy with S-1 plus best supportive care versus best supportive care after induction therapy with carboplatin plus S-1 for advanced or relapsed squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (WJOG7512L)

BACKGROUND

A randomized phase 3 study was performed to investigate the efficacy and safety of maintenance therapy with S-1 after induction therapy with carboplatin plus S-1 in patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced or relapsed squamous NSCLC were treated with carboplatin (area under the curve of 5 on day 1 every 3 weeks) plus S-1 (40 mg/m² twice per day on days 1-14 every 3 weeks) as induction therapy. Patients who did not progress after 4 cycles of induction therapy were randomized to receive either S-1 plus best supportive care (BSC) or BSC alone. The primary objective of the study was to confirm the superiority of S-1 plus BSC in comparison with BSC alone with respect to progression-free survival.

RESULTS

Of the 365 patients enrolled in the study, 347 participated in the induction phase, and 131 of these individuals were randomized to receive S-1 plus BSC (n = 67) or BSC alone (n = 64). The risk of disease progression was significantly lower for patients in the S-1 plus BSC arm than those in the BSC-alone arm (hazard ratio, 0.548; 95% confidence interval, 0.374-0.802; P = .0019). The most common toxicities during maintenance therapy with S-1 included anorexia, anemia, and fatigue, but most cases were not severe.

CONCLUSIONS

Continued maintenance with S-1 plus BSC is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for patients with advanced squamous NSCLC previously treated with carboplatin plus S-1.

PREDICT1: An observational study for identifying blood biomarkers associated with clinical benefit from carboplatin and pemetrexed (CbP) treatment in patients with non-squamous (NS) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (CJLSG1201)

9524

Background: At present, platinum-doublet chemotherapy or in combination with an immune check point inhibitor are standard treatment for patients with metastatic or recurrent NSCLC which lacks somatic gene alterations. Although CbP is one of the commonly used treatment options for NS-NSCLC, its clinical utility is limited due to lack of optimal biomarkers. Methods: Chemotherapy-naïve patients with pathologically proven advanced or recurrent NS-NSCLC received carboplatin (area under the curve = 5-6, at investigator’s discretion) plus pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) every 3 weeks followed by maintenance pemetrexed until disease progression. Blood samples were collected before treatment for proteomic analysis using mass spectrometry (MS). A classifier was constructed based on both an objective response assessed by radiologist independent of attending physicians in accordance with RECIST v1.1 and expression profiles of protein in a training cohort. The constructed classifier was then assessed with a validation cohort evaluating prediction accuracy of good responder, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Of 244 patients with NS-NSCLC in a training cohort, proteomic profiles in blood from 96 patients who responded or progressed after treatment with CbP were analyzed to develop a classifier based on weighted voting. Details of the classifier will be presented at the 2020 ASCO Annual Meeting. The classifier was then applied to validation cohort (n = 94), and we successfully identified patients who benefit from the treatment (55 in good MS group) or not (39 in poor MS group). The objective response rate of the good MS group was significantly higher than that of the poor MS group (30.9% vs. 5.1%; p = 0.0018). The good MS group showed a significantly improved survival compared to the poor MS group (median PFS, 6.0 m vs. 2.3 m; hazard ratio [HR], 0.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09-0.27; p < 0.001; median OS, 25.7 m vs. 5.1 m; HR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.1-0.34; p < 0.001). Conclusions: In the present study, we successfully developed and validated a predictive classifier using proteomic analyses with blood samples collected from patients before treatment with CbP, suggesting the clinical utility of the classifier in selecting NS-NSCLC patients for treatment with CbP. Clinical trial information: UMIN000008476 .

Acquired Resistance to Alectinib in ALK-Rearranged Lung Cancer due to ABCC11/MRP8 Overexpression in a Clinically Paired Resistance Model

Alectinib is used as a first-line treatment for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Whereas other ALK inhibitors have been reported to be involved in resistance to ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, no data are available regarding the association between resistance to alectinib and ABC-transporters. To investigate whether ABC-transporters contribute to alectinib resistance, ABC-transporter expression in alectinib-resistant cell lines derived from a patient with ALK-rearranged NSCLC and from H2228 lung cancer cells was evaluated and compared with that in each parent cell type. ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 11 (ABCC11) expression was significantly increased in alectinib-resistant cell lines compared with that in alectinib-sensitive lines. ABCC11 inhibition increased sensitivity to alectinib in vitro ABCC11-overexpressing cells were established by transfection of an ABCC11 expression vector into H2228 cells, while control cells were established by transfecting H2228 cells with an empty vector. ABCC11-overexpressing cells exhibited decreased sensitivity to alectinib compared with that of control cells in vitro Moreover, the tumor growth rate following alectinib treatment was higher in ABCC11-overexpressing cells than that in control cells in vivo In addition, the intracellular alectinib concentration following exposure to 100 nmol/L alectinib was significantly lower in the ABCC11-overexpressing cell line compared with that in control cells. This is the first preclinical evidence showing that ABCC11 expression may be involved in acquired resistance to alectinib.

A novel pathophysiologic link between upper and lower airways in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: Association of sputum periostin levels with upper airway inflammation and olfactory function

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and asthma are collectively called unified airway diseases. Periostin has been implicated in the pathophysiologic link of these conditions but only by serum measurements. We sought to investigate sputum levels of periostin and their association with upper airway inflammation and olfactory function in CRS patients.

Methods

We prospectively recruited 56 CRS patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (20 with and 36 without comorbid asthma), and 28 healthy controls between October 2015 and December 2017. Lower and upper airway indices such as sputum periostin levels and eosinophil and neutrophil counts, exhaled fractional nitric oxide (FeNO) levels, and olfactory function were evaluated in the three groups. Radiological severity of CT images and tissue eosinophilia of surgical specimens were also assessed in the CRS patients.

Results

Sputum periostin levels were highest, and olfactory function was most impaired, in the CRS patients with comorbid asthma, followed by those without asthma and controls in this order. CRS with asthma group showed higher sputum eosinophils and FeNO levels than the other two groups, while CRS patients without asthma showed significantly higher neutrophils in sputum than the other two groups. When confined to CRS patients, olfactory dysfunction was correlated with sputum eosinophil counts. Eosinophil counts of nasal polyps showed a significant positive correlation with sputum periostin and FeNO levels. Radiological severity of CRS was correlated with sputum eosinophil counts and FeNO levels.

Conclusions

Periostin levels and inflammatory cells such as eosinophils and neutrophils in the lower airways are increased in patients with CRS, suggesting the presence of mutual interactions between upper and lower airways even if asthma does not coexist. Olfactory dysfunction and eosinophilic nasal polyps may be potential indicators of Th2-driven inflammation in the lower airways.

Trial registration

This study was registered on the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (Registry ID UMIN000018672).

A case of non-small cell lung cancer with long-term response after re-challenge with nivolumab

A 76-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with cough and dyspnea. He was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Nivolumab was given as second-line treatment, cytotoxic chemotherapy was given as third-line treatment, and nivolumab re-challenge was given as fourth-line treatment. Thereafter, 41 chemotherapy courses were administered over 2 years. Currently, he is being followed with no recurrence at least 10 months after treatment. Thus, the case of a patient with advanced lung cancer who was previously unsuccessfully treated with nivolumab and then demonstrated a long-term clinical response to a re-challenge with nivolumab after cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation therapy is presented.

Serum levels of the chemokine CCL2 are elevated in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients

BACKGROUND

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a debilitating disease of the pleural cavity. It is primarily associated with previous inhalation of asbestos fibers. These fibers initiate an oxidant coupled inflammatory response. Repeated exposure to asbestos fibers results in a prolonged inflammatory response and cycles of tissue damage and repair. The inflammation-associated cycles of tissue damage and repair are intimately involved in the development of asbestos-associated cancers. Macrophages are a key component of asbestos-associated inflammation and play essential roles in the etiology of a variety of cancers. Macrophages are also a source of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), and a variety of tumor-types express CCL2. High levels of CCL2 are present in the pleural effusions of mesothelioma patients, however, CCL2 has not been examined in the serum of mesothelioma patients.

METHODS

The present study was carried out with 50 MPM patients and 356 subjects who were possibly exposed to asbestos but did not have disease symptoms and 41 healthy volunteers without a history of exposure to asbestos. The levels of CCL2 in the serum of the study participants was determined using ELISA.

RESULTS

Levels of CCL2 were significantly elevated in the serum of patients with advanced MPM.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings are consistent with the premise that the CCL2/CCR2 axis and myeloid-derived cells play an important role in MPM and disease progression. Therapies are being developed that target CCL2/CCR2 and tumor resident myeloid cells, and clinical trials are being pursued that use these therapies as part of the treatment regimen. The results of trials with patients with a similar serum CCL2 pattern as MPM patients will have important implications for the treatment of MPM.

Aortoesophageal Fistula Occurring during Lung Cancer Treatment: A Case Treated by Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair

A 63-year-old man had received chemoradiotherapy 7 years ago for stage IIIA pulmonary adenocarcinoma of the left lower lobe and stereotactic irradiation 3 years ago for stage IA pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma of the left upper lobe. An esophageal stent was placed because of esophageal narrowing caused by tumor invasion. Five months later, he was diagnosed with an aortoesophageal fistula. Because invasive surgery posed challenges, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was performed. We report this rare case of aortoesophageal fistula treated using TEVAR. However, the therapeutic effect was temporary. Further studies investigating the indications for TEVAR are warranted.