Favorable treatment response of bevacizumab-combined chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung: A retrospective observational study

Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) of the lung is a rare variant of adenocarcinoma characterized by abundant intracytoplasmic mucin within the tumor. Although IMA has poor sensitivity to conventional chemotherapy regimens used for non-small cell lung cancer, we observed a better response to the bevacizumab (BEV) regimen. In this retrospective study, we aimed to investigate the response to BEV-combined regimens in patients with IMA. Among 16 consecutive patients diagnosed with IMA between January 2016 and December 2020 at our institution and treated with systemic chemotherapy, seven patients were treated with BEV-combined regimens. The overall response rate to BEV-combined regimens was 85.7%, with six patients showing a partial response. The median progression-free survival was 6.1 months. One patient experienced respiratory failure, which was improved after administration of BEV-combined regimen. BEV-combined systemic therapy may have a favorable effect on advanced or recurrent IMA of the lung.

Spontaneous regression of acute fibrinous organizing pneumonia induced by COVID-19 vaccination: A case report

A 42-year-old woman visited our hospital with complaints of fever, muscle pain, and dyspnea one week after receiving the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. Chest high-resolution computed tomography showed a patchy consolidation and ground-glass attenuation in the both lungs, consistent with acute interstitial pneumonia. Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy revealed organizing pneumonia with marked intra-alveolar fibrin, and pathologically diagnosed as acute fibrinous organizing pneumonia (AFOP). Other causative diseases such as dermatomyositis was clinically ruled out, and COVID-19 vaccine-induced AFOP was diagnosed. Physician should check the history of COVID-19 vaccination when encountering a case of AFOP with an unknown cause.

Drug-related pneumonitis caused by amikacin liposome inhalation suspension: One pathologically proven case and single-center experience

Amikacin liposome inhalation suspension (ALIS) is known to cause drug-related pneumonitis, which has been described as "hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP)". However, its clinical and pathological characteristics have never been reported. We retrospectively evaluated 18 patients treated with ALIS. Three (16.7%) patients developed HP-pattern pneumonitis on high-resolution computed tomography. Serum eosinophil counts were elevated up to above 1000/μL in these three patients, which decreased with ALIS discontinuation only. Of note, the specimen obtained by transbronchial lung cryobiopsy in one patient revealed a mild degree of lymphocyte and eosinophil infiltration. Rather, the findings of acute lung injury such as an edematous thickening of the alveolar walls, and an accumulation of foamy degenerative macrophages in the alveolar lumina was prominent. A pulmonary alveolar proteinosis reaction was also observed. HP-pattern pneumonitis due to ALIS may pathologically correspond to acute lung injury and a pulmonary alveolar proteinosis reaction despite increasing serum eosinophil counts.

KRASG12C Inhibitor as a Treatment Option for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Comorbid Interstitial Pneumonia

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with comorbid interstitial pneumonia (IP) is a population with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. Patients with comorbid IP are at high risk of developing fatal drug-induced pneumonitis, and data on the safety and efficacy of molecularly targeted therapies are lacking. KRAS mutations have been frequently detected in patients with NSCLC with comorbid IP. However, the low detection rate of common driver gene mutations, such as epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic lymphoma kinase, in patients with comorbid IP frequently results in inadequate screening for driver mutations, and KRAS mutations may be overlooked. Recently, sotorasib and adagrasib were approved as treatment options for advanced NSCLC with KRASG12C mutations. Although patients with comorbid IP were not excluded from clinical trials of these KRASG12C inhibitors, the incidence of drug-induced pneumonitis was low. Therefore, KRASG12C inhibitors may be a safe and effective treatment option for NSCLC with comorbid IP. This review article discusses the promise and prospects of molecular-targeted therapies, especially KRASG12C inhibitors, for NSCLC with comorbid IP, along with our own clinical experience.

Autophagy Inhibition-induced Cytosolic DNA Sensing Combined with Differentiation Therapy Induces Irreversible Myeloid Differentiation in Leukemia Cells

Accumulating evidence indicates that various oncogenic mutations interfere with normal myeloid differentiation of leukemogenic cells during the early process of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) development. Differentiation therapy is a therapeutic strategy capable of terminating leukemic expansion by reactivating the differentiation potential; however, the plasticity and instability of leukemia cells counteract the establishment of treatments aimed at irreversibly inducing and maintaining their differentiation states. On the basis of our previous observation that autophagy inhibitor treatment induces the accumulation of cytosolic DNA and activation of cytosolic DNA-sensor signaling selectively in leukemia cells, we herein examined the synergistic effect of cytosolic DNA-sensor signaling activation with conventional differentiation therapy on AML. The combined treatment succeeded in inducing irreversible differentiation in AML cell lines. Mechanistically, cytosolic DNA was sensed by absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), a cytosolic DNA sensor. Activation of the AIM2 inflammasome resulted in the accumulation of p21 through the inhibition of its proteasomal degradation, thereby facilitating the myeloid differentiation. Importantly, the combined therapy dramatically reduced the total leukemia cell counts and proportion of blast cells in the spleens of AML mice. Collectively, these findings indicate that the autophagy inhibition-cytosolic DNA-sensor signaling axis can potentiate AML differentiation therapy.

SIGNIFICANCE

Clinical effects on AML therapy are closely associated with reactivating the normal myeloid differentiation potential in leukemia cells. This study shows that autophagosome formation inhibitors activate the cytosolic DNA-sensor signaling, thereby augmenting conventional differentiation therapy to induce irreversible differentiation and cell growth arrest in several types of AML cell lines.

Bilateral Pneumothorax after a Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy for Interstitial Lung Disease

We herein report a case of bilateral pneumothorax after a unilateral transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC). A 73-year-old man with no history of cardiothoracic surgery underwent a TBLC for the reevaluation of interstitial lung disease. Five hours later, he developed bilateral pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema. He underwent bilateral chest drainage and was discharged 18 days later. The lung biopsy specimens obtained from the TBLC contained visceral pleura and bronchial cartilage, suggesting bronchial injury as the cause of the bilateral pneumothorax.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with lung cancer having chronic interstitial pneumonia

Background

In interstitial pneumonia (IP)-associated lung cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (ICIP) is common with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the safety and efficacy of ICI treatment for patients with lung cancer with IP.

Methods

This multicentre retrospective observational study was conducted from June 2016 to December 2020 in patients with primary lung cancer with IP who received ICI treatment.

Results

A total of 200 patients (median age 70 years; male/female, 176/24) were enrolled from 27 institutions. ICIP occurred in 61 patients (30.5%), pneumonitis grades 3-5 in 32 patients (15.5%) and death in nine patients (4.5%). The common computed tomography pattern of ICIP was organising pneumonia in 29 patients (47.5%). Subsequently, diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) pattern was observed in 19 patients (31.1%) who had a significantly worse prognosis than those with a non-DAD pattern (median progression-free survival (PFS) 115 days versus 226 days, p=0.042; median overall survival (OS) 334 days versus 1316 days, p<0.001). Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) occurred in approximately 50% of patients. Patients with irAEs (n=100) had a better prognosis than those without irAEs (n=100) (median PFS 200 days versus 77 days, p<0.001; median OS 597 days versus 390 days p=0.0074). The objective response rate and disease control rate were 41.3% and 68.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

Although ICI treatment was effective for patients with lung cancer with IP, ICIP developed in approximately 30% of patients. Patients with irAEs had a significantly better PFS and OS than those without irAEs.

Concordance between transbronchial lung cryobiopsy and surgical lung biopsy in patients with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease: A report of four cases

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is a rare polyclonal lymphoproliferative disease often associated with pulmonary involvement. Recently, transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) has been reported to be useful for the diagnosis of diffuse interstitial lung disease. However, there have been no reports of pathological assessment of TBLC for iMCD.

METHOD

To clarify the efficacy of TBLC in the diagnosis of iMCD, we retrospectively reviewed four iMCD patients who had undergone both TBLC and surgical lung biopsy (SLB).

RESULTS

The median age was 44 years; 2 males and 2 females. Two or three TBLC specimens were taken from each patient. All patients had no complications other than minimal bleeding. The size of the TBLC specimens was approximately 5-6 × 3-4 mm, and the alveolar region, and centrilobular and perilobular areas were adequately sampled. As with SLB, the extent of lung lesions and inflammatory cell infiltration could be sufficiently evaluated by TBLC. The presence of lymphoid follicles could also be assessed by TBLC; however, the germinal centers with lymphoid follicles were difficult to evaluate. The TBLC specimens could also be evaluated for immunostaining, especially IgG4 immunostaining, to rule out IgG4-related lung disease. Pulmonary pathological grading showed a high concordance rate between major pathological findings of TBLC and SLB. The pathologist's confidence level of TBLC for the diagnosis of iMCD was high in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

TBLC exhibits a high concordance rate with SLB in the pathological evaluation of iMCD, which may be useful for the diagnosis of iMCD.

Short-term inhalation of sargramostim with concomitant high-dose steroids does not hasten recovery in moderate COVID-19 pneumonia: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) inhalation may alleviate pulmonary inflammation caused by viral pneumonia. To investigate this, we evaluated its efficacy on COVID-19 pneumonia.

METHODS

This double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04642950) evaluated patients in the first half of 2021 at seven Japanese hospitals. Hospitalised patients with COVID-19 pneumonia with moderate hypoxaemia inhaled sargramostim or placebo for 5 days. The primary endpoint was days to achieve a ≥ 2-category improvement from baseline on a modified 7-category ordinal scale. Secondary endpoints included degree of oxygenation, defined by amount of oxygen supply, and serum CCL17 level.

RESULTS

Seventy-five patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive sargramostim or placebo, of which 47 and 23 were analysed, respectively. No difference was observed between groups regarding the primary endpoint (8.0 and 7.0 days for sargramostim and placebo, respectively) or in the secondary endpoints, except for CCL17. A post hoc sub-analysis indicated that endpoint assessments were influenced by concomitant corticosteroid therapy. When the cumulative corticosteroid dose was ≤500 mg during Days 1-5, recovery and oxygenation were faster in the sargramostim group than for placebo. Bolus dose corticosteroids were associated with temporarily impaired oxygenation and delayed clinical recovery. The increase in serum CCL17, a candidate prognostic factor, reflected improvement with sargramostim inhalation. The number of adverse events was similar between groups. Two serious adverse events were observed in the sargramostim group without causal relation.

CONCLUSIONS

Inhaled sargramostim was likely to be effective for COVID-19 pneumonia unless the concomitant corticosteroid dose was high.

Clinical and imaging features of interstitial lung disease in cancer patients treated with trastuzumab deruxtecan

BACKGROUND

Interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis (ILD/pneumonitis) has been identified as a drug-related adverse event of special interest of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), but there were a few reports of T-DXd-related ILD/pneumonitis in clinical practice.

METHODS

Between May 25, 2020 (the launch of T-DXd in Japan) and February 24, 2022, there were 287 physician-reported potential ILD/pneumonitis cases from the Japanese post-marketing all-case surveillance. By February 27, 2022, an independent adjudication committee assessed 138 cases and adjudicated 130 cases as T-DXd-related ILD/pneumonitis. The clinical features and imaging characteristics of these cases were evaluated.

RESULTS

The majority of adjudicated T-DXd-related ILD/pneumonitis cases were grade 1 or 2 (100/130, 76.9%). The most common radiological pattern types observed were organizing pneumonia patterns (63.1%), hypersensitivity pneumonitis patterns (16.9%), and diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) patterns (14.6%). Eleven cases (8.5%) from 130 resulted in death; the majority of these (8/11, 72.7%) had DAD patterns. The overall proportion of recovery (including the outcomes of recovered, recovered with sequelae, and recovering) was 76.9%, and the median time to recovery was 83.5 days (interquartile range: 42.25-143.75 days). Most cases (59/71, 83.1%) that were treated with corticosteroids were considered responsive to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report to evaluate T-DXd-related ILD/pneumonitis cases in clinical practice. Our findings are consistent with previous reports and suggest that patients with DAD patterns have poor outcomes. Evaluation of a larger real-world dataset may further identify predictors of clinical outcome.

High prevalence of upper lung field pulmonary fibrosis radiologically consistent with pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis in patients with round atelectasis

BACKGROUND

Upper-lung field pulmonary fibrosis (upper-PF), radiologically consistent with pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE), was reported to develop in patients with a history of asbestos exposure and tuberculous pleurisy, indicating that chronic pleuritis is correlated with upper-PF development. Round atelectasis reportedly emerges after chronic pleuritis. This study aimed to clarify the association between round atelectasis and upper-PF.

METHODS

We examined the radiological reports of all consecutive patients with round atelectasis between 2006 and 2018 and investigated the incidence of upper-PF development.

RESULTS

Among 85 patients with round atelectasis, 21 patients (24.7%) were confirmed to finally develop upper-PF lesions. Upper-PF was diagnosed after round atelectasis recognition in more than half of the patients (13/21, 61.9%), whereas upper-PF and round atelectasis were simultaneously detected in the remaining 8 patients. At the time of round atelectasis detection, almost all patients (19/21, 90.5%) had diffuse pleural thickening and round atelectasis was commonly observed in non-upper lobes of 19 patients (90.5%). Fourteen patients had round atelectasis in unilateral lung, and the remaining 7 patients had round atelectasis in bilateral lungs. Among all 14 patients with unilateral round atelectasis, upper-PF developed on the same (n = 11) or both sides (n = 3). Thus, upper-PF emerged on the same side where round atelectasis was present (14/14, 100%). The autopsy of one patient revealed a thickened parietal-visceral pleura suggestive of chronic pleuritis. Subpleural fibroelastosis was also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Upper-PF occasionally develops on the same side of round atelectasis. Upper-PF may develop as a sequela of chronic pleuritis.

Safety and Efficacy of Combination Therapy of Remdesivir, Baricitinib, and High-dose Steroids in Patients Hospitalized with Moderate to Severe COVID-19

Objective Dexamethasone, remdesivir (REM), and baricitinib (BAR) are commonly used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). High-dose steroids have also been reported to be well tolerated, even when used in combination with multiple drugs. In this retrospective study, we assessed the safety and therapeutic efficacy of a three-drug combination of high-dose steroids, REM, and BAR in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods We retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of three-drug combination therapy. Patients We evaluated 107 patients hospitalized with moderate or severe COVID-19 who underwent 3-drug combination therapy with high-dose steroids (80 mg of methylprednisolone or more, REM, and BAR) in our institution from December 2020 to June 2021. The mean age was 62.1±13.7 years old, and 71.2% were men. The severity of the study patients was as follows: 18 (16.8%) with an 8-category ordinal score of 4, 84 (78.5%) with a score of 5, and 5 (4.7%) with a score of 6. Results The frequency of high-grade adverse events was low, except for hyperglycemia (n=59, 45.8%). The median duration from symptom onset to the start of three-drug combination therapy was eight days. All but one of the patients treated with the combination therapy improved. The median time to improvement by 1 category of the eight-category ordinal score was 6 days, and the 28-day mortality was 0.9%. Conclusion This study showed the safety profile of three-drug combination therapy of high-dose steroids, REM, and BAR in moderate to severe COVID-19 patients. The three-drug combination therapy is well tolerated and has the potential to prevent exacerbation of severity.

Quantitative Analysis for Lung Disease on Thin-Section CT

Thin-section computed tomography (CT) is widely employed not only for assessing morphology but also for evaluating respiratory function. Three-dimensional images obtained from thin-section CT provide precise measurements of lung, airway, and vessel volumes. These volumetric indices are correlated with traditional pulmonary function tests (PFT). CT also generates lung histograms. The volume ratio of areas with low and high attenuation correlates with PFT results. These quantitative image analyses have been utilized to investigate the early stages and disease progression of diffuse lung diseases, leading to the development of novel concepts such as pre-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (pre-COPD) and interstitial lung abnormalities. Quantitative analysis proved particularly valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic when clinical evaluations were limited. In this review, we introduce CT analysis methods and explore their clinical applications in the context of various lung diseases. We also highlight technological advances, including images with matrices of 1024 × 1024 and slice thicknesses of 0.25 mm, which enhance the accuracy of these analyses.

Acute Exacerbation and Proposed Criteria for Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis in Patients with Fibrotic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Acute exacerbation (AE) occasionally develops in the course of fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP).

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to compare AE of fibrotic HP with that of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

METHODS

Consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed fibrotic HP and IPF diagnosed based on a multidisciplinary discussion were included in the analysis. AE in patients with fibrotic HP and IPF was evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

This study included 309 and 160 patients with fibrotic HP and IPF, respectively. Their 50% survival times were 96.1 and 78.0 months, respectively (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.54 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.36-0.77], log-rank test; p < 0.001). Notably, the cumulative AE rates of fibrotic HP were 3% at 1 year and 10% at 3 years. Moreover, the corresponding rates of IPF were 8% at 1 year and 20% at 3 years (HR: 0.66 [95% CI: 0.45-0.93], log-rank test; p = 0.034). The 90-day survival rates from the AE onset of fibrotic HP and IPF were 75% and 64%, respectively (HR: 0.51 [95% CI: 0.31-0.83], log-rank test; p = 0.006). The respiratory function test on the physiological criteria of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) was a predictor of AE in fibrotic HP. However, the high-resolution CT (HRCT) changes in the criteria of PPF were not. Nevertheless, both the physiological and radiological criteria of PPF were a predictor of AE of IPF.

CONCLUSION

AE of fibrotic HP has a lesser prognostic effect than that of IPF. HRCT criteria for PPF were not a risk factor for AE in patients with fibrotic HP.

Concordance between transbronchial lung cryobiopsy and surgical lung biopsy for interstitial lung disease in the same patients

BACKGROUND

The diagnostic accuracy and safety of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) via a flexible bronchoscope under sedation compared with that of surgical lung biopsy (SLB) in the same patients is unknown.

METHODS

Retrospectively the data of fifty-two patients with interstitial lung diseases (median age: 63.5 years; 21 auto-antibody positive) who underwent TBLC followed by SLB (median time from TBLC to SLB: 57 days) was collected. The samples from TBLC and SLB were randomly labelled to mask the relationship between the two samples. Diagnosis was made independently by pathologists, radiologists, and pulmonary physicians in a stepwise manner, and a final diagnosis was made at multidisciplinary discussion (MDD). In each diagnostic step the specific diagnosis, the diagnostic confidence level, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnostic guideline criteria, and treatment strategy were recorded.

RESULTS

Without clinical and radiological information, the agreement between the histological diagnoses by TBLC and SLB was 42.3% (kappa [κ] = 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08-0.39). However, the agreement between the TBLC-MDD and SLB-MDD diagnoses and IPF/non-IPF diagnosis using the two biopsy methods was 65.4% (κ = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.42-0.73) and 90.4% (47/52), respectively. Out of 38 (73.1%) cases diagnosed with high or definite confidence at TBLC-MDD, 29 had concordant SLB-MDD diagnoses (agreement: 76.3%, κ = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.55-0.87), and the agreement for IPF/non-IPF diagnoses was 97.4% (37/38). By adding the pathological diagnosis, the inter-observer agreement of clinical diagnosis improved from κ = 0.22 to κ = 0.42 for TBLC and from κ = 0.27 to κ = 0.38 for SLB, and the prevalence of high or definite diagnostic confidence improved from 23.0% to 73.0% and from 17.3% to 73.0%, respectively. Of all 383 TBLC performed during the same period, pneumothorax occurred in 5.0% of cases, and no severe bleeding, acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease, or fatal event was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

TBLC via a flexible bronchoscope under deep sedation is safely performed, and the TBLC-MDD diagnosis with a high or definite confidence level is concordant with the SLB-MDD diagnosis in the same patients.

Utility of budgerigar/pigeon/parrot-specific IgG antibody with ImmunoCAP® in bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by other bird species and duvet

BACKGROUND

Bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis (BRHP) is an extrinsic allergic alveolitis caused by inhalation of bird antigens. Although the measurement of serum-specific IgG antibodies against budgerigar, pigeon, and parrot with ImmunoCAP® is available in Japan, the utility of the test for patients with causes by bird breeding other than these three species, including contact with wild birds/poultry/bird manure, and use of a duvet is unknown.

METHODS

Of the 75 BRHP patients who participated in our previous study, 30 were included. Six cases were caused by bird breeding of species other than pigeon, budgerigar, and parrot, seven were in contact with wild birds/poultry/bird manure, and 17 were using a duvet. Bird-specific IgG antibodies were compared among the patients, 64 controls, and 147 healthy participants.

RESULTS

In patients with BRHP caused by bird breeding, budgerigar and parrot-specific IgG levels were significantly higher than in disease controls. Only parrot-specific IgG was significantly higher than in disease controls in patients caused by duvet use. However, among patients with acute episodes (acute and recurrent type of chronic BRHP), IgG antibodies against all three species were significantly higher than those of disease controls caused by bird breeding and the use of a duvet.

CONCLUSIONS

Bird-specific IgG antibody with ImmunoCAP® was useful for screening and diagnosing BRHP caused by other bird species and duvets.

Successful tepotinib treatment of adenocarcinoma with MET exon 14 skipping and discordant results between Oncomine Dx target test and ArcherMET: A case report

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are often positive for oncogenic driver mutations, such as EGFR, ALK, BRAF, RET and MET exon 14 skipping mutations (METex14 skipping). Recently, METex14 skipping has become a functional biomarker for NSCLC with the approval of MET kinase inhibitors. Tepotinib is an oral MET kinase inhibitor. Its overall response rate is 46%, and the median duration of the response is 11.1 months. In Japan, companion diagnostics for tepotinib are limited with the ArcherMET and AmoyDx test, but not with Oncomine Dx target test. The present study reports the case of a 60-year-old male patient with lung adenocarcinoma harboring METex14 skipping, which was positive on Oncomine DxTT, but not on ArcherMET. In his sample used for Oncomine DxTT, the read count of MET(13)-MET(15) products was only 46. He was treated with various chemotherapeutic agents, but developed cardiac tamponade due to the progression of the disease of mediastinal lymph node metastases. Tepotinib was administered following pericardial drainage, resulting in an immediate response in all lesions. The majority of the discordant samples between Oncomine DxTT and ArcherMET had read counts <800, and the patient described herein had only 46. Therefore, the results of the present study indicate that the use of tepotinib should be considered even in patients whose METex14 skipping results were negative with ArcherMET, yet positive on Oncomine DxTT, particularly relatively with low lead counts.

Radiological and Pathological Features of Cyst Formation in Idiopathic Multicentric Castleman Disease

INTRODUCTION

Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) has been reported to form lung cysts at a relatively high rate. However, the radiological and pathological features of cystic formation in MCD are unclear.

METHODS

To clarify these questions, we retrospectively investigated the radiological and pathological findings of cysts in MCD patients. Eight consecutive patients who underwent surgical lung biopsies in our center from 2000 to 2019 were included.

RESULTS

The median age was 44.5 years, with three males and five females. On the initial computed tomography, cyst formation was found in seven patients (87.5%). All of the cysts were multiple, round, and thin walled, accompanying ground-glass attenuation (GGA) around cysts. In six patients (75%), cysts increased during their clinical courses, and the new cysts had emerged from GGA, although GGA was improved by treatment. In all four cases, whose pulmonary cysts could be pathologically evaluated, a marked plasma cell infiltration around the cyst wall, and loss of elastic fibers of the alveolar wall were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary cysts emerged in the area of GGA pathologically consistent with plasma cell infiltration. Cysts in MCD may be formed by the loss of elastic fibers due to marked plasma cell infiltration and may be considered irreversible changes.

Cumulative Incidence of Thromboembolism and Prognostic Impact of Stroke in BRAF V600E-mutant Non-small-cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

Cancer and ischemic stroke are closely associated. Thromboembolism susceptibility in lung cancer may differ depending on oncogenic alterations. However, the clinical characteristics of thromboembolism in patients with BRAF-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer remain unknown. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the cumulative incidence of thromboembolism in this population and describe such cases in detail.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively investigated consecutive patients with BRAF V600E-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer. Cumulative incidence was calculated using a competing risk analysis.

RESULTS

Of 10 patients with BRAF-V600E mutant lung cancer, five developed a total of seven thromboembolic events, showing a 1-year cumulative incidence of 43% (95% confidence interval=11-72%). These events consisted of four cancer-related stroke (CRS) events and three venous events including deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Of note, most of the early thrombotic events were CRS. Two patients with CRS had multiple brain infarctions during anticancer drug therapy, characterized by high D-dimer levels, resulting in short-term mortality (13 and 22 days after stroke onset).

CONCLUSION

A substantial proportion of patients with BRAF V600E-mutant lung cancer experienced thromboembolism during their disease course. CRS of undetermined source may predict a worse prognosis in this population.

Serum Immunoglobulin G Testing against Pigeon Egg in Stable Fibrotic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

INTRODUCTION

The accuracy of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G testing for diagnosis of stable bird-related fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is controversial. Furthermore, avian serum, extracts, or feathers were employed as antigens in bird-related HP; however, the usage of egg whites has not been reported. We investigated the utility of IgG testing against pigeon egg whites in patients with stable bird-related fibrotic HP.

METHODS

Patients having a positive inhalation test for pigeon antigen and a histological investigation with diagnostic confidence of fibrotic HP greater than moderate confidence were included. The control group consisted of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) other than HP. To select patients in the stable phase, patients with fibrotic HP were excluded if they were clinically considered to be in the acute exacerbation or acute phase. The IgG testing against pigeon egg whites by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the commercialized anti-pigeon IgG testing by fluorescence enzyme immunoassay were investigated.

RESULTS

In this study, 37 patients with stable bird-related fibrotic HP and 32 patients with ILDs other than HP participated. Serum IgG testing for pigeon egg whites revealed that the control group's optical density was 0.147 and the group with bird-related fibrotic HP had a mean value of 0.207 (p = 0.011). IgG testing in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid was not significantly higher in the bird-related fibrotic HP group than in controls (p = 0.42). No significant difference in area under the curve between an IgG testing against pigeon egg whites and a commercialized anti-pigeon IgG testing was observed (p = 0.24). Test accuracy for stable bird-related fibrotic HP ranged from 62% to 76% sensitivity and 59-66% specificity.

CONCLUSION

IgG testing to identify the inciting antigen in patients with stable bird-related fibrotic HP had relatively low accuracy.

Design and rationale of the Japanese Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias (JIPS) Registry

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies investigated patients with IPF; however, only a few examined patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs).

METHODS

The Japanese Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias (JIPS) Registry, which was initiated in December 2016, is a multicenter prospective observational study of patients newly diagnosed with IIPs from 86 facilities treating ILDs. The plan is to enroll more than 600 new patients during the 2-year enrolment period and to follow their progress for 3 years after the last case enrolment. If additional consent is obtained, the study will continue for another 2 years. Research questions mainly focus on identifying the frequency by IIP classification, patient background, and diagnostic methods during enrolment, survival, acute exacerbation rate, changes in high-resolution CT imaging, forced vital capacity, and interstitial pneumonia markers over time. Other research questions, including those regarding disease behavior in patients with progressive fibrosing-ILD and new biomarkers associated with genetic predispositions, will be investigated.

DISCUSSION

The JIPS Registry will provide a comprehensive description of the disease progression, prognosis, treatment status, new biomarkers, and validity of guidelines and central multidisciplinary decisions for IPF and similar diseases that can be differentiated from IPF among IIPs.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board of Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center (KCRC-16-0005), and that of Jichi Medical University approved the biobank part (I18-005). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will be presented at national and international conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinTrials.gov Registry (NCT03041623, first posted on February 3, 2017).

Pharmacotherapy for lung cancer with comorbid interstitial pneumonia: limited evidence requires appropriate evaluation

This article is a correspondence to the review article on lung cancer with comorbid interstitial pneumonia, particularly with regard to pharmacotherapy. Limited evidence needs to be accurately evaluated and utilised for these patients with poor prognosis. https://bit.ly/3BGRCz4.

Impact of antigen avoidance test for fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis in stable phase

BACKGROUND

The antigen avoidance has been used in the diagnosis and treatment of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP); however, its usefulness in stable fibrotic HP is controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the usefulness of the antigen avoidance test in patients with fibrotic HP in stable phase.

METHODS

The antigen avoidance test was conducted during a 2-week hospitalization comparing clinical parameters at admission and before discharge. A retrospective review of patients who underwent surgical lung biopsy or transbronchial lung cryobiopsy, who were diagnosed with fibrotic HP by multi-disciplinary discussion, and whose disease progression was stable for more than two months before the antigen avoidance test was done.

RESULTS

Between 2016 and 2021, 40 patients met the criteria, and 17 (43%) patients had a positive antigen avoidance test. The patients with positive in the antigen avoidance test had significantly greater annual forced vital capacity (FVC) decline than those with negative before the test (- 6.5% vs. - 0.3%, p = 0.045). The patients with positive antigen avoidance test had less annual FVC decline than those with negative in the year following the test (0.8% vs. - 5.0%, p = 0.048). The differences in annual improvement were found for serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 between the positive and negative patients in the year following the test (- 27% vs. - 5%, p = 0.049). In multivariate Cox hazard regression analysis, a negative result of the antigen avoidance test was a risk factor for death or acute exacerbation of fibrotic HP (HR = 0.26 [95% CI: 0.07-0.90], p = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

In fibrotic HP patients in stable phase, the antigen avoidance test under a 2-week hospitalization was valuable in predicting prognosis.

Unilateral Autoimmune Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis with Polymyositis-related Interstitial Lung Disease

A 61-year-old patient with cystic bronchiectasis and bronchial artery hyperplasia in the left lung was diagnosed with polymyositis-related interstitial lung disease. After nine months of immunosuppressive therapy, he developed unilateral autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (APAP) in the right lung with respiratory failure. After bronchial artery embolization to prevent massive hemoptysis, whole-lung lavage was performed using veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. His respiratory condition improved, and he was discharged from the hospital with supplemental oxygen. Three reported cases of APAP with polymyositis-related interstitial lung disease, including the present case, were all positive for anti-glycyl tRNA synthetase antibody and were under immunosuppressive treatment.

Incidence of acute exacerbation in patients with interstitial lung disease after COVID-19 vaccination

Acute exacerbations due to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) have been reported, but their incidence is unknown. We investigated the incidence of exacerbations of ILD and respiratory symptoms due to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. A questionnaire survey was conducted on adverse reactions to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in 545 patients with ILD attending our hospital and retrospectively examined whether the eligible patients actually developed acute exacerbations of ILD induced by the vaccine. Of the 545 patients, 17 (3.1%) patients were aware of the exacerbation of respiratory symptoms, and four (0.7%) patients developed an acute ILD exacerbation after vaccination. Of the four patients who experienced exacerbations, two had collagen vascular disease-associated ILD, one had nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, another had unclassifiable idiopathic pneumonia, and none had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Four patients were treated using steroid pulse therapy with a steroid taper, and two of the four also received intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. Tacrolimus was started in one patient with myositis-associated interstitial lung disease. Eventually, all patients exhibited improvement with immunosuppressive treatment and were discharged. COVID-19 vaccination for patients with ILD should be noted for developing acute exacerbations of ILD with low incidence, although manageable with early diagnosis and treatment.

Nationwide retrospective observational study of idiopathic dendriform pulmonary ossification: clinical features with a progressive phenotype

BACKGROUND

Diffuse pulmonary ossification is a specific lung condition that is accompanied by underlying diseases. However, idiopathic dendriform pulmonary ossification (IDPO) is extremely rare, and the clinical features remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to report the clinical characteristics of IDPO.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide survey of patients with IDPO from 2017 to 2019 in Japan and evaluated the clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings of patients diagnosed with IDPO.

RESULTS

Twenty-two cases of IDPO were identified. Most subjects (82%) were male, aged 22-56 years (mean (SD), 37.9 (9.1)) at diagnosis. Nearly 80% of the subjects were asymptomatic, and the condition was discovered during a medical check-up. However, 36% of the subjects showed a decline in forced vital capacity (%FVC) predicted <80% at diagnosis. The typical radiological features of high-resolution CT (HRCT) are calcified branching structures that are predominantly distributed in the lower lung fields without any other conspicuous finding. Histopathological analysis also showed dendriform ossified lesions from the intraluminal areas to interstitial areas. Notably, during the follow-up period of 20 years, disease progression was found in 88% on HRCT and more than 50% on pulmonary function tests (FVC and/or forced expiratory volume in 1 s). Two cases with rapid decline of 10% /year in %FVC predicted were observed.)) at diagnosis. Nearly 80% of the subjects were asymptomatic, and the condition was discovered during a medical check-up. However, 36% of the subjects showed a decline in forced vital capacity (%FVC) predicted <80% at diagnosis. The typical radiological features of high-resolution CT (HRCT) are calcified branching structures that are predominantly distributed in the lower lung fields without any other conspicuous finding. Histopathological analysis also showed dendriform ossified lesions from the intraluminal areas to interstitial areas. Notably, during the follow-up period of 20 years, disease progression was found in 88% on HRCT and more than 50% on pulmonary function tests (FVC and/or forced expiratory volume in 1 s). Two cases with rapid decline of 10% /year in %FVC predicted were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

IDPO develops at a young age with gradually progressive phenotype. Further research and long-term (>20 years) follow-up are required to clarify the pathogenesis and clinical findings in IDPO.

Respiratory lesions in IgG4-related disease: Classification using 2019 ACR/EULAR criteria

In 2019, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) proposed classification criteria for IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) [1,2]. IgG4-RD can cause fibroinflammatory lesions characterised by infiltration of abundant IgG4-positive plasma cells with fibrosis and an elevated serum IgG4 concentration [3–5]. Approximately 35% of patients with IgG4-RD present with intrathoracic lesions, including those involving the mediastinal lymph nodes, bronchial walls and peribronchovascular bundles [6–8]. To increase diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, we previously proposed diagnostic criteria for IgG4-related respiratory disease (IgG4-RRD) [9].

In this study, ILDs involving IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration were classified using the 2019 ACR/EULAR criteria. Most IgG4-positive interstitial pneumonia cases were excluded, suggesting the need for a unique treatment strategy.https://bit.ly/38GiUJM

Disease activity of lung cancer at the time of acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease during cytotoxic chemotherapy

Background

The prognosis of lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) is poor, and acute exacerbation (AE) of ILD can occur during chemotherapy as a fatal adverse event. Although AE‐ILD development is correlated with various factors, no reports are investigating the disease activity of lung cancer at the time of AE‐ILD development.

Methods

All consecutive lung cancer patients with ILD who developed chemotherapy‐related AE‐ILD within 28 days after the last administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy between 2011 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

Among 206 lung cancer patients with ILD who were treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy, 30 patients were included. The median age was 72 years and all patients were men with smoking history. Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and non‐UIP patterns of ILD was observed in 17 and 13 patients. Most of AE‐ILD occurred during second‐ or later‐line (22/30, 73.3%) and developed within first or second courses during chemotherapy (19/30, 63.3%). Regarding tumor response to chemotherapy at AE‐ILD development, majority of patients (18 patients, 60.0%) experienced progressive disease and only one patient (3.3%) experienced a partial response. Notably, 27 patients (90.0%) did not exhibit any tumor shrinkage of the thoracic lesions.

Conclusion

Lung cancer was uncontrolled with cytotoxic chemotherapy at the time of AE‐ILD development. Although AE‐ILD during chemotherapy has been generally discussed in terms of drug‐specific adverse effects, uncontrolled lung cancer may be also correlated with AE‐ILD development.

Development and external validation of a deep learning-based computed tomography classification system for COVID-19

BACKGROUND

We aimed to develop and externally validate a novel machine learning model that can classify CT image findings as positive or negative for SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

METHODS

We used 2,928 images from a wide variety of case-control type data sources for the development and internal validation of the machine learning model. A total of 633 COVID-19 cases and 2,295 non-COVID-19 cases were included in the study. We randomly divided cases into training and tuning sets at a ratio of 8:2. For external validation, we used 893 images from 740 consecutive patients at 11 acute care hospitals suspected of having COVID-19 at the time of diagnosis. The dataset included 343 COVID-19 patients. The reference standard was RT-PCR.

RESULTS

In external validation, the sensitivity and specificity of the model were 0.869 and 0.432, at the low-level cutoff, 0.724 and 0.721, at the high-level cutoff. Area under the receiver operating characteristic was 0.76.

CONCLUSIONS

Our machine learning model exhibited a high sensitivity in external validation datasets and may assist physicians to rule out COVID-19 diagnosis in a timely manner at emergency departments. Further studies are warranted to improve model specificity.

Clinical characteristics of pulmonary hypertension in patients with pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) and pulmonary hypertension (PH).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients who were diagnosed with PPFE and underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for the evaluation of their right heart systems within 3 months of their first visit between 2011 and 2018. Patients were divided into the PH and non-PH groups based on their peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) on TTE (cutoff, 2.8 m/s). The clinical characteristics of PH and association between PH and survival among patients with PPFE were investigated.

RESULTS

In total, 83 patients were enrolled. Sixteen (19.3%) patients were included in the PH group. The PH group had a lower body mass index, percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC), 6-min walk distance, and partial pressure of arterial oxygen than the non-PH group. There was no significant difference in the presence of usual interstitial pneumonia patterns in the lower lobes between the two groups. The survival period was significantly shorter in the PH group than in the non-PH group (median survival 16.3 versus 50.2 months, log-rank p < 0.001). The multivariate Cox proportional hazard model showed that male sex (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.83, p < 0.001), Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) > 550 U/mL (HR = 3.48, p = 0.005), %FVC < 50% (HR = 3.04, p = 0.028), and peak TRV > 2.8 m/s (HR = 3.26, p = 0.038) were independently associated with poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

PH was not rare in patients with PPFE. Male sex, increased KL-6, lower FVC, and PH were independently associated with poor survival in patients with PPFE.

Successful Treatment of Chylothorax and Chylopericardium by Radiotherapy in Lung Cancer

A 58-year-old man was diagnosed with stage IVB lung adenocarcinoma in the right upper lobe and underwent systemic chemotherapy. Seven months after the diagnosis, large left pleural and pericardial effusion was detected. The patient developed both chylothorax and chylopericardium following superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction with mediastinal lymphadenopathy caused by lung carcinoma. Since conservative treatment of the chyle leakage was ineffective, we administered radiotherapy to treat the SVC obstruction and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. After radiotherapy, the chylothorax and chylopericardium gradually resolved, and no further chyle leaks were identified on follow-up computed tomography. This case indicates that radiotherapy can be used to ameliorate lung cancer-related chylothorax and chylopericardium.

Outcome of COVID-19 in interstitial lung disease patients treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and antiviral drugs

A recent study reported that patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) are at increased risk of death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there are no studies on the outcome of COVID-19 patients with preexisting ILD treated with corticosteroids or antiviral drugs. We extracted 26 patients with preexisting ILD by medical records and HRCT pattern. Of 503 patients with COVID-19, we selected 52 patients as control matched for age and sex. Twenty out of the 26 ILD patients (76.9%) received corticosteroid therapy, and 23 patients (88.5%) also received antiviral treatment with remdesivir or favipiravir. Although no statistical difference was found, the proportion of severe patients in ILD group tended to be higher than in non-ILD group (23.1% vs. 42.3%; p = 0.114). Also, mortality rate in ILD group tended to be higher than in non-ILD patients (11.5% vs. 3.8%; p = 0.326). In univariate analysis to evaluate risk factors for severe condition, diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, usual interstitial pneumonia pattern, and honeycomb lung were not risk factors of severe disease. Treatment with corticosteroids, antiviral drugs, and immunosuppressive agents may affect the outcome of COVID-19 patients with ILD.

Randomized phase II study of nintedanib with or without pirfenidone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who experienced disease progression during prior pirfenidone administration

INTRODUCTION

A subgroup analysis of the CAPACITY and ASCEND trials showed that pirfenidone use beyond disease progression reduced the risk of subsequent forced vital capacity (FVC) decline and death. Our study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of nintedanib with or without pirfenidone for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who experienced disease progression during previous pirfenidone therapy.

METHODS

In this randomized, open-label, selection design phase II trial, patients with IPF and a ≥5% relative decline in FVC within 6 months of the pirfenidone administration period were randomly assigned to nintedanib (switch group) or nintedanib plus pirfenidone (combination group). The primary endpoint was the incidence of a ≥5% relative decline in FVC or death during the first 6 months.

RESULTS

Only 7 patients were enrolled (4 in the switch group and 3 in the combination group). Although the switch group continued with nintedanib for 1 year or more, 2 patients (66.7%) in the combination group discontinued nintedanib within 6 months due to severe adverse events. Given the slow case registration and safety concerns in the combination group, the trial was terminated without extending the registration. The incidence of a ≥5% relative decline in FVC during the first 6 months was 50.0% in the switch group and 66.7% in the combination group. There were no deaths during the observation period.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical trials verifying the use of pirfenidone after disease progression in IPF may be difficult to enroll patients. Definitive conclusions on both safety and efficacy cannot be drawn from the results of this study alone.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN Clinical Trial Registry; registration number, UMIN000019436; date of first registration, 21/10/2015; https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000022471.

Significant accumulation of KRAS mutations in bronchiolar metaplasia‑associated honeycomb lesions of interstitial pneumonia

Interstitial pneumonia (IP) is a major risk factor for lung adenocarcinoma (LADC). IP-related LADC predominantly develops in the bronchiolar metaplasia lining in honeycomb lesions. Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) is the most common oncogene mutated in IP-related LADC. The present study examined the metaplastic epithelia in honeycomb lesions for KRAS mutations using digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), a sensitive method used to detect infrequent mutations. Significantly higher KRAS mutation variant allele frequencies (VAFs) were detected in the metaplastic lung epithelia from 13 patients with IP compared with those in 46 non-lesioned lung samples from patients without IP (G12V, P=0.0004, G12C, P=0.0181, and G12A, P=0.0234; Mann Whitney U test). Multivariate analyses revealed that higher KRAS G12V (logistic regression model; P=0.0133, odds ratio=7.11) and G12C (P=0.0191, odds ratio=5.81) VAFs in patients with IP were independent of confounding variables, such as smoking and age. In patients with IP, metaplastic epithelia exhibited significantly higher KRAS G12V and G12C VAFs compared with the non-lesioned counterparts (paired t-test; G12V, P=0.0158, G12C, P=0.0465). These results suggested that IP could increase KRAS mutations and supported the hypothesis that bronchiolar metaplasia could be a precursor for IP-related LADC.

Implications of thyroid transcription factor-1 gene methylation in carcinogenesis of interstitial pneumonia-related non-terminal respiratory unit lung adenocarcinoma

The present study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the histogenesis of interstitial pneumonia (IP)-related lung adenocarcinoma (LADC). We focused on the methylation of thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1). The TTF-1 locus was highly methylated in IP-LADCs compared to non-IP-LADCs. Among the IP-LADCs, the non-terminal respiratory unit (TRU) LADCs showed marked hypermethylation in CpG sites in a particular intragenic region. This region was also found to be highly methylated in the IP lungs. The hierarchical dendrogram based on methylation levels divided the IP lungs into three different clusters. One of them showed a methylation profile similar to that of non-TRU LADCs. The non-TRU LADCs developed from this cluster with a significantly higher frequency. Moreover, bronchiolar metaplasia lining honeycomb/cystic lesions in IP lungs, IP-related non-TRU LADCs, and bronchiolar epithelia in healthy lungs were separately collected by microdissection and examined for methylation. Bronchiolar metaplasia showed hypermethylation, but bronchiolar epithelia did not. The methylation patterns in bronchiolar metaplasia were similar to those in non-TRU LADCs. In summary, a particular region of TTF-1 was highly methylated in IP-related non-TRU LADCs and bronchiolar metaplasia, supporting the theory that IP-related non-TRU LADCs may develop from bronchiolar metaplasia lining honeycomb/cystic lesions.

The new useful high-resolution computed tomography finding for diagnosing fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis: "hexagonal pattern": a single-center retrospective study

Background

Centrilobular nodules, ground-glass opacity (GGO), mosaic attenuation, air trapping, and three-density pattern were reported as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings characteristic of fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). However, it is often difficult to differentiate fibrotic HP from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In fibrotic HP, the HRCT sometimes shows tortoiseshell-like interlobular septal thickening that extends from the subpleural lesion to the inner layers. This finding is called “hexagonal pattern,” and this study is focused on the possibility that such finding is useful for differentiating fibrotic HP from IPF.

Methods

This study included patients with multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) diagnosis of fibrotic HP or IPF undergoing surgical lung biopsy between January 2015 and December 2017 in Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center. Two radiologists have evaluated the HRCT findings without clinical and pathological information.

Results

A total of 23 patients were diagnosed with fibrotic HP by MDD and 48 with IPF. Extensive GGO, centrilobular nodules, and hexagonal pattern were more frequent findings in fibrotic HP than in IPF. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in the presence or absence of mosaic attenuation, air trapping, or three-density pattern. In the multivariate logistic regression, the presence of extensive GGO and hexagonal pattern was associated with increased odds ratio of fibrotic HP. The sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of fibrotic HP in the presence of the hexagonal pattern were 69.6% and 87.5%, respectively.

Conclusion

Hexagonal pattern is a useful finding for differentiating fibrotic HP from IPF.

Usefulness and safety of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy for reassessment of treatment in the clinical course of diffuse parenchymal lung disease

Background

The usefulness and safety of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) for reassessment of diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) with progression is still unknown. Our purpose was to clarify the usefulness and safety of TBLC for reassessment of DPLD with progression.

Methods

This retrospective study included 31 patients with DPLD diagnosed by surgical lung biopsy who progressed in the clinical course and underwent TBLC for reassessment between January 2017 and September 2019 at Kanagawa Cardiovascular & Respiratory Center. Two pulmonologists independently selected the clinical diagnosis, treatment strategy, and confidence level of the treatment strategy based on clinical and radiological information with and without pathological information from TBLC. A consensus was reached among the pulmonologists regarding the clinical diagnosis, treatment strategy, and confidence level of the treatment strategy. Complications of TBLC were also examined.

Results

Seven (22.6%), 5 (16.1%), and 6 (19.4%) of clinical diagnosis was changed after TBLC for Pulmonologist A, for Pulmonologist B, and for consensus, respectively. The treatment strategy was changed in 7 (22.6%), 8 (25.9%), and 6 (19.4%) cases after TBLC for Pulmonologist A, for Pulmonologist B and for consensus, respectively. The definite or high confidence level of the consensus treatment strategy was 54.8% (17/31) without TBLC and 83.9% (26/31) with TBLC. There were 6 cases of moderate bleeding, but no other complications were noted.

Conclusions

Pathological information from TBLC may contribute to decision-making in treatment strategies for the progression of DPLD, and it may be safely performed.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-01838-x.

Crucial contribution of GPR56/ADGRG1, expressed by breast cancer cells, to bone metastasis formation

From a mouse triple-negative breast cancer cell line, 4T1, we previously established 4T1.3 clone with a high capacity to metastasize to bone after its orthotopic injection into mammary fat pad of immunocompetent mice. Subsequent analysis demonstrated that the interaction between cancer cells and fibroblasts in a bone cavity was crucial for bone metastasis focus formation arising from orthotopic injection of 4T1.3 cells. Here, we demonstrated that a member of the adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor (ADGR) family, G-protein-coupled receptor 56 (GPR56)/adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor G1 (ADGRG1), was expressed selectively in 4T1.3 grown in a bone cavity but not under in vitro conditions. Moreover, fibroblasts present in bone metastasis sites expressed type III collagen, a ligand for GPR56/ADGRG1. Consistently, GPR56/ADGRG1 proteins were detected in tumor cells in bone metastasis foci of human breast cancer patients. Deletion of GPR56/ADGRG1 from 4T1.3 cells reduced markedly intraosseous tumor formation upon their intraosseous injection. Conversely, intraosseous injection of GPR56/ADGRG1-transduced 4T1, TS/A (mouse breast cancer cell line), or MDA-MB-231 (human breast cancer cell line) exhibited enhanced intraosseous tumor formation. Furthermore, we proved that the cleavage at the extracellular region was indispensable for GPR56/ADGRG1-induced increase in breast cancer cell growth upon its intraosseous injection. Finally, inducible suppression of Gpr56/Adgrg1 gene expression in 4T1.3 cells attenuated bone metastasis formation with few effects on primary tumor formation in the spontaneous breast cancer bone metastasis model. Altogether, GPR56/ADGRG1 can be a novel target molecule to develop a strategy to prevent and/or treat breast cancer metastasis to bone.

CCR2- and CCR5-mediated macrophage infiltration contributes to glomerular endocapillary hypercellularity in antibody-induced lupus nephritis

OBJECTIVES

Lupus nephritis comprises various glomerular lesions, including endocapillary hypercellularity with macrophage infiltration. In this study, we aimed to clarify the involvement of macrophage-tropic chemokine receptors in the pathogenesis of these glomerular lesions.

METHODS

MRL/lpr mouse-derived monoclonal IgG3 antibody-producing hybridomas, 2B11.3 and B1, were injected intraperitoneally into BALB/c mice (WT) to induce endocapillary hypercellularity and wire-loop lesions, respectively. The expression of chemokine and chemokine receptors was analyzed by quantitative real time PCR and immunofluorescence. The roles of chemokine receptors in these lesions were evaluated using chemokine receptor-deficient mice or a selective CCR5 antagonist, maraviroc.

RESULTS

2B11.3 caused glomerular endocapillary hypercellularity with a significant number of glomerular CD68-positive macrophages. Further, enhanced expression of CCL2, CCL3, CCR2, CCR5, and CX3CR1 was observed in the renal cortex, compared with B1 injection, which induced wire-loop lesions. In 2B11.3-induced glomerular lesions, CD68-positive glomerular macrophages expressed CCL2, CCL3, CCR2, CCR5, and CX3CR1, while glomerular endothelial cells expressed CCL2, CCL3, CX3CL1, and CCR2. When 2B11.3 was injected, CCR2-/- and CCR5-/-, but not CX3CR1-/-, mice exhibited reduced endocapillary hypercellularity, attenuated glomerular macrophage infiltration, and improved serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Only CCR2-/- mice developed wire-loop lesions. B1 injection caused wire-loop lesions in these chemokine receptor-deficient mice to a similar extent as WT. Maraviroc treatment reduced 2B11.3-induced endocapillary hypercellularity and improved serum BUN levels.

CONCLUSION

CCR2 and CCR5 regulate glomerular macrophage infiltration and contribute to the development of glomerular endocapillary hypercellularity in lupus nephritis. CCR5 inhibition can be a specific therapy for endocapillary hypercellularity without inducing wire-loop lesions.

Identification and Characteristics of Co-isolation of Multiple Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Objective Although multiple nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species can be isolated from the same patient, little has been reported on co-isolation. We clarified the trends and characteristics of the co-isolation of multiple NTM species. Methods To collect data on multiple NTM isolation, we first extracted all patients who visited our hospital from 2006 through 2015 with a diagnosis of NTM lung diseases other than Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and then reviewed their medical records to evaluate the co-isolation of multiple NTM species. Results Of 213 patients with non-MAC lung disease, the most common NTM species was M. gordonae (32%), followed by M. kansasii (20%) and M. abscessus (14%). Non-MAC NTM lung disease tended to be associated with middle age with a low body mass index and male predominance. Multiple NTM species were isolated from 55 (26%) of the 213 patients. The clinical characteristics associated with multiple NTM species isolation included female predominance, never smokers and the absence of cavity lesions in the lungs. The highest co-isolation rate was observed in patients with M. gordonae isolation (30%), followed by M. furtuitum isolation (26%) and M. abscessus isolation (20%). Only MAC was isolated when co-isolated with M. abscessus. Among M. szulgai, M. peregrinum and M. terrae isolation, no other NTM species were detected. Conclusion Co-isolation of multiple NTM species was not uncommon, with 26% of patients with non-MAC NTM lung diseases showing co-isolation with multiple NTM species. Each NTM species had distinct characteristics in terms of co-isolation.

Prognostic impact of HNF4α expression in interstitial lung disease

Pneumocyte injury is a crucial factor influencing the severity of interstitial lung disease (ILD). In this study, we investigated the potential of hepatocyte nuclear factor α (HNF4α) as an immunohistochemical marker to detect pneumocyte injury and as a prognostic marker. Surgical lung biopsy specimens were collected from 309 patients with different types of ILDs (61 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 173 non-IPF, and 75 unclassifiable ILD). HNF4α expression were examined and the frequency of positive cells (per mm² ) was calculated. HNF4α was strongly expressed in regenerating pneumocytes present on fibroblastic foci, Masson bodies/organizing alveoli. In the non-IPF and unclassifiable ILD groups, cases with high frequency expression showed significantly poorer outcome. Particularly, in the unclassifiable ILD group, the prognostic impact was more significant (death due to ILD, log-rank test, p < 0.0001), with a 10-year survival rate (hazard ratio 11.1, Wald test, p = 0.0003), as compared to the non-IPF group (log-rank test, p = 0.0269; hazard ratio 2.7, Wald test, p = 0.0334). Multivariable analysis focusing on the unclassifiable ILD group confirmed that the frequent HNF4α expression was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio 28.6; Wald test, p = 0.0033). Thus, HNF4α can be utilized as an immunohistochemical marker for pneumocyte injury and have prognostic impact particularly in unclassifiable ILD.

Clinical characteristics of immunoglobulin G4-positive interstitial pneumonia

This study suggests that IgG₄ ⁺ IP with abundant IgG₄ ⁺ cells and elevated serum IgG₄ levels could be treated differently from IgG₄-related respiratory disease due to potential differences in disease behaviour and response to corticosteroid therapy https://bit.ly/3dUo2cu.

Spontaneous regression following endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in lung cancer patients

Spontaneous regression (SR) is defined as a complete or partial, temporary or permanent disappearance of a tumor without anticancer treatment, which potentially develops after surgery or biopsy for primary and metastatic tumors despite unknown incidence rate. Here, we report the incidence rate of SR after endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial nodal needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in lung cancer patients. Among 96 patients evaluable with chest CT before and after EBUS-TBNA, SR was found in three patients (3.1%). With regards to patient characteristics, two patients had small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and one patient had adenocarcinoma. All patients had stage 3 disease with a bulky N2 stage and a history of smoking. Two patients also had interstitial lung disease. Notably, SR was observed not only at the biopsied site, but also at the non-biopsied site. Our results indicate that SR can develop following EBUS-TBNA in a substantial proportion of lung cancer patients.

Successful treatment with afatinib following the failure of osimertinib rechallenge with osimertinib-induced interstitial lung disease: A case report

Herein, we report the case of an 84-year-old woman with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation exon 19 deletion postoperative recurrent lung adenocarcinoma. Osimertinib was administered as a first-line treatment; however, she was urgently admitted to our hospital due to dyspnea on the 46th day. Chest computed tomography revealed bilateral diffuse ground-glass opacities (GGOs) suggestive of grade 3 osimertinib-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD). After discontinuation of osimertinib in combination with short-term corticosteroid therapy, widespread GGOs were promptly resolved. As the disease gradually deteriorated after discontinuation of osimertinib, we administered osimertinib (80 mg every other day) followed by careful observation. However, bilateral GGOs re-appeared on the 15th day, and the diagnosis of osimertinib-induced ILD was established. After the improvement in ILD following corticosteroid therapy, afatinib was administered as salvage therapy, resulting in desirable control of lung cancer without any relapse of ILD. Our results indicate that afatinib would be a promising alternative treatment option even in patients who develop osimertinib-induced ILD and experience failure of osimertinib rechallenge.

Current Treatment Strategies for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Comorbid Interstitial Pneumonia

Of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 5-10% have interstitial pneumonia (IP) at the time of diagnosis. To avoid fatal acute exacerbations of pre-existing IP, appropriate patient selection and low-risk treatment choices are warranted. Risk factors for acute exacerbation of pre-existing IP with cytotoxic drugs include honeycomb lungs on computed tomography (CT) and low forced vital capacity, but risk factors with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have not been fully investigated. For advanced or recurrent NSCLC with comorbid IP, carboplatin plus nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel is the standard of care for first-line treatment, but second-line or later treatment has not been established. ICI holds great promise for long-term survival, but many challenges remain, including safety and appropriate patient selection. Since the indications for pharmacotherapy and radiotherapy for NSCLC with comorbid IP are quite limited, surgical resection should be considered as much as possible for patients with operable stages. A scoring system has been reported to predict the risk of postoperative acute exacerbation of pre-existing IP, but perioperative treatment has not been established. In the future, it is necessary to accumulate more cases and conduct further research, not only in Japan but also worldwide.

Impact of interstitial pneumonia complications on palliative medication for terminal lung cancer: A single-center retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Interstitial pneumonia (IP) is associated with high comorbidity of lung cancer (LC). We aimed to investigate whether concomitant IP affects palliative pharmacotherapy for end-stage symptom relief in patients with LC.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined the clinical records of LC patients who died in our hospital between 2015 and 2017. The patients were divided into the IP-LC (LC with comorbid IP) and LC (LC without IP) groups according to the presence of IP to compare the use of opioid and midazolam in their terminal period.

RESULTS

In total, 236 patients were enrolled in this study and divided into the IP-LC (n = 70) and LC (n = 166) groups. Among them, 51.2% and 65.7% patients in the LC and IP-LC groups, respectively, required continuous opioid administration to relieve dyspnea and/or pain. There were no significant between-group differences in the median initial and maximum doses and continuous opioid administration duration. The frequency of concomitant use of continuous midazolam and opioids was higher in the IP-LC group than in the LC group (20.5% vs. 7.1%; p = 0.01), primarily because of refractory dyspnea in all patients in both groups. The median survival time after the initiation of continuous opioid administration did not change irrespective of continuous midazolam administration.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with patients with LC, those with IP-LC are more likely to require continuous midazolam administration because continuously administered opioids alone are not sufficiently effective in relieving end-stage dyspnea among the latter.