HIV Associated Lung Cancer: Unique Clinicopathologic Features and Immune Biomarkers Impacting Lung Cancer Screening and Management

OBJECTIVES

Lung cancer contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in people with HIV (PWH). We study the clinicopathologic characteristics and immune microenvironment in HIV associated lung cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Clinicopathological characteristics including immunotherapy outcomes were collected for 174 PWH diagnosed with lung cancer. Immunohistochemical staining for PD-L1, CD4, and CD8 was performed.

RESULTS

At diagnosis, patients with HIV associated lung cancer were significantly younger (56.9 vs. 69 years, P < .0001) and more frequently had advanced disease (70% vs. 53%, P = .01). The majority were African American (60% vs. 42%, P < .0001) and were smoking at the time of diagnosis or smoked in the past (98% vs. 86%, P = .0001). Only 10% of HIV associated lung cancer was diagnosed through the screening program. The median CD4+ lymphocyte count was 334 cells/µL, 31% had a CD4 ≤200 cells/µL and 63% of the cohort was virally suppressed. HIV associated non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC) was characterized by limited PD-L1 expression compared to the HIV negative cohort, 64% vs. 31% had TPS <1%, and 20% vs. 34% had TPS≥50%, respectively (P = .04). Higher CD8+ TILs were detected in PD-L1-high tumors (P < .0001). 50% of patients achieved disease control in the metastatic setting with the use of immunotherapy, and there were no new safety signals in 19 PWH treated with immunotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Lung cancer in PWH demonstrates unique features highlighting the need for a specialized screening program. Despite low PD-L1 expression, immunotherapy is well tolerated with reasonable disease control. Altered immune system in lung cancer pathogenesis in PWH should be further investigated.

Survival analysis of patients with early and standard onset colorectal cancer: A single center study

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Background: While more aggressive clinical/pathological features have been consistently described in between patients with early-onset (EO) and standard-onset (SO) colorectal cancer (CRC), survival data have been conflicting. While some studies report better survival rates for EO-CRC; others found that outcomes among groups are not different. In a prior study, using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER), we reported that cancer-related survival did not differ between EO-CRC and SO-CRC; however, a main limitation was the lack of molecular status and treatment details among groups. This study aims to compare the survival of EO-CRC and SO-CRC patients at Montefiore Medical Center. Methods: Retrospective cohort among 690 patients diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) at Montefiore Medical Center between 2010 and 2018. Patients were identified using the software Clinical Looking Glass and charts were reviewed manually to gather information about demographics (race/ethnicity defined as Non-Hispanic White [NHW], Non-Hispanic Black [NHB] and Hispanic [H], gender, comorbidity index, calculated using the Charlson comorbidity score), clinicopathological features (grade, tumor sidedness, K-ras mutation) and treatment-related characteristics (metastatectomy, lines of chemotherapy and use of biologics). EO-CRC was defined as CRC diagnosis before age 50 and SO-CRC as CRC diagnosed at 50 years or older. Overall survival was compared between EO-CRC and SO-CRC using Kaplan Meier and Cox regression analyses. Stata v15.1 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Of 690 patients with CRC, 139 (20.1%) had EO-CRC and 551 (79.9%) had SO-CRC. Participants with EO-CRC had a higher frequency of poorly-differentiated tumors (35.5% vs. 23.8%, p = 0.02), a lower comorbidity index (6 vs. 7, p < 0.001). and a higher use of biologics (70.5% vs. 60.8%, p = 0.03) compared to SO-CRC. K-ras mutation was available for 377 (54.5%) of cases and did not differ among groups (45.9% vs. 45.9%, p = 0.99). In a model adjusted for race/ethnicity, gender, comorbidity index, sidedness, use of biologics and metastatectomy, there was no difference in mortality among groups (HR:0.9, 95%CI: 0.58 – 1.43, p = 0.68). This result remained unchanged in a model restricted to patients with available K-ras-status (n = 75), adjusted for all these variables. Conclusions: Despite more aggressive clinical/pathological features in patients with EO-CRC, survival does not differ compared to SO-CRC.

Primary and Secondary Hypogonadism in Male Persons with Diabetes Mellitus

AIMS

To characterize hypogonadism in male persons with diabetes mellitus. Patients and Methods. 184 consecutive male persons with diabetes were studied. Besides the usual care, total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), FSH, and LH were measured in the last appointment and in 40 patients, also in the next two appointments. Statistical analysis compared groups and explored factors for TT and LH levels.

RESULTS

TT levels were stable and highly correlated (r > 0.750, p < 0.001) over a 6-12-month period. 20% of the patients presented secondary hypogonadism (SH) and 18% presented primary hypogonadism (PH). SH was inversely related to HbA1 (partial r (rp) = 0.229, p < 0.005), while PH was directly related to age (r = 0.356, p < 0.001). TT levels were reduced independently by metformin (364 ± 160 vs. 431 ± 242 ng/dL, t = 2.241, p < 0.05) and statins (359 ± 156 vs. 424 ± 230 ng/dl, t = 2.224, p < 0.05). TT levels were inversely related to microvascular disease (rp = -0.169, p < 0.05). Discussion. TT levels were stable over time and hypogonadism was common. SH, generally clinically, is related to the diabetic state, while PH, generally subclinically, is an age-dependent process unrelated to diabetes. Low TT levels were related to older age, poor metabolic control, metformin and statins use, and microvascular disease.

[Malignant diphtheric myocarditis]

PURPOSE

In the current study we analyzed clinical evolution and therapeutic aspects of malignant diphtheric myocarditis.

METHODS

Fourteen patients with primary diagnosis of diphtheria were prospectively evaluated. Cardiac involvement was detected after 11.5 (mean) days. The diagnosis of diphtheric myocarditis was done in clinical basis.

RESULTS

Seven (50%) patients died. Cardiac failure was a common finding in all cases. Complete A-V block was identified in eight (57%) patients. Temporary pacemaker was implanted in 10 cases, six of them died due to myocardial failure. Definitive pacemaker was necessary in two patients with persistent complete A-V block after one-month follow-up. One patient with atrial fibrillation died with sepsis. Respiratory infection was the commonest extracardiac complication (six cases) and two patients developed Guillain-Barré syndrome. We also identified neurologic, renal and adrenal complications.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac rhythm disturbances in diphtheric myocarditis are associated with high probability of necessity of temporary pacemaker and high mortality. Definitive pacemaker can be implanted in persistent complete A-V block.