Biopsy and re-biopsy for PD-L1 expression in NSCLC. association between PD-L1 and checkpoint inhibitor efficacy through treatment in NSCLC. A pilot study

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer is diagnosed at a late stage due to lack of early disease symptoms. Therefore an efficient treatment is necessary for prolonged disease free survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In our study we recruited 124 patients NSCLC patients with adenocarcinoma and squamus cell carcinoma. All recuited patients had Programmed death-ligand 1 expression ≥50 (PD-L1)with DAKO technique. Immunotherapy was administered with as first line treatment. Re-biopsies were performed in the main lung lesion every 4 months with the restaging of the patient and also in the metastastic sites in other organs that occurred during treatment. PD-L1 expressed was evaluated in the biopsies of the metastatic sites.

RESULTS

It appears thereafter that the PD-L1 expression could easily be claimed as a promising bio-index with a cutoff value 65, below which a negative prognosis of the disease progress will be evident and above that value a positive continuation of the disease will be prominent.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that the PD-L1-65 index works adequately either concerning the neo-metastatic sites or the patient disease responses. Re-biopsies in new metastastic sites are necessary since we probably have a new cancer and chemotherapy should be added. More studies should confirm are results and change the NSCLC treatment approach of these patients.

Effective early diagnosis for NSCLC: an algorithm

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer still remains undiagnosed for most patients until the disease is inoperable.

AREAS COVERED

We performed search on PubMed with the keywords: EBUS, radial-EBUS, bronchoscopy, lung cancer, electromagnetic navigation, ct-biopsy, transthoracic biopsy. We present diagnostic equipment and imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography, endoscopical navigation systems, endobronchial ultrasound, radial-endobronchial ultrasound, transthoracic ultrasound biopsy, and computed tomography guided biopsies.

EXPERT OPINION

However, lack of early disease symptoms remains the most important issue and therefore we should direct our efforts to screening and early disease diagnosis. An algorithm is proposed for biopsy upon initial disease diagnosis.

Intratumoral Treatment with Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy for NSCLC with EBUS-TBNA 19G

Introduction: Immunotherapy is being used for the past five years either as first line or second line treatment with great results. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been also used as combination to immunotherapy to further enhance this type of treatment. Intratumoral treatment has been previously proposed as a treatment option for certain non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Patients and Methods: We recruited in total seventy four patients with non-small cell lung cancer in their second line treatment who received only chemotherapy in their first line treatment with programmed death-ligand-1 ≤ 50. Only adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, and all negative for epidermal growth factor receptor, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase-1 and proto-oncogene B-Raf. Data were first examined with descriptive statistics choosing frequencies for categorical variables and histograms for the continuous ones. Twenty five received only intravenous immunotherapy and forty-nine intravenous cisplatin with immunotherapy. Data were first examined with descriptive statistics choosing frequencies for categorical variables and histograms for the continuous ones.

Results: The relationships between changes of performance status and disease progression were examined via a single correspondence analysis. The two-dimensional scores (coordinates) derived from the correspondence analysis were then regressed against the predictors to form distinct splits and nodes obtaining quantitative results. The best fit is usually achieved by lowering exhaustively the AICc criterion and looking in parallel the change of R² expecting improvements more than 5%. both types of therapy are capable of producing best ameliorative effects, when either the programmed death-ligand-1 expression or parenchymal site in joint with low pack years are present in the sampling data.

Conclusions: Intratumoral treatment combination with cisplatin plus immunotherapy indifferent of nivolumab or pembrolizumab combination is an effective choice. In specific for those with endobronchial lesions. Moreover; patients with programmed death-ligand-1 ≥ 50 had their performance status and disease progression improved over the eight month observation.

Lung cancer biopsies: Comparison between simple 22G, 22G upgraded and 21G needle for EBUS-TBNA

Introduction: Novel technologies are currently used for lung cancer diagnosis. EBUS-TBNA 22G is considered one of the most important tools. However; there are still issues with the sample size.Patients and Methods: 223 patients underwent EBUS-TBNA with a 21G Olympus needle, 22GUS Mediglobe and 22GUB Mediglobe. In order to evaluate the efficiency of 22GUB novel needle design. In order to evaluate the sample size of each needle, we constructed cell blocks and measured the different number of slices from each biopsy site. Results: The 22GUB novel needle had similar and larger number of slices from each biopsy site compared to 21G needle. Discussion: Firstly as a novel methodology we used the number of slices from the constructed cell blocks in order to evaluate the sample size. Secondly, we should seek novel needle designs and not only concentrate on the volume of the sample size.