Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19: Demonstrating the Importance of the Scientific Process

Although chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been touted in the media as “miracle drugs” in the fight against COVID-19, the research backing this claim is controversial. Some studies have shown impressive results – like one study that reported a 100% cure rate – while numerous other studies have reported inefficacy. However, the evidence presented in many of these studies has been laden with glaring flaws – from low sample sizes to a lack of control group – and many had been pre-printed without peer review. No matter how contentious the evidence for efficacy may be, studies have shown an undeniable association with serious adverse events, most notably heart arrythmias. In this article, we will discuss where the hype originated, the current state of evidence, and where the future of these in drugs is headed in the current climate of COVID-19

Mistaken Metastasis: Radiation-Induced Rib Fracture Mimicking Malignancy on Computerized Tomography Case Report

A 62-year-old woman with a 40-pack-year smoking history and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with early-stage right upper lobe non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). Two years after treatment, a surveillance computerized tomography scan showed lesions of the posterior 4th and 5th ribs including expansion of the medulla that was unusual and of concern for possible malignant infiltration. A follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed these lesions to be healing fractures post-radiotherapy. Although generally well tolerated, SABR is known to produce inflammatory and fibrotic changes both in-field and in organs at risk, and rib fractures are a well-established adverse event. MRI has high diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity for rib fractures and was able to rule out malignant spread. This case demonstrates the need for regular follow-up following SABR for early-stage NSCLC, as well as the challenge of interpreting indeterminate post-SABR radiography findings

Real-World Analysis of Durvalumab after Chemoradiation in Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

The 2017 PACIFIC trial heralded the incorporation of routine adjuvant durvalumab following curative-intent chemoradiation for stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, carefully selected clinical trial populations can differ significantly from real-world populations, which can have implications on treatment toxicities and outcomes, making it difficult to accurately counsel patients. Consequently, we performed a real-world, retrospective analysis of outcomes and toxicities in 118 patients with stage III NSCLC treated with durvalumab after platinum-based chemoradiotherapy. The data were collected from patients who underwent treatment at a single, tertiary-level Canadian cancer centre from May 2018 to October 2020. The variables collected included patient demographics, treatment specifics, progression-free survival, overall survival, and immune-related adverse events (IRAE) from durvalumab. Descriptive statistics were used for toxicity analysis, and progression-free survival and overall survival estimates were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. The statistical analyses indicated a 64.4% (n = 76) toxicity rate, with a 21% (n = 25) toxicity rate of grade 3+ IRAEs. The most common documented IRAEs were pneumonitis (n = 44; 40%), followed by rash (n = 20; 18%) and thyroid dysfunction (n = 17; 15%). FEV1 and DLCO were not found to be associated predictors of pneumonitis toxicity. The median PFS and OS were estimated to be >1.7 years and >2.7 years, respectively