Immune-related pancreatitis due to anti-PD-L1 therapy in a patient with non–small cell lung cancer: A case report

International audienceRationale: Despite clinical-proven benefits of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on advanced lung cancer, rare but life-threatening immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been reported. Pancreatitis is a rare irAE that can occur with any ICI.Patient concerns: A 53-year-old man with locally advanced non–small cell lung carcinoma was treated with radiochemotherapy and then durvalumab (anti–programmed cell death ligand 1 therapy). Twelve weeks after the beginning of ICI, he reported abdominal pain and anorexia. Blood test showed high level of lipase. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a swollen pancreas. These findings were confirmed by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and biliopancreatic endoscopic ultrasonography.Diagnoses: Grade IV immune-related pancreatitis.Interventions: The patient was treated with corticosteroid therapy, resulting in clinical, radiological, and biological improvement.Outcomes: During the first month, corticosteroid therapy could not be decreased under 1 mg/kg/d because of symptoms recurrence and lipasemia rerising. Four months after this episode, the patient died from acute ischemia of the lower limbs while he was on <20 mg/d of corticosteroid.Lessons: To the best of our knowledge, immune-related pancreatitis has been reported only with anti–programmed cell death 1 or anti–cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 therapies but never with anti–programmed cell death ligand 1 therapy. It is important to report such rare cases to improve diagnosis and management of irAEs

Oral Vinorelbine and Cisplatin with Concurrent Radiotherapy After Induction Chemotherapy with Cisplatin and Docetaxel for Patients with Locally Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: The GFPC 05-03 Study

Introduction:The aim of this multicenter phase II trial was to evaluate the combination of oral vinorelbine and cisplatin with radiotherapy (RT) after cisplatin-docetaxel induction chemotherapy (CT) in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Patients and Methods:Patients with previously untreated, inoperable, histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IIIA or IIIB NSCLC, with performance status ≤1 and weight loss ≤10% received two cycles of induction CT with cisplatin (75 mg/m2) and docetaxel (75 mg/m2) every 3 weeks. Patients with a tumor response or stabilization continued to receive cisplatin (80 mg/m2) and oral vinorelbine (40 mg/m2) on days 1 and 8 for two cycles, with concomitant thoracic RT (2 Gy/d, 5 d/wk, and total dose 66 Gy).Results:Fifty-six patients were enrolled. All patients (n = 38) who received CT-RT were assessable for the tumor response. There were no complete responses. In the intent-to-treat analysis, the response rates were 32.1% after induction CT and 41.1% after CT-RT. The median progression-free and overall survival times were 9.2 months (95% confidence interval: 7–14) and 20.8 months (95% confidence interval: 13.7–24.1), respectively. Adverse effects of RT-CT were grades 3 to 4 neutropenia (four patients) and grade 3 esophageal toxicity (one patient). No treatment-related deaths occurred.Conclusion:The oral vinorelbine-cisplatin combination with concurrent RT is feasible and has a favorable risk-benefit ratio in stage IIIA/IIIB NSCLC

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: clinical, bronchoscopic, and comorbid features in a case series

International audienceBackground Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare condition of unknown etiology. TO is characterized by submucosal nodules, with or without calcifications, protruding in the anterolateral walls of the trachea and proximal bronchi. The objective of this study was to describe TO features and associated comorbidities in a series of patients. Methods Patients suffering from TO were retrospectively included by investigators from the Groupe d’Endoscopie Thoracique et Interventionnelle Francophone (GETIF). Demographic, clinical, comorbidities, bronchoscopic, functional, and radiological characteristics, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed. Results Thirty-six patients were included (69% male with a mean of 65 ± 12 years). Chronic symptoms were described by 81% of patients including cough (74%) and dyspnea on exertion (74%). TO was associated with COPD in 19% of the cases and gastroesophageal reflux disease in 6%. A mild to severe airflow obstruction was present in 55% of the cases. CT scan showed tracheal submucosal nodules in 93% of patients and tracheal stenosis in 17%. Bronchoscopy identified TO lesions in the trachea in 65% of the cases, and 66% of them were scattered. A bronchoscopic reevaluation was performed in 7 cases, 9 ± 14 months [1–56] after initial diagnosis, and showed the stability of lesions in all cases. Three patients underwent interventional bronchoscopic treatment. Conclusion The diagnosis of TO relies on typical bronchoscopic findings and can be evoked on a CT scan. Histologic diagnosis can be useful in atypical cases for differential diagnosis. Given its low consequences in terms of symptoms, lung functions, and evolution, no treatment is usually required

Cluster analysis unveils a severe persistent respiratory impairment phenotype 3-months after severe COVID-19

International audienceAbstract Background The mid-term respiratory sequelae in survivors of severe COVID-19 appear highly heterogeneous. In addition, factors associated with respiratory sequelae are not known. In this monocentric prospective study, we performed a multidisciplinary assessment for respiratory and muscular impairment and psychological distress 3 months after severe COVID-19. We analysed factors associated with severe persistent respiratory impairment, amongst demographic, COVID-19 severity, and 3-month assessment. Methods Patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia requiring ≥ 4L/min were included for a systematic 3-month visit, including respiratory assessment (symptoms, lung function, CT scan), muscular evaluation (body composition, physical function and activity, disability), psychopathological evaluation (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder-PTSD) and quality of life. A cluster analysis was performed to identify subgroups of patients based on objective functional measurements: D LCO , total lung capacity and 6-min walking distance (6MWD). Results Sixty-two patients were analysed, 39% had dyspnea on exercise (mMRC ≥ 2), 72% had D LCO < 80%, 90% had CT-scan abnormalities; 40% had sarcopenia/pre-sarcopenia and 31% had symptoms of PTSD. Cluster analysis identified a group of patients (n = 18, 30.5%) with a severe persistent (SP) respiratory impairment (D LCO 48 ± 12%, 6MWD 299 ± 141 m). This SP cluster was characterized by older age, severe respiratory symptoms, but also sarcopenia/pre-sarcopenia, symptoms of PTSD and markedly impaired quality of life. It was not associated with initial COVID-19 severity or management. Conclusions and clinical implication We identified a phenotype of patients with severe persistent respiratory and muscular impairment and psychological distress 3 months after severe COVID-19. Our results highlight the need for multidisciplinary assessment and management after severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Trial registration The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (May 6, 2020): NCT0437684