Thoracoscopic Assessment of Pleural Tumor Burden in Patients with Malignant Pleural Effusion: Prognostic and Therapeutic Implications

Background:Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is encountered at an advanced stage of disease progression and often heralds a poor prognosis. The most reliable predictive factor of survival in such patients is the primary tumor. Thoracoscopy is often performed for accurate diagnosis and/or thoracoscopic talc insufflation as a therapeutic modality. It remains unknown whether pleural tumor burden, as visualized on thoracoscopy, has potential prognostic value. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic accuracy of pleural tumor extent and localization (parietal, visceral, or diaphragmatic involvement), as assessed during medical thoracoscopy.Methods:Medical records of all patients who underwent thoracoscopy for suspicion of MPE between 2001 and 2008 at a tertiary care referral hospital were reviewed. Patients were included if pleural metastatic invasion was confirmed on tissue biopsy and survival status ascertained.Results:Four hundred twenty-one patients underwent diagnostic or therapeutic medical thoracoscopy at our referral center. Among them, 122 had confirmed metastatic pleural spread, but survival data were lacking in 15. Primary tumor consisted of non-mall cell lung cancer in 56, breast cancer in 23, melanoma in eight, and other malignancies in 20. Median survival of the entire population was 9.4 months. On univariate analysis, the following variables were significantly associated with reduced median overall survival: pleural metastatic melanoma, age less than 60 years, bloody MPE, extensive pleural adhesions, and widespread visceral pleural nodules (p < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, only melanoma as a primary tumor, pleural fluid appearance and extent of pleural adhesions remained independent and significant predictors of survival.Conclusion:No significant association was found between the extent or localization of pleural tumor burden and overall survival

Feasibility of short term drainage for diagnostic thoracoscopy

Background and Aim. Thoracoscopy is a diagnostic tool superior to other available techniques for the assessment of pleural effusions. There are numerous publications that describe the technique in detail but there is very little published on the optimal time of chest drain removal post procedure. Our aim was to retrospectively study all cases of diagnostic thoracoscopy and to ascertain the time of chest drain removal, length of hospital stay and associated complications. Methods. All patients who underwent thoracoscopy during a 6-year period were identified from a computerised database. Patients who received talc for pleurodesis were excluded as they required longer drainage time. A review of the remaining patients’ charts and radiology was performed to ascertain the predefined outcomes. Results. 124 patients had a diagnostic thoracoscopy. The time to chest drain removal was documented as less than four hours, four to 24 hours, 24 to 48 hours and greater than 48 hours in 66 (53.2%), 29 (23.4%), 12 (9.7%) and 17 (13.7%) of patients respectively. The median length of stay for all patients was one day (interquartile range, 1-4 days). There was a statistically significant difference in overall length of hospital stay between the early (48 hours) chest drain removal groups, p=0.0028. The overall complication rate was 15.9%. There was no statistical difference in complication rates between the two groups. Conclusion. This retrospective series demonstrates that early chest drain removal post diagnostic thoracoscopy is possible and safe. This is likely to confer economic benefits

465 Bintrafusp alfa in combination with chemotherapy in patients with stage IV NSCLC: safety and pharmacokinetic results of the INTR@PID LUNG 024 study

BackgroundBintrafusp alfa is a first-in-class bifunctional fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of the TGF-βRII receptor (a TGF-β "trap") fused to a human IgG1 mAb blocking PD-L1. Here we report cumulative safety and pharmacokinetic (PK) results from the global, phase 1b/2 INTR@PID LUNG 024 study (NCT03840915), which evaluated bintrafusp alfa in combination with chemotherapy (CT) in patients with stage IV NSCLC.MethodsAdult patients with stage IV nonsquamous or squamous NSCLC and an ECOG PS ≤1 were included. Cohorts A, B, and C included patients with no prior systemic therapy; patients in cohort D had disease that progressed with previous anti–PD-(L)1 therapy. Cohorts received bintrafusp alfa 2400 mg every 3 weeks intravenously in combination with CT for 4 cycles (A [nonsquamous only]: cisplatin or carboplatin + pemetrexed; B: carboplatin + nab-paclitaxel or paclitaxel; C: cisplatin or carboplatin + gemcitabine; D: docetaxel) followed by bintrafusp alfa maintenance (monotherapy or in combination with pemetrexed in cohort A) for up to 31 cycles. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of bintrafusp alfa in combination with CT. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were assessed during a 3-week observation period. Serial samples were drawn to assess serum concentration and calculate PK parameters by noncompartmental analysis.ResultsAs of the May 5, 2021, data cutoff, 70 patients received bintrafusp alfa in combination with CT. Of 35 patients included in the DLT analysis, 4 experienced 1 DLT according to a safety monitoring committee (data cutoff May 5, 2021; A: n=1/8; B: n=1/8; C: n=0/8; D: n=2/11). Cumulative safety data are reported in table 1. PK data were available for 67 patients (A: n=38; B: n=9; C: n=8; D: n=12). PK profiles were similar across cohorts and between patients who did and did not experience a DLT. Observed bintrafusp alfa first-cycle exposures (Cmax, AUC, and Ctrough) were consistent with the published population PK (popPK) model.1Abstract 465 Table 1Safety results from the INTR@PID LUNG 024 studyConclusionsThe safety profile of bintrafusp alfa in combination with CT was manageable and similar to that reported for ICIs in combination with CT, with the exception of TGF-β–related skin lesions known to occur with TGF-β inhibition. No new safety signals were identified and there were no treatment-related deaths. The PK profile was consistent with the predicted monotherapy popPK model, suggesting no victim DDI potential for bintrafusp alfa with CT.AcknowledgementsThe authors thank the patients and their families, investigators, co-investigators, and the study teams at each of the participating centers, at the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and at EMD Serono, Billerica, Massachusetts, USA.Trial RegistrationNCT03840915ReferenceWilkins JJ, Vugmeyster Y, Dussault I. Population pharmacokinetic analysis of bintrafusp alfa in different cancer types. Adv Ther 2019;36:2414–2433.Ethics ApprovalThe trial was approved by each site's independent ethics committee

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of human calretinin in plasma and serum of mesothelioma patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Calretinin is one of the well-established immunohistochemical markers in the diagnostics of malignant mesothelioma (MM). Its utility as a diagnostic tool in human blood, however, is scarcely investigated. The aim of this study was to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human calretinin in blood and to assess its usefulness as a potential minimally invasive diagnostic marker for MM.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Initially, attempts were made to establish an assay using commercially available antibodies and to optimize it by including a biotin-streptavidin complex into the assay protocol. Subsequently, a novel ELISA based on polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbit immunized with human recombinant calretinin was developed. The assay performance in human serum and plasma (EDTA/heparin) and the influence of calcium concentrations on antibody recognition were studied. Stability of spiked-in calretinin in EDTA plasma under different storage conditions was also examined. In preliminary studies serum and plasma samples from 97 healthy volunteers, 35 asbestos-exposed workers, and 42 MM patients were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean detection range of the new ELISA was 0.12 to 8.97 ng/ml calretinin. The assay demonstrated markedly lower background and significantly higher sensitivity compared to the initially contrived assay that used commercial antibodies. Recovery rate experiments confirmed dependence of calretinin antibody recognition on calcium concentration. Calcium adjustment is necessary for calretinin measurement in EDTA plasma. Spiked-in calretinin revealed high stability in EDTA plasma when stored at room temperature, 4°C, or after repeated freeze/thaw cycles. Median calretinin values in healthy volunteers, asbestos workers, and MM patients were 0.20, 0.33, and 0.84 ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.0001 for healthy vs. MM, p = 0.0036 for healthy vs. asbestos-exposed, p < 0.0001 for asbestos-exposed vs. MM). Median values in patients with epithelioid and biphasic MM were similar. No influence of age, gender, smoking status, or type of medium (plasma/serum) on calretinin values was found.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The novel assay is highly sensitive and applicable to human serum and plasma. Calretinin appears to be a promising marker for the blood-based detection of MM and might complement other markers. However, further studies are required to prove its usefulness in the diagnosis of MM patients.</p

Biomarkers of clinical benefit for anti-epidermal growth factor receptor agents in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains by far the major cause of cancer-related death in the Western world in both men and women. The majority of patients will be diagnosed with metastatic disease, and chemotherapy doublets remain the cornerstone of treatment for these patients. However, chemotherapy has a minimal impact on long-term survival and prognosis remains poor for these patients. Further improvement in treatment is likely to require incorporation of novel targeted therapies. Among these agents, inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have demonstrated significant activity in the first-, second- or third-line treatment of NSCLC. The purpose of current paper is to present the evidence for using several proposed molecular biomarkers as a tool for selection of NSCLC patients for anti-EGFR treatment. According to current data, EGFR mutation status appears to be the strongest predictor for the selection of NSCLC patients to first-line treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors vs chemotherapy. Use of other biomarkers remains investigational

Targeted Therapy for Older Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Systematic Review and Guidelines from the French Society of Geriatric Oncology (SoFOG) and the French-Language Society of Pulmonology (SPLF)/ French-Language Oncology Group (GOLF)

Systematic molecular profiling and targeted therapy (TKI) have changed the face of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) treatment. However, there are no specific recommendations to address the prescription of TKI for older patients. A multidisciplinary task force from the French Society of Geriatric Oncology (SoFOG) and the French Society of Pulmonology/Oncology Group (SPLF/GOLF) conducted a systematic review from May 2010 to May 2021. Protocol registered in Prospero under number CRD42021224103. Three key questions were selected for older patients with NSCLC: (1) to whom TKI can be proposed, (2) for whom monotherapy should be favored, and (3) to whom a combination of TKI can be proposed. Among the 534 references isolated, 52 were included for the guidelines. The expert panel analysis concluded: (1) osimertinib 80 mg/day is recommended as a first-line treatment for older patients with the EGFR mutation; (2) full-dose first generation TKI, such as erlotinib or gefitinib, is feasible; (3) ALK and ROS1 rearrangement studies including older patients were too scarce to conclude on any definitive recommendations; and (4) given the actual data, TKI should be prescribed as monotherapy. Malnutrition, functional decline, and the number of comorbidities should be assessed primarily before TKI initiation. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Nintedanib Plus Pemetrexed/Cisplatin in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Phase II Results From the Randomized, Placebo-Controlled LUME-Meso Trial

Purpose LUME-Meso is a phase II/III randomized, double-blind trial designed to assess efficacy and safety of nintedanib plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Phase II results are reported here. Patients and Methods Chemotherapy-na¨ıve patients with unresectable, nonsarcomatoid MPM (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 1), stratified by histology (epithelioid or biphasic), were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to up to six cycles of pemetrexed and cisplatin plus nintedanib (200 mg twice daily) or placebo followed by nintedanib plus placebo monotherapy until progression. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Results Eighty-seven patients were randomly assigned. The median number of pemetrexed and cisplatin cycles was six; the median treatment duration for nintedanib was 7.8 months and 5.3 months for placebo. Primary PFS favored nintedanib (hazard ratio [HR], 0.56; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.91; P = .017), which was confirmed in updated PFS analyses (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.87; P = .010). A trend toward improved overall survival also favored nintedanib (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.46 to 1.29; P = .319). Benefit was evident in epithelioid histology, with a median overall survival gain of 5.4 months (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.40 to 1.21; P = .197; median [nintedanib v placebo], 20.6 months v 15.2 months) and median PFS gain of 4.0 months (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.82; P = .006; median [nintedanib v placebo], 9.7 v 5.7 months). Neutropenia was the most frequent grade $ 3 adverse event (AE; nintedanib 43.2% v placebo 12.2%); rates of febrile neutropenia were low (4.5% in nintedanib group v 0% in placebo group). AEs leading to discontinuation were reported in 6.8% of those receiving nintedanib versus 17.1% of those in the placebo group. Conclusion Addition of nintedanib to pemetrexed plus cisplatin resulted in PFS improvement. AEs were manageable. The clinical benefit was evident in patients with epithelioid histology. The confirmatory phase III part of the study is ongoing

Non-Neoplastic and Neoplastic Pleural Endpoints Following Fiber Exposure

Exposure to asbestos fibers is associated with non-neoplastic pleural diseases including plaques, fibrosis, and benign effusions, as well as with diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma. Translocation and retention of fibers are fundamental processes in understanding the interactions between the dose and dimensions of fibers retained at this anatomic site and the subsequent pathological reactions. The initial interaction of fibers with target cells in the pleura has been studied in cellular models in vitro and in experimental studies in vivo. The proposed biological mechanisms responsible for non-neoplastic and neoplastic pleural diseases and the physical and chemical properties of asbestos fibers relevant to these mechanisms are critically reviewed. Understanding mechanisms of asbestos fiber toxicity may help us anticipate the problems from future exposures both to asbestos and to novel fibrous materials such as nanotubes. Gaps in our understanding have been outlined as guides for future research

Roflumilast in moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treated with longacting bronchodilators: two randomised clinical trials

Background Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have few options for treatment. The efficacy and safety of the phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor roflumilast have been investigated in studies of patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, but not in those concomitantly treated with longacting inhaled bronchodilators. The effect of roflumilast on lung function in patients with COPD that is moderate to severe who are already being treated with salmeterol or tiotropium was investigated. Methods In two double-blind, multicentre studies done in an outpatient setting, after a 4-week run-in, patients older than 40 years with moderate-to-severe COPD were randomly assigned to oral roflumilast 500 mu g or placebo once a day for 24 weeks, in addition to salmeterol (M2-127 study) or tiotropium (M2-128 study). The primary endpoint was change in prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1)). Analysis was by intention to treat. The studies are registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00313209 for M2-127, and NCT00424268 for M2-128. Findings In the salmeterol plus roflumilast trial, 466 patients were assigned to and treated with roflumilast and 467 with placebo; in the tiotropium plus roflumilast trial, 371 patients were assigned to and treated with roflumilast and 372 with placebo. Compared with placebo, roflumilast consistently improved mean prebronchodilator FEV(1) by 49 mL (p<0.0001) in patients treated with salmeterol, and 80 mL (p<0.0001) in those treated with tiotropium. Similar improvement in postbronchodilator FEV(1) was noted in both groups. Furthermore, roflumilast had beneficial effects on other lung function measurements and on selected patient-reported outcomes in both groups. Nausea, diarrhoea, weight loss, and, to a lesser extent, headache were more frequent in patients in the roflumilast groups. These adverse events were associated with increased patient withdrawal. Interpretation Roflumilast improves lung function in patients with COPD treated with salmeterol or tiotropium, and could become an important treatment for these patients