Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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Pathological noninvasiveness needs to be precisely predicted in preoperative radiological examinations of patients with early lung cancer for the application of limited surgery. ⋯ Although our predetermined criterion for specificity was not statistically confirmed, radiological diagnosis of noninvasive lung cancer with a thin-section computed tomography scan corresponded well with pathological invasiveness. Radiological noninvasive peripheral lung adenocarcinoma could be defined as an adenocarcinoma ≤2.0 cm with ≤0.25 consolidation.
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To explore whether the progression-free survival (PFS) with pemetrexed differs between anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive and other major molecular subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer. ⋯ In this exploratory analysis, ALK-positive patients have a significantly longer PFS on pemetrexed compared with triple-negative patients, whereas EGFR or KRAS mutant patients do not. This information should be considered when sizing randomized studies in ALK-positive patients that involve pemetrexed. Pemetrexed should also be prioritized as a cytotoxic to explore further in patients with known ALK-positive disease.
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Prophylactic cranial irradiation has recently been reported to improve overall survival and quality of life in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. The generalizability of this treatment to an unselected population with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer is not clear, as the incidence of brain metastases is variably reported in the literature, ranging from 25 to 60%. ⋯ 20.8% of patients developed brain metastases after their initial presentation. This incidence is lower than that previously reported and may suggest that prophylactic cranial irradiation should be targeted to patients at highest risk. Response to chemotherapy and less than 5 kg baseline weight loss were independent predictors of future brain metastases.
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Despite increasing use of tunneled pleural catheters (TPCs), their efficacy as a definitive procedure for achieving palliation or spontaneous pleurodesis (SP) in the management of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) remains unclear. In the largest TPC series to date, we evaluate the efficacy for palliation and review the rate and predictors of SP. ⋯ TPC placement is safe and provides durable palliation, most often obviating the need for subsequent procedures in MPE patients. TPC, however, remains suboptimal at achieving pleurodesis.
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Comparative Study
Characteristics and outcomes of small cell lung cancer patients diagnosed during two lung cancer computed tomographic screening programs in heavy smokers.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is considered an inappropriate screening target due to its short preclinical phase and high rate of relapse despite optimal therapy. However, while intuitively screening for SCLC is inadvisable, in reality, there is a scarcity of data focusing on screen-detected SCLC and whether this intervention leads to diagnosis at an earlier clinical stage or alters outcome. ⋯ This study suggests that computed tomography screening is ineffective for SCLC. Efforts to reduce mortality of SCLC should instead focus on prevention through tobacco reduction programs, as well as the development of improved treatment options.