An open-label, randomized phase III study of early switch maintenance vs delayed second-line nivolumab in advanced stage squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after standard first-line platinum-based chemotherapy-EDEN trial GOIRC 04-2016.

Background: As for squamous (Sq)-NSCLC, Checkmate-017 trial showed a significant overall survival (OS) improvement in favor of Nivolumab (Nivo) over Docetaxel in 2nd-line. We hypothesized that anticipating Nivo use, as early switch maintenance after 1st-line chemotherapy (CHT), might have improved survival as compared to delayed 2nd-line treatment.

Methods: EDEN was an open-label, 2-arm, phase III study which randomized (1:1) stage IIIB/IV Sq-NSCLC pts non-progressive after 1st-line platinum-based CHT, to receive early Nivo as switch maintenance (Arm A) or standard best supportive care followed by 2nd-line Nivo at disease progression (Arm B).

Efficacy and Safety of Chemotherapy after Immunotherapy in Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

There are currently few data about the safety and effectiveness of chemotherapy for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed from prior immunotherapy. Data from patients with consecutive stage IIIB-IV, ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with combination or single-agent chemotherapy following progression on an earlier immunotherapy regimen were retrospectively gathered. Recorded were baseline attributes, outcome metrics, and toxicities.

Cardio-oncology rehabilitation: are we ready?

Cardio-oncology rehabilitation (CORE) is not only an essential component of cancer rehabilitation but also a pillar of preventive cardio-oncology. Cardio-oncology rehabilitation is a comprehensive model based on a multitargeted approach and its efficacy has been widely documented; when compared with an 'exercise only' programme, comprehensive CORE demonstrates a better outcome. It involves nutritional counselling, psychological support, and cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment, and it is directed to a very demanding population with a heavy burden of CV diseases driven by physical inactivity, cancer therapy-induced metabolic derangements, and cancer therapy-related CV toxicities.

Corrigendum: Cancer survivorship at heart: a multidisciplinary cardio-oncology roadmap for healthcare professionals.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.

Using peripheral immune-inflammatory blood markers in tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: An INVIDIa-2 study sub-analysis.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) have been reported as prognosticators in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and melanoma. This analysis of the INVIDIa-2 study on influenza vaccination in patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) assessed NLR and SII on overall survival (OS) by literature-reported (LR), receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC)-derived (ROC) cutoffs or as continuous variable (CV). NLR and SII with ROC cutoffs of <3.

Cancer survivorship at heart: a multidisciplinary cardio-oncology roadmap for healthcare professionals.

In cancer, a patient is considered a survivor from the time of initial diagnosis until the end of life. With improvements in early diagnosis and treatment, the number of cancer survivors (CS) has grown considerably and includes: (1) Patients cured and free from cancer who may be at risk of late-onset cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity (CTR-CVT); (2) Patients with long-term control of not-curable cancers in whom CTR-CVT may need to be addressed. This paper highlights the importance of the cancer care continuum, of a patient-centered approach and of a prevention-oriented policy.

Impact of influenza vaccination on survival of patients with advanced cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (INVIDIa-2): final results of the multicentre, prospective, observational study.

Background: The prospective multicentre observational INVIDIa-2 study investigated the clinical effectiveness of influenza vaccination in patients with advanced cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). In this secondary analysis of the original trial, we aimed to assess the outcomes of patients to immunotherapy based on vaccine administration.

Methods: The original study enrolled patients with advanced solid tumours receiving ICI at 82 Italian Oncology Units from Oct 1, 2019, to Jan 31, 2020.

Selection Criteria and Treatment Outcome for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients Unfit for Platinum-Based First-Line Therapy: Results of the MOON-OSS Observational Trial.

Limited evidence is available concerning the selection criteria and the outcomes of platinum unfit newly diagnosed advanced NSCLC patients receiving single-agent chemotherapy. We retrospectively collected data on consecutive, stage IIIB-IV, EGFR/ALK negative and PD-L1 < 50% NSCLC patients treated with first-line single agent chemotherapy. Baseline characteristics, outcome measures and toxicities were recorded, as well as criteria according to which treatment selection was made and what percentage of patients did not receive a first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.

Women at heart: Introducing gender cardio-oncology.

As cardio-oncology imposed itself as the reference specialty for a comprehensive cardiovascular approach to all patients with cancer, a more specific and careful cardiac evaluation of women entering their journey into cancer care is needed. Gender medicine refers to the study of how sex-based biological and gender-based socioeconomic and cultural differences influence people's health. Gender-related aspects could account for differences in the development, progression, and clinical signs of diseases as well as in the treatment of adverse events.

A look towards the clonal origin of metastatic pulmonary carcinosarcoma: Report of a patient with an unexpected long-term survival.

Introduction: Pulmonary carcinosarcoma is a rare histological subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, defined by the combination of epithelial and mesenchimal elements. Prognosis is usually dismal, with a median survival of about 6 months. The use of immunotherapy by blockade of PD1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint signaling has been shown to improve patients' survival.

Pembrolizumab for First-Line Treatment of Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Analysis of Prognostic Factors of Outcomes.

Background: In advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, without activating mutations and with PD-L1≥50%, Pembrolizumab monotherapy is the therapeutic standard in Europe.

Objective: To evaluate retrospectively the safety and efficacy of this drug and to investigate potential prognostic factors in daily clinical practice.

Methods: From September 2017 to September 2019, 205 consecutive patients from 14 Italian Medical Oncology Units were enrolled in the study.

INfluenza Vaccine Indication During therapy with Immune checkpoint inhibitors: a multicenter prospective observational study (INVIDIa-2).

Background: Until now, no robust data supported the efficacy, safety and recommendation for influenza vaccination in patients with cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Methods: The prospective multicenter observational INfluenza Vaccine Indication During therapy with Immune checkpoint inhibitors (INVIDIa-2) study investigated the clinical effectiveness of influenza vaccination in patients with advanced cancer receiving ICIs, enrolled in 82 Italian centers from October 2019 to January 2020. The primary endpoint was the time-adjusted incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) until April 30, 2020.

Steroid Use Independently Predicts for Poor Outcomes in Patients With Advanced NSCLC and High PD-L1 Expression Receiving First-Line Pembrolizumab Monotherapy.

Background: Real-world data have suggested a detrimental effect of steroid use in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving immunotherapy. However, previous studies included heterogeneous cohorts of patients receiving different lines of treatment with several immuno-oncology agents and various combinations of chemotherapy and immuno-oncology agents.

Patients And Methods: A comprehensive clinicopathologic database of patients with NSCLC and programmed cell death ligand 1 >50% treated with frontline pembrolizumab monotherapy was constructed in 14 centers in Italy, Spain, Greece, and Switzerland.

Efficacy of Pembrolizumab Monotherapy in Patients With or Without Brain Metastases From Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With a PD-L1 Expression ≥50%.

The authors conducted a multicenter retrospective study on the outcome of programmed death-ligand 1 tumor proportion score≥50% advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with first-line pembrolizumab according to the presence/absence of brain metastases. A total of 282 patients were included, of whom 56 had brain metastases that were treated with upfront local radiation therapy in 80.3% of cases.

Impact of performance status on non-small-cell lung cancer patients with a PD-L1 tumour proportion score ≥50% treated with front-line pembrolizumab.

We retrospectively analysed patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harbouring high PD-L1 expression (>50%) and treated with front-line pembrolizumab, comparing outcomes of patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 2 to those with PS 0-1. Data were collected by 16 participating centres. All patients with NSCLC and high PD-L1, treated with first-line pembrolizumab were included.

Incidence of Pericardial Effusion in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Immunotherapy.

Introduction: Cardiovascular toxicity of immunotherapy represents an underreported but potentially fatal side effect. A relatively high incidence of pericardial disease has been noticed in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a population of patients with advanced NSCLC receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) looking for the presence of pericardial effusion at baseline or during treatment.

First-line pembrolizumab in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with poor performance status.

Background: Pembrolizumab is the first-line standard of care for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a PD-L1 tumour proportion score (TPS) ≥ 50%. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) 2 patients may receive pembrolizumab, despite the absence of sustaining evidence.

Patients And Methods: GOIRC-2018-01 is a multicentre, retrospective, observational study.

Outcomes from salvage chemotherapy or pembrolizumab beyond progression with or without local ablative therapies for advanced non-small cell lung cancers with PD-L1 ≥50% who progress on first-line immunotherapy: real-world data from a European cohort.

Background: In this real-world multicenter study we addressed the activity of post-progression anticancer treatments after first-line pembrolizumab in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with PD-L1 ≥50%.

Methods: Clinico-pathological data of PD-L1 ≥50% advanced NSCLCs who failed first-line pembrolizumab were collected in 14 Oncologic Centers from different European countries. Types of subsequent anticancer treatment and outcomes on salvage chemotherapy or pembrolizumab beyond progression with or without the addition of local ablative therapies were reported.