Real-life results from the overall population and key subgroups within the Italian cohort of nivolumab expanded access program in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Nivolumab was the first immune checkpoint inhibitor approved for previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Before its introduction in the market, nivolumab was made available to NSCLC patients through an expanded access program (EAP). Here we present the Italian cohort of patients with non-squamous NSCLC enrolled in a worldwide nivolumab EAP, with subgroup analyses involving elderly patients, patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastases and patients receiving nivolumab beyond progression.

The increase in activating EGFR mutation in plasma is an early biomarker to monitor response to osimertinib: a case report.

Background: Systemic treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has changed dramatically since the introduction of targeted therapies. The analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a valuable approach to monitor the clonal evolution of tumors during treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and to detect resistance mutations.

Case Presentation: A NSCLC patient with exon 19 deletion (ex19del) of EGFR was treated with osimertinib after multiple lines of treatment and obtained a partial response that lasted over 26 months.

Efficacy of nivolumab in pre-treated non-small-cell lung cancer patients harbouring KRAS mutations.

Background: The present study investigated the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in pre-treated patients with advanced NSCLC harbouring KRAS mutations.

Methods: Clinical data and KRAS mutational status were analysed in patients treated with nivolumab within the Italian Expanded Access Program. Objective response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival were evaluated.

Medical treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma relapses.

There are not established treatments for patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma that progressed after first-line chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed. Retrospective analyses suggest a possible role for rechallenge with pemetrexed for selected patients. Phase II trials demonstrate a modest efficacy of vinorelbine monotherapy with a response rate ranging between 0% and 18% and a tolerable toxicity profile.

Squamous cell transformation and T790M mutation as acquired resistance mechanisms in a patient with lung adenocarcinoma treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor: A case report.

The present case report describes the infrequent coexistence of squamous cell transformation and the epidermal growth factor receptor () T790M mutation as resistance mechanisms to first line treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The patient was a 44-year-old female, diagnosed with a primitive advanced lung adenocarcinoma with bone metastases. The tumor was positive for the exon 19 deletion, therefore the patient was treated with afatinib (40 mg/day, orally) and radiotherapy for bone lesions.

The dawn of "immune-revolution" in children: early experiences with checkpoint inhibitors in childhood malignancies.

Modern immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has changed clinical practice of adult patients with advanced cancer. Blockade of CTLA-4 and PD-1 pathways have shown survival benefits in different diseases. In children, combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have improved survival rates of solid tumors.

Aberrant expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase in lung adenocarcinoma: Analysis of circulating free tumor RNA using one-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Lung adenocarcinoma patients harboring anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements respond well to approved ALK inhibitors. However, to date, limited evidence is available regarding whether using circulating free tumor mRNA to identify aberrant ALK expression is possible, and its feasibility remains to be clearly addressed. The present study evaluated ALK expression by a one-step reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay on the circulating free tumor mRNA from 12 lung adenocarcinoma patients.