Serum miR-142-3p is associated with early relapse in operable lung adenocarcinoma patients.

The outcome of resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is critically determined by metastatic spread: About 30-50% of early-stage NSCLC patients encounter tumour recurrence within 5 years after surgery. A biomarker-driven stratification of early-stage lung cancer with a high risk of recurrence may improve therapy management and patient care. The aim of this study was to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) in serum of patients associated with early relapse in pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Mesenchymal stem cells in non-small cell lung cancer--different from others? Insights from comparative molecular and functional analyses.

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) play a vital role in lung cancer initiation and progression. Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are considered progenitor cells of fibroblasts and show cancer modulating abilities themselves, analyses on their presence and properties in lung cancer are lacking so far.

Methods: We performed a comparative molecular and functional analysis of MSC derived from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and corresponding normal lung tissue (NLT) of a total of 15 patients.

Endobronchial ultrasound for peripheral lesions: a review.

Lung cancer is one of the most common tumors worldwide. Pulmonary lesions detected during screening for lung cancer need to be evaluated further and tissue should be obtained. Bronchoscopy is often the first step to secure a histological diagnosis.

Selected clinical highlights from the 2012 ERS congress in Vienna.

This article reviews a selection of scientific presentations at the 2012 European Respiratory Society Annual Congress in Vienna, Austria. The best abstracts from the groups of the Clinical Assembly (Clinical Problems, Rehabilitation and Chronic Care, Imaging, Interventional Pulmonology, Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease, and General Practice and Primary Care) are presented and discussed in the context of the most up-to-date literature. The reviewed topics especially deal with the areas of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (acute exacerbations, comorbidities, prognosis and rehabilitation), the diagnosis and management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, endobronchial techniques in emphysema, functional imaging and issues in respiratory medicine relevant for the primary care setting, including aspects related to end-of-life care and palliation.

Physiological modeling of responses to upper versus lower lobe lung volume reduction in homogeneous emphysema.

Rationale: In clinical trials, homogeneous emphysema patients have responded well to upper lobe volume reduction but not lower lobe volume reduction.

Materials/methods: To understand the physiological basis for this observation, a computer model was developed to simulate the effects of upper and lower lobe lung volume reduction on RV/TLC and lung recoil in homogeneous emphysema.

Results: Patients with homogeneous emphysema received either upper or lower lobe volume reduction therapy based on findings of radionucleotide scintigraphy scanning.

Characteristics and outcome of patients with second primary lung cancer.

Patients with lung cancer are at risk of developing a second primary lung cancer (SPLC). However, the characteristics of patients at risk remain largely speculative. We reviewed 2816 lung cancer patients from our institution for the occurrence of SPLC.

Simultaneous computed tomography-guided biopsy and radiofrequency ablation of solitary pulmonary malignancy in high-risk patients.

Background: In recent years experience has been accumulated in percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of lung malignancies in nonsurgical patients.

Objectives: In this study, we retrospectively evaluated a simultaneous diagnostic and therapeutic approach including CT-guided biopsy followed immediately by RFA of solitary malignant pulmonary lesions.

Methods: CT-guided transthoracic core needle biopsy of solitary pulmonary lesions suspicious for malignancy was performed and histology was proven based on immediate frozen sections.

Are we missing the target? Cancer stem cells and drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death in Western countries. Despite novel molecular therapies, the majority of patients with advanced or metastatic disease show rapid progression and a median survival time of not more than 18 months. In the last decade, there has been increasing evidence that cancer stem cells (CSC) play a pivotal role in drug resistance, tumour regeneration and metastasis of various cancer entities including lung cancer.

[Bronchial foreign bodies].

Coughing, wheezing, dyspnea and recurrent pneumonia can be signs of foreign body aspiration. About 80% of all foreign body aspirations occur in children, especially in infants between 1 and 3 years of age. Although most foreign bodies are found in the bronchi they are especially dangerous in the larynx or trachea.

Characterization of outcomes 1 year after endoscopic thermal vapor ablation for patients with heterogeneous emphysema.

Introduction: Endoscopic lung volume reduction has been developed as a therapeutic option for advanced emphysema. Six-month results following treatment with endoscopic thermal vapor ablation (InterVapor; Uptake Medical, Tustin, CA) were described previously, and here we report observations from the 12-month assessment.

Methods: Two multicenter, international, single-arm trials of InterVapor (unilateral upper lobe treatment) in patients with upper lobe predominant emphysema were conducted.

Large-scale comparative analyses of immunomarkers for diagnostic subtyping of non-small-cell lung cancer biopsies.

Aims: Patient stratification according to histological subtype is important for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy. For specimens with uncertain histomorphology, rational and material-saving algorithms for specific and sensitive immunotyping need to be established.

Methods And Results: One thousand one hundred and forty-five NSCLCs were immunohistochemically investigated for the expression of cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6), CK7, thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), p63, napsin-A, and desmocollin-3.

Correlation of radio- and histomorphological pattern of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Recently, a novel classification system based on tumour architecture and with high prognostic impact has been proposed for pulmonary adenocarcinomas (ADCs). For imaging-based prediction of histological ADC subtypes and, thus, prognosis, it is of paramount importance to investigate the correlations of radio- and histomorphological parameters. Associations between histomorphological ADC growth patterns (lepidic, acinar, papillary, micropapillary and solid) and data from pre-operative assessment by computed tomography (CT) imaging of 174 resected pulmonary ADCs were analysed.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, periorbital and subconjunctival swelling].

A 70-year-old man with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dilative cardiomyopathy was referred due to acute dyspnea and chest pain. After spontaneous pneumothorax was confirmed by chest radiography, a chest tube was inserted into the right side. Persistent air bubbles escaping through the water seal of the drainage in synchrony with respiration indicated a bronchopleural fistula.

[Dyspnea, fatigue and subpulmonary mass].

A 52-year-old man was referred for progressive dyspnea and fatigue. The medical history was unremarkable and there were no signs of late infections or previous tumorous diseases. Physical examination revealed diminished breath sounds and a dull tone over the right lower side.

Incomplete fissures in severe emphysematous patients evaluated with MDCT: incidence and interobserver agreement among radiologists and pneumologists.

Objective: Pulmonary fissures completeness predicts efficacy in endobronchial valves (EBV) implantation, a new lobar volume reduction therapy for severe emphysematous patients. We assessed the incidence of incomplete fissures and the interobserver agreement in its evaluation with MDCT, in severe emphysematous patients prior to EBV implantation.

Materials And Methods: Volumetric thin-section CT scans of 35 patients (CODP GOLD 3/4, heterogeneous emphysema) were retrospectively reviewed by 2 pneumologists, 1 general and 2 experienced chest radiologists, independently and blinded for treatment outcome, and the pulmonary fissures were classified as either complete or incomplete.

Endobronchial ultrasound.

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) has emerged as a routinely performed procedure in diagnostic bronchoscopy. Extending the view beyond the airway wall, EBUS provides evaluation of tumor involvement of tracheobronchial wall and mediastinum and plays an essential role as a guidance technique for peripheral pulmonary diseases. The latest development is the EBUS-transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) scope that allows performing real-time EBUS-TBNA of enlargerd hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes.

Stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 is expressed in basaloid lung cancer and associated with poor prognosis.

Basaloid carcinoma represents a rare variant of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which has shown a poor prognosis in a number of studies. Although it is considered to derive from a pluri- or multipotent pulmonary stem cells, little is known about the expression and clinical significance of stem cell antigens in this variant. Stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4) was analysed by immunohistochemistry in 38 patients with resected early-stage basaloid NSCLC who had a median follow-up of 72.

From tissue to molecular phenotyping: pre-analytical requirements heidelberg experience.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of tumor-related death worldwide through years. Efforts to individualize lung cancer therapy to improve prognosis nowadays employ molecular analyses besides routine histopathological examination of tissue samples. In general, tissues are provided by bronchoscopy, CT-guided procedures or surgery.

Early detection of lung cancer by molecular markers in endobronchial epithelial-lining fluid.

Introduction: Early detection of malignancies in the lung by less-invasive methods aims at achieving efficient intervention and subsequently a reduction of the high mortality rate. We investigated whether biomarker analysis in endobronchial epithelial-lining fluid (ELF) collected by bronchoscopic microsampling (BMS) may be useful for a definitive preoperative diagnosis.

Methods: ELF was collected from subsegmental bronchi close to the indeterminate pulmonary nodule, which was detected by computed tomography, and from the contralateral lung.

Radiological and clinical outcomes of using Chartis™ to plan endobronchial valve treatment.

One-way endobronchial valves (EBVs) have been shown to relieve symptoms of emphysema, particularly in patients without collateral ventilation (CV) between the target and adjacent lobes. In this study, we investigated the ability of the bronchoscopic Chartis™ Pulmonary Assessment System to predict treatment response by determining the presence of CV. 80 EBV patients underwent a pre-treatment Chartis assessment.

A new method to predict values for postoperative lung function and surgical risk of lung resection by quantitative breath sound measurements.

Objectives: We evaluated quantitative acoustic measurements, as a simpler alternative to perfusion scintigraphy, for estimation of predicted postoperative (ppo) lung function after resection surgery in our patient population.

Methods: Patients with lung cancer, considered as candidates for lung resection, were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent lung function testing and quantitative breath sound testing by vibration response imaging (VRI) on the same day.

Safety and efficacy of thoracic external beam radiotherapy after airway stenting in malignant airway obstruction.

Purpose: We retrospectively evaluated the outcome and toxicity of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) after airway stents were placed in patients treated for malignant airway obstruction.

Methods And Materials: Between 2004 and 2009, we performed airway stenting followed by EBRT in 43 patients for symptomatic primary lung cancer (n = 31) or other thoracic malignancies (n = 12). The median time interval between stent placement and first irradiation was 14 days.