Mesothelioma in immigrants from Turkey: Genes have a minor role.

Objective: To examine the incidence and epidemiology of malignant mesothelioma in immigrants from Karain where there is an extraordinarily high incidence of mesothelioma, Cappadocia, Turkey, to Stockholm, Sweden, and their children over 20 years of age born in Stockholm, i.e. two genetically similar populations with and without erionite exposure.

Intrabronchial stents in heterogenous emphysema: a highly selected material followed 5 years.

Background: Endobronchial lung volume reduction (EBVR) with one-way valves introduced into the most diseased lobe of the lung is a non-invasive method to improve lung function in patients with severe heterogenous emphysema. The problem is to select the right patients for the procedure. Furthermore, the long-term effects have not been reported in most studies.

[Thoracal actinomycosis - a diagnostic challenge].

Actinomycotic infection of the chest structures is rare but can be serious. Diagnosis is difficult, since both culture of the bacterium and pathological investigation require special methods. Investigations therefore usually take many months before the correct treatment can be started.

Achieving Thoracic Oncology data collection in Europe: a precursor study in 35 Countries.

Background: A minority of European countries have participated in international comparisons with high level data on lung cancer. However, the nature and extent of data collection across the continent is simply unknown, and without accurate data collection it is not possible to compare practice and set benchmarks to which lung cancer services can aspire.

Methods: Using an established network of lung cancer specialists in 37 European countries, a survey was distributed in December 2014.

[Black smoke lung disease – a new disease in Sweden].

Black smoke lung disease - a new disease in Sweden We describe two elderly female patients, immigrants to Sweden from Afghanistan, with intensive longtime exposure to smoke from biomass, and who presented with bronchial stenosis and severe bronchial obstruction. CT and X-ray showed bizarre perihilar infiltrates in the lungs. Bronchoscopy revealed black narrow bronchi with a middle lobe stenosis in one of the patients.

evaluation of tumor cell specific drug responses in malignant pleural effusions.

The effect of chemotherapy may be improved by combining the most effective drugs based on testing the sensitivity of the individual tumor . Such estimations of tumor cells from effusions have so far not been implemented in the clinical routine as a basis for individualized choice of therapy. One obstacle for such analyses is the admixture of benign cells that might obscure the results.

A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Zephyr Endobronchial Valve Treatment in Heterogeneous Emphysema (TRANSFORM).

Rationale: Single-center randomized controlled trials of the Zephyr endobronchial valve (EBV) treatment have demonstrated benefit in severe heterogeneous emphysema. This is the first multicenter study evaluating this treatment approach.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Zephyr EBVs in patients with heterogeneous emphysema and absence of collateral ventilation.

Occupation and mesothelioma in Sweden: updated incidence in men and women in the 27 years after the asbestos ban.

Objectives: We updated the Swedish component of the Nordic Occupational Cancer (NOCCA) Study through 2009 in order to investigate the incidence of mesothelioma of the peritoneum and pleura in both genders, and explored occupational exposures that may be associated with mesothelioma.

Methods: The Swedish component of the NOCCA Study includes 6.78 million individuals.

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) in Octogenarians in Clinical Practice.

Background/aim: Globally, an increasing proportion of cancer patients are aged >65 years and many are aged >70 years. Treatment of the elderly with lung cancer has, therefore, become an important issue. We performed a retrospective study of our patients to demonstrate how octogenarians with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are treated in real-life clinical practice.

Lung cancer among native and foreign-born Swedes: histopathology, treatment, and survival.

Background: Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, including Sweden. Several studies have shown that socioeconomic status affects the risk, treatment, and survival of LC. Due to immigration after Second World War, foreign-born people constitute 12.

Bilateral endoscopic volume reduction in a woman with severe emphysema.

In selected patients with severe heterogenous emphysema lung volume reduction can be performed by using endobronchial valves. So far, only unilateral procedures have been published. Here is described a patient where a right-sided closure of the right upper lobe resulted in an increase of FEV1sec of more than 50%, and some years later the procedure was repeated on the left side with further considerable improvement.

Chemotherapy Treatment of Elderly Patients (≥70 Years) with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Seven-Year Retrospective Study of Real-Life Clinical Practice at Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden.

An increasing proportion of cancer patients are aged >65 years and many are aged >70 years. Treatment of the elderly with lung cancer has, therefore, become an important issue; so we performed a retrospective study of our patients to demonstrate how elderly patients with NSCLC are treated in real-life, clinical practice. All patients aged ≥70 years with NSCLC at our department were reviewed retrospectively.

Feasibility of home delivery of pemetrexed in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and adherence to home delivery (HD) of pemetrexed maintenance treatment in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (nsqNSCLC).

Materials And Methods: Exploratory, prospective, single-arm, Phase II study in advanced nsqNSCLC patients, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0/1 that did not progress after 4 first-line induction cycles of a platinum doublet. The first cycle of pemetrexed (500mg/m(2)) was hospital administered, further cycles were HD until progressive disease or discontinuation.

Vorinostat in patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma who have progressed on previous chemotherapy (VANTAGE-014): a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Vorinostat is a histone deacetylase inhibitor that changes gene expression and protein activity. On the basis of the clinical benefit reported in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma treated in a phase 1 study of vorinostat, we designed this phase 3 trial to investigate whether vorinostat given as a second-line or third-line therapy improved patients' overall survival.

Methods: This double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial was done in 90 international centres.

Pemetrexed and gemcitabine versus carboplatin and gemcitabine in non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized noninferiority phase II study in one center.

Background: The standard treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) stages IIIb and IV is a platinum compound combined with a third-generation cytotoxic agent. We decided to conduct a phase II study to assess whether the platinum compound could be replaced with pemetrexed with similar results and without an increase in side effects.

Methods: Consecutive eligible patients were randomized to either the standard arm of gemcitabine plus carboplatin (GC) or the experimental arm of gemcitabine plus pemetrexed (GP).

One- to four-year follow-up of endobronchial lung volume reduction in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency patients: a case series.

Background: Lung volume reduction surgery can improve lung function and working capacity in severe heterogeneous emphysema. Endobronchial lung volume reduction (ELVR) performed by one-way valves inserted via a flexible bronchoscope can result in a moderate but significant improvement in lung function and exercise tolerance, eliminating the surgical risks.

Objectives: Most studies of this method have excluded patients with α1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, but small series of cases with positive short-term outcome have been reported.

Home administration of maintenance pemetrexed for patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer: rationale, practicalities and phase II feasibility study design.

Background: Home-based care in oncology is mainly reserved for patients at the end of life. Regulations regarding home delivery of cytotoxics differ across Europe, with a notable lack of practice guidelines in most countries. This has led to a lack of data addressing the feasibility of home-based administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Hyaluronan and N-ERC/mesothelin as key biomarkers in a specific two-step model to predict pleural malignant mesothelioma.

Purpose: Diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is challenging. The first available diagnostic material is often an effusion and biochemical analysis of soluble markers may provide additional diagnostic information. This study aimed to establish a predictive model using biomarkers from pleural effusions, to allow early and accurate diagnosis.