A simplified scoring system for predicting treatment response in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (EAST score).

Aims: This study aimed at developing a scoring system (EAST score) to predict recurrence after chemoradiotherapy in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC).

Patients & Methods: Treatment-naïve LS-SCLC patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) ( = 234) or sequential chemoradiotherapy ( = 53) were retrospectively reviewed. Using data from CCRT population, clinical and radiological variables associated with disease progression were identified.

Protocol summary of a randomized phase III study: comparing systemic therapy with and without debulking surgery (primary tumour resection) for clinical stage IVA (cT1-2bN0-1M1a) non-small cell lung cancer with radiologically undetermined pleural dissemination JCOG2103 (DEBULK-LUNG).

In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who present with radiologically undetermined malignant pleural dissemination or incidental surgical diagnosis of the same, surgery is generally not the preferred option; systemic therapy is favoured. However, there is no consensus on incorporating primary site resection into the treatment plan. Retrospective analyses hint at potential benefits of combining systemic therapy with primary site resection, but prospective studies have yet to confirm these findings.

Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors plus platinum-based chemotherapy as 1st line treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer harboring HER2 mutations: Results from LC-SCRUM-Asia.

Introduction: HER2 mutations are reported to occur in 2%-5% of all cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The clinical outcomes in patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus platinum-based chemotherapy as 1st line treatment still remain unclear.

Methods: Using the large-scale clinico-genomic database of LC-SCRUM-Asia, the clinico-genomic characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC were investigated.

A Phase I First-in-Human Study of ABBV-011, a Seizure-Related Homolog Protein 6-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate, in Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: Seizure-related homolog protein 6 (SEZ6) is a novel target expressed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). ABBV-011, a SEZ6-targeted antibody conjugated to calicheamicin, was evaluated in a phase I study (NCT03639194) in patients with relapsed/refractory SCLC. We report initial outcomes of ABBV-011 monotherapy.

Phase 2 trial of crizotinib in Japanese patients with advanced NSCLC harboring a MET gene alteration: a Co-MET study.

Background: MET exon 14 skipping mutations occur in 3-4% and MET high amplifications occur in < 1% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Crizotinib, a selective ATP-competitive small-molecule inhibitor of c-Met, ALK, and ROS1 tyrosine kinases, has shown activity in cancer models with various types of MET activation.

Methods: The Co-MET study is a single-arm phase 2 trial to assess the safety and efficacy of crizotinib in MET inhibitor-naïve patients with advanced NSCLC harboring MET exon 14 skipping mutation (cohort 1) or high MET gene copy number of ≥ 7 (cohort 2).

Clinical outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR Exon20 in-frame insertions in the near-loop and far-loop: Results from LC-SCRUM-Asia.

Objectives: In this study, we explored the clinical outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR Exon20 in-frame insertions (Exon20ins), and the impact of the location of Exon20ins on these clinical outcomes.

Materials And Methods: The efficacies of current systemic therapies in NSCLC patients harboring Exon20ins were investigated using a large-scale clinico-genomic database of LC-SCRUM-Asia, and compared with that of amivantamab in the CHRYSALIS trial.

Results: Of the 11,397 patients enrolled in LC-SCRUM-Asia, Exon20ins were detected in 189 patients (1.

Elements of End-of-Life Discussions Associated With Patients' Reported Outcomes and Actual End-of-Life Care in Patients With Pretreated Lung Cancer.

Background: End-of-life discussions for patients with advanced cancer are internationally recommended to ensure consistency of end-of-life care with patients' values. This study examined the elements of end-of-life discussions associated with end-of-life care.

Materials And Methods: We performed a prospective observational study among consecutive patients with pretreated non-small cell lung cancer after the failure of first-line chemotherapy.

Clinicogenomic Features and Targetable Mutations in NSCLCs Harboring BRAF Non-V600E Mutations: A Multi-Institutional Genomic Screening Study (LC-SCRUM-Asia).

Introduction: BRAF non-V600E mutations occur in 1% to 2% of NSCLCs. Because of their rarity, the clinical backgrounds and outcomes of cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunotherapy remain unclear, and no targeted therapies are approved for BRAF non-V600E-mutant NSCLC.

Methods: In this multi-institutional prospective lung cancer genomic screening project (LC-SCRUM-Asia), we evaluated the clinicogenomic characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of BRAF non-V600E-mutant NSCLC.

Prognostic impact and gene expression analysis of peri-tumoral alveolar macrophage in resected lung adenocarcinoma.

The prognostic significance and role of extratumoral alveolar macrophages (exAMs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the prognostic impact and gene expression of exAMs in LUAD patients. The density of alveolar macrophages (AMs) in the peri-tumoral lung field (p-exAMs) and distant lung field (d-exAMs) was evaluated in 217 LUAD patients with lymph node metastasis.

Clinicopathological significance of peritumoral alveolar macrophages in patients with resected early-stage lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: This study aimed to clarify the correlation between the number of AMs and prognosis and to examine the gene expression of AMs in lung squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC).

Methods: We reviewed 124 stage I lung SqCC cases in our hospital and 139 stage I lung SqCC cases in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort in this study. We counted the number of AMs in the peritumoral lung field (P-AMs) and in the lung field distant from the tumor (D-AMs).

A phase II study (WJOG12819L) to assess the efficacy of osimertinib in patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC in whom systemic disease (T790M-negative) progressed after treatment with first- or second-generation EGFR TKIs and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Background: Osimertinib is a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that is an established standard treatment option for chemotherapy-naive patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, of such patients who have received prior treatment with a first- or second-generation EGFR TKI, only approximately half are eligible for osimertinib therapy because its indication as second-line treatment and beyond is limited to metastatic NSCLC that is positive for the T790M resistance mutation of the EGFR gene. This study was initiated at the request of a dedicated network for patients with lung cancer in Japan.

The impact of tertiary lymphoid structures on clinicopathological, genetic and gene expression characteristics in lung adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are observed in several cancers and are associated with favorable prognosis. This study aimed to examine the clinicopathological, genetic, and gene expression profiles of lung adenocarcinoma patients with TLS.

Methods: A total of 112 patients with pathological stage IB lung adenocarcinoma who underwent complete resection between 2011 and 2015 were enrolled in this study.

A Large-Scale Prospective Concordance Study of Plasma- and Tissue-Based Next-Generation Targeted Sequencing for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (LC-SCRUM-Liquid).

Purpose: We evaluated plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and tissue-based sequencing concordance for comprehensive oncogenic driver detection in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using a large-scale prospective screening cohort (LC-SCRUM-Liquid).

Experimental Design: Blood samples were prospectively collected within 4 weeks of corresponding tumor tissue sampling from patients with advanced NSCLC to investigate plasma cfDNA sequencing concordance for alterations in 8 oncogenes (EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, HER2, MET, ALK, RET, and ROS1) compared with tissue-based next-generation targeted sequencing.

Results: Paired blood and tissue samples were obtained in 1,062/1,112 enrolled patients with NSCLC.

Prognostic Awareness and Discussions of Incurability in Patients with Pretreated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Caregivers: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Although patients with advanced cancer often have poor prognostic awareness, the most effective communication approach for improving prognostic awareness is unclear. In addition, the association between prognostic awareness and preferences for future medical treatment remains unexplored.

Materials And Methods: We performed a prospective observational study of consecutive patients with advanced or post-operative recurrent non-small cell lung cancer whose disease had progressed after first-line chemotherapy, and their caregivers.

Phase II study of atezolizumab with bevacizumab for non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with high PD-L1 expression (@Be Study).

Background: PD-L1 expression on tumor cells is a marker of PD-1/PD-L1 antibody treatment efficacy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PD-L1 antibody (atezolizumab) prolongs overall survival (OS) compared with platinum doublet as first-line treatment for NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression. Bevacizumab enhanced cytotoxic agent and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor efficacy in non-squamous (NS)-NSCLC, and PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies in preclinical models.

The CLIP1-LTK fusion is an oncogenic driver in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is one of the most aggressive tumour types. Targeted therapies stratified by oncogenic drivers have substantially improved therapeutic outcomes in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, such oncogenic drivers are not found in 25-40% of cases of lung adenocarcinoma, the most common histological subtype of NSCLC.

Comparison of the efficiency of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration using a 22G needle versus 25G needle for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in patients with lung cancer: a prospective randomized, crossover study.

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is generally performed for the diagnosis of hilar/mediastinal lymph node metastasis in patients with lung cancer. Recently, a 25-gauge (G) needle became available, but robust evidence of its usefulness in routine clinical practice is still lacking.

Methods: A prospective randomized crossover trial was performed, in which patients with suspected hilar/mediastinal lymph node metastasis of lung cancer underwent EBUS-TBNA.

Japanese Lung Cancer Society Guidelines for Stage IV NSCLC With Mutations.

Patients with NSCLC in East Asia, including Japan, frequently contain mutations. In 2018, we published the latest full clinical practice guidelines on the basis of those provided by the Japanese Lung Cancer Society Guidelines Committee. The purpose of this study was to update those recommendations, especially for the treatment of metastatic or recurrent -mutated NSCLC.

High proportion of tumor necrosis predicts poor survival in surgically resected high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung.

Objectives: Tumor necrosis is a negative prognostic factor in various cancers. High-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (HGNEC) of the lung, such as small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), commonly have histopathological features of tumor necrosis. However, the prognostic value of tumor necrosis remains unknown.