Intravenous immunoglobulin is safe and effective in controlling pre-existing paraneoplastic neuromuscular diseases in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: two case reports and literature review.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors cause rare but potentially fatal neuromuscular complications, leading to a concern to use these agents in cancer patients with pre-existing autoimmune or inflammatory neuromuscular diseases. We report two such patients with paraneoplastic dermatomyositis and "seronegative" paraneoplastic demyelinating neuropathy, respectively, who have been successfully treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy as well as maintenance intravenous immunoglobulin. While controlling the paraneoplastic or autoimmune neuromuscular diseases, the use of intravenous immunoglobulin did not compromise the anti-cancer effect of immune checkpoint inhibitor.

Hospitalized cancer patients with comorbidities and low lymphocyte counts had poor clinical outcomes to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has improved survivals with a favorable toxicity profile in a variety of cancer patients. We hypothesized that hospitalized cancer patients who have acute or chronic comorbidities may have suppressed immune systems and poor clinical outcomes to ICIs. The objective of this study was to explore clinical outcomes and predictive factors of hospitalized cancer patients who received ICI therapy at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

A 70-Year-Old Man With Relapsed CNS Lymphoma Has Incidental Finding of Right Atrial Mass.

A 70-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for planned chemotherapy for recently diagnosed CNS lymphoma. His medical history included follicular lymphoma (achieved remission 1 year prior with chemotherapy) and tonic-clonic seizure 1 month prior to admission, which led to his eventual biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of CNS lymphoma. Physical examination revealed temperature 36.

Targeting HER2 genomic alterations in non-small cell lung cancer.

Oncogenic mutations and amplifications in the erythroblastic oncogene B (), or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (), have emerged as distinct oncogenic drivers and drug targets in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Each genomic alteration occurs in 2-4% of NSCLC by next generation sequencing and is associated with constitutive HER2 activation. The most common mutations in NSCLC are exon 20 mutation A775_G776insYVMA mutation in the kinase domain and S310F mutation in the extracellular domain.

An automated electronic system for managing radiation treatment plan peer review reduces missed reviews at a large, high-volume academic center.

Background: Assuring quality in cancer care through peer review has become increasingly important in radiation oncology. In 2012, our department implemented an automated electronic system for managing radiation treatment plan peer review. The purpose of this study was to compare the overall impact of this electronic system to our previous manual, paper-based system.