Evaluation of a National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines-Based Decision Support Tool in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The association of guideline-based decision support with the quality of care in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not known.

Objective: To evaluate the association of exposure to the National Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCN) guidelines with guideline-concordant care and patients' decisional conflict.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A nonrandomized clinical trial, conducted at a tertiary care academic institution, enrolled patients from February 23, 2015, to September 28, 2017.

Incorporation of a Molecular Prognostic Classifier Improves Conventional Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Staging.

Introduction: Despite adoption of molecular biomarkers in the management of NSCLC, the recently adopted eighth edition of the TNM staging system utilized only clinicopathologic characteristics and validated improvement in risk stratification of early-stage disease has remained elusive. We therefore evaluated the integration of a clinically validated molecular prognostic classifier into conventional staging.

Methods: A novel staging system, the TNMB (with the B denoting biology) system, which integrates a 14-gene molecular prognostic classifier into the eighth edition of the TNM staging system, was developed by using data from 321 patients with NSCLC at the University of California, San Francisco.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy Guided by Molecular Profiling and Improved Outcomes in Early Stage, Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Many early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who are not considered candidates for adjuvant treatment according to current guidelines do harbor occult metastasis, and have disease recurrence despite complete resection. Although National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines suggest clinicopathologic characteristics to identify high-risk patients for adjuvant intervention, molecular profiling more accurately predicts 5-year survival. Early evidence of clinical benefit from application of this molecular-based management strategy, however, has not been reported.

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, Version 3.2016.

These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on recent updates to the NCCN Guidelines for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM). These NCCN Guidelines Insights discuss systemic therapy regimens and surgical controversies for MPM. The NCCN panel recommends cisplatin/pemetrexed (category 1) for patients with MPM.

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Version 4.2016.

These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on recent updates in the 2016 NCCN Guidelines for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC; Versions 1-4). These NCCN Guidelines Insights will discuss new immunotherapeutic agents, such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab, for patients with metastatic NSCLC. For the 2016 update, the NCCN panel recommends immune checkpoint inhibitors as preferred agents (in the absence of contraindications) for second-line and beyond (subsequent) therapy in patients with metastatic NSCLC (both squamous and nonsquamous histologies).

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Version 6.2015.

These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on recent updates to the 2015 NCCN Guidelines for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Appropriate targeted therapy is very effective in patients with advanced NSCLC who have specific genetic alterations. Therefore, it is important to test tumor tissue from patients with advanced NSCLC to determine whether they have genetic alterations that make them candidates for specific targeted therapies.

Non-small cell lung cancer, version 1.2015.

This selection from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) focuses on the principles of radiation therapy (RT), which include the following: (1) general principles for early-stage, locally advanced, and advanced/metastatic NSCLC; (2) target volumes, prescription doses, and normal tissue dose constraints for early-stage, locally advanced, and advanced/palliative RT; and (3) RT simulation, planning, and delivery. Treatment recommendations should be made by a multidisciplinary team, including board-certified radiation oncologists who perform lung cancer RT as a prominent part of their practice.

Prognostic molecular assay might improve identification of patients at risk for recurrence in early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer.

Introduction: Adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival for some patients with NSCLC and is recommended in NCCN guidelines for stage Ib to IIa patients with certain "high-risk" characteristics. An internationally validated, 14-gene expression assay has been shown to better stratify mortality risk in nonsquamous NSCLC than either conventional staging or these high risk clinicopathologic features.

Patients And Methods: A blinded chart review of 52 patients with prospective molecular risk stratification using the 14-gene test compared recurrence outcomes with a mean follow-up of 15.

Non-small cell lung cancer, version 2.2013.

These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on the diagnostic evaluation of suspected lung cancer. This topic was the subject of a major update in the 2013 NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. The NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on the major updates in the NCCN Guidelines and discuss the new updates in greater detail.

Thymomas and thymic carcinomas: Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

Masses in the anterior mediastinum can be neoplasms (eg, thymomas, thymic carcinomas, or lung metastases) or non-neoplastic conditions (eg, intrathoracic goiter). Thymomas are the most common primary tumor in the anterior mediastinum, although they are rare. Thymic carcinomas are very rare.

Divergent management strategies for typical versus atypical carcinoid tumors of the thoracic cavity.

Objectives: At our institution, limited surgical techniques are reserved only for suspected typical carcinoids, and nodal dissection and multimodality therapy are frequently used for atypical carcinoids. We describe the results of these differing management strategies based on initial clinicopathologic characteristics.

Methods: Retrospective review of patients treated for thoracic carcinoid from 1995 to 2009.

Non-small cell lung cancer.

Most patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are diagnosed with advanced cancer. These guidelines only include information about stage IV NSCLC. Patients with widespread metastatic disease (stage IV) are candidates for systemic therapy, clinical trials, and/or palliative treatment.

Impact of age and comorbidity on non-small-cell lung cancer treatment in older veterans.

Purpose: Because comorbidity affects cancer treatment outcomes, guidelines recommend considering comorbidity when making treatment decisions in older patients with lung cancer. Yet, it is unclear whether treatment is targeted to healthier older adults who might reasonably benefit.

Patients And Methods: Receipt of first-line guideline-recommended treatment was assessed for 20,511 veterans age ≥ 65 years with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Central Cancer Registry from 2003 to 2008.

A practical molecular assay to predict survival in resected non-squamous, non-small-cell lung cancer: development and international validation studies.

Background: The frequent recurrence of early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is generally attributable to metastatic disease undetected at complete resection. Management of such patients depends on prognostic staging to identify the individuals most likely to have occult disease. We aimed to develop and validate a practical, reliable assay that improves risk stratification compared with conventional staging.

Implications of delayed initiation of radiotherapy: accelerated repopulation after induction chemotherapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: For patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer treated with induction chemotherapy (ICT), delayed initiation of subsequent radiotherapy (RT) may allow for repopulation in the interval between treatment modalities and during the early phase of RT. We quantified the impact of postinduction RT timing by evaluating the pace of tumor regrowth.

Methods: Institutionally approved retrospective review identified 21 analyzable patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer who had platinum-based ICT followed by RT+/- chemotherapy from 2002 to 2009.

Lung cancer stigma, depression, and quality of life among ever and never smokers.

Purpose: In 2010, lung cancer is expected to be the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Because survival rates are increasing, an evaluation of the effects of treatment on quality of life (QOL) is an important outcome measure. In other diseases, stigma is known to have a negative impact on health status and QOL and be amenable to intervention.

Measuring stigma in people with lung cancer: psychometric testing of the cataldo lung cancer stigma scale.

Purpose/objectives: to develop an instrument to measure the stigma perceived by people with lung cancer based on the HIV Stigma Scale.

Design: psychometric analysis.

Setting: online survey.

A phase I study of a 2-day lapatinib chemosensitization pulse preceding nanoparticle albumin-bound Paclitaxel for advanced solid malignancies.

Purpose: Systemic chemotherapy fails to access much of the tumor burden in patients with advanced cancer, significantly limiting its efficacy. In preclinical studies, brief high doses of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family can prime tumor vasculature for optimal chemotherapeutic delivery and efficacy. This study investigates the clinical relevance of this approach.

Impact of preoperative chemotherapy on pulmonary function tests in resectable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Several chemotherapy agents, including gemcitabine and paclitaxel, have been reported to cause interstitial pneumonitis. The incidence of pulmonary toxicity from the combination of gemcitabine and paclitaxel is reported to be approximately 5%. In this report, pulmonary function test (PFT) results were analyzed from two similar randomized phase 2 trials that tested platinum and nonplatinum regimens preoperatively in patients with stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Assessing quality of life following neoadjuvant therapy for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): results from a prospective analysis using the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS).

Background: The assessment of the impact of neoadjuvant therapy on quality of life (QL) has rarely been prospectively planned and evaluated, although validated QL instruments are available-such as the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS) used in this study. The modest but significant survival gains reported with neoadjuvant and adjuvant approaches need to be viewed in terms of the added risks and toxicities associated with two or three modalities of treatment.

Materials And Methods: The objective was to compare patient-determined QL ratings from baseline (prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy) with those in subsequent months of follow-up.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine-containing regimens in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Surgical resection alone remains suboptimal for patients with early-stage (I or II) non-small cell lung cancer. Two similar randomized phase II trials were conducted to define an active preoperative regimen in this disease state.

Methods: In the first study, patients were randomized to receive gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 plus cisplatin 80 mg/m2 on day 1 (GC) or gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 plus carboplatin area under the curve 5.

Risk of cerebral metastases and neurological death after pathological complete response to neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer: clinical implications for the subsequent management of the brain.

Background: The incidence and pattern of brain metastases was analyzed among patients who achieved a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Between 1990 and 2004, 211 patients were treated with neoadjuvant therapy before surgical resection for stage III NSCLC. The clinical course of 51 patients who demonstrated a pCR were reviewed.