Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation Versus Observation in Radically Treated Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Randomized Phase III NVALT-11/DLCRG-02 Study.

Purpose The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) reduces the incidence of symptomatic brain metastases in patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with curative intention. Patients and Methods Patients with stage III NSCLC-staged with a contrast-enhanced brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging-were randomly assigned to either observation or PCI after concurrent/sequential chemoradiotherapy with or without surgery. The primary end point-development of symptomatic brain metastases at 24 months-was defined as one or a combination of key symptoms that suggest brain metastases-signs of increased intracranial pressure, headache, nausea and vomiting, cognitive or affective disturbances, seizures, and focal neurologic symptoms-and magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography demonstrating the existence of brain metastasis.

Comparison of clinical outcome after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in different types of KRAS mutated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objectives: As suggested by in-vitro data, we hypothesize that subtypes of KRAS mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) respond differently to chemotherapy regimens.

Methods: Patients with advanced NSCLC and known KRAS mutation, treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, were retrieved from hospital databases.

Primary Objective: to investigate overall response rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between different types of platinum-based chemotherapy per type of KRAS mutation.

Germline polymorphisms in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer receiving first-line platinum-gemcitabine chemotherapy: a prospective clinical study.

Background: The authors assessed the impact of germline polymorphisms on clinical outcome in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received platinum-gemcitabine (PG) chemotherapy.

Methods: In total, 137 patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC were included who received first-line PG chemotherapy (74% of patients received cisplatin, and 26% received carboplatin). Twenty-three germline polymorphisms that were identified in peripheral blood samples were analyzed for progression-free survival (PFS), treatment response, overall survival (OS), and toxicity.

Implementation of endoscopic ultrasound for lung cancer staging.

Background: EUS-guided FNA is currently advocated in lung cancer staging guidelines as an alternative for surgical staging to prove mediastinal metastases. To date, training requirements for chest physicians to obtain competency in EUS for lung cancer staging are unknown.

Objective: To test a training and implementation strategy for EUS for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer.

Quantification of right-to-left shunt with (99m)Tc-labelled albumin macroaggregates and 100% oxygen in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are often associated with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). The quantification of right-to-left shunts in patients with PAVMs is important in diagnosis and follow up. Traditionally, this shunt is measured by the 100% oxygen method, in which the value for the arteriovenous difference in oxygen content, Cao(2)-CVO(2) (where Cao(2) is the oxygen content of arterial blood and CVO(2) is the oxygen content of mixed venous blood) is estimated.