Evaluation of Anti-Angiogenic Therapy Combined with Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy as a Strategy to Treat Locally Advanced and Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Immunotherapy has made recent improvements in disease-free survival (DFS) and/or overall survival (OS) in all stages of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we review the tumor microenvironment and its immunosuppressive effects and discuss how anti-angiogenic therapies may potentiate the anti-carcinogenic effects of immunotherapy. We also review all the past literature and discuss strategies of combining anti-angiogenic therapy and immunotherapy +/- chemotherapy and hypothesize how we can use this strategy for non-small-cell lung cancer in metastatic previously untreated/previously treated settings in previously treated EGFR-mutated NSCLC for the upfront treatment of brain metastases prior to radiation therapy and for the incorporation of this strategy into stage III unresectable disease.

Role of consolidative thoracic and prophylactic cranial radiation in extensive stage small cell lung cancer in chemo-immunotherapy era.

Introduction: The role of consolidative thoracic and prophylactic brain radiation for extensive stage small cell lung cancer patients is controversial. We investigated the factors associated with the use of any radiation therapy (RT) and whether RT has a benefit to overall survival (OS) in patients receiving any systemic therapy and whether this benefit is the same if Chemotherapy (CT) or chemo-immunotherapy (CT-IO) is used.

Material/methods: The NCDB database was queried from years 2017-2019.

Lymphatic vascular invasion: Diagnostic variability and overall survival impact on patients undergoing surgical resection.

Objective: The diagnostic criteria of lymphatic vascular invasion have not been standardized. Our investigation assesses the factors associated with lymphatic vascular invasion positive tumors and the impact of lymphatic vascular invasion on overall survival for patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing (bi)lobectomy with an adequate node dissection.

Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried from the years 2010 to 2015 to find surgical patients who underwent lobectomy with at least 10 lymph nodes examined (adequate node dissection) and with known lymphatic vascular invasion status.

Meta-Analysis of Rates and Risk Factors for Local Recurrence in Surgically Resected Patients With NSCLC and Differences Between Asian and Non-Asian Populations.

Introduction: Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) reduces local failure in patients with NSCLC, without a clear overall survival benefit. It is unknown whether the subsets of patients benefit. Two recent large randomized controlled trials, PORT-C (People's Republic of China) and Lung ART (Europe), reported widely different locoregional recurrence (LR) rates in the control arms, at 18.

A Review of Concurrent Chemo/Radiation, Immunotherapy, Radiation Planning, and Biomarkers for Locally Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Their Role in the Development of ECOG-ACRIN EA5181.

ECOG-ACRIN EA5181 is a current prospective, randomized trial that is investigating whether the addition of concomitant durvalumab to standard chemo/radiation followed by 1 year of consolidative durvalumab results in an overall survival benefit over standard chemo/radiation alone followed by 1 year of consolidative durvalumab in patients with locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Because multiple phase I/II trials have shown the relative safety of adding immunotherapy to chemo/radiation and due to the known synergism between chemotherapy and immunotherapy, it is hoped that concomitant durvalumab can reduce the relatively high incidence of local failure (38%-46%) as seen in recent prospective, randomized trials of standard chemo/radiation in this patient population. We will review the history of radiation for LA-NSCLC and discuss the role of induction, concurrent and consolidative chemotherapy as well as the concerns for late cardiac and pulmonary toxicities associated with treatment.

Impact of the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) publication and Medicare Lung cancer screening payment on lung cancer incidence rates: An interrupted time series analysis.

Introduction: Explore the impact of the Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST-September-2011) and the Medicare approval for CT-screening (CT-LCS-AP-February-2015) on lung cancer incidence rates, mortality, and the percentage of early-stage lung cancer diagnosis (ESLCD-T1-T2N0M0).

Methods: Retrospective interrupted time series analysis using SEER-18 database. All individuals with lung cancer (LC) diagnosis from 2006 to 2016 were included.

Bevacizumab's Association With a Decreased Risk of Brain Metastases in ECOG-ACRIN E1505, a Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Chemotherapy With or Without Bevacizumab in Surgically Resected NSCLC.

Introduction: ECOG-ACRIN E1505 was a phase 3 randomized trial of adjuvant chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab for patients with stages IB (>4 cm) to IIIA NSCLC. We sought to estimate the incidence and risk factors for brain recurrence as compared with extracranial recurrences (ECRs).

Methods: ECOG-ACRIN E1505 noted that bevacizumab failed to improve overall survival (OS) (OS hazard ratio [HR] = 0.

A Review of Immunotherapy for Stage III and Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and the Rationale for the ECOG-ACRIN EA5181 Study.

ECOG-ACRIN EA5181 is a phase III prospective, randomized trial that randomizes patients undergoing chemo/radiation for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) to concomitant durvalumab or no additional therapy, with both arms receiving 1 year of consolidative durvalumab. Radiation dose escalation failed to improve overall survival in RTOG 0617. However, conventionally fractionated radiation to 60 Gy with concomitant chemotherapy is associated with a high risk of local failure (38%-46%).

The rates of second lung cancers and the survival of surgically-resected second primary lung cancers in patients undergoing resection of an initial primary lung cancer.

Background: The Lung Cancer Screening Trial demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) and lung cancer specific survival (LCSS), likely due to finding early-stage NSCLC. The purpose of our investigation is to evaluate whether long-term surveillance strategies (4+ years after surgical resection of the initial lung cancer(1LC)) would be beneficial in NSCLC patients by assessing the rates of second lung cancers(2LC) and the OS/LCSS in patients undergoing definitive surgery in 1LC as compared to 2LC (>48 months after 1LC) populations.

Methods: SEER13/18 database was reviewed for patients during 1998-2013.

The Incidence of Node-Positive Non-small-Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Sublobar Resection and the Role of Radiation in Its Management.

To identify the incidence, preoperative risk factors, and prognosis associated with pathologically positive lymph node (pN+) in patients undergoing a sub-lobar resection (SLR). This is a retrospective study using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2004 to 2014 analyzing SLR excluding those with any preoperative chemotherapy and/or radiation, follow-up <3 months, stage IV disease, or >1 tumor nodule. Multivariable modeling (MVA) was used to determine factors associated with overall survival (OS).

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is associated with increased tumor expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer-A matched case-control study.

Objectives: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is a biomarker for cancer immunotherapy. Diabetes mellitus type-2 is a comorbid disease associated with adverse outcomes in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to investigate the differences in PD-L1 expression in diabetics.

The Role of Race and Economic Characteristics in the Presentation and Survival of Patients With Surgically Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Little is understood regarding the inter-relation between economic, marital, and racial/ethnic differences in presentation and survival of surgically resected lung cancer patients. Our investigation will assess these differences in addition to known therapeutic, patient, and histopathologic factors.

Methods: A retrospective review of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Reporting database was conducted through the years 2007-2012.

Population-based differences in the outcome and presentation of lung cancer patients based upon racial, histologic, and economic factors in all lung patients and those with metastatic disease.

To investigate the interrelation between economic, marital, and known histopathologic/therapeutic prognostic factors in presentation and survival of patients with lung cancer in nine different ethnic groups. A retrospective review of the SEER database was conducted through the years 2007-2012. Population differences were assessed via chi-square testing.

Compliance and safety of a novel home exercise program for patients with high-grade brain tumors, a prospective observational study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate compliance with and safety of a novel independent home exercise program for patients with high-grade brain tumors. We designed this program around the preferences and individual capabilities of this population as well as the potential barriers to exercise in cancer patients. Demographics were collected to better understand those that persisted with exercise.

Multi-modality management of craniopharyngioma: a review of various treatments and their outcomes.

Craniopharyngioma is a rare tumor that is expected to occur in ∼400 patients/year in the United States. While surgical resection is considered to be the primary treatment when a patient presents with a craniopharyngioma, only 30% of such tumors present in locations that permit complete resection. Radiotherapy has been used as both primary and adjuvant therapy in the treatment of craniopharyngiomas for over 50 years.

Biologic Evaluation of Diabetes and Local Recurrence in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

A recent multicenter study led by our institution demonstrated that local recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was significantly more frequent in patients with diabetes, raising the possibility of different tumor biology in diabetics. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in local tumor recurrence and metastasis. In the present study, we investigated differences of tumor microenvironment between patients with and without diabetes by examining expression of EMT markers.

Distinguishing grade I meningioma from higher grade meningiomas without biopsy.

Background: Many meningiomas are identified by imaging and followed, with an assumption that they are WHO Grade I tumors. The purpose of our investigation is to find clinical or imaging predictors of WHO Grade II/III tumors to distinguish them from Grade I meningiomas.

Methods: Patients with a pathologic diagnosis of meningioma from 2002-2009 were included if they had pre-operative MRI studies and pathology for review.

Expression of CXCR4 and non-small cell lung cancer prognosis: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: The prognostic value of aberrant C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) levels in NSCLC has been described in empirical studies. This meta-analysis evaluates the value of CXCR4 as a prognostic marker for NSCLC and determines the relationship between CXCR4 and clinicopathological features of NSCLC.

Methods: A comprehensive search of the English-language literature in PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar and Web of Science was performed.

Optimal Frequency of Psychosocial Distress Screening in Radiation Oncology.

Purpose: To accurately hypothesize the optimal frequency of psychosocial distress screening in patients undergoing radiation therapy using exploratory modeling of prospective data.

Materials And Methods: Between October 2010 and May 2011, 71 RT patients underwent daily screening with the Distress Thermometer. Prevalences of Distress Thermometer scores ≥ 4 were recorded.

Nodal stage of surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer and its effect on recurrence patterns and overall survival.

Purpose: Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) for patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with N2 involvement. We investigated the relationship between nodal stage and local-regional recurrence (LR), distant recurrence (DR) and overall survival (OS) for patients having an R0 resection.

Methods And Materials: A multi-institutional database of consecutive patients undergoing R0 resection for stage I-IIIA NSCLC from 1995 to 2008 was used.

Current role of radiation therapy for multiple myeloma.

Background: Radiation therapy (RT) is a treatment modality traditionally used in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but little is known regarding the role and effectiveness of RT in the era of novel agents, i.e., immunomodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors.

Would screening for lung cancer benefit 75- to 84-year-old residents of the United States?

Background: The National Lung Screening Trial demonstrated that screening for lung cancer improved overall survival (OS) and reduced lung cancer mortality in the 55- to 74-year-old age group by increasing the proportion of cancers detected at an early stage. Because of the increasing life expectancy of the American population, we investigated whether screening for lung cancer might benefit men and women aged 75-84 years.

Materials/methods: Rates of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from 2000 to 2009 were calculated in both younger and older age groups using the surveillance epidemiology and end reporting database.

Endobronchial valve placement for spontaneous pneumothorax from stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer facilitates neoadjuvant therapy.

Spontaneous pneumothorax has previously been described as a presenting symptom of lung cancer. This presentation can, unfortunately, complicate and delay further definitive oncologic care until the pneumothorax can be effectively managed. We describe the case of a 58-year-old man who presented with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax and persistent air leak related to his primary lung carcinoma.