Patients' Trajectory With Lung Cancer From Treatment Initiation to End-Of-Life: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Claims Data in Japan.

Introduction: This study aimed to describe the course of patients with lung cancer from treatment initiation to end-of-life.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used Claims Data from the National Health Insurance and Advanced Elderly Medical Service System. We analyzed data from patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer between April 2013 and March 2021 who had been hospitalized at our University Hospital in urban area.

Immunological characteristics of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood across connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a serious complication of connective tissue diseases (CTDs). The heterogeneity of ILDs reflects differences in pathogenesis among diseases. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of CTD-ILDs via a detailed analysis of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and blood immune cells.

Significance of localized expression of full-length growth differentiation factor-15 in cachexia of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is one of the key cachexia-inducing factors. Clinical trials on therapies targeting GDF-15 for cancer and cancer cachexia are underway. While the role of circulating GDF-15 in cachexia has been clarified, the effects of GDF-15 expression within cancer cells remain to be fully elucidated.

Changes in serum transforming growth factor-beta concentration as a predictive factor for radiation-induced lung injury onset in radiotherapy-treated patients with locally advanced lung cancer.

Background: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) occurs after chest radiation therapy, which ranges from acute radiation pneumonia to subsequent radiation pulmonary fibrosis. However, they are difficult to predict. The study aimed to examine the predictive utility of serum levels of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) for radiation-induced lung injury.

Prognostic Nutritional Index and Lung Immune Prognostic Index as Prognostic Predictors for Combination Therapies of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Cytotoxic Anticancer Chemotherapy for Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors and cytotoxic chemotherapies (chemoimmunotherapy) is associated with significantly better survival outcomes than cytotoxic chemotherapies alone in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there are no prognostic markers for chemoimmunotherapy. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) are prognostic biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy or cytotoxic chemotherapies.

Impact of maintenance therapy following induction immunochemotherapy for untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to identify the potential predictors to assess the impact of maintenance therapy after induction immunochemotherapy in the real-world setting of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We retrospectively identified 152 patients with advanced NSCLC who received immunochemotherapy at 8 hospitals in Japan between January 2019 and December 2019. Patients who received at least four cycles of induction immunochemotherapy and one cycle of maintenance therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors were included.

Impact of tumor programmed death ligand-1 expression on osimertinib efficacy in untreated -mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a prospective observational study.

Background: Osimertinib monotherapy is currently the standard of care as a first-line treatment for patients harboring () mutations; however, some -mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients exhibit primary resistance and an insufficient response to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Elevated programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumors was reported as a negative predictive factor for outcomes of first- or second-generation EGFR-TKIs.

Methods: We prospectively assessed advanced NSCLC patients with mutations who were treated with osimertinib at 14 institutions in Japan between September 2019 and December 2020.

Inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling increased apoptosis and prevented the emergence of ALK-TKI-tolerant cells in ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs) have improved clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring ALK- rearrangements. However, a small population of tumor cells survives due to adaptive resistance under drug pressure and ultimately acquires drug resistance. Thus, it is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the prevention of drug resistance to improve the prognosis of patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC.

Early discontinuation of induction therapy in chemoimmunotherapy as an effective alternative to the standard regimen in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective study.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate whether induction chemotherapy with less than four courses is as effective as induction chemotherapy with more than four courses in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving chemoimmunotherapy.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 249 patients with NSCLC who received chemoimmunotherapy at 12 centers in Japan between January and December 2019. The patient group that completed less than four courses owing to adverse events (AEs), and received subsequent maintenance therapy was compared to the group that received at least four courses of induction chemotherapy followed by maintenance therapy.

Clinical impact of pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Combination therapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy is considered to be one of the standard treatment options for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the clinical significance of immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy in elderly patients with NSCLC has not yet been fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate how aging affects the therapeutic impact of chemotherapy combine with immune checkpoint inhibitors in elderly patients.

Impact of cancer cachexia on the therapeutic outcome of combined chemoimmunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective study.

Although previous studies suggest that cancer cachexia is a poor prognostic factor for immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy, the impact of cancer cachexia on chemoimmunotherapy is unclear. We investigated the impact of cancer cachexia on the therapeutic outcomes of chemoimmunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We retrospectively analyzed patients' medical records with NSCLC who received chemoimmunotherapy in 12 institutions in Japan between January and November 2019.

The Impact of VEGF Inhibition on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Immunotherapy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in combination with chemotherapy have increased survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which plays a key role in tumor angiogenesis, is an immunological modulator; therefore, it is expected that anti-VEGF therapy in combination with ICIs enhances the antitumor effect of ICIs. In the present study, we investigated the impact of VEGF inhibition on clinical outcomes of NSCLC patients, including the efficacy of ICI treatment.

Late-onset Pleural and Pericardial Effusion as Immune-related Adverse Events after 94 Cycles of Nivolumab.

A 67-year-old man with primary lung adenocarcinoma was hospitalized due to massive bilateral pleural effusion and pericardial effusion after 94 cycles of nivolumab therapy. We were unable to identify the cause of these effusions using blood tests, cytology tests, or bacterial culture of pleural effusion and thoracoscopy. Finally, we administrated corticosteroids, which immediately improved the fluid accumulation.

Immune-Related Adverse Events Are Associated With Clinical Benefit in Patients With Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Immunotherapy Plus Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Study.

Background: The immunotherapy plus chemotherapy combination is one of the most promising treatments in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Immunotherapy often causes immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which have been reported to be associated with the good clinical outcomes. However, the effects of immunotherapy plus chemotherapy remain unknown.

Prognostic factors in older patients with wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Over 40% Japanese patients with lung cancer are above 75 years of age. A specific strategy to treat such older patients is necessary because most trials exclude older patients with poor physical health. Herein, we aimed to identify predictive factors associated with overall survival (OS) in older patients by evaluating patient backgrounds and laboratory data before the start of treatment.

Impact of preexisting antinuclear antibodies on combined immunotherapy and chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Combined immunotherapy and chemotherapy is a promising standard treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the combined therapy and pretreatment serum antinuclear antibody (ANA) levels as a prognostic indicator in patients with NSCLC. We retrospectively analyzed patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with combinatorial immunotherapy and chemotherapy between January and December 2019 at six institutions in Japan.

Significance of inflammatory indexes in atezolizumab monotherapy outcomes in previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Cancer immunotherapy, including atezolizumab monotherapy, is a promising alternative strategy for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several inflammatory indices have been reported as potential biomarkers regarding the effectiveness of various treatments. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of atezolizumab monotherapy using baseline inflammatory markers in NSCLC patients.

Association of immune checkpoint inhibitors with respiratory infections: A review.

Treatment with immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has shown efficacy against a variety of cancer types. The use of anti PD-1, anti PD-L1, and anti CTLA-4 antibodies is rapidly expanding. The side effects of ICIs are very different from conventional cytocidal anticancer and molecular target drugs, and may extend to the digestive organs, respiratory organs, thyroid gland, pituitary gland, skin, and others.

The Quality of Life of Patients with Suspected Lung Cancer before and after Bronchoscopy and the Effect of Mirtazapine on the Depressive Status.

Objective Patients with suspected lung cancer often experience adverse side effects such as anxiety, depression, and a decreased appetite. These side effects influence the patients' quality of life and their ability to make decisions concerning appropriate treatment. This study examined the psychological status and quality of life of patients with suspected lung cancer before and after bronchoscopy treatment and evaluated the effect of mirtazapine prescribed to patients with depression.

Endocrinopathies Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Cancer Treatment: A Review.

Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors has shown efficacy against a variety of cancer types. The effects of nivolumab and pembrolizumab on lung cancer have been reported, and further therapeutic advances are ongoing. The side effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors are very different from those of conventional cytocidal anticancer drugs and molecular targeted drugs, and they involve various organs such as the digestive and respiratory organs, thyroid and pituitary glands, and skin.

Rationale and design of a phase II trial of durvalumab treatment in patients with NSCLC ineligible for stage III chemoradiotherapy following radiation monotherapy (SPIRAL-RT study).

Background: In the PACIFIC study, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with unresectable, locally advanced, stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were prolonged by durvalumab as maintenance therapy after radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy using platinum-based antitumor agents. However, no data were obtained to reveal the efficacy of durvalumab after radiation monotherapy in patients unsuitable for chemoradiotherapy. Here, we describe an ongoing single-arm, prospective, open-label, multicenter phase II trial of durvalumab in patients with NSCLC ineligible for stage III chemoradiotherapy following radiation monotherapy (SPIRAL-RT study).