Nedaplatin/Gemcitabine Versus Carboplatin/Gemcitabine in Treatment of Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective： To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nedaplatin/gemcitabine （NG） and carboplatin/gemcitabine （CG） in the management of untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods： Sixty-two patients with previously untreated advanced NSCLC were recruited between June 2006 and November 2007. Subjects were randomly assigned to the NG arm （n=30） and the CG arm （n=32）. Only patients （24 and 25 in the NG and CG arms, respectively） who completed 〉2 chemotherapy cycles were included in the data analysis. The primary outcome measure was the objective response rate （ORR）. The secondary outcome measures included progression-free survival （PFS）, overall survival （OS） and adverse events. Results： There were no statistically significant differences in the efficacy measures （ORR, P=0.305; median PFS, P=0.298, median OS, P=0.961） or in the major adverse events （grade 3/4 neutropenia, P=0.666; grade 3/4 anemia, P=0.263; grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia, P=0.222） between the two treatment arms. However, there was a trend towards higher ORR （37.5% vs. 24.0%）, longer PFS （6.0 vs. 5.0 months）, and less adverse events in the NG arm. Conclusion： NG regimen seems to be superior over CG regimen for advance NSCLS, but further investigation is needed to validate this superiority.

Different dissecting orders of the pulmonary bronchus and vessels during right upper lobectomy are associated with surgical feasibility and postoperative recovery for lung cancer patients

Background: Right upper lobectomy(RUL) for lung cancer with di erent dissecting orders involves the most vari?able anatomical structures, but no studies have analyzed its e ects on postoperative recovery. This study compared the conventional surgical approach, VAB(dissecting pulmonary vessels first, followed by the bronchus), and the alter?native surgical approach, a BVA(dissecting the posterior ascending arterial branch first, followed by the bronchus and vessels) on improving surgical feasibility and postoperative recovery for lung cancer patients.Methods: According to the surgical approach, consecutive lung cancer patients undergoing RUL were grouped into a BVA and VAB cohorts. Their clinical, pathologic, and perioperative characteristics were collected to compare periop?erative outcomes.Results: Three hundred one patients were selected(109 in the a BVA cohort and 192 in the VAB cohort). The mean operation time was shorter in the a BVA cohort than in the VAB cohort(164 vs. 221 min, P < 0.001), and less blood loss occurred in the a BVA cohort(92 vs. 141 m L, P < 0.001). The rate of conversion to thoracotomy was lower in the a BVA cohort than in the VAB cohort(0% vs. 11.5%, P < 0.001). The mean duration of postoperative chest drainage was shorter in the a BVA cohort than in the VAB cohort(3.6 vs. 4.5 days, P rvival was n= 0.001). The rates of postoperative complica?tions were comparable(P = 0.629). The median overall suot arrived in both cohorts(P > 0.05). The median disease?free survival was comparable for all patients in the two cohorts(not arrived vs. 41.97 months) and for patients with disease recurrences(13.25 vs. 9.44 months)(both P > 0.05). The recurrence models in two cohorts were also comparable for patients with local recurrences(6.4% vs. 7.8%), distant metastases(10.1% vs. 8.3%), and both(1.8% vs. 1.6%)(all P > 0.05).Conclusions: Dissecting the right upper bronchus before turning over the lobe repeatedly and dissecting veins via the a BVA approach during RUL would promote surgical feasibility and achieve comparable postoperative recovery for lung cancer patients.

Insight into early-phase trials for lung cancer in the United States

Introduction:Few data have been published comparing early-phase trials for lung cancer between China and the United States(US).This study was to investigate the differences of phase 1 trials for lung cancer between these two countries.Methods:In 2014,a cross-sectional survey was conducted to compare phase 1 trials for lung cancer between the Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute(GLCI),the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center(UWCCC),and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center(MDACC).Results:We found that the GLCI had a lower percentage of phase 1 lung cancer trials than the MDACC in December2014(23.8%[5/21]vs.59.8%[28/47],P = 0.006) and the UWCCC in September 2014(16.7%[3/18]vs.34.8%[8/23],P = 0.345).Descriptive analyses were performed for early-phase trials conducted by the CancerTherapy Evaluation Program at the National Cancer Institute(CTEP/NCI),the MDACC,and the Chinese Thoracic Oncology Group(CTONG).There were 149 ongoing early-phase trials in the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics(Phase 1 program) at the MDACC in October 2014.In contrast,no phase 1 trials had been initiated by the CTONG since its establishment in 2007.Conclusions:These data suggest that a significantly higher percentage of phase 1 trials for lung cancer were conducted in the US than in China.Early-phase oncology trials with robust preclinical data had a higher chance of being approved by the Investigational Drug Branch at the CTEP/NCI.Given the importance of early-phase oncology trials in developing innovative cancer medicines,such studies should be highly encouraged and strategically funded in China.

右上肺叶切除术中肺支气管和血管不同的解剖顺序与肺癌患者的手术可行性和术后恢复相关

背景与目的不同解剖顺序的肺癌右上肺叶切除术(right upper lobectomy,RUL)涉及十分多变的解剖结构,但仍没有研究分析其对术后恢复的影响。本研究比较了常规手术入路VAB(首先解剖肺血管,然后是支气管)和另一种手术入路aBVA(先解剖后升动脉,然后是支气管和血管),在肺癌患者手术可行性和术后恢复方面的差异。方法根据手术方法,将接受RUL的肺癌患者分为aBVA和VAB两组。并收集他们的临床信息、病理资料和围手术期特征,用以比较围手术期结局。结果 301例患者纳入研究(aBVA组109例和VAB组192例)。aBVA组的平均手术时间短于VAB组(164 min vs. 221 min,P <0.001),aBVA组的出血量比VAB组更少(92 mL vs. 141 mL,P <0.001)。aBVA组行开胸手术的比率低于VAB组(0%vs. 11.5%,P <0.001)。术后胸腔引流的平均持续时间aBVA组比VAB组短(3.6 d vs. 4.5 d,P=0.001)。两组的术后并发症发生率相似(P=0.629)。两组均未达到中位总生存期(P> 0.05)。比较了两组中所有患者的中位无病生存期(未达到vs. 41.97个月)(P> 0.05)和疾病复发患者的中位无病生存期(13.25个月vs. 9.44个月)(P>0.05)。在两组中对复发类型也进行了比较:局部复发率(6.4%vs. 7.8%)、远处转移率(10.1%vs. 8.3%)、局部复发合并远处转移率(1.8%vs. 1.6%)(均P> 0.05)。结论在RUL中采用aBVA方法,在反复翻转肺叶和解剖静脉之前解剖右上支气管,将可提高肺癌患者的手术可行性和促进术后恢复。

PD-L1表达指导的信迪利单抗与帕博利珠单抗联合或不联合含铂双药化疗治疗未经治晚期非小细胞肺癌患者:一项2期随机对照试验(CTONG1901)

No direct comparison has been performed between different programmed cell death-1(PD-1)inhibitors for first-line treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).The feasibility of using PD-L1-expression-guided immunotherapy remains unknown.In this open-label,phase 2 study(NCT04252365),patients with advanced NSCLC without EGFR or ALK alterations were randomized(1:1)to receive sintilimab or pembrolizumab monotherapy(PD-L1 expression≥50%),or sintilimab or pembrolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy(PD-L1 expression<50%).The sample size was calculated by optimal two-stage design.The primary endpoint was the objective response rate(ORR).The study included 71 patients(sintilimab arms,n=35;pembrolizumab arms,n=36)and met its primary endpoint,with a confirmed ORR of 51.4%(18/35)in the sintilimab arms.The confirmed ORR(95%confidence interval)was 46.2%(19.2%,74.9%)and 42.9%(17.7%,71.1%)for patients treated with sintilimab and pembrolizumab monotherapy;and 54.5%(32.2%,75.6%)and 45.4%(24.4%,67.8%)for those treated with sintilimab-and pembrolizumab-based combination therapies.The median progression-free survival was6.9 versus 8.1 months for all sintilimab-treated versus all pembrolizumab-treated patients,respectively,in which it was 7.6 versus 11.0 months in monotherapy and 7.4 versus 7.1 months in combination therapies.The median overall survival was 14.9 versus 21.3 months for all sintilimab-treated versus all pembrolizumab-treated patients,respectively,in which it was 14.9 versus 22.6 months in monotherapy and 14.7 versus 17.3 months in combination therapies.Treatment-related adverse events were consistent with safety outcomes of monotherapy and combination therapy in previous phase III studies.However,the incidence of rash was higher with sintilimab than pembrolizumab monotherapy.This is the first prospective phase 2 study to directly compare two anti-PD-1 antibodies as first-line treatment in advanced NSCLC.Sintilimab was efficacious and well-tolerated irrespective of PD-L1 expression level in patients with advanced NSCLC and had similar efficacy and safety to pembrolizumab.

Neoadjuvant nivolumab with or without platinum-doublet chemotherapy based on PD-L1 expression in resectable NSCLC(CTONG1804):a multicenter open-label phase II study

This prospective multicenter phase II study evaluated the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant nivolumab-exclusive(N)and nivolumab–chemotherapy(N/C)combinations based on PD-L1 expression.Eligible patients exhibited resectable clinical stage IIA–IIIB(AJCC 8th edition)NSCLC without EGFR/ALK alterations.Patients received either mono-nivolumab(N)or nivolumab+nabpaclitaxel+carboplatin(N/C)for three cycles based on PD-L1 expression.The primary endpoint was the major pathological response(MPR).Key secondary endpoints included the pathologic complete response(pCR),objective response rate(ORR),and event-free survival(EFS).Baseline PD-L1 expression and perioperative circulating tumor DNA(ctDNA)status were correlated with pCR and EFS.Fifty-two patients were enrolled,with 46 undergoing surgeries.The MPR was 50.0%(26/52),with 25.0%(13/52)achieving pCR,and 16.7%and 66.7%for patients with PD-L1≥50%in N and N/C groups,respectively.Thirteen(25.0%)patients experienced grade 3 or higher immune-related adverse events during neoadjuvant treatment.Patients with post-neoadjuvant ctDNA negativity was more likely to have pCR(39.1%)compared with those remained positive(6.7%,odds ratio=6.14,95%CI 0.84-Inf,p=0.077).With a median follow-up of 25.1 months,the 18-month EFS rate was 64.8%(95%CI 51.9–81.0%).For patients with ctDNA–vs.ctDNA+,the 18m-EFS rate was 93.8%vs 47.3%(HR,0.15;95%CI 0.04,0.94;p=0.005).Immunochemotherapy may serve as an optimal neoadjuvant treatment even for patients with PD-L1 expression≥50%.ctDNA negativity following neoadjuvant treatment and surgery could help identify superior pathological and survival benefits,which requires further confirmation in a prospective clinical trial(NCT04015778).

Erlotinib versus gemcitabine plus cisplatin as neoadjuvant treatment of stage IIIA-N2 EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer:final overall survival analysis of the EMERGING-CTONG 1103 randomised phase II trial

EMERGING-CTONG 1103 showed improved progression-free survival(PFS)with neoadjuvant erlotinib vs.chemotherapy for patients harbouring EGFR sensibility mutations and R0 resected stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)(NCT01407822).Herein,we report the final results.Recruited patients were randomly allocated 1:1 to the erlotinib group(150 mg/day orally;neoadjuvant phase for 42 days and adjuvant phase to 12 months)or to the GC group(gemcitabine 1250 mg/m2 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2 intravenously;2 cycles in neoadjuvant phase and 2 cycles in adjuvant phase).Objective response rate(ORR),complete pathologic response(pCR),PFS,and overall survival(OS)were assessed along with safety.Post hoc analysis was performed for subsequent treatments after disease recurrence.Among investigated 72 patients(erlotinib,n=37;GC,n=35),the median follow-up was 62.5 months.The median OS was 42.2 months(erlotinib)and 36.9 months(GC)(hazard ratio[HR],0.83;95%confidence interval[CI],0.47-1.47;p=0.513).The 3-and_(5-y)ear OS rates were 58.6%and 40.8%with erlotinib and 55.9%and 27.6%with GC(p_(3-y)=0.819,p_(5-y)=0.252).Subsequent treatment was administered in 71.9%and 81.8%of patients receiving erlotinib and GC,respectively;targeted therapy contributed mostly to OS(HR,0.35;95%CI,0.18-0.70).After disease progression,the ORR was 53.3%,and the median PFS was 10.9 months during the EGFR-TKI rechallenge.During postoperative therapy,grade 3 or 4 adverse events(AEs)were 13.5%in the erlotinib group and 29.4%in the GC group.No serious adverse events were observed.Erlotinib exhibited clinical feasibility for resectable IIIA-N2 NSCLC over chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting.

Establishment of a Novel Method for Screening Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Resistance Mutations in Lung Cancer

Background： Drug resistance to targeted therapies occurs in lung cancer, and resistance mechanisms related to epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） tyrosine kinase inhibitors （TKIs） are continuously being discovered. We aimed to establish a novel method for highly parallel multiplexed detection of genetic mutations related to EGFR TKl-resistant lung cancer using Agena iPLEX chemistry and niatrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight analysis on the MassARRAY mass spectrometry platform. Methods： A review of the literature revealed 60 mutation hotspots in seven target genes （EGFR, KRAS, PIK3CA, BRAF, ERBB2, NRAS, and BIM） that are closely related to EGFR TKI resistance to lung cancer. A total of 183 primers comprised 61 paired forward and reverse amplification primers, and 61 matched extension primers were designed using Assay Design Software. The detection method was established by analyzing nine cell lines, and by comparison with LungCartaTM kit in ten lung cancer specimens. EGFR, KRAS. and BIM genes in all cell lines and clinical samples were subjected to Sanger sequencing for confirming reproducibility. Results： Our data showed that designed panel was a high-throughput and robust tool, allowing genotyping for sixty hotspots in the same run. Moreover, it made efficient use of patient diagnostic samples for a more accurate EGFR TKIs resistance analysis. The proposed method could accurately detect mutations in lung cancer cell lines and clinical specimens, consistent with those obtained by the LungCartaTM kit and Sanger sequencing. We also established a method for detection of large-fragment deletions based on single-base extension technology of MassARRAY platform. Conclusions： We established an effective method for high-throughput detection of genetic mutations related to EGFR TKI resistance based on the MassARRAY platform, which could provide more accurate information for overcoming cancers with de novo or acquired resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies.

Integrative Analyses of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Ten Chinese Patients with Transcriptome Sequencing

Few effective therapies have been developed for the treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma （SQCC）, in part due to a lack of un- derstanding regarding the mechanisms underlying the initiation and development of this disease. Whole transcriptome sequencing not only provides insight into the expression of all transcribed genes, but offers an efficient approach for identifying genetic variations, including gene fusions, mutations and alternative splicing. In this study, we performed whole transcriptome sequencing of 10 patients with stage IIIA lung SQCC, and discovered a large number of single nucleotide variants （SNVs： mean of 12.2 SNVs/Mb）, with C〉T/G〉A and A〉G/T〉C transitions being the most frequently observed. Additionally, a total of 132 gene fusions were identified based upon TopHat alignments, 70.5% （93/132） of which occurred as a result of intra-chromosomal rearrangements. Based on the number of supporting reads for each fusion, we further validated 20 of the 26 top gene fusions by RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Taken together, these data provide an in-depth view of transcriptional alterations in lung SQCC patients, and may be useful for identification of new therapeutic targets.

The spatiotemporal evolution of EGFR C797S mutation in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer:opportunities for third-generation EGFR inhibitors re-challenge

Third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have demonstrated impressive activity in EGFR T790M-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progressed from prior EGFR-TKIs (1,2)However, resistance inevitably occurred after approximately 10 months of treatment.