Impact of antibiotic use on survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor and chemotherapy.

Background: Evidence suggests that antibiotic (ATB) use may negatively impact the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We previously demonstrated that ATB use was significantly associated with decreased survival in NSCLC patients receiving ICI monotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ATB use on survival in NSCLC patients undergoing combined ICI and chemotherapy.

A Rare Presentation of Pneumonic-Type Adenocarcinoma Hidden behind Empyema.

Pneumonic-type adenocarcinoma (P-ADC) can closely mimic pneumonia. We report a P-ADC initially diagnosed as pneumonia which developed into a pulmonary abscess and empyema. A 50-year-old Japanese male diagnosed with pneumonia, pulmonary abscess, and empyema was administered antibiotics and a chest tube for drainage, which improved his symptoms and blood test results.

Association Between Initial Symptoms and Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19.

Background: The clinical presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ranges from localized respiratory symptoms such as cough and sore throat to systemic symptoms such as fever and fatigue. To our knowledge, no study has assessed severe disease risk by dividing onset symptoms into localized respiratory and other symptoms. We aimed to determine whether the risk of severe COVID-19 differs depending on whether the symptoms at onset are limited to local respiratory symptoms.

Colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor inhibitor augments osimertinib-induced anti-tumor immunity via suppression of macrophages in lung cancer harboring EGFR mutation.

Persister cancer cells, which reversibly adapt to survive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) treatment, contribute to the incurability of EGFR-mutant lung cancer. We previously reported that gefitinib induces CD8⁺ T cell-related tumor immunity in a genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM). This study investigates the tolerance of persister cancer cells to EGFR-TKI-induced tumor immunity in this model.

A Prompt Diagnosis of Ascites and Dramatic Effect of Alectinib for Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma Harboring EML4-ALK Fusion: A Case Report.

A 75-year-old never-smoker woman presented with dyspnea and loss of appetite. A mass was identified in the left upper lobe of the lung, and the patient was referred to our hospital. Despite the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma via bronchoscopy, ALK immunostaining was negative.

Remarkable Efficacy of Capmatinib in a Patient with Cancer of Unknown Primary with MET Amplification: A Case Report.

This case report describes a 70-year-old female with cancer of unknown primary origin (CUP) who exhibited multiple distant lymph node metastases. Despite conventional chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) and immunotherapy (nivolumab), disease progression was noted. Genomic profiling revealed MET amplification, leading to the administration of capmatinib, a selective MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Pragmatic Randomized Study of Afatinib Versus Chemotherapy for Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Uncommon Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations: ACHILLES/TORG1834.

Purpose: To our knowledge, the ACHILLES/TORG1834 trial is the first randomized study comparing afatinib and chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring sensitizing uncommon epidermal growth factor receptor () mutations.

Methods: This randomized, open-label study was performed at 51 Japanese institutions and recruited treatment-naïve patients with nonsquamous NSCLC with uncommon mutations, excluding exon 20 insertions and T790M mutations. Patients were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive afatinib (30 or 40 mg orally, at the treating physician's discretion) or a combination of platinum (cisplatin or carboplatin) and pemetrexed, followed by pemetrexed maintenance.

Influence of Educational Films on Antiviral Prescription for COVID-19: Insights from Web-Based Survey in Japan.

Prescribing antiviral agents for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 requires careful consideration based on the patient's risk factors for severe disease progression and their vaccination status. However, effective interventions ensuring the appropriate use of antiviral agents by physicians have yet to be fully established. Thus, this study evaluated the impact of an educational film on antiviral prescription rates for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Cancer-related alopecia and wig acquisition: how age, sex, and treatment affect patient choices.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the prevalence and cost of wig purchases among patients with cancer in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, and examine the relationship between wig purchases and various demographic, social, and clinical factors. The findings aim to provide insights into appearance care and support systems for patients with cancer, particularly wig subsidies.

Methods: A survey was conducted between July and August 2023 among 3000 patients with cancer at 13 designated cancer care hospitals in Okayama Prefecture.

Multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled study to test the utility of electronic patient-reported outcome monitoring in patients with unresectable advanced cancers or metastatic/recurrent solid tumors.

Electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) monitoring for patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy may provide qualified and early detection of adverse events or disease-related symptoms, leading to improved patient care. The aim of this study is to examine whether addition of ePRO monitoring to routine medical care contributes to improved overall survival and quality of life of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Patients with unresectable advanced cancers or metastatic/recurrent solid tumors receiving systemic chemotherapy will be randomized to an ePRO monitoring group and a usual care group.

Efficacy and safety of dose-dense chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer under prophylactic pegfilgrastim administration: a systematic review and meta-analysis from clinical practice guidelines for the use of G-CSF 2022.

Background: In early-stage breast cancer, dose-dense chemotherapy, which involves the administration of standard doses at shorter intervals, is safer when administered with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mitigate chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. This study aimed to thoroughly evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of dose-dense regimens based on the use of G-CSF.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the "Minds Handbook for Clinical Practice Guideline Development" using PubMed, Ichushi-Web, and the Cochrane Library databases.

Efficacy of amivantamab, a bi-specific antibody targeting EGFR and MET, in ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines.

Background: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are highly effective in treating ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, at least 40% of patients develop acquired resistance during treatment. Adaptive or acquired resistance to ALK TKIs could be mediated through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) signaling.

Five-year outcomes with gefitinib induction and chemoradiotherapy in EGFR-mutant stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: LOGIK0902/OLCSG0905 phase II study.

Background: We previously showed the 2-year OS rate, the primary endpoint, of 90% in a phase II trial of gefitinib induction followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in unresectable, stage III, EGFR-mutant, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, neither long-term survival data nor late-phase adverse event profiles have been presented.

Patients And Methods: Patients with unresectable, EGFR-mutant, stage III NSCLC were administered gefitinib monotherapy for 8 weeks.

Immune evasion through mitochondrial transfer in the tumour microenvironment.

Cancer cells in the tumour microenvironment use various mechanisms to evade the immune system, particularly T cell attack. For example, metabolic reprogramming in the tumour microenvironment and mitochondrial dysfunction in tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) impair antitumour immune responses. However, detailed mechanisms of such processes remain unclear.

Plasma S100A8/A9 level predicts response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Blood-based predictive markers for the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have not yet been established. We investigated the association of the plasma level of S100A8/A9 with the efficacy of immunotherapy. We evaluated patients with unresectable stage III/IV or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with ICIs at Okayama University Hospital.

Amivantamab Plus Lazertinib in Patients With EGFR-Mutant NSCLC After Progression on Osimertinib and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy: Results From CHRYSALIS-2 Cohort A.

Introduction: Treatment options for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC with disease progression on or after osimertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy are limited.

Methods: CHRYSALIS-2 cohort A evaluated amivantamab plus lazertinib in patients with EGFR exon 19 deletion- or L858R-mutated NSCLC with disease progression on or after osimertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy. Primary end point was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR).

Frequency and Significance of Body Weight Loss During Immunochemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Limited data are available on the frequency and significance of body weight loss during cancer therapy. This study investigated the frequency of patients who experienced body weight loss during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) plus chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the impact of weight loss on treatment outcomes. Using the clinical data of 370 patients with NSCLC who received a combination of ICI and chemotherapy at 13 institutions, this study investigated the frequency of body weight loss > 5% during treatment and determined the impact of body weight loss on patient outcomes.

A novel molecular target, superoxide dismutase 1, in ALK inhibitor-resistant lung cancer cells, detected through proteomic analysis.

Backgrounds: To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of proteomic analysis for the identification of unknown proteins involved in resistance to anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors. In this study, we investigated the proteins involved in resistance to alectinib, a representative ALK inhibitor, through proteomic analysis and the possibility of overcoming resistance.

Methods: An ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma cell line (ABC-11) and the corresponding alectinib-resistant cell line (ABC-11/CHR2) were used.

Response to Imatinib in a Patient With Gastric Adenocarcinoma With Q556_K558 In-Frame Deletion: A Case Report.

Imatinib may be a useful targeted agent for patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma who have KIT mutations.

Protracted coronavirus disease 2019 after chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy successfully treated with sequential multidrug therapy.

A 56-year-old woman who received CD19 chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy for refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma developed severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and was treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in April 2022. However, she experienced persistent fatigue and cough and fever in June. Computed tomography revealed bilateral ground-glass opacities (GGO), and the patient was treated with corticosteroids for organizing pneumonia after COVID-19.

Single-lung Transplant in a Patient with Mycobacterium avium Pulmonary Disease Successfully Treated with Amikacin Liposome Inhalation Suspension.

A 55-year-old man presented to our hospital with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). He was registered with the Japan Organ Transplant Network the following year due to disease progression. Treatment with clarithromycin, ethambutol, and rifampicin for complications of Mycobacterium avium pulmonary disease was initiated, but sputum conversion could not be achieved.

Phase III KEYNOTE-789 Study of Pemetrexed and Platinum With or Without Pembrolizumab for Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor‒Resistant, -Mutant, Metastatic Nonsquamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: Epidermal growth factor receptor () tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are standard first-line therapy for -mutant, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, most patients experience disease progression. We report results from the randomized, double-blind, phase III KEYNOTE-789 study of pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy with or without pembrolizumab for TKI-resistant, -mutant, metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03515837).