MiR-193b-3p and miR-132-3p as prognostic biomarkers of survival in pleural mesothelioma patients treated with first-line bevacizumab plus pemetrexed-platinum chemotherapy in the IFCT-0701 MAPS phase 3 trial.

We investigated whether angiogenesis-related microRNAs (miRNAs) predict survival in patients with pleural mesothelioma (PM) treated with bevacizumab plus pemetrexed-platinum chemotherapy in the Mesothelioma Avastin Cisplatin Pemetrexed Study ('MAPS', NCT00651456) phase 3 trial phase III trial (NCT00651456). Twelve miRNAs were measured in FFPE samples from 236 of the 448 MAPS trial patients (50.8 %), normalized to RNU48.

NDR2 kinase: A review of its physiological role and involvement in carcinogenesis.

The Hippo kinase, NDR2, plays a key role in the natural history of several human cancers, particularly lung cancer, by regulating processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, vesicular trafficking, autophagy, ciliogenesis and immune response. To examine the specificity of NDR2's action, interaction and function in physiological or tumoral contexts, we first focus on the structural differences in the amino-acid sequence between NDR1 and NDR2. We then establish a correlation between these NDR1/2 differences and specific post-translational regulation, as well as the distinct action, interactions, and functions of NDR2 in physiological or tumoral paradigms, such as lung cancer.

Radiation toxicity and survival in patients with interstitial lung disease and non-small cell lung cancer: A case control study.

Purpose: Lung cancers associated with interstitial lung disease are challenging to diagnose and manage. We investigated the prevalence of interstitial lung disease among consecutively irradiated cancer patients, and the tolerance and prognosis of patients with or without interstitial lung disease after thoracic radiotherapy.

Material And Methods: This bicentric study was designed as a case-control study of patients with interstitial lung disease prior to radiotherapy (cases) and controls without interstitial lung disease.

Initial therapy in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and cardiovascular comorbidities.

Background: European guidelines recommend initial monotherapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with cardiovascular comorbidities based on the limited evidence for combination therapy in this growing population.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on incident pulmonary arterial hypertension patients enrolled in the French Pulmonary Hypertension Registry between 2009 and 2020. Propensity score matching was used to investigate initial dual oral combination therapy oral monotherapy in patients with at least one cardiovascular comorbidity ( hypertension, obesity, diabetes and coronary artery disease).

Targeting the Hippo pathway to prevent radioresistance brain metastases from the lung (Review).

The prognosis for patients with non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a cancer type which represents 85% of all lung cancers, is poor with a 5‑year survival rate of 19%, mainly because NSCLC is diagnosed at an advanced and metastatic stage. Despite recent therapeutic advancements, ~50% of patients with NSCLC will develop brain metastases (BMs). Either surgical BM treatment alone for symptomatic patients and patients with single cerebral metastases, or in combination with stereotactic radiotherapy (RT) for patients who are not suitable for surgery or presenting with fewer than four cerebral lesions with a diameter range of 5‑30 mm, or whole‑brain RT for numerous or large BMs can be administered.

Pulmonary Artery Embolization in the Management of Hemoptysis Related to Lung Tumors.

(1) Background: Bronchial artery embolization has been shown to be effective in the management of neoplastic hemoptysis. However, knowledge of pulmonary artery embolization is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pulmonary artery embolization in patients presenting with hemoptysis related to lung tumors.

Comparison between computerised lung SPECT-CT and noncontrast thoracic HRCT for quantitative analysis of post-acute COVID-19 pulmonary vascular pruning.

https://bit.ly/3qAQZDW.

Infections in autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: a large retrospective cohort.

Background: Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP) is a rare disease, predisposing to an increased risk of infection. A complete picture of these infections is lacking.

Research Question: Describe the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients diagnosed with aPAP, and to identify risk factors associated with opportunistic infections.

VEGFR2 and CD34 expression associated with longer survival in patients with pleural mesothelioma in the IFCT-GFPC-0701 MAPS phase 3 trial.

Objectives: VEGF/VEGFR autocrine loop is a hallmark of pleural mesothelioma (PM). We thus assayed the prognostic and predictive values of VEGFR-2 [vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 or Flk-1] and CD34, a marker of endothelial cells, in samples from patients accrued in the Mesothelioma Avastin Cisplatin Pemetrexed Study ('MAPS', NCT00651456).

Materials And Methods: VEGFR2 and CD34 expression were assayed using immunohistochemistry in 333 MAPS patients (74.

Serum and Pulmonary Expression Profiles of the Activin Signaling System in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background: Activins are novel therapeutic targets in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We therefore studied whether key members of the activin pathway could be used as PAH biomarkers.

Methods: Serum levels of activin A, activin B, α-subunit of inhibin A and B proteins, and the antagonists follistatin and follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3) were measured in controls and in patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic, heritable, or anorexigen-associated PAH (n=80) at baseline and 3 to 4 months after treatment initiation.

Ethnographic survey of patients and caregiver's life journey in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Objectives: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease associated with high mortality. The IPF journey affects patients' and caregivers' quality of life, this should be taken into account as an important parameter for a better disease management. An ethnographic study was conducted between December 2019 and January 2020 to explore social disease representations, patients' and cargivers' experiences in the disease journey and consequences in their daily life, to identify the means of actions permitting a quality of life (QoL) improvement.

French practical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis - 2021 update. Full-length version.

Background: Since the latest 2017 French guidelines, knowledge about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has evolved considerably.

Methods: Practical guidelines were drafted on the initiative of the Coordinating Reference Center for Rare Pulmonary Diseases, led by the French Language Pulmonology Society (SPLF), by a coordinating group, a writing group, and a review group, with the involvement of the entire OrphaLung network, pulmonologists practicing in various settings, radiologists, pathologists, a general practitioner, a health manager, and a patient association. The method followed the "Clinical Practice Guidelines" process of the French National Authority for Health (HAS), including an online vote using a Likert scale.

Cytokines as prognostic biomarkers in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Risk stratification and assessment of disease progression in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are challenged by the lack of accurate disease-specific and prognostic biomarkers. To date, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and/or its N-terminal fragment (NT-proBNP) are the only markers for right ventricular dysfunction used in clinical practice, in association with echocardiographic and invasive haemodynamic variables to predict outcome in patients with PAH.

Methods: This study was designed to identify an easily measurable biomarker panel in the serum of 80 well-phenotyped PAH patients with idiopathic, heritable or drug-induced PAH at baseline and at first follow-up.

Molecular Alterations in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Hope for Effective Treatment by Targeting YAP.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive neoplasm, which has primarily been attributed to the exposure to asbestos fibers (83% of cases); yet, despite a ban of using asbestos in many countries, the incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma failed to decline worldwide. While little progress has been made in malignant pleural mesothelioma diagnosis, bevacizumab at first, then followed by double immunotherapy (nivolumab plus ipilumumab), were all shown to improve survival in large phase III randomized trials. The morphological analysis of the histological subtyping remains the primary indicator for therapeutic decision making at an advanced disease stage, while a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen combined with pemetrexed, either with or without bevacizumab, is still the main treatment option.

A defect of amphiregulin release predicted longer survival independently of YAP expression in patients with pleural mesothelioma in the IFCT-0701 MAPS phase 3 trial.

The Hippo pathway effector YAP is dysregulated in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). YAP's target genes include the secreted growth factor amphiregulin (AREG), which is overexpressed in a wide range of epithelial cancers and plays an elusive role in MPM. We assayed the expression of YAP and AREG in MPM pathology samples and that of AREG additionally in plasma samples of patients from the randomized phase 3 IFCT-0701 Mesothelioma Avastin Cisplatin Pemetrexed Study (MAPS) using immunohistochemistry and ELISA assays, respectively.

Centrosome, the Newly Identified Passenger through Tunneling Nanotubes, Increases Binucleation and Proliferation Marker in Receiving Cells.

Type 1 tunneling nanotubes (TNTs-1) are long, cytoplasmic protrusions containing actin, microtubules and intermediate filaments that provide a bi-directional road for the transport of various components between distant cells. TNT-1 formation is accompanied by dramatic cytoskeletal reorganization offering mechanical support for intercellular communication. Although the centrosome is the major microtubule nucleating center and also a signaling hub, the relationship between the centrosome and TNTs-1 is still unexplored.

Severe pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A prospective French multicenter cohort.

Background: A small proportion of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients present severe pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined by mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) ≥35 mm Hg measured by right heart catheterization. Little is known about the characteristics of severe PH-COPD. The aim of the study based on a national registry was to describe this phenotype.

Association between Initial Treatment Strategy and Long-Term Survival in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

The relationship between the initial treatment strategy and survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains uncertain. To evaluate the long-term survival of patients with PAH categorized according to the initial treatment strategy. A retrospective analysis of incident patients with idiopathic, heritable, or anorexigen-induced PAH enrolled in the French Pulmonary Hypertension Registry (January 2006 to December 2018) was conducted.

Randomised trial of first-line bronchial artery embolisation for non-severe haemoptysis of mild abundance.

Background: Whereas first-line bronchial artery embolisation (BAE) is considered standard of care for the management of severe haemoptysis, it is unknown whether this approach is warranted for non-severe haemoptysis.

Research Question: To assess the efficacy on bleeding control and the safety of first-line BAE in non-severe haemoptysis of mild abundance.

Study Design And Methods: This multicentre, randomised controlled open-label trial enrolled adult patients without major comorbid condition and having mild haemoptysis (onset <72 hours, 100-200 mL estimated bleeding amount), related to a systemic arterial mechanism.

Lesson of the month: management for aspiration of a silver nitrate pencil tip during tracheostomy care.

We present the cases of two laryngectomised patients who were treated for granulomas of the tracheostomy orifice with a silver nitrate pencil. During tracheostomy care, the tip broke off, was aspirated and fell into the bronchial tree. Necrotising ulcerative injuries of the right bronchial tree with clear delineation were found without lesions in the subsegmental division.