Impact of prior ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitor on pemetrexed-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer

Background: In phase Ⅲ trial comparing crizotinib with chemotherapy in patients with ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, it suggests that pemetrexed is highly effective against ALK-positive NSCLC. However, it is unclear that pemetrexed-based chemotherapy is effective in patients previously treated with ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (ALK-TKI) as well as ALK-TKI naïve patients. Therefore, we investigated the impact of prior ALK-TKI therapy on pemetrexed-based chemotherapy. Conclusions: Pemetrexed-based chemotherapy might be less effective in ALK-positive NSCLC patients previously treated with ALK-TKI. This retrospective study results suggested that ALK-TKI sequence can be a better treatment option in ALK-positive NSCLC patients. READ ARTICLE

Journal of Clinical Oncology DOI:10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.e21113

Authors: Michitoshi Yabe, Hirotsugu Kenmotsu, Hiroaki Kodama, Naoya Nishioka, Eriko Miyawaki, Taichi Miyawaki, Nobuaki Mamesaya, Haruki Kobayashi, Shota Omori, Kazushige Wakuda, Akira Ono, Tateaki Naito, Haruyasu Murakami, Toshiaki Takahashi

Differences Between the East and the West in Managing Advanced-Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a common cancer associated with high mortality rates worldwide. Unfortunately, it usually presents at a late stage, precluding the chance of curative therapy. The discovery of oncogenic driver mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer over the past 20 years has led to new molecular targeted therapies that have dramatically improved treatment efficacy and quality of life. New generations of therapy that target the drug-resistant mutations have also quickly evolved, benefiting patients who are refractory or intolerant to first-line targeted therapy. Eastern patients, from Southeast Asia, Japan and China, are known to have a higher incidence of epidermal growth factor receptor mutation. Therefore, compared with the West, more patients would benefit from these recent advances. In contrast, survival of patients without driver mutations has benefited from advances in novel therapeutics, including the immune checkpoint inhibitors. The current review aims to highligh..... READ ARTICLE

Clinical Oncology DOI:10.1016/j.clon.2019.07.014

Authors: V. H. F. Lee, T. S. K. Mok, Y. Goto, V. C. C. Hsue, L. Yang, Y. Jiang, D. K. C. Leung, K. S. Lau, P. Y. Tse

Life Threatening haemoptysis in primary lung cancer-signet ring cell carcinoma

Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the lung is a rare non-small cell carcinoma of the lung with extremely aggressive features and poor prognosis. The diagnosis mainly required tissue biopsy with immunohistochemical analysis and gene mutation studies. We describe a unique case of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the lung presenting with life threatening haemoptysis along with literature review of prognosis and management of this rare clinical entity. READ ARTICLE

Respiratory Medicine Case Reports DOI:10.1016/j.rmcr.2020.101195

Authors: Shamsuddin Anwar, Sudeep Acharya, Dany Elsayegh, Alisa Sokoloff, Maryam Rehan