Virtual Library

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Background:
The 8[th] edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been released. The current study seeks to validate the prognostic significance of the new system among patients registered within the surveillance, epidemiology and end results (SEER) database.

Methods:
SEER database (2010-2013) has been accessed through SEER*Stat program and AJCC 8[th] edition stages were reconstructed utilizing the collaborative stage descriptions. Overall and lung cancer-specific survival analyses according to both 7[th] and 8[th] editions were conducted through Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate analysis was conducted through a Cox proportional hazard model.

Results:
A total of 127096 patients with NSCLC were identified in the period from 2010-2013. For overall survival assessment according to the 8[th] edition, P values for all pair wise comparisons among different stages were significant (<0.0001) except for the comparison between stage IIA and stage IIB (P = 0.102). For lung cancer-specific survival according to the 8[th] edition, P values for all pair wise comparisons among different stages were significant (<0.0001). Among patients with stage I disease, multivariate analysis for factors affecting overall and lung cancer-specific survival among patients with stage I disease was conducted. The following factors were associated with worse overall and lung cancer-specific survival (age ≥ 70 years, more advanced stage, male gender, squamous histology, no surgery and no radiotherapy) (P < 0.0001 for all factors).

Conclusions:
This SEER analysis supports the prognostic significance of the added sub-stages described within AJCC 8[th] edition stages I and III. Further work is needed to incorporate molecular markers and personalize the future editions of the AJCC staging system.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Omar Abdel-Rahman

Funding:
Omar Abdel-Rahman

Disclosure:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation represents a favorable prognostic factor in advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is predominantly contributed by its good response to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. However, its impact on the prognosis of resectable NSCLC after complete surgery, which more closely reflects its natural course, remains controversial. Diverse results have been reported partially due to the small sample size of these studies; small studies bring bias especially in postoperative setting. Therefore, we sought to pool all current evidence to show the true effects.

Methods:
Electronic databases were searched for eligible studies. The primary endpoint was disease free survival (DFS), which will be less influenced by subsequent treatments after recurrence. The DFS between EGFR mutated and wild-type patients were compared with special interest in stage I patients who are rarely subjected to adjuvant therapy. In addition, DFS of patients with 19 exon deletion (19del) and 21 exon L858R mutation (L858R) were compared. Random effects models were used.

Results:
A total of 13 studies involving 2,652 cases were included; 1033 (39.0%) patients were EGFR-mutated, 47.7% were 19del and 44.1% were L858R. Most studies detected EGFR mutations with PCR-based methods. The DFS of EGFR-mutated patients were similar to wild type patients in overall population (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.16) and stage I subgroup (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.69). DFS of 19del patients was potentially inferior to L858R patients but the difference was not significant (HR 1.38, 95% CI 0.76 to 2.52).

Conclusions:
EGFR-mutated patients showed no significant difference in postoperative disease-free survival compared with wild-type resected NSCLC. There is still no sufficient evidence to support different postoperative treatment strategy (especially for stage I) for mutated and wild-type patients. However, 19del might be an adverse factor through indirect reasoning, which might require more intensive management. Thus, we strongly encouraged reporting specific prognostic impacts of different mutation types compared with wild-type patients in the following studies.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
The clinical research center of the first affiliated hospital of Guangzhou Medical Univeristy

Funding:
The 1st Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Based on SEER database and a Chinese multicenter registry, we previously identified a benchmark for indicating sufficient lymph node (LN) examination among node negative NSCLC patients (Liang et al. J Clin Oncol 2016). Due to variability of LN examination practice, some patients with less than 16 examined LNs might be understaged and therefore have worse survival outcome. This benchmark agrees with the reported mean LN being harvested during complete pulmonary and mediastinal LN exploration, which could serve as a sign for adequate systematic LN sampling and theorectically be applicable to node positive patients as well. We sought to determine its prognostic value among node positive patients using SEER database.

Methods:
The United States Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database on stage I to IIIA completely resected NSCLC (1990-2010) were extracted. Patients were dichotomized according to examined LN count (<16 vs. > =16). Multivariate Cox regression model was used to compare the overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) between groups under adjustment for other prognostic factor.

Results:
A total of 12,407 cases met the inclusion criteria with complete data were studied. The median followup was 7.6 years (range 0.1 to 10.0). Patients with <16 examined LNs remained a significant unfavorable factor in terms of both OS (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.43, P < 0.001) and CSS (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.45) when compared to those with at least 16 LNs, after adjusting for diagnostic year, sex, age, tumor size, differentiation, pathology and positive LN count. Different subgroups showed consistent trends.

Conclusions:
This study confirmed that 16 exmamined LNs could also be considered a benchmark for systematic LN examination among node positive NSCLC patients despite the number of positive LNs. Node positive NSCLC with less than 16 LNs being harvested should be cautiously evaluated for the quality of LN examination and indication for subsequent treatment.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
The 1st Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Funding:
The 1st Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Disclosure:
T. D’Amico: Consulting or Advisory Role: Scanlan International. C.S.H. Ng: Leadership: Johnson & Johnson; Honoraria: J&J, Covidien, Medtronic; Consulting or Advisory Role: J&J, Covidien, Medtronic; Speakers’ Bureau: J&J, Covidien, Medtronic; Research Funding: J&J, Covidien, Medtronic. A. Brunelli: Honoraria: Bard Medical. C-C. Liu: Honoraria: Johnson & Johnson Consulting or Advisory Role: Johnson & Johnson Travel, Accommodation, Expenses: Johnson & Johnson (I). R.H. Petersen: Honoraria: Medtronic, Ethicon, Medela. J. He: Consulting or Advisory Role: Johnson & Johnson. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Abstract not provided

Background:
There is little evidence to guide the management of early limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC). We examined outcome of early LS-SCLC patients treated within a contemporary trial.

Methods:
This is an exploratory analysis of early (TNM stage I-II) LS-SCLC patients included in the CONVERT trial. This is a randomized phase III trial that compared twice-daily (45 Gray (Gy) in 30 twice-daily fractions over 3 weeks) and once-daily (66 Gy in 33 daily fractions over 6.5 weeks) radiotherapy starting on day 22 of chemotherapy cycle 1 in good performance score (PS) patients. Chemotherapy consisted of 4-6 cycles of cisplatin and etoposide. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) was offered if indicated. Radiotherapy was delivered using three-dimensional conformal or intensity modulated technique.

Results:
Between 2008 and 2013, 547 patients were recruited to this trial. Five hundred and thirteen patients were eligible for this analysis and 87 (17%) had early disease. Staging flurodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) use (68% versus 55.4%, p = 0.05) and baseline PS (PS0 57.5% versus 43.2%, p = 0.04) were different between early and non-early LS-SCLC patients, respectively. Early patients achieved longer overall survival (median 50 versus 25 months, p = 0.001) and time to local (median 40 versus 17 months, p = 0.0017) and metastatic progression (median 49 versus 16 months, p = 0.0004) compared to non-early patients, irrespective of treatment arm. In early patients, there was no significant overall survival difference between treatment arms, p = 0.31. Radiotherapy compliance was significantly higher in early patients (p = 0.004) and these patients were less likely to experience grade ≥3 acute oesophagitis, compared to non-early patients (11% versus 21%, p < 0.005).

Conclusions:
Early LS-SCLC patients achieve good long-term survival with minimal acute side-effects following chemo-radiotherapy and PCI. This study guides practice and provides a benchmark for future studies comparing a surgical to a non-surgical approach in this patient cohort.

Clinical trial identification:
ISRCTN91927162, NCT00433563

Legal entity responsible for the study:
MAHSC-CTU, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK

Funding:
Cancer Research UK

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CTRT) is the optimal treatment for limited-stage small cell lung cancer. The use of granulocyte colony stimulating-factor (G-CSF) in this context is controversial and its routine use is not recommended after a report of higher toxicity but the safety data is scarce. The use of prophylactic antibiotics is also not standardised.

Methods:
In a phase 3 trial, 547 patients (pts) were randomised between once-daily RT (66Gy 33 fractions) or twice-daily (45Gy 30 fractions) with chemotherapy (cisplatin/etoposide). The use of prophylactic G-CSF and antibiotics was permitted.

Results:
33% of pts received at least 1 cycle of prophylactic G-CSF and 41% received prophylactic and/or therapeutic G-CSF. Its use increased from 11% at cycle 1 to 27% at cycle 4. Prophylactic antibiotics were used in 48% of pts but its use decreased from 41% to 20%. The use of antibiotics and/or G-CSF was similar in both arms. The incidence of grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia was higher in pts with G-CSF (29.4% vs. 13%; p 

Conclusions:
The use of G-CSF with modern radiotherapy techniques during CTRT does not result in an increased risk of severe acute esophagitis or pneumonitis. Despite an increased incidence of severe thrombocytopenia and anaemia, the use of G-CSF was not detrimental in PFS or OS.

Clinical trial identification:
ISRCTN91927162 / NCT00433563

Legal entity responsible for the study:
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Funding:
The Christie NHS FT, Cancer Research UK, EORTC, GECP, GFPC, IFCT.

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Abstract not provided

Background:
PD-L1 is a predictive biomarker for NSCLC, which is determined by immunohistochemistry. Significant number of NSCLCs are diagnosed from cytology samples. No study of PD-L1 expression in NSCLC cytology samples was published to date. The aim of this study was to evaluate possiblity of immunocytochemical determination of PD-L1 status in primary and metastatic NSCLC.

Methods:
We examined 50 consecutive cytology samples from 50 patients (19 TBNAs of mediastinal lymph nodes, 9 FNABs of peripheral lymph nodes, 15 TBNAs of lung, 4 pleural effusions, 2 FNABs of subcutaneous mass and one US – guided FNAB of liver). Methanol – fixed cytospins were prepared for immunocytochemistry using PD-L1 mouse monoclonal antibody (clone 22C3, Dako, USA) on an automated staining platform (Benchmark, Ventana/Roche, USA). Samples containing 100 or more tumor cells were considered representative. PD-L1 expression was evaluated on tumor cells with membranous staining. PD-L1 positivity was defined by cutoff value of 1%. 18 patients had concurrent histology samples used for PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (FFPE sections, same PD-L1 antibody clone and platform).

Results:
We found 37 (74%) adenocarcinomas, 7 (14%) squamous cell carcinomas, while 6 (12%) remained NSCLC-NOS. 74% of all NSCLC samples showed positive immunocytochemical reaction with PD-L1. 27 (73%) of all adenocarcinomas, 4 (57%) of all squamous cell carcinomas and 6 (100%) of all NSCLC-NOS showed positive immunocytochemical reaction with PD-L1. In patients with both cytology and histology samples, concordance in PD-L1 expression was 78%. All types of cytology samples examined in the study showed to be representative for evaluation. Most problems occurred in evaluation of pleural effusion due to nonspecific cytoplasmic staining for PD-L1 in histiocytes.

Conclusions:
Cytology samples are adequate for evaluation of PD-L1 expression in primary and metastatic NSCLC.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
University Clinic Golnik

Funding:
University Clinic Golnik

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
The majority of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (pts) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation develop resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, in 50-60% of the cases, mediated by the EGFR T790M-mutation. Repeated biopsy (Bx) is necessary after progression on initial therapy to check T790M status. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of repeated Bx in clinical practice.

Methods:
Retrospective analysis of 110 repeated biopsies (Bxs) performed in 74 pts with advanced NSCLC during the last 4 years, 30 of them with EGFR-NSCLC underwent to 42 Bxs. The technical success rates for the repeated Bx and the adequacy rates of specimens were evaluated. Bx-related complications were recorded. Clinical details were collected.

Results:
42 repeated Bxs were performed in 30 pts with EGFR-NSCLC (6 men (20%), 24 women (80%)). Mean age 62 (36-82). Mean number of repeated Bxs per patient: 1 (1-3). At diagnosis (dx), exon 19 mutation was detected in 20 pts (66,7%) and exon 21 mutation in 10 (33,3%). The main reasons for repeated Bx were: mutational analysis at dx 5 (16,7%), insufficient material at dx 4 (13,3%) and detection of T790M at the moment of progression 21 (70%). The technical success rate for Bx was 35/42 (83.3%), and postprocedural complications occurred in 2/42 cases: 1 pneumothorax and 1 low bleeding. Bx specimens came mostly from primary tumor (25/42, 59,5%, followed by: lymph nodes (2/42, 4,8%), pleural fluid (3/42, 7,15%), liquid Bx (3/42, 7,15%), metastasis sites (9/42, 21,4%): bone 2, liver 2, spinal fluid 2, pleural 2, adrenal gland 1. The most used technique was bronchoscopy (19/42, 45,2%), followed by: percutaneous biopsy (11/42, 26,2%), thoracocentesis (4/42, 9,5%). Other techniques: liquid Bx 3 cases (7,15%), surgery 3 (7,15%) and lumbar puncture 2 (4,8%). Results from repeated Bx were used to select the next line of treatment in 28/42 procedures (66,7%), and 16 of them (57,1%) allowed to include the patient in a clinical trial.

Conclusions:
Our data demonstrate that repeated Bx in EGFR-NSCLC is safe and clinically feasible. Findings from repeated biopsy were used to direct subsequent treatment in 66.7% of pts and 16 of them (57,1%) allowed to include the patient in a clinical trial.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

Funding:
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Lung cancer is one of the deadliest malignant tumors with limited treatment options. Although targeted therapy, using tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, such as erlotinib, has shown therapeutic benefit, only 15% patients with mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in lung cancer cells are sensitive. Therefore, additional therapeutic strategy should be developed. Metformin (Met) has been used to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D) for nearly 60 years. Met reduces circulating glucose and insulin levels by inhibiting gluconeogenesis in the liver. Recently Met class drugs have been shown their anticancer properties, including in combination therapy, in which Met inhibits the growth of tumor initiating cells in breast cancer cell lines and prevents the relapse of tumors in vivo when combining with chemotherapy.

Methods:
The effects of Met to sensitizing wild type EGFR lung cancer cells to erlotinib were examined in vitro by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT), flow cytometry analysis, Western blot analysis, chemotaxis assay, as well as in vivo experiments.

Results:
We found that MET sensitized lung cancer cells bearing wild-type EGFR to erlotinib treatment by enriching cancer cells expressing higher levels of EGFR with persistent phosphorylation. As a consequence, combination of MET and erlotinib more efficiently inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells both in vitro and in mice with xenografted tumors.

Conclusions:
These results suggest a novel approach to treating lung cancer cases which are originally resistant to erlotinib.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Shanghai Ruijin Hospital

Funding:
This project was supported in part by Shanghai Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission Research Grants (Youth) 20154Y0089.

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Large cancer centres in the USA demonstrated that molecular diagnosis and targeted therapy improved overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma (Kris, JAMA 2014). We validated this finding in a rural area of Switzerland, served by private practices, community hospitals, and a tertiary referral centre.

Methods:
We conducted a prospective cohort study with the Cancer Registry of Central Switzerland, established in 2010, covering 4 cantons and 517'000 inhabitants. We enrolled all residents newly diagnosed with stage IV pulmonary adenocarcinoma from 2010 until 2014. From the registry, the central pathology and the residents’ offices, we obtained the date of diagnosis and death, gender, smoking, tumour histology and stage, molecular testing (on demand), and therapy. We used the Kaplan-Meier method and a log-rank test to compare OS, and Cox proportional hazards model for association with age, gender and smoking. The cutoff date was February 2016. No adjustment was made for multiple testing. The study was approved by the IRB.

Results:
348 patients were included in the study. Median age at diagnosis was 66 years (range, 30-94), 190 (55%) patients were men, 197 (57%) were smokers or former smokers. Molecular testing (PCR, IHC and FISH) was performed in 279 (80%), 132 (38%) had oncogenic driver mutations (ODM): KRAS (17%), EGFR (12%), ALK (6%), HER2 (2%), BRAF (1%), RET (0,5%) or MET (0,5%). 56 patients with an ODM, mostly EGFR (34) and ALK (12), received genotype-matched targeted therapy, at least 25 (45%) of whom in a clinical trial or named patient program. Median OS was 18 months for patients with ODM and targeted therapy, 8 months for patients with ODM and conventional therapy, and 10 months for patients with no ODM and conventional therapy. For patients with ODM and targeted therapy, OS was significantly better than for patients with ODM and conventional therapy (HR 0.64, p = 0.04).

Conclusions:
Rigorous testing combined with optimal access to targeted therapy in clinical trials, improved the prognosis of patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma and EGFR mutation or ALK rearrangement. For patients with tumours lacking actionable mutations, further advances are expected with immunotherapy.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
J. Diebold, Institute of Pathology, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland

Funding:
Cancer League of Central Switzerland, Lucerne, Switzerland

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Up-regulation of endogenous retroviruses induces interferon response ("viral mimicry") and potentiates response to immune checkpoint therapy. Pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), including retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I), could up-regulate interferon pathway activating signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT1), which ultimately induces CD274 (PD-L1) mRNA expression. We assume that alterations in the interferon pathway could be present in EGFR mutant NSCLC. Activation of STAT3 stimulates DNMT1 repressing PRRs. We recently identified YAP1 as a compensatory mechanism of resistance to gefitinib and osimertinib in EGFR mutant cells. Activation of YAP1 up-regulates CXCL5, a chemokine attracting myeloid-derived suppressor cell.

Methods:
Total RNA from 53 EGFR mutant NSCLC patients (pts), was reversed transcribed and analyzed by qRT-PCR. RIG-1, STAT1, CD274, DNMT1 and CXCL5 mRNA were examined with specific primers/probes in triplicates. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated.

Results:
Fifty-three EGFR mutant NSCLC pts treated with erlotinib were analyzed, 65% were female, 65% never-smoked, 32% had brain metastases, 37% had bone metastases and 68% had exon 19 deletion. A close correlation was found between the RIG-1 and STAT1 mRNA levels (r = 0.42, p = 0.02). An anti-correlation trend was noted between DNMT1 and STAT1. Median PFS was 22 mo, 12.9 mo and 8.6 mo for pts with high, intermediate and low PD-L1 mRNA, respectively (P = 0.04). Median PFS was numerically longer for pts with low levels of DNMT1, RIG1 STAT1 and CXCL5, although the differences were not statistically significant. A similar trend was observed for OS.

Conclusions:
CD274 (PD-L1) mRNA could be a prognostic marker in EGFR mutant NSCLC pts. Down-modulation of CD274 indicates alterations in PRRs or downstream interferon signaling factors. The pathway dysregulation is multifactorial, and the role of STAT3 and YAP1 hyperactivation merits further research. DNMT1 overexpression ablates STAT1. Since the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) interacts with DNMT1, therapies with CDK4 inhibitors can directly neutralize the main defects in the interferon "viral mimicry" pathway.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Institut d\'Investigació en Ciències Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain Institut Català d\'Oncologia, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain

Funding:
Institut d\'Investigació en Ciències Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain Institut Català d\'Oncologia, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Mitofusin-2(MFN2) was initially identified as a hyperplasia suppressor in hyper-proliferative vascular smooth muscle cells of hypertensive rat arteries, which has also been implicated in various cancers. There exists a controversy in whether it is an oncogene or exerting anti-proliferative effect on tumor cells. Our previous cell cycle analysis and MTT assay showed that cell proliferation was inhibited in MFN2 deficient A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. MFN2-knockdown induced gene expression changes in A549 cells was analyzed by microarray assay and then functional pathway enrichment analysis revealed that six pathways were enriched in deregulated genes including Cell cycle, DNA replication, ECM-receptor interaction, Focal adhesion, MAPK signaling pathway and Chemokine signaling pathway, as we previously reported.

Methods:
MFN2 expression at protein level was examined in 30 pair lung adenocarcinoma/adjacent normal lung samples with immunohistochemistry staining. Then MFN2 knockdown was performed in human lung adenocarcinoma cells A549 with lentiviral-mediated shRNA strategy. The expression changes of downstream factors were determined in A549 cells by western blot. Furthermore, tumor models in nude mice were generated and tumor formation and progression in these mice were analysed.

Results:
As compared to adjacent normal lung tissues, MFN2 expression was significantly higher in lung adenocarcinoma tissues with positive MFN2 signals in 90% (27/30) lung adenocarcinoma tissues and only in 26.7% (8/30) adjacent normal tissues. The downregulation of RAP1A and upregulation of RALB and ITGA2 identified in MFN2-knockdown cells by microarray analysis were confirmed by western blot. In vivo, tumor models in nude mice were generated. Tumor formation and progression in nude mice suggested that MFN2 knockdown reduced tumorigenesis of A549 cells.

Conclusions:
The current study confirmed the anti-proliferative effect of MFN2 deficiency and its risk in lung adenocarcinoma.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Shanghai Chest Hospital

Funding:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science foundation of China (81572249 and 81201839).

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Vascular disrupting agents (VDA) promise significant therapeutic efficacy against solid tumors by selectively destroying tumor vasculature. Combretestatin A-4 phosphate (CA4P) is a well-characterized VDA that inhibits microtubule polymerization by binding to the colchicine-binding site of beta-tubulin [1,2]. This disruption causes a decrease in blood flow, leading to ischemia and cell death. Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is a non-invasive technique which allows for high-resolution (∼100μm) spectral imaging. The iThera Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography inVision 256-TF (MSOT) system allows for high throughput, in vivo imaging of small animals. The MSOT has access to a range of frequencies (680-980nm) with 1nm resolution and so is able to differentiate between numerous different contrasts agents simultaneously.

Methods:
Female and male nude mice (each group n = 6) were implanted with 2x10[6] H1299 lung cancer cells subcutaneously. Ten days after implantation, the mice image were acquired in transaxial sections through the tumor region using nine wavelengths ranging from 700-880 nm by MSOT device and bioluminescence images (BLI) were taken by IVIS Spectrum at different time points. Images were reconstructed and processed using manufacturer’s software. Percentage of hemoglobin saturation (%SO~2~) was calculated as %SO~2~ = [HbO~2~/(HbO~2~+Hb)]*100.

Results:
VDA caused significant perfusion reduction and hypoxiation at 1 and 3 hours post VDA and mostly recovered at 24 hours. The %SO~2~ of tumor peripheral vessels was decreased from 42.5% at baseline to 33% and 28% at 1 and 3 hours respectively. The %SO2 of the tumor core reduced from 43% at baseline to 27% and 12% at 1 and 3 hours respectively. There was no change in %SO2 of normal tissue (spine). Similarly, BLI signal was reduced by > 90% within 3 hours after administration of CA4P indicating vascular disruption which was confirmed by histology.

Conclusions:
We demonstrated the feasibility of MSOT to detect changes in oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin based on their unique absorption spectra in order to further elucidate the mechanism of action. CA4P caused significant reduction of perfusion and oxygenation within the tumor. The results indicate strong rationale for further development, particularly in combination with additional therapies.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Li Liu

Funding:
CPRIT RP160617

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
To evaluate the role of different immunohistochemical markers concerning the overall and progression free survival in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Methods:
A total of 104 consecutive patients with histologically proven SCLC (limited and extensive disease) treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the University Hospital of Freiburg, between 2005 and 2012 and available pathologic slices, were included in the analysis. The expression of different immunohistochemical markers from the tissue biopsy such as CD56, CD44, Chromogranin, Synaptophysin, TTF-1, GLUT-1, Hif-1 alpha, PD-1 und PD-L1 and MIB-1/KI-67 as well as the LDH und NSE from the initial blood sample were correlated with the overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) using the Kaplan Meier Method and Cox proportional hazards ratio. Furthermore, for CD44, Hif-1 alpha and GLUT-1 H-Scores were generated for further analysis.

Results:
Of the included 104 patients, 48 had limited disease (LD) and 53 extensive disease (ED) at diagnosis. The median overall survival calculated from diagnosis was 21 (95%CI 19-23) months for patients with LD and 13 (95%CI 11-15) months for patients with ED. Patients with higher LDH (HR: 1.003 95% CI 1.001-1.005, p < 0.001) and NSE (HR:1.004, 95%CI: 1.002-1.007, p < 0.001) at diagnosis had a worse OS. These factors correlated also with a worse PFS (HR: 1.002 95% CI 1.000-1.003 p = 0.011 and HR: 1.004, 95% 1.001-1.006, p = 0.002, respectively). Concerning the immunohistchemical markers only the expression of Synaptophysin correlated with a worse OS (HR 1.890, CI 95% 1.067-3.346, p = 0.029) but not with the PFS (HR: 1.761, 95% CI 0.963-3.222, p = 0.066). All other markers did not correlate with OS or PFS.

Conclusions:
A positive immunhistochemical staining of synaptophysisn in patients with SCLC correlated with worse prognosis.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
University of Freiburg

Funding:
N/A

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) expression is known not only as a diagnostic marker but also a good prognosticator among patients with lung adenocarcinoma. However, good prognosis of TTF-1 expression might be due to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) sensitizing mutations because of the positive correlation between TTF-1 expression and EGFR mutations. The purpose of this study was to explore prognostic impact of TTF-1 expression according to EGFR sensitizing mutation status in lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods:
This is a retrospective analysis of patients with 1) stage IV lung adenocarcinoma having available TTF-1 immunohistochemistry result, 2) ECOG performance status 0-2, and 3) receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment. The data were extracted from the registry of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital in Korea, between March 2006 and March 2016.

Results:
Of the 697 patients with lung adenocarcinoma, 144 patients were included for analysis. The mean age was 65.2 ± 11.6 years (female; 42.4%). EGFR sensitizing mutations were detected in 72/144 (50.0%) patients. TTF-1 was positive in 116/144 (80.6%) patients, and it had a significant correlation with EGFR sensitizing mutations (p < 0.001). Patients with TTF-1 positive lung adenocarcinoma had longer overall survival (OS) than TTF-1 negative (21.4 vs. 6.5 months, p < 0.001). In Cox regression analysis, TTF-1 positivity (hazard ratio [HR] 0.50; 95% CI: 0.31-0.83; p = 0.007), Stage IV, M1a (HR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.40–0.97; p = 0.034), good performance status (ECOG=0; HR 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33–0.82; p = 0.005) and EGFR sensitizing mutations (HR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.39–0.97; p = 0.038) were independently associated with prolonged OS. In the subgroup of patients with wild type EGFR adenocarcinoma, TTF-1 positivity was also good prognosticator for OS (HR 0.58; 95% CI: 0.33-0.99; p = 0.046), and for progression-free survival (PFS) of the first-line cytotoxic chemotherapy (HR 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24–0.78; p = 0.006). (Table).rnTable: 12PCox proportional hazard model of overall survival for 72 patients with lung adenocarcinoma harboring wild type EGFRrn

rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrn

Covariate	Univariate analysis		Multivariate analysis
	P value	HR (95% CI)	P value	HR (95% CI)
Age < 70 vs. ≥ 70	0.986	0.995 (0.607-1.633)	0.563	1.175 (0.680-2.030)
Female vs. male	0.006	0.425 (0.231-0.780)	0.470	0.563 (0.119-2.676)
Never smoker vs. ever smoker	<0.001	0.443 (0.248-0.790)	0.980	0.981 (0.222-4.330)
Stage IV, M1a vs. M1b	0.062	0.602 (0.353-1.027)	0.046	0.569 (0.327-0.991)
ECOG 0 vs. 1-2	0.016	0.529 (0.316-0.887)	0.076	0.587 (0.325-1.057)
TTF-1 positive vs. negative	0.060	0.607 (0.360-1.022)	0.046	0.575 (0.334-0.991)
Pemetrexed, 1[st] line vs. non-pemetrexed containing regimen	0.862	0.956 (0.576-1.587)	0.480	0.829 (0.492-1.395)

rnHR=Hazard ratio; CI=confidence intervals, ECOG = Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; EGFR = epidermal growth factor receptor; TTF-1 = thyroid transcription factor 1.rn

Conclusions:
TTF-1 expression was a good prognosticator for OS and PFS in patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma without EGFR sensitizing mutations.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital Institutional Ethics Committee

Funding:
N/A

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
More than 80% of lung tumors are non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Tumor initiation and propagation are mediated by tumor initiating cells (TICs). In NSCLC and glioblastoma, TICs are characterized by high glycine decarboxylase (GLDC) expression. The DNA damage response (DDR) network evolved to maintain genome integrity and its dysregulation is associated with TICs and therapy resistance. Our aim was to establish a protocol to characterize the DDR status in NSCLC TICs.

Methods:
We evaluated a small cohort of eleven consenting patients who underwent elective surgery for lung cancer. Dissection of the tumor and non-adjacent normal lung tissue was performed by a pathologist. Tissue was dissociated to a single cell suspension, which was stained and analyzed by multicolor flow cytometry (FACS).

Results:
Based on EpCAM and GLDC expression, we identified four distinct subpopulations within the lineage negative compartment (live cells/CD31-/CD45-). In normal lung samples, a rare subpopulation was characterized by increased expression of the epithelial marker EpCAM and GLDC. Relative GLDC expression was increased in matched tumor samples. In normal samples, GLDC expression was associated with proliferation as indicated by Ki-67 staining, which was increased in matched tumor samples. Basal activation of the DDR as indicated by H2AX phosphorylation was increased in tumor versus normal samples. Upon DNA damage induction in both normal and cancer samples, H2AX was phosphorylated in the majority of the EpCAM+/GLDC+/- cells, in a smaller fraction of the EpCAM-/GLDC+ cells and absent in EpCAM-/GLDC- cells. Interestingly, the relative increase in basal versus DNA damage-induced H2AX phosphorylation was significantly higher in normal compared to matched cancer subpopulations. Further, variation in H2AX phosphorylation levels was higher in cancer samples. A larger cohort will be required to correlate DDR activation with the mutational status of the NSCLC samples.

Conclusions:
We established a FACS-based protocol allowing us to analyze DDR activation in normal versus tumor tissue and bulk versus cancer stem cells. This protocol can easily be adapted for the analysis of other types of patient tissue samples.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
University Hospital Bern

Funding:
This work was supported by the Bernese Cancer League and the Swiss Cancer Research (KFS-3530-08-2014) to TMM.

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Increasing amount of studies indicate that histone H2AX acts as a novel tumor suppressor, but the detailed mechanism of apoptosis in tumor cells regulated by H2AX remains elusive.

Methods:
Microarray assay was performed to analyze differentially expressed apoptosis-related miRNAs regulated by H2AX in lung cancer cells. The flow cytometry (FCM) assay was performed for detection of apoptosis. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect miR-3196 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) together with qRT-PCR was used to evaluate the binding of gamma-H2AX and RNA polymerase II to the miR-3196 promoter, and H3K27 trimethylation level in the promoter region of miR-3196. H2AX, BIRC7, PUMA and β-actin protein levels were determined by western blotting. The miR-3196 binding to PUMA mRNA at the 3′-UTR and miR-3196 promoter activity were evaluated by luciferase assay. Lipofectamine 2000 was used for transfection of vectors and miR-3196 mimics or miR-3196 inhibitor.

Results:
The data from microarray assay demonstrated that histone H2AX was involved in regulation of miRNAs expression during lung cancer cell apoptosis. H2AX knockdown affected the expression of 16 miRNAs, resulting in the downregulation of 1 and the upregulation of 15 miRNAs. Among the upregulated miRNAs, miR-3196 was identified as a target of H2AX and shown to inhibit apoptosis in lung cancer cells by targeting p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA). Phosphorylated H2AX (gamma-H2AX) was shown to bind to the promoter of miR-3196 and regulate its expression. In addition, H2AX phosphorylation increased H3K27 trimethylation in the promoter region of miR-3196 and inhibited the binding of RNA polymerase II to the promoter of miR-3196, leading to the inhibition of miR-3196 transcription. Taken together, these results indicated that miR-3196 is inhibited by H2AX phosphorylation and attenuates lung cancer cell apoptosis by downregulating PUMA.

Conclusions:
Histone H2AX phosphorylation increases apoptosis of lung cancer cells via the miR-3196/PUMA pathway.

Clinical trial identification:
This study does not contain clinical trial.

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Air Force General Hospital (PLA)

Funding:
National Natural Science Foundation of China

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
The growth and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) require assistance of tumor-associated vascularization, the underlying molecular mechanisms of which remain eluted. Recently, we reported that placental growth factor (PLGF) was expressed by NSCLC cells, and promoted the metastasis of NSCLC cells. Here, we showed that NSCLC cells produced and secreted PLGF to signal to tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) through the surface expression of the receptor for PLGF, Flt-1, on macrophages.

Methods:
Ten week-old male NOD/SCID mice were used for transplantation of 10[7] AAV-transduced/labeled A549 cells by tail vein injection. Bones from 12-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were flushed with macrophage culture media. Isolated bone-marrow-derived macrophages (10[5]) were co-cultured either with equal number of A549 cells (10[5]) with/without of 10µmol/l SB431542, or with/without recombinant PLGF (100ng), or with/without of 10 µg/l sFlt-1. Two days after co-culture, the changes in A549 cell number were determined with an MTT assay, and the macrophage subtypes were determined by flow cytometry.

Results:
In a transwell co-culture system, PLGF secreted by NSCLC cells triggered macrophage polarization to a TAM subtype that promote growth of NSCLC cells. Moreover, polarized TAM seemed to secrete transforming growth factor β 1 (TGFβ1) to enhance the growth of endothelial cells in a HUVEC assay.

Conclusions:
Thus, our studies suggest that the cross-talk between TAM and NSCLC cells via PLGF/Flt-1 and TGFβ receptor signaling may promote the growth and vascularization of NSCLC.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Shanghai Chest Hospital

Funding:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science foundation of China (81402378).

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) which constitues SCF complex and plays a role to recognize the substrates has been known to act as a proto-oncogene. In this study, we examined the effect of carvacrol, an active compound of oregano, on Skp2 inactivation and the underlying mechanisms in non-small lung cancer cells.

Methods:
Reagents and antibodies. Carvacrol was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich. A549 and H460 cells were purchased from the ATCC. For Western blot analysis, specific antibodies against Skp2, phospho-STAT3, STAT3, p21, p27, and GAPDH, as well as secondary antibodies were obtained from Santa Cruz Biotechnology.rnCell viability measurement. Cells were treated with carvacrol for 24 h and stained wtih 0.4% Trypan blue solution. Dye-excluding viable cells were counted under the microscope.rnClonogenic assay. Cells were seeded into 24 well plates and treated with carvacrol and then cultured for the next 7 to 10 days to form colonies. Colonies of > 50 cells were stained with crystal violet.rnEctopic expression of Skp2. To ectopically express Skp2, the recombinant plasmid, pcDNA3-Skp2-myc, was constructed and transfected into cells using Lipofectamine 2000. To establish stable cell lines, the transfected cells were cultured in the presence of 400 μg/ml of G418.rnsiRNA transfection. To reduce Skp2 expression, cells were transfected with siRNA targeting Skp2 or control siRNA.

Results:
Carvacrol treatment of A549 as well as H460 cells caused to reduce Skp2 protein level in dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR assay was also found that Skp2 mRNA level was reduced by carvacrol, suggesting the transcriptional down-regulation of Skp2 expression by carvacrol. We next found that the cytotoxic effect of carvacrol was attenuated in Skp2 overexpression in A459 cells and further observed its synergistic anti-proliferative effect in cells transfected with Skp2 specific siRNA. In addition, carvacrol was found to result in apoptotic cell death.

Conclusions:
Taken together, these data indicate that carvacrol targets Skp2 to inhibit cell proliferation and to cause apoptotic cell death in non-small lung cancer cells.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea

Funding:
Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Tobacco smoking is the most common risk factor for lung cancer. But a significant proportion of lung cancer occurs in non-smokers. Indoor pollution due to domestic fuels has been recently implicated as a causative agent in lung cancer especially in women. We conducted a case control study to find out the role of domestic cooking fuel as a risk factor for lung cancer in Indian women.

Methods:
In a case control study 67 women with proven lung cancer were recruited. Forty-six females having a non-malignant respiratory disease constituted the control group. The patients and controls were asked about the exposure in various cooking fuels using a questionnaire.

Results:
There were 50(74.6%) non-smokers and 17(25.4%) smokers among the female cancer cases (p = 0.016). Adenocarcinoma was the commonest histological type of malignancy (n = 26, 38.8%) in the whole group and was the predominant form in the non-smoking females. Tobacco smoking was the most important risk factor for lung cancer with OR of 4.87 (95% CI 1.34-17.76). Among non-smokers out of all the cooking fuels the risk of development of lung cancer was highest for biomass fuel exposure with an odds ratio of 5.33 (95% CI 1.7-16.7). Use of mixed fuels was associated with a lesser risk (OR = 3.04, 95% CI 1.1-8.38).

Conclusions:
This study indicated that domestic cooking fuel exposure is an important risk factor in the causation of lung cancer among women in addition of exposure to tobacco smoke.

Clinical trial identification:
NA

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Al Iqbal Hospital

Funding:
Al Iqbal Hospital

Disclosure:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Extended use of combined pharmacotherapies to treat tobacco dependence may increase smoking abstinence. The objective of this study was to evaluate smoking abstinence by using bupropion alone, varenicline alone and combination of both.

Methods:
We conducted a randomized, prospective, double-blind, trial with 300 smokers enrolled. Group 1 bupropion alone (150 mg twice daily), group 2 varenicline alone (1 gm twice daily), group 3 varenicline + bupropion (1 gm twice daily+ 150 mg twice daily). The drugs were given for 12 weeks. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was carbon monoxide-confirmed continuous abstinence rates (CAR) and the assessment of nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine dependence was assessed with the 6-item Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence scores ≥ 6 indicate high dependence. During the treatment phase, the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale was used to assess withdrawal symptoms.

Results:
Subjects in the group 1,2 and 3 (n = 100 each) were comparable in age, smoking history, number of daily smoked cigarettes, and nicotine dependence. After the treatment there was reduced cigarette cravings (17.5 ± 1.1vs 15 ±3 vs 13.1 ± 1) and total nicotine withdrawal symptoms (17.8 ± 4.3 vs 15.4 ± 5.1 vs13.2 ± 2.1) during the treatment period. As compared to B and VR monotherapy, VR+B produced significant increases in CAR at 6 months (OR, 1.63; CI, 1.10-2.20, OR, 1.52; CI, 1.00-2.30 and OR, 1.72; CI, 1.06-2.67, respectively); results were similar, but somewhat stronger, when 7PP was used at 10 weeks (OR, 1.69; CI, 1.05-2.53, OR, 1.57; CI, 1.03-2.41 and OR, 1.82; CI, 1.09-2.83, respectively)All medications were well tolerated, but participants in the VR groups experienced more fatigue, digestive symptoms (e.g., nausea, diarrhea), and sleep-related concerns (e.g., abnormal dreams, insomnia). The frequency of serious adverse events did not differ between groups.

Conclusions:
Dual medication was found to enhance success in the early phases of quitting.

Clinical trial identification:
REF/2017/03/013652

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Abhilash Clinic

Funding:
N/A

Disclosure:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Warning labels on cigarette packages are meant to communicate such smoking-associated risks. The study is designed to find out the effectiveness of pictorial warnings present on cigarette packets in India for tobacco cessation among cigarette smokers.

Methods:
A questionnaire was distributed to 800 current smokers attending an outpatient department of a college. Statistical analysis was done to find association between socioeconomic status and effectiveness of pictures to quit cigarette smoking.

Results:
48% smokers perceive text warning is an efficient method to create awareness. 56% emphasized the importance of pictorial warning and greater area to be covered. 43% felt that warning on cigarette packets helped them to quit smoking.

Conclusions:
Though pictorial warning is an effective method to improve the awareness among smokers on the ill effects of smoking, the size, area covered and the position of the picture on cigarette packets needs to be reviewed to improve the quit rate.

Clinical trial identification:
na

Legal entity responsible for the study:
N/A

Funding:
C.J.K. Francis

Disclosure:
Nestle India Limited

Background:
Tobacco use is a major preventable cause of premature death and diseases, currently leading to five million deaths worldwide which are expected to raise over eight million deaths worldwide by 2030. India is the second largest consumer of tobacco in the world. This study is contemplated with an aim to assess the prevalence of tobacco consumption and the associated factors involved in its consumption, as this group of the population is under constant pressure and account for the workforce of the country. So through this study we could be able to know the awareness of ill effect, reasons & amount of consumption.

Methods:
Across sectional descriptive study was conducted among Auto Rickshaw Drivers in Chennai City. Auto drivers who were working for more than two years and present on the day of examination and who were willing to participate in the study were included. Cluster random sampling technique was used. 400 samples were selected from 40 auto stands of various parts of Chennai City. Data was collected using a Survey Proforma which comprised of a Questionnaire which can assess the frequency of consumption, age of initiation, the amount of consumption, mental stress, economic factors, any past history of disease and most importantly the awareness towards oral cancer. Age, tobacco consumption pattern, reasons of consumption, amount of consumption, harmful effects of tobacco are the variables.

Results:
Prevalence among auto rickshaw drivers for consumption of tobacco products was very high (87%). Auto rickshaw drivers were mostly used tobacco in the form of Gutkha (72%) and bidi (40%) in comparison to other products. It also shows that they use cheap tobacco products. Most of the auto rickshaw drivers start using tobacco products in age less than 18 years (80%) and associated factors for tobacco use are due to friends and their influence (78%). Awareness level among auto rickshaw driver was high (70%) but still uses tobacco products because of its addiction (66%). In the opinion of auto rickshaw drivers increase in tax may reduce it consumption and the majority of drivers (70%) think that tobacco must be banned.

Conclusions:
Prevalence of tobacco use among auto rickshaw drivers was very high. They are in definite need of tobacco cessation activities.

Clinical trial identification:
NA

Legal entity responsible for the study:
N/A

Funding:
N/A

Disclosure:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
India is the world’s third largest tobacco-growing country. The Indian scenario as far as tobacco consumption is concerned is far worse because of the prevalence of the tobacco chewing habit which covers a wide spectrum of socioeconomic and ethnic groups and is spread over urbanized area as well as remote village. Despite the facts, that the harmful effects of tobacco chewing and smoking are widely known, many young people start smoking during adolescence, largely because they believe that smoking will boost their social acceptability and image. This study was contemplated with an aim to assess tobacco/smoking habits and awareness about anti-smoking act among general public in Gurgaon, Haryana, India.

Methods:
A structured questionnaire consisting of 14 questions related to tobacco/smoking habits and awareness about anti-smoking act were asked to general public and their response was recorded. Random sampling method was used and data was collected from a cross-sectional survey. Anti-tobacco counselling was given on the spot and followed.

Results:
The study population consisted of total 430 individuals, male 364 (84.65%) and females 66 (15.34%). Then the questionnaires were asked and statistically analyzed. Around 286 (78.57%) from 364 males were indulged in some form of tobacco usage (smoker =32.86%, tobacco chewer = 16.78%, both =11.18%, alcohol +tobacco user =21.67%). In the present study, most common cause of tobacco use was pleasure 40.5%, inducing factor were friends 53.1% followed by parents and siblings.

Conclusions:
36.20% patients used tobacco as second hand exposure in job places. 54.8% were aware about the anti-smoking act in public places, so only 8.6% people from all males enrolled, were smoking in public places.

Clinical trial identification:
na

Legal entity responsible for the study:
N/A

Funding:
C.J.K. Francis

Disclosure:
Nestle India Limited

Background:
Delays in diagnosis and treatment are undesirable in cancer management. In this analysis, we tried to identify factors causing delay in diagnosis and subsequently its effect on outcome in patients of lung cancer presenting to the oncology department.

Methods:
55 patients with proven histopathological diagnosis of lung cancer were interviewed. Results were analysed statistically.

Results:
M:F=3:1.Mean age 49 years (32-65 years).NSCLC:SCLC=4:1, majorly adenocarcinoma. The duration of symptoms ranged from 1 month to 2 years. The number of illiterate patients presented mainly in advanced stages as compared to their educated counterparts and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The number of patients presenting directly to the department was 8, those diagnosed outside and referred to us was 29 while those diagnosed and received some form of oncologic treatment outside and referred thereafter was 18. The difference in the primary delay between patients presenting directly to the institute versus those diagnosed outside was significant (P=0.01). The mean time to starting definitive treatment after presentation to the outpatient was 3 days (range 0-15 days) and was very significantly (P< 0.001) less than the secondary delays caused to the other two subsets of patients. The most important patient reasons for the delay in diagnosis were - financial constraints (20/55, 28.3%), ignorance about disease (9/55, 16.36%); dependency to escort (5/55, 9.0%), far off native place (7/55,12.7%), faith in local practitioner (3/55, 5.4%), family occasions (2/55, 3.6%), fear of death (2/55, 3.6%). 4/55 (7.2%) were initially diagnosed as tuberculosis and hence the delay, and 3/55 (5.4%) had no reason cited. Stages at diagnosis were stage II (4/55, 7.2%), stage III (41/55, 74.5%), stage IV (10/55,18.1%). Advanced stage disease patients had statistically significant poorer outcomes compared with those with earlier stage disease.

Conclusions:
Factors causing delayed presentation are both patient and system related. Awareness regarding the early signs and symptoms of lung cancer should be encouraged through various media channels. At the same time, the system needs to intensify its efficiency to avoid secondary delays that adversely affect the treatment outcome.

Clinical trial identification:
not applicable

Legal entity responsible for the study:
N/A

Funding:
None

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
The development of oral anticancer drug has resulted in several challenges. Prescriptions require a specific monitoring of the patient during his treatment. The objective of this work, resulted from collaboration among health professionals, was to assess the feasibility of setting up a pharmaceutical consultation in department of medical oncology. In addition, we aimed to evaluate the impact of this consultation in reducing prescription errors, drug-drug interactions finding, the early detection of adverse events (AEs) and in the patients’ adherence to both their treatments and the present approach.

Methods:
Before the initiation of oral chemotherapy, the oncologist proposed to the patient at participating in a pharmaceutical consultation. Following the patients’ agreement, the pharmacist collected several datas (medical history, community pharmacy medical prescriptions, treating physician) and agreed to an appointment with him. This process allowed to obtain the Best Possible Medication History and establish with the patient the treatment plan. During consultation, the resident assessed the patients’ compliance (with Morisky Scale questionnaire) and informed about the preventive and corrective measures to be implemented in case of AEs. All this datas were related in a specific notebook. A telephone follow-up was proposed to the patient. At last, a report containing all the pharmaco-therapeutic analysis was sent to the oncologist.

Results:
The pharmaceutical consultations allowed follow-up of 17 patients. Of the 19 pharmaceutical interventions conducted during the consultations, 94% involved drug-drug interactions. All patients participated to the telephone follow-up. 49 telephones calls allowed the detection of 25 AEs, half of which were referred to other health professionals. For 2 patients, anticancer drug had to be stopped for a bad tolerance finding telephone follow-up. Compliance remained constant over time for all patients. An average score of 9.4/10 was noted by patients for global satisfaction with the activity.

Conclusions:
Those results have showed that pharmaceutical consultation could enhance quality management of patients treated by oral anticancer drugs. It highlighted the major interest of this new health professional’s collaboration.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Isabelle Debrix

Funding:
Hospital Tenon (Paris 20ème)

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Lung cancer screening with low dose CTs shows numerous indeterminate pulmonary lesions (IPLs). Followup evaluation entail additional radiation (full dose CT/PET) or invasive biopsies. Alternative, novel adjunctive risk-stratification pathways are needed. Volume-averaged thoracic bioconductance, is a non-invasive technology measured transcutaneously by ProLung’s Electro-Pulmonary Nodule Scan (EPNS). A single center study had demonstrated potential to risk stratify such lesions.[1] with sensitivity/specificity of 90%/92% respectively and ROC >0.90. We present interim patient data of PL-208, a pivotal multicenter EPNS validation study.

Methods:
This is IRB approved and prospectively enrolled IPNs being evaluated. It is a two-phase study consisting of 350 subjects, 200 in the algorithm stabilization phase and 150 subjects in a subsequent algorithm validation phase. EPNS is performed within 60 days of the CT and pre tissue biopsies. In this prospective study, all study subjects & investigators are blinded to the EPNS results.

Results:
We present data on the initial 133 subjects in the table comparing data between the earlier feasibility study FML204[1] and PL208. 46(35%) subjects were asymptomatic; the rest had symptoms leading to imaging. Diagnoses include: 84 (63%) lung cancers, 4 (3%) non-primary lung cancers, 20 (15%) benign by biopsy, and 25 (19%) benign by CT follow-up.

Conclusions:
PL-208 cohort has a similar gender and age distribution to the PL204 feasibility study using EPNS as a risk-stratifying tool in evaluating suspicious IPLs. PL-208 includes asymptomatic nodules detected during LDCT screening, and hence more subjects with small T1a IPLs (17% Vs 7%), but overall a majority of subjects have IPNs < 3 cm (59%/56%). Of LCs diagnosed, 38%/41% are in stages I/II. [1]Yung et al. Transcutaneous Computed Bioconductance Measurement. J Thorac Oncol 2012; 7:681–9.\r\nTable: 29PComparison FML-204 and PL-208 patient characteristics\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

SUBJECTS	FML-204	PL-208
Age Mean(range)	64 (34-80)	65 (22-85)
Male (%)	22 (54%)	68 (51%)
Symptomatic	41 (100%)	87 (65%)
COPD diagnosis	19 (46%)	27 (20%)
NODULE FEATURES	\r\n	\r\n
Solitary/multiple	17(41%)/24 (59%)	45 (34%)/88 (66%)
0-10 mm (T1a)	2 (7%)	23 (17%)
11-20 mm (T1b)	13 (32%)	35 (26%)
21-30 mm (T1c)	7 (17%)	21 (16%)
31-50 mm (T2a)	9 (22%)	25 (19%)
> 50 mm (T2b/c)	8 (20%)	22 (17%)
Solid	37 (90%)	111 (83%)
Part solid/GGO	3 (7%)/1 (2%)	13 (10%)/9 (7%)
DIAGNOSIS	\r\n	\r\n
Benign by biopsy/CT-fu	9 (22%)/3 (7%)	20 (15%)/25 (19%)
Small cell lung cancer	2 (5%)	10 (8%)
Adenocarcinoma	20 (49%)	51 (38%)
Squamous cell carcinoma	6 (15%)	17 (13%)
Carcinoid	1 (2%)	6 (5%)
Non-lung malignancy	0 (0%)	4 (3%)
STAGE	\r\n	\r\n
I	11 (38%)	20 (24%)
II	1 (3%)	12 (14%)
III	6 (21%)	23 (27%)
IV	11 (38%)	20 (24%)
Other	0 (0%)	9 (11%)

\r\n

Clinical trial identification:
NCT01566682

Legal entity responsible for the study:
ProLungDx

Funding:
ProLungDx

Disclosure:
R.C. Yung: Conducted study with ProLung (corporate) sponsorship of study. Lead author also on ProLung Advisory Board, have received consultation fees and travel support (to meetings). Have been offered stock options. D. Ost: Conducted study with ProLung (corporate) sponsorship of study. Have received consultation fees on Advisory Board. M. Simoff, C. Reddy, A. Goyal, I. Barjakarevic: Conducted study with ProLung (corporate) sponsorship of study. M. Garff: Employee of ProLungDx. K. Larson: Employee of ProLung. J. O\'Driscoll: Chief Medical Officer and member of the Board of Directors for ProLungDx. S. Makani: Funded corporate sponsored research from ProLungDx.

Background:
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements occur in 3-5% of lung adenocarcinoma. ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs) are used for the treatment of these patients as standard of care, in clinical trials or in expanded access programs. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of response and progression to different ALK-TKIs and to study mechanisms of resistance using next generation sequencing (NGS).

Methods:
This collaborative study was performed in five institutions in Switzerland and Italy. Clinical data from patients diagnosed with ALK positive NSCLC (i.e. break in 2p23 in FISH) in the palliative setting were collected and analyzed. If available, biopsies both before starting ALK-TKI and at progression were subjected to NGS using the Ion AmpliSeq Comprehensive Cancer Panel.

Results:
We collected clinical data of 139 patients. 117 have so far undergone first-line treatment with chemotherapy (ChT) (n = 87, 74%), ALK-TKIs (n = 29, 25%) or other (n = 1, 1%). Second-line therapy was given in 92 patients; 16 received ChT (17%), 68 ALK-TKIs (74%), 8 immuno- (I-O) and other therapies (9%). 55 patients underwent third-line therapy comprising ChT (n = 11, 20%), ALK-TKIs (n = 40, 75%), or I-O and others (n = 3, 5%). Fourth-line treatment was given to 24 patients; ChT (n = 8, 33%), ALK-TKIs (n = 15, 63%) and other treatments (n = 1, 4%). 11 patients have received five or more lines of therapy. Crizotinib was given to 102 patients (81% in first- or second-line) resulting in a median PFS of 11.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.2-13.1). Ceritinib was given to 37 patients (76% in third- or later line) with a median PFS of 6.5 months (95% CI 3.7-9.4). 26 patients received alectinib (85% in third- or later line) with a median PFS of 12.4 months (95% CI 8.4-17.0). So far, NGS has been performed in 5 patients before and after ALK-TKI therapy. Two secondary ALK mutations were detected (ALK p.I1171S and p.C1156Y) conferring responsiveness to further ALK-TKIs.

Conclusions:
This study confirms the activity of ALK-TKIs in ALK positive NSCLC and allowed the documentation of important clinical data in the real-life setting. Moreover, an in-depth molecular analysis of resistance mechanisms was performed, which will now be expanded to more patients from the cohort.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
University Hospital Zurich

Funding:
University Hospital Zurich, Novartis

Disclosure:
S.I. Rothschild: Compensation (to the institution) for advisory boards from Novartis, Pfizer and Roche. Compensation (to the institution) for invited talks from Pfizer and Roche. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death in the world. EGFR-mutant lung cancer is a subtype of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that exhibits sensitivity to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as gefitinib (Iressa); however, acquired resistance was developed after a median of 9–14 months. In our previous study, we used two primary TKI-resistant lung cancer cell lines (CL25 and CL100) and a genome-wide human kinase and phosphatase RNAi screening and found that silencing Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) significantly inhibited the NSCLC viability. BTK is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase of the Tec kinase family and plays an important role in B-cell receptor signaling. Therefore, we wanted to combine primary TKI (Iressa) with BTK inhibitors (Ibrutinib and CC-292) as a cancer treatment for EGFR TKI-resistant NSCLC patients.

Methods:
First, we verified that BTK knockdown decreased cell viability in EGFR TKI-resistant CL25 cells and enhanced the sensitivity to Iressa treatment. Second, we test the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of BTK inhibitors (Ibrutinib and CC-292) in NSCLC cells by WST-1 assay. Next, we analyzed the effects of BTK inhibitors on the downstream signaling of BTK by western blot. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanism of growth inhibition triggered by BTK inhibitors in CL25 cells. The cell cycle distribution and cell death were examined. Finally, we tried to understand whether BTK inhibitors could enhance the gefitinib -induced cell death in EGFR TKI-resistant CL25 cells by combined treatment with gefitinib and BTK inhibitors.

Results:
By a genome-wide human kinase and phosphatase RNAi screening and found that BTK may contribute to the primary resistance. Knockdown of BTK expression decreased the NSCLC cell viability in a dose dependent manner and increased the gefitinib-induced cell death in both EGFR TKI-resistant CL25 and CL100 cells. BTK knockdown increased the levels of apoptotic and autophagic markers and cyclinD1 by western blot analysis. Moreover, BTK inhibitors affected BTK, NFkB, PI3K/AKT and EGFR signaling in EGFR TKI-resistant CL25 cells. Besides, treatment with Ibrutinib or CC-292 at the concentration of 4 fold IC50 induced G1 arrest in CL25 cells. Finally, combination of BTK inhibitors and gefitinib could not enhance the gefitinib-induced cell death.

Conclusions:
According to above results, we found that BTK may be a candidate contributing to the primary EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC cells. Knockdown of BTK induces the autophagic cell death and the G1 arrest in primary EGFR TKI-resistant CL25 cells and enhances the gefitinib-induced cell death while BTK inhibitors induce G1 arrest but cannot enhance the gefitinib-induced cell death.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
National Cheng Kung University

Funding:
Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan.

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
The EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) gefitinib serves as first-line drug for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutation. The challenge of this target therapy is the acquired resistance due to T790M mutation after gefitinib treatment. Aptamers are single-strand DNA molecules that form 3D structures and specifically bind to target components. In this study, we wanted to isolate aptamers with recognition ability for gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells and look for another mechanism that contributes to the acquired resistance that is not caused by T790M mutation.

Methods:
We used PC9 (gefitinib-sensitive cells) and PC9-IR (gefitinib-resistant cells with no T790M mutation) cells to select specific aptamers that bound to membrane proteins which were overexpressed in PC9-IR cells. We used suction-type microfluidic control module to perform cell-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (Cell-SELEX) and obtained some aptamers that had more affinity to bind to PC9-IR. We examined the specificity of the aptamers and observed whether aptamers could bind to cell membranes of PC9-IR. In addition, we tested the cell cytotoxicity of the aptamers.

Results:
We obtained the aptamer, AP16-23F, which had greater affinity to bind to PC9-IR. In order to test whether AP16-23F could recognize the cells with gefitinib resistance, we used AP16-23F to isolate cells from PC9 by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The results showed that the cells selected by AP16-23F were more resistant to gefitinib.

Conclusions:
We have isolated an aptamer with specificity for binding and capturing gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells. This aptamer may be useful for drug resistance detection and may have the potential to deliver anti-cancer drug to gefitinib-resistant cells in the future.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
National Cheng Kung University

Funding:
Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
In India, the number of new lung cancer cases has been increased with an annual rise of 15-20%. This poses a significant burden on already struggling healthcare services of the country. Thus, more efforts have been directed towards the easy access of the medicines and development of novel cost effective drug for the under-privileged. Consequently, introduction of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) has led to dramatic clinical improvement in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, resistance to these inhibitors either via intrinsic and acquired resistance, put a selective pressure on the development of novel inhibitors. Therefore, the present study was aimed to develop novel 1,3,5-triazine derivatives as EGFR-TKIs for lung carcinoma.

Methods:
The 1,3,5-triazine-monastrol compounds were synthesized via multi-component reaction. The compounds were tested for determination of anticancer activity three human NSCLC cell lines A549, H157 and H52. The compounds were also tested for effect on cell growth inhibition and apoptosis through cell cycle arrest assay. The docking analysis was also carried out with EGFR-TK domain (PDB ID: 1M17) to elucidate vital structural residues necessary for bioactivity.

Results:
The cytotoxicity studies results suggest that, synthesized derivatives exhibit considerable inhibition with average IC~50~ for compound 7a were found to be 3.21, 6.32 and 11.05 µmol/l. It has been found that, 7h showed augmention in the number of cells in G0–G1 phase, with a subsequent decrease in the cells belonging to S and G2–M phase. It also causes modulation of tumor cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent way. In docking study, it has been found that, compound 7h, 7l, 7m, 7e were found to be the most efficient analogues to attenuate EGFR-TKs via creating MET769, ASP831, LYS721 and CYS773 amino acids comparable to erlotinib.

Conclusions:
In conclusion, 1,3,5-triazines-monstrol conjugates has shown promising antitumor activity via inhibition EGFR-TK in lung carcinoma and my find serve as a lead for further research.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
SHUATS

Funding:
SHUATS

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Molecular targeted therapy has much improved the survival of lung adenocarcinoma while few advances have been made in the treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). SOX2 amplification is one of the most common genetic alterations in SCC. We investigated the effects of THZ1, a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) which plays a key role in gene transcription, on SCC cell lines with SOX2 amplification.

Methods:
SOX2-amplified SCC cell lines (H520, H1703, HCC95) and SCC cell lines without SOX2 amplification (H226, SK-MES1, H1975) were used. Along with the general drug efficacy of THZ1 and the effect of SOX2 knockout by CRISPR on cell growth, the differential gene expression following THZ1 treatment was evaluated by microarray analysis.

Results:
Genetic inhibition of SOX2 by CRISPR resulted in the suppression of cell growth in SOX2-amplified SCC cell lines. The treatment of THZ1 led to the suppression of cell growth and apoptotic cell death only in SOX2-amplified SCC cell lines while the modest growth-inhibitory effect of cisplatin was not different according to the status of SOX2 amplification. The phosphorylation of carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of RNAPII and the expression of SOX2 and survivin were decreased by THZ1 in Western blotting. Accordingly, the expression of transcription-associated genes including SOX2 was down-regulated by THZ1 in SOX2-amplified SCC cell lines.

Conclusions:
THZ1 could effectively control the proliferation and survival of SOX2-amplified SCC cells with the decrease of global transcriptional activity. It suggests that CDK7 inhibition leading to suppression of transcription may be considered as one of promising therapeutic options in lung SCC with SOX2 amplification.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Jae Cheol Lee

Funding:
Asan Medical Center

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Nivolumab is a programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor recently approved for the treatment of NSCLC patients who failed prior chemotherapy. Searching for predictive biomarkers of immunotherapy efficacy is an area of intensive investigation for translational research. Monitoring circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) during nivolumab treatment could help clinicians to predict the immunotherapy efficacy and ultimately improve the management of patients.

Methods:
From August 2015 to January 2017, 25 NSCLC patients receiving intravenous nivolumab 3 mg/kg every two weeks were included within a translational study. All the patients underwent CT-scan every 6 cycles and responses were evaluated by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the patients at baseline and after 4 cycles of therapy and the quantification of ctDNA (ng/µL plasma) was performed by qubit dsDNA HS assay and confirmed by qPCR evaluating a 115 bp fragment of ALU repeat. The Mann Whitney test was used for intergroup comparisons of two independent samples. A p-value <0.05 was used as a threshold for statistical significance. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan–Meier method, providing median and p-value.

Results:
Among the 20 patients included, 13 experienced progression disease (PD) at the first CT-scan, 3 partial response (PR), 4 stable disease (SD); 7 patients are still alive at the time of analysis. In 20 patients evaluable for ctDNA analysis at baseline, median ctDNA was significantly higher in patients with time to progression (TTP) < 3 months as compared to TTP > 3 months (p: 0.03). Similarly, in 17 patients evaluable for ctDNA analysis after 4 cycles, median ctDNA was significantly higher in patients with time to progression (TTP) < 3 months as compared to TTP > 3 months (p: 0.042). A not significant trend toward a TTP benefit was observed in patients with baseline ctDNA < 0.49 ng/µL as compared to ctDNA > 0.49 ng/µL (5 vs 3 months; p: 0.06); however, ctDNA after 4 cycles < 0.56 ng/µL was significantly associated with an improved TTP as compared to ctDNA > 0.56 ng/µL (p: 0.05). No significant differences in overall survival (OS) have been observed between these subgroups of patients.

Conclusions:
The preliminary results of this study showed that high ctDNA plasma levels are associated with early PD in NSCLC treated with nivolumab, suggesting a potential role of ctDNA as early predictor of response to immunotherapy. These preliminary data need to be explored and confirmed by prospective studies including larger cohorts of patients.

Clinical trial identification:
N.A

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Palermo University Hospital

Funding:
Palermo University Hospital

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
In case of NSCLC patients targeted agents (TAs) and newer chemotherapeutics yielded differences in outcomes according to histologic subgroups. About 62% of adenocarcinoma (ADC) patients have driver mutations in targeted oncogenes and TAs can be successfully administrated to these patients. Similar mutations are rarely observed in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and TAs are currently unavailable for this group of patients. A correct histologic classification is important for treatment planning and novel therapeutic options are awaited for SCC patients. Metabolomics has potential for revealing metabolic pathways altered by disease and for biomarkers discovery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether LC-MS metabolomics of lung tumor tissue can be used to classify NSCLC patients according to histological subtype: ADC, SCC or large cell carcinoma (LCC).

Methods:
The study was performed in the group of 25 NSCLC patients (62±8 years old, BMI=25±2, 32% females) who underwent curative tumor surgery. The patients were classified as ADC (n = 8), LCC (n = 4), and SCC (n = 13). Metabolites were extracted from tumor and adjacent control lung tissue and analyzed by LC-QTOF-MS. Differences between tumor and control tissue were evaluated by paired t-test or Wilcoxon rank test. One-way ANOVA was used to select metabolites discriminating NSCLC subtypes. Multivariate analysis was used for samples classification.

Results:
Control and tumor tissue samples were well separated on OPLS-DA model (R2=0.96, Q2=0.86). The main metabolites responsible for separation were lysophospholipids (+51-384%, p-value 0.02-0.0004) and acylcarnitines (+59-477%, 0.05-0.0007). PLS-DA model showed good separation of NSCLC subtypes (R2=0.99, Q2=0.7). Among metabolites responsible for this separation sphingosine (p = 0.03), four acylcarnitines (p-value 0.03-0.001), Lyso PEs 18:1 (p = 0.04) and 16:0 (p = 0.03) as well as Lyso PC 16:1 (p = 0.01) can be mentioned.

Conclusions:
NSCLC subtypes can be discriminated based on tumor tissue metabolic fingerprinting. Obtained results are preliminary and require further validation in a larger group of patients.

Clinical trial identification:
This study is a research project which was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Bialystok (No. R-I-003/262/2004).

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Medical University of Bialystok

Funding:
National Science Centre, Poland (2014/13/B/NZ5/01256).

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of NHL and comprises up to 35% of cases. In patients with DLBCL the clinical presentation varies widely. Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) represents a common occurrence in cancer patients with either thoracic and extra-thoracic malignancies, often requiring invasive diagnostic procedures, including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)-guided biopsy. Approximately 20% of patients with DLBCL may develop MPE. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the usefulness of flow cytometry phenotyping (FCP) of pleural cytology (PC) in patients with MPE due to DLBCL.

Methods:
A retrospective chart review of 40 (15 (37.5%) males and 25 (62.5%) females, median age 69 tears, range 46-85 years) patients with histologically confirmed MPE was performed at a tertiary referral Medical Center. All patients underwent PC and FCP before VATS-guided biopsy. For the FCP, the FACSCanto II system and the FACSDiva software (BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, USA) were used. Compensation beads were obtained with single stains of each antibody to determine the compensation settings, and the settings were applied in FlowJo software (Tree Star, Ashland, USA) after data collection. Sample cells were stained with a panel of antibodies, including CD5, CD10, CD19, CD23, Kappa, Lambda, and CD45 (Dako, Glostrup, Denmark). In the presence of a T-cell population with aberrant phenotypes or a B-cell population with monotypic light chains, the diagnosis of DLBCL-related pleural effusion was made.

Results:
Final histology showed 5 (12.5%) patients with DLBCL and 35 (87.5%) with MPE from other malignancies (mainly breast cancer and lung cancer). The age (68.0±10.1 vs. 67.5±14.2 years; p = 0.94) and the male to female ratio (p = 0.64) did not differ between groups. The results are reported in the Table. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of FCP reached 100%, the specificity was the same as obtained with the PC alone, but the accuracy was superior (97.5% vs. 85%; p = 0.003).rnTable: 38PResults of flow cytometry phenotyping and pleural cytologyrn

rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrn

Results	Flow cytometry immunophenotyping	Pleural fluid cytology
Sensitivity	100%	0%
Specificity	97.1% (95% CI: 91.6-100)	97.1% (95% CI: 91.6-100)
Negative predictive value	100%	97.2%
Clinical accuracy	97.5%	85.0%
Prevalence	12.5%	12.5%
False positive rate	2.9%	2.9%
False negative rate	0%	14.3%
Likelihood ratio positive	35	0
Likelihood ratio negative	0	1.3

rn

Conclusions:
FCP of PC has great value in confirming (or excluding) the relationship between pleural effusion and malignancy, including lymphoma, exhibiting a significantly higher accuracy that that of PC alone. FCP should be performed in all patients with a history of DLBCL who exhibit suspicious MPE.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Università degli Studi di Padova

Funding:
Università degli Studi di Padova

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are an effective anti-neoplastic treatment modality delivered via non-invasive application of low intensity, intermediate frequency, alternating electric fields. TTFields is approved for the treatment of both newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma. TTFields interrupt mitosis in cancer cells by disrupting microtubules and septin filaments, which play key roles in mitosis. The mitotic effects of TTFields include abnormal chromosome segregation that trigger different forms of cell death. We evaluated TTFields’ effect on immunogenic cell death and its efficacy when combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (αPD1) in NSCLC.

Methods:
Murine Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells were treated with TTFields using the inovitro[TM] system. Levels of cell surface calreticulin (CRT) and intracellular ATP levels were evaluated using flow cytometry. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) secretion was measured using an ELISA assay. Mice inoculated with LLC cells were treated with isotype control, TTFields, αPD-1, or TTFields + αPD-1. Tumor volume monitoring and intra-tumor immune cell profiling were performed.

Results:
TTFields induced elevated cell surface expression of CRT, decreased ATP levels, and promoted HMGB1 secretion. In vivo, the combined treatment of TTFields + α-PD-1 led to a significant decrease in lung tumor volume compared to all three other groups (P < 0.001). Significant increase in CD45+ tumor infiltrating cells was observed in the TTFields + αPD-1-treated mice. Infiltrating cells demonstrated a significant upregulation of surface PD-L1 expression. Both F4/80+CD11b+ cells and CD11c+ cells exhibited higher tumor infiltration and elevated PD-L1 expression, as compared to the control group. These findings indicate enhanced inflammatory antitumor environment conferred by the combination of TTFields + αPD-1.

Conclusions:
Our results demonstrate that TTFields treatment potentiates immunogenic cell death in NSCLC cancer cells. Combining TTFields with specific immunotherapies such as anti-PD-1 may enhance antitumor immunity and result in increased tumor control. A phase III clinical study on TTFields in combination with either PD-1 inhibitors or docetaxel in NSCLC is underway.

Clinical trial identification:
Not applicable. Preclinical research.

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Novocure Ltd

Funding:
Novocure Ltd

Disclosure:
U. Weinberg: Full time employee of Novocure. T. Voloshin, O.T. Yitzaki, N. Kaynan, M. Giladi, A. Shteingauz, M. Munster, S. Cahal, E.D. Kirson: Full time employee of Novocure Ltd. Y. Palti: Shareholder at Novocure Ltd, NY.

Background:
Docetaxel is a cytostatic agent approved for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer as well as other cancers. Its effectiveness in clinical practice is associated with a variety of acute and long term side effects. To reduce the systemic side effects, a local slow-release depot formulation based on calcium sulfate with docetaxel for intra-tumoral administration was developed.

Methods:
Two formulations with a twofold difference in docetaxel drug load (corresponding to 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg body weight) were manufactured with the calcium sulfate based NanoZolid™ technology. The formulations were injected intra-tumorally as a paste which solidified within the tumor. The effects of the two local depot formulations were tested in female mice (n = 60) inoculated with subcutaneous Lewis lung carcinoma cells. The slow-release depots were compared to systemic intraperitoneal injections of docetaxel (25.0 mg/kg) and a calcium sulfate placebo formulation. Tumor volumes were measured and systemic side effects were evaluated using body weight and cell counts from whole blood as well as plasma concentrations. In addition, a histological evaluation was performed.

Results:
Both docetaxel formulations showed a significantly higher antitumor efficacy compared to placebo, which was comparable to that of systemic administration of docetaxel. Moreover, the intra-tumoral depot formulations with docetaxel showed reduced systemic toxicity compared to systemic treatment, including less weight loss and no decrease in blood cell counts. The extracellular deposits of calcium sulfate, observed in all groups with intra-tumoral injections, did not lead to significant inflammatory changes.

Conclusions:
It was shown that intra-tumoral slow-release depots of calcium sulfate with docetaxel were well tolerated and released docetaxel at amounts sufficient for satisfactory local antitumor effect and for a low level plasma detection. The use of such depots can be an alternative to intravenous injection as an efficient antitumoral treatment with reduced systemic toxicity.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Marie Jeansson

Funding:
This study was supported by an IGP Young Investigator grant (MJ), the Swedish Research Council (521-2012-865, MJ), Åke Wiberg Foundation (738866289, MJ), Magnus Bergvalls Foundation (24942-1-2013, 2014-00055, MJ), and Ture Stenholms Foundation for Surgical Research (MS)

Disclosure:
S. Grudén: Consultant for LIDDS AB. N. Axén: Consultant for LIDDS AB and have equity interests in LIDDS AB. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
PI3K catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of the 3'-hydroxyl group of phosphatidylinositols and plays an important role in cell growth and survival. However, most of the inhibitors in this signaling pathway have inhibitory effect against both PI3K and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinases. It is well known that the mTOR, regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metabolism through both AKT-dependent and AKT-independent mechanisms. Agents targeting PI3Ks with additional mTOR kinase inhibitory have more advantageous than alone inhibition. Our efforts to identify potent and efficacious PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitors resulted in the discovery of a series of substituted 1,2,4-triazole-thiol derivatives.

Methods:
The entire set of the designed compounds were assessed on the Lipinski rule of five for drug-likeness prediction using Molinspiration and synthesized via novel synthetic procedure. The anticancer activity was evaluated against panel of three human NSCLC cell lines A549, H157 and H52 together with effect on cell cycle. The compounds were also evaluated for inhibitory activity against PI3K and mTOR via kinase inhibitory assay together with molecular docking experiments (PI3K; 3s2a.pdb) to rationalize the mechanism of action.

Results:
The compounds were developed in excellent yield and found to be significantly activity against the panel of the cell lines. The most active compound 6b showed significant inhibitory activity with IC50 of 4.56, 7.23 and 9.21 µmol/l against A549, H157 and H52, respectively, with highest activity against A549 (IC50 = 1.13 µmol/l). The compound 6b causes a significant arrest of G2/M phase and induces tumor cell apoptosis in a concentration dependent manner. In a PI3K/mTOR inhibition assay, 6b showed IC50 of 1.43±0.21 µM and 2.32±0.12 against PI3Ks and mTOR, respectively. Moreover, the docking results showed that 6b efficiently inhibit PI3Ks via channeling in ATP pocket with Ki of 436.57 nM. It showed to interact with Met804, ILE831, ILE879.

Conclusions:
In conclusion, a novel series of 1,2,4-triazole-thiol derivatives has been developed as potent inhibitor of PI3K/mTOR against lung cancer with favorable drug likeness profile.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
SHUATS

Funding:
SHUATS

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Phosphoinositide 3- kinase (PI3K)-AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways is considered as the signalling pathway which activates the diverse cellular function viz., survival, cell expansion, vesicular transport and proliferation and found frequently dysregulated pathway in lung cancer. Consequently, flavonoids based inhibitors play a key kinase role in the pathway including mTOR, PI3K and AKT, have been extensively scrutinized in targeting the oncology in recent years. The common pathway to PI3K-Akt-mTOR used to target during the lung cancer therapy. Therefore, the current study was aimed to peruse the naringenin as dual PI3K/mTOR for lung cancer.

Methods:
In the current experimental study mice were randomly divided into 7 groups with 12 mice in each groups The oxidative stress was evaluated in term of antioxidant parameters such as myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), respectively. The proinflammatory cytokines viz., interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured via using the standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The concentration of PI3K, P-PI3K, mTOR, P-mTOR Akt and P-Akt were determined via using the Western blot techniques. We also performed the histopathological study to identify the changes during the disease.

Results:
Naringenin significantly suppressed the oxidative stress via improving the status of endogenous antioxidant parameters such as SOD and MPO in a dose dependent manner. disease control group mice confirmed the change in protein levels of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in lung as compared to normal control, which were significantly down-regulated by the naringenin in a dose dependent manner. In the histological study, we observed that the naringenin substantially reduced the benzopyrene induced neutrophils in lung tissue.

Conclusions:
It can be concluded that naringenin has shown promising anticancer effect via attenuation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR against lung cancer and signifies the potential therapeutic relevance for further development.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
SHUATS

Funding:
SHUATS

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Ascorbic acid (AA) infusion and modulated electrohyperthermia (mEHT) have been widely used by integrative cancer practitioners for many years. However, there are no safety and pharmacokinetics data in Chinese cancer patients.

Methods:
Blood ascorbic acid in the fasting state was obtained from 35 NSCLC patients; selecting from them 15 patients with stage III-IV entered the phase I -II study. They were randomized allocated into 3 groups, and received doses 1.0, 1.2, 1.5g/kgAA infusions. Pharmacokinetic profiles were obtained when they received solely IVAA at concentrations of 1g/kg, 1.2g/kg, and 1.5g/kg, and when IVAA in combination with mEHT. The process was applied 3 times a week (every other day, weekend days off) for 4 weeks. Participants in the first group received intravenous AA (IVAA) when mEHT was finished; in the second group IVAA was administered simultaneously with mEHT; and in the third group IVAA was applied first, and followed with mEHT. All patients started the trial doses of 1 g/kg for 8 treatments. When there was no DLT observed, the test dose for patients increased to 1.2 g/kg continuously for 8 treatments, and then the test dose for patients was escalated to 1.5 g/kg continuously for 8 treatments. DLT was defined as any reversible grade ≥3 adverse events, whether haematological or non-haematological.

Results:
Fasting plasma AA levels were significantly correlated with stage of the disease. Peak concentrations of AA were significantly higher in the simultaneous treatments than in other combinations with mEHT or in solely IVAA-managed groups. The average scores for the functioning scales continuously increased and the symptoms gradually decreased over the full cycle of the study. 3/7 patients with squamous cell lung cancer were CR, 4/7 were PR. 1/8 patient with adenocarcinoma cell lung cancer was PR, 5/8 were SD, and 2/8 died.

Conclusions:
IVAA synergies with simultaneous mEHT is safe and the concomitant application significantly increases the plasma AA level for NSCLC patients. QOL is improved when they receive the above treatments. Patients diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer were sensitive to the above two treatments.

Clinical trial identification:
NCT02655913

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Junwen Ou

Funding:
Clifford Hospital

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world. Detection of malignancy at an early stage and with precision is the utmost objective of radiological evaluation. The final diagnosis of lung cancer is histopathological evaluation of the mass by biopsy or fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) only. This study was carried out with an aim of evaluating the suspected malignant masses by Multidetector CT (MDCT) along with their contrast wash-in & wash-out characterisctics with their histopathological correlation.

Methods:
After obtaining ethical approval, 50 cases of suspected lung cancer, by clinical and radiographic evaluation, were enrolled in the study. These patients underwent CT thorax (non contrast, contrast & delayed scans) on 384 slice Siemens Somatom Force®. After undergoing the radiological evaluation, biopsy of the mass was performed either using CT guidance or bronchoscopy guidance. Radiological and histopathological findings were correlated.

Results:
Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy of MDCT against histopathology were 97.3%, 76.9%, 92.3%, 90.9%, and 92.0%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity calculated through receiver operating characteristic curve for wash-in (Net early enhancement) for >17.00 HU were found to be 97.3% and 76.9% while that of wash out characterization of lung mass - Relative wash-out at < 18.83% were 97.3% and 93.3%, and absolute washout at < 65.48% were 97.3% and 93.3% in predicting malignancy.

Conclusions:
MDCT serves as an excellent tool for early diagnosis of lung cancer and it is an important tool for cases where biopsy or FNAC is not possible. Faster and newer CT techniques such as contrast wash-in and wash out have greater diagnostic accuracy than the conventional diagnostic techniques. So a combination of conventional and newer techniques can further increase the diagnostic accuracy of MDCT in diagnosing lung cancers and obviate the need for invasive methods for biopsy/FNAC.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Era\'s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital

Funding:
Era\'s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is an effective modality generally used in preoperative evaluation for primary lung cancer. In some cases, FDG-PET/CT found incidental neoplastic lesions and also detected unexpected pre-malignancy or second malignancy. Our study aimed to examine incidental findings detected by preoperative PET/CT and its impact on management for lung cancer.

Methods:
From April 2010 until August 2015, 149 patients underwent surgery for primary lung cancer at Katsushika Medical Center and 111 patients of them acquired preoperative PET/CT were evaluated retrospectively. Incidental findings were followed up by some imaging test, clinician feedback, pathological examination and various endoscopy.

Results:
The objects included 32 women and 79 men. The mean age was 70.6±8.46 years old. Excluding known diseases and thoracic cage lesions, abnormal FDG uptakes on PET/CT observed at 40 patients (36%). 8 cases (7.2%) of them required other modalities for further evaluation and the sites of abnormal uptake were prostate, larynx, thyroid gland, 3 cases of colon, bone and lymph node each.3 cases (2.7%) of colon had an indication for treatment. 2 cases were colon polyp and the other case was colon cancer. 2 cases underwent endoscopic mucosal resection. The other case underwent surgery for the colon cancer before treatment for the lung cancer because of neoplastic obstruction. This case was pointed out liver metastasis 6 months later from surgery of the colon cancer. We diagnosed liver lesion as colon cancer metastasis and we are doing chemotherapy to this case.

Conclusions:
A malignant or pre-malignant lesion was found in 0.9% and 1.8%, respectively. Colon was major lesion of abnormal uptake of FDG in our study, and 1 case required colon resection before lung cancer. The case had a significant change in management for treatment. We conclude preoperative FDG PET/CT might be useful modality in identifying second primary cancers or pre-malignancy lesions in patients with primary lung cancer. Further investigations are needed to evaluate incidental findings detected by preoperative FDG PET/CT.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Jikei University School of Medicine

Funding:
Jikei University School of Medicine

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare tumor. It is subdivided into 5 subtypes and representing approximately 0.4% of non-small cell lung cancer. The aim of our work is to illustrate the computed tomography (CT) features of this tumor.

Methods:
This was a retrospective case series of 18 consecutive patients with a pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma, collected between January 2011 and December 2016. All patients had undergone a CT scan for the diagnosis, staging and therapeutic response evaluation. CT- guided percutaneous biopsy and a histological analysis were performed in all cases for the pathological confirmation.

Results:
The mean age of patients was 56.8 years (range, 46-73 years). The CT appearance of the tumor was similar for all our patients: Large mass, peripheral, heterogeneous density, with massive necrotic tissue component that strongly heightened after contrast injection; tumor had a locoregional extension with parietal and bone invasion (n = 5) and a distance extension (n = 4) to the adrenal glands. Pathological examination found a pleomorphic carcinoma (n = 3), a giant cell carcinoma (n = 1) and a carcinosarcoma (n = 2). Sarcomatoid carcinoma diagnosis was increased for the remaining patients without precision of histological subtype.

Conclusions:
Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma seems to have CT scan characteristics that distinguish it from other non-small cell lung cancers, specifically: diagnosis size, peripheral necrosis and increased vascularization of its fleshy portion with a local aggressiveness and a high metastatic potential.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Abderrahmen Mami Hospital

Funding:
Abderrahmen Mami Hospital

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
F-18 FDG PET/CT is superior to CT imaging in identifying metastatic mediastinal lymph node (MLN) involvement in NSCLC. However, the accuracy of F-18 FDG PET in nodal staging is substantially reduced by false increases in F-18 FDG uptake in the inflammatory nodes. The efficacy of this technique is controversial because of reactively increased F-18 FDG uptake in the mediastinum, especially in regions endemic for the granulomatous disease. Here, we determined the qualitative and quantitative parameters of F-18 FDG-PET/CT for evaluation of mediastinal nodes to distinguish between malignant and benign lesions.

Methods:
27 patients with pathologically documented NSCLC who showed bilateral F-18 FDG-avid MLNs on pre-treatment staging PET/CT image were included. 104 MLNs were pathologically analysed through EBUS-TBNA or MLN dissection. The MLN with prominent F-18 FDG uptake compared with other F-18 FDG-avid LNs via visual assessment was qualitatively considered as metastasis. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of LN and SUVmax of LN to the liver and blood pool were calculated for quantifying F-18 FDG uptake. SUVmax/contra was obtained to identify metastatic MLNs.

Results:
The qualitative evaluation showed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for separating metastatic LN from benign reactive hyperplasia of 66.7%, 87.0%, 74.3%, and 88.2%, respectively. SUVmax of LN and normalized SUVmax of LN to the liver and blood pool did not significantly differ; however, SUVmax/contra was significantly higher for metastatic LNs than benign lesions. Receiver-operating-characteristic derived SUVmax/contra cut-off was 1.18 (AUC, 0.734). The quantitative evaluation showed sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 66.7%, 75.3%, 77.4%, and 86.4%, respectively.

Conclusions:
Qualitative interpretation of F-18 FDG PET/CT was superior to quantitative parameters in discriminating metastatic LNs from benign reactive hyperplasia in patients with bilateral F-18 FDG-avid mediastinal LNs. We suggest SUVmax/contra may aid in the interpretation of mediastinal nodal staging in patients with NSCLC.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
None

Funding:
N/A

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Topotecan is currently the only drug approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. We did this study to attempt to investigate whether combined chemotherapy with etoposide, irinotecan plus cisplatin (PEI) was superior to topotecan alone as second-line treatment for sensitive relapsed SCLC patients.

Methods:
Between January 2009 and November 2015, a total of 82 relapsed SCLC patients were admitted to the affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University in this retrospective analysis. Among them, 44 patients were treated with combined PEI chemotherapy, while 38 patients were treated with topotecan monotherapy. Disease control rates (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse reaction were recorded.

Results:
A total of 82 patients were analyzed. The patients treated with combined chemotherapy had longer median overall survival (OS) (16.3 months vs 10.1 months) than those treated with topotecan (P = 0.001), and median progression-free survival (PFS) time was slightly but significantly longer (6.2 months vs 4.1 months), than the topotecan group. Compared with the topotecan group, more common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were recorded for the combination chemotherapy group, including leucopenia, anaemia, thrombocytopenia. Grade 3-4 non-hematological toxicity was not common. When compared with younger patients, combined chemotherapy-treated patients (≥ 68 years of age) experienced higher rates of leucopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia and fatigue. Serious adverse events were reported in two patients in the topotecan group and seven patients in the combination group. Two treatment-related deaths (one each of pulmonary infection and pneumonitis) occurred in the combination group, one treatment-related death (pneumonitis) occurred in the topotecan group.

Conclusions:
Combined chemotherapy with etoposide, irinotecan plus cisplatin (PEI) is not inferior to topotecan monotherapy as the second-line treatment.

Clinical trial identification:
none

Legal entity responsible for the study:
None

Funding:
The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81272600)

Disclosure:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
While SCLC is initially sensitive to first-line chemotherapy and radiotherapy, most patients relapse, and outcomes with second-line treatments remain bleak. The purpose of this study was to gather evidence and assess appropriate methodologies for evidence synthesis of the following clinically relevant outcomes: efficacy, safety, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult patients treated with existing second and third-line SCLC treatments, including immunotherapy, which was recently recommended in the NCCN SCLC treatment guidelines.

Methods:
A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Clinical Trials, and carried out by 2 independent reviewers. Manual searches of clinicaltrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and 5 relevant conferences (ASCO, AACR, ESMO, WCLC, and ELCC) were performed to identify unpublished randomized clinical trials (RCTs) potentially eligible for inclusion. RCTs that reported outcomes of interest, including overall survival, progression-free survival, objective response rate, and/or HRQoL, for the treatments and population of interest, were identified for this review. Corresponding trial, patient baseline characteristics, and outcome data were extracted for all included studies.

Results:
17,550 citations were identified, including 970 conference abstracts and 25 clinical trial registry entries. Nine SCLC RCTs were identified studying treatments of interest, including cisplatin, carboplatin, etoposide, amrubicin, irinotecan, gemcitabine, and topotecan; however, there were a lack of RCTs for innovative treatments including nivolumab.

Conclusions:
A lack of RCT evidence for all relevant treatments in the target population may result in disconnected treatment networks, such that trial comparisons involving all treatments of interest may not be feasible using the standard network meta-analysis methodology. Alternative methods that incorporate single-arm evidence may be required to estimate the relative clinical efficacy, safety, and HRQoL outcomes of second- and third-line treatments of relevant SCLC comparators.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Bristol-Myers Squibb and Precision Health Economics

Funding:
Bristol-Myers Squibb

Disclosure:
R. Goulding: Employee of Precision Health Economics, funding from Bristol-Myers Squibb for the work on the abstract. Y. Yuan, S. Bobiak, N. Hertel, B. Korytowsky, J.R. Penrod: Employee of Bristol-Myers Squibb with stock/ownership options. J. Jansen: Employee of Precision Health Economics and reports that Precision Health Economics received funding for this work. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is an extremely aggressive malignant disease where patients often present with a poor performance status (PS), high age and several comorbidities. Reduced dose up front is a possibility for these patients. We investigated the impact of reduced dose up front and the impact of Relative dose intensity (RDI), age and comorbidity on overall survival (OS).

Methods:
Data of a real-time registration study of a consecutive cohort, of patients treated with carboplatin and etoposide for ES-SCLC during 2012 and 2013 in the North Denmark Region, were analyzed. Patients only treated with one cycle of chemotherapy were excluded. Comorbidity was assessed according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Area Under the Curve (AUC), for carboplatin dose, was used for analysis of RDI. All dose reductions were made simultaneously in both carboplatin and etoposide. Multivariate statistical survival analysis was made using Cox Regression analysis calculating a Hazard Ratio (HR) for OS.

Results:
In all, data from 75 patients were analyzed; mean age was 68 years; 44/75 (59%) were in PS 0-1 and 37/75 (49%) had 1 or more comorbidities. Reduced dose at baseline was applied to 25/75 (33%) of the patients. These patients had a HR 1.82, p-value = 0.070. RDI of 85% or below, was applied to 42/75 (56%) and showed a HR of 0.66, p-value = 0.228. Compared to PS 0-1, PS 2 showed a HR of 2.35 (p = 0.014) and PS 3-4 a HR of 8.40 (p < 0.000). Age, CCI, polypharmacy and LDH ≥ 300 U/L showed no statistical significant impact on OS. Hematological toxicity was the main reason for dose reductions and delays during chemotherapy, which occurred 19/75 (25%) and 47/75 (63%), respectively. Five patients died due to febrile neutropenia/sepsis. Fourteen long-term survivors were seen with an OS of more than 20 months.

Conclusions:
These results suggest that full dose chemotherapy should be applied up front, though poor PS is a major limiting factor, whereas high age should not be. RDI showed no impact on OS, but larger studies are needed. Data concerning fourteen long-term survivors will be presented at the meeting.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Aalborg University Hospital, Department of Oncology

Funding:
N/A

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is associated with rapid tumor growth and early dissemination. A mass in or adjacent to the hilum/mediastinum is particularly characteristic of SCLC. Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is minimally invasive and safe method for the evaluation of lung masses. The diagnostic sensitivity of TBNA is particularly high for SCLC (64-93%). The addition of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) guidance to TBNA (EBUS-TBNA) has greatly enhanced the diagnostic yield and safety of the procedure. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the clinical characteristics of SCLC diagnosed by EBUS-TBNA and its clinical significance.

Methods:
From January 2011 to December 2015, SCLC diagnosed by EBUS-TBNA were enrolled. For each patient, we documented patients characterisitics, size and locations of L/Ns, bronchoscopic findings and clinical courses. All patients underwent routine clinical assessment and a CT scan prior to EBUS-TBNA.

Results:
A total of 100 patients (64[64%] with limited-stage and 36[36%] with extensive-stage disease) were included in this study. Sex and Age distribution was M: F = 92.8 with a mean age 66.3±16.2 years. The most common chief complains were cough (n = 51), dyspnea (n = 18), chest pain (n = 15), blood tinged sputum (n = 10) and hoarseness (n = 6). The majority of patients was smokers (n = 95, 95%) and heavy smoker (>40pack.yr) was 74 (74%). 26 patients (26%) had hilar/mediastinal masses without a primary parenchymal lesion. Tumor marker CEA mean value was 16.4 in LD and 27.6 in ED. In bronchoscopy findings, 79 (79%) cases show only bronchial obstruction by external compression. The median size of target lesion examined by EBUS-TBNA was 33mm (range 11.5-74mm). Of the 100 EBUS-TBNA samples, 100(100%) samples yielded a diagnosis of SCLC. The most common target lymph node was at station 4R, followed by 7 and 11R. The median number and duration of aspirates per lesion was 2 (range 1-5) and 13mins (10-33). The most common distatant metastasis organ was bone (n = 30), follow by liver (n = 15), adrenal gland (n = 7) and brain (n = 6). The most common comorbidity was COPD (n = 34) followed by Heart disease (n = 15) and DM (n = 13) and DILD (n = 7). 30 patients of SCLC were not received chemotherapy. In chemotherapy group, overall response rate was 78.5% (LD: 88%, ED: 55%). No procedure-related complications were noted.

Conclusions:
EBUS-TBNA is a safe and highly accurate procedure for the diagnosis of SCLC. It is recommended a first diagnostic test if a patient is clinically suspected with SCLC.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Busan Paik Hospital

Funding:
Busan Paik Hospital

Disclosure:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
NSE was historically the recommended tumor marker for SCLC. It stains up to 80% of SCLCs in tissue examinations but is also elevated in the sera of 20–30% of patients with NSCLC. NSE has low sensitivity, particularly in patients with limited disease (LD). Recently, pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (pro-GRP) became available as a sensitive, specific and reliable tumor marker for patients with SCLC.

Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed pro-GRP in pts with SCLC and NSCLC treated from 2015 to 2016 at our Center. Serum pro-GRP level was measured with electrochemiluminescence method at our laboratory; it was considered elevated if higher than 77.8 pg/ml. Statistical tests used to study differences between pro-GRP medians were Mann-Whitney U test for SCLC vs NSCLC and Fisher’s exact test for DD vs LD. To calculate sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV respectively) we considered: SCLC with elevated pro-GRP as true positive (TP), NSCLC with normal pro-GRP as true negative (TN), SCLC with normal pro-GRP as false negative (FN), NSCLC with elevated pro-GRP as false positive (FP).

Results:
A total of 46 pts were studied (33 men, 13 women), whose median age was 67 years (range 20-78). 20 pts had SCLC (16 DD, 4 LD) and 26 metastatic or unresectable advanced NSCLC. Median pro-GRP level was 1398 pg/ml (range 43-50000) in SCLC and 26 pg/ml (range 6-119.2) in NSCLC (difference 1372 pg/ml; SCLC/NSCLC ratio 53.76; p < 0.01). TPs were 18, FNs 2, TNs 25, FP 1. Sn was 90%, Sp 96.15%, PPV 94.73% and NPV 92.59%. All the TPs had diffuse disease, the 2 FNs had limited disease, the only FP had a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Median pro-GRP was 182.25 pg/ml (range 43-642) in LD pts and 2522 pg/ml (range 88-50000) in those with DD (absolute difference 2339.75 pg/ml; ratio DD/LD 13.83; p = 0.026). Pro-GRP was elevated in all DD pts and in half of LD pts (2/4): Both of them had a high burden of loco-regional disease.

Conclusions:
Our data confirm that pro-GRP is sensitive for SCLC diagnosis and that it might help to discriminate DD from LD. Since high marker levels are related to a high disease burden, pro-GRP may have a negative prognostic significance. Follow up is required to define its role in clinical practice in monitoring response to treatment.

Clinical trial identification:
Not applicable

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori

Funding:
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) account for 10 to 15% of lung cancers. Despite the high rate of response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, it is characterized by a rapid growth and development of widespread metastases.

Methods:
Retrospective review of patients with SCLC with diagnosis between January 2013 and December 2016 in our institution - Portuguese Oncology Center, Porto. Descriptive analysis and survival evaluation by Kaplan-Meier method. Evaluation of differences between survival curves by log rank test.

Results:
From the 144 patients included, 115 (79.9%) were male and the mean age was 65 years (range 42-87). The majority of patients had an ECOG PS 0-1 at diagnosis (n = 91, 64.1%). History of smoking was present in 115 patients (79.8%). Ki-67 was analyzed in 38 patients (36.4%) and was ≥50% in 30 patients. 108 patients (75%) had metastatic disease at diagnosis, more frequently bone (n = 61, 42.4%) and liver (n = 50, 34.7%) metastasis. Initial treatment had palliative intent in 118 patients (81.9%), and 41 (28.5%) underwent only symptomatic treatment. The most commonly used chemotherapy regimen was the doublet of platinum and etoposide (n = 98, 95.1%). The overall response rate (ORR) was 64%. Median overall survival (OS) was 5.5 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.9-7.9). Within patients submitted to radical treatment (n = 26, 18.1%), there was relapse in 15 (57.7%), with a median disease free survival of 10.5 months (95% CI: 9.4-11.7). Within patients submitted to palliative treatment there was progression in 43 (not evaluated in 28), with a median progression free survival of 6.3 months (95% CI: 5.9-6.7). The median OS of the patients without metastatic disease at diagnosis was significantly higher than those with metastatic disease (median 15.9 months, 95% CI: 12.3-19.4 versus 3.1 months (95% CI: 2.1 -4.1, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:
The results obtained in our sample are in agreement with the existing literature. The discovery of predictive and predictive biomarkers as well as new forms of treatment is urgently needed.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Instituto Portugues de Oncologia do Porto (Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Portugal)

Funding:
Instituto Portugues de Oncologia do Porto (Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Portugal)

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Platinum-based chemotherapy (chemo) with etoposide is the current first-line standard of care for the majority of patients (pts) with ES-SCLC. However, survival outcomes remain poor (median OS, < 1 year) despite initial response rates ranging from 50%-70%. Atezolizumab (atezo) is an anti–PD-L1 mAb that prevents the interaction of PD-L1 with its receptors, PD-1 and B7.1, and restores antitumor T-cell activity. Tolerable safety with promising durability of response has been shown with atezo in pts with ES-SCLC: confirmed ORR was 6% (n = 1/17 [partial response]; DOR of 7 mo) by RECIST v1.1 and 24% by immune-related response criteria (irRC; n = 4/17, with 2 pts on atezo for ≥ 12 mo). Preliminary data also indicate the potential synergy between atezo and platinum-based chemo in NSCLC whereby durable responses may translate into improved survival compared with atezo alone. IMpower133 (NCT02763579), a global, Phase I/III, randomized, multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, will evaluate the efficacy and safety of 1L atezo + carboplatin + etoposide compared with placebo + carboplatin + etoposide in treatment-naive pts with ES-SCLC.

Trial design:
Eligibility criteria include ES-SCLC, measurable disease (RECIST v1.1), ECOG PS 0-1 and no prior systemic anticancer treatment. Exclusion criteria include untreated CNS metastases and history of autoimmune disease. Submission of tumor tissue is a study requirement but pts will be enrolled regardless of biomarker status. Stratification factors are sex, ECOG performance status and presence of treated brain metastases. Eligible pts will be randomized 1:1 to receive four 21-day cycles of atezo (1200 mg IV) or placebo in combination with carboplatin (AUC 5 mg/mL/min IV, d 1) and etoposide (100 mg/m[2] IV, d 1-3), followed by maintenance therapy with atezo or placebo until PD per RECIST v1.1. Pts can continue with treatment until persistent radiographic PD, symptomatic deterioration or unacceptable toxicity. Co-primary endpoints are investigator-assessed PFS per RECIST v1.1 and OS. Secondary efficacy endpoints include investigator-assessed ORR and DOR. Safety and tolerability will also be assessed. Approximately 400 pts will be enrolled.

Clinical trial identification:
NCT02763579

Legal entity responsible for the study:
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd/Genentech Inc.

Funding:
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd/Genentech Inc.

Disclosure:
M. Reck: Honoraria for lectures and consultancy with Boehringer-Ingelheim, Hoffmann-La Roche, Lilly, MSD, BMS, AstraZeneca, Celgene, Merck, Pfizer. A.S. Mansfield: Advisory Board: Genentech, BMS, and Trovagene. S.V. Liu: Advisory board/consultant for: Genentech, Pfizer, Ariad, Celgene, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly. T.S.K. Mok: Grant/Speaker/AdBoards: AZ, BI, Pfizer, Novartis, SFJ, Roche, MSD, Clovis, BMS, Eisai, Taiho, Lilly, Merck, ACEA, Vertex, BMS, geneDecode, OncoGenex, Celgene, Ignyta, Taiho; Stock: Sanomics; Board: IASLC, CLCRF, CSCO, HKCTS. X. Tang: Roche employee. S. Lam: Roche/Genentech: employee, stock. F. Kabbinavar, A. Lopez-Chavez, A. Sandler: Employee, stock: Roche/Genentech. L. Horn: Advisory board: Genentech; Consulting: Abbvie, Merck, Lilly, Xcovery and EMD Serono.

Background:
Patients with stage I lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) develop recurrences after complete surgical resection, both early and over the long term. This study aimed to identify and compare risk factors for early and late recurrence after surgery in stage I lung ADC patients.

Methods:
We analyzed recurrences among 5904 patients with stage I lung ADC who underwent curative operations at Shanghai Chest Hospital between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014. Recurrences were classified as within 2 years (early), and more than 2 years (late) after surgery. The clinicopathologic findings were compared between patients with early and late recurrences. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed, incorporating factors of gender, age at diagnosis, operation type, tumor location and size, pathologic subtype, cell differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, visceral pleural invasion, and smoking history.

Results:
Recurrence occurred in totally 628 (10.6%) patients, with early and late recurrence in 300 and 328 patients, respectively. Early and late recurrences shared common risk factors of advanced age at diagnosis (P = 0.013 and P = 0.006, respectively), poorly cell differentiation (both P = 0.000), larger tumor size (both P = 0.000), and visceral pleural invasion (both P = 0.000). Early recurrence was additionally associated with male (HR, 1.327; 95%CI, 1.042-1.690; P = 0.022), sublobar resection (HR, 2.353; 95%CI, 1.634-3.387; P = 0.000), tumor located in the right middle lobe (HR, 1.711; 95%CI, 1.634-3.387; P = 0.005) and solid, micropapillary or variant subtypes (HR, 5.437; 95%CI, 1.258-23.509; P = 0.023).

Conclusions:
These findings suggest the existence of different risk factors accounting for early vs late recurrences among patients with stage I lung ADC.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Shanghai Chest Hospital

Funding:
Shanghai Chest Hospital

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Pre-existing diabetes has been described as a risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation (AFib) following non-cardiac surgery. This study aimed to determine if diabetes and associated comorbidities increase the risk of AFib following robotic-assisted pulmonary lobectomy and improve risk stratification of diabetics.

Methods:
Excluding patients with preoperative history of AFib, 353 consecutive patients who underwent robotic-assisted video thoracoscopic (RAVTS) lobectomy by one surgeon from October 2010 to August 2016 were retrospectively analysed. Patients were studied with respect to the presence of diabetes, coronary artery disease, heart failure, kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease, and other known associated comorbidities. Chi-Square (X[2]), Fisher’s exact test, and Student’s t-test were used to compare variables, with significance at p ≤ 0.05.

Results:
In this study, 64 patients with diabetes were identified, 11 (17.2%) of whom developed AFib following RAVTS lobectomy. Patients with diabetes were at higher risk of developing of AFib following surgery (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.15 to 5.50, p = 0.02). The average age of diabetics who developed AFib was 72.7 years and 68.4 years for those who did not (p = 0.07). Known comorbidities in patients with diabetes did not confer additional risk, including hypertension (p = 1.00), hyperlipidaemia (p = 1.00), cardiomyopathy (p = 0.17), coronary artery disease (p = 0.27), and obesity (p = 0.67). There was a trend toward increased risk in diabetics with kidney disease, although it failed to reach significance (p = 0.07). Being a former smoker was the only independent risk factor identified, as 90.9% of diabetics with AFib were former smokers (OR 10.38, 95% CI 1.24 to 86.95, p = 0.03). Pack-years did not increase risk for AFib, with 47.2 pack-years on average being reported in those who developed AFib, while patients without AFib averaged 49.6 pack-years (p = 0.87). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in pre-operative percent forced expiratory volume in 1 second of diabetics who did and did not develop AFib (87.0% vs 80.4%, p = 0.45).

Conclusions:
Patients with diabetes are at higher risk for developing AFib after RAVTS lobectomy. Known comorbidities of diabetes, including obesity, hyperlipidaemia, and kidney disease, did not confer an increased risk for the development of AFib after surgery; however, being a former smoker puts diabetics at 10-times greater risk than current or never smokers with diabetes.

Clinical trial identification:
Not applicable.

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Eric M. Toloza, M.D., Ph.D.

Funding:
Moffitt Cancer Center and University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine

Disclosure:
J. Fontaine, E. Toloza: Honoraria as robotic thoracic surgery observation site and proctor for Intuitive Surgical Corp. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Smoking history has been correlated to the development of atrial fibrillation (AFib) after noncardiac thoracic surgery, increasing hospital length of stay, post-operative mortality, and costs. This study sought to determine the effects of smoking history and pulmonary function on the development of AFib following robotic-assisted pulmonary lobectomy to allow for more targeted dispositioning of post-lobectomy patients.

Methods:
We retrospectively analysed 353 consecutive patients without history of AFib who underwent robotic-assisted video thoracoscopic (RAVTS) lobectomy by one surgeon from October 2010 to August 2016. Patients were analysed with respect to smoking status, pack-years, months of smoking cessation, and pulmonary function. Chi-Square (X[2]), Fisher’s exact test, and Student’s t-test were used to compare variables, with significance at p ≤ 0.05.

Results:
In our study, 17 of 144 men (11.8%) and 16 of 209 women (7.7%) experienced new-onset AFib following RAVTS lobectomy (p = 0.19). The average age of people who developed AFib was 72.8 years (yrs) and 66.4 yrs for those who did not (p < 0.001). Former smokers represented 72.7% of new AFib cases, current smokers 21.2%, and never smokers 6.1% (p = 0.009). Former smokers were at higher risk than both never (OR 5.30, 95% CI 1.22 to 23.09, p = 0.03) and current smokers (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.09 to 6.31, p = 0.03). Former smokers who developed AFib also were older (74.6 vs. 69.1 yrs, p = 0.004) and more often diabetic (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.31 to 8.17, p = 0.01). There was no difference in AFib rates for light (≤15 pack-years) and heavy (>15 pack-years) smokers (p = 0.21). Never smokers fared better than light (p = 0.02) but not heavy (p = 0.13) smokers. There was no difference in pack-years for former and current smokers who developed AFib (p = 0.11). For all groups, the development of AFib was independent of pre-operative pulmonary function as measured by percent of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second and percent of predicted diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (p = 0.09 and 0.63, respectively). The development of AFib was also unaffected by the presence of COPD (p = 0.80).

Conclusions:
Former and light smokers are at higher risk than both current and never smokers for developing AFib after RAVTS lobectomy, independent of pack-years and pre-operative pulmonary function. Duration of smoking cessation prior to lobectomy does not change the likelihood of developing AFib.

Clinical trial identification:
Not applicable.

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Eric M. Toloza, M.D., Ph.D.

Funding:
Moffitt Cancer Center and University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine

Disclosure:
J. Fontaine, E. Toloza: Have received honoraria as robotic thoracic surgery observation site and proctor for Intuitive Surgical Corp. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Small lung cancers are increasingly detected with the advent of low dose spiral computed tomography and lung cancer screening programme, and these lesions are frequently subsolid and low risky pN+ disease. Integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is widely used in lymph node staging with higher accuracy and sublobar resection may be appropriate in cN0 NSCLC. This retrospective study was designed to identify the risk factors and pattern of lymph node metastases in NSCLC.

Methods:
107 consecutive cN0 patients with 1 cm to 2 cm peripheral NSCLC who underwent PET-CT scans followed by curative-intent resections in our hospital were enrolled in this study. Clinical and pathological data were analyzed by multivariate analysis retrospectively, including tumor size, tumor SUVmax, ratio SUVmax tumor/SUVmax liver. Lymph nodes of metastases were analyzed in pN+ patients.

Results:
8.5% (9/107) PET-CT diagnosed N0 NSCLC cases had pathological lymph node metastases, including 8 N1 and 3 N2 involvement (1 skipping N2 metastases). Univariable and multivariable analysis of clinicopathological factors (including tumor size, ratio SUVmax tumor/liver) found no independent risk factor for lymph node metastases. All N(+) cases were adenocarcinoma while 66.7% (6/9) of the N(+) cases were single station metastases. The lymph node metastasis rate of solid NSCLC and GGO were 10.7% and 0% (P=0.224), respectively.

Conclusions:
The lymph node rate of 1 cm to 2 cm NSCLC is relatively high and intrapulmonary lymph nodes were higher risk than mediastinal lymph nodes. However, no predictors of lymph node metastases were detected in this population. Sublobar resection can be an alternative procedure for GGO lesions as no lymph node metastases were found, but for solid NSCLC, thorough lymph node sampling should be performed to rule out lymph node metastases before making the decision of segmentectomy.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
SKMH, Lahore

Funding:
SKMH, Lahore

Disclosure:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Aging is a known risk factor for several post-operative comorbidities, including atrial fibrillation (AFib), leading to increased length of stay and mortality. This study was designed to investigate the effect of age and related comorbidities on new-onset atrial fibrillation after robotic-assisted pulmonary lobectomy to better identify patients at greatest risk.

Methods:
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 353 consecutive patients without history of preoperative AFib who underwent robotic-assisted video-thoracoscopic (RAVTS) lobectomy by one surgeon from October 2010 to August 2016. Patients were analysed with respect to age and associated comorbidities, such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and diabetes. Chi-Square (X[2]), Fisher’s exact test, and Student’s t-test were used to compare variables, with significance at p ≤ 0.05.

Results:
The average age of participants who developed post-operative AFib (n = 33) was significantly higher, 72.8 years (yrs) vs. 66.4 yrs (p < 0.001). There was a decreased risk in patients under 70 yrs, with only 11 (5.3%) developing AFib (OR 0.31, CI 0.14-0.66, p = 0.002). By contrast, 22 (15.3%) of the elderly (age ≥70 yrs) experienced new-onset A-fib (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.19 to 5.41, p = 0.02). Those under 60 yrs were at least risk (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.75, p = 0.02), and those ≥80 yrs were at greatest risk (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.03 to 7.28, p = 0.04). While the elderly in our cohort had a higher rate of many well-described comorbidities, including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, coronary artery disease, and cardiomyopathy, none of these conferred an increased risk of post-operative AFib. Among those over 70 yrs, only BMI, particularly an obese BMI (≥30 kg/m[2]), led to a higher risk (p = 0.02 and p = 0.003, respectively). Among the elderly, obese patients developed AFib at 2.3 times the rate of those with normal or overweight BMI’s (OR 4.21, 95% CI 1.66 to 10.68, p = 0.002). Conversely, only being a former smoker increased the risk of AFib in those under 70 yrs (OR 4.79, 95% CI 1.23 to 18.70, p = 0.02). The risk in former smokers was independent of pack-years and duration of cessation prior to surgery. Furthermore, the risk of AFib was not significantly affected by intra-operative complications in either group.

Conclusions:
Patients aged 70 years or older are at increased risk of AFib after RAVTS lobectomy, particularly if they are obese. Those under 70 years are at increased risk if they are former smokers.

Clinical trial identification:
Not applicable.

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Eric M. Toloza, M.D., Ph.D.

Funding:
Moffitt Cancer Center and University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine

Disclosure:
J. Fontaine, E. Toloza: Have received honoraria as robotic thoracic surgery observation site and proctor for Intuitive Surgical Corp. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Most reports on lung fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) demonstrate that the diagnostic accuracy tends to decrease with the size of the lesions, and that the frequency of complications increases as the size of lesions decreases. The aim of this prospective study was to describe the accuracy and incidence of complications related to FNAC of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) of 15 mm or less in diameter. Moreover, we evaluated how this procedure during the initial evaluation of patients with SPN can reduce the number of unnecessary surgery.

Methods:
From January 2012 to December 2014, 225 patients with an SPN between 7-15 mm in diameter were referred to our Institution. Patients with risk factors such as ASA 3, FEV1 <70% of predicted, cardiac comorbidity or previous chest surgery were enrolled. A total of 68 patients were candidate to CT guided FNAC.

Results:
The prevalence of malignant pathology in the whole population was 61%. Forty-nine out of 68 smears (72%) were considered adequate for diagnosis. Sensitivity was 83%, specificity was 100%. Positive and negative predictive values were 83% and 100%. Out of the total number, 16 patients (23%) avoided surgery. A post-biopsy pneumothorax was detected in 27 cases (39%). The pneumothorax rate was significantly affected by the number of passages (p = 0.01).

Conclusions:
In our experience the diagnostic accuracy value was high. Subjecting patients with undiagnosed pulmonary lesions to FNAC during the initial evaluation significantly reduces the number of unnecessary surgical procedures.

Clinical trial identification:
None

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Fondazione Ca\' Granda Policlinico - Milan

Funding:
Fondazione Ca\' Granda Policlinico - Milan

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Lung cancer has high recurrence rate even when diagnosed at an early stage. Biopsy is currently the procedure of choice for the investigation of pulmonary lesions, yet it is unclear whether the biopsy itself releases tumor cells into the circulation and attributes to the late distal recurrence. Studies of various malignancies show the ability to identify circulating tumor cells (CTC) even in early stage cancer. The number of CTC correlates with disease outcome. The aim of this study was to quantify the spillage of tumor cells after nodule biopsy in early lung cancer.

Methods:
Patients with pulmonary nodules undergoing computed tomography biopsy enrolled into this study. CellCollector[TM] (GILUPI, Germany) was used for CTC detection before and after the procedure. This filtration device isolates CTC in-vivo through a standard cannula inserted to the cubbital vein for thirty minutes via epithelial cell adhesion molecule antibodies. Patients served as their own controls. Trans thoracic biopsy was done by a 19G needle with a standard procedure of one pass. The study was approved by the institutions' ethics committee.

Results:
13 patients were enrolled to between 02/2016 and 08/2016. Five patients were excluded due to partial procedure. Eight patients were eligible for analysis. Three had benign diseases (Granuloma, Interstitial pneumonitis. and five had lung cancer (Adenocarcinoma -4; Squamous-1); 3 had an elevation of the CTC count (0->2, 0->3, 2->8) and 2 had a depletion (8->2, 5->2). All 5 patients were male, with a median age of 65 years (range 54-72), four of them were past smokers and one never smoker. No adverse events were reported.

Conclusions:
With the limitation of low number of participants, this preliminary data shows that trans thoracic biopsy may increase CTC in some patients with lung cancer. The study is ongoing and the enlarged cohort will be presented.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Rabin Medical Center Ethics Comittee

Funding:
GILUPI

Disclosure:
J. Pfannkuche: Managing director at GILUPI, which provided the kits for this study. C. Chudak: Marketing & Sales Manager at GILUPI, which provided the kits for this study. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
To prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) ablation of early stage NSCLC with diameter of less than 30 mm.

Methods:
Forty patients (24 men and 16 women; age range, 35–78 years; mean age, 58 years) with early stage NSCLC (40 lesions) which were conformed by biopsy were enrolled in during 2014-2016. RF ablation was performed in tumors by CT guidance, each with a diameter of less than 30 mm (mean deviation, 14 mm). Written informed consent was obtained in this prospective study that was approved by the local ethics committee. Follow-up CT scans were obtained within 48 hours after treatment and at 2 and 6months thereafter to evaluate treatment outcome and complications. Lung spirometry measurements were obtained before and 2 months after RF ablation.

Results:
Forty successful RF ablation treatments were performed. The complications occured in the periprocedural period were 9 cases of minor pneumothorax and 4 cases of sputum cruentum. There were 35 lesions of reduced size, 13 lesions of stabilized lesion size, and 2 lesions of increased size on the follow-up Contrast-enhanced CT images at 6-month. There was no modification of respiratory function was found between the spirometry measurements before the treatment and 2 months after (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:
RF ablation is a safe and effective method to treat early stage NSCLC with diameter of less than 30 mm. Larger studies are necessary to fully evaluate its potential combination with other treatment techniques.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Xiaobo Zhang

Funding:
The Radiology Department of Chinese PLA General Hospital

Disclosure:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
To evaluate the value of gemcitabine combined with cisplatin (GP) as adjuvant chemotherapy in radical resection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods:
This study reviewed the 100 patients’ charts with radical resection of NSCLC treated with cisplatin/gemcitabine as adjuvant chemotherapy between June 2007 and December 2010 in CAMS (Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences).

Results:
Among the 100 cases, eighty-two (82%) was male and the median age was 59 years (range, 36-73 years). Forty-two (42%) patients were adenocarcinoma, while fifty-five (55%) were squamous cell carcinoma. Most patients had pathologic IIB (29%) and IIIA (44%) stage disease, whereas others were IA (2%), IB (14%), IIA (6%), and IIIB (5%). Surgical methods included sleeve resection (12%), pneumonectomy (14%), and lobectomy (73%).The completion rate of 4 cycles of chemotherapy was 85%, of which 76 case (76%) completed the planned full-dose chemotherapy. And the main reason for the reduction in gemcitabine doses in thirteen patients were grade 3/4 myelosuppression, mainly neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. The median dose and dose intensity were 8377.1 mg/m[2] and 708 mg/(m[2]·week) for gemcitabine, and 293.38 mg/m[2] and 25.24 mg/(m[2]·week) for cisplatin respectively. With good compliance to treatment, toxicities observed were tolerable and managable. During a median follow-up duration of 73.1 months, the median disease-free survival(DFS) was 33.8 months (95%CI: 15.938-51.676). Patients with the squamous cell carcinoma (HR 0.404, 95% CI 0.241-0.676, P = 0.001) and pathologic stage I (HR 4.379, 95% CI 1.721-11.142, P = 0.002) were associated with better DFS from univariate and multivariate analyses. The survival rate at 1 year, 2 years and 5 years was 94%, 77% and 55%, while the survival rate without recurrence was 64%, 53% and 39% respectively.

Conclusions:
As one of the adjuvant chemotherapy regimens, gemcitabine combined with cisplatin is well tolerated. Patients with squamous cell carcinomas or stage I can benefit from it better.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
None

Funding:
None

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
In the last 5 years no major advances have been made in the treatment of early stage NSCLC. Checkpoint inhibitors have shown promising clinical efficacy in advanced, refractory non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but they have not yet been explored in the adjuvant setting. PEARLS (NCT02504372) is international, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized phase III trial to compare pembrolizumab versus placebo after complete resection of stage IB (T ≥ 4 cm), II and IIIA NSCLC, followed by standard adjuvant chemotherapy, if appropriate as per local guidelines, in patients who have signed the informed consent.

Trial design:
Eligible patients are those with completely resected stage IB (T ≥ 4 cm), II and IIIA NSCLC that have or have not received adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy and whose PD-L1 status is known: negative (TPS=0%) versus weak positive (TPS = 1-49%) versus strong positive (TPS≥50%). Co-primary endpoints are disease-free survival in the PD-L1 strong positive subgroup and in the overall population. An HR = 0.78 is targeted for the whole population with 640 disease free survival events from a sample size of 1380 randomized patients. Secondary endpoints include disease-free survival in the PD-L1 positive subgroup, overall survival in each subpopulation and in the overall population, lung cancer specific survival, and safety and tolerability. The exploratory endpoints will assess pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, quality of life and potential biomarkers of treatment response. Recruitment started in January 2016 and is currently ongoing. As of November 17, 2016, among the 102 randomized patients so far, 44 (43.1%), 32 (31.4%) and 26 (25.5%) patients have negative, weak positive and strong positive PD-L1 status respectively.

Clinical trial identification:
(EudraCT number 2015-000575-27) (NCT02504372)

Legal entity responsible for the study:
MSD EORTC, ETOP

Funding:
MSD

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Nivolumab is a human mAb to PD-1 with significant antitumor activity in a number of solid malignancies including NSCLC, kidney cancer and melanoma. At the present, no predictive factor has been identified for this drug, thus its administration is mostly empirical, at price of frequent adverse events and high costs. In this context, we evaluated whether baseline CT texture analysis (TA) could be used to identify advanced NSCLC patients who will benefit by Nivolumab treatment, by taking in consideration that the therapeutic effects PD-1 blockade depends by its ability of reactivating a pre-existing immuneresponse, whose activity is strictly related to the presence of necrosis, hypoxia, and inflammation in the tumor sites, which can be evaluated by imaging assessments.

Methods:
A retrospective analysis was performed on a sample of seventeen NSCLC patients who received salvage therapy with Nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 15 days between October 2015 and January 2017 with a median follow up of twelve months. The gross primary tumor volume before treatment (baseline) was contoured on pre and post contrast CT sequences. TA parameters were extrapolated by using LifeX Software ©, tested for reliability and then correlated with patients’ outcome, in particular with early failure defined as a confirmed disease progression or death within 6 months (7 patients), by means of univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results:
We found a significant correlation among TA parameters and patients’ outcome at univariate analysis. In fact, early vs longer responders showed differences in term of volume in voxel (p:0.049), entropy (p:0.046), compacity (p:0.033), GLCM-contrast (p: 0.018), GLCM-dissimilarity (p:0.017), LRHGE (p:0.019), coarseness (p:0.036), contrast (0.020), ZP (p:0.025), pre contrast: GLCM-contrast (p:0.031), GLCM-dissimilarity (p:0.035), contrast (p:0.038), SZE (p:0.029), ZP (p:0.040). Multivariate analysis (Logistic regression) confirmed a significant correlation between early failure and post contrast GLCM dissimilarity (p:0.011, OR: 3.30, AUC: 0.800; 95% CI 0.578-1.00).

Conclusions:
Our results, if confirmed on a larger series, suggest that TA may predict early failure, and therefore may help the selection of patients who may benefit by Nivolumab treatment.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese

Funding:
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
We evaluated the correlation of clinical staging on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and pathologic staging and the prognostic value of PET-CT after induction chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods:
We analyzed 42 cases of clinical stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC who received 2 to 4 cycles of pre-operative chemotherapy with or without radiation followed by curative resection. The maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of the suspected lesion on PET-CT was recorded. PET-CT findings after induction chemotherapy were compared with those of initial PET-CT and pathology after surgery.

Results:
The accuracy of PET-CT in restaging of the primary tumor after induction chemotherapy was 50.0%. 18 (42.8%) of 42 patients were underestimated ycT stage, and 3 (7.1%) of 42 patients was overestimated ycT stage by PET-CT scan. The accuracy of PET-CT in restaging of the nodal disease was 71.4%. 6 (14.3%) of 42 patients were underestimated ycN stage, and 6 (14.3%) of 42 patients were overestimated ycN stage as compared with pathologic staging. The 2-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rate were 68.5% and 40.9%, respectively. Complete responders (ycT0N0M0) on PET-CT after induction chemotherapy had a significantly longer RFS time than did incomplete responders (28.3 months versus 9.1 months, P = 0.021).

Conclusions:
Complete response on PET-CT after induction chemotherapy with or without radiation was a good prognostic indicator for RFS in stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC patients who received surgery. However, response evaluation on PET-CT after induction chemotherapy should be interpreted with caution due to its unacceptable accuracy.

Clinical trial identification:
None declared.

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Jong Hoon Lee

Funding:
None

Disclosure:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
The goal of lung cancer surgery is a complete tumor resection (R0 resection) with tumor-free resection margins. However, 4-5% of lung cancer resections have evidence of microscopic residual disease which is associated with worse prognosis as compared to complete resection. Definitive management for such patients is re-operation and resection of residual tumor. However, a significant percent of patients may not be able to tolerate another surgery and for those patient’s definitive management is not well studied. We treated these patients with stage I cancer and mucosal residual disease with bronchoscopic PDT (photoynamic therapy) and report our experience here.

Methods:
We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent definitive surgery for early stage lung cancer. All patients with R1 resection, stage I disease with mucosal residual tumor and or carcinoma in situ along the stump site were treated with bronchoscopic photodynamic therapy and were studied. Patient characteristics, histology, type and site of surgery, pattern of recurrence, recurrence status, and survival data were evaluated. Adverse events were recorded.

Results:
A total of 11 patients (Table) with mucosal R1 resection were treated with PDT along the stump site between 2007 and 2013. The breakdown according to the pattern of residual disease was as follows: CIS in 3 and MRD in 8 patients. One patient (9%) had local recurrence 1 year after treatment and was treated with radiation along the stump site. Four patients (36%) had no evidence of recurrence to date after a median follow up of 4 years and other 6 patients had evidence of regional (16%) or distant (45%) and were treated appropriately for the same. Local control rate was 91%. The median overall survival and progression free survival in our cohort of patients were 45 and 26 months respectively. One patient developed pneumonia and one patient has evidence of photosensitivity reaction.rnTable: 77Prn

rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrn rnrn

Patient #	Age	Sex	Operation	Histology	Type of residual disease	Site of treatment	Pattern of recurrence	PFS months	Overall survival months	Alive
1	53	M	Lobectomy	Adeno ca	MRD	LLL	regional	49	66	Y
2	80	F	Lobectomy	SCCa	CIS	LUL	n/a	n/a	45	N
3	80	F	Segmentectomy	Adeno ca	MRD	RML	Distant	10	11	N
4	57	M	Lobectomy	SCCa	CIS	RLL	n/a	n/a	70	Y
5	66	M	Lobectomy	SCCa	MRD	LLL	Distant	28	32	N
6	40	M	Lobectomy	Adeno ca	MRD	RUL	regional	36	59	N
7	66	F	Lobectomy	Adeno ca	MRD	RLL	n/a	n/a	86	Y
8	67	F	Lobectomy	SCCa	MRD	RML	Distant	26	34	N
9	76	M	Sleeve lobectomy	SCCa	MRD	LLL	n/a	n/a	39	N
10	72	F	Segmentectomy	SCCa	CIS	RUL	Local	24	73	Y
11	74	F	Lobectomy	SCCa	MRD	LUL	Distant	21	25	N

rn

Conclusions:
Conclusion: Bronchoscopic photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a nonthermal ablative technique that can be used to treat central airway disease in adults. In conclusion, based on our findings, PDT is a safe and effective alternative therapy for patients with mucosal residual disease post R1 resection. Although this was a retrospective evaluation with a small sample, our data suggest that selected NSCLC patients after R1 resection may benefit from bronchoscopic PDT.

Clinical trial identification:
This is not a clinical trial.

Legal entity responsible for the study:
University of Florida

Funding:
None

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Comparative effectiveness research can benefit from combining data from multiple sources. This analysis integrally evaluated the survival benefits of combined modality therapies (CMTs) in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on individual patient data from US and Chinese populations.

Methods:
Two patient populations were included. SEER-Medicare cohort consists of 65 years or higher who were diagnosed with stage III (IIIA/IIIB) NSCLC from 2006 to 2010 and received combined modality treatment. Queen Mary Hospital cohort from Hong Kong for aged 65 or higher who were diagnosed with stage III (IIIA/IIIB) NSCLC from 2007 to 2016. The four CMTs of interest were concurrent (CMT-ONLY), sequential chemotherapy followed radiation (CMT-SEQ), induction followed by concurrent (CMT-IND) and concurrent followed by consolidation (CMT-CON) chemoradiation. The primary endpoint for was overall survival. Patients hospitalized for neutropenia were ascertained through inpatient claim with the claim occurring within 130 days after the first chemotherapy. Stepwise multivariable regression models and propensity score adjusted models were used to control confounding variables. We also compared the findings with our previous study based on clinical trials data.

Results:
2682 locally advanced NSCLC patients were included. For CMT-ONLY, CMT-SEQ, CMT-IND, and CMT-CON respectively, their corresponding median overall survivals were 13.0 (95% CI 12.0-14.0), 13.0 (95% CI 12.0-16.0), 17.0 (95% CI 15.0-20.0), and 15.4 (95% CI 14.0-17.0) months. CMT-IND and CMT-CON had survival benefit over CMT-ONLY and CMT-SEQ. Patients receiving CMT-SEQ were relatively healthier patients in this study based on the Charlson comorbidity weights. 7.9%, 2.8%, 8.6%, and 9.5% were hospitalized for neutropenia for CMT-ONLY, CMT-SEQ, CMT-IND, and CMT-CON, respectively. CMT-SEQ had a lower hospitalization for neutropenia rate than the other CMTs.

Conclusions:
The findings on efficacy and toxicity are quite consistent with previously reported studies based on clinical trials or observational databases.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Duke University

Funding:
NIH, HMRF

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
The optimal treatment strategy for Stage IIIB NSCLC patients with a T4N0-1 tumor is a matter of debate. In prospective combined modality series including surgery, the median overall survival (OS) is approximately 24 months. We hypothesized that results comparable to regimens including surgery can be achieved with concurrent chemoradiation in this patient group.

Methods:
In our retrospectively collected database of NSCLC patients, all patients with T4 (mediastinal invasion) N0-1 NSCLC receiving concurrent chemoradiation were included. One patient had a recurrence after previous pneumonectomy. All patients were given 3 cycles of chemotherapy (cisplatin and etoposide). Radiotherapy (RT) was started at the 2nd course of chemotherapy. OS was calculated from date of diagnosis (Kaplan-Meier method). Toxicity was scored according to CTCAEv3.0.

Results:
42 patients (8 females, 34 males) with a median age of 62.5 ± 9 years (44-80 years) were included from January 2005 until December 2009. Stage distribution: 86% T4N0 (n = 36), 14% T4N1 (n = 6). The maximal tumor dose was 66 Gy using conventional fractionation. The median prescribed mean lung dose was 15 ± 4.4 Gy (5.03 -19.9 Gy). Acute toxicity: 1 patient experienced grade 3 dyspnea during RT. Grade 3 dysphagia occurred in 5 patients (12%) during RT requiring tube feeding in 3 of these patients (7%). Dysphagia persisted later than 1 month after RT in 1 patient (2%). Grade 3 dysphagia only occurred in patients treated concurrently. Grade 3 cough occurred in 1 patient during RT, no patient experienced grade 3 cough 1 month after RT. 2 patients died within 3 months after start of RT, one due to myocardial infarction, one of unknown causes. Severe late toxicity was not present: no grade 3 complications more than 3 months after the end of radiotherapy. With a median follow-up of 42 months, the median OS for the whole group is 34 months (95% CI 24-43 months). 2-year OS survival is 55%.

Conclusions:
Concurrent accelerated chemoradiation using an individualized dose prescription is a valid treatment strategy for stage IIIb, T4N0-1 NSCLC patients yielding very promising OS results with low toxicity.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
SKMH, Lahore

Funding:
SKMH, Lahore

Disclosure:
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Sequential or concomitant chemo-radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for stage III NSCLC. One attempt to improve the long-term survival is an immunotherapeutic strategy. The monoclonal antibody nivolumab targets and inhibits PD-1, an immune receptor on activated T-cells and responsible for abrogating anti-cancer immune response. The role of immune-checkpoint inhibitors is currently being evaluated in this indication as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy as well as after completion of chemo-radiotherapy but it has not yet been assessed in combination with radiotherapy. While anecdotal data of concurrent therapy suggests an acceptable toxicity profile, a formal prospective assessment is required before embarking on trials comparing concurrent versus sequential checkpoint inhibitors and radiotherapy.

Trial design:
NICOLAS is a phase II feasibility trial evaluating the administration of nivolumab concomitantly with standard first-line chemo-radiotherapy for locally advanced stage IIIA/B NSCLC. Additional inclusion criteria include adequate organ function and performance status 0-1. Chemotherapy consists of three cycles of cisplatin plus vinorelbine, etoposide or pemetrexed. Radiotherapy to the chest will be delivered either sequentially to or concurrently with chemotherapy. The initial nivolumab dose is 240 mg Q2W for eight cycles in the sequential, and 360 mg Q3W for four cycles in the concurrent chemo-radiotherapy schedule, followed by 480 mg Q4W for maximum one year for both regimens. A total of 43 patients will be recruited into the trial. The primary endpoint is grade > =3 pneumonitis observed up to 6 months after radiotherapy. The goal is to reject a 6-month pneumonitis-free rate of < =67%, tested at a rate of 85%, with 85% power and 5% one-sided alpha. An interim analysis will be performed after 21 patients have completed a 3-month follow-up on nivolumab treatment. Safety is closely monitored by the ETOP IDMC at their regular meetings every three months. NICOLAS is sponsored by ETOP with financial support of Bristol-Meyers Squibb. Accrual is ongoing and as of January 2017, 18 patients have been enrolled.

Clinical trial identification:
EudraCT: 2014-005097-11

Legal entity responsible for the study:
European Thoracic Oncology Platform (ETOP)

Funding:
Bristol-Meyers Squibb

Disclosure:
R.A. Stahel: Honoraria as consultant at advisory boards from Abbvie, Astra Zeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, MSD, Pfizer and Roche and as speaker from Astellas, Astra Zeneca, Lilly, MSD, Novartis and Roche. R.M. Huber: Honoraria as consultant at advisory boards from BMS. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
In a phase 1/2 trial (NCT01449461), the investigational next-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor brigatinib (BRG) showed promising activity in crizotinib-treated ALK-positive non–small cell lung cancer (ALK+ NSCLC) patients (pts); because tumor responses and adverse events (AEs) varied with starting dose, two BRG regimens were evaluated in ALTA (NCT02094573).

Methods:
Pts with crizotinib-refractory advanced ALK+ NSCLC were stratified by presence of brain metastases and best response to prior crizotinib and randomized 1:1 to receive BRG at 90 mg qd in arm A or 180 mg qd with a 7-day lead-in at 90 mg in arm B. Investigator-assessed confirmed objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST v1.1 was the primary endpoint.

Results:
222 pts were enrolled (112 in arm A, 110 in arm B); median age was 54 years, 57% were female, 74% had received chemotherapy, and 69% had brain metastases. As of 29 February 2016, 57%/69% of pts in arms A/B were receiving BRG, with 7.8/8.3-month median follow-up. Investigator-assessed efficacy by arm and subgroup is shown below. Per independent review committee, as of 16 May 2016, confirmed ORR was 48%/53% and median PFS was 9.2/15.6 months in arms A/B. Treatment-emergent AEs with ≥25% overall frequency (A/B, n = 109/n=110 treated) were nausea 33%/40%, diarrhea 19%/38%, headache 28%/27%, and cough 18%/34%; grade ≥3 events with ≥3% frequency were hypertension 6%/6%, increased blood creatine phosphokinase 3%/9%, pneumonia 3%/5%, and increased lipase 4%/3%. A subset of pulmonary AEs with early onset (median onset: Day 2) occurred in 14/219 (6%) treated pts (3%, grade ≥3); no such events occurred after escalation to 180 mg in arm B, and 7/14 pts were successfully retreated.

Conclusions:
BRG yielded substantial efficacy, with an acceptable safety profile, in both arms. 180 mg with 90 mg lead-in showed an improvement in efficacy endpoints, particularly PFS, with no increase in early pulmonary AEs, compared with 90 mg. Investigator-Assessed Efficacy by Subgroup.rnTable: 97PDrn

rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrn rnrn

rn	Arm A n = 112	Arm B n = 110	Total N = 222
Confirmed ORR, n/N (%)	rn	rn	rn
All pts[a]	50/112 (45)	59/110 (54)	109/222 (49)
Race	rn	rn	rn
Asian	18/39 (46)	18/30 (60)	36/69 (52)
Non-Asian	32/73 (44)	41/80 (51)	73/153 (48)
Prior chemotherapy	rn	rn	rn
Yes	35/83 (42)	44/81 (54)	79/164 (48)
No	15/29 (52)	15/29 (52)	30/58 (52)
Best response to prior crizotinib	rn	rn	rn
CR or PR	36/71 (51)	47/73 (64)	83/144 (58)
Other	14/41 (34)	12/37 (32)	26/78 (33)
Baseline brain metastases	rn	rn	rn
Yes	31/80 (39)	43/74 (58)	74/154 (48)
No	19/32 (59)	16/36 (44)	35/68 (51)
Median PFS, months	rn	rn	rn
All pts	9.2	12.9	11.1
Race	rn	rn	rn
Asian	8.8	11.1	11.1
Non-Asian	9.2	12.9	11.8
Prior chemotherapy	rn	rn	rn
Yes	8.8	12.9	11.8
No	9.2	8.1	9.2
Best response to prior crizotinib	rn	rn	rn
CR or PR	11.1	15.6	15.6
Other	7.4	12.9	9.2
Baseline brain metastases	rn	rn	rn
Yes	9.2	11.8	11.1
No	7.4	15.6	15.6

rnCR = complete response, ORR = objective response rate, PFS = progression-free survival, PR = partial responsernaPrimary endpointrn

Clinical trial identification:
NCT02094573

Legal entity responsible for the study:
ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Funding:
ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Disclosure:
M. Tiseo: Consulting or advisory role (AstraZeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Otsuka, Pierre Fabre), research funding (ARIAD). K.L. Reckamp: Consulting or advisory role (ARIAD), research funding (ARIAD). H.L. West: Consulting or advisory role (ARIAD, Astellas, AstraZeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche/Genentech, Trovagene), speakers’ bureau (ARIAD, Eli Lilly, Roche/Genentech). H.J. Groen: Consulting or advisory role (Eli Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche). C.J. Langer: Honoraria (BMS, Lilly/ImClone, Roche/Genentech), consulting or advisory role (Abbott, ARIAD, AstraZeneca, Bayer/Onyx, BMS, Cancer Support Community, Celgene, Clarient, Clovis Oncology, Lilly/ImClone, Merck, Millennium, Roche/Genentech), research funding (Advantagene, ARIAD, Celgene, Clovis Oncology, GSK, Inovio, Merck, Roche/Genentech). W. Reichmann, D. Kerstein: Employment, stock and other ownership interests (ARIAD). D.R. Camidge: Honoraria (ARIAD), research funding (ARIAD). All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Approvals of second-line ALK inhibitors (ALKi) ceritinib and alectinib are based on single-arm trials that lack comparative efficacy data to support health technology assessments. We assessed if real-world data (RWD) could provide this by acting as an external control for single-arm studies by comparing data generated from alectinib trials and ceritinib patient data.

Methods:
We retrospectively analysed patients (pts) with ALK+ advanced NSCLC receiving an ALKi after crizotinib failure. The alectinib arm (ALC; n = 183) included pts from the phase II NP28673/NP28761 studies. To generate the ceritinib control arm (CER; n = 67) eligibility criteria similar to the alectinib trials was applied to the Flatiron Health’s electronic health record database. A propensity score based on prognostic factors was generated and applied by inverse probability treatment weighting. A multivariate Cox model was used to evaluate the association of ALC compared with CER on overall survival (OS) adjusting for age, sex, prior treatment, race and stage at diagnosis. Summary data from the CER trial ASCEND-2 were re-digitised to compare with CER RWD.

Results:
Prior to re-weighting, the arms were heavily imbalanced. Key differences between the arms included age, prior treatments and baseline CNS metastases (median: 53 vs 61 yrs, 36% vs 13% [≥3 lines], 61% vs 35%, ALC vs CER). After weighting, balance was achieved across all key prognostic factors with a standardised mean difference <10% for all factors. A multivariate Cox model showed ALC was associated with lower risk of death (HR 0.65; 95% CI 0.48–0.88). Adjusted median OS was 24.2 months for ALC (95% CI 17.5–NR) vs 15.6 months for CER (95% CI 15.5–18.6). Median OS in the RWD CER group was similar to that reported in the CER ASCEND-2 trial (14.9 months).

Conclusions:
The results show that ALC is associated with prolonged OS vs CER, which was consistent through numerous sensitivity analyses. CER RWD median OS was similar to that observed in ASCEND 2, validating this analysis. For single-arm studies, RWD can serve as an external control for producing comparative data.

Clinical trial identification:
NP28673 NP28761

Legal entity responsible for the study:
F. Hoffmann-La Roche

Funding:
F. Hoffmann-La Roche

Disclosure:
J. Davies, G. Crane: Employee at Roche Products Ltd. P. Delmar, M. Coudert: Employee at F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Ltd. M. Martinec, W. Bordogna, S. Golding: Employee: F. Hoffmann-La Roche; Stock ownership: F. Hoffmann-La Roche. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Gefitinib has demonstrated clinical benefits for patients suffering from lung adenocarcinoma with activating mutation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, the efficacy of gefitinib for advanced squamous cell lung cancer (SqCLC) harboring EGFR mutation is still unclear.

Methods:
We conducted a pooled analysis of individual patient data based on the published reports that included patients with advanced SqCLC harboring EGFR mutation who were treated with gefitinib. The patients selected for the analysis were advanced SqCLC patients harboring EGFR mutations who were treated with gefitinib and described in reports containing the data of the histology, EGFR mutation status and type, response to gefitinib, and outcome of these patients.

Results:
Tweenty-six patients were selected from ten reports for the pooled analysis. One patient obtained a complete response (CR) and five patients obtained a partial response (PR); the response rate (RR) was 23.1%. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) and overall survival (mOS) was 3.1 months and 10.8 months, respectively. The RR and PFS were significantly inferior in the SqCLC patients harboring EGFR mutations to non-SqCLC patients harboring EGFR mutations selected from the same published reports (RR: 23.1% vs. 62.2%, P < 0.001; PFS: 3.1 vs. 9.2 months, P < 0.001, respectively). While no significant difference in OS was observed between the two groups (OS: 10.8 vs. 17.7 months, P = 0.082).

Conclusions:
The efficacy of gefitinib was inferior in advanced SqCLC harboring EGFR mutation as compared to non-SqCLC harboring EGFR mutation. The underlining mechanisms of resistance to EGFR-TKI in SqCLC with EGFR mutation should be deeply explored in the further studies.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Chongqing Cancer Hospital & Cancer Institute

Funding:
Chongqing Cancer Hospital & Cancer Institute

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
PFS was significantly improved in LUX-Lung 7 with afatinib (A) vs gefitinib (G). Time to treatment failure (TTF) was a co-primary endpoint to reflect clinical practice of continuing TKI tx beyond radiologic progression in the absence of clinical deterioration. An analysis of TTF and a post-hoc analysis of the impact of dose adjustment of A on PFS and AEs are reported here.

Methods:
Patients (pts) were randomized to A 40mg/d or G 250mg/d until progressive disease (PD) or beyond if deemed beneficial. The dose of A could be reduced by 10mg decrements to a minimum of 20mg in the event of selected drug-related (DR) AEs. TTF was analyzed using a stratified log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier methods. PFS was compared between pts who had a dose reduction within 6 mos and those who received ≥40mg for 6 mos. Incidence/severity of common AEs before/after dose reduction was assessed.

Results:
319 pts were randomized (160 A, 159 G). At data cut-off (21 Aug 2015), 87.5% A and 93.7% G pts had discontinued tx, mostly due to radiologic PD (69.4 vs 74.8%) or toxicity (11.3 vs 10.7%). 35.0% A and 29.6% G pts with clinical benefit continued tx beyond radiologic PD. Pts remained on tx significantly longer with A vs G (median TTF 13.7 vs 11.5 mos; HR 0.73 [95% CI 0.58–0.92]; p = 0.007; pts on tx at 2 yrs: 25.0 vs 13.2%). TTF subgroup analyses favored A. Risk of tx failure was reduced with A vs G regardless of EGFRm type or race. Median tx duration beyond PD with A and G was 2.7 and 2.0 mos, respectively. 63 pts (39%) treated with A had a dose reduction to 30mg; 21 (13%) had further reduction to 20mg. There was no significant difference in PFS in pts who received <40 mg or ≥ 40 mg (median 12.8 vs 11.0 mos; HR 1.3 [95% CI 0.9–2.0]; p = 0.14). Dose reduction of A reduced the incidence/severity of DR AEs: grade ≥3 diarrhea, rash/acne and stomatitis were reduced from 25.4%, 20.6% and 7.9%, to 9.5%, 3.2% and 3.2%, respectively.

Conclusions:
TTF was significantly improved with first-line A vs G in EGFRm+ NSCLC, which testifies to the tolerability of A, and suggests that it may confer additional clinical benefit in pts who continue tx beyond PD. Dose adjustment of A reduced the frequency/intensity of DR AEs without compromising efficacy.

Clinical trial identification:
LUX-Lung 7: EudraCT No: 2011-001814-33

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Boehringer Ingelheim

Funding:
Boehringer Ingelheim

Disclosure:
J.C-H. Yang: Ad board and honoraria: BI, Lilly, Bayer, Roche/Genentech/Chugai, Astellas, MSD, Merck Serono, Pfizer, Novartis, Clovis, Celgene, Merrimack, Yuhan Pharmaceuticals, BMS, Ono pharmaceutical Daiichi, Sankyo, and AZ. L. Paz-Ares: Honoraria from Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, MSD, Novartis, Roche, Eli Lilly, Boehringer lngelheim, Clovis Oncology, AstraZeneca, and Amgem. K. O\'Byrne: Ad board, speaker bureau, travel to international conferences and honoraria: AZ, BMS, Roche-Genentech, MSD, Pfizer, BI. Ad board and speaker bureau: Novartis. 3 Patents: 1 on novel drugs, 2 on biomarkers, IP held by Queensland University of Technology. M. Boyer: Ad board: BMS, Merck Sharpe and Dohme, Pfizer Board of Directors: IASLC Research: Pfizer, Genentech, BI, AZ, Novartis, Merck Sharpe and Dohme, Clovis Honoraria: Merck Sharpe and Dohme, BI, BMS, AZ. T. Mok: Receipt of grants/research supports: AstraZeneca, BI, Pfizer, Novartis, SFJ, Roche, MSD, Clovis Oncology, BMS; Receipt of honoraria or consultation fees: AstraZeneca, Roche/Genentech, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, BI, Merck Serono, MSD, Janssen, Clovis Oncology, BioMarin, GSK, Novartis, SFJ Pharmaceutical, ACEA Biosciences, Inc., Vertex Pharmaceuticals, BMS, AVEO & Biodesix, Prime Oncology, Amgen; Participation in a company sponsored speaker’s bureau: AstraZeneca, Roche/Genentech, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, BI, MSD, Amgen, Janssen, Clovis Oncology, GSK, Novartis, BMS, PrIME Oncology; Stock shareholder: Sanomics Limited. V. Hirsh: Honoraria for participating on advisory boards for Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Roche, Merck, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Amgen, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. K. Park: Participated on advisory boards for Astellas, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Clovis Oncology, Eli Lilly, Hanmi, MSD, Novartis, and Roche. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Time to progression (TTP) has been associated with prolonged post-progression survival (PPS) in ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, such associations have not yet been assessed among previously treated metastatic NSCLC patients with BRAF V600 mutation who received BRAF-specific targeted therapies. This study evaluated the TTP-PPS association among previously treated BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic NSCLC patients receiving the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib as a single agent or in combination with the MEK inhibitor trametinib.

Methods:
Patients who experienced disease progression in an open-label, non-randomized, Phase II study (NCT01336634) of 2nd-line or later treatment with dabrafenib monotherapy or combination therapy with trametinib were included. Progression was defined per RECIST v1.1. Time from progression to death (PPS) was studied in a Kaplan-Meier analysis with patients stratified by shorter (< 6 months) versus longer TTP (≥ 6 months). The association between TTP and PPS was also quantified in Cox proportional hazards models.

Results:
A total of 84 patients who progressed on dabrafenib monotherapy or combination therapy were included in this study, with 77% having ECOG performance score > 0 at screening. Prior to progression, 57 received dabrafenib monotherapy and 27 received combination therapy with trametinib. Among all patients included, 60 (71%) died during post-progression follow-up. Patients with TTP ≥ 6 months experienced significantly longer PPS compared to those with TTP < 6 months (median PPS: 9.5 vs. 2.7 months, log-rank p-value < 0.001). In the proportional hazards model for the full cohort, each 3 months of longer TTP was associated with a 32% lower hazard of death following progression (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.68 [0.57, 0.83]). A similar positive association between TTP and PPS was observed in each treatment group (monotherapy: 0.70 [0.57, 0.88]; combination therapy: 0.57 [0.34, 0.97]).

Conclusions:
A longer duration of TTP after treatment with dabrafenib monotherapy or combination therapy was significantly associated with a longer duration of PPS.

Clinical trial identification:
NCT01336634

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Novartis

Funding:
Financial support for the study were provided by Novartis.

Disclosure:
M. Sasane: Employee of Novartis and own Novartis stock or stock options. J. Li: Employed by Analysis Group, Inc., payment from Novartis for participation in this research. J. Zhang: Employee of Novartis and own Novartis stock or stock options. J. Zhao: Employed by Analysis Group, Inc., payment from Novartis for participation in this research. M.L. Ricculli: Employed by Analysis Group, Inc., payment from Novartis for participation in this research. S. Redhu: Employee of Novartis and own Novartis stock or stock options. J. Signorovitch: Employed by Analysis Group, Inc., payment from Novartis for participation in this research.

Background:
In LUX-Lung 8, afatinib (A; 40mg/day) significantly improved OS (median 7.9 vs 6.8 months, p = 0.008) and PFS (2.6 vs 1.9 months, p = 0.010) versus erlotinib (E; 150mg/day) in pts with pretreated SCC of the lung (n = 795). 12-month (36 vs 28%; p = 0.016) and 18-month survival (22 vs 14%; p = 0.013) were significantly higher with A than E, indicating that some pts derive prolonged benefit from A. This is a post-hoc analysis of baseline characteristics and efficacy/safety of A in long-term responders (LTRs; treatment for ≥12 months). Archived tumor samples and serum were analyzed to identify potential biomarkers.

Methods:
Tumor samples were retrospectively analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS); EGFR expression was determined by IHC. Pre-treatment serum samples were analyzed with VeriStrat[®] and classified as VeriStrat-Good or VeriStrat-Poor.

Results:
21/398 pts treated with A were LTRs. Six pts were still on treatment at the time of data cut-off. The median duration of treatment was 17.6 months (range: 12.3–27.6). Baseline characteristics were similar to the overall dataset (median age: 64 y [range: 54–81]; male: 76%; Asian: 29%; ECOG 0/1: 33%/67%; best response to chemotherapy CR or PR/SD: 48%/52%; current and ex-smokers: 90%). Median PFS was 16.6 months (range: 2.8–25.8); median OS was 21.1 months (12.9–31.6). The most common treatment-related AEs (all grade/grade 3) were: diarrhea (81%/5%); rash/acne (71%/5%); stomatitis (29%/5%). AEs generally occurred soon after treatment onset. Six pts had dose reductions due to related AEs. NGS data in ten LTRs will be presented. Genomic aberrations in the ErbB gene family were identified in 50% of these pts (overall dataset: 26.5%). Of 17 pts assessed by VeriStrat, 88% were VeriStrat-Good (overall dataset: 62%). IHC data were available for only one LTR (EGFR-).

Conclusions:
Baseline characteristics of LTRs to A were similar to the overall dataset. A conferred median OS of almost 2 years in this subgroup. A was well tolerated with predictable, transient AEs. Though biomarker data look promising, the cohort was too small to identify any clear NGS/VeriStrat predictive signals; further studies are required.

Clinical trial identification:
LUX-Lung 8: EudraCT No: 2011-002380-24

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Boehringer Ingelheim

Funding:
Boehringer Ingelheim

Disclosure:
J.C-H. Yang: Ad board and honoraria: BI, Lilly, Bayer, Roche/Genentech/Chugai, Astellas, MSD, Merck Serono, Pfizer, Novartis, Clovis, Celgene, Merrimack, Yuhan Pharmaceuticals, BMS, Ono pharmaceutical Daiichi, Sankyo, and AZ. G. Goss: Participated on advisory boards for AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Celgene. E. Felip: Participated on advisory boards for Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Roche, MSD, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Felip has receieved lecture fees from AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Novartis. A. Ardizzoni: Received honoraria and participated on advisory boards for Bristol-Myers Squibb, MSD, Eli-Lilly, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Ardizzoni has received honoraria from Pfizer and Bayer. S.M. Gadgeel: Participated on advisory boards for Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, Genentech, ARIAD, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Roche. N. Dupuis: Employee of and owns stock in Biodesix. E. Ehrnrooth: Employee of Boehringer Ingelheim. J-C. Soria: Astrazeneca, Astex, GSK, Gammamabs, Lilly, MSD, Merus, Pfizer, Pharmamar, Pierre Fabre, Roche, Sanofi, Servier, Symphogen, Takeda. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Re-biopsy for mutation analysis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment is important to determine further chemotherapy regimen. There have been no studies about the radiologic characteristics of NSCLC with T790 mutation and the use of the various re-biopsy procedures.

Methods:
Between January and December 2016, 78 patients underwent re-biopsy for mutation analysis of NSCLC, and among them, 76 were assessed with adequate specimen. Patients’ treatment course, serial CT scans and pathologic reports were retrospectively reviewed. Re-biopsy methods are varied: EBUS or BFS-guided (n = 27), CT-guided (n = 18), fluoroscopy-guided (n = 5) biopsies, US-guided supraclavicular lymph node (n = 6) or other sites (n = 6) biopsies and pleural fluid analysis (n = 14). CT images obtained at the time of initial biopsy and re-biopsy were compared between patients with and without T790M mutation. Re-biopsy associated complications were assessed.

Results:
Among 76 patients, 40 (52.6%) presented T790M mutation on re-biopsy. Progression free survivals between patients with and without T790M mutation were not statistically different (322 and 389 days, respectively). On initial CT, pleural retraction (odds ratio (OR), 4.1; p = 0.03) and the presence of pleural metastasis (OR, 3.4; p = 0.03) were significant factors that related to the positive T790M mutation by multivariate logistic analysis. Pleural retraction (OR, 26.8, p = 0.03) and pleural metastasis (OR, 11.4; p = 0.004) are also shown as significant factors that related to the positive T790M mutation on CT obtained at the time of re-biopsy. Three patients developed pneumothorax, and two were managed by chest tube insertion. One patient who was negative T790M mutation on pleural fluid analysis finally diagnosed as positive T790M mutation by following CT-guided biopsy.

Conclusions:
Pleural retraction and pleural metastasis were significantly associated factors to positive T790M mutation in NSCLC patients who underwent re-biopsy. Negative T790M on pleural fluid analysis could not give a guarantee for true negative, and further core biopsy might be recommended.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
None

Funding:
N/A

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Ceritinib has been approved by EMA for the treatment of patients (pts) with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who progress on crizotinib. Nevertheless, this drug is not reimbursed in Italy by the National Health Care System as of January 2017. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of ceritinib administered within a compassionate use (CU) program made available to crizotinib-refractory patients.

Methods:
This collaborative study involved multiple institutions in Italy. Clinical data from crizotinib-refractory pts with ALK-positive NSCLC who were requested ceritinib compassionate use (CU) were collected and analyzed.

Results:
Twenty-four centres took part to the study, for a total of 70 pts who were requested ceritinib CU. Of these, 63 pts received at least one dose of ceritinib 750 mg/d from July 2014 to January 2017. Pts characteristics were as follows: median age 56 years (22-86), 34/63 (54%) female, 43/63 (68%) never smokers, 12/63 (19%) ECOG PS ≥ 2, 13/63 (21%) pretreated with ≥ 2 lines of chemotherapy, 49/63 (78%) metastatic to the brain. Median time on prior crizotinib was 370 days (51-1644). The most common any grade treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were nausea (60%, 6% grade 3 or 4), vomiting (49%, 5% grade 3 or 4), diarrhea (51% 2% grade 3 or 4), ALT elevation (48%, 17% grade 3 or 4), AST elevation (49%, 17% grade 3 or 4), and fatigue (59%, 8% grade 3 or 4). Dose reduction due to TRAEs occurred in 31/63 pts (49%). Out of 31 pts, 15 pts (49%) reduced the dose to 600 mg/d, 10 pts (32%) to 450 mg/d, and 6 pts (19%) to 300 mg/d. Unusual TRAEs consisted of an increase in serum creatinine in 3 pts. Of the 55 patients who were evaluable for response, 21 pts (38%) responded to treatment. Overall, at a median follow-up of 6.2 months (0.5-26), median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.6 months and 6-month PFS was 59%.

Conclusions:
The ceritinib CU program in Italy confirms the efficacy of the drug in a "real-world" setting, with a safety profile that is similar to that observed in clinical trials. A high rate of dose adjustments due to TRAEs was observed, which, however, did not appear to influence the activity of the drug.

Clinical trial identification:
NA

Legal entity responsible for the study:
N/A

Funding:
Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca contro il Cancro

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
The aim of this analysis was to assess prognostic factors in patients with CRZ-resistant ALK+ NSCLC associated with progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR) based on the Phase 2 ALTA Trial (NCT02094573) of brigatinib.

Methods:
Analyses used data from ALTA Arm B (180 mg qd with a 7-day lead-in at 90 mg, N = 110). Potential prognostic factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models for PFS and OS, and logistic regression for ORR. Potential prognostic factors included age, sex, race, ECOG performance status, prior radiotherapy (RT), prior RT to brain, prior chemotherapy, prior platinum-based chemotherapy, smoking status, number of prior regimens, best response to prior CRIZ, number of metastatic sites, and active brain lesions. ALTA trial was not powered to detect differences in outcomes by these factors, thus a threshold of p < 0.5 was used to select variables into all models. Factors with hazard ratios >1.30 or < 0.77 were also included in the final models for PFS and OS.

Results:
As of February 29, 2016, median follow-up was 8.3 months, and independent review committee (IRC) assessed median PFS was 15.6 months [95% CI: 11.0, NR] (31 events). Median OS was not reached (17 deaths). IRC-assessed ORR was 52.7% [95% CI: 43.0%, 62.3%]. Prognostic factors are shown in the table.rnTable: 105PImportant prognostic factors in CRIZ-resistant ALK+ NSCLC treated with brigatinib 180 mg qd with a 7-day lead-in at 90 mg (N = 110)rn

rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrn

Prognostic Factor	PFS (HR [95% CI])*	OS (HR [95% CI])*	ORR (OR [95% CI])**
Age (per 1-year increase)	–	–	0.98 [0.95, 1.01]
Sex Male vs female	1.79 [0.84, 3.79]	–	–
Race Asian vs non-Asian	1.29 [0.55, 3.04]	0.15 [0.02, 1.25]	1.87 [0.73, 5.00]
ECOG performance status 1 vs 0 2 vs 0	0.72 [0.33, 1.58] 3.24 [0.99, 10.60]	2.56 [0.72, 9.06] 4.02 [0.73, 22.14]	0.64 [0.26, 1.53] 0.19 [0.02, 1.07]
Prior chemotherapy Yes vs no	0.42 [0.19, 0.95]	0.34 [0.11, 1.04]	1.90 [0.71, 5.24]
Best response to prior CRIZ CR/PR vs any other status or unknown	0.56 [0.25, 1.27]	0.74 [0.24, 2.33]	1.88 [0.77, 4.70]
Prior radiotherapy to brain Yes vs no	2.21 [1.02, 4.78]	0.51 [0.17, 1.57]	–
Active brain lesions Yes vs no	–	0.45 [0.15, 1.39]	–
Smoking status Never vs current/former/unknown	–	0.49 [0.14, 1.67]	2.45 [1.04, 5.97]
Number of metastatic sites 3 vs 1-2 4+ vs 1-2	–	1.05 [0.20, 5.58] 2.66 [0.59, 12.03]	0.34 [0.10, 1.08] 0.81 [0.27, 2.36]

rnAbbreviations: PFS = progression-free survival; OS = overall survival; ORR = objective response rate; HR = hazard ratio; OR = odds ratio; CI = confidence interval; CR = complete response; PR = partial response; ECOG = Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group;rn*HR < 1 indicates lower risk of progression or death vs reference group;rn**OR > 1 indicates higher odds of response vs reference grouprn

Conclusions:
In this analysis of CRZ-resistant ALK+ NSCLC patients, a history of prior chemotherapy was associated with longer PFS, while prior radiotherapy was associated with shorter PFS, both likely due to unmeasured patient characteristics. Never smokers had more than double the odds of response, versus current or former smokers. ECOG status 2 was nominally associated with shorter PFS and OS and lower ORR, and presence of active brain lesions was associated with longer OS.

Clinical trial identification:
The trial protocol number is NCT02094573.

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Evidera Inc.

Funding:
ARIAD Pharmaceuticals

Disclosure:
K.L. Reckamp: Consulting or advisory role (ARIAD), research funding (ARIAD). J. Lee, M. Krotneva: Employee of Evidera Inc., which provides consulting services to pharmaceutical organizations. Evidera Inc. received funding from ARIAD pharmaceuticals. J. Huang: Employment, consulting or advisory role (ARIAD). W. Reichmann, D. Kerstein, H. Huang: Employment, stock shareholder (ARIAD). All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
The molecular profiling of patients (p) with advanced NSCLC identifies several oncogenic drivers that can be targeted with selective inhibitors. We aimed to assess the characteristics and brain development of p with molecular alterations at our center treated with targeted agents.

Methods:
EGFR, KRAS, HER2 mutated p and ALK, ROS1 and RET rearrangements positive p enrolled onto clinical trials between 2009 and 2015 at our center were included in this analysis. A cohort of wild type (WT) adenocarcinoma p was selected as comparator. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by the Kaplan Meier method.

Results:
200 p were collected (76 WT, 45 EGFR, 51 ALK, 21 KRAS, 3 ROS1, 2 HER2 and 2 RET). Median age 57 years (26-82), 52% men, 60% performance status (PS) 1, 59% smokers, 98% stage IV and 92% adenocarcinoma. First treatment was selective inhibitor in 73% of EGFR and 58% of ALK p. Median follow up was 23 months (m) (95% CI 1.6-104.6). The OS (immature with 58% of deaths) was 33m for all p and 57m EGFR, 40m ALK, 31m KRAS and 19m WT. We found differences in OS for molecular selected population vs WT (55m vs 19 m p < 0.001), women (55m vs 23m, p = 0.002), PS 0/1 vs PS2 (21 vs 7m, p < 0.001) and non-smokers (51 vs 23 m smokers, p = 0.002). Brain metastases were detected in 86 p (36 ALK, 25 WT, 14 EGFR, 8 KRAS, 2 ROS and 1 RET) and 87% received local therapy. BM were more frequent in women, non-smokers and ALK p (p < 0.001). BM developed at a median of 6m from diagnosis of NSCLC (6m molecular selected and 5m WT, p = 0.44) and median OS after development of BM was 14m (28m EGFR, 26m ALK and 8m WT, p < 0.001). No differences in OS were detected in p with or without BM (p > 0.05). Independently of target agent, we did not found significant differences in OS p with BM treated with local therapy vs systemic treatment (p > 0.005). P who initiated the EGFR and ALK inhibitors after diagnosis of BM had greater benefit than those p who began treatment before diagnosis of BM (86m vs 57m for EGFR and 55m vs 35m for ALK respectively, p > 0.05 in both).

Conclusions:
Molecular selected p treated with targeted agents have prolonged survival. Brain metastases is a frequent site of disease progression, but the prognosis of these p is impressive independently of local therapies.

Clinical trial identification:
not aplicable

Legal entity responsible for the study:
N/A

Funding:
N/A

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Although the effectiveness of EGFR-TKI in patients with advanced lung cancer has been proven in previous trials, the real-world efficacy of EGFR-TKI has not been investigated. The object of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of first-generation EGFR-TKI in female patients with advanced lung cancer using big data analysis.

Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed the Korean health insurance service data of advanced lung cancer patients from January 2004 to December 2013. Patients older than 20 years in palliative setting were grouped into three categories: Group A received 1st-generation EGFR-TKI ≥6 months, group B given EGFR-TKI < 6 months, and group C was treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy alone. For each group, we determined progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results:
Of 11,045 patients enrolled in the study, 6,170 (55.8%) received EGFR-TKI at least 1 month, and 4,875 (44.2%) never treated with EGFR-TKI. 2,572 were in the group A and 3,598 were in the group B. In the group C, platinum based doublet agent or monotherapy such as docetaxel, gemcitabine and pemetrexed was administered. The median OS of patients treated with EGFR-TKI was significantly longer than that of EGFR-TKI naïve patients (19.1 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 18.5-19.7] vs 9.5 months [95% CI 9.1-9.8]; p < 0.0001). In subgroup analysis, the median OS was 30.3 months [95% CI 29.5-31.2] in the group A, compared with 12.3 months [95% CI 11.9-12.7] in the group B and 9.5 months [95% CI 9.1-9.8] in the group C (p < 0.001). Patients age < 65 years, treated with EGFR-TKI ≥ 6months, and received docetaxel, pemetrexed chemotherapy were independent predictors of longer OS (Hazard ratio (HR) 0.78 [95% CI 0.74-0.81]; p = 0.002, HR 0.41 [95% CI 0.38-0.43]; p < 0.001, HR 0.81 [95% CI 0.77-0.85]; p < 0.001, HR 0.77 [95% CI 0.74-0.81]; p < 0.001, respectively). Median PFS was 15.8 months [95% CI 15.1-16.3] in group A and 3.7 months [95% CI 3.5-3.8] in group B (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:
The current study demonstrated that EGFR-TKI conferred a significant PFS and OS benefit in female patient with advanced lung cancer in real-world.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Asan Medical Center

Funding:
None

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
TKI therapy is definitely standard in first line treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC harbouring a classic EGFR mutation (Exon 19 deletion or Exon 21 L858R). However, a certain percentage of patients have rare or complex EGFR mutation with unknown relevance regarding prognosis and response to TKIs. For those patients, therapy decisions remain challenging.

Methods:
343 patients with NSCLC, who underwent EGFR mutation testing, were analysed in this study with regard to epidemiological characteristics as age, sex and smoking status as well to EGFR mutation status classified into wild type, classic, rare, synonymous, T790M and complex mutations. Further rare and complex mutations of 12 patients who received TKI therapy were analysed regarding to response to TKI treatment.

Results:
282 (82%) of all patients were EGRF wild type, whereas 61 (18%) harboured an EGFR mutation. Most of them appeared to be classic mutations 32 (9%), followed by rare (16 (5%)) and complex (7 (2%)) mutations. Synonymous and T790M resistance mutations were found in 3 and 4 patients respectively. EGFR mutations were significantly more frequent in women than in men. It was noticeable that patients with rare or complex mutations were significantly more often smokers compared to classic EGFR mutations. Further the rare and complex mutations showed to be less responsive to TKI therapy.

Conclusions:
Smoking seems to enhance the probability of rare or complex EGFR mutations. Besides, those mutations might not benefit from first line TKI therapy, so that the presence of EGFR mutation alone should not necessarily lead to induction of a TKI therapy and in case of TKI treatment to close surveillance. In fact, type of mutation, reports of response and patient characteristic as performance status should lead the decision.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Department of Internal Medicine V, University Munich

Funding:
Department of Internal Medicine V, University of Munich

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
The study aimed to explore the efficacy of sequential administration of EGFR TKI and pemetrexed doublet chemotherapy (P), two effective therapies, in advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR mutant tumors.

Methods:
This was a retrospective study where patients prescribed with EGFR-TKI (gefitinib or icotinib) from Jan 2013 to Jan 2016 were screened. Patients must have metastastic diseases harboring TKI-sensitizing EGFR mutation. They must be older than 18 years, and have evaluable target lesions. Whether TKI or P was used in the first line, it must be switched to the other in the second line. PFS in both first line (PFS1) and second line (PFS2) was collected.

Results:
We screened totally 550 patients (gefitinib n = 455, icotinib n = 95) to enroll a cohort of 37 patients. However, 1 patient was found to subject adjuvant TKI therapy and therefore was excluded. They were all adenocarcinoma except 1 adenosquamous carcinoma. Gender, good PS, mutation type were equally distributed (male n = 19 vs female n = 17, PS:0 n = 21 vs PS:1 n = 15, exon 19 del n = 14 vs L858R n = 14 vs other type n = 8). The median age was 50.5 years. For the whole cohort, the total PFS (PFS1+PFS2) was 18.1 m (95%CI: 15.2-21.1 m). For the patients receiving first-line TKI, PFS1 and PFS2 were 10.3 m and 6.6 m. And for those receiving first-line P, PFS1 and PFS2 were 3.4 m and 11.5 m.

Conclusions:
Our results argued the sequential usage of TKI and P achieve a long period of response in advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR-mutant tumors, comparable to that of synchronous administration (15.4 m, JMIT study).

Clinical trial identification:
NA

Legal entity responsible for the study:
West China Hospital, Sichuan University

Funding:
West China Hospital, Sichuan University

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are found in 12-15% of lung adenocarcinoma patients in European countries. Afatinib is a second-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and is approved for stage IV NSCLC patients with common EGFR mutations. Based on the LUX-Lung 1 trial a named patient program for afatinib was initiated in Switzerland. We thus aimed to evaluate afatinib activity in patients which where previous treated with chemotherapy and first-generation TKIs.

Methods:
This multicentre retrospective analysis was performed in 11 institutions in Switzerland. We reviewed clinical records of patients included in the afatinib NPP.

Results:
Between 03/2011 and 04/2014 a total of 69 patients were included in the NPP. Baseline characteristics were obtained from all these patients. Follow-up data were accessible from 41 patients. Median age of the population was 63 years (range, 46-79). 68% of patients were female and 28% were never smoker. Adenocarcinoma was the predominant histological subtype (93%). 56 patients (81%) had a proven EGFR mutation. Of those, 29 patients (52%) had a deletion 19, 16 patients (29%) had a L858R mutation in exon 21. A T790M mutation was detected in 10 patients (18%). 50 patients (73%) received treatment with erlotinib and 14 patients (20%) with gefitinib before inclusion in the NPP. 31 patients were evaluable for response assessment by RECIST 1.1. One patient (3.2%) achieved a complete remission, 4 patients (12.9%) showed a partial remission and 3 patients (9.7%) disease stabilization. Mean duration of afatinib therapy was 200 days (95% CI 146-255). Mean overall survival (OS) from diagnosis of metastatic NSCLC was 17.2 months (95%CI 11.9-22.6). In multivariate analysis, EGFR mutation was associated with response to afatinib.

Conclusions:
This study confirms the activity of afatinib in pretreated lung adenocarcinoma. The benefit is larger in patients with EGFR mutation positive tumors and mainly in those with classical mutations (deletion 19 or point mutation L858R in exon 21).

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
N/A

Funding:
Unrestricted educational grant by Boehringer-Ingelheim

Disclosure:
S.I. Rothschild: Advisory Board Boehringer-Ingelheim (honorary paid to the institution). All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Afatinib is a standard first-line therapy for advanced EGFR positive NSCLC. We implemented a pharmacy led proactive follow-up algorithm for pts prescribed afatinib to identify and manage early adverse events (AEs) (Table). Management of AEs was standardized.

Methods:
This was a retrospective chart review of all advanced EGFR positive NSCLC pts at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre from April 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016 that received afatinib following institution of our algorithm. This study evaluated the impact of our algorithm and characteristics of real world AEs.

Results:
We included 33 pts. Median age was 64 and 55%, 79%, 59%, 27% and 88% were female, PS < 2, Asian, smokers, and treated as 1st line, respectively. Median follow up was 249 days (d). Median time on afatinib was 157 d (IQR: 27 to 304). Prophylactic use of topical hydrocortisone/clindamycin was 55% and 46% for an oral tetracycline. All pts had 1 drug related AE, 18% were grade 3/4. Most common AEs were diarrhea 88%, rash 82%, stomatitis 58%, paronychia 46%, nausea 39% and fatigue 39%. Median time to 1st drug related AE was 17 d (IQR: 7 to 126), with early median time to onset of diarrhea 8 d, stomatitis 13 d, rash 15 d, fatigue 18 d and nausea 25 d and late onset of paronychia 75 d, transaminitis 114 d and anorexia 133 d. Median dose of afatinib was 40 mg/daily, 34% of pts had > or = 1 dose reduction and 9% discontinued afatinib due to AEs. Proactive calls identified 37% of all drug related AEs, 33% of grade 3/4 AEs, 58% of first drug related AEs and identified 2 patients that were noncompliant. Only 3% of AEs were identified by an ER visit/urgent clinic visit.rnTable: 111PPhamacist led follow-up algorithm for pts prescribed afatinibrn

rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrn rnrn

Time on drug	Day 1	Day 5	Day 10	Day 14	Day 17
Intervention	Visit with pharmacy	Proactive pharmacy call	Proactive pharmacy call	Routine clinic visit with medical oncology	Proactive pharmacy call
Variables assessed	Patient education of side effects and consent obtained for proactive calls	Adherence Rash Diarrhea Stomatitis	Adherence Rash Diarrhea Stomatitis Paronychia Nausea Fatigue	Clinical assessment and laboratory monitoring of CBC, creatinine and liver function tests	Adherence Rash Diarrhea Stomatitis Paronychia Nausea Fatigue Anorexia

rn

Conclusions:
Our algorithm resulted in early identification and management of AEs with a low rate of urgent assessments and discontinuation due to toxicity while maintaining the ideal dose of afatinib. This algorithm provides a tool for centres prescribing afatinib.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Dr. Parneet Cheema, PI and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Funding:
Boehringer Ingelheim

Disclosure:
P.K. Cheema: Advisory board and research grants: Boehringer Ingelheim. A. Thawer: Advisory board and research grant: Boehringer Ingelheim. S.Y. Cheng, S. Khanna: Advisory board: Boehringer Ingelheim. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been introduced into standard clinical practice. Since cancer patients are at risk to develop complications when infected with seasonal influenza viruses – in particular patients with lung cancer that often have pre-existing lung disorders – it is recommended to vaccinate oncological patients. Concerns have been raised about the safety of influenza vaccination in patients undergoing checkpoint blockade. It is feared that immune stimulation via PD-1/PD-L1 blockade might induce an overshooting immune response.

Methods:
Patients undergoing checkpoint blockade were vaccinated with a trivalent influenza vaccination between October and November 2015. For an age-matched control cohort, the partners of the patients were vaccinated and included in our analysis as healthy controls. Safety and frequency of immune-related adverse events were evaluated. Antibody titers against antigens and strains that were included in the trivalent influenza vaccination were measured by hemagglutination inhibition assay in patients undergoing PD-1 blockade and age-matched controls. Cytokine/chemokine profile and changes in peripheral immune cells in a cohort of cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade were also studies.

Results:
We included 23 patients at two institutions in Switzerland (University Hospital Basel and Cantonal Hospital Lucerne). Most patients have been treated with PD-1 blocking antibodies for at least 6 weeks at the time of vaccination. The frequency of irAEs was at 52.2% and 6 of 23 patients (26.1%) hat severe grade 3 or 4 irAEs. This frequency is significantly higher than in our general experience at our center (all grades 25.49%, grade 3 or 4 9.8%). There was no major difference over time in the generation of antibody titers in all three viral lines tested. Peripheral leukocyte counts and also cytokine/inflammatory chemokine levels did not change significantly shortly after vaccination.

Conclusions:
While the vaccination against seasonal influenza viruses seems to produce good serological protection and no short term toxicity of the vaccination could be observed, the increased rate of immunological toxicity is concerning and should be studied in a larger patient population.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
N/A

Funding:
University Hospital Basel

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Therapy with immune checkpoints changed the paradigm of treatment in many solid tumors including NSCLC. Recently several drugs of this group were approved in second and first line. Still the data on their use in NSCLC is quite limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate benefits/risks of Nivo treatment within the expanded access program in refractory NSCLC patients both from physician’s and patient’s perspective. We report interim analysis on response rates, safety and QoL.

Methods:
Adult pts with advanced refractory NSCLC received Nivo 3 mg/kg q2w in accordance with expanded access program. Tumor response was assessed using RECIST v. 1.1. Adverse events (AEs) were evaluated by NCI CTCAE v3.0. QoL was assessed by RAND SF-36, symptom severity – by ESAS-R. Group comparisons were made using Mann-Whitney test.

Results:
From July of 2015 to December of 2016 with the median follow-up time of 11 weeks 141 pts were enrolled in 7 centers in RF. Clinical characteristics: 64.5% – males; median age – 60.5 (29 − 79); ECOG PS 0-1/2-3 – 78.3%/21.3%; former or current smokers – 71%; non squamous NSCLC – 65.2%; ≥2 lines of previous systemic treatment – 54%. At baseline pts had poor QoL comparing with healthy controls – 0.283 vs 0.505 (p < 0.001); 68.8% had moderate-to-severe symptoms. The most dramatic QoL worsening was observed for physical functioning and role functioning, p < 0.001. During 4 weeks of treatment Integral QoL index increased by 50% in 53% of pts. Efficacy was evaluated in 51 pts (median first evaluation – 9 weeks), PR – 6/51, SD – 30/51, PD – 15/51. Early deaths from cancer occurred in 7 pts; early deaths not related to cancer – 2 pts. 15 pts discontinued Nivo prematurely (<2 mos) because of rapid clinical worsening. 66 pts were not evaluated for response on cut-off. AEs were registered in 35 pts (median of Nivo treatment – 7 weeks); among them 8 with grade 3-4 AEs.

Conclusions:
QoL is dramatically compromised in advanced refractory NSCLC pts. Early data from this study supports that Nivo is effective and well tolerated by this patient population.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Multinational Center for QoL Research

Funding:
The study was supported by the grant of BMS

Disclosure:
K.K. Laktionov, L.V. Bolotina, V.V. Breder, A.S. Danilova, F.V. Moiseenko, T.P. Nikitina, R.V. Orlova, E.A. Filippova, S.A. Protsenko, T.I. Ionova: Study supported by the grant of BMS

Background:
Nivolumab (BMS-936558/ONO-4538), a fully human IgG4, PD-1 immune-checkpoint inhibitor antibody, has shown durable clinical activity in several tumor types. Recently, two phase III studies (CheckMate-017 and -057) demonstrated that nivolumab improved overall survival (OS) than docetaxel in second-line of squamous (SQ) and non-squamous (NSQ) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), respectively. Here, we report the results of a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in Korean patients (pts) with previously treated advanced SQ and NSQ NSCLC.

Methods:
This study requires pts aged ≥ 20 years with ECOG Performance Status (PS) of 0 or 1, stage IIIB/IV or recurrent NSCLC and at least one prior chemotherapy including platinum containing regimen. Pts received nivolumab 3 mg/kg IV Q2W until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint in this study was the objective response rate (ORR) (RECIST v1.1).

Results:
Nivolumab was administered to 100 NSCLC pts (SQ: 44, NSQ: 56), male/female: 78 (SQ: 44, NSQ: 34)/22 (SQ: 0, NSQ: 22); PS 0/1: 14 (SQ: 6, NSQ: 8)/86 (SQ: 38, NSQ: 48); aged 29 to 80 [median: 66.5] years (SQ: 40 to 80 [median: 69.5], NSQ: 29 to 77 [median: 63.5]); Stage IIIB/IV/recurrence: 6 (SQ: 5, NSQ: 1)/91 (SQ: 37, NSQ: 54)/3 (SQ: 2, NSQ: 1)). In SQ and NSQ NSCLC, ORR was 15.9% (7/44) and 23.2% (13/56), respectively. Median progression-free survival was 2.6 mo and 5.3 mo, respectively. Complete Response was observed in 2.3% (1/44) and 1.8% (1/56), respectively. Median OS was 12.3 mo and 16.3 mo, respectively. Median follow-up was 8.9 mo and 12.3 mo, respectively. Most common adverse drug reaction (ADR) was decreased appetite 15.9% (7/44), followed by pyrexia 9.1% (4/44) in SQ NSCLC, and decreased appetite 12.5% (7/56), followed by pruritus 10.7% (6/56), fatigue 8.9% (5/56), pyrexia 5.4% (3/56) and nausea 5.4% (3/56) in NSQ NSCLC. Grade 3-4 ADR was observed in 6.8% (3/44) and 10.7% (6/56) of SQ and NSQ NSCLC, respectively. No interstitial lung disease and no grade 5 ADRs were observed in this study.

Conclusions:
Nivolumab was considered to be effective and used safely in Korean pts with SQ and NSQ NSCLC as well as in non-Korean pts with SQ and NSQ NSCLC.

Clinical trial identification:
NCT02175017

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea

Funding:
Ono Pharmaceutical

Disclosure:
J.H. Kang: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim Consulting or Advisory Role; Bristol-Myers Squibb, Amgen Research Funding; AstraZeneca, Lilly. K. Park: Consulting or Advisory Role; Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Clovis Oncology, Lilly, Hanmi, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Novartis, Ono Pharmaceutical, Roche, Speakers\' Bureau; Boehringer Ingelheim Research Funding: AstraZeneca. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
IrAE with nivolumab are recognised. Incidence in practice and correlation with disease response in NSCLC has not been well characterised.

Methods:
A retrospective, descriptive analysis was carried out on 40 patients who received nivolumab on a compassionate access program from July 2015 to November 2016. Disease response was assessed by RECIST criteria.

Results:
The median age of patients was 63 years (range 28-80). 24 patients were female (60%). 17 received nivolumab as second line therapy, 12 as third line, 9 as fourth line, and 2 as fifth line. Best response included partial response (PR) in 15% (n = 6), stable disease (SD) in 40% (n = 16), progressive disease (PD) in 38% (n = 15) and unknown in 8% (n = 3). Treatment is ongoing in 30% (n = 12) (mean 6 months, range 2-18 months). 70% (n = 28) had irAE of any grade. Development of rash (n = 11; 28%) and pruritis (n = 10; 25%) were the most frequent irAE experienced. Grade 3 pruritus, pneumonitis, hepatitis, rash, arthralgia, and fatigue were seen. 2 patients developed grade 3 biopsy proven immune related colitis. Treatment requiring endocrinopathies occurred; hypothyroid (13%; n = 5), hyperthyroid (5%; n = 2) and hypoadrenal (5%; n = 2). Therapy was ceased due to grade 4 rash (n = 1), grade 3 hepatitis (n = 1), progressive neurological symptoms (n = 1) and psychiatric symptoms requiring hospital admission with no prior history of psychiatric illness (n = 1). The psychiatric and neurological symptoms resolved with treatment cessation and both patients have ongoing disease control on observation. A death occurred from suspected immune related hepatitis. Importantly, 5 of 6 patients who had PR developed grade 3 and above irAE. Of 13 patients who received treatment for greater than 3 months with SD, 11 developed irAE (85%). Of 10 patients on treatment for greater than 6 months with disease control (PR or SD); 7 developed grade 3 irAE or treatment requiring endocrinopathies. Of 10 non responders (PD within 3 months) 40% (n = 4) developed irAE; all grade 1. Clinically there appears to be a trend between response and development of irAE.

Conclusions:
The irAE are in line with published data however are of higher incidence and severity in this case series. There may be a trend of response and development of irAE.

Clinical trial identification:
not applicable

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Calvary Mater Newcastle

Funding:
Study conducted by Calvary Mater Newcastle. Nivolumab received on compassionate access programme from Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) however BMS have not been involved in data collection or interpretation.

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
DCVAC/LuCa is an active autologous cellular immunotherapy consisting of autologous dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with NSCLC antigens (whole tumor cell antigens of tumor cell lines, like Her2/neu, MAGE-A3 and Survivin, et al.). DCVAC has the ability to induce an immune response, including cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, against tumor-associated antigens expressed by patients’ cancer cells. However, advanced-stage NSCLC with a heavy tumor burden establishes a harsh landscape for immunotherapy due to immune tolerance towards tumor antigens. Combination of DC treatment and chemotherapy is anticipated to achieve stronger immune responses than either of the treatments alone. AEs were collected in this study to evaluate the safety of DCVAC/LuCa added to chemotherapy with pemetrexed and carboplatin vs. chemotherapy alone in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods:
This is a randomized, open-label study. A total of 20 newly diagnosed stage IV, non-squamous, wild-type EGFR, ALK-negative or unknown NSCLC patients treated between January 2016- December 2016 in Shanghai Chest Hospital were enrolled.10 patients were randomized to group A: DCVAC/LuCa + chemotherapy (4-6 cycles of pemetrexed/carboplatin followed by pemetrexed as maintenance therapy); 10 patients were randomized to group B: 4-6 cycles of pemetrexed/carboplatin followed by pemetrexed as maintenance therapy.Patients in the group A started with DCVAC/LuCa (5 × 106 DCs/aliquots) treatment on Day 15 (+/- 3 days) of chemotherapy Cycle 3.The initial 5 doses of DCVAC/LCa were administered at a 3-week interval. The DCVAC/LuCa was then injected every 6 weeks up to the maximum number of 15 doses (75 × 106 DCs/15 aliquots). AEs were collected and analyzed.

Results:
The common adverse events in both group were chemotherapy related leukopenia, hemoglobin decrease etc. All AEs were grade 1 or 2 according to CTCAE V4.03, and there were no grade 4 toxicities or treatment-related deaths. One patient in group A got non-infectious fever and returned to normal without treatment.

Conclusions:
In patients with stage IV NSCLC, DCVAC/LuCa therapy was well tolerated with the favorable safety profile.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Shanghai Chest Hospital

Funding:
Sotio Medical Research (Beijing) Co., Ltd

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Nivolumab is a feasible therapy option in patients with advanced NSCLC who progress after first-line conventional treatment. There is limited information about an overlapping toxicity of nivolumab when applied after primary multimodality treatment. Here, we describe symptomatic pneumonitis in the irradiated lung in patients undergoing second- or third-line nivolumab therapy.

Methods:
Case 1: A 66-year-old female patient who presented with squamous NSCLC stage ypT2a pN2 cM0 underwent adjuvant thoracic irradiation. Nivolumab was started 6 months’ post-radiotherapy when recurrent disease was detected on restaging CT. Twelve days after the first nivolumab treatment, the patient developed grade 2 dyspnea and cough.rnCase 2: A 76-year-old male patient with non-squamous NSCLC stage cT1a cN2 cM1b (single metastatic brain tumor) recieved intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery followed by thoracic RT to a total dose of 66Gy. Second-line nivolumab was started 6 months later and after the fourth cycle (70 days after the first nivolumab treatment), the patient developed grade 2 dyspnea and cough.rnCase 3: A 56-year-old female patient with metastatic NSCLC was treated with Cisplatin/Pemetrexed followed by irradiation to the brain and thorax. Due to systemic progression, second-line chemotherapy with docetaxel/nintedanib. Six months later, the patient was started on nivolumab. After 6 cycles (77 days after the first cycle of nivolumab), the patient developed grade 2 coughing and dyspnea.

Results:
In all patients comprehensive radiological and functional diagnostic as well as bronchoscopy were performed after onset of respiratory symptoms. Imaging analysis was strongly consistent with parenchyma changes in the irradiated lung volume receiving 15 to 20Gy. Nivolumab treatment was interrupted and patients were treated with systemic corticoids for one to two months with rash alleviation of symptoms.

Conclusions:
Three cases of symptomatic pneumonitis in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with nivolumab were described. Interruption of immunotherapy and systemic corticosteroid therapy for several weeks was necessary. Future prospective investigation of the described phenomenon is urgently indicated.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Deparment of Radiation Oncology LMU Munich

Funding:
N/A

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been widely studied in recent years for solid tumors treatment, including lung cancer. Despite advantages observed in term of survival, new toxicities, such as endocrinopathies, have been observed. The most common are thyroid dysfunctions, hypophysitis and adrenal insufficiency. Diabetes mellitus and low level of testosterone are observed with anti-CTLA4 antibodies, but no data for anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 are reported so far.

Methods:
Patients with histological diagnosis of squamous NSCLC, eligible for treatment with nivolumab, with ECOG PS 0-2 and adequate organs function were enrolled in our observational prospective study. All patients underwent blood sampling before starting treatment, after one and two months. All samples were analyzed for adeno-pituitary hormones (LH, FSH, ACTH, PRL, TSH) and for hormones secreted by target glands (FT3, FT4, 17-β-estradiol, testosterone, cortisol).

Results:
We enrolled 11 patients (6 M, 5 F; median age 65 y, range 44-82 y) affected by squamous NSCLC, receiving nivolumab in second line treatment. Three patients had hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine in past medical history. The majority of patients (72.7%) showed endocrine alterations during treatment, three of which were symptomatic. Three males showed a reduction of testosterone level, in one case associated with decreased libido. A woman had a raised testosterone with hirsutism. Two patients experienced an increase in LH and FSH level and one patient a reduction. Moreover, we observed two cases of hyperthyroidism, one of which symptomatic in a patient with hypothyroidism in past medical history, two cases of increased ACTH level, one case of PRL reduction, one of 17-β-estradiol raise, one of cortisol reduction and one of cortisol raise. In all the cases endocrine alterations onset early during the treatment.

Conclusions:
We observe high rate of endocrine alterations in patients receiving nivolumab, in most cases asymptomatic. Many alterations observed are not usually evaluated and symptoms are often underestimated. More and wider studies could help to manage symptoms for a better quality of life and to investigate the mechanisms underlying endocrine disorders.

Clinical trial identification:
Not Applicable

Legal entity responsible for the study:
\"Sapienza\" University of Rome, Department of Medical Oncology

Funding:
\"Sapienza\" University of Rome, Department of Medical Oncology

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) and their ligands are key regulators of angiogenesis and implicated in pathogenesis of NSCLC. RAM, a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody, specifically binds to VEGFR-2 thereby preventing receptor activation and angiogenesis. In a phase 2 trial (NCT01160744) addition of RAM to platinum-pemetrexed chemotherapy demonstrated clinical activity and acceptable safety in pts with advanced non-squamous NSCLC; here we report data from squamous (SQ) NSCLC pts treated with RAM in combination with first-line gemcitabine plus platinum chemotherapy.

Methods:
Eligible pts had Stage IV SQ NSCLC, ECOG PS ≤ 2, and no prior VEGF/VEGFR therapy nor chemotherapy for stage IV disease. Pts were randomized 1:1 into either Arm C: gemcitabine 1000 mg/m[2] + carboplatin AUC=5/cisplatin 75 mg/m[2] (GEM + Cb/Cis) or Arm D: ramucirumab 10 mg/kg + gemcitabine + carboplatin/cisplatin (RAM + GEM + Cb/Cis). Pts received first-line therapy from 4 to 6 cycles (21-day cycle); patients in Arm D, in absence of progressive disease, entered a maintenance phase with RAM alone. Primary objective was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), change in tumor size (CTS), duration of response and safety.

Results:
140 pts were randomized (GEM + Cb/Cis: 69; RAM + GEM + Cb/Cis: 71). The median PFS was 5.4 m GEM + Cb/Cis and 5.6 m for RAM + GEM + Cb/Cis; HR 0.88 (90% CI, 0.64, 1.22; p = 0.52). Median OS was 11.3 m for GEM + Cb/Cis and 10.4 m for RAM + GEM + Cb/Cis; HR 0.93 (90% CI, 0.68, 1.27; p = 0.68). ORR was significantly improved in RAM + GEM + Cb/Cis (46.5%) compared to GEM + Cb/Cis (24.6%) (p = 0.007). No statistically significant difference was observed in DCR and CTS between the two arms. Grade ≥ 3 adverse events occurring in > 10% of pts on RAM administered arm were: anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.

Conclusions:
The primary endpoint of PFS was not met. The addition of RAM to GEM + Cb/Cis significantly improved ORR in pts with SQ NSCLC with no new unexpected safety findings.

Clinical trial identification:
NCT01160744 JVBL

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN

Funding:
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN

Disclosure:
R.C. Doebele: Grants from Ignyta, Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Strategia; patent from NTRK1 FISH; royalties paid to Abbott Molecular; Licensing fees for biologic materials Ariad, Loxo, Chugai, Blueprint Medicines; other from Ariad, Trovagene, Guardant Health, AstraZeneca. D. Spigel: Novartis Speakers Bureau (uncompensated). M. Tehfe: Advisory board committee and Honoraria for speaker: Lilly, Celegene, BMS, Merck. M. Reck: Personal fees from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Hoffmann-La Roche, Lilly, MSD, BMS, AstraZeneca, Celgene, Merck, Pfizer, outside the submitted work. A. Zimmermann, E. Alexandris, P. Lee: Employee and stockholder of Eli Lilly and Company. P. Bonomi: Personal fees from Eli Lilly, Roche Genentech, Pfizer, Celgene, Bristol Myers Squibb, Astra Zeneca, Merck, outside the submitted work. All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
In the phase III REVEL trial, ramucirumab plus docetaxel significantly improved median overall survival (OS), median progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR) in patients with advanced NSCLC who progressed after first-line platinum therapy, independent of histology. The REVEL trial also showed that ramucirumab plus docetaxel therapy improved median OS, median PFS, and ORR in adenocarcinoma patients who were refractory to first-line platinum therapy and in patients categorized as rapid progressors. Here, we report safety and quality of life (QoL) outcomes in refractory adenocarcinoma patients who participated in the REVEL trial.

Methods:
Patients were refractory if they had a best response of progressive disease to first-line treatment. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive docetaxel 75 mg/m[2] in combination with either ramucirumab 10 mg/kg or placebo every 21 days until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or death. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were assessed according to the NCI-CTCAE, version 4.0. Quality of life was measured by the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS).

Results:
Of the 1253 patients randomized (ramucirumab + docetaxel: 628; docetaxel + placebo: 625), 17% (ramucirumab + docetaxel: 9%; docetaxel + placebo: 8%) were adenocarcinoma patients refractory to first-line therapy. The safety overview and LCSS scores are presented in the table.rnTable: 120PSafety and QoL Outcomes of Refractory Adenocarcinoma Patients Treated in REVELrn

rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrn

TEAEs, n (%)	Ramucirumab + Docetaxel N = 111	Placebo + Docetaxel N = 101
Any TEAE	108 (97)	101 (100)
Grade ≥3 TEAEs	82 (74)	73 (72)
Serious TEAEs	47 (42)	48 (48)
TEAEs leading to discontinuation	6 (5)	4 (4)
TEAEs leading to death	4 (4)	11 (11)
LCSS scores, time to deterioration	Hazard Ratio (95% CI)
Loss of appetite	1.45 (0.91, 2.32)
Fatigue	0.90 (0.58, 1.41)
Cough	1.29 (0.77, 2.14)
Dyspnea	1.06 (0.64, 1.76)
Hemoptysis	1.55 (0.59, 4.07)
Pain	1.14 (0.71, 1.84)
Symptom distress	1.12 (0.69, 1.81)
Activity level	1.01 (0.64, 1.59)
Global QoL	0.98 (0.63, 1.52)
Total LCSS	0.81 (0.47, 1.41)
ASBI	0.83 (0.46, 1.50)

rnNote: The primary LCSS analysis was time to deterioration, defined as the time from randomization to the first 15 mm increase. ASBI, average symptom burden index; CI, confidence interval; LCSS, Lung Cancer Symptom Scale; QoL, quality of life; TEAE, treatment-emergent adverse event.rn

Conclusions:
Our analysis did not identify any new safety concerns or increased detriment in QoL for this subgroup of patients. Safety outcomes for refractory adenocarcinoma patients were consistent with the outcomes for refractory patients with all histologies and the intent-to-treat population.

Clinical trial identification:
NCT01168973

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Eli Lilly and Company

Funding:
Eli Lilly and Company

Disclosure:
M. Reck: Personal fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Hoffmann-La Roche, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, and Pfizer. L. Paz-Ares: Personal fees from AMGEM, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CLOVIS, Eli Lilly and Company, Hoffmann-La Roche, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, and Pfizer. D. Moro-Sibilot: Personal fees from AMGEN, Ariad, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Hoffmann-La Roche, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, and Pfizer. F.A. Shepherd, M. Pérol: Personal fees from Eli Lilly and Company. F. Cappuzzo: Personal fees from AstraZeneca, Hoffmann-La Roche, and Pfizer. K.B. Winfree: Employee of Eli Lilly and Company and reports personal fees from Eli Lilly and Company. E. Alexandris: Employee of Eli Lilly and Company. A. Sashegyi, R. Varea: Employee and shareholder of Eli Lilly and Company.

Background:
Bevacizumab is the first antiangiogenic agent approved for treatment of advanced non-squamous NSCLC. Elderly or other “fragile” patients, such as those with poor performance status (PS), comprise the majority of the NSCLC population, but are typically underrepresented in clinical trials. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of first-line bevacizumab in “real-world” patients with advanced NSCLC.

Methods:
The medical records of all patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced-stage non-squamous NSCLC, treated with first-line bevacizumab (plus chemotherapy) at the Oncology Clinic of “Sotiria” Athens University Hospital between January 2008 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Selected patients were stratified according to age, i.e. elderly (> 70 years) vs non-elderly (≤70 years), ECOG PS (0-1 vs 2-3) and other demographic, clinicopathological and treatment data. Main outcome measures were overall survival (OS) and treatment-related toxicity.

Results:
A total of 145 cases (mean age/SD=61.7 ± 10.6 years) were included. 23,4% of patients were elderly, while 15.8% had poor PS (2-3). Maintenance bevacizumab (with or without pemetrexed) was administered in 24.1% of all cases, including only patients with good PS, and mainly non-elderly. The presence of comorbidities was significantly associated with poor PS and age> 70 years. No statistically significant difference with regard to OS, or type and frequency of side effects was observed between elderly and non-elderly patients. A similar toxicity profile was also observed between patients with good versus poor PS. Absence of maintenance bevacizumab and poor PS were both significantly associated with reduced OS, both in univariate [HR (95% CI): 0.45 (0.22-0.9); p = 0.023 and HR (95% CI): 2.16 (1.29-3.64); p = 0.004, respectively] and in multivariate analysis [[HR (95% CI): 0.47 (0.22-0.99); p = 0.048 and HR (95% CI): 1.76 (1.04-3.00); p = 0.036, respectively].

Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that first-line bevacizumab may show similar efficacy and toxicity in elderly versus non-elderly patients with advanced NSCLC. Further prospective data are needed to confirm these observations.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
University of Athens

Funding:
University of Athens

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Metabolically supported chemotherapy (MSCT), is defined as the application of standard chemotherapy protocols concomitant to the administration of pharmacological doses of regular insulin and the development of hypoglycemia, and following fasting starting the previous day. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and the tolerability of MSCT combining carboplatin and paclitaxel in the treatment of advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods:
This study is a retrospective single center analysis of all patients diagnosed with metastatic (stage IV) NSCLC that received MSCT combining carboplatin and paclitaxel at our clinic between March 2010 and June 2015.

Results:
44 patients were included in our study. While 39 (88.6%) of the patients were male, their median age was 65 years (range 35-87). Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in 34 (77.3%) of the patients. 18 (40.9%) of the patients had brain metastases and ECOG PS was ≥2 in the case of 36 (81.8%) of the patients. When the response evaluation for this study was carried out at the end of 6 cycles of treatment, 42 out of 44 patients included in this analysis remained alive. Statistical analysis revealed a mean overall survival (OS) of 43.4 months, mean progression-free survival (PFS) of 41.8 months and 1-year survival rate of 86.1%.

Conclusions:
This study demonstrates that a metabolically supported form of applying weekly paclitaxel at a dose of 75 mg/m[2] combined with weekly carboplatin at a dose of AUC 2 may bring about remarkable improvements in the survival rates of patients with advanced and metastatic NSCLC.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Kemerburgaz University Bahcelievler Medical Park Hospital and ChemoThermia Oncology Center

Funding:
N/A

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
We aimed to report the safety and short-term efficacy of nanoparticle albumin bound paclitaxel (Nab-PTX) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Chiina as a second line and later treatment, and explored its efffcacy affected by previous paclitaxel treatment wether or not.

Methods:
Advanced NSCLC patients who failed in prior treatment and received weekly Nab-PTX regimen on days 1, 8 (a dose of 130 mg/m2/week) treatment were included. The primary efficacy endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Toxicity was evaluated with NCI-CTCAE 3.0.

Results:
A total of 98 patients at the Cancer Institute & Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (Beijing, China) between June 2010 and July 2015 were enrolled. The median PFS and overall survival (OS) were 4.34 months (95% CI 3.508 to 5.165 months) and 11.73 months (95% CI 9.211 to 14.247 months), respectively. PFS was no significant difference between patients with previous paclitaxel treatment and without previous paclitaxel treatment (median, 4.11 versus 4.53 months, respectively, p = 0.195). OS was also no significant difference between the two arms (median, 9.69 versus 14.62 months, respectively, p = 0.190). The objective responses rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) of all patients were 22.4% and 74.5%, respectively. The ORR and DCR were 23.0% and 70.5%, respectively in one arm with previous paclitaxel treatment, while in another arm without previous paclitaxel treatment, the results were 21.6% and 81.1%. No significant difference in ORR (p = 0.533) and DCR (p = 0.244) between the two arms. Grade 3 or higher adverse events (AEs) of all patients was neutropenia (25.5%), leukopenia (12.4%), peripheral neuropathy (5.1%), myalgia/arthralgia (5.1%), anaemia (3.1%), and fatigue (1.0%), respectively.

Conclusions:
The Nab-PTX was effective and well tolerated as second line or later treatment in advanced NSCLC patients. Even used paclitaxel treatment previously did not affect the efficacy and PFS of Nab-PTX.

Clinical trial identification:
Preview and Finish

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Junling Li

Funding:
Junling Li

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
In recent years, massively parallel-gene sequencing (NGS) has improved the detection of targetable mutations in lung cancer (NSCLC). We have identified NSCLC cases that, despite extensive DNA sequencing and targeted in-situ hybridizations (ISH) for ROS1, ALK and cMET alterations, have no druggable target or conventional lung cancer pathogenic mutation identified ("driverless" cancer). Expanded platform testing (RNA and protein-based) was performed on these driverless cases in order to assess the ability of these technologies to identify actionable drug targets.

Methods:
A review of 522 NSCLC cases (Caris Life Sciences, Phoenix, AZ) tested with NGS (592 gene sequencing panel, Agilent SureSelectXT; Illumina NextSeq) and ISH yielded 21 patients (F:M=12:9) without characteristic genetic alterations. Expanded testing included an RNA-based fusion panel (52 genes, Archer FusionPlex) and protein-expression (IHC) testing for EGFR, TS and PD-L1.

Results:
Expanded platform profiling identified targetable NTRK gene fusions (NTRK3:ETV6 and NTRK1:TPM3) in 2 cases and c-MET exon 14 skipping in 1 case. IHC identified PD-L1 expression in 7 (3 low and 4 high TPS), EGFR over-expression (H-score>200) in 7, and TS under expression in 13 cases. Initial NGS panel identified 2 low allele frequency pathogenic mutations (PIK3CA and GNAS), and 3 gene amplifications (MDM2, CDK4 and CDKN2A), as potential non-characteristic drivers in 4 cases. Total mutational load (TML) range was 1-10/Mb (mean 5.2/Mb).

Conclusions:
With the routine use of NGS a small proportion of cases (4.2%) remain without standard biomarker-guided therapy recommendation. They are characterized by a lower TML (5.2/Mb) than reported for NSCLC (e.g. TCGA mean: 8.9/Mb). A significant benefit from expanded multiplatform testing (RNA- and protein-based) included detection of biomarkers for immune check point inhibitors (33% eligible) and targeted therapies (23% eligible: NTRK and c-Met inhibitors). Over-expression of EGFR and under expression of TS (57% and 72%. respectively) could provide additional information for therapy guidance in specific cancer types.

Clinical trial identification:
Not applicable

Legal entity responsible for the study:
Caris Life Sciences

Funding:
Caris Life Sciences

Disclosure:
Z. Gatalica, A. Voss: Employment: Caris Life Sciences. J. Xiu, W. Chen, T. Maney: Employment: Caris LIfe Sciences. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Treatment in NSCL is quickly evolving and new agents make it to the routine practice at a rapid pace. Whether outcome and PRO data generated in clinical trials with often narrow inclusion and exclusion criteria will hold up in the routine practice is of high interest, especially due to the increasing costs of new drugs. Therefore, registry data are of ever increasing importance to patients, physicians and reimbursement institutions.

Methods:
Therefore, we have started a prospective, clinical registry for patients with metastatic NSCLC. The purpose of CRISP is to set up a national clinical research platform to document representative data on molecular testing, sequences of systemic therapies and other treatment modalities, course of disease in patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC in Germany not amenable to curative treatment. A particular focus is on molecular biomarker testing of patients before the start of 1[st] -line treatment. The data shall be used to assess the current state of care and to develop recommendations concerning topics that could be improved. PRO assessment will provide large-scale data on quality of life and anxiety/depression for real-life patients in routine practice. In addition, two questionnaires (concerning individual quality of life and patient-caregiver communication) will be validated in German patients with metastatic NSCLC. Furthermore, CRISP will set up a decentral tissue annotation for future collaborative, investigational scientific biomarker testing. This study will be carried out in up to 150 representative cancer centers in all therapeutic sectors in Germany. More than 8000 patients will be recruited and followed up to a maximum of 3 years, respectively until death.

Results:
The first patients have been included in Dec. 2015. As of Jan. 2[nd] 2017, 71 centers are recruiting patients and 529 patients have been recruited. Preliminary data will be presented at the meeting for molecular testing, demographic data as well as treatment stratification in the 1[st] line setting.

Conclusions:
The registry CRISP will be the first to present representative real life data, covering all treatment settings of patients with NSCLC in Germany.

Clinical trial identification:
NCT02622581

Legal entity responsible for the study:
AIO-Studien-gGmbH

Funding:
CRISP is supported by Grants from AstraZeneca GmbH, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Celgene GmbH, Lilly Deutschland GmbH, MSD Sharp & Dohme GmbH, Novartis Pharma GmbH, and Pfizer Pharma GmbH.

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) enables a non-invasive option for comprehensive genomic analysis of lung cancer patients. In this study, we evaluated the clinical utility of ctDNA sequencing on treatment strategy.

Methods:
In this retrospective study, data was collected from files of 109 NSCLC patients at the Thoracic Cancer Unit at Rabin Medical Center, Israel, between 2014-2017. Plasma samples from advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were analyzed by a commercial test (Guardant 360[TM]), using massively parallel paired-end synthesis to sequence a targeted gene panel. This test allows the detection of somatic alterations such as point mutations, indels, fusions and copy number amplifications.

Results:
109 consecutive NSCLC patients were included in this study. Median age at diagnosis was 63 years, 81% had adenocarcinoma. 39% (43/109) performed ctDNA analysis before 1[st] line therapy (Group A) and 61% (66/109) on progression (Group B), among them 42% (28/66) after progression on EGFR TKI (Group B1). ctDNA analysis yielded lung cancer related actionable mutations in 40% (44/109) of the patients; 32% (14/43) in group A and 45% (30/66) in group B; 71% (20/28) in group B1. Treatment decision was taken toward targeted therapy subsequent to NGS analysis in 27% of patients. 68 individual actionable genomic alterations were found (table).rnTable: 126PGenetic alterations frequencies among groups A, B and B1rn

rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrn

Group A: Upfront NGS (n = 43, 19 individual mutations)		Group B: NGS on progression (n = 66, 49 individual mutations)		Group B1: NGS on progression on EGFR TKIs (n = 28, 34 individual mutations)
EGFR Sensitizing	52% (10/19)	EGFR Sensitizing	45% (22/49)	EGFR Sensitizing	59% (20/34)
MET	16% (3/19)	MET	25% (12/49)	EGFR T790M	23% (8/34)
ERBB2	10.5% (2/19)	EGFR T790M	16% (8/49)	MET	12% (4/34)
BRAF V600E	10.5% (2/19)	RET	6% (3/49)	ERBB2	3% (1/34)
RET	10.5% (2/19)	ERBB2	6% (3/49)	ALK	3% (1/34)
rn	rn	ALK	2% (1/49)	rn	rn

rnrnResponse assessment (RECIST) for 20 patients with evaluable response to targeted therapy showed complete response in 5% (1/20), partial response in 35% (7/20), stable disease in 25% (5/20) and progressive disease in 35% (7/20). Response rate was 20% (1/5) for group A, 47% (7/15) for group B, among them 67% (6/9) for group B1. Total objective response rate (ORR) was 40%.

Conclusions:
Comprehensive ctDNA testing revealed possible treatment options for 40% of patients analyzed. The highest impact was seen in the progressors on EGFR therapy. These positive results emphasize the utility of liquid biopsy analysis to guide clinicians to select the right therapy for the right patient.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Institute of Oncology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Funding:
Institute of Oncology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Disclosure:
S. Geva: Travel grant from Teva Pharmaceuticals. Honorarium from Guardant Health, Inc. T. Twito, A. Dvir, L. Soussan-Gutman: Employee of Oncotest (subsidiary of Teva pharmaceuticals), the distributor of Guardant360 in Israel. E. Dudnik: Consultant of BI. Honorary lectures for BI, Roche, AstraZeneca and MSD. R.B. Lanman: Employee with stock ownership in Guardant Health, Inc. N. Peled: Consultant for Pfizer, BI, Roche, AZ, MSD, BMS, Lilly, Novartis, and NovellusDx. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
The role of advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) at diagnosis is increasingly explored as an independent prognostic factor of survival in stage IV NSCLC. Post-treatment changes in ALI and the potential impact on survival are not clear in this group of patients. We aimed to evaluate prognostic role of ALI in stage IV NSCLC at diagnosis as well as post treatment.

Methods:
A retrospective descriptive study was conducted for patients with stage IV NSCLC actively treated at Calvary Mater Newcastle, Australia from 2010 to 2015. Advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI = BMI x Albumin/NLR; BMI=Body mass index, NLR=Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, Albumin=Serum albumin g/dl) values calculated at diagnosis and post first cycle chemotherapy/targeted treatment. Demographic variables summarised and estimates of Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival distribution for overall survival (OS) generated. Extended Cox regression used to derive OS hazard ratios of predictive variables. Project approved by Research Ethics Committee.

Results:
A total of 279 patients with Stage IV NSCLC were treated during the study time. Baseline ALI was available for 276 patients and post first treatment cycle for 189 patients. The Cox PH model suggested ALI was a prognostic factor for OS, hazard ratio = 0.982 (95% CI: 0.973-0.991). Post first-cycle treatment, individuals with mean baseline ALI, had a hazard ratio = 0.391 (95% CI: 0.211-0.629) that was also increasing multiplicatively as a function of baseline ALI. At baseline, KM estimate suggested median survival was 6.23 months (95% CI: 4.83-9.27) for patients with ALI < 18 compared to 14.70 months (95% CI: 11.63-18.20) for those with ALI > 18. Post first-cycle treatment, not adjusted for baseline, patients with ALI < 18 median survival was 5.23 months (95% CI: 3.27-9.07) compared to 12.67 months (95% CI: 10.47-15.13) for ALI > 18.

Conclusions:
ALI has a strong association with survival from baseline and post first-cycle treatment adjusted for baseline ALI. High pretreatment and post treatment ALI predicts for a longer survival while low pretreatment and post treatment ALI predicts for a shorter survival.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee

Funding:
Department of Medical Oncology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Australia Hunter Medical Research Institute, Australia

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
The Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays a crucial role in tumor pathogenesis, specifically in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, motility and invasiveness. The activity of Wnt family ligands is antagonized by several secreted factors including Dickkopf (DKK). A member of the Dickkopf family, DKK-1, is a 35 kDa secreted protein that is a potent inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The study was designed to evaluate the association between serum Dickkopf-1(DKK-1) and non- small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) bone metastases.

Methods:
Serum DKK-1and CEA levels were quantified in 318 NSCLC patients, 140 with osseous metastases and 178 with extraosseous metastases. We used receiver operating characteristics (ROC) to evaluate the predictive qualities of these parameters for bone metastases.

Results:
Serum DKK-1 levels were significantly higher in patients with osseous metastases compared with patients with extraosseous metastases (P < 0.001). ROC curves showed that the optimum cutoff was 311.8 ng/ml (area under curve [AUC] 0.791, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.739–0.843, sensitivity 77.1% and specificity 71.4%). ROC analysis also showed that testing both DKK-1 and CEA increased the detection accuracy for NSCLC bone metastases compared with CEA alone (AUC 0.797, 95% CI 0.746–0.848, sensitivity 82.9% and specificity 68.9%; DKK-1 plus CEA vs. DKK-1 alone P = 0.370; DKK-1 plus CEA vs. CEA alone P = 0.0001). Thus, serum DKK-1 correlated with the number of bone lesions (P = 0.042). In osseous metastases group, Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that patients with high serum DKK-1 levels had poorer overall survival than patients with low serum DKK-1 levels (P = 0.025), and multivariable analyses showed serum DKK-1 to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.029).

Conclusions:
Our data shows that serum DKK-1 levels are increased in NSCLC patients with bone metastases. More importantly this is the first report to show that high serum DKK-1 levels are associated with the extent of bone metastases and poor survival in NSCLC patients with bone metastases.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Shanghai Chest Hospital

Funding:
The Science and Technology Development Fund of Shanghai Chest Hospital (Grant No. 2014YZDC10101)

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background:
Approximately 20% of pleural effusions are due to malignancy, and 50% of these are due to primary lung cancer. However, the etiology of the effusions is often obscure and various diagnostic procedures may be required in order to find their cause. Cathepsin D (CD) as a lysosomal aspartic protease is one of the most important intracellular enzymes considered to be substantially involved in tumor invasion. Procathespin D (pCD) is overexpressed and secreted by cells of various tumor types. The aim of this study is to evaluate the serum and pleural fluid levels of CD and pCD as a differential diagnostic tool in patients with pleural effusion caused by malignant or benign process.

Methods:
Patients and pleural fluid collection: The present study included 85 patients (40 patients with lung cancer, 30 patients with tuberculosis, 10 patients with parapneumonic effusion, 5 patients with transudate effusion) who underwent thoracentesis and pleural biopsy. Clinical and pathology data, including tumor type were acquired for all patients. Analysis of CD and pCD: Amounts of CD in the pleural fluid and serum were determined with a cathepsin D ELISA kit and pCD with a sandwich ELISA method.

Results:
Concentration of pleural CD was not significantly different in patients with malignant pleural effusion compared with non malignant effusion (mean 13.34 vs. 16.72 ng/ml; p > 0.05), and also the concentration of serum CD was not significantly different (mean 41.34 vs. 36.52 ng/ml; p > 0.05). Plasma pCD of malignant pleural effusion and non malignant effusion were 42.03 ng/ml and 38.59 ng/ml, respectively (p > 0.05) but pleural pCD of malignant pleural effusion and non malignant effusion were 84.24 ng/ml and 33.82 ng/ml, respectively with significance (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:
In this small cohort, the pleural pCD of lung cancer patients showed elevated levels compared with that of non malignant effusion. The pleural fluid levels of pCD could be a diagnostic marker of malignant effusion with lung cancer and further prospective studies might shed more light on the value of CD and pCD in the diagnostics of pleural effusion.

Clinical trial identification:


Legal entity responsible for the study:
Chang Youl Lee

Funding:
Hallym University Medical Center

Disclosure:
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.