scholarly journals Toripalimab in an advanced non-small cell lung cancer patient with poor general condition after multiline treatment: a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 030006052110429
Author(s):  
Yuling He ◽  
Tongtong An

Several clinical trials have proven that immunotherapy can improve survival and benefit non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In patients who progress after chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy can prolong overall survival compared with patients receiving single-agent chemotherapy. A 61-year-old man diagnosed with advanced NSCLC and without driver variants received first-line chemotherapy but experienced recurrence. During subsequent treatment, the disease progressed rapidly, and his general condition deteriorated; therefore, toripalimab monotherapy was initiated. Surprisingly, he responded well, and symptoms were relieved after several treatment cycles despite pseudoprogression, shown in chest images. For driver gene-negative NSCLC patients who progress after chemotherapy and who develop poor performance status (PS), ICIs are an option to alleviate symptoms and improve survival. Furthermore, immunotherapy in patients with pseudoprogression may also provide a survival benefit.

Author(s):  
Stefania Nobili ◽  
Daniele Lavacchi ◽  
Gabriele Perrone ◽  
Giulio Vicini ◽  
Renato Tassi ◽  
...  

The use of vinorelbine as a single agent or in combination regimens in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with satisfactory clinical activity. However, the role of vinorelbine-based chemotherapy in chemonaive locally advanced unresectable or metastatic NSCLC patients, according to real-world treatment patterns, has still not been widely explored. Eighty-one patients treated at a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-seven received standard first-line single-agent vinorelbine, and 44 received vinorelbine plus platinum drugs, based on physician’s choice; 61.7% were older than 70 years, and 60.5% were affected by ≥2 comorbidities. Sixty-three patients were evaluable for objective response: 22% achieved partial response and 41% stable disease. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.4 months. A benefit in PFS was observed in patients treated with combinations vs. single-agent vinorelbine (6.7 vs. 3.5 months, p = 0.043). Median overall survival (OS) was 10.4 months without a statistically significant difference between treatments (12.4 vs. 7.5 months). In 55 stage IV patients, OS was positively correlated with combination regimens, M1a stage, or ≤2 metastatic lesions. Grade 3‐4 toxicity occurred in 33% of patients, and dose reduction in 11%. A statistically significant higher incidence of toxicity was observed in patients receiving combinations, in women, in patients younger than 75 years, or patients with metastases. In this real-word analysis, we confirmed the efficacy and tolerability of vinorelbine as a single agent or combined with platinums in patients usually underrepresented in controlled clinical trials. Single-agent vinorelbine may represent a suitable option in elderly or unfit NSCLC patients and warrants investigation as a potential drug candidate for immunochemotherapy combination regimens.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianming Hu ◽  
Jiawei Hu ◽  
Xiaolan Liu ◽  
Long Li ◽  
Xue Bai

Abstract Background: Single agent maintenance therapy has been approved for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) due to its potential survival benefits, but whether combined maintenance therapy would improve the survival of advanced NSCLC remains undetermined. Methods: Relevant trials were identified by searching electronic databases and conference meetings. Prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing combination maintenance therapy in advanced NSCLC patients were included. Outcomes of interest included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and grade 3–4 toxicities. Results: A total of 1950 advanced NSCLC patients received combination maintenance treatment from six trials were included for analysis. The use of doublet maintenance therapy in NSCLC patients significantly improved PFS (HR 0.74, 95%CI: 0.59–0.93, P = 0.010), but not for OS (HR 0.95, 95%CI: 0.85–1.07, P = 0.40) in comparison with single agent maintenance therapy. Similar results were observed in sub-group analysis according to treatment regimens. In addition, there was no significantly risk difference between doublet and single agent maintenance therapy in terms of grade 3/4 hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities. Conclusion: The findings of the present study show that doublet combination maintenance therapy is superior to single agent maintenance therapy in terms of PFS, without increased grade 3–4 toxicities. Future prospective studies are recommended to clearly assess the long-term clinical benefit of doublet maintenance therapy and its impact on health-related quality of life.


PRILOZI ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-36
Author(s):  
Simonida Crvenkova

AbstractSummary: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement is identified in approximately 3-7% of all metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized the management of this subset of lung cancer cases.Purpose: This study aims to show alectinib (TKI) effectiveness and safety with focus on alectinib intracranial efficacy for ALK+ NSCLC patients.Case presentation: Patient 1 was a 46-year-old woman diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer with an echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion gene (ALK+). She presented with intracranial and liver metastases and poor performance status of ECOG 3. Alectinib was initiated as a second line therapy, after whole brain irradiation and discontinuation of first line chemotherapy after two cycles, due to the central nervous system progression and liver metastases. Good response was consequently achieved, characterized with improved overall performance and without significant adverse events.Patient 2 was a 53-year old man with left sided lung adenocarcinoma surgically treated in 2017. Post-operative pTNM stage was IIB with a positive resection margin- R1. He received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In 2019, after two and half years of being disease free, he presented with severe cerebral symptoms leading to poor performance status. CT scan of the brain showed multiple brain metastases. He was treated with first line alectinib after completion of whole brain radiotherapy. In 5 months period he got significantly better and able for work again.Conclusions: We recommend alectinib as a first and second line treatment approach for ALK+ NSCLC patients, in particular the ones with brain metastases at the time of diagnosis and poor PS.


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