BackgroundAccording to the literature and our experience, the most common sites of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastases include the brain, bone, liver, adrenal glands, contralateral lung and distant lymph nodes. Metastases to other organs are relatively rare. There have been numerous case reports and a few small case series of uncommon metastases derived from NSCLC.MethodsWe defined all organs except the common metastatic sites mentioned above as uncommon sites of metastasis. Patients with uncommon metastases among 2,872 consecutive NSCLC patients with stage IV disease at the Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute (GLCI) from 2006 to 2012 were included in this study. The diagnosis of uncommon metastases was based on pathology or imaging studies.ResultsUncommon metastases were diagnosed in 193 cases at anatomical sites such as the soft tissue, kidney, pancreas, spleen, peritoneum, intestine, bone marrow, eye, ovary, thyroid, heart, breast, tonsil and nasal cavity. Uncommon metastases were identified as independent poor prognostic factors through a multivariate analysis with a HR (hazard ratio) of 1.29 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.09–1.52, P < 0.01]. Those patients who received systemic therapy plus local treatment had a better survival rate than did those who received systemic therapy only (P < 0.01); all patients received best supportive care.ConclusionsMetastases to the above mentioned sites are infrequent. The presentation of uncommon metastases tends to indicate a poor outcome, and selected patients may benefit from local treatment.

Introduction: Leptomeningeal metastases (LMs) indicated a poor prognosis in NSCLC. LMs were more frequent in driver gene-mutated patients, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell-free DNA has shown unique genetic profiles of LM in EGFR-mutated LM. However, studies in patients with ALK receptor tyrosine kinase gene (ALK)-rearranged NSCLC with LMs are scarce. Methods: Patients with lung cancer with ALK rearrangement were screened from September 2011 to February 2018 at our institute. CSF and paired plasma were tested by next-generation sequencing. Results: LMs were diagnosed in 30 (10.3%) of 291 patients with ALK-rearranged lung cancer. A total of 11 paired CSF and plasma samples tested by next-generation sequencing were analyzed. Driver genes were detected in 81.8% of the CSF samples (9 of 11) and 45.5% of the plasma samples (5 of 11) (p ¼ 0.183). The maximum allelic fractions were all higher in CSF than in plasma (p ¼ 0.009). ALK and tumor protein p53 gene (TP53) were the two most frequently mutated genes in CSF. Gatekeeper gene ALK G1202R and C1156F mutations were identified in CSF after resistance to alectinib. Multiple copy number variants were mainly found in CSF, including in EGFR, cyclin D1 gene (CCND1), fibroblast growth factor 3 gene (FGF3), and fibroblast growth factor 4 gene (FGF4). Also found were v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog gene (MYC) copy number gains and TP53 and cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A gene (CDKN2A) copy number deletions. Brigatinib seemed to be effective in controlling LM. One case showed that CSF could be used to monitor disease development of LM and longitudinally monitor tumor response. Conclusion: Liquid biopsy of CSF is more sensitive than liquid biopsy of plasma to detect targetable alterations, characterizing resistance mechanisms on progression and monitoring tumor response in patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC with LM. Thus, CSF might be promising as a medium of liquid biopsy in LM.

Solid predominant LUAD was identified as a subtype with adaptive immune resistance, higher cytotoxic activity, and enhanced immunogenicity. These findings suggest that patients with solid predominant LUAD may represent a potential selective group that will benefit from adjuvant programmed cell death 1 blockade immunotherapy.

9005 Background: ADJUVANT-CTONG1104, a randomized phase 3 trial showed adjuvant gefitinib treatment significantly improved disease-free survival (DFS) vs standard doublet chemotherapy in patients (pts) with epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) mutation-positive resected stage II-IIIA (N1-N2) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 5-year survival rate of N1N2 were 38%-50% in IASLC staging system. Here, we present the final overall survival (OS) results from the study. Methods: From Sep 2011 to April 2014, 222 patients, aged 18-75 years, with EGFR activating mutation through completely resection and diagnosed as stage II-IIIA (N1-N2) NSCLC pathologically from 27 sites were enrolled. The enrolled patients were 1:1 randomized to receive adjuvant gefitinib (250 mg once per day) for 24 months (G, n=111) or vinorelbine (25 mg/m2, d1 and d8) plus cisplatin (75 mg/m2, d1) every 3 weeks for 4 cycles (C, n=111). The primary endpoint was DFS in the ITT population. Secondary endpoints included OS, 3 and 5-year DFS rate, 5-year OS rate. The subsequent therapy data were collected, including crossover from C to G, re-challenge TKI and other treatment. Data cut-off date was Jan. 13, 2020. Results: A median follow-up was 76.9 months. The median OS (mOS) was 75.5 months based on 95 (42.8%) events in ITT whole population. The mOS was 75.5m in G arm and 79.2m in C arm (HR 0.96, 95%CI 0.64-1.43, p=0.823). The 3, 5-year OS rate were 68.6%, 53.8% in G and 67.5%, 52.4% in C respectively. DFS in 3, 5-y were 40.3%, 23.4% in G and 33.2%, 23.7% in C, respectively (P3-y=0.395, P5-y=891). All predefined subgroups including age, gender, lymph node, EGFR mutation type had no significant difference in statistics but in favor of G arm in trend. Subsequent treatment especially targeted therapy contributed most to OS (HR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.26 – 0.83). Median OS of patients receiving subsequent target therapy was75.5m (n=35), 36.4m in other treatment (n=33; (P<0.001). For G mOS were 75.5 (n=15; target therapy) and 35.0 (n=18; other, p<0.001), for C 62.8m (n=20) and 46.8m (n=15; p=0.251). The RR was 26.7%, DCR 66.7%, mPFS 14.1m and mOS 19.6m for patients with rechallenged EGFR TKI in G arm (n=15). No novel unexpected SAE was observed during follow up. Conclusion The DFS survival advantage did not translate to OS difference in ADJUVANT trial. The OS with 75.5m was the best one of survival in completely resected N1N2 NSCLC comparing with historical data and sequent TKI treatment contribute to overall survival. Clinical trial information: NCT01405079.

BackgroundThe incidence of multiple primary malignancies (MPM) has increased sharply in recent decades. However, the clinical characteristics and prognosis of MPM patients involving lung cancer were not fully elucidated. This retrospective study was designed to explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of MPM patients involving lung cancer in the People’s Republic of China.MethodsOf 5405 lung cancer cases diagnosed at the Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute between 2005 and 2013, we analyzed 185 patients (3.4 %) with MPM involving lung cancer.ResultsAmong 185 patients with MPM involving lung cancer, 10 (5.4 %)had three malignancies and 175 (94.6 %) had two malignancies. 10 patients with three malignancies were excluded from the analysis to avoid misunderstanding. Of 175 accompanying malignancies, 64 (36.6 %) were synchronous MPM patients and 111 (63.4 %) were metachronous MPM patients; 49 (28.0 %) were lung cancer first MPM patients and 126 (72.0 %) were other cancer first MPM patients. The most frequent accompanying malignancy was colon cancer (25/175), followed by rectal cancer (18/175), esophageal cancer (17/175), and thyroid cancer (13/175). Metachronous MPM patients showed significantly better overall survival (OS) than synchronous MPM, with a median OS of 72.8 (range 12.2–391.0) and 12.9 (range 0.8–86.3)months, respectively (P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis revealed that time of occurrence and stage were independent factors for OS.ConclusionsColorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, and thyroid cancer were the tumors that most frequently accompanying lung cancer. Metachronous MPM patients showed significantly better OS compared with synchronous MPM patients.

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Background Resistance to third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) presents a major clinical challenge in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we report resistance mechanisms to abivertinib, a novel third-generation EGFR TKI, from a phase I dose-escalation/expansion study ( NCT02330367 ). Methods Patients with EGFR T790M-positive advanced NSCLC and progression on prior EGFR TKIs received abivertinib in dose escalation (50–350 mg twice daily [BID]) or expansion (300 mg BID) cohorts. Patients enrolled at Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute who underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based genomic profiling upon abivertinib progression (prior to October 30, 2018) were enrolled in this exploratory analysis. Findings Thirty of 73 patients enrolled were eligible for resistance analysis. Upon abivertinib progression, 27 patients provided plasma samples (six patients also provided paired samples from the progression sites) and three patients only provided tissue samples from the progression sites for NGS. A heterogeneous landscape of resistance to abivertinib was observed: 15% (4/27) experienced EGFR T790M loss and 13% (4/30) developing EGFR tertiary mutations including C797S. EGFR amplification was observed in 11 patients (37%), and considered a putative resistance mechanism in seven (23%) patients. Other EGFR -independent resistance mechanisms involved CDKN2A , MET , PIK3CA , HER2 , TP53 , Rb1 and small-cell lung cancer transformation. Interpretation Our findings reveal a heterogenous pattern of resistance mechanisms to abivertinib which is distinct from that previously reported with osimertinib. EGFR amplification was the most common resistance mechanism in this cohort. Fund The National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC1303800), Key Lab System Project of Guangdong Science and Technology Department – Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Translational Medicine in Lung Cancer (Grant No. 2012A061400006/2017B030314120).

There is a great deal of concern about metastasis of lung cancer to regional lymph nodes, due partly to the work of groups of thoracic surgeons in Japan and North America beginning in the 1970s. The classification of regional lymph node stations for lung cancer staging published by Mountain and Dresler has been widely adopted for more than ten years. Anatomic landmarks for 14 levels of intrapulmonary, hilar, and mediastinal lymph nodes stations are designated. Skip transfer and occult lymph node metastasis, confirmed by studies regarding the mode of spread of intrathoracic lymphatic metastasis, are two theoretical bases for complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy of lung cancer. However, whether or not the degree of the dissection influences prognosis, the role of systematic nodal dissection (SND) vs mediastinal lymph node sampling (MLD) in resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. A systematic literature search was performed to identify relevant reports, making full use of the 'Cited by,' 'Related Records,' 'References,' and 'Author Index' functions in the PubMed and ISI Web of Science databases. This paper presents a review of the role of mediastinal lymph node distribution and methods of determining suitability for hilar and mediastinal lymphadenectomy based on the four subsets of stage IIIA-N2, balancing the cost vs effect of mediastinal lymph node dissection in resectable NSCLC, focusing on the stage migration bias in clinical trials comparing SND and MLS, recommending a reasonable node dissection sequence, improving the prospects for the perioperative anti-tumor therapy based on mediastinal lymphadenectomy, and evaluating the various preoperative staging techniques. Finally, we believe that, besides the role of complete resection and accurate staging, the complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy is the core component of the lung cancer multidisciplinary therapy, and suggest that the values of lymphadenectomy should be further assessed using decision-tree analysis based on large-scale prospective randomized trials and pooled analysis to evaluate the costs vs effects.