KRAS-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer is the most common molecular driver of lung adenocarcinoma in western populations. No KRAS specific therapy has been approved by the FDA until 2021. Despite significant heterogeneity in comutations, patients typically receive single-agent immunotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy as standard first-line therapy. It is unclear whether KRAS mutations predict outcomes with immunotherapy; however, there is emerging data suggesting improved outcomes in patients with a TP53 comutation and worse outcomes in patients with a STK11/LKB1 or KEAP1 comutation.
The treatment paradigm for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has changed little in the last 18 years. Radical intent treatment, consisting of surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, has been offered to a highly select few; however, there is little randomised evidence to validate this approach. Prior to 2020 chemotherapy with platinum and an anti-folate was the only intervention with randomised evidence to demonstrate improved overall survival (OS) in MPM. No systemic therapy had been demonstrated to improve OS in the second line setting until 2020. The publication of the Checkmate 743 trial in 2021 demonstrated a survival benefit of combination immunotherapy over standard chemotherapy in newly diagnosed patients with MPM. This finding was shortly followed by the CONFIRM trial which demonstrates a modest but significant survival benefit of second line nivolumab versus placebo in patients having previously received standard chemotherapy. The results of these trials, recent biomarker directed therapy and chemotherapy adjuncts are discussed within this review. The integration of immunotherapy for the few patients in whom radical surgical therapy is intended is currently the subject of clinical trials and offers the prospect of improving outcomes in this rare but devastating disease.
Background: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is an approved treatment modality for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP NETs), Although Phase III randomised clinical trial data is not available for NETs of other site of origin, in practice, PRRT is used more widely in clinical practice, based on its mechanism of targeting the somatostatin receptor. Use of PRRT for lung (bronchial) NET, specifically typical and atypical carcinoid (TC, AC), has been reported only in small retrospective case series. This multicentre study adds to the evidence regarding utility of PRRT for lung NETs. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with TC and AC who received 177 Lu-dotatate PRRT between January 2002 and June 2019 in six hospitals across Australia was undertaken. Data regarding demographics, efficacy and toxicity was evaluated at each site by the treating clinician. Results: Forty-eight patients (32 AC, 15 TC, 1 unclassified) received a median of four 177 Lu-dotatate treatments. There was a median of one prior line of systemic treatment (range: 0-3). The response rate to 177 Lu-dotatate was 33%, with a median overall survival of 49 months (range of 3-91), at a median follow up of 33 months. This compares favourably with GEP NET. Overall toxicity was recorded as modest. Conclusions: 177 Lu-dotatate PRRT in patients with lung NETs is used in real world practice, where it appears well-tolerated with some efficacy. Further evidence could be obtained through a global prospective clinical or registry trial.
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