Characterization of different CTC subpopulations in non-small cell lung cancer.

Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) serve as valuable biomarkers. However, EpCAM positive CTCs are less frequently detected in NSCLC patients compared to other epithelial tumours. First, EpCAM protein expression was analysed in primary and metastatic lung cancer tissue. In both groups 21% of the samples were EpCAM negative. Second, the CellSearch system identified 15% of patients (n = 48) as CTC positive whereas a multiplex RT-PCR for PIK3CA, AKT2, TWIST, and ALDH1 following EGFR, HER2 and EpCAM based enrichment detected CTCs in 29% of the patients. Interestingly, 86% of CTC positive patients were found to express ALDH1. Only 11% of the patients were CTC-positive by both techniques. CTC positivity was associated with patient disease state when assessed by the multiplex RT-PCR assay (p = 0.015). Patients harbouring tumours with an altered EGFR genotype were more frequently CTC-positive compared to patients with EGFR wildtype tumours. In subsets of patients, CTCs were found to express genes involved in resistance to therapy such as HER3 and MET. In conclusion, using multiple targets for CTC capture and identification increases the sensitivity of CTC detection in NSCLC patients, which can be explained by the presence of different CTC subtypes with distinct molecular features.

Surgical strategies in the therapy of non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer represents the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Despite improvements in preoperative staging, surgical techniques, neoadjuvant/adjuvant options and postoperative care, there are still major difficulties in significantly improving survival, especially in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To date, surgical resection is the primary mode of treatment for stage I and II NSCLC and has become an important component of the multimodality therapy of even more advanced disease with a curative intention. In fact, in NSCLC patients with solitary distant metastases, surgical interventions have been discussed in the last years. Accordingly, this review displays the recent surgical strategies implemented in the therapy of NSCLC patients.

A case of lethal spontaneous massive hemothorax in a patient with neurofibromatosis 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by multiple dermatological disorders amongst others. Among the less frequent manifestations are vascular abnormalities. Here, we present a case of spontaneous massive hemothorax in a 39-year-old Caucasian woman with neurofibromatosis 1 and a thoracic meningocele with a lethal outcome despite extensive surgical intervention as well as intensive care measures. Spontaneous hemothorax is a rare, but potentially lethal complication of neurofibromatosis type 1, which necessitates quick and decisive intervention; endovascular embolization where possible, otherwise aggressive surgical intervention in unstable patients.

Intermittent positive-pressure breathing after lung surgery.

Intermittent positive-pressure breathing is thought to avoid atelectasis and improve pulmonary function after major lung resections. Since no clear scientific data was available to confirm this, our objective was to determine whether atelectasis can be avoided and if postoperative lung function is improved. Prospective analysis was carried out in 135 patients operated on between 2007 and 2009; 55 received intermittent positive-pressure breathing. Pre- and postoperative lung function tests were similar in both groups. Pulmonary complications were observed in 19% of patients without intermittent positive-pressure breathing and 27% of those who received this treatment. We were unable to find evidence that additional improvement in postoperative pulmonary function is achieved when adding intermittent positive-pressure breathing to the standard physical therapy.