Real-World Evidence of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lung Cancer Survival: Canadian Perspective.

Background: The effect of COVID-19 on treatment outcomes in the literature remains limited and is mostly reported either as predictive survival using prioritization and modeling techniques. We aimed to quantify the effect of COVID-19 on lung cancer survival using real-world data collected at the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review study of patients diagnosed between March 2019 and March 2022. We compared three cohorts: pre-COVID-19, and 1st and 2nd year of the pandemic. Results: 417 patients were diagnosed and treated with lung cancer at our centre: 130 in 2019, 103 in 2020 and 184 in 2021. Although the proportion of advanced/metastatic-stage lung cancer remained the same, there was a significant increase in the late-stage presentation during the pandemic. The proportion of M1c (multiple extrathoracic sites) cases in 2020 and 2021 was 57% and 51%, respectively, compared to 31% in 2019 (p < 0.05). Median survival for early stages of lung cancer was similar in the three cohorts. However, patients diagnosed in the M1c stage had a significantly increased risk of death. The 6-month mortality rate was 53% in 2021 compared to 47% in 2020 and 29% in 2019 (p = 0.004). The median survival in this subgroup of patients decreased significantly from 13 months in 2019 to 6 months in 2020 and 5 months in 2021 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study is, to our knowledge, the largest single-institution study in Canada looking at lung cancer survival during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study looks at overall survival in the advanced/metastatic setting of NSCLC during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have previously reported on treatment pattern changes and increased wait times for NSCLC patients during the pandemic. In this study, we report that the advanced/metastatic subgroup had both an increase in the 6-month mortality rate and worsening overall survival during this same time period. Although there was no statistical difference in the proportion of patients with advanced disease, there was a concerning trend of increased M1c disease in cohorts 2 and 3. The higher M1c disease during the COVID-19 pandemic (cohorts 2 and 3) likely played a crucial role in increasing the 6-month mortality rate and leading to a reduced overall survival of lung cancer patients during the pandemic. These findings are more likely to be better identified with longer follow-up.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer over a 2-Year Period at a Canadian Academic Center.

BACKGROUND: We have recently reported a 35% drop in new lung cancer diagnoses and a 64% drop in lung cancer surgeries during the first year of the pandemic. METHODS: The target population was divided into three cohorts: pre-COVID-19 (2019), first year of COVID-19 (2020), and second year of COVID-19 (2021). RESULTS: The number of new lung cancer diagnoses during the second year of the pandemic increased by 75%, with more than 50% being in the advanced/metastatic stage. There was a significant increase in cases with multiple extrathoracic sites of metastases during the pandemic. During the first year of the pandemic, significantly more patients were treated with radiosurgery compared to the pre-COVID-19 year. During the second year, the number of radiosurgery and surgical cases returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. No significant changes were observed in systemic chemotherapy and targeted therapy. No statistical difference was identified in the mean wait time for diagnosis and treatment during the three years of observation. However, the wait time for surgery was prolonged compared to the pre-COVID-19 cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The significant drop in new diagnoses of lung cancer during the first year of the pandemic was followed by an almost two-fold increase in the second year, with the increased rate of metastatic disease with multiple extra-thoracic site metastases. Limited access to surgery resulted in the more frequent use of radiosurgery.

Cell-Free Tumor DNA (ctDNA) Utility in Detection of Original Sensitizing and Resistant EGFR Mutations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated the utility of cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) from plasma as an alternative source of genomic material for detection of sensitizing and resistance mutations in NSCLC. We hypothesized that the plasma level of ctDNA is an effective biomarker to provide a non-invasive and thus a less risky method to determine new resistance mutations and to monitor response to treatment and tumor progression in lung cancer patients. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was approved and conducted at the Peter Brojde Lung Cancer Centre, Montreal. Blood was collected in STRECK tubes at four time points. DNA was extracted from plasma, and ctDNA was analyzed for the presence of mutations in the EGFR gene using the COBAS® EGFR v2 qPCR (Roche) test. RESULTS: Overall, 75 pts were enrolled in the study. In total, 23 pts were TKI-naïve, and 52 were already receiving first-line TKI treatment. ctDNA detected the original mutations (OM) in 35/75 (48%) patients. Significantly higher detection rates were observed in TKI-naïve patients compared to the TKI-treated group, 70% versus 37%, respectively (p = 0.012). The detection of the original mutation at the study baseline was a negative predictor of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The resistance mutation (T790M) was detected in 32/74 (43%) patients. In 27/32 (84%), the T790M was detected during treatment with TKI: in 25/27 patients, T790M was detected at the time of radiologic progression, in one patient, T790M was detected before radiologic progression, and in one patient, T790M was detected four weeks after starting systemic chemotherapy post progression on TKI. At the time of progression, the detection of T790M significantly correlates with the re-appearance of OM (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Plasma ctDNA is a noninvasive patient-friendly test that can be used to monitor response to treatment, early progression, and detection of acquired resistant mutations. Monitoring of clearance and re-emergence of driver mutations during TKI treatment effectively identifies progression of the disease. As larger NGS panels are available for ctDNA testing, these findings may also have implications for other biomarkers. The results from ongoing and prospective studies will further determine the utility of plasma testing to diagnose, monitor for disease progression, and guide treatment decisions in NSCLC.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer at a Canadian Academic Center: A Retrospective Chart Review.

The large burden of COVID-19 on health care systems worldwide has raised concerns among medical oncologists about the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer patients. In this retrospective cohort study, we investigated the impact of COVID-19 on lung cancer diagnosis and treatment before and during the COVID-19 era. New lung cancer diagnoses decreased by 34.7% during the pandemic with slightly more advanced stages of disease, there was a significant increase in the utilization of radiosurgery as the first definitive treatment, and a decrease in both systemic treatment as well as surgery compared to the pre-COVID-19 era. There was no significant delay in starting chemotherapy and radiation treatment during the pandemic compared to pre-COVID-19 time. However, we observed a delay to lung cancer surgery during the pandemic time. COVID-19 seems to have had a major impact at our lung cancer center on the diagnoses and treatment patterns of lung cancer patients. Many oncologists fear that they will see an increase in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients in the coming year. This study is still ongoing and further data will be collected and analyzed to better understand the total impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our lung cancer patient population.

Real-World Pattern of Treatment and Clinical Outcomes of EGFR-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in a Single Academic Centre in Quebec.

The discovery of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) for the treatment of EGFR mutant (EGFRm) metastatic NSCLC is regarded as a landmark in lung cancer. EGFR-TKIs have now become a standard first-line treatment for EGFRm NSCLC. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to describe real-world patterns of treatment and treatment outcomes in patients with EGFRm metastatic NSCLC who received EGFR-TKI therapy outside of clinical trials. One hundred and seventy EGFRm metastatic NSCLC patients were diagnosed and initiated on first-line TKI therapy between 2004 and 2018 at the Peter Brojde Lung Cancer Centre in Montreal. Following progression of the disease, 137 (80%) patients discontinued first-line treatment. Moreover, 80/137 (58%) patients received second-line treatment, which included: EGFR-TKIs, platinum-based, or single-agent chemotherapy. At the time of progression on first-line treatment, 73 patients were tested for the T790M mutation. Moreover, 30/73 (41%) patients were found to be positive for the T790M mutation; 62/80 patients progressed to second-line treatment and 20/62 were started on third-line treatment. The median duration of treatment was 11.5 (95% CI; 9.62-13.44) months for first-line treatment, and 4.4 (95% CI: 1.47-7.39) months for second-line treatment. Median OS from the time of diagnosis of metastatic disease was 23.5 months (95% CI: 16.9-30.1) and median OS from the initiation of EGFR-TKI was 20.6 months (95% CI: 13.5-27.6). We identified that ECOG PS ≤ 2, presence of exon 19 deletion mutation, and absence of brain metastases were associated with better OS. A significant OS benefit was observed in patients treated with osimertinib in second-line treatment compared to those who never received osimertinib. Overall, our retrospective observational study suggests that treatment outcomes in EGFRm NSCLC in real-world practice, such as OS and PFS, reflect the result of RCTs. However, given the few observational studies on real-world treatment patterns of EGFR-mutant NSCLC, this study is important for understanding the potential impact of EGFR-TKIs on survival outside of clinical trials. Further real-world studies are needed to characterize patient outcomes for emerging therapies, including first-line osimertinib use and combination of osimertinib with chemotherapy and potential future combination of osimertinib and novel anticancer drug, outside of a clinical trial setting.

The use of a standardized Chinese herbal formula in patients with advanced lung cancer: a feasibility study.

OBJECTIVE: Increasing numbers of cancer patients are using Chinese herbs (CHs). However, differences among prior studies make it difficult to draw firm conclusions about the clinical usefulness of any specific CH formula. The primary objective of this study was to establish the acceptability of taking a standardized CH formula for patients with advanced lung cancer. The secondary objective was to identify any toxicities attributable to this CH formula and to measure changes in quality of life. METHODS: A single-arm, prospective study of a 6-week intervention with a selected CH formula in 15 patients with stage 4 nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC, Seventh American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system). RESULTS: Patients with advanced lung cancer were interested in using the CH formula. Completion (93%) and adherence (98%) levels were very high and most patients perceived the CH treatment as easy to take and were willing to take the CHs used in the study again if it was available. About half of the patients reported adverse events, all of which were mild (Grade 1 or 2) and only a small minority (8%) were potentially related to CHs. No biochemical or hematological evidence of toxicity was observed. Overall, there were improvement in quality of life, and reduced feelings of tiredness and sleepiness. CONCLUSION: This study provides preliminary evidence that short-term use of a carefully selected and prepared CH formula in patients with stage 4 NSCLC is acceptable and safe.

Quality of life, symptom status and physical performance in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy: an exploratory analysis of secondary data.

OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were: (a) to identify predictors of change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing chemotherapy; and (b) to characterize symptom status, nutritional status, physical performance and HRQOL in this population and to estimate the extent to which these variables change following two cycles of chemotherapy. METHODS: A secondary analysis of a longitudinal observational study of 47 patients (24 men and 23 women) with newly diagnosed advanced NSCLC receiving two cycles of first-line chemotherapy was performed. Primary outcomes were changes in HRQOL (physical and mental component summaries (PCS and MCS) of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36)). Predictors in the models included pre-chemotherapy patient-reported symptoms (Schwartz Cancer Fatigue Scale (SCFS) and Lung Cancer Subscale), nutritional screening (Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment) and physical performance measures (6-min Walk Test (6MWT), one-minute chair rise test and grip strength). RESULTS: Mean SF-36 PCS score, 6MWT distance and grip strength declined following two cycles of chemotherapy (p<0.05). Multiple linear regression modelling revealed pre-chemotherapy SCFS score and 6MWT distance as the strongest predictors of change in the mental component of HRQOL accounting for 13% and 9% of the variance, respectively. No significant predictors were found for change in the physical component of HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-chemotherapy 6MWT distance and fatigue severity predicted change in the mental component of HRQOL in patients with advanced NSCLC undergoing chemotherapy, while physical performance declined during treatment. Clinical management of these factors may be useful for HRQOL optimization in this population.

Pattern of Local Recurrence and Distant Metastasis in Breast Cancer By Molecular Subtype.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:  No longer considered a single disease entity, breast cancer is being classified into several distinct molecular subtypes based on gene expression profiling. These subtypes appear to carry prognostic implications and have the potential to be incorporated into treatment decisions. In this study, we evaluated patterns of local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM), and association of survival with molecular subtype in breast cancer patients in the post-adjuvant radiotherapy setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS:  The medical records of 1,088 consecutive, non-metastatic breast cancer patients treated at a single institution between 2004 and 2012 were reviewed. Estrogen/progesterone receptors (ER/PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) enrichment were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Patients were categorized into one of four subtypes: luminal-A (LA; ER/PR+, HER2-, Grade 1-2), luminal-B (LB; ER/PR+, HER2-, Grade > 2), HER2 over-expression (HER2; ER/PR-, HER2+), and triple negative (TN; ER/PR-, HER2-).  Results: The median follow-up time was 6.9 years. During the follow-up, 16% (174/1,088) of patients failed initial treatment and developed either LR (48) or DM (126). The prevalence of LR was the highest in TN (12%) and the lowest in LA (2%). Breast or chest wall relapse was the most frequent site (≈80%) of recurrence in LA, LB, and HER2 subtypes, whereas the regional lymph nodes and chest wall were the common sites of relapse in the TN group (50.0%). DM rates were 6.4% in LA, 12.1% in LB, 19.2% in HER2, and 27.4% in TN subgroups. Five-year survival rates were 84%, 83%, 84%, and 77% in the LA, LB, HER2 and TN subgroups, respectively. There was a statistically significant association between survival and molecular subtypes in an univariate analysis. In the adjusted multivariate analysis, the following variables were independent prognostic factors for survival: T stage, N stage, and molecular subtype. CONCLUSIONS:  Of the four subtypes, the LA subtype tends to have the best prognosis, fairly high survival, and low recurrent or metastases rates. The TN and HER2 subtypes of breast cancer were associated with significantly poorer overall survival and prone to earlier recurrence and metastases. Our results demonstrate a significant association between molecular subtype and survival. The risk of death and relapse/metastases increases fewfold in TN compared to LA. Future prospective studies are warranted and could ultimately lead to the tailoring of adjuvant radiotherapy treatment fields based on both molecular subtype and the more conventional clinicopathologic characteristics.

Six minute walk distance is a predictor of survival in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and distressing disease with a trajectory that is often difficult to predict. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether initial 6 min walk distance (6MWD) or change in 6MWD following inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) predicted survival. METHODS: Patients referred for PR in 2010 were studied in a retrospective chart review. Measures of 6MWD before and following PR were recorded. Initial 6MWD was categorized as ≥250 m, 150 m to 249 m and ≤149 m. Government databases provided survival status up until December 2013 and survival analyses were performed. Initial 6MWD and a minimally important difference (MID) of ≥30 m were used for survival analysis. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 237 patients (92 men, 145 women) with severe COPD. Mean (± SD) forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was 0.75±0.36 L, with a mean FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of 0.57±0.16. Overall three-year survival was 58%. Mean survival for the study period as per predefined categories of 6MWD of ≥250 m, 150 m to 249 m and ≤149 m was 42.2, 37.0 and 27.8 months (P<0.001), respectively, with a three-year survival of 81%, 66% and 34% observed, respectively. Overall mean change in 6MWD was 62±57 m, and a minimal improvement of ≥30 m was observed in 72% of patients. In the lowest walking group, early mortality was significantly higher among those who did not achieve minimal improvement. Older age, male sex and shorter initial 6MWD were negative predictors of survival. CONCLUSION: In patients with severe COPD, initial 6MWD was predictive of survival. Overall survival at three years was only 58% and was especially poor (34%) in patients with low (<150 m) initial walk distance.

Phenotypic heterogeneity of potentially curable non-small-cell lung cancer: cohort study with cluster analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Significant differences in outcome are observed among lung cancer patients belonging to the same tumor node metastasis stage, suggesting phenotypic heterogeneity beyond this staging algorithm. We used a cluster analysis approach to classify patients into distinct phenotypes, and we attempted to validate the clinical relevance of these phenotypes by comparing outcome. METHODS: We formed a cohort of all stage I to III non-small-cell lung cancer patients seen between January 2004 and October 2010 in a cancer center and followed until death or last follow-up appointment, with prospectively collected data on clinical and tumor characteristics. Multiple correspondence analysis was followed by hierarchical clustering to form homogenous clusters of patients. Overall survival and disease-free survival estimates were compared among clusters. RESULTS: The cohort included 367 patients (mean follow-up of 2.5 years), 173 of whom died during that period (191 deaths per 1000 person-years). A four-cluster model was identified, revealing distinct phenotypes with respect to baseline characteristics. Hazard ratios for mortality were 8.1, 5.0, and 3.7 (all statistically significant) for clusters 2, 1, and 3, respectively, when compared with cluster 4-with the most favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: Staging of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer for prognostic purposes may be improved by considering phenotypes that exhibit significant differences in clinical course and outcome.

Comparison of the yield of different diagnostic procedures for cellular differentiation and genetic profiling of non-small-cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: As treatments for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) become personalized, cellular and molecular differentiation of the tumor is becoming the standard of care. Our objective is to compare the yield of different diagnostic procedures for cellular differentiation of NSCLC and analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. METHODS: We evaluated all patients diagnosed with NSCLC from January 2004 to September 2010 at the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal. Diagnostic procedures included surgical biopsies, nonsurgical histologic biopsies (endobronchial and core needle), transbronchial needle aspirate (TBNA) and transthoracic needle aspirate (TTNA), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and pleural fluid samples. RESULTS: We included 702 subjects investigated for histopathologic differentiation of NSCLC. Of these, 269 were also investigated for EGFR mutation. Failure to ascertain the cellular subtype and EGFR mutation status was least likely with surgical specimens (0% and 1.8%, respectively); followed by TTNA (14% and 10%, respectively) and histologic biopsy (18% for both); and was frequent with TBNA (39% and 30%, respectively). Although BAL and pleural fluid specimens provided reasonable yield for cellular differentiation (20 % and 11%, respectively), their results were not accurate in 6% of their samples when compared with concurrent or subsequent surgical specimens (reference standard) performed in a subgroup of patients. CONCLUSION: Radiologically guided TTNA and histologic biopsies provided high yield for both molecular and histologic analyses. The yield of unguided TBNA was relatively low. Further studies are needed to assess the adequacy of BAL and pleural fluid samples for EGFR mutation analysis and accurate characterization of cellular subtypes of NSCLC.

Lung cancer histologies associated with emphysema on computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have demonstrated an increased risk of lung cancer in the presence of emphysema detected visually on computed tomography (CT) independent of smoking history and airflow obstruction. The relationship between emphysema and specific histologic subtypes of lung cancer remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which emphysema on chest CT is associated with lung cancer histology. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of consecutive lung cancer patients referred to the Jewish General Hospital was performed (2001-2009). All those with demographic data, smoking history (pack-years), documented histology and chest CT were included. Emphysema was graded on CT by three readers, using a standardized rubric. Odds of each lung cancer subtype were compared between patients with and without emphysema, and adjusted for age, sex, physician diagnosed COPD and smoking history by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 498 lung cancer patients (mean age 68 years; 44% female; 16% never smokers; 53% without emphysema on CT). The most common histologies were adenocarcinoma (242 [49%]), squamous (71 [14%]), undifferentiated (48 [10%]) and small cell carcinoma (42 [8%]). The presence of emphysema was associated with increased odds of squamous (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.8-5.3) and small cell (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.1-4.1) carcinoma. After adjustment for age, sex, COPD and smoking history, emphysema was associated with squamous (adjusted OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.4-4.8) but not small cell (adjusted OR 1.5; 95% CI 0.76-3.1) carcinoma. Sensitivity analysis was performed by sequential censoring of each histologic subtype yielding similar results. Adenocarcinoma was less common in the presence of emphysema relative to squamous and small cell carcinoma (adjusted OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.41-0.92). When these latter histologies were censored, no significant association between adenocarcinoma and emphysema was observed (adjusted OR 1.0; 95% CI 0.49-2.1). CONCLUSIONS: Relative to other histologic subtypes, the odds of squamous carcinoma were significantly increased among lung cancer patients with emphysema after adjustment for age, sex, COPD and smoking history. Other common subtypes were not independently associated with emphysema.

Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations detected by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography in nonsmall cell lung cancer: impact on response to therapy with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Somatic mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase domain are associated with sensitivity to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: The authors tested the possibility that nucleotide sequencing may be poorly suited for detection of mutations in tumor samples and found that denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) was an efficient and more sensitive method for screening. RESULTS: These results suggested that some reports based on standard DNA sequencing techniques may have underestimated mutation rates. In the present report, the authors examined the relationship between the presence and type of EGFR mutations detected by dHPLC and various clinicopathologic features of NSCLC, including response to therapy with EGFR-TKI. Among 251 patients with advanced disease, 100 individuals received EGFR-TKI. Those whose tumors harbored a detectable EGFR kinase mutation were much more likely to have a partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) with EGFR-TKI therapy than patients whose tumor contained no mutation (80% vs 35%; P = .001). Among the individual genotype subgroups, the frequency of a PR or SD was significantly different between patients with an exon 19 deletion compared with those with no detectable mutation (86% vs 35%; P < .001). Furthermore, patients whose tumors expressed an exon 19 mutant EGFR isoform exhibited a trend toward better EGFR-TKI response (86% vs 67%; P = .171) and improved survival compared with patients whose tumors expressed an exon 21 mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings warrant confirmation in large prospective trials and exploration of the biological mechanisms of the differences between mutation types.

Prevalence of emotional distress in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients.

GOALS OF WORK: Distress is defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network as a multifactorial unpleasant emotional experience of a psychological, social, and/or spiritual nature that may interfere with the ability to cope effectively with cancer. We investigated the prevalence and associated symptoms of distress in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2005 and July 2007, 98 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients completed an assessment. The Distress Thermometer (DT) and Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) were used as screening tools. MAIN RESULTS: Fifty (51%) patients reported clinically significant distress (>or=4) on the DT. Of those, 26 (52%) patients reported high levels of depression, nervousness, or both on ESAS. The remaining 24 (48%) patients had elevated levels of distress but no significant depression or nervousness. A correlation between the DT and the total ESAS score was observed (Pearson correlation = 0.46). The ten items of the ESAS together explained 46% of the variability in DT scores. The depression and nervousness ESAS items were significant predictors of DT score (p < 0.01 for both items). However, once the two psychosocial items, depression and nervousness, were removed from the total ESAS score, leaving only physical symptoms and the sleeplessness item, the predictive power of the model decreased to R(2) = 0.12. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of distress in lung cancer patients is high. The DT appears to discriminate between physical and emotional distress. This easily measured score may determine which patients require further intervention for emotional distress.

Prognostic value of the six-minute walk in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The 6 minute walk (6MW) is usually used to evaluate exercise capacity in a variety of patient populations. We hypothesized that the 6MW would decline after chemotherapy and assessed the prognostic value of this test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 6MW was conducted in newly diagnosed advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients on three different days: twice before (one initial and one prechemotherapy test) and once after two cycles of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were enrolled and 45 (70%) completed the study. For patients who dropped out the distance on initial 6MW was 361 m (SD 99) compared with 445 m (SD 85) for completers (p = 0.004).In the 45 completers, the mean 6MW decreased significantly after two cycles. There was a clinically significant (>54 m) decline in 6MW in 13 patients (29%), and an improved/unchanged 6MW in 32 patients (71%).For patients who walked <400 m on initial 6MW, rates of drop out were significantly higher (p = 0.02), progression of disease was statistically more frequent (p = 0.03), and median survival was significantly shorter: 6.7 months (95% confidence interval 2.6-10.8) compared with 13.9 months (95% confidence interval 10.0-17.8) in patients walking > or =400 m (p = 0.01).An initial 6MW of > or =400 m was the only variable with a significant effect on survival in a Cox regression after adjusting for all known covariates of interest. CONCLUSIONS: The 6MW declines significantly after two cycles of chemotherapy. This decline may have been even greater as patients with lower 6MW were more likely to drop out of the study. An initial 6MW > or =400 m might be a useful prognostic factor for survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Should patient-rated performance status affect treatment decisions in advanced lung cancer?

INTRODUCTION: The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score is a well known prognostic factor and almost always used to determine eligibility for clinical trials. The patient-rated performance status score (Pt-PS), section of the patient generated subjective global assessment scale, has identical criteria to the physician-rated ECOG scale (MD-PS). We compared the Pt-PS with MD-PS in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and compared the effect of each rating on eligibility for a hypothetical clinical trial. METHODS: Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed advanced non-small cell lung cancer completed a patient generated subjective global assessment self-rated questionnaire, which was then correlated (kappa statistic) with the ECOG PS recorded at the same time. Patients were treated with standard chemotherapy. Survival was determined using Kaplan-Meier statistics. RESULTS: One hundred nine patients (M:F-54:55) were recruited. Pt-PS differed from MD-PS in 59 (54%) instances (p = 0.0001). When scores were not congruent, 41/59 (69%) patients evaluated themselves as having a worse PS than the physician's rating. Pt-PS was 0 to 1 in 60 (55%) patients whereas MD-PS was 0 to 1 in 78 (72%) patients. The functional status irrespective of evaluator was predictive of survival (p = 0.001 for MD-PS and p = 0.001 for Pt-PS). However, the median survival in those with MD-PS >/=2 was 3.3 (CI; 1.7-4.9) months whereas individuals with Pt-PS >/=2 had a median survival of 6.2 (CI; 5.4-6.9) months. CONCLUSIONS: Pt-PS and MD-PS were not congruent in over half of the cases, with Pt-PS scores usually poorer. Almost half the patients would have excluded themselves from a hypothetical clinical trial (Pt-PS >/=2). This requires prospective evaluation.

Characteristics and outcomes of medulloblastoma in adults.

BACKGROUND: Adult medulloblastoma is a rare disease for which there is no internationally accepted standard of care. Treatment regimens have typically been modeled after pediatric protocols. We sought to review the presentation, management, and outcome of patients with adult medulloblastoma treated at the McGill University teaching hospitals over the past 18 years. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed to gather demographic and clinical data including presenting symptoms, tumor characteristics, management, survival, and treatment toxicity. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were identified. Eleven patients were female and 14 were male. The median age at diagnosis was 30 (range 17-48). Our 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 78% and 30%, respectively. Median OS was 108 months and median progression-free survival time was 63 months. Age, sex, risk, stage, extent of resection, chemotherapy and time between surgery and adjuvant therapy did not significantly influence survival outcomes. The most frequently reported adverse events included sensory neuropathy, nausea, vomiting, febrile neutropenia, and radiation dermatitis. CONCLUSION: Adult medulloblastoma has distinct characteristics from the pediatric population including presentation in the lateral cerebellar hemispheres. Late relapses, especially in the posterior fossa, are a significant problem. Further follow-up will be required to ascertain the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on survival.