"High Tumor Burden" in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Defining the Concept.

PURPOSE: Identifying patient characteristics that define a worse disease prognosis or "high tumor burden" (HTB) status is essential for clinical decision-making and treatment selection in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). We aimed to define this concept based on the experience of oncologists in clinical practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A representative sample of Spanish experts was selected and asked to complete an online survey regarding the definition of HTB according to their personal experience. RESULTS: HTB was identified by the oncologists (N = 81) as one of the principle factors influencing first-line treatment decision-making. According to the experts, HTB is mainly defined by the number of metastatic lesions (n = 45, 56%), location (n = 34, 42%), tumor size (sum of diameters of target lesions; n = 26, 32%) and liver involvement (n = 24, 30). High lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were also associated with HTB. Almost half of respondents (n = 33, 41%) believed that one metastatic lesion was sufficient to consider a patient as presenting HTB, 72% (n = 58) considered that two were necessary and 99% (n = 80) three. Liver (n = 76, 100%) followed by brain (n = 65, 86%) were the main metastatic sites associated with HTB. Tumor size ranging from 6 cm to 10 cm as well as high LDH levels (three times the upper limit) defined the concept for 82% (n = 62) and 100% (n = 76) of oncologists, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the real-world setting, according to experts, HTB is defined by the number of metastatic lesions, location of metastases, tumor size and by high LDH levels. Given the relevance of this concept, efforts should be made to unify its definition and to further explore its potential as a prognostic factor for mNSCLC patients.

Immunoscore: a novel prognostic tool. Association with clinical outcome, response to treatment and survival in several malignancies.

The predictive accuracy of the traditional staging system for cancer, the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union Internationale Centre le Cancer (AJCC/UICC) classification of malignant tumors, is based on disease progression as a tumor cell-autonomous process, regardless the effects of the host immune response. The natural history of a tumor includes different phases of growth, migration and invasion. During these phases, tumor cells interact with their microenvironment and are influenced by signals from stromal, endothelial, inflammatory and immune cells. Indeed, tumors are often infiltrated by defensive cells such as lymphocytes, macrophages or mast cells and it has been shown extensively that lymphocytes may control cancer outcome, as evidenced in several human malignancies. Increasing evidence suggests that cancer progression is strongly influenced by host immune response, which is represented by immune cell infiltrates. The T-lymphocyte-based immunoscore (IS) has proved to be a prognostic factor in human malignancies such as colon, pancreas and lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma and even brain metastases. Although the IS was initially established to evaluate the prognosis of stage I/II/III colon cancer patients, its association with clinical outcomes and survival has been shown in other malignancies. The aim of this review is to analyze the association of IS with prognosis, survival and response to therapy in different tumor types.

Intertrigo-like eruption caused by pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD).

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is a drug whose use is increasingly common. It has been associated with a lower rate of haematologic and cardiac side effects than its nonencapsulated form. However, mucocutaneous toxicity is quite frequent and can be severe. Here we provide a case report of a patient who developed an intertrigolike eruption during treatment with PLD.