Gefitinib monotherapy in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer: a large Western community implementation study.

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors represent a new treatment option for patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This retrospective study examined to what extent previous clinical trial experience matches large-scale Western community implementation of this treatment. In the Belgian expanded access programme, the data from 513 patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC, not suitable for further chemotherapy and receiving oral gefitinib 250 mg.day(-1) until disease progression, death or unacceptable toxicity, were analysed. The median (range) duration of gefitinib treatment was 2.3 months (0.0-32.7). Its use was predominantly in second- or third-line treatment. The overall response and disease control rates were 8.9 and 41.2%, respectively. In univariate analysis, response was more common in females and never-smokers. In multivariate analysis, female sex was the only significant predictive factor (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) 0.329 (0.129-0.839)). Symptom improvement was reported in 108 patients of whom 32 (29.6%) had an objective response, 66 (61.1%) experienced disease stabilisation and 10 (9.3%) progressed. Gefitinib was well tolerated; only 7.8% of the patients reported grade 3 or 4 toxicity. The overall median survival was 4.7 months, with a 1-yr survival rate of 21%. Survival was strongly influenced by a better performance status (PS) (good PS: hazard ratio (HR) (95%CI) 0.110 (0.077-0.157)) and adenocarcinoma with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma features histology (HR (95%CI) 0.483 (0.279-0.834)). In conclusion, the activity of gefitinib was confirmed in the present large Western community implementation study. Response, present in a small subgroup, led to a rewarding survival and could be predicted by sex only. Baseline performance status and adenocarcinoma with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma features histology were significant factors for survival.

Verapamil as prophylactic treatment for atrial fibrillation after lung operations.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is a frequently occurring arrhythmia after thoracic operations. Preventive strategies for this complication have been extensively evaluated after cardiac operations. METHODS: We performed a prospective, open randomized study, comparing intravenous verapamil and placebo in 199 patients after pneumonectomy or lobectomy at the University Hospital of Leuven. Verapamil was administered as a bolus of 10 mg over 2 minutes followed by a 30-minute infusion of 0.375 mg/min and then 0.125 mg/min for 3 days. The patients were continuously monitored in the postoperative intensive care unit. RESULTS: Atrial fibrillation occurred in 15% of the patients receiving placebo and in 8% of the patients receiving verapamil (difference not significant). The verapamil infusion was interrupted in 9% of the patients because of bradycardia and in 14% because of hypotension. CONCLUSIONS: If tolerated, continuous intravenous verapamil infusion showed only a modest prophylactic efficacy for the occurrence of atrial fibrillation after lung operations. In the dose employed the verapamil infusion was accompanied with a high incidence of side effects necessitating interruption of the therapy.

Cutaneous cryptococcosis in corticosteroid-treated patients without AIDS.

Two corticosteroid-treated patients with cutaneous cryptococcal infection are described. One patient had pustulous lesions on the back of his left hand and cellulitis of his left forearm, the other patient had ulcerous lesions of the right forearm and cellulitis of the right lower leg. In both cases diagnosis was suggested by histopathological examination of a biopsy and confirmed by culture. One patient may have had disseminated cryptococcal disease as suggested by a positive cryptococcal capsular antigen test, the other had no evidence of dissemination. Treatment consisted of oral fluconazole for six weeks. One patient died of an unrelated cause after four weeks treatment. Secondary antifungal prophylaxis was not given. Cutaneous cryptococcal infections are described in AIDS patients, but only seldom observed in other immunocompromised patients. Early recognition of the cutaneous lesions is important, as they can be the first sign of disseminated cryptococcosis. Untreated, the mortality of this disease is high. Therapy consists of amphotericin B with or without flucytosine. Fluconazole may be valuable alternative. The optimal treatment regimen and duration are not defined yet. Contrary to AIDS patients with cryptococcal infection, who need life-long secondary antifungal prophylaxis in order to prevent relapses, suppressive treatment is not indicated for immunocompromised non-AIDS patients.

A persistent unilateral lung infiltrate.

We describe the case of an intrabronchial aspirated foreign body that caused a persistent right lower lobe infiltrate. A first fibreoptic bronchoscopy demonstrated a mass with tumour-like appearance in the right bronchus intermedias, but the bronchial biopsies and the cytological smears of the bronchial aspirate failed to reveal any malignancy. During a control fibreoptic bronchoscopy, we found a chicken bone in this friable granulation tissue. It was subsequently removed with a flexible bronchofibrescope and a four-pronged forceps under topical anaesthesia.