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Autophagy is an important process for cellular homeostasis at critical steps of development or in response to environmental stress. In the context of cancers, autophagy has a significant impact on tumor occurrence and tumor cell growth. On the one hand, autophagy limits the transformation of precancerous cells into cancer cells at an early stage. However, on the other hand, it promotes cell survival, cell proliferation, metastasis and resistance to anti-tumor therapies in more advanced tumors. Autophagy can be induced by a variety of extracellular and intracellular stimulus. Viral infections have often been associated with a modulation of autophagy, with variable impacts on viral replication and on the survival of infected cells depending on the model studied. In a tumor context, the modulation of autophagy induced by the viral infection of tumor cells seems to have a significant impact on tumor progression. The aim of this review article is to present recent findings regarding the consequences of autophagy disturbance by viral infections on tumor behavior., (© 2022 médecine/sciences – Inserm.)

Adapting therapies and providing personalized care for patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer represent major challenges. This involves integrating several parameters into the patient's management, not only crude pathologic results, but also a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in tumor progression. Many studies have looked at the impact of host and tumor characteristics and their interactions through inflammatory processes or tumor immune environment. Beyond tumor stage, poor nutrition, sarcopenia and inflammatory state have been identified as independent factors that can directly impact postoperative outcome. The development of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), in which patient becomes the main player in their own management, seems to be an interesting answer since it seems to allow a reduction in postoperative complications, length of stay and indirectly reduction in costs. A broader and more complete vision including morphometric evaluation of the patient, physical performances, inflammatory state and nutritional state would provide additional discriminating information which can predict postoperative outcome and help in adapting therapies in a personalized way., (Copyright © 2020 Société Française du Cancer. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Five to ten percent of lung adenocarcinoma harbor chromosomal rearrangements affecting the ALK, ROS1, NTRK and RET genes. These rearrangements are associated with the production of fusion transcripts that lead to the synthesis of chimeric proteins with constitutive kinase activity. These abnormal proteins induce an oncogenic dependency that may be targeted by tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In this review, we will summarize the clinical and molecular epidemiology of chromosomal rearrangements affecting ALK, ROS1, NTRK and RET genes. We will describe the mechanisms of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors that have been reported. We will present the molecular techniques that can be used to detect these rearrangements and the strategies set-up by the molecular oncology laboratories to diagnose these genetic alterations., (Copyright © 2020 Société Française du Cancer. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

A growing number of studies suggest a tumor suppressor role for the SWI/SNF complex involved in the remodeling of chromatin. Alterations of this complex have been found in many tumors of different origins, with topographic, morphologic and phenotypic diversity. Notably, they define 2 types of thoracic tumors: SMARCA4-deficient non-small cell lung carcinoma and SMARCA4-deficient sarcoma. Some clinical features appear to be common to both, such as intrathoracic localization, smoking exposure, male predominance and poor prognosis. However, the histological distinction between these two entities is sometimes difficult and it is not excluded that these entities belong to the same tumor spectrum with different degrees of differentiation. The therapy of these tumors is not yet codified. These tumors do not seem associated with oncogenic driver mutations allowing the prescription of targeted therapy, but immunotherapy has been shown to be effective in rare reported cases. More specific treatments using EZH2 inhibitors also seem promising in SMARCA4 deficient sarcomas., (Copyright © 2019 Société Française du Cancer. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Gross examination is an essential step for pathological report of a surgical sample. It includes the description of the surgical specimen and their disease(s), the precise and exhaustive sampling of tumoral and adjacent tumoral tissue areas. This examination requires a good knowledge of the updated pTNM classification. Pathologists from the PATTERN group have collaborated with thoracic surgeons, under the auspices of the Sociéte française de pathologie, to propose guidelines for resected specimen management. This approach fits into the context of the elaboration of structured pathological report proposed by the société française de pathologie, which is necessary for a standardized management of patients., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)