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Purpose: Clinical guidelines recommend early palliative care for patients with advanced lung cancer. In rural and underserved community oncology practices with limited resources, both primary palliative care from an oncologist and specialty palliative care are needed to address patients’ palliative care needs. The aim of this study is to describe community oncology clinicians’ primary palliative care practices and perspectives on integrating specialty palliative care into routine advanced lung cancer treatment in rural and underserved communities. Methods: Participants were clinicians recruited from 15 predominantly rural community oncology practices in Kentucky. Participants completed a one-time survey regarding their primary palliative care practices and knowledge, barriers, and facilitators to integrating specialty palliative care into advanced-stage lung cancer treatment. Results: Forty-seven clinicians (30% oncologists) participated. The majority (72.3%) of clinicians worked in a rural county. Over 70% reported routinely asking patients about symptom and physical function concerns, whereas less than half reported routinely asking about key prognostic concerns. Roughly 30% held at least one palliative care misconception (e.g., palliative care is for only those who are stopping cancer treatment). Clinician-reported barriers to specialty palliative care referrals included fear a referral would send the wrong message to patients (77%) and concern about burdening patients with appointments (53%). Notably, the most common clinician-reported facilitator was a patient asking for a referral (93.6%). Conclusion: Educational programs and outreach efforts are needed to inform community oncology clinicians about palliative care, empower patients to request referrals, and facilitate patients’ palliative care needs assessment, documentation, and standardized referral templates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced-stage lung cancer (LC) causes significant morbidity and impacts patients’ quality of life (QoL). Exercise has been proven to be safe, feasible, and beneficial for symptom reduction and QoL improvement in many types of cancers, but research is limited in advanced-stage LC patients. This systematic review evaluates the effect of exercise interventions on the symptoms and QoL in patients with advanced-stage LC. Twelve prospective studies (744 participants) were included, evaluating different combinations of exercises and training such as aerobics, tai chi, strength, inspiratory muscle training, and relaxation. Studies found outcomes including but not limited to improved QoL, symptom burden, psychosocial health, functional status, and physical function. The results of this review support that exercise is safe and feasible with evidence supporting improved QoL and symptom mitigation. Integration of exercise should be considered in the individualized management of advanced-stage LC patients under the guidance of their healthcare providers.

Background: Concerning the different clinical behavior of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) subtypes in advanced-stage lung cancer patients, the current study aimed to evaluate the clinical, pathological, and prognostic significance of EGFR mutation subtypes, and treatment response in patients with advanced-stage lung cancer. Methods and results: A retrospective study enrolled a total of 346 patients with advanced-stage lung cancer tested for EGFR mutation. EGFR mutation was analyzed by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0. EGFR mutation was evident in 38% of patients with the highest prevalence of exon 19 deletions. A higher incidence of 19-deletions and 20-insertions were observed in young patients, while a higher incidence of L858R was noted in old age patients. Patients with de-novo T790M failed to improve their OS by any of the treatment modalities. Patients with de-novo T790M mutation have a higher risk of developing lung, liver, and multiple site metastases while patients with L858R mutation have a higher risk of developing brain metastasis. Additionally, patients with 19 deletion mutation did not improve their OS after receiving conventional chemotherapy hence, they demonstrate better survival only after EGFR-TKIs. Multivariate survival analysis predicted chemotherapy as an independent predictor of OS. Conclusion: Besides clinicopathological and prognostic consequences of EGFR mutation and mutation subtypes, patients harboring TKI sensitive, or insensitive mutations reveal different secondary disease development and hence should be treated accordingly for better survival. Current findings may provide the basis for a better treatment strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced-stage lung cancer (LC) causes significant morbidity and impacts patients' quality of life (QoL). Exercise has been proven to be safe, feasible, and beneficial for symptom reduction and QoL improvement in many types of cancers, but research is limited in advanced-stage LC patients. This systematic review evaluates the effect of exercise interventions on the symptoms and QoL in patients with advanced-stage LC. Twelve prospective studies (744 participants) were included, evaluating different combinations of exercises and training such as aerobics, tai chi, strength, inspiratory muscle training, and relaxation. Studies found outcomes including but not limited to improved QoL, symptom burden, psychosocial health, functional status, and physical function. The results of this review support that exercise is safe and feasible with evidence supporting improved QoL and symptom mitigation. Integration of exercise should be considered in the individualized management of advanced-stage LC patients under the guidance of their healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yingyun Zhang,1,2 Wei Wang,1,2 Xuedong Xu,1,2 Yankang Li,1,3 Hui Zhang,4 Jianbin Li,1,2 Zhenxiang Li1 1Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, People’s Republic of China; 2Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 3Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 4Tumor Hospital of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Jishou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jianbin Li; Zhenxiang LiDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13869135266; +86 18654536783Email lijianbin@msn.com; lizx0108@163.comIntroduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of local radiotherapy in the management of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).Materials and Methods: Patients with stage IV EGFR-mutant NSCLC treated with radiotherapy concomitant to EGFR TKIs from May 2010 to December 2017 were retrospectively identified. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoints of the study.Results: A total of 205 patients were enrolled in the study. One hundred eleven patients received one-time single-site radiotherapy (SSR), and 94 patients received multiple-site radiotherapy (MSR). Patients who received MSR had longer OS (median OS, 40.0 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 29.6 to 50.4) than those who received SSR (median OS, 28.9 months; 95% CI, 24.3 to 33.5; P=0.031). Thoracic radiotherapy was associated with prolonged median OS (41.7 months, 95% CI, 29.0 to 54.4 vs 27.1 months, 95% CI 22.7 to 31.5; log-rank P< 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed that thoracic radiotherapy was independently associated with improved OS (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.514; 95% CI 32.3% to 81.8%; P=0.005).Conclusion: MSR improves survival outcomes in patients with advanced-stage, EGFR-mutant, lung adenocarcinoma, with thoracic radiotherapy having the most significant effect on prognosis.Keywords: advanced-stage lung cancer, adenocarcinomas, radiotherapy, EGFR

Background Metastatic lung cancer is a debilitating disease, but with the advances in immunotherapy, therapeutic options have vastly increased. Numerous complete blood count parameters (CBC) have been described as easily accessible biomarkers that might predict response to immunotherapy. However, to date, no comprehensive study has been performed on the longitudinal changes of these parameters during cancer progression. Methods The clinicopathological variables and CBC parameters of 986 advanced stage lung cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed. Blood tests were performed as part of the routine checkup and the results were recorded at the time of the diagnosis of the primary tumor, the diagnosis of brain or bone metastases, and also during the last available follow‐up. Results In the experimental subcohort, 352 and 466 patients were diagnosed with brain and bone metastases, respectively. The control group consisted of 168 patients without clinically detectable or other distant organ metastases. In our longitudinal analyses, we found significantly decreasing absolute lymphocyte count (ALC: P

Background: Metastatic lung cancer is a debilitating disease, but with the advances in immunotherapy, therapeutic options have vastly increased. Numerous complete blood count parameters (CBC) have been described as easily accessible biomarkers that might predict response to immunotherapy. However, to date, no comprehensive study has been performed on the longitudinal changes of these parameters during cancer progression. Methods: The clinicopathological variables and CBC parameters of 986 advanced stage lung cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed. Blood tests were performed as part of the routine checkup and the results were recorded at the time of the diagnosis of the primary tumor, the diagnosis of brain or bone metastases, and also during the last available follow‐up. Results: In the experimental subcohort, 352 and 466 patients were diagnosed with brain and bone metastases, respectively. The control group consisted of 168 patients without clinically detectable or other distant organ metastases. In our longitudinal analyses, we found significantly decreasing absolute lymphocyte count (ALC: P < 0.001), and significantly increasing absolute neutrophil count (ANC: P < 0.001) levels in all patient subgroups, irrespective of histopathological type and metastatic site. Interestingly, patients with brain metastases had significantly descending‐ascending platelet count (PLT) trendlines (P < 0.001), while the bone metastatic subgroup exhibited significantly ascending‐descending trendlines (P = 0.043). Conclusions: Significantly decreasing ALC, significantly increasing ANC and fluctuating PLT levels may be found in brain and bone metastatic lung cancer patients during disease progression. Our findings might contribute to improve personalized healthcare in this devastating malignancy. Key points: Significant findings of the study: Significantly decreasing ALC, and significantly increasing ANC levels can be found in advanced‐stage lung cancer patients during disease progressionPatients with brain metastases have descending‐ascending PLT trendlines, while patients with bone metastases exhibit ascending‐descending trendlines during disease progression What this study adds: The descending values for ALC, and the ascending mean values for PLT and ANC, might be suggestive of poor response to second‐ or third‐line immunotherapy in advanced‐stage lung cancer patients.The current study might help to improve patient selection and treatment strategies for brain and/or bone metastatic lung cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATS-L) is a well-established approach for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with functional and oncological outcomes similar to thoracotomy. The role of VATS-L in locally advanced stage of NSCLC has not been well standardized. The objective of this study was to evaluate the state of the art in Italy of VATS-L for NSCLC advanced stages using the data from the Italian VATS Group Database., Methods: Between 1st January 2014 and 31th May 2017, 3,720 patients underwent VATS-L at VATS Group participating centres and included in the VATS Group database. Patients were divided into two groups: (A) early stages and (B) locally-advanced stages (tumours with dimension >5 cm (cT2b), cT3, cT4 and/or tumours that received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy). A retrospective study was performed, to evaluate the safety and the oncological adequacy of VATS-L comparing peri-operative outcomes and pathological data., Results: A total of 3,266 (87.7%) patients were included into the group A, while 454 (13.3%) patients formed the group B. VATS-L for locally advanced-stage NSCLC is associated with a longer procedure, a higher estimated blood loss, an increased incidence of conversion (9.3% vs. 13.0%, P=0.018) and a significant higher number of total, hilar and mediastinal dissected lymph nodes. The mortality rate (1.6% vs. 1.5%), the proportion of patients who suffered any complication (24.8% vs. 29.1%) and the hospitalization were not statistically different between the two groups (P=0.880, 0.057 and 0.660, respectively); the overall complication rate was statistically higher in group B (30.4% vs. 37.0%; P=0.04). Patients of group B who required conversion had a statistically significantly higher operative time (P<0.01), blood loss (P<0.01) and hospital stay (P<0.01), but not significantly higher overall morbidity rate (35.5% vs. 28.0%) compared with patients completely operated by VATS., Conclusions: VATS-L for locally advanced-stage NSCLC in Italy is a safe and effective procedure when performed in appropriately selected patients, ensuring peri-operative results similar to those obtained in early-stage tumours., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.