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Antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) was novel type of anticancer drugs. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeting ADC, can be a novel treatment option for HER2 alternation (mutation, expression, amplification) advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from DESTINY-Lung01 result. Herein, we report a successful treatment with T-DXd for NSCLC harboring HER2 exon 20 insertion mutation in a patient with poor performance status (PS). We presented a case of a 52-year-old heavily pretreated female patient diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma (cT1bN3M0, stage IIIB). After fifth-line pretreatment of systemic chemotherapy, primary tumor recurrence, pleural effusion, and miliary lung metastases were observed. The patient presented with hypoxia requiring oxygen therapy via nasal cannula at a flow rate of 4 L per minute, cancer pain, and cachexia requiring opioid treatment. Her Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS score was assessed 3. Comprehensive genomic profiling revealed HER2 exon 20 insertion mutation. After treatment with T-DXd was approved by the ethical review committee of Nippon Medical School Hospital, treatment was started. The tumor size decreased significantly, and her PS score decreased from 3 to 1, with improvement of hypoxia, cancer pain, and cachexia. The patient is still receiving treatment, without disease progression 6 months after starting treatment with T-DXd. Despite cases of poor PS, NGS should be performed and target therapy including ADCs should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Systemic therapy can achieve good treatment outcomes in advanced CRC. • Suitable chemotherapeutics can markedly improve the prognosis of unresectable CRC. • Unresectable CRC can now be treated with systemic chemotherapy instead of BSC. Chemotherapy is difficult to administer in patients with poor performance status (PS), advanced metastatic lesion, and unresectable colon cancer. We report herein our experience of a patient who showed complete response to chemotherapy and marked PS improvement. The patient presented with the following adverse factors poor PS, advanced progression of metastatic lesions, advanced unresectable colorectal cancer with severe stricture, and old age. The patient was an 80-year-old male diagnosed with occlusive cancer of the descending colon with multiple metastases in the liver, Stage Ⅳb (National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines version 2. 2018). A 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) + panitumumab (Pmab) regimen was successfully administered and led to decreased tumor marker levels; oral intake also became possible. Additional examinations showed that the primary lesion and distant metastatic lesions had almost disappeared; the patient had achieved a near complete response (CR). Currently, 35 cycles of mFOLFOX6＋Pmab have been administered, and his near CR has been maintained for 32 months. Best supportive care (BSC) is the recommended option for elderly patients with advanced unresectable colon cancer. This is the first case in which an elderly patient with poor PS and advanced unresectable colorectal cancer was treated with combination chemotherapy of mFOLFOX6 + Pmab. Although the use of chemotherapy for elderly with advanced unresectable colorectal cancer or those with poor PS is limited, this case shows that systemic chemotherapy is now an option for such cases previously managed with BSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carboplatin plus etoposide (CE) is a standard treatment for elderly patients with extensive‐disease small cell lung cancer (ED‐SCLC). However, amrubicin monotherapy (AMR) may be a feasible alternative. We compared the efficacies and safety profiles of CE and AMR for ED‐SCLC in elderly patients and chemotherapy‐naive patients with poor performance status (PS). Methods: The records of SCLC patients who received CE or AMR as first‐line chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed and their treatment outcomes evaluated. Results: Eighty‐four patients (median age 72 years; 42 each received CR and AMR) were analyzed; 34 patients had a PS score of 2. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the treatment groups. The median progression‐free survival rates of patients in the CE and AMR groups were 5.8 and 4.8 months, respectively (P = 0.04); overall survival was 14.0 and 8.5 months, respectively (P = 0.089). Twenty‐three CE group patients received AMR as second‐line chemotherapy; their median overall survival from first‐line chemotherapy was 18.5 months. Grade 3 or higher neutropenia occurred more frequently in patients treated with AMR (64% vs. 40%; P = 0.02), as did febrile neutropenia (14% vs. 7%). Conclusions: CE remains a suitable first‐line treatment for ED‐SCLC in elderly patients or those with poor PS in comparison with AMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The treatment of recurrent high-grade gliomas (HGG) is controversial. There are different therapeutic schedules but without a clear orientation about which of them should be used in each clinical situation. In addition, when patients suffer a second recurrence or they have poor performance status, they are excluded from clinical trials, although second recurrences and poor performance status are indeed more and more real and common situations in the clinical setting. In this study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of fotemustine (FTM) in HGG [fundamentally, glioblastomas (GB)], independent of time of recurrence or performance status. Methods/patients: Retrospective study in HGG patients treated with FTM in second or further line according to standard, the Addeo or any other scheme, starting treatment prior to 30 November 2012. Included patients reflect the regular situation in which the drug is used in terms of comorbidities and analytic situation (hematologic, renal and hepatic functions). Response assessment was performed by MRI and according to the clinical protocols of each center (every 8-12 weeks). Clinical situation and supportive care drugs were evaluated in each medical consultation. Clinical end-points analyzed, among others, were: PFS-6, PFS, OS, response rates, toxicity, quality of life and neurocognitive impact. Results: In terms of activity, an overall response rate of 8 % was observed: partial response 6 % (7 patients) and complete response 2 % (2 patients). The median time to achieve the greater response with FTM was 73 days (4-841 days). Patients treated according to the Addeo schedule had a shorter time to greater response in comparison with other schedules (85.9 vs 114 days), although without statistical significance. There were no significant differences in progression-free survival (PFS) when comparing different FTM schedules or using FTM in first or second recurrence. Median PFS: 3 months. PFS-6: 30.3 %. Overall survival (OS): although without significant differences, a tendency to better survival when using the Addeo schedule versus other schedules was observed (at 6 months, 44.6 vs 34.5 %; at 12 months, 25 vs 23.6 %; at 18 months, 11.5 vs 7.9 %), as well as if earlier use (second vs third line) concerning OS-12 (33.7 vs 18.2 %). Median OS: 5.2 months. Grades 3-4 toxicity was 28 % (31 patients), being neutropenia (4 %) and thrombocytopenia (17 %) the most frequent adverse reactions. From quality of life and neuro-cognitive function perspectives, 11 patients (10 %) and 16 (14 %) improved the Karnofsky Index and neurological impairment, respectively, after FTM treatment. Conclusion: This study has shown that FTM is safe and has a comparable activity with other available therapeutic options of use in the treatment of recurrent HGG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]