Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 2666-3643 7 3 2026 Potential Immune Microenvironment Biomarkers in SCLC: J-TAIL-2 Observational Study 100926 EN Masayuki Shirasawa Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital Makoto Nishio Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Atsushi Osoegawa Department of Thoracic and Breast Surgery, Oita University Faculty of Medicine Eiki Kikuchi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Hideharu Kimura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanazawa University Hospital Yasushi Goto Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital Junichi Shimizu Department of Thoracic Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital Eisaku Miyauchi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital Hiroshige Yoshioka Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kansai Medical University Ichiro Yoshino International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital Toshihiro Misumi Department of Data Science, National Cancer Center Hospital East Yasushi Yatabe Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital Tatsuya Yoshida Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital Jumpei Kashima Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital Masahide Oki Department of Respiratory Medicine, NHO Nagoya Medical Center Hisao Ashimura Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Yuki Kobayashi Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Misa Tanaka Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Akihiko Gemma Nippon Medical School Introduction: Effective predictors of response to atezolizumab plus carboplatin/etoposide (CE) therapy in extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC) remain limited. This exploratory analysis from J-TAIL-2 aimed to identify markers of survival benefit with atezolizumab plus CE therapy in ES-SCLC. Methods: J-TAIL-2 (ClinicalTrials.gov ID, NCT04501497) was a multicenter observational study that enrolled patients receiving atezolizumab plus CE (ES-SCLC cohort) in clinical practice in Japan per local label and treatment guidelines. In this exploratory analysis, the association of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density and SCLC subtypes (SCLC-A [ASCL1 dominant], SCLC-N [NEUROD1 dominant], SCLC-P [ASCL1/NEUROD1 double-negative with POU2F3 expression], and SCLC-O [ASCL1/NEUROD1 double-negative not otherwise specified]) with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was evaluated. SCLC subtyping was performed by immunohistochemistry. Results: SCLC samples (n = 100; data cutoff, February 3, 2023) were categorized as SCLC-A (73%), SCLC-N (16%), SCLC-P (8%), and SCLC-O (3%). Among 96 patients who received first-line atezolizumab plus CE, median age was 72 (range, 39–87) years and 81% were male. Furthermore, 56 patients were classified into the CD8+ TIL-high subgroup and 40 into the TIL-low subgroup. Median (m)PFS with atezolizumab plus CE was 6.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.5–7.5) in the TIL-high versus 4.4 months (95% CI: 4.0–5.1) in the TIL-low subgroup (p = 0.01); mOS was 18.4 (95% CI: 11.8–not estimable) versus 10.8 months (95% CI: 7.7–16.2; p = 0.04). mOS and mPFS were not significantly different between SCLC subtypes but were numerically shorter in the SCLC-N group. Conclusions: CD8+ TIL density is a potential biomarker of clinical benefit in ES-SCLC and may facilitate patient selection for atezolizumab combination therapy. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1347-9032 117 5 2026 TGF-β Inhibitor Potentiates Osimertinib-Induced Anti-Tumor Immunity in Egfr-Mutant Lung Cancer 1260 1272 EN Tadahiro Kuribayashi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Jun Nishimura Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Sachi Okawa Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masataka Taoka Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shunta Mori Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takaaki Tanaka Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tomoka Nishimura Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ayako Morita Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Naofumi Hara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kammei Rai Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yosuke Togashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Immunotherapy for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains challenging. We previously found that EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors induced antitumor immunity but also triggered immunosuppressive cytokines, including transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), in Egfr-mutant lung cancer. Here, we investigate whether TGF-β inhibition potentiates osimertinib-induced antitumor immunity using a syngeneic mouse model of Egfr-mutated lung cancer, with cancer cells subcutaneously transplanted into wild-type C57BL/6J mice. We evaluated the antitumor effect of the combination therapy with osimertinib and either nintedanib (an indirect TGF-β inhibitor) or vactosertib (a specific TGF-β type I receptor kinase inhibitor). Changes in the tumor microenvironment during treatment were assessed using immunohistochemical staining, western blot analysis, and flow cytometry. We found that TGF-β expression was upregulated in the tumor treated with osimertinib. Nintedanib monotherapy showed no significant antitumor effect, whereas osimertinib combined with nintedanib significantly potentiates the antitumor effect compared with osimertinib monotherapy in vivo. Crucially, no additive effect of nintedanib on osimertinib monotherapy was observed in vitro. Combination therapy with osimertinib and nintedanib significantly increased effector T cells (CD8+CD44+CD62L−) and Granzyme B+ areas and decreased CD206+ cells, while significantly decreasing TGF-β and SMAD2/3 expression. Similar effects were observed with vactosertib but not with a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitor. In conclusion, combination therapy with osimertinib and TGF-β inhibitors potentiates osimertinib-induced antitumor immunity. These findings highlight a novel therapeutic strategy for EGFR-mutated NSCLC and warrant further clinical investigation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Acta Medica Okayama 1078-0432 2026 Incidence of B-cell Malignancies in Patients with Lung Cancer Receiving PD-1 Blockade Therapy EN Toshifumi Ninomiya Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Caiyang Fang Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hirofumi Hamano Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama University Teruya Morinaga Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Wenhao Zhou Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Toshihiro Koyama Department of Pharmaceutical Data Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Sakura Miki Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Li Zhu Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yusuke Naoi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Daisuke Ennishi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tomoya Katsuta Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama University Shin Morizane Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Tomoka Ohki-Ikeda Department of Pathology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama University Tatsuya Nishi Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Youki Ueda Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takamasa Ishino Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Isamu Okamoto Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Yoshito Zamami Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama University Joji Nagasaki Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yosuke Togashi Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Purpose: Many patients with various cancer types have received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) worldwide since their approval, and novel unexpected complications from their long-term use are apparent. We identified some cases of B-cell lymphoma occurring during PD-1 blockade therapy as such unexpected complications. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the incidence of hematologic malignancies in patients with lung cancer receiving PD-1 blockade therapy and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the progression of these malignancies. Experimental Design: We performed IHC staining on the clinical samples from patients with B-cell lymphoma that developed during PD-1 blockade therapy and analyzed large-scale real-world datasets. We further investigated the underlying mechanisms through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Results: A higher incidence of B-cell malignancies has been observed in patients with lung cancer treated with PD-1 blockade therapies based on large-scale real-world data analyses (n = 15,670). The identified lymphomas had a large amount of CD4+ T follicular helper (TFH) cell infiltration. In addition, PD-1 blockade activated PD-1+ TFH cells, which promoted lymphoma proliferation via the IL4/IL4R, IL21/IL21R, and CD40L/CD40 axes. Notably, the lymphomas exhibited high expression of IL4R, IL21R, and CD40. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for careful monitoring and consideration of the potential B-cell malignancy complications in clinical settings in which ICIs are used. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Acta Medica Okayama 2767-9764 6 2 2026 Clinical Characteristics and Spatial Transcriptome Analysis of Non–Small Cell Lung Cancers Exhibiting Early Alectinib Resistance: A Retrospective OLCSG Study 284 293 EN Tadahiro Kuribayashi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Go Makimoto Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Shuta Tomida Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hirofumi Inoue Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Toshihide Yokoyama Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ohara Healthcare Foundation, Kurashiki Central Hospital Shoichi Kuyama Department of Respiratory Medicine, NHO Iwakuni Clinical Center Yuka Kato Department of Thoracic Oncology and Medicine, National Hospital Organization, Shikoku Cancer Center Kenichiro Kudo Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Okayama Medical Center Naokatsu Horita Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kure Kyosai Hospital Hiroe Kayatani Department of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital Masaaki Inoue Department of Chest Surgery, Shimonoseki City Hospital Keisuke Sugimoto Department of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Kobe Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yosuke Togashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Some anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement–positive lung cancers show early resistance, within 3 months, to alectinib. This study investigated the clinical and molecular characteristics of these patients. We analyzed patients with unresectable stage III/IV disease without indications for radical radiotherapy and recurrent ALK-positive lung cancer who received alectinib as the primary ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor between 2013 and 2021 at nine hospitals. In total, 103 patients were included. The median age was 65 years; 44 were male and 22 had brain metastases. The median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 28.7 and 80.6 months. Nineteen patients treated for ≤3 months and 84 treated for >3 months were categorized into the early resistance and responder groups, respectively. The early resistance group had significantly shorter OS (8.4 months vs. not estimable, P < 0.001) and was significantly more likely to have brain metastases (42% vs. 17%, P = 0.027). They also showed elevated inflammatory markers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Univariate analysis identified brain metastases and high NLR as significant predictors of early resistance. Spatial transcriptome analysis and immunohistochemical staining revealed upregulation of annexin A1 (ANXA1), a calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein involved in inflammation and cancer progression, in the early resistance group. Interleukin 6 stimulation, prompted by elevated inflammatory markers, increased ANXA1 expression and reduced alectinib sensitivity. Knockdown of ANXA1 improved alectinib sensitivity in alectinib-resistant cells. In conclusion, brain metastases and high NLR are associated with early resistance. ANXA1 may play an important role in mediating early resistance. New treatment options for the early resistance group are required. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1347-9032 2025 Atezolizumab + Chemotherapy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Japanese Clinical Practice (J-TAIL-2) EN Hiroshige Yoshioka Department of Thoracic Oncology, Kansai Medical University Makoto Nishio Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Atsushi Osoegawa Department of Thoracic and Breast Surgery, Oita University Faculty of Medicine Eiki Kikuchi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Hideharu Kimura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanazawa University Hospital Yasushi Goto Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital Junichi Shimizu Department of Thoracic Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital Eisaku Miyauchi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital Ichiro Yoshino International University of Health and Welfare, Narita Hospital Toshihiro Misumi Department of Data Science, National Cancer Center Hospital East Yasutaka Watanabe Department of Thoracic Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center Akito Hata Division of Thoracic Oncology, Kobe Minimally Invasive Cancer Center Akira Kisohara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kasukabe Medical Center Shoichi Kuyama Department of Respiratory Medicine, NHO Iwakuni Clinical Center Masafumi Yamaguchi Department of Thoracic Oncology, NHO Kyushu Cancer Center Asako Miwa Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Shunichiro Iwasawa Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Misa Tanaka Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Akihiko Gemma Nippon Medical School First-line atezolizumab combination therapies were approved for the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on results from the global phase 3 trials IMpower130, IMpower132, and IMpower150. These trials reported 12-month overall survival (OS) rates of 60%–67% with atezolizumab combination therapy. J-TAIL-2 (NCT04501497), a prospective, multicenter, observational study, evaluated atezolizumab combination therapy in routine clinical practice in Japan. Patients ≥ 20 years old with NSCLC received atezolizumab plus carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel (atezo + CnP), atezolizumab plus carboplatin or cisplatin plus pemetrexed (atezo + PP), or atezolizumab plus bevacizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel (atezo + bev + CP) in clinical practice. The primary endpoint was the 12-month OS rate. Secondary endpoints included OS, progression-free survival, and subgroup analyses, including IMpower-unlike (did not meet the main eligibility criteria of each IMpower trial) and IMpower-like patients. In total, 814 patients were enrolled (atezo + CnP, n = 217; atezo + PP, n = 211; atezo + bev + CP, n = 386). The IMpower-unlike group included patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥ 2, autoimmune disease, or interstitial lung disease. Twelve-month OS rates (95% confidence interval [CI]) were 62.9% (55.8–69.2), 72.1% (65.2–77.9), and 68.3% (63.2–72.9) with atezo + CnP, atezo + PP, and atezo + bev + CP, respectively. OS hazard ratios (95% CI) in the IMpower-unlike vs. -like subgroups were 1.36 (0.91–2.05), 1.08 (0.70–1.68), and 1.49 (1.09–2.06), respectively. No new safety signals were observed. Real-world efficacy and safety for each atezolizumab combination were comparable to those in the relevant IMpower trials. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2366-1070 13 4 2025 Asian Subgroup Analysis of Patients in the Phase 2 DeLLphi-301 Study of Tarlatamab for Previously Treated Small Cell Lung Cancer 1041 1054 EN Myung-Ju Ahn Hematology-Oncology Department, Samsung Medical Center (SMC), Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine Byoung Chul Cho Medical Oncology Department-501, ABMRC, Yonsei University Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hiroki Izumi Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East Jong-Seok Lee Hematology/Oncology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Ji-Youn Han Center for Lung Cancer, National Cancer Center-Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy Chi-Lu Chiang Department of Chest Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Shuang Huang Amgen Inc. Ali Hamidi Amgen Inc. Sujoy Mukherjee Amgen Inc. Krista Lin Xu Amgen Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. Hiraoki Akamatsu Internal Medicine III, Wakayama Medical University Introduction: Tarlatamab is a bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE®) immunotherapy that binds delta-like ligand 3 on the surface of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells and CD3 on T cells, facilitating T cell-mediated cancer cell lysis. In the primary analysis of the phase 2 DeLLphi-301 study (NCT05060016), tarlatamab showed a favourable benefit-to-risk profile with durable objective responses and promising survival outcomes in patients with previously treated SCLC. Here, phase 2 data for the Asia region subgroup are presented. Methods: Patients with previously treated, advanced SCLC received 10 mg tarlatamab every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) by blinded independent central review (RECIST version 1.1). Key secondary endpoints included duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. The present analysis includes patients enrolled at sites in Asia. Results: A total of 43 patients were enrolled at sites in Asia. ORR was 46.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 30.7–62.6) and median DOR was 7.2 months (95% CI 3.9 to not estimable). The median follow-up was 16.6 months for PFS and 21.2 months for OS. Median PFS was 5.4 months (95% CI 3.0–8.1) and median OS was 19.0 months (95% CI 11.4 to not estimable). The most common treatment-emergent adverse event (AE) was cytokine release syndrome (48.8%), and all such events were grade 1 or 2. There were no discontinuations due to treatment-related AEs. Conclusions: Tarlatamab demonstrated durable responses and promising survival outcomes with a manageable safety profile in this post hoc analysis of patients from Asia with previously treated SCLC. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05060016. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society of Internal Medicine Acta Medica Okayama 0918-2918 64 23 2025 Remarkable Efficacy of Capmatinib in a Patient with Cancer of Unknown Primary with MET Amplification 3460 3464 EN Takaaki Tanaka Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Ryohei Sumii Department of General Internal Medicine, NHO Fukuyama Medical Center Rika Omote Department of Pathology, NHO Fukuyama Medical Center Yayoi Ando Clinical Research Support Office, National Cancer Center Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital This case report describes a 70-year-old female with cancer of unknown primary origin (CUP) who exhibited multiple distant lymph node metastases. Despite conventional chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) and immunotherapy (nivolumab), disease progression was noted. Genomic profiling revealed MET amplification, leading to the administration of capmatinib, a selective MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The patient experienced substantial tumor reduction with dose adjustments due to adverse effects, indicating the potential efficacy of capmatinib in treating CUP with MET amplification. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society of Internal Medicine Acta Medica Okayama 0918-2918 64 23 2025 A Prompt Diagnosis of Ascites and Dramatic Effect of Alectinib for Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma Harboring EML4-ALK Fusion 3413 3418 EN Takahiro Baba Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hirofumi Inoue Department of Medical Support, Okayama University Hospital Hiromi Matsuoka Department of Medical Support, Okayama University Hospital Mio Kyakuno Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Yusuke Yoshinaga Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Tetsuya Takeguchi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Miho Fujiwara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kotaro Yamada Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eri Nakamura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Ayako Morita Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Naofumi Hara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hisao Higo Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masanori Fujii Department of Geriatric Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Kammei Rai Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yosuke Togashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital A 75-year-old never-smoker woman presented with dyspnea and loss of appetite. A mass was identified in the left upper lobe of the lung, and the patient was referred to our hospital. Despite the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma via bronchoscopy, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) immunostaining was negative. Rapid weight gain and abdominal distension caused by ascites prompted fluid testing using the AmoyDx® Pan Lung Cancer PCR Panel. EML4-ALK fusion was confirmed, and alectinib therapy was initiated immediately. The tumor size had decreased significantly, and the patient was discharged on day 34. This case highlights the necessity of multiplex genetic testing even when ALK immunostaining is negative. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0169-5002 207 2025 Intracranial activity of sotorasib vs docetaxel in pretreated KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer from a global, phase 3, randomized controlled trial 108683 EN Anne-Marie C. Dingemans Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Konstantinos Syrigos Sotiria General Hospital Lorenzo Livi Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence Astrid Paulus Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège Sang-We Kim Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine Yuanbin Chen The Cancer & Hematology Centers of Western Michigan Enriqueta Felip Medical Oncology Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Frank Griesinger Pius-Hospital Oldenburg Kadoaki Ohashi Okayama University Hospital Gerard Zalcman Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard Brett G.M. Hughes The Prince Charles Hospital, University of Queensland Jens Benn Sørensen Rigshospitalet Normand Blais Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal Carlos G.M. Ferreira Oncoclinicas Colin R. Lindsay Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust Rafal Dziadziuszko University Clinical Centre, Medical University of Gdansk Patrick J. Ward SCRI at OHC Cynthia Chinedu Obiozor Amgen Inc. Yang Wang Amgen Inc. Solange Peters Lausanne University Hospital Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of sotorasib in patients with brain metastases using data from the phase 3 CodeBreaK 200 study, which evaluated sotorasib in adults with pretreated advanced or metastatic KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and methods: Patients with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC who progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy and checkpoint inhibitor therapy were randomized 1:1 to sotorasib or docetaxel. An exploratory post-hoc analysis evaluated central nervous system (CNS) progression-free survival (PFS) and time to CNS progression in patients with treated and stable brain metastases at baseline. Measures were assessed by blinded independent central review per study-modified Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Brain Metastases (RANO-BM) criteria. Results: Of the patients randomly assigned to receive sotorasib (n=171) or docetaxel (n=174), baseline CNS metastases were present in 40 (23%) and 29 (17%) patients, respectively. With a median follow-up of 20.0 months for this patient subgroup, median CNS PFS was longer with sotorasib compared with docetaxel (9.6 vs 4.5 months; hazard ratio, 0.43 [95% CI, 0.20–0.92]; P=0.02). Among patients with baseline treated CNS lesions of ≥10 mm, the percentage of patients who achieved CNS tumor shrinkage of ≥30% was two-fold higher with sotorasib than docetaxel (33.3% vs 15.4%). Treatment-related adverse events among patients with CNS lesions at baseline were consistent with those of the overall study population. Conclusions: These results suggest intracranial activity with sotorasib complements the overall PFS benefit observed with sotorasib vs docetaxel, with safety outcomes similar to those in the general CodeBreaK 200 population. Clinical trials registration number: NCT04303780. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0169-5002 199 2025 Real-world status of multimodal treatment of Stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer in Japan: Results from the SOLUTION study, a non-interventional, multicenter cohort study 108027 EN Hidehito Horinouchi Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital Haruyasu Murakami Department of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hideyuki Harada Division of Radiation Therapy, Shizuoka Cancer Center Tomotaka Sobue Division of Environmental Medicine and Population Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University Tomohiro Kato Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Himeji Medical Cente Shinji Atagi Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Hospital Organization Kinki-Chuo Chest Medical Center Toshiyuki Kozuki Department of Thoracic Oncology and Medicine, National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center Takaaki Tokito Division of Respirology, Neurology, and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University Hospital Satoshi Oizumi Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Hokkaido Cancer Center Masahiro Seike Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Nippon Medical School Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Tadashi Mio Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center Takashi Sone Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanazawa University Hospital Chikako Iwao Department of Medical, AstraZeneca K.K. Takeshi Iwane Department of Medical, AstraZeneca K.K. Ryo Koto Department of Medical, AstraZeneca K.K. Masahiro Tsuboi Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East Objectives: There is limited consensus on resectability criteria for Stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We examined the patient characteristics, N2 status, treatment decisions, and clinical outcomes according to the treatment modality for Stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC in Japan. Materials and methods: Patients with Stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC in Japan were consecutively registered in the SOLUTION study between 2013 and 2014. Patients were divided according to treatment (chemoradiotherapy [CRT], surgery + perioperative therapy [neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy], surgery alone). Demographic characteristics, N2 status (number and morphological features), pathological information, and treatments were analyzed descriptively. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Of 227 patients registered, 133 underwent CRT, 56 underwent surgery + perioperative therapy, and 38 underwent surgery alone. The physicians reported the following reasons for unresectability for 116 of 133 CRT patients: large number of metastatic lymph nodes (70.7 %), extranodal infiltration (25.0 %), poor surgical tolerance (19.0 %), or other reasons (18.1 %). CRT was more frequently performed in patients whose lymph nodes had an infiltrative appearance (64.3 %) and was the predominant treatment in patients with multiple involved stations (discrete: 60.0 %; infiltrative: 80.4 %). Distant metastasis with/without local progression was found in 50.4 %, 50.0 %, and 36.8 % of patients in the CRT, surgery + perioperative therapy, and surgery alone groups, respectively. The respective 3-year OS and DFS/PFS rates (median values) were as follows: surgery + perioperative therapy—61.9 % (not reached) and 37.1 % (22.4 months; DFS); CRT group—42.2 % (31.9 months) and 26.8 % (12.0 months; PFS); surgery alone group—37.7 % (26.5 months) and 28.7 % (12.6 months; DFS). Conclusion: This study has illuminated the real-world decision rules for choosing between surgical and non-surgical approaches in patients with Stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC. Our landmark data could support treatment decision making for using immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy for driver oncogenes in the perioperative therapy era. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1347-9032 116 5 2025 High Antigenicity for Treg Cells Confers Resistance to PD-1 Blockade Therapy via High PD-1 Expression in Treg Cells 1214 1226 EN Hiroaki Matsuura Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University Takamasa Ishino Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University Toshifumi Ninomiya Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine,Okayama University Kota Tachibana Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Akiko Honobe-Tabuchi Department of Dermatology, University of Yamanashi Yoshinori Muto Department of Dermatology, University of Yamanashi Takashi Inozume Department of Dermatology, University of Yamanashi Youki Ueda Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine,Okayama University Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine,Okayama University Joji Nagasaki Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University Yosuke Togashi Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Okayama University Regulatory T (Treg) cells have an immunosuppressive function, and programmed death-1 (PD-1)-expressing Treg cells reportedly induce resistance to PD-1 blockade therapies through their reactivation. However, the effects of antigenicity on PD-1 expression in Treg cells and the resistance to PD-1 blockade therapy remain unclear. Here, we show that Treg cells gain high PD-1 expression through an antigen with high antigenicity. Additionally, tumors with high antigenicity for Treg cells were resistant to PD-1 blockade in vivo due to PD-1+ Treg-cell infiltration. Because such PD-1+ Treg cells have high cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA)-4 expression, resistance could be overcome by combination with an anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Patients who responded to combination therapy with anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 mAbs sequentially after primary resistance to PD-1 blockade monotherapy showed high Treg cell infiltration. We propose that the high antigenicity of Treg cells confers resistance to PD-1 blockade therapy via high PD-1 expression in Treg cells, which can be overcome by combination therapy with an anti-CTLA-4 mAb. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 2769-2558 4 2 2025 Olanzapine enabled rechallenge after lorlatinib-induced psychosis: A case report e70091 EN Akiyoshi Yokode Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital Masaki Fujiwara Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital Yuko Nakamura Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Shinji Sakamoto Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital Manabu Takaki Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine,Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Background: Lorlatinib is a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While it has a high intracranial lesion control rate, it can also cause central nervous system complications, including psychotic symptoms. We present a case of lorlatinib-induced psychosis successfully managed with olanzapine, enabling lorlatinib rechallenge. Case Presentation: A 32-year-old woman with ALK-positive NSCLC and brain metastases was started on lorlatinib. After 18 months, she developed hallucinations and delusions. Despite treatment with risperidone, her psychotic symptoms persisted, leading to hospitalization. Her symptoms resolved upon lorlatinib discontinuation while risperidone was continued. Given the critical role of lorlatinib in controlling brain metastases, rechallenge was considered. To mitigate concerns regarding drug interactions, risperidone was replaced with olanzapine. Following lorlatinib rechallenge with olanzapine, no recurrence of psychiatric symptoms was observed, allowing continued lorlatinib treatment. Additionally, no progression of lung cancer was noted. Conclusion: Lorlatinib is an essential drug for controlling brain metastases in ALK-positive NSCLC. However, it can induce psychotic symptoms. When psychiatrists are involved in managing adverse effects during cancer treatment, close collaboration among oncologists, psychiatrists, and patients is essential. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Nature Portfolio Acta Medica Okayama 2045-2322 15 1 2025 Plasma S100A8/A9 level predicts response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer 2577 EN Tadahiro Kuribayashi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Rie Kinoshita Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Toshio Kubo Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kammei Rai Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Shinichi Toyooka Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masakiyo Sakaguchi Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Blood-based predictive markers for the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have not yet been established. We investigated the association of the plasma level of S100A8/A9 with the efficacy of immunotherapy. We evaluated patients with unresectable stage III/IV or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with ICIs at Okayama University Hospital. The pre-treatment plasma levels of S100A8/A9 were analyzed. Eighty-one eligible patients were included (median age, 69 years). Sixty-two patients were men, 54 had adenocarcinoma, 74 had performance status (PS) 0–1, and 47 received ICIs as first-line treatment. The median time to treatment failure (TTF) for ICIs was 5.7 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 19.6 months. The TTF and OS were worse in patients with high plasma S100A8/A9 levels (≥ 2.475 µg/mL) (median TTF: 4.3 vs. 8.5 months, p = 0.009; median OS: 15.4 vs. 38.0 months, p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that PS ≥ 2, liver metastasis, and high plasma S100A8/A9 levels were significantly associated with short TTF and OS. In conclusion, plasma S100A8/A9 level may have a limited effect on ICI therapy for NSCLC. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2192-3183 14 1 2024 Successful immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab in a patient with pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma 60 63 EN Yumi Inukai-Motokura Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Takahiro Baba Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hiroki Omori Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Tetsuya Takeguchi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Mari Uno Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yoshiyuki Ayada Department of Pathology, Okayama University Hospital Takehiro Tanaka Department of Pathology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma (PSP) is a rare form of lung cancer that occasionally presents with lymph node and extrapulmonary metastases, and multiple lesions. The treatment of metastatic PSP remains undefined. This study reports the case of a 48-year-old female patient diagnosed with PSP following surgical intervention for a solitary nodule in the left lower lobe. Four years later, recurrence occurred in the left hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, necessitating an additional resection. Concurrently, sacral metastases developed and required palliative radiotherapy. Genetic analysis identified an AKT1 E17K mutation, characteristic of PSP, and absence of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in the tumor. Two years post-recurrence, the tumor recurred in the left mammary gland and mediastinal lymph nodes. Combination immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab yielded a significantly positive response in this metastatic PSP case. This is the first reported case of successful treatment of multiple distant metastatic PSP with ipilimumab and nivolumab, following the failure of various local treatments. Further case series are warranted to validate the efficacy of immunotherapy in metastatic PSP. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society of Internal Medicine Acta Medica Okayama 0918-2918 63 19 2024 A Prompt Diagnosis and Treatment of a Case of Nuclear Protein of the Testis Carcinoma Characterized by a Bronchial Lesion and High Serum Alpha-fetoprotein Level Following Genomic Testing 2655 2660 EN Hiroaki Matsuura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Naohiro Oda Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fukuyama City Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hisao Higo Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masanori Fujii Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kammei Rai Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nuclear protein of the testis carcinoma (NUTC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy. We herein report a case of NUTC in the lung characterized by a bronchial lesion and elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels. A 35-year-old Japanese man presented to our institution with suspected advanced lung cancer based on a histological examination. Subsequently, next-generation sequencing (NGS) yielded a positive BRD4-NUTM1 fusion. In addition, positive NUT immunostaining of the lung biopsy specimen confirmed NUTC in the lungs. Systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy showed a temporary response, with decreased serum alpha-fetoprotein levels. We highlight this case of a prompt diagnosis by NGS of NUTC in a young individual with a rapidly progressing tumor. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 2213-0071 51 2024 Protracted coronavirus disease 2019 after chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy successfully treated with sequential multidrug therapy 102104 EN Masahiro Yamashita Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hisao Higo Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Nobuharu Fujii Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Chiaki Matsumoto Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masanori Fujii Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kammei Rai Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nobuaki Miyahara Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital A 56-year-old woman who received CD19 chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy for refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma developed severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and was treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in April 2022. However, she experienced persistent fatigue and cough and fever in June. Computed tomography revealed bilateral ground-glass opacities (GGO), and the patient was treated with corticosteroids for organizing pneumonia after COVID19. Partial improvement was observed, but new GGO appeared despite corticosteroid therapy. Genome analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 detected Omicron variant BA.1.1.2, which was prevalent at the time of initial infection. The patient was diagnosed with protracted COVID-19 and was treated with remdesivir, molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and tixagevimab/cilgavimab. These treatments appeared to contribute to the improvement of protracted COVID-19. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society of Internal Medicine Acta Medica Okayama 0918-2918 63 9 2024 Severe Cytokine Release Syndrome and Immune Effector Cell-associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome in a Man Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Lung Cancer 1261 1267 EN Takaaki Tanaka Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masataka Taoka Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hisao Higo Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masanori Fujii Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences A 55-year-old man with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma was treated with cisplatin, pemetrexed, nivolumab, and ipilimumab. Approximately 100 days after treatment initiation, he became disoriented and presented to the emergency department with a high fever. Blood tests revealed liver and kidney dysfunctions. Subsequently, the patient developed generalized convulsions that required intensive care. He was clinically diagnosed with cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Organ damage was gradually controlled with immunosuppressive drugs, including steroids, and the patient was discharged. Successful treatment is rare in patients with CRS, including ICANS, during immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment for solid tumors. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1759-7706 15 17 2024 Concomitant osimertinib and antituberculosis therapy in an elderly patient with EGFR-mutated lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis: A case report 1390 1394 EN Hiroaki Matsuura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hisao Higo Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Tadahiro Kuribayashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Akihiko Tamaoki Okayama Health Foundation Hospital, Okayama Health Foundation Takamasa Nakasuka Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Mari Uno Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masanori Fujii Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kammei Rai Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Nobuaki Miyahara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital The concurrent incidence of lung cancer and tuberculosis is expected to escalate due to the projected growth in the older population. Combination therapy with osimertinib and antituberculosis drugs has not been well-established. We report a case of successful treatment involving the concomitant administration of osimertinib and antituberculosis drugs in an older patient, an 89-year-old female, diagnosed with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis. Accumulating evidence is warranted to develop an optimal treatment strategy for patients with lung cancer and tuberculosis. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

AME Publishing Company Acta Medica Okayama 2218-6751 12 10 2023 CDK4/6 signaling attenuates the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer EN Naofumi Hara Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Eiki Ichihara Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hirohisa Kano Department of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital Chihiro Ando Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ayako Morita Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tatsuya Nishi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Sachi Okawa Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takamasa Nakasuka Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Atsuko Hirabae Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masaya Abe Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Noboru Asada Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Masanori Fujii Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Toshio Kubo Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, such as exon 19 deletion and exon 21 L858R, are driver oncogenes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) being effective against EGFR-mutant NSCLC. However, the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs is transient and eventually leads to acquired resistance. Herein, we focused on the significance of cell cycle factors as a mechanism to attenuate the effect of EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutant NSCLC before the emergence of acquired resistance. Methods: Using several EGFR-mutant cell lines, we investigated the significance of cell cycle factors to attenuate the effect of EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Results: In several EGFR-mutant cell lines, certain cancer cells continued to proliferate without EGFR signaling, and the cell cycle regulator retinoblastoma protein (RB) was not completely dephosphorylated. Further inhibition of phosphorylated RB with cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors, combined with the EGFR-TKI osimertinib, enhanced G0/G1 cell cycle accumulation and growth inhibition of the EGFR-mutant NSCLC in both in vitro and in vivo models. Furthermore, residual RB phosphorylation without EGFR signaling was maintained by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling, and the ERK inhibition pathway showed further RB dephosphorylation. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the CDK4/6-RB signal axis, maintained by the MAPK pathway, attenuates the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutant NSCLC, and targeting CDK4/6 enhances this efficacy. Thus, combining CDK4/6 inhibitors and EGFR-TKI could be a novel treatment strategy for TKI-naïve EGFR-mutant NSCLC. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 1432-1335 150 2 2024 Clinical characteristics of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer: CS-Lung-003 prospective observational registry study 89 EN Tadahiro Kuribayashi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kazuya Nishii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yukari Tsubata Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University Nobuhisa Ishikawa Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital Masahiro Kodani Division of Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Nobuhiro Kanaji Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Rheumatology, and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University Masahiro Yamasaki Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital and Atomic-Bomb Survivors Hospital Kazunori Fujitaka Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences Shoichi Kuyama Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Iwakuni Clinical Center Nagio Takigawa Department of Internal Medicine 4, Kawasaki Medical School Nobukazu Fujimoto Department of Medical Oncology, Okayama Rosai Hospital Tetsuya Kubota Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kochi University Hospital Masaaki Inoue Department of Chest Surgery, Shimonoseki City Hospital Keiichi Fujiwara Department of Respiratory Medicine, NHO Okayama Medical Center Shingo Harita Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama Saiseikai General Hospital Ichiro Takata Internal Medicine, Fukuyama City Hospital Kenji Takada Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Sachi Okawa Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Purpose Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are ineffective against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients who were treated or not treated with ICIs, and of those who benefit from immunotherapy in EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Methods We analyzed patients with unresectable stage III/IV or recurrent NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations using a prospective umbrella-type lung cancer registry (CS-Lung-003). Results A total of 303 patients who met the eligibility criteria were analyzed. The median age was 69 years; 116 patients were male, 289 had adenocarcinoma, 273 had major mutations, and 67 were treated with ICIs. The duration of EGFR-TKI treatment was longer in the Non-ICI group than in the ICI group (17.1 vs. 12.7 months, p < 0.001). Patients who received ICIs for more than 6 months were categorized into the durable clinical benefit (DCB) group (24 patients), and those who received ICIs for less than 6 months into the Non-DCB group (43 patients). The overall survival in the DCB group exhibited longer than the Non-DCB group (69.3 vs. 47.1 months), and an equivalent compared to that in the Non-ICI group (69.3 vs. 68.9 months). Multivariate analysis for time to next treatment (TTNT) of ICIs showed that a poor PS was associated with a shorter TTNT [hazard ratio (HR) 3.309; p < 0.001]. Patients who were treated with ICIs and chemotherapy combination were associated with a longer TTNT (HR 0.389; p = 0.003). In addition, minor EGFR mutation was associated with a long TTNT (HR 0.450; p = 0.046). Conclusion ICIs were administered to only 22% of patients with EGFR-mutated lung cancer, and they had shorter TTNT of EGFR-TKI compared to other patients. ICI treatment should be avoided in EGFR mutated lung cancer with poor PS but can be considered for lung cancer with EGFR minor mutations. Pathological biomarker to predict long-term responders to ICI are needed. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 2213-0071 38 2022 Massive hemoptysis in a post-operative patient with recurrent lung cancer successfully treated by the combination therapy of Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot and bronchial artery embolization 101669 EN Masataka Taoka Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Noriyuki Umakoshi Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hisao Higo Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yuka Kato Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masanori Fujii Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Toshio Kubo Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital A 76-year-old woman who was treated with lorlatinib for postoperative recurrent anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive lung adenocarcinoma visited our hospital with massive hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography showed massive bleeding from the right upper lobe; however, the cause of bleeding was unclear. After bronchial artery embolization (BAE), bronchial occlusion was performed using an Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot (EWS) that was easily placed because BAE had reduced the bleeding volume. Treatment with BAE alone was inadequate; however, additional therapy with EWS after BAE successfully controlled the massive hemoptysis, especially in this patient who underwent lobectomy to prevent respiratory dysfunction. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 0020-7136 154 1 2023 Low frequency of intracranial progression in advanced NSCLC patients treated with cancer immunotherapies 169 179 EN Naoya Kemmotsu Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kei Kunimasa Department of Thoracic Oncology, Osaka International Cancer Institute Takamasa Ishino Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Joji Nagasaki Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yoshihiro Otani Department of Neurological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiroyuki Michiue Department of Neurological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Eiki Ichihara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Takako Inoue Department of Thoracic Oncology, Osaka International Cancer Institute Motohiro Tamiya Department of Thoracic Oncology, Osaka International Cancer Institute Kazuko Sakai Department of Genome Biology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine Youki Ueda Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Hiromichi Dansako Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Kazuto Nishio Department of Genome Biology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Isao Date Department of Neurological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Yosuke Togashi Department of Tumor Microenvironment, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Intracranial metastases are common in nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, whose prognosis is very poor. In addition, intracranial progression is common during systemic treatments due to the inability to penetrate central nervous system (CNS) barriers, whereas the intracranial effects of cancer immunotherapies remain unclear. We analyzed clinical data to evaluate the frequency of intracranial progression in advanced NSCLC patients treated with PD-1 blockade therapies compared with those treated without PD-1 blockade therapies, and found that the frequency of intracranial progression in advanced NSCLC patients treated with PD-1 blockade therapies was significantly lower than that in patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapies. In murine models, intracranial rechallenged tumors after initial rejection by PD-1 blockade were suppressed. Accordingly, long-lived memory precursor effector T cells and antigen-specific T cells were increased by PD-1 blockade in intracranial lesions. However, intracranial rechallenged different tumors are not suppressed. Our results indicate that cancer immunotherapies can prevent intracranial progression, maintaining long-term effects intracranially as well as systemically. If intracranial recurrence occurs during the treatment with PD-1 blockade therapies, aggressive local therapies could be worthwhile. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1347-9032 114 11 2023 Efficacy of gilteritinib in comparison with alectinib for the treatment of ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer 4343 4354 EN Chihiro Ando Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Eiki Ichihara Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Tatsuya Nishi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ayako Morita Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Naofumi Hara Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kenji Takada Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takamasa Nakasuka Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hiromi Watanabe Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hirohisa Kano Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazuya Nishii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Go Makimoto Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Takumi Kondo Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masanori Fujii Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Toshio Kubo Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Ken-Ichi Matsuoka Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Gilteritinib is a multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), approved for the treatment of FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia, with a broad range of activity against several tyrosine kinases including anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). This study investigated the efficacy of gilteritinib against ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). To this end, we assessed the effects of gilteritinib on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and acquired resistance responses in several ALK-rearranged NSCLC cell lines and mouse xenograft tumor models and compared its efficacy to alectinib, a standard ALK inhibitor. Gilteritinib was significantly more potent than alectinib, as it inhibited cell proliferation at a lower dose, with complete attenuation of growth observed in several ALK-rearranged NSCLC cell lines and no development of drug tolerance. Immunoblotting showed that gilteritinib strongly suppressed phosphorylated ALK and its downstream effectors, as well as mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) signaling. By comparison, MET signaling was enhanced in alectinib-treated cells. Furthermore, gilteritinib was found to more effectively abolish growth of ALK-rearranged NSCLC xenograft tumors, many of which completely receded. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) mRNA levels were elevated in gilteritinib-treated cells, together with a concomitant increase in the infiltration of tumors by natural killer (NK) cells, as assessed by immunohistochemistry. This suggests that IL-15 production along with NK cell infiltration may constitute components of the gilteritinib-mediated antitumor responses in ALK-rearranged NSCLCs. In conclusion, gilteritinib demonstrated significantly improved antitumor efficacy compared with alectinib against ALK-rearranged NSCLC cells, which can warrant its candidacy for use in anticancer regimens, after further examination in clinical trial settings. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0169-5002 178 2023 PD-1 blockade augments CD8+ T cell dependent antitumor immunity triggered by Ad-SGE-REIC in Egfr-mutant lung cancer 1 10 EN Takamasa Nakasuka Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kazuya Nishii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Atsuko Hirabae Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Sachi Okawa Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nahoko Tomonobu Department of Cell Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kenji Takada Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Chihiro Ando Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hiromi Watanabe Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Masanori Fujii Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Toshio Kubo Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Hiromi Kumon Innovation Center Okayama for Nanobio-targeted Therapy, Okayama University Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Objectives: No immunotherapeutic protocol has yet been established in never-smoking patients with lung cancer harboring driver oncogenic mutations, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. The immunostimulatory effect of Ad-REIC, a genetically engineered adenovirus vector expressing a tumor suppressor gene, reduced expression in immortalized cells (REIC), has been investigated in clinical trials for various solid tumors. However, the immunostimulatory effect of the Ad-REIC in EGFR-mutant lung cancer with a non-inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME) has not been explored. Materials and methods: We used a syngeneic mouse model developed by transplanting Egfr-mutant lung cancer cells into single or double flanks of C57BL/6J mice. Ad-SGE-REIC, a 2nd-generation vector with an enhancer sequence, was injected only into the tumors from one flank, and its antitumor effects were assessed. Tumor-infiltrating cells were evaluated using immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry. The synergistic effects of Ad-SGE-REIC and PD-1 blockade were also examined. Results: Injection of Ad-SGE-REIC into one side of the tumor induced not only a local antitumor effect but also a bystander abscopal effect in the non-injected tumor, located on the other flank. The number of PD-1+CD8+ T cells increased in both injected and non-injected tumors. PD-1 blockade augmented the local and abscopal antitumor effects of Ad-SGE-REIC by increasing the number of CD8+ T cells in the TME of Egfr-mutant tumors. Depletion of CD8+ cells reverted the antitumor effect, suggesting they contribute to antitumor immunity. Conclusion: Ad-SGE-REIC induced systemic antitumor immunity by modifying the TME status from non-inflamed to inflamed, with infiltration of CD8+ T cells. Additionally, in Egfr-mutant lung cancer, this effect was enhanced by PD-1 blockade. These findings pave the way to establish a novel combined immunotherapy strategy with Ad-SGE-REIC and anti-PD-1 antibody for lung cancer with a non-inflamed TME. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Karger Acta Medica Okayama 1662-6575 15 2 2022 Successful and Prompt Treatment with Tepotinib for Lung Adenocarcinoma Harboring MET Exon 14 Skipping Mutation Combined with Lung Abscess Formation: A Case Report 494 498 EN Go Makimoto Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Atsushi Shimonishi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hisao Higo Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yuka Kato Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masanori Fujii Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Toshio Kubo Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Tepotinib, the novel MET-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, shows an antitumor effect for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring MET exon 14 skipping mutation. In January 2022, the AmoyDx (R) Pan Lung Cancer polymerase chain reaction Panel (AmoyDx (R) panel), which had a shorter turnaround time than the conventional test, was launched in Japan as a tepotinib companion test. We report a patient with an advanced MET-mutant NSCLC promptly diagnosed using the AmoyDx (R) panel and successfully treated with tepotinib. Although the patient's performance status (PS) worsened due to the rapid tumor progression and lung abscess formation, the tumor shrank immediately after tepotinib treatment with marked PS improvement. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

JAPAN SOC INTERNAL MEDICINE Acta Medica Okayama 0918-2918 61 3 2022 Pulmonary Aspergilloma and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis Following the 2018 Heavy Rain Event in Western Japan 379 383 EN Eri Ando Center for Graduate Medical Education, Okayama University Hospital Takamasa Nakasuka Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Toshio Kubo Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Akihiko Taniguchi Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kiichiro Ninomiya Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuka Kato Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kammei Rai Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masaomi Yamane Departments of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nobuaki Miyahara Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital A 16-year-old boy with asthma participated in recovery volunteer work following the 2018 heavy rains in Japan. One month later, he experienced chest pain and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography revealed a cavity with a fungal ball, and Aspergillus fumigatus was detected in his bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. He was treated with voriconazole, but new consolidations appeared rapidly. He also experienced allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. After prednisolone prescription, the consolidations improved; however, his asthma worsened. He underwent partial lung resection to avoid allergens, and his symptoms improved. We must recognize cases of infection after a disaster, especially in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

BMC Acta Medica Okayama 1465-993X 23 1 2022 Identification of targetable kinases in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis 20 EN Hisao Higo Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Shuta Tomida Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Sachi Okawa Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Hiromasa Yamamoto Department of Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital Seiichiro Sugimoto Organ Transplant Center, Okayama University Hospital Satoru Senoo Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Go Makimoto Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Takamasa Nakasuka Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Kazuya Nishii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Akihiko Taniguchi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Toshio Kubo Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Nobuaki Miyahara Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Shinichi Toyooka Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Background Tyrosine kinase activation plays an important role in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we analyzed the expression of 612 kinase-coding and cancer-related genes using next-generation sequencing to identify potential therapeutic targets for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods Thirteen samples from five patients with IPF (Cases 1-5) and eight samples from four patients without IPF (control) were included in this study. Six of the thirteen samples were obtained from different lung segments of a single patient who underwent bilateral pneumonectomy. Gene expression analysis of IPF lung tissue samples (n = 13) and control samples (n = 8) was performed using SureSelect RNA Human Kinome Kit. The expression of the selected genes was further confirmed at the protein level by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results Gene expression analysis revealed a correlation between the gene expression signatures and the degree of fibrosis, as assessed by Ashcroft score. In addition, the expression analysis indicated a stronger heterogeneity among the IPF lung samples than among the control lung samples. In the integrated analysis of the 21 samples, DCLK1 and STK33 were found to be upregulated in IPF lung samples compared to control lung samples. However, the top most upregulated genes were distinct in individual cases. DCLK1, PDK4, and ERBB4 were upregulated in IPF case 1, whereas STK33, PIM2, and SYK were upregulated in IPF case 2. IHC revealed that these proteins were expressed in the epithelial layer of the fibrotic lesions. Conclusions We performed a comprehensive kinase expression analysis to explore the potential therapeutic targets for IPF. We found that DCLK1 and STK33 may serve as potential candidate targets for molecular targeted therapy of IPF. In addition, PDK4, ERBB4, PIM2, and SYK might also serve as personalized therapeutic targets of IPF. Additional large-scale studies are warranted to develop personalized therapies for patients with IPF. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine Acta Medica Okayama 0918-2918 60 17 2021 Marginal Zone Lymphoma and Lung Adenocarcinoma with an EGFR Exon 19 E746-S752del Mutation in a Patient with IgG4-related Disease 2831 2837 EN Sachi Okawa Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kammei Rai Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nobuharu Fujii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuka Gion Division of Pathophysiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuka Kato Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Akihiko Taniguchi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Toshio Kubo Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Eiki Ichihara Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nobuaki Miyahara Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Hotta Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Masahiro Tabata Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences A 68-year-old man presented with a solid mass at the left renal pelvis and ureter with multiple systemic lymphadenopathies and a mass with a cavity in the right lower lobe of the lung. While a transbronchial lung biopsy revealed no malignancy, a biopsy of the renal pelvis showed marginal zone lymphoma with polyclonal IgG4-positive cells. The serum IgG4 level and presence of a bilateral orbital mass suggested Mikulicz disease. The lesions shrank following the administration of steroids. A rebiopsy confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, and its background showed IgG4-positive cells a year later. IgG4-related diseases require careful follow-up because they can be complicated by malignancy. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Spandidos Publications Acta Medica Okayama 1792-1074 22 3 2021 Triple therapy with osimertinib, bevacizumab and cetuximab in EGFR‑mutant lung cancer with HIF‑1α/TGF‑α expression 639 EN Kazuya Nishii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hiromi Watanabe Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Go Makimoto Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takamasa Nakasuka Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hisao Higo Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yuka Kato Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Toshio Kubo Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Kammei Rai Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Osimertinib, a third generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is the standard treatment for patients with lung cancer harboring EGFR T790M; however, acquired resistance is inevitable due to genetic and epigenetic changes in cancer cells. In addition, a recent randomized clinical trial revealed that the combination of osimertinib and bevacizumab failed to exhibit superior progression‑free survival compared with osimertinib alone. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of triple therapy with osimertinib, bevacizumab and cetuximab in xenograft tumors with different initial tumor volumes (conventional model, 200 mm3 and large model, 500 mm3). The results demonstrated that osimertinib significantly inhibited tumor growth in both the conventional and large models; however, maximum tumor regression was attenuated in the large model in which hypoxia‑inducible factor‑1α (HIF‑1α) and transforming growth factor‑α (TGF‑α) expression levels increased. Although the combination of osimertinib and bevacizumab exerted a greater inhibitory effect on tumor growth compared with osimertinib in the conventional model, the effect of this combination therapy was attenuated in the large model. TGF‑α attenuated sensitivity to osimertinib in vitro; however, this negative effect was counteracted by the combination of osimertinib and cetuximab, but not osimertinib and bevacizumab. In the large xenograft tumor model, the triple therapy induced the greatest inhibitory effect on tumor growth compared with osimertinib alone and its combination with bevacizumab. Clinical trials of the triple therapy are required for patients with lung cancer with EGFR mutations and HIF‑1α/TGF‑α. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 1347-9032 2021 VEGFR2 blockade augments the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors by inhibiting angiogenesis and oncogenic signaling in oncogene-driven non-small-cell lung cancers EN Hiromi Watanabe Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Eiki Ichihara Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hiroe Kayatani Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Go Makimoto Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazuya Nishii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hisao Higo Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Chihiro Ando Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Sachi Okawa Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takamasa Nakasuka Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hirohisa Kano Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Naofumi Hara Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Atsuko Hirabae Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuka Kato Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Takashi Ninomiya Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Toshio Kubo Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Kammei Rai Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Molecular agents targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)- or c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) alterations have revolutionized the treatment of oncogene-driven non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the emergence of acquired resistance remains a significant challenge, limiting the wider clinical success of these molecular targeted therapies. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of various molecular targeted agents, including erlotinib, alectinib, and crizotinib, combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) 2 therapy. The combination of VEGFR2 blockade with molecular targeted agents enhanced the anti-tumor effects of these agents in xenograft mouse models of EGFR-, ALK-, or ROS1-altered NSCLC. The numbers of CD31-positive blood vessels were significantly lower in the tumors of mice treated with an anti-VEGFR2 antibody combined with molecular targeted agents compared with in those of mice treated with molecular targeted agents alone, implying the antiangiogenic effects of VEGFR2 blockade. Additionally, the combination therapies exerted more potent antiproliferative effects in vitro in EGFR-, ALK-, or ROS1-altered NSCLC cells, implying that VEGFR2 inhibition also has direct anti-tumor effects on cancer cells. Furthermore, VEGFR2 expression was induced following exposure to molecular targeted agents, implying the importance of VEGFR2 signaling in NSCLC patients undergoing molecular targeted therapy. In conclusion, VEGFR2 inhibition enhanced the anti-tumor effects of molecular targeted agents in various oncogene-driven NSCLC models, not only by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis but also by exerting direct antiproliferative effects on cancer cells. Hence, combination therapy with anti-VEGFR2 antibodies and molecular targeted agents could serve as a promising treatment strategy for oncogene-driven NSCLC. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Spandidos Publications Acta Medica Okayama 1792-1074 20 6 2020 Detection of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in exhaled breath condensate using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction 393 EN Kazuya Nishii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Tomoki Tamura Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takehiro Matsubara Okayama University Hospital Biobank Satoru Senoo Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hirohisa Kano Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hiromi Watanabe Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Naohiro Oda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Go Makimoto Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hisao Higo Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuka Kato Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Takashi Ninomiya Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Toshio Kubo Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Hiromasa Yamamoto Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shuta Tomida Okayama University Hospital Biobank Katsuyuki Hotta Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Shinichi Toyooka Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital The detection of certain oncogenic driver mutations, including those of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is essential for determining treatment strategies for advanced non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The current study assessed the feasibility of testing exhaled breath condensate (EBC) for EGFR mutations by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Samples were collected from 12 patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations that were admitted to Okayama University Hospital between June 1, 2014 and December 31, 2017. A total of 21 EBC samples were collected using the RTube™ method and EGFR mutations (L858R, exon 19 deletions or T790M) were assessed through ddPCR analysis (EBC‑ddPCR). A total of 3 healthy volunteer samples were also tested to determine a threshold value for each mutation. Various patient characteristics were determined, including sex (3 males and 9 females), age (range 54‑81 years; median, 66 years), smoking history (10 had never smoked; 2 were former smokers), histology (12 patients exhibited adenocarcinoma), clinical stage (9 patients were stage IV; 3 exhibited post‑operative recurrence) and EGFR mutation type (4 had L858R; 8 had exon 19 deletions; 8 had T790M). EBC‑ddPCR demonstrated positive droplets in 8 of the 12 patients. The sensitivity and specificity of each mutation was as follows: 27.3 and 80.0% for EGFR L858R, 30.0 and 90.9% for EGFR Ex19del, and 22.2 and 100% for EGFR T790M. EBC‑ddPCR analysis of EGFR mutations exhibited modest sensitivity and acceptable specificity. EBC‑ddPCR is a minimally invasive and replicable procedure and may be a complementary method for EGFR testing in patients where blood or tissue sampling proves difficult. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 74 5 2020 Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Fusion: A Review of Therapeutic Drugs and Treatment Strategies 371 379 EN Go Makimoto Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Iwakuni Clinical Center Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Review 10.18926/AMO/60796 The prognosis of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has improved in recent decades, especially for patients with an oncogenic driver mutation. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are effective for patients with the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-ALK fusion gene. Several ALK-TKIs have been established: the first-generation ALK-TKI, crizotinib; second-generation ALK-TKIs, alectinib and ceritinib; and third-generation ALK-TKI, lorlatinib. Some ALK-TKIs are effective for tumors that are resistant to other ALK-TKIs; however, as is known in epidermal growth factor receptormutant lung cancer, tumor resistance is inevitable. ALK-positive NSCLCs acquire resistance via various mechanisms, making it a heterogeneous disease. Therefore, it is necessary to develop next-generation treatment strategies, such as the use of next-generation ALK-TKIs for secondary mutations, or combination therapies with ALK-TKIs and other TKIs. In this review, we summarize the development and use of ALK-TKIs, prior pivotal clinical trials, and resistance mechanisms. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine Acta Medica Okayama 0918-2918 59 6 2020 Successful Re-administration of Osimertinib in Osimertinib-induced Interstitial Lung Disease with an Organizing Pneumonia Pattern: A Case Report and Literature Review 823 828 EN Junko Itano Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hisao Higo Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Go Makimoto Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazuya Nishii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Hotta Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Nobuaki Miyahara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Osimertinib is the standard therapy for epidermal-growth-factor-receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung cancers. We herein report a case of osimertinib-induced interstitial lung disease (OsiILD) with an organizing pneumonia (OP) pattern and provide a literature-based review. Six months after osimertinib administration, a 75-year-old woman with right pleural carcinomatosis developed ILD with an OP pattern. After salvage chemotherapy, osimertinib with corticosteroid was successfully re-administered. A literature review suggested that 1) OsiILD with an OP pattern was rare but should be recognized, and 2) re-administration of osimertinib in OsiILD was successful in select patients. A criterion that determines whether a patient would benefit from re-administration is warranted. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 2213-0071 28 2019 Long-term spontaneous remission with active surveillance in IgG4-related pleuritis: A case report and literature review 100938 EN Go Makimoto Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kohei Taniguchi Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Junichi Soh Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Akihiko Taniguchi Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Nobuaki Miyahara Department of Medical Technology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences Shinichi Toyooka Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tadashi Yoshino Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Pleural effusion is a relatively rare feature of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Here, we report a case of a 72-year-old woman who presented with pleural effusion. Although the pleural adenosine deaminase level was increased, surgical biopsy of the pleura and left inguinal lymph node indicated that the effusion was due to IgG4-RD. Active surveillance was initiated because serum IgG4 and pleural effusion naturally decreased and then completely disappeared. The patient has shown no recurrence for >4 years. This case suggests that pleural biopsy can be used to distinguish IgG4-RD from tuberculosis; moreover, some cases with pleural effusion could improve without treatment. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 2213-0071 28 2019 A case of axillary lymphadenitis caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare in an immunocompetent patient 100947 EN Junko Itano Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Satoru Senoo Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Naohiro Oda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazuya Nishii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Akihiko Taniguchi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nobuaki Miyahara Department of Medical Technology, Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Axillary lymphadenitis caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria is rare and has been reported in immunocompromised hosts. Herein, we report the case of a 67-year-old man without immunodeficiency who developed right axillary lymphadenitis caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare and showed a small nodular shadow in the left pulmonary apex. Biopsy of the right axillary lymph node revealed several epithelioid granulomas, and the culture of the lymph node aspirate yielded Mycobacterium intracellulare. The lymph node lesion and left lung apex shadow resolved spontaneously after careful outpatient monitoring. This case suggests that axillary lymphadenitis could be caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare in an immunocompetent patient. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 15560864 14 11 2019 Rapid Acquisition of Alectinib Resistance in ALK-Positive Lung Cancer With High Tumor Mutation Burden 2009 2018 EN Go Makimoto Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shuta Tomida Okayama University Hospital Biobank, Okayama University Hospital Kazuya Nishii Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takehiro Matsubara Okayama University Hospital Biobank, Okayama University Hospital Hiroe Kayatani Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hisao Higo Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kiichiro Ninomiya Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Akiko Sato Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Hiromi Watanabe Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hirohisa Kano Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takashi Ninomiya Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Toshio Kubo Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Kammei Rai Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Eiki Ichihara Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Katsuyuki Hotta Center of Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Masahiro Tabata Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital Shinichi Toyooka Okayama University Hospital Biobank, Okayama University Hospital Minoru Takata Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Graduate School of Biostudies, Radiation Biology Center, Kyoto University Yoshinobu Maeda Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Introduction The highly selective ALK receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK) inhibitor alectinib is standard therapy for ALK-positive lung cancers; however, some tumors quickly develop resistance. Here, we investigated the mechanism associated with rapid acquisition of resistance using clinical samples. Methods Autopsied samples were obtained from lung, liver, and renal tumors from a 51-year-old male patient with advanced ALK-positive lung cancer who had acquired resistance to alectinib in only 3 months. We established an alectinib-resistant cell line (ABC-14) from pleural effusion and an alectinib/crizotinib-resistant cell line (ABC-17) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model from liver tumors. Additionally, we performed next-generation sequencing, direct DNA sequencing, and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results ABC-14 cells harbored no ALK mutations and were sensitive to crizotinib while also exhibiting MNNG HOS transforming gene (MET) gene amplification and amphiregulin overexpression. Additionally, combined treatment with crizotinib/erlotinib inhibited cell growth. ABC-17 and PDX tumors harbored ALK G1202R, and PDX tumors metastasized to multiple organs in vivo, whereas the third-generation ALK-inhibitor, lorlatinib, diminished tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Next-generation sequencing indicated high tumor mutation burden and heterogeneous tumor evolution. The autopsied lung tumors harbored ALK G1202R (c. 3604 G>A) and the right renal metastasis harbored ALK G1202R (c. 3604 G>C); the mutation thus comprised different codon changes. Conclusions High tumor mutation burden and heterogeneous tumor evolution might be responsible for rapid acquisition of alectinib resistance. Timely lorlatinib administration or combined therapy with an ALK inhibitor and other receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibitors might constitute a potent strategy. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 70 4 2016 Effect of Vandetanib on Lung Tumorigenesis in Transgenic Mice Carrying an Activating Egfr Gene Mutation 243 253 EN Masahiro Osawa Department of Haematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kadoaki Ohashi Department of Haematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Toshio Kubo Department of Haematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Eiki Ichihara Department of Haematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Saburo Takata Department of Haematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nagio Takigawa Department of General Internal Medicine 4, Kawasaki Medical School Minoru Takata Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Kyoto University Mitsune Tanimoto Department of Haematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuyuki Kiura Department of Haematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Original Article 10.18926/AMO/54499 Vandetanib (ZactimaTM) is a novel, orally available inhibitor of both vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase. In the present study, a line of transgenic mice with a mouse Egfr gene mutation (delE748-A752) corresponding to a human EGFR mutation (delE746-A750) was established. The transgenic mice developed atypical adenomatous hyperplasia to adenocarcinoma of the lung at around 5 weeks of age and died of lung tumors at approximately 17 weeks of age. In the mice treated with vandetanib (6mg/kg/day), these lung tumors disappeared and the phosphorylations of EGFR and VEGFR-2 were reduced in lung tissues to levels comparable to those of non-transgenic control mice. The median overall survival time of the transgenic mice was 28 weeks in the vandetanib-treated group and 17 weeks in the vehicle-treated group. Vandetanib significantly prolonged the survival of the transgenic mice (log-rank test, p＜0.01); resistance to vandetanib occurred at 20 weeks of age and the animals died from their lung tumors at about 28 weeks of age. These data suggest that vandetanib could suppress the progression of tumors harboring an activating EGFR mutation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 127 2 2015 HER2異常等の低頻度の分子異常を有する非小細胞肺癌の臨床病理学的特徴を明らかにするための前向き観察研究（HER2-CS Study）と標準化学療法後再発・増悪または標準化学療法不応性のHER2陽性非小細胞肺癌患者を対象としたトラスツズマブエムタンシン（遺伝子組換え）の第2相試験 127 132 EN Katsuyuki Kiura Katsuyuki Hotta Akiko Sato Kadoaki Ohashi Takashi Ninomiya Daisuke Minnami Masahiro Tabata Toshio Kubo Yuka Kato Taizo Hirata No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 0014-4827 326 2 2014 Everolimus prolonged survival in transgenic mice with EGFR-driven lung tumors 201 209 EN Masayuki Yasugi Nagio Takigawa Nobuaki Ochi Kadoaki Ohashi Daijiro Harada Takashi Ninomiya Toshi Murakami Yoshihiro Honda Eiki Ichihara Mitsune Tanimoto Katsuyuki Kiura Everolimus is an orally administered mTOR inhibitor. The effect, and mechanism of action, of everolimus on lung cancers with an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation remain unclear. Four gefitinib-sensitive and -resistant cell lines were used in the present work. Growth inhibition was determined using the MTT assay. Transgenic mice carrying the EGFR L858R mutation were treated with everolimus (10 mg/kg/day), or vehicle alone, from 5 to 20 weeks of age, and were then sacrificed. To evaluate the efficacy of everolimus in prolonging survival, everolimus (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was administered from 5 weeks of age. The four cell lines were similarly sensitive to everolimus. Expression of phosphorylated (p) mTOR and pS6 were suppressed upon treatment with everolimus in vitro, whereas the pAKT level increased. The numbers of lung tumors with a long axis exceeding 1 mm in the everolimus-treated and control groups were 1.9 +/- 0.9 and 9.4 +/- 3.2 (t-test, p<0.001), respectively. pS6 was suppressed during everolimus treatment. Although apoptosis and autophagy were not induced in everolimus-treated EGFR transgenic mice, angiogenesis was suppressed. The median survival time in the everolimus-treated group (58.0 weeks) was significantly longer than that in the control group (31.2 weeks) (logrank test, p<0.001). These findings suggest that everolimus had an indirect effect on tumor formation by inhibiting angiogenesis and might be effective to treat lung tumors induced by an activating EGFR gene mutation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.