Articles

Second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer adenocarcinoma patients not harbouring an oncogene driver mutation anno 2017–2018: A consensus group meeting

BJMO - volume 12, issue 2, march 2018

P-E. Baugnée , L. Bosquée MD, PhD, C. Compère MD, N. D’Haene MD, PhD, I. Demedts , D. Galdermans , P. Germonpré , M. Gustin , V. Ninane , S. Ocak , P. Pauwels MD, PhD, T. Pieters MD, A. Sadowska MD, A. Sibille MD, V. Surmont MD, PhD, J. Vansteenkiste MD, PhD

Summary

The treatment landscape for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, who do not harbour an oncogenic driver abnormality, has changed dramatically over the last years. Second-generation antiangiogenic agents, such as nintedanib and ramucirumab, and particularly PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, such as nivolumab, pembrolizumab and atezolizumab have shown to prolong survival in pretreated non-small cell lung cancer patients. Immune checkpoint inhibition in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer comes with the promise of durable responses in responding patients. Nevertheless, one must appreciate that the average response rate seen with these PD-1/PD-L1 targeting agents is only about 20%. While PD-L1 testing may be used as an enrichment biomarker, a substantial proportion of patients still do not benefit from these agents. They could benefit from alternative therapeutic options, including novel anti-angiogenic agents. In this paper, a treatment algorithm is proposed that aims to optimise the second-line treatment choice for patients with lung adenocarcinoma, based on the available clinical data.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2018;12(2):61–66)

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Thrombo-embolic events in cancer patients with impaired renal function

BJMO - volume 9, issue 2, may 2015

I. Elalamy MD, PhD, J-L. Canon MD, PhD, A. Bols MD, PhD, W. Lybaert MD, L. Duck MD, PhD, K. Jochmans MD, PhD, L. Bosquée MD, PhD, M. Peeters MD, PhD, A. Awada MD, PhD, P. Clement MD, PhD, S. Holbrechts MD, PhD, J.F. Baurain MD, PhD, J. Mebis MD, PhD, J. Nortier MD, PhD

Venous thromboembolism is a frequent cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with malignancy. Thrombosis is one of the leading causes of death in patients with malignancy after cancer itself. As such, prompt recognition and treatment of venous thromboembolism are required in order to reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism-related mortality. This report reviews the interrelationship between cancer, renal insufficiency and venous thromboembolism. The working group behind this review article concludes that low molecular weight heparins decrease the risk of recurrent venous thrombosis in cancer patients without increasing major bleeding complications. Low molecular weight heparins are therefore recommended as first line antithrombotic treatment in cancer patients with a clear clinical benefit. In patients with renal dysfunction, who are at increased risk of bleeding and of thrombotic complications, preference should be given to unfractionated heparin or a low molecular weight heparin with a mean molecular weight such as tinzaparin, having less risk of plasma accumulation and offering the possibility to maintain full therapeutic dose.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2015;9(2):53–60)

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