Pub Date : 2025-11-17DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.009
Alexander I. Spira , David Berz , Robert M. Jotte , Krishna K. Pachipala , Mark S. Berger
Background
Expression of TUSC2, a tumor suppressor gene, is decreased in 82% of patients with NSCLC. Quaratusugene ozeplasmid gene therapy consists of a plasmid containing the TUSC2 gene encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles that restores TUSC2 expression, and thus is a new approach to cancer treatment.
Patients and Methods
Patients had NSCLC with EGFR mutations and progression on osimertinib regimens. Quaratusugene ozeplasmid was administered IV every 21 days at 3 dose levels with osimertinib 80 mg PO daily. Dexamethasone, acetaminophen, and diphenhydramine were administered prophylactically. Dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) were generally defined as ≥ Grade (Gr) 3 adverse events (AEs).
Results
Twelve patients were enrolled (3M/9F), median age 59.5, with 3 at 0.06 mg/kg, 4 at 0.09 mg/kg, and 5 at 0.12 mg/kg. There were no DLTs. There was a delayed infusion-related reaction with muscle aches, headache, and pyrexia. One patient at the 0.06 mg/kg dose level had a partial response (PR) and no progression for more than 32 months. Two other patients had stable disease (SD) for 22 and 9 months before disease progression.
Conclusion
Among the 12 patients treated with escalating doses of quaratusugene ozeplasmid and standard doses of osimertinib there were 3 patients with prolonged time to progression, including 1 with continuing PR. Quaratusugene ozeplasmid administration was associated with a delayed infusion-related reaction managed with prophylactic steroids, acetaminophen and diphenhydramine. There were no DLTs. The recommended phase II dose of quaratusugene ozeplasmid in combination with osimertinib in patients with NSCLC progressing after osimertinib treatment is 0.12 mg/kg.
{"title":"Dose Escalation Trial of the Combination of Osimertinib and Quaratusugene Ozeplasmid Gene Therapy in Patients with Advanced NSCLC","authors":"Alexander I. Spira , David Berz , Robert M. Jotte , Krishna K. Pachipala , Mark S. Berger","doi":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Expression of TUSC2, a tumor suppressor gene, is decreased in 82% of patients with NSCLC. Quaratusugene ozeplasmid gene therapy consists of a plasmid containing the TUSC2 gene encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles that restores TUSC2 expression, and thus is a new approach to cancer treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Patients and Methods</h3><div>Patients had NSCLC with EGFR mutations and progression on osimertinib regimens. Quaratusugene ozeplasmid was administered IV every 21 days at 3 dose levels with osimertinib 80 mg PO daily. Dexamethasone, acetaminophen, and diphenhydramine were administered prophylactically. Dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) were generally defined as ≥ Grade (Gr) 3 adverse events (AEs).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twelve patients were enrolled (3M/9F), median age 59.5, with 3 at 0.06 mg/kg, 4 at 0.09 mg/kg, and 5 at 0.12 mg/kg. There were no DLTs. There was a delayed infusion-related reaction with muscle aches, headache, and pyrexia. One patient at the 0.06 mg/kg dose level had a partial response (PR) and no progression for more than 32 months. Two other patients had stable disease (SD) for 22 and 9 months before disease progression.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Among the 12 patients treated with escalating doses of quaratusugene ozeplasmid and standard doses of osimertinib there were 3 patients with prolonged time to progression, including 1 with continuing PR. Quaratusugene ozeplasmid administration was associated with a delayed infusion-related reaction managed with prophylactic steroids, acetaminophen and diphenhydramine. There were no DLTs. The recommended phase II dose of quaratusugene ozeplasmid in combination with osimertinib in patients with NSCLC progressing after osimertinib treatment is 0.12 mg/kg.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10490,"journal":{"name":"Clinical lung cancer","volume":"27 1","pages":"Pages 75-81"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145732955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Response to the letter to the Editor on “The Changing Landscape of Lung Cancer Resection Outcomes Over the Past Two Decades”","authors":"Charles-Antoine Guay , Alexandre Suhani , Laurie Perreault , Vicky Mai , Anne-Sophie Laliberté , Catherine Labbé , Steeve Provencher","doi":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10490,"journal":{"name":"Clinical lung cancer","volume":"27 1","pages":"Pages 70-71"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-09DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.006
Agostina E. Velo , Jeremy Mudd , Christopher G. Slatore , Raja Flores , Scott Swanson , Cardinale B. Smith , Mark Chidel , Kenneth E. Rosenzweig , Jeffrey A. Kern , Juan P. Wisnivesky
Background
Treatment decision-making for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients who have high-operative risk is complex. Identifying patient factors that influence physicians’ choices between sublobar resection and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is important for guiding cancer care.
Methods
In this multicenter prospective study, patients with stage I NSCLC at high surgical risk were treated with either sublobar resection or SBRT. We collected data on demographics, comorbidities, lung function, functional status, and tumor characteristics. Before treatment, the primary physician rated each patient’s candidacy for SBRT versus sublobar resection on a 0 to 100 scale. Linear regression was used to identify factors influencing treatment recommendations.
Results
Among 331 patients, 62% received SBRT. Older age (mean difference [MD] 0.66 per year; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18 to 1.14) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (MD 9.77; 95% CI, 0.54 to 18.99) were associated with higher likelihood of SBRT candidacy. In contrast, higher forced expiratory volume (MD −0.23 per % increase; 95% CI, −0.42 to −0.04), larger tumor size (MD −4.13 per cm increase; 95% CI, −8.13 to −0.12), and better functional scores (MD −0.99; 95% CI, −1.64 to −0.35) decreased the likelihood of being considered for SBRT.
Conclusions
In patients with early-stage NSCLC with high-operative risk, treatment decisions are influenced by age, comorbidities, lung function, and tumor features. These findings can guide clinicians in evaluating treatment options and support shared decision-making.
{"title":"Factors Associated With Provider Decision-Making of Early-Stage Lung Cancer Patients Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy or Sublobar Resection","authors":"Agostina E. Velo , Jeremy Mudd , Christopher G. Slatore , Raja Flores , Scott Swanson , Cardinale B. Smith , Mark Chidel , Kenneth E. Rosenzweig , Jeffrey A. Kern , Juan P. Wisnivesky","doi":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Treatment decision-making for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients who have high-operative risk is complex. Identifying patient factors that influence physicians’ choices between sublobar resection and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is important for guiding cancer care.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this multicenter prospective study, patients with stage I NSCLC at high surgical risk were treated with either sublobar resection or SBRT. We collected data on demographics, comorbidities, lung function, functional status, and tumor characteristics. Before treatment, the primary physician rated each patient’s candidacy for SBRT versus sublobar resection on a 0 to 100 scale. Linear regression was used to identify factors influencing treatment recommendations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 331 patients, 62% received SBRT. Older age (mean difference [MD] 0.66 per year; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18 to 1.14) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (MD 9.77; 95% CI, 0.54 to 18.99) were associated with higher likelihood of SBRT candidacy. In contrast, higher forced expiratory volume (MD −0.23 per % increase; 95% CI, −0.42 to −0.04), larger tumor size (MD −4.13 per cm increase; 95% CI, −8.13 to −0.12), and better functional scores (MD −0.99; 95% CI, −1.64 to −0.35) decreased the likelihood of being considered for SBRT.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In patients with early-stage NSCLC with high-operative risk, treatment decisions are influenced by age, comorbidities, lung function, and tumor features. These findings can guide clinicians in evaluating treatment options and support shared decision-making.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10490,"journal":{"name":"Clinical lung cancer","volume":"27 1","pages":"Pages 59-69"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145687120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-08DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.007
Parth Anil Desai, Hossein Borghaei, Martin J. Edelman
Abstract
Definitive resection has long anchored curative therapy for early–stage and locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with adjuvant platinum doublets—and now adjuvant immune–checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)—providing incremental gains in disease–free survival. Neoadjuvant chemo–immunotherapy may amplify benefit by expanding tumour–specific T–cell clones in situ, thereby addressing occult micrometastatic disease. Randomised trials (CheckMate 816, KEYNOTE–671, AEGEAN, CheckMate 77T) consistently improve event–free survival, pathological response, and in some cases overall survival over neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. However, none compared directly with the long–standing standard of upfront surgery followed by adjuvant therapy, and 15–24 % of enrolled patients never reach the operating room—most commonly because of radiographic progression (5–8 %) or evolving surgical ineligibility. Consequently, roughly one in five potentially curable patients may lose their window for resection, highlighting a clinically meaningful tradeoff. These findings underscore three priorities: (i) rigorous prospective comparison of perioperative versus purely adjuvant systemic strategies—now underway in the PROSPECT–LUNG trial (NCT06632327); (ii) biomarker discovery to predict primary resistance and identify patients better served by immediate surgery; and (iii) nuanced shared decision–making that balances hoped–for systemic control against the risk of surgical attrition. Realising the full promise of ICIs in resectable NSCLC will require optimising both treatment sequencing and patient selection.
{"title":"Neoadjuvant Chemo-Immunotherapy for Surgically Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Balancing Promise and Pitfalls","authors":"Parth Anil Desai, Hossein Borghaei, Martin J. Edelman","doi":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Abstract</h3><div>Definitive resection has long anchored curative therapy for early–stage and locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with adjuvant platinum doublets—and now adjuvant immune–checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)—providing incremental gains in disease–free survival. Neoadjuvant chemo–immunotherapy may amplify benefit by expanding tumour–specific T–cell clones in situ, thereby addressing occult micrometastatic disease. Randomised trials (CheckMate 816, KEYNOTE–671, AEGEAN, CheckMate 77T) consistently improve event–free survival, pathological response, and in some cases overall survival over neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. However, none compared directly with the long–standing standard of upfront surgery followed by adjuvant therapy, and 15–24 % of enrolled patients never reach the operating room—most commonly because of radiographic progression (5–8 %) or evolving surgical ineligibility. Consequently, roughly one in five potentially curable patients may lose their window for resection, highlighting a clinically meaningful tradeoff. These findings underscore three priorities: (i) rigorous prospective comparison of perioperative versus purely adjuvant systemic strategies—now underway in the PROSPECT–LUNG trial (NCT06632327); (ii) biomarker discovery to predict primary resistance and identify patients better served by immediate surgery; and (iii) nuanced shared decision–making that balances hoped–for systemic control against the risk of surgical attrition. Realising the full promise of ICIs in resectable NSCLC will require optimising both treatment sequencing and patient selection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10490,"journal":{"name":"Clinical lung cancer","volume":"27 1","pages":"Pages 55-58"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145687159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.005
Julia G. Katcher , Christine C. Shusted , Padmanabh Bhatt , Brooke M. Ruane , Jenna Markle , Gregory C. Kane , Kuang-Yi Wen , Hee-Soon Juon , Julie A. Barta
•
Among screening-eligible adults, lung cancer is diagnosed more often in those with family history of lung cancer
•
Patients with family history had higher frequency of stage IV disease
•
Considering family history in risk assessment could improve lung cancer screening strategies
{"title":"Brief Report: Lung Cancer Diagnoses among Lung Cancer Screening Program Participants With Family History of Lung Cancer","authors":"Julia G. Katcher , Christine C. Shusted , Padmanabh Bhatt , Brooke M. Ruane , Jenna Markle , Gregory C. Kane , Kuang-Yi Wen , Hee-Soon Juon , Julie A. Barta","doi":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>Among screening-eligible adults, lung cancer is diagnosed more often in those with family history of lung cancer</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Patients with family history had higher frequency of stage IV disease</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Considering family history in risk assessment could improve lung cancer screening strategies</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":10490,"journal":{"name":"Clinical lung cancer","volume":"27 1","pages":"Pages 34-37"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145619919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.001
Parth Aphale, Shashank Dokania, Himanshu Shekhar
{"title":"Letter to the Editor: “Prognostic Implications of Lymph Node Status in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Before and After Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy: A Multicenter Retrospective Study”","authors":"Parth Aphale, Shashank Dokania, Himanshu Shekhar","doi":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10490,"journal":{"name":"Clinical lung cancer","volume":"27 1","pages":"Pages 47-48"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145619917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-05DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2025.10.007
Jeong Won Lee, Sea-Won Lee, Hyeseon Kang, Yun Hee Lee
Purpose: This study assessed lung volume alterations during radiotherapy (RT) and their predictive value for symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (RP) in lung cancer patients undergoing definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 49 patients who underwent re-simulation four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT) during RT. Lung volume was measured on the 30% phase of 4D CT at initial and re-simulation scans. Associations between volume changes and symptomatic RP were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. To determine the optimal cut-off value, ROC analysis and the Youden index were utilized. RP was graded based on CTCAE v5.0.
Results: Among the 49 patients, seven (14.3%) developed symptomatic RP. Dosimetric parameters did not differ significantly between patients with and without RP. However, changes in ipsilateral lung volume were significantly associated with symptomatic RP. A volume decrease >130 cm³ or a relative reduction <-7% was predictive of RP (P = .001). The area under the ROC curve for absolute change and relative change of ipsilateral lung volume were 0.905 and 0.883, respectively.
Conclusion: Ipsilateral lung volume reduction during RT may serve as an early predictor of symptomatic RP, independent of traditional dosimetric factors. Monitoring volume changes with re-simulation CT could enhance RP risk assessment and guide adaptive RT planning.
{"title":"Association Between Lung Volume Reduction and Symptomatic Radiation Pneumonitis in Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy.","authors":"Jeong Won Lee, Sea-Won Lee, Hyeseon Kang, Yun Hee Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.10.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cllc.2025.10.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study assessed lung volume alterations during radiotherapy (RT) and their predictive value for symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (RP) in lung cancer patients undergoing definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 49 patients who underwent re-simulation four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT) during RT. Lung volume was measured on the 30% phase of 4D CT at initial and re-simulation scans. Associations between volume changes and symptomatic RP were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. To determine the optimal cut-off value, ROC analysis and the Youden index were utilized. RP was graded based on CTCAE v5.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 49 patients, seven (14.3%) developed symptomatic RP. Dosimetric parameters did not differ significantly between patients with and without RP. However, changes in ipsilateral lung volume were significantly associated with symptomatic RP. A volume decrease >130 cm³ or a relative reduction <-7% was predictive of RP (P = .001). The area under the ROC curve for absolute change and relative change of ipsilateral lung volume were 0.905 and 0.883, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Ipsilateral lung volume reduction during RT may serve as an early predictor of symptomatic RP, independent of traditional dosimetric factors. Monitoring volume changes with re-simulation CT could enhance RP risk assessment and guide adaptive RT planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":10490,"journal":{"name":"Clinical lung cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145457905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.002
Asim Armagan Aydin , Erkan Kayikcioglu
{"title":"Minimally Invasive Surgery Versus SABR in Stage IA NSCLC: Interpreting Real-World Evidence with Caution","authors":"Asim Armagan Aydin , Erkan Kayikcioglu","doi":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cllc.2025.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10490,"journal":{"name":"Clinical lung cancer","volume":"27 1","pages":"Pages 49-50"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145619918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}