Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy that although initially sensitive to chemo- and radiation therapy, inevitably relapses resulting in poor survival. Increasing evidence suggests that immune responses against SCLC cells make immunotherapy a viable therapeutic approach. Furthermore, preclinical data have shown that certain chemotherapeutic regimens may augment the immunotherapeutic response in SCLC. This review discusses current evidence supporting immunotherapy for SCLC, progress made, and ongoing clinical trials. ⋯ Treatment options for SCLC are limited and prognosis poor, emphasizing the need for novel treatments. Although current strategies successfully induce a response, the response is not durable. Evidence of an immune response in SCLC and a better understanding of the immunosuppressive tumor environment support the combinatorial use of immunomodulators, such as ipilimumab, with traditional chemotherapy regimens to improve patient outcomes and potentially sustain the effect from chemotherapeutic induction.
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In the 7th tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) classification, visceral pleural invasion (VPI) is defined as invasion beyond the elastic layer, including invasion to the visceral pleural surface, and T1 tumors with VPI are upgraded to T2a. To validate this, we analyzed the survival of non-small-cell lung cancer patients from a nationwide database and evaluated the prognostic impact of VPI. ⋯ In addition to the current TNM classification recommendations, in which T1 tumors with VPI are upgraded to T2a, T2a tumors with VPI should be classified as T2b.
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To compare the diagnostic yield of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and/or endoesophageal ultrasound (EUS) with transcervical extended mediastinal lymphadenectomy (TEMLA) for primary staging and repeated staging (restaging) of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ⋯ The results of this largest reported series comparing the endoscopic and surgical primary staging and restaging of NSCLC showed a significantly higher diagnostic yield of TEMLA when compared with that of EBUS or EUS.