ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic efficacy of crizotinib for patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 31 ALK-positive NSCLC patients who received crizotinib treatment between November 2012 and May 2014 in the Department of Thoracic Oncology of West China Hospital. The median age of the patients was 51 years old, and the percentage of male and female patients was 45.2% and 54.8%, respectively. Among them, 74.2% were non-smokers, 74.2% had an ECOG performance status of 0-2. Histologically, adenocarcinoma was the highest proportion of 96.8%, and one (3.2%) patient had large cell carcinoma. Fifteen (48.4%) ALK-positive patients were given crizotinib in the first-line setting, and 16 (51.6%) accepted crizotinib in the second-line and beyond. ResultsThe objective response rate (ORR) of the patients treated with crizotinib was 61.3%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 90.3%. The median progression-free survival (time) was 10.0 months [(95% CI (2.9, 17.0) months]. The difference of ORR and DCR between the patients given crizotinib in the first-line setting and the patients given crizotinib in the second-line or beyond was not statistically significant (P=0.716 and P=0.600, respectively). The most frequent treatment-related adverse events were increased aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (64.5%), nausea and vomiting (35.5%), leukopenia (16.7%), vision disorder (16.1%), edema (12.9%), and diarrhea (12.9%), and most toxicities were grade 1 and 2. ConclusionThis study shows that crizotinib can increase the objective response rate and disease control rate, prolong progression-free survival time in patients with advanced ALK-positive non–small-cell lung cancer. Crizotinib has relative fewer side effects and can be tolerated by the patients.
ObjectiveTo improve clinicians' knowledge of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 24 HP patients who were diagnosed in the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School during February 2005 to February 2013. The clinical,radiological and pathological features of those patients were summarized. ResultsAmong those 24 patients,15 were male and 9 were female,with mean age of (48±13) years. All patients had a history of environmental exposure. Two patients showed acute clinical manifestations,and there were 17 subacute and 5 chronic cases. The main clinical manifestations were dyspnea,cough,sputum,fever and weight loss with hypoxemia via blood gas analysis. Restrictive ventilatory impairment was the most frequent functional pattern,and the carbon monoxide diffusing capacity was decreased. Pulmonary function test showed restrictive ventilatory defect and gas interchange disturbance. The features of chest HRCT included diffuse ground-glass attenuation and/or patchy consolidation,centrilobular micronodules,mosaic sign,reticular and/or honeycombing lesions. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) demonstrated an increase of total cell counts with predominant lymphocytosis. The transbronchoscopic lung biopsy (TBLB) pathological examination revealed lymphocytic alveolitis,noncaseating granuloma,and interstial pneumonia. All patients were treated by corticosteroid and avoided antigen exposure and showed significant clinical and radiological improvement. ConclusionThe diagnosis of HP is difficult. In most cases (acute and subacute HP),a diagnosis can be made by combination history of exposure,chest HRCT manifestations,cell classification of BALF and pathological examination of TBLB. For atypical cases (chronic HP),a surgery lung biopsy is needed for multi-disciplinary diagnosis including pathologist,radiologist and pulmonologists.