Background: First-line treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a sensitizing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Despite higher response rates and prolonged progression free survival (PFS) compared with platinum doublet chemotherapy, a subset of these patients do not receive prolonged benefit from these agents. We investigate if the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and other markers of cachexia and chronic inflammation correlate with worse outcomes in these patients. Methods: This study is a retrospective review of 137 patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC treated with TKIs at Rush University Medical Center and University of Chicago Medicine from August 2011 to July 2019, with outcomes followed through July 2020. The predictive value of NLR and body mass index (BMI) was assessed at the start of therapy, and after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment by univariable and multivariable analyses. Results: On univariable analysis, NLR ≥ 5 or higher NLR on a continuous scale were both associated with significantly worse PFS and overall survival (OS) at treatment initiation, and after 6 or 12 weeks of treatment. On multivariable analysis, NLR ≥ 5 was associated with increased risk of death at 12 weeks of therapy (HR 3.002, 95% CI 1.282–7.029, p = 0.011), as was higher NLR on a continuous scale (HR 1.231, 95% CI 1.063–1.425, p = 0.0054). There was no difference in PFS and OS and amongst BMI categories though number of disease sites and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status was associated with worse PFS and OS. Conclusions: Patients with NLR ≥ 5 have a worse median PFS and median OS than patients with NLR < 5. NLR may have value as a predictive biomarker and may be useful for selecting patients for therapy intensification in the front-line setting either at diagnosis or after 12 weeks on therapy. NLR needs to be validated prospectively.

Background: Accurate diagnostic biomarker testing is crucial to treatment decisions in breast cancer. Biomarker testing is performed on core needle biopsies (CNB) and is often repeated in the surgical specimen (SS) after resection. As differences between CNB and SS testing may alter treatment decisions, we evaluated concordance between CNB and SS as well as associated changes in treatment and clinical outcomes.Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of breast cancer patients at our institution between January 2010 and May 2020. Concordance between CNB and SS was assessed for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Survival in patients, including recurrence, metastatic recurrence, and death, were assessed using chi‐squared likelihood ratio.Results: In total, 961 patients met eligibility criteria. Concordance, minor discordance, total concordance (concordance plus minor discordance), and major discordance between CNB and SS were reported for ER (87.7%, 9.2%, 90.8%, and 2.9%), PR (58.1%, 29.1%, 87.2%, and 12.8%), and HER2 IHC (52.5%, 20.9%, 73.4%, 26.6%), respectively. HER2 FISH concordance and major discordance were 58.5% and 1.2%, respectively. Of major discordance, ER (48.2%, p < 0.001) and HER2 FISH (50.0%) led to more management changes than HER2 IHC (2.4%, p = 0.04) and PR (1.6%, p = 0.10). Patients with ER major discordance had increased risk of death (6.7% concordance vs. 22.2% major discordance, p = 0.004).Conclusion: Overall, retesting ER and HER2 was more clinically beneficial than retesting PR. To aid decision‐making and minimize healthcare costs, we propose patient‐centered guidelines on retesting biomarker profiles.

Objectives: Previous studies have not evaluated the utility of obtaining chest radiographs (CXR) in patients with acute asthma exacerbation reporting chest pain. The aims of this study were to evaluate the symptom of chest pain as a predictor for clinicians obtaining a CXR in these patients and to evaluate chest pain as a predictor of a positive CXR finding. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients, ages 2 to 18 years, presenting for acute asthma exacerbation to the emergency department from August 1, 2014, to March 31, 2016. Data collected included demographics, clinical data, provider type, and CXR results. Chest radiographs were classified as positive if they showed evidence of pneumonia, pneumothorax, or pneumomediastinum. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed with dependent variables of “obtaining a CXR” and “a positive CXR finding.” Results: Seven hundred ninety-three subjects were included in the study. Two hundred thirty-one (29.1%) reported chest pain. Chest radiographs were obtained in 184 patients (23.2%). Of those, 74 patients (40.2%) had chest pain and 21 (11.4%) had a positive CXR. Providers were more likely to obtain CXRs in patients who reported chest pain (odds ratio = 2.2 [95% confidence interval = 1.5–3.2]). Patients reporting chest pain were more likely to have a positive CXR although this difference was not statistically significant (odds ratio = 2.0 [95% confidence interval = 0.7–5.6]). Conclusions: Providers are more likely to obtain CXRs in asthmatic patients complaining of chest pain; however, these CXRs infrequently yield positive findings. This further supports limiting the use of chest radiography in patients with acute asthma exacerbation.

We present a unique case of a patient with a long-standing history of indolent chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who suddenly developed autoimmune haemolytic anaemia after starting immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for bladder cancer. He had no clear indication to start CLL-directed treatment based on current clinical practice guidelines; however, targeted treatment of CLL with ibrutinib proved to be effective in treating the haemolytic anaemia.

Myelofibrosis (MF)-associated anemia and transfusion dependency are associated with inferior quality of life and poor prognosis. JAK2 inhibitors and TGF-β superfamily ligand traps are being explored as treatment options for MF-associated anemia. Here, we present the case of a 66-year-old man with heavily pretreated intermediate-2 (INT-2) risk primary MF who had an exceptional response to combination fedratinib and luspatercept therapy. He achieved transfusion independence and experienced a reduction in spleen size from 20 cm to 12 cm, with remarkable improvement in performance status. Compared with other JAK inhibitors, the mechanism of action of fedratinib may explain its milder effect on anemia. It is possible that the addition of luspatercept may result in an additive or synergistic effect of one or both medications. Although the exact biological pathways have not yet been elucidated, combination fedratinib and luspatercept nevertheless is a promising therapy for anemia in patients with transfusion-dependent INT-2 risk MF.