BACKGROUND: The prognosis of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been improved by the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Unfortunately, in some cases, cancer cells will develop resistance mechanisms. In case of progression in a limited number of lesions (oligoprogression), focal treatment with radiotherapy is proposed while continuing the ICI therapy.
METHODS: A cohort of 37 patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with nivolumab (anti-PD-1) in second or subsequent line and who received focal radiotherapy for oligoprogression with continuation of nivolumab was compared with a control cohort of 87 patients no oligoprogressor treated par immunotherapy.
RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 37 months [18; 62], the median progression free survival (PFS) in the radiotherapy-treated cohort was 15.04 versus 5.04 months in the control cohort, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.048). The median PFS following focal radiotherapy in the oligoprogressor group was 7.5 months. In univariate analysis, the presence of lung metastasis was associated with increased PFS, in contrast to the presence of brain metastases, which were associated with decreased PFS in the radiotherapy group. The median overall survival was not reached in both groups, with no significant difference between the two cohorts.
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of focal radiotherapy in case of oligoprogression and continued treatment with nivolumab in the treatment of metastatic NSCLC in the second or subsequent line of treatment seems to be with an increase in PFS.

BACKGROUND: The identification of an activating mutation of the gene encoding the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a predictive factor of effectiveness of tyrosine kinase EGFR inhibitors (TKIs). In advanced stages of the disease, however, this identification is difficult due to the invasiveness of the biopsy and the small size of tumor samples. In that context, liquid biopsies could be useful.
METHODS: We report the case of a 79-year-old woman suffering from metastatic lung cancer. The molecular analysis of bronchial biopsy for the EGFR gene was not informative due to the low quantity and the poor quality of the extracted DNA. The poor condition of the patient and her refusal to tissue sampling did not allow us to practice another invasive biopsy. The analysis of the tumor DNA circulating (cDNA) allowed to detect exon 19 deletion and to propose her an TKI with in the outcome sustained response.
CONCLUSIONS: Circulating DNA analysis allows the identification of activating mutations of the EGFR gene in pulmonary adenocarcinomas. It is useful for weakened patients and in case of failure or inability of tumor biopsies. Initiation of EGFR TKI is possible on the basis of this result, as stated in the marketing authorization of gefitinib.

Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer is associated with a poor prognosis, and palliative chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment. However, long-time survival has been observed in oligometastatic patients treated with locally ablative therapies to all sites of metastatic disease. An 80-year-old man was diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma of the lung. The right upper lobe lesion was classified cT2aN0M0 and was treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy at the dose of 60Gy in eight fractions. A few months after, he successively presented with two brain metastases and one left adrenal metastasis, with a complete response on the primary tumor. The three secondary lesions were treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy alone. Thirty months after the diagnosis and 12months after metastases\' apparition, primary and brain lesion kept controlled (complete response). Oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer management is not clear. Locally ablative therapies such as stereotactic body radiation therapy, surgery and radiofrequency are efficient and should be considered. A phase III study should evaluate radical treatment strategies in such patients.