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Background: Most lung cancer patients present with lesions in both lung fields and lymphadenopathy. Thus, transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) and endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA) are commonly performed for diagnosing lung cancer. However, the adequacy of these samples for next‐generation sequencing (NGS) analysis remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the adequacy between TBLC and EBUS‐TBNA samples for NGS analysis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients whose lung samples were collected via TBLC or EBUS‐TBNA and analyzed using NGS. Out of 46 genes, the number of genes in TBNA and TBLC samples that could not be assessed via NGS analysis was mainly evaluated. Results: A total of 37 patients were included and classified into two groups (TBLC group, n = 18 and TBNA group, n = 19). The mean number of genes that could not be evaluated via NGS analysis was significantly lower in the TBLC group than in the TBNA group (0.9 vs. 10.3, P = 0.024). The median total area of tumor cells in TBLC samples was significantly greater than that in TBNA samples (6.3 [1.6–4.2] vs. 2.6 [0.2–17.3] mm2, P < 0.01). In the TBNA group, there were two fully inadequate samples for NGS analysis with a high degree of cell crush or low tumor content, while there was no fully inadequate sample in the TBLC group. Conclusions: TBLC is more effective in obtaining adequate samples for NGS analysis than EBUS‐TBNA. TBLC should be performed to obtain adequate samples for NGS analysis in lung cancer patients with target lesions in lung fields, even if they have lymphadenopathy. Key points: Significant findings of the studyThe mean number of genes that could not be evaluated was significantly lower in TBLC samples than in EBUS‐TBNA samples (0.9 vs. 10.3, P = 0.024). TBLC could obtain adequate samples with a high concentration of uncrushed tumor cells for NGS. What this study addsTo obtain samples for NGS analysis, the use of TBLC should be aggressively considered in lung‐cancer patients with target lesions located in lung fields, even if they have lymphadenopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The treatment efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and clinical outcomes in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who develop severe grade checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (CIP) are unclear. Here, we report on the treatment efficacy of ICI and prognosis in NSCLC patients with severe grade CIP. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, CIP severity, CIP‐related mortality, and ICI efficacy in 71 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with ICIs were evaluated. Data was obtained from the patients' medical charts. Results: All grade and severe grade CIP were observed in 22 and 11 patients, respectively. The CIP‐related mortality rate was 22.7% (N = 5). An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) score of ≥2 and pre‐existing interstitial lung disease (ILD) were significantly associated with the development of severe grade CIP (P = 0.001 and P = 0.035, respectively). The median progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly shorter in patients with severe grade CIP than in those without severe grade CIP (PFS 1.0 month, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5–2.0 vs. 3.5 months, 95% CI 2.0–5.0 months, P = 0.003; OS 3.0 months, 95% CI 0.5–13 vs. 12.7 months, 95% CI 8.0–21.0 months, P = 0.011). Conclusion: CIP is a serious complication with a poor prognosis associated with high mortality. The efficacy of ICI is significantly worse in patients with severe grade CIP than in those without severe grade CIP. Whether ICIs should be administered to patients with CIP risk factors, such as an ECOG PS score of ≥2 or pre‐existing ILD, should be carefully assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Severe bronchial asthma is a chronic disorder of the airways that may be accompanied by comorbid diseases. Invasive treatment, including surgery, in patients with severe asthma has limitations depending on the degree of control of the asthma. A 71-year-old woman was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma with high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and cT3N0M1a. After 13 cycles of pembrolizumab every 3 weeks, chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a dramatic decrease in the lesion size in the left upper lobe, but the size of the lesion in the right lower lobe was significantly increased. The pathological findings of the right residual tumor by CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy (CTNB) revealed squamous cell carcinoma with no PD-L1 expression, and right lower lobectomy was recommended. However, because the patient had frequent asthma attacks and cough, surgery was considered risky. Increased blood eosinophil count was observed, and benralizumab was administered for asthma control. The symptoms disappeared 2 days after benralizumab administration, and peak flow increased. Surgery was performed 5 days after benralizumab administration. There was a marked reduction in the eosinophil count of the surgical tissue compared with the preoperative CTNB tissue. No asthma attacks were observed during and after surgery, and the control of asthma and lung cancer was stable. Benralizumab is considered promising for the treatment of eosinophilic severe uncontrolled asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]