Lung Cancer Weekly News

2 Immunotherapies Show Comparable Benefits in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Key Takeaways: PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy significantly improve survival in ES-SCLC compared with chemotherapy alone. No significant difference in overall survival or progression-free survival was found between PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors.”

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to IBI363 for Squamous NSCLC
“Key Takeaways: IBI363 received FDA fast track designation for squamous NSCLC after prior anti–PD-(L)1 therapy and chemotherapy. Phase 1 trial data showed a 50% ORR and 88.9% DCR at a 3-mg/kg dose, with median PFS not reached.”

‘Off-Grid’ Electrical Activity Drives Tumor Growth in Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Researchers from the Francis Crick Institute in London discovered aggressive lung cancer cells capable of forming their own electrical network, much like the body’s own nervous system. The findings, published in Nature, suggest that this property could make lung cancer cells less dependent on the environment surrounding tumors, allowing them to spread more easily around the body.”

Lung Cancer Is Rising in Non-Smokers, And This Could Be Why
“While the number of smokers in the world as a proportion of the population is dropping, lung cancer continues to cause almost 2 million deaths per year – and new research reports on a concerning rise in cases among people who’ve never lit up a cigarette.”

DNA’s organization influences the risk of smoking-induced lung cancer
“The study from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, led by Prof. Sheera Adar and her graduate student Elisheva Heilbrun-Katz from The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada in the Faculty of Medicine in collaboration with Prof. Raluca Gordan from Duke University and the University of Massachusetts, has uncovered how the structure and chemical modifications of DNA affect the damage caused by cigarette smoke and the body’s ability to repair it. This breakthrough helps explain how smoking leads to lung cancer.”

Lung lesion volume doubling times associated with survival metrics
“The takeaway? Volume doubling time is “widely accepted as a key indicator of the growth rate of lung nodules, reflecting biologic aggressiveness and prognosis for those nodules corresponding with cancer,” the group wrote. “For part-solid lesions, volume doubling time of the solid component may be expected to have greater prognostic utility than volume doubling time of the whole lesion, given the greater association of the solid component than ground-glass component of such lesions with pathologically invasive cancer.””

Genprex Collaborators Find NPRL2 Gene Therapy Using Oncoprex® Delivery System is a Potential Treatment for Anti-PD1 Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Genprex, Inc. (“Genprex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes, today announced that its research collaborators at a major cancer research center in Houston, Texas have published a new study in eLife titled, “NPRL2 gene therapy induces effective antitumor immunity in KRAS/STK11 mutant anti-PD1 resistant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a humanized mouse model.””

New Study May Lead to More Personalizing Lung Cancer Treatments
“Dr. Momcilovic’s goal is to develop better, personalized treatments for lung cancer by understanding each patient’s unique tumor characteristics and finding the right therapy for them. She hopes to figure out why some treatments work for certain patients but not others, identify biomarkers that can predict which treatments will work, and discover new combination therapies that might be more effective than current standard-of-care treatments.”

Cancer’s ripple effect may promote blood clots in lungs
“Blood clots form in response to signals from the lungs of cancer patients – not from other organ sites, as previously thought – according to a preclinical study by Weill Cornell Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and University of California San Diego Health.”

Lung Cancer Among Non-Smokers Increasing
“Rates of lung cancer diagnoses among people who have never smoked are rising, according to the World Health Organization’s cancer agency. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that lung cancer is now the fifth highest cause of cancer deaths worldwide among people who have never smoked. In particular, this demographic is almost exclusively experiencing adenocarcinoma, one of four primary sub-types of the disease.”

FDA Grants Breakthrough Device Designation to Serial CTRS AI Model for NSCLC
“Key Takeaways: Serial CTRS, an AI-based tool, stratifies NSCLC patients into high- or low-risk mortality categories, enhancing personalized care. The tool demonstrated improved overall survival predictions over standard methods in a multi-institutional study.”

Weakness in lung cancer’s defenses found—an enzyme that boosts cancer cell metabolism
“Lung cancer is a particularly challenging form of cancer. It often strikes unexpectedly and aggressively with little warning, and it can shapeshift in unpredictable ways to evade treatment.”

Intricacies of EGFR-Mutated NSCLC Care From the Patient Perspective
“In the constantly evolving field of EGFR-mutated NSCLC, physicians, nurses, patients, and caregivers face new questions as efficacy and safety data improve.”

Genetic Sensitivity to Stress: A Possible Link to Lung Cancer Risk
“It’s common knowledge that stress can affect physical and mental health, but does it impact the chance of developing lung cancer? The answer might be yes, according to a study published last month in JAMA Network Open. The results point to a possible connection between stress sensitivity and lung cancer risk, with individuals who are genetically more sensitive to stress and adversity possibly facing a higher risk of developing lung cancer.”

AI/ML-Based Software Improves Diagnostic Accuracy in Lung Cancer
“Eyonis™ Lung Cancer Screening (LCS), a proprietary artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning–based computer-aided detection (CADe)/diagnosis (CADx) software as a medical device, has met the primary end point of the multi-case, multi-reader, retrospective RELIVE trial (NCT06751576), according to a press release from the developer, Median Technologies.”

Why PD-L1 expression varies between studies of lung cancer: results from a Bayesian meta-analysis
“PD-L1 expression is an important biomarker for the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but has been highly heterogeneous across studies. We developed a statistical model to reconcile conflicting estimates of PD-L1 prevalence by accounting for between-study variation in test sensitivity, specimen age, and laboratory count. In doing so, we obtained refined estimates for PD-L1 expression prevalence and identified differences by histological subtype, mutational status, and stage.”

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Sublobar Resection in Early-Stage NSCLC: Thoracic Surgeon Shares Insights From New Research
“Robert E. Merritt, MD, MBA, FACS, of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, joined Lung Cancers Today to discuss key takeaways from his research on sublobar resection in early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for both patients and health care professionals.”

Does Your Home Harbor a Killer?
“HIGH POINT, N.C., Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — January is Radon Action Month, a vital time for individuals and communities to learn about radon risks and take action. This week, designated as National Radon Awareness Week by the CDC, the Lung Cancer Action Network (LungCAN) urges everyone to test their homes for radon and reduce exposure to this silent threat.”

Emerging Therapies Shine Hope on Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment
“Key Takeaways: Novel therapies targeting molecular pathways, including DLL3 and PARP inhibitors, show promise in improving SCLC survival outcomes. Tarlatamab, a DLL3-targeting bispecific T-cell engager, achieved a 35.3% ORR and 20.3 months median overall survival in trials.”

Anatomic Lung Resection May Be Linked to Improved Survival in Early-Stage NSCLC
“Anatomic lung resections such as lobectomy and segmentectomy may be associated with improved long-term survival in patients with early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared with wedge resection, according to new findings presented at the 2025 Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Annual Meeting.”

Clean energy is key to reducing lung cancer deaths
“As an oncologist, I can’t forget some of my patients’ stories. One of those belongs to a mother of two I diagnosed at age 35 with non-small cell lung cancer. She was a physician and a long-distance runner who had never smoked a day in her life. She died of metastatic lung cancer about two years after her diagnosis.”

A community-based approach to address lung cancer screening disparities in the black community using the Witness Project^® framework: development and pilot trial
“Disparities in lung cancer outcomes persist among Black Americans, necessitating targeted interventions to address screening inequities. This paper reports the development and refinement of Witness Project^® Lung, a community-based initiative tailored to the specific needs of the Black community, aiming to improve awareness and engagement with lung cancer screening.”

PD-1, PD-L1-Targeting Agent Shows Promise in Treatment of Patients with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Key Takeaways: NSCLC accounts for 87% of lung cancer cases, with only 25%-30% of patients responding to treatment, necessitating advanced therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including bsAbs, have improved outcomes by offering targeted treatments with enhanced safety profiles.”

TROPION-Lung12 Phase 3 Trial Initiated Evaluating DATROWAY® as Part of Adjuvant Regimen for Patients with Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer at High Risk of Relapse
“TOKYO & BASKING RIDGE, N.J., January 31, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The first patient has been dosed in the TROPION-Lung12 phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of adjuvant DATROWAY® (datopotamab deruxtecan) plus rilvegostomig or rilvegostomig monotherapy versus standard of care in patients with stage 1 adenocarcinoma non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after complete surgical resection who are ctDNA-positive or have other high risk pathological features.”

Data Help Refine Optimal Radiotherapy Approaches in Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Key Takeaways: No further fractionation studies are needed for LS-SCLC radiotherapy; focus shifts to adaptive therapy and FLASH radiotherapy for improved outcomes. SCLC incidence is declining, with a more balanced gender distribution; updated staging criteria are crucial for radiotherapy candidacy.”

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Boston hospital pioneers new, easier lung cancer treatment

Protecting Medicaid for People with Lung Cancer
“When Wynn first went to the hospital for a collapsed lung, she didn’t have health insurance and believed that she did not get the care she needed. Doctors did an x-ray and dealt with the immediate problem, but did not order additional diagnostic tests to investigate the cause of the collapsed lung. “I felt that because I didn’t have insurance, the hospital did not do a thorough check,” said Wynn.”

Lung cancer survivor, advocate encourage Coloradans to conduct radon testing
“Heidi Nafman-Onda, a lung cancer survivor, and Dr. Pierre Onda are using National Radon Action Month to warn of the dangers of radon and what you can do to protect yourself.”

The Power of Unity: Why the Lung Cancer Genetics Study Matters
“Key Takeaways: The Lung Cancer Genetics Study aims to identify genetic variations linked to lung cancer, enhancing risk assessments and treatment strategies. Collaboration between 23andMe and lung cancer advocates emphasizes patient-centered research, uniting diverse stakeholders for a common goal.”

Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation During Lobectomy for Lung Cancer Is Safe, Cost-Effective
“Intercostal nerve cryoablation during lobectomy for lung cancer is a safe and cost-effective therapy that significantly reduces hospital length of stay, hospital costs, and postoperative opioid use, according to study results published in Pain Therapy.”

New copper detection tool may lead to lung cancer treatment breakthrough
“The Chang Lab at Princeton Chemistry continues in its mission to elucidate the role of metal nutrients in human biology: last year, iron; this year, copper. The lab’s first paper of 2025 showcases its development of a revelatory sensing probe for the detection of copper in human cells and then wields it to uncover how copper may be regulating cell growth in lung cancer.”

Genprex Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 Expansion Portion of Acclaim-3 Clinical Study of Reqorsa® Gene Therapy in Combination with Tecentriq® to Treat Small Cell Lung Cancer
“AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Genprex, Inc. (“Genprex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled and dosed in the Phase 2 expansion portion of the Company’s Acclaim-3 clinical study of Reqorsa® Gene Therapy (quaratusugene ozeplasmid) in combination with Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) as maintenance therapy for patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).”

Factors associated with lung cancer among firefighters: a systematic literature review
“This short review addresses the pressing issue of lung cancer among firefighters, a population facing unique occupational hazards such as smoke inhalation and asbestos exposure. With lung cancer being a leading global cause of death, the study emphasizes the disproportionate burden on firefighters.”

Local Consolidative Therapy Combo May Extend Survival in Stage IV NSCLC
“Local consolidative therapy (LCT) in combination with systemic chemotherapy may extend survival and achieve local control in a small cohort of patients with stage IV non–small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) with oligometastases for whom chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for thoracic disease was feasible, according to findings from a single-arm phase 2 study (UMIN000022431) published in Radiation Oncology.”

Trilaciclib May Help Protect Against Chemotherapy Damage in Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Trilaciclib significantly reduced chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, which authors say minimizes the need for supportive care.”

Getting a Lung Cancer Diagnosis Was Shocking
“I have never smoked, and, as a physician, I’ve always looked after my health. I didn’t realize that my Asian heritage put me at a higher risk for the disease.”

ZL-1310 Receives Orphan Drug Designation in Small Cell Lung Cancer
“ZL-1310, a first-in-class DLL3 antibody-drug conjugate, has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), according to a press release from the developer, Zai Lab.”

miR-224 activates cancer-associated fibroblasts to enhance lung cancer cell migration and invasion by targeting Akirin1
“Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) actively contribute to the formation of tumor-supportive microenvironments, thereby promoting cancer progression and impacting therapeutic outcomes. This study utilized global microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling to identify specific miRNAs responsible for reprogramming normal lung fibroblasts (LFs) into CAFs. miR-224 demonstrates increased expression in CAFs, and its levels are elevated in lung tumors compared to those in normal tissues, according to data from public databases.”

Datopotamab Deruxtecan Granted Priority Review in the U.S. for Patients with Previously Treated Advanced EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“TOKYO & BASKING RIDGE, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) and AstraZeneca’s (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) Biologics License Application (BLA) for datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) has been accepted and granted Priority Review in the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated (EGFR-mutated) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have received prior systemic therapies, including an EGFR-directed therapy.”

FDA Grants Clearance for Phase 1b/2 Trial of SNB-101 in SCLC
“The FDA has granted clearance to the investigational new drug application of SNB-101 in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treatment. A phase 1b/2 clinical trial plans to evaluate SNB-101 in this patient population. This achievement follows the FDA’s orphan drug designation to SNB-101 in SCLC in 2023 and its fast track designation in 2024.”

Investigators Have Uncovered Global Trends in Risk Factors Linked to Lung Cancer Mortality
“Although lung cancer and related cancer deaths decreased in the world’s 10 most populous countries from 1990 to 2019, these positive statistics may not address trends in mortality linked to tobacco use, air pollution, and asbestos exposure, according to a recent study published by Jani et al in eClinicalMedicine. The findings suggested that these areas need ongoing policy measures and research to further reduce mortality rates.”

Joint Study Aims To Use Simple Blood Test To Detect Lung Cancer
“Moffitt Cancer Center has joined forces with Cizzle Biotechnology to advance early-stage lung cancer detection. The UK diagnostics company has been focused identifying a new lung cancer biomarker, CIZ1B, through a simple blood sample.”

Study Finds Travel Distance to Lung Cancer Screening Facilities Differs by Race and Ethnicity
“Lung cancer is the second most common cancer, excluding skin cancer, diagnosed in men and women in the United States. And despite advances in treatment for the disease, which have led to improved survival rates, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States, with individuals of color and those living in rural areas of the country experiencing the worst outcomes.”

LUNGevity Issues Four RFAs in Support of the Lung Cancer Research Workforce
“WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LUNGevity Foundation, the nation’s leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit organization, is excited to issue four Requests for Applications (RFAs) in their continued effort to improve outcomes for patients with lung cancer.”

Even Low Levels of ctDNA May Be Linked to Recurrence Risk in Early Lung Cancer, Study Finds
“Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States, but high recurrence rates persist for patients with early-stage disease. A recent study published by Black et al in Nature Medicine has found that even very low traces of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may be linked to increased recurrence risk in patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, suggesting a potential role for more sensitive personalized genomic tests to guide treatment.”

Wildfire Smoke Exposure Heightens Lung Cancer Risks and Complicates Patient Outcomes
“Key Takeaways: Wildfire smoke contains PM2.5, linked to increased lung cancer risk and chronic health conditions. Firefighters face a 43% increased lung cancer mortality risk due to smoke exposure.”

OS Therapies’ HER2 drug prevented lung cancer from returning in a 3rd of patients
“OS Therapies’ HER2-focused immunotherapy prevented patients’ lung cancer from returning in 33% of cases, hitting the primary goal of a phase 2 trial. The therapy, dubbed OST-HER2, uses a HER2-bioengineered form of the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes to trigger an immune response against cancer cells expressing HER2. OS Therapies had been testing the drug in a phase 2b trial in 39 patients between the ages of 12 and 39.”

Lung cancer diagnoses in American women outpace men for first time
“Cancer incidence young and middle-aged women is rising, driven in part by a growing number of new lung cancer cases that are striking women more than men for the first time, per updated American Cancer Society statistics.”

Improved Radon Maps Can Help Prevent Lung Cancer in the U.S.
Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States. The odorless, invisible gas is naturally released from soil, rocks, and water, and can build up in homes when it enters through cracks in the foundation. Increasing awareness and prevention of radon exposure have been goals of the Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative in recent years. In November, the White House convened a roundtable of radon researchers to share their expertise, including Longxiang Li, ScD, assistant professor of environmental health at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health. Li shared insights from his efforts to update nationwide radon concentration maps, which were recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.”

FDA Targets Nicotine to Reduce Lung Cancer and Other Tobacco-Related Diseases
“On Wednesday, the FDA announced a proposed a rule that would significantly reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes and other combusted tobacco products, making them minimally or non-addictive, a groundbreaking move that could drastically reduce smoking-related illnesses and deaths in the US.”

American Lung Association Disappointed About Ruling in Graphic Warning Labels Case
“This week, U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker in Tyler, Texas, ruled in favor of tobacco industry plaintiffs that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cannot proceed with its rule to require graphic warning labels on cigarette packages until the legal challenge to the rule is resolved.”

J&J says its lung cancer drug combination keeps people alive longer
“Key Points: Johnson & Johnson said a combination of its lung cancer drugs Rybrevant and Lazcluze kept people alive for at least a year longer than AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso in a clinical trial. J&J is trying to supplant AstraZeneca’s blockbuster Tagrisso, a once-daily pill that has transformed the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutations. It remains to be seen how many doctors will adopt the treatment.”

Breaking Down Silos: CU Cancer Center Program Casts a Wide Net for Lung Cancer Research
“Some of the University of Colorado Cancer Center’s foremost scientists are investigating ways to apply their groundbreaking research in various fields to lung cancer with funding and collaborative support from the cancer center’s Thoracic Oncology Research Initiative (TORI).”

Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) Announces Request for Proposals in Collaboration with Bayer Pharmaceuticals
“NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, in collaboration with Bayer Pharmaceuticals, announced submissions are being accepted for the $500,000, two-year award, titled LCRF|Bayer Research Award on Innovative Therapeutic Strategies to Treat Lung Cancers Harboring HER2 Mutations and/or Other HER2 Alterations.”

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to Vergent Bioscience’s Novel Agent for Visualizing Solid Tumors During Lung Cancer Surgeries
“The FDA has granted Fast Track designation to Vergent Bioscience’s VGT-309, an injectable tumor-targeted fluorescent imaging agent designed to aid surgeons in visualizing tumors, lymph nodes, and positive surgical margins during lung cancer surgeries. According to the company, the decision by the FDA was based on positive safety, tolerance, and enhanced tumor visualization results in lung cancer patients.”

FDA grants priority review to oral non-small cell lung cancer drug
“The FDA granted priority review to a new drug application for sunvozertinib as an oral treatment for certain patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, according to a press release from Dizal.”

New Test Predicts Survival in Early-Stage Lung Cancer Better than Current Methods
“Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute have demonstrated that a test called the ORACLE can better predict clinical outcomes for patients with early-stage lung cancer than current methods. The findings, published in Nature Cancer, could allow doctors to identify which patients with stage I lung cancer would benefit from chemotherapy and surgery—information that current clinical standard testing is not able to provide.”

Lung cancer trial reveals 40% drop in deaths using biomarker testing
“Groundbreaking research from the University of St Andrews School of Medicine has found that biomarker testing in individuals at risk of lung cancer led to a major reduction in deaths. This study, conducted with 12,000 smokers and ex-smokers, demonstrates how biomarkers—measurable indicators of biological changes—can identify individuals at high risk of lung cancer, leading to earlier detection and significantly improved outcomes.”

Primary Lung Tumor SBRT Followed by Mediastinal Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced NSCLC
“In a phase II trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Heinzerling et al found that primary lung tumor stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) followed by concurrent mediastinal chemoradiotherapy (with or without adjuvant immunotherapy) was associated with activity in patients with locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Factors Associated With Suicide Among Patients With Lung Cancer in the United States: A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Data
“Conclusion: A lung cancer diagnosis is associated with a higher risk of suicide compared to the general population and patients with other cancer types. We suggest that screening for distress, using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) distress screening tool, and depression at regular intervals in patients with lung cancer is imperative to mitigate the non-cancer loss of life.”

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Project hopes to boost detection of lung cancer
“Nevada is launching a four-year lung cancer screening program, supported by a $7 million grant, to address its low screening rates and reduce cancer-related deaths. Inspired by Kentucky’s success, the initiative aims to normalize screening through primary care, improve education, and reduce stigma surrounding lung cancer. The long-term goal is to develop a scalable model for nationwide use, improving survivorship and early detection.”

Supreme Court to weigh reinstating Obamacare care requirements struck down by lower court
“Services and medications that might not be covered under the ruling include statins to prevent heart disease, lung cancer screening, HIV prevention, as well as medications to lower the risk of breast cancer for high-risk women, the group found.”

Diabetes drug appears to fight lung cancer — but only in overweight or obese patients
“Research conducted at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has revealed that metformin also appears to fight lung cancer — but only in overweight or obese patients. Further, recent findings have led investigators to wonder whether it might also have the potential to prevent lung cancer or to be combined with other therapies to treat the disease more effectively.”

AI in Oncology: Opportunities and Challenges for NSCLC
“Ryan Nguyen, DO, physician and researcher at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), emphasizes the need for personalized care in managing non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), considering patients’ unique life circumstances, comorbidities, and treatment goals to optimize quality of life. He also discusses the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in cancer care, highlighting its promise in aiding complex decisions while cautioning against its limitations, such as high rates of unsupported recommendations, and stresses the importance of rigorous validation to ensure patient safety.”

Researchers reveal why the lung is a frequent site of cancer metastasis
“More than half of cancer patients in whom the cancer spreads beyond the primary site have lung metastases. What makes the lungs such a tempting place for cancer cells?

Prevent Lung Cancer by Testing Your Home for Radon
“WASHINGTON — In January, the EPA recognizes National Radon Action Month and encourages Americans to test their homes for radon. Radon is an odorless, colorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas that, when left unaddressed, can build up inside a home. Over time, exposure to radon can cause lung cancer. The only way to know if your home has high levels of radon is to test for it.”

For People With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lung Cancer is Something to Worry About
“A study of Veterans Health Administration patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) confirmed other research showing that RA is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer and death from the death, especially among those with RA and interstitial lung disease. Corresponding author Bryant R. England, M.D., Ph.D., of the Department of Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System and University of Nebraska Medical Center and his colleagues, found that RA was associated with 58% greater risk of getting lung cancer compared with not having RA and that the increased risk was similar among those who never smoked. The lung cancer risk was three times among those with RA and interstitial lung disease, according to the results reported by England and his colleagues in the December 2024 issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology.”

FDA Accepts New Drug Application For Taletrectinib in ROS1+ NSCLC
“Key Takeaways: Taletrectinib’s NDA is based on phase 2 TRUST-I and TRUST-II trials, showing significant efficacy in ROS1-positive NSCLC. The trials reported tumor shrinkage in 89% of TKI-naive and 56% of TKI-pretreated patients, with prolonged progression-free survival.”

Combining Liquid and Tissue Biopsies for Better Lung Cancer Care
“Edgardo S. Santos, MD, FACP, FASCO, discussed the barriers to precision medicine in lung cancer treatment, including patient concerns about technology understanding and insurance coverage, as well as the reliance on traditional tissue biopsies, emphasizing the benefits of combining liquid and tissue biopsies to improve treatment outcomes and clinical trial eligibility.”

Perioperative Pembrolizumab Regimen Upholds Survival Benefit in Resectable NSCLC
“Key Takeaways: Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy significantly improved 4-year OS and EFS in resectable early-stage NSCLC compared to chemotherapy alone. The pembrolizumab regimen showed a 27% reduction in mortality risk, with 4-year OS rates of 68.0% vs 56.7% for placebo.”

First Systemic Therapy Approved for Lung and Pancreatic Cancers With NRG1 Gene Fusions
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to zenocutuzumab-zbco (Bizengri) for the treatment of adult patients with advanced, unresectable, or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or pancreatic adenocarcinoma that harbors a gene fusion involving neuregulin 1 (NRG1). The drug is approved for use following disease progression during or after prior systemic therapy. “

FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Trodelvy for Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Key Takeaways: Trodelvy received Breakthrough Therapy designation for ES-SCLC after platinum-based chemotherapy, aiming to expedite its development and review. The phase 2 TROPiCS-03 study showed a 41.9% overall response rate for Trodelvy in ES-SCLC, with all responses being partial.”

MARIPOSA Trial Shows PFS Benefit With or Without CNS Disease in NSCLC
“During a Case-Based Roundtable® event, Joshua K. Sabari, MD, discussed the mechanism of action of amivantamab and the MARIPOSA trial in patients with EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer in the first article of a 2-part series.”

Grammy Award-winning musician back on tour after beating lung cancer with UCI Health treatment
“ORANGE, Calif. (KABC) — After touring with Green Day for more than two decades, touring musician Jason Freese found himself stepping away from his passion to focus solely on beating lung cancer.”

AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo withdraw EU application for lung cancer treatment
“AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo have withdrawn their marketing authorisation application in the European Union (EU) voluntarily, intended for datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd), to treat advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Bridging the Gap: Telehealth Expands Access to Essential Palliative Care
“Palliative care plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for patients with cancer and has proven benefits for patients and their caregivers, especially when integrated early in the treatment course.”

How a Never-Wavering Enthusiasm Changed Lung Cancer Care for the Better
“As a female leader in a competitive oncology field, Solange Peters, MD, PhD, pushed through the barriers— climbed over them—and completely transformed lung cancer care with her collaborative spirit.”

70s sitcom icon Linda Lavin dies age 87 after lung cancer diagnosis
“Star of sitcom Alice and Broadway icon Linda Lavin has died aged 87, confirms her representatives. Lavin, who started her career as a child stage actor, died unexpectedly on December 29 from complications linked to her recent lung cancer diagnosis.”

FDA Grants Taletrectinib Priority Review for Advanced ROS1+ NSCLC
“The FDA has granted priority review to a new drug application for taletrectinib, an investigational next-generation ROS1 TKI, for the treatment of patients with advanced ROS1-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a news release from the drug’s developer, Nuvation Bio.”

Nivolumab/CCRT Followed by Nivolumab/Ipilimumab Misses PFS End Point in Select Stage III NSCLC
“Key Takeaways – Nivolumab plus ipilimumab with CCRT did not significantly improve PFS over CCRT followed by durvalumab in stage III NSCLC. Median PFS and OS were comparable across treatment arms, with no new safety signals observed.”

The Evidence Gap: Immunotherapy Timing in Early-Stage NSCLC?
“Do patients with early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) benefit from continuing immunotherapy beyond surgery? The short answer: Oncologists don’t know for sure.”

2 friends beat lung cancer, urge screening for the at-risk
“Even before their lung cancer surgeries at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, Garry Hoover and Gary Pippin had a lot in common.”

#HearHer campaign aims to increase awareness of lung cancer among women
“Key takeaways: The #HearHer campaign focuses on gender disparities in lung cancer diagnosis and clinical trial enrollment. Clinicians should take women’s concerns seriously and make use of imaging for early detection.”

FDA Approves New Drug for Advanced Lung Cancer
“Dec. 19, 2024 – The FDA has approved a new drug called ensartinib for adults with a type of lung cancer called ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Sold under the brand name Ensacove, this drug is now a first-choice treatment for people with this type of cancer. It is for patients whose cancer has either grown nearby or spread to other parts of the body and who haven’t been treated with an ALK-blocking drug before.”

After Lung Cancer Treatment, Radiation Pneumonitis Can Mimic Tumor Growth
“The treatment for lung cancer with the “Cyber Knife” (thoracic stereotactic body radiation therapy) went well, but six months later the patient notices something wrong with her breathing, and a new round of imaging shows a growing mass at the tumor site. Instead of cancer recurrence, close examination of the new imaging studies show that the mass is acute radiation pneumonitis, characterized by acutely inflamed tissue around the treatment site.”

Study reveals immune-modulatory mechanism of lurbinectedin in small-cell lung cancer
“Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified the mechanism of action of a treatment for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers. Published this week in Cell Reports Medicine, the study reveals that the drug lurbinectedin, an approved second-line therapy for SCLC, activates the STING-IFN signaling pathway to enhance the immune response against tumors.”

Microplastics in the Air May Be Leading to Lung and Colon Cancers
“Tires and degrading garbage shed tiny pieces of plastic into the air, creating a form of air pollution that UC San Francisco researchers suspect may be causing respiratory and other illnesses. A review of some 3,000 studies implicates these particles in a variety of serious health problems. These include male and female infertility, colon cancer and poor lung function. The particles also may contribute to chronic pulmonary inflammation, which can increase the risk of lung cancer.”

AdventHealth Celebration Introduces New Intraoperative Molecular Imaging Process to Improve Accuracy of Lung Cancer Surgery
“Thoracic surgeon Colleen Gaughan, MD, and her team at AdventHealth Celebration, recently became one of the first in the country to incorporate targeted imaging agent Cytalux (pafolacianine) as part of a new intraoperative molecular imaging (IMI) process designed to enhance the accuracy of lung cancer surgeries. This injectable medication, administered up to 24 hours before surgery, binds to cancerous tissue and glows when stimulated by a specialized intraoperative infrared camera, making it easier for the surgeon to accurately visualize and remove tumors while sparing healthy tissue.”

US FDA declines to approve injection form of J&J’s lung cancer drug
“Dec 16 (Reuters) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declined to approve an injectable version of Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ.N), opens new tab drug Rybrevant for a type of lung cancer, the drugmaker said on Monday. The FDA’s so-called complete response letter was related to observations as part of a standard pre-approval inspection at a manufacturing facility, J&J said.”

Breathing New Life Into the Lung Cancer Pipeline
“The next two years may well see an explosion of FDA approvals for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with some of the drugs being first-in-class and/or best-in-class. If even a few of these agents make it through the regulatory gauntlet, clinicians will have a powerful new set of therapeutics to combat this challenging malignancy, a pharmaceutical industry analyst predicted at the NASP 2024 Annual Meeting & Expo, in Nashville, Tenn.”

NIH Debunks the Myth: Treatment Isn’t the Only Key to Reducing Cancer Deaths
“A study led by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that improvements in cancer prevention and screening have prevented more deaths from five major cancer types over the past 45 years than advances in treatment. The findings were published on December 5, 2024, in JAMA Oncology.”

What Patients With NSCLC Say About Treatment-Related Toxicities, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
“It was important to conduct the research because TKIs are “usually well tolerated and used for a prolonged time, although experienced toxicity varies between patients,” and it is “unclear whether patients report all (low grade) toxicities and how these impact their daily lives.””

Cancer survivor’s wife writes book chronicling life saving ‘lungs-in-a-box’ technology
“LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — In April, Keith Zafren shared his cancer journey with LEX 18, chronicling a long battle with the disease before a risky lung transplant at Northwestern Medicine. Now, Zafren is going on a year and a half cancer free, and his wife Lori has written a book to help other families navigate lung cancer.”

Ten Years of Advances: The Story of an ALK-Positive Lung Cancer Survivor
“When Melanie Morrill turned 50 in August of 2014, she was excited to celebrate the milestone birthday and was looking forward to what the next decade would bring. Unfortunately, things changed quickly later that month after a visit to the Emergency Department. Melanie had been experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath and was treated for pneumonia and told to follow-up with her primary care doctor, which she did in September. From there she was referred to a pulmonologist for further testing and in November she received a diagnosis: ALK+ Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Lung Cancer Patient Story: Multidisciplinary Expertise Backed by Cutting-edge Treatment
“”I always start my story with, ‘A funny thing happened on the way to Japan,'” said Flora McCoy-Greene. The then 67-year-old retiree was exploring a move from Massachusetts to Florida when she got a call from an international school in Japan. One of their teachers had fallen ill. The school’s director wanted to know if Flora could fill in for awhile. Flora had taught overseas before and was thrilled at the chance to do it again. But first, she would need to have a complete physical examination, as the school required. The ensuing exam included a chest X-ray. Flora’s primary care doctor reviewed the scan and concluded she might have lung cancer. She was shocked, as she had no symptoms. “I call the director of the school ‘John the Angel’ because had he not offered me the job, I wouldn’t have gotten the chest X-ray that saved my life,” Flora said.”

Radiology Partners study unearths 3 common barriers to lung cancer screening
“New research from Rad Partners practice affiliate Desert Radiology has unearthed three common barriers keeping patients from undergoing lung cancer screening. Numerous studies have charted poor adherence to low-dose CT, with uptake rates as low as 0.7% in some states. The Las Vegas-based practice and Mountain View Hospital aimed to better understand the reasons why. They administered a questionnaire to 300 high-risk patients in southern Nevada during their screening visits, sharing the results in Cancer Epidemiology. Absence of symptoms (38%), not wishing to know that they have cancer (30%) and lack of awareness about their eligibility for imaging (24%) were the top 3 answers, RP experts noted.”

Lung Cancer Drug Osimertinib Tied to Cardiac Events, Even in Low-Risk Patients
“The non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) drug osimertinib (Tagrisso) was associated with an increased risk of therapy-related cardiovascular (CV) events compared with older EGFR inhibitors, a retrospective cohort study from Taiwan found. In a matched analysis of 401 patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC, therapy-related CV events occurred in 14.9% of those who received the third-generation EGFR inhibitor over nearly 2 years of median follow-up, as compared with 4.4% of those treated with earlier-generation agents, reported Chien-Chung Lin, MD, PhD, of National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan, and colleagues.”

PROSPECT-Lung trial aims to improve treatment for patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer
“The highly anticipated PROSPECT-Lung trial has officially opened, marking a significant step forward in the quest to improve treatment strategies for patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer. The trial, which is the first to open through the newly formed National Cancer Institute (NCI) Clinical Trials Innovation Unit (CTIU), aims to evaluate the role of immunotherapy before and after surgery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.”