Lung Cancer Weekly News

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.”

Lung Cancer CT Screening May Help to Detect Coronary Artery Disease
“Lung cancer screening with low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) may be capable of identifying coronary artery calcium in patients without cardiac symptoms, according to a recent study published by Caires et al in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.”

Cancer Risk Declines in Old Age, New MSK Research Helps Explain Why
“When it comes to cancer, aging is a double-edged sword, researchers are increasingly learning. Age is considered the most important risk factor for cancer. That’s because genetic mutations build up in cells over years and decades, and ultimately drive the development of cancer. Now a study from researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and their collaborators provides new evidence about how advanced age can also be protective against cancer. The study, conducted in a mouse model of lung cancer, was published in Nature on December 4.”

FDA approves durvalumab for limited-stage small cell lung cancer
“On December 4, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved durvalumab (Imfinzi, AstraZeneca) for adults with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) whose disease has not progressed following concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy.”

Cambridge researchers develop urine test for early detection of lung cancer
“Cambridge scientists have developed a urine test for early detection of lung cancer. The test, the first of its kind, detects ‘zombie’ cells that could indicate the first signs of the disease.”

FDA Approves New Drug for Lung and Pancreatic Cancers
“The FDA has granted accelerated approval to zenocutuzumab, a new drug for adults with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or pancreatic cancer. The drug is the first comprehensive treatment approved for cancers with NRG1 fusion that have spread or that can’t be surgically removed and have worsened after previous treatments.”

Repurposed drug has promising efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer
“DALLAS – Dec. 09, 2024 – An FDA-approved drug used to treat multiple myeloma and lymphoma also shrank tumors in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with KRAS mutations, a clinical trial led by UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers showed. The findings, published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, could lead to new treatments for a major subset of lung cancer patients.”

Incyte Announces Positive Results from Phase 3 Trial Evaluating Retifanlimab (Zynyz®) in Combination with Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“— Phase 3 POD1UM-304 trial met primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) and all secondary endpoints in patients with previously untreated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Datopotamab deruxtecan granted breakthrough therapy designation in US for patients with previously treated advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer
“The FDA granted this BTD based on data from the TROPION-Lung05 Phase II trial with supporting data from the TROPION-Lung01 Phase III trial. Results from a pooled analysis of patients with previously treated EGFRm NSCLC in these studies were presented this month at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2024 Congress. This is the first BTD for datopotamab deruxtecan.”

Lung Cancer Research Foundation Announces 2024 Scientific Research Grant Awards
“NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is pleased to announce its 2024 Scientific Grant Program awards, funding $3.55 million in new research, the largest single-year investment in its history. This year’s grant cycle includes awards in the following areas: LCRF Leading-Edge Grant in Lung Cancer, LCRF Research Grant on Early Detection and Pre-Neoplasia in Lung Cancer, LCRF Research Grants on Understanding Resistance in Lung Cancer, LCRF Minority Career Development Award (CDA) for Lung Cancer, and the IASLC-LCRF Team Science Research Grant on the Next Step in the Cure of Oncogene-Driven Lung Cancers. Earlier this year, LCRF awarded the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative (ALCSI), led by Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, a $320,000 grant to conduct its “Plus One” screening initiative and research study.”

Study shows Nu.Q® Lung Cancer Test differentiated malignant and benign nodules found by Low Dose CT screening
“HENDERSON, Nev., Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) (“Volition”), a multi-national epigenetics company, today announced the results of a large-scale study which shows that its Nu.Q® Cancer Test differentiated between malignant and benign pulmonary nodules, found by Low Dose CT (LDCT) scan, in patients suspected of lung cancer.”

India’s Air Pollution Linked to Rising Lung Cancer Cases in Non-Smokers
“India is set to observe National Pollution Control Day on December 2nd. Experts warn that prolonged exposure to air pollution can lead to lung cancer in non-smokers. They highlight that even healthy individuals are at risk due to frequent exposure to airborne toxins, especially in areas with poor air quality. Recent data shows a surge in lung cancer cases among non-smokers, with air pollution being a significant factor.”

Roche Records Setback in Phase III Study Of Two Lung Cancer Drugs
“BERLIN (Reuters) – A Roche study into using a combination of tiragolumab and tecentriq to treat a form of lung cancer in a phase III trial did not achieve the desired success, the Swiss pharmaceuticals maker said on Tuesday. The SKYSCRAPER-01 study “did not reach the primary endpoint of overall survival at the final analysis” in patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, it said.”

In the US, young and middle-aged women are being diagnosed with lung cancer at higher rates than men
“Susan Wojcicki, the late CEO of YouTube, had a message for the world just weeks before she passed. “Although lung cancer overall is decreasing because of declines in tobacco use, lung cancer among people who have never smoked has been rising significantly,” Wojcicki wrote in a YouTube blog that was posted Monday. Wojcicki, a tech pioneer who was one of Google’s earliest employees, died in August after living with lung cancer for two years. She was 56.”

Advances in small cell lung cancer classification
“Most patients with lung cancer have non-small cell lung cancer. However, around 15% of patients have a less-common type called small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer progresses more rapidly than non-small cell, so it’s often detected at later stages. While we’ve made big advances in treatment for non-small cell lung cancer, new treatment options for small cell lung cancer have historically been few and far between. But recent research in classifying subtypes of small cell lung cancer is bringing renewed hope for treatment advances.”

Study shows multidisciplinary lung nodule programs streamline detection of early-stage lung cancers
“IN THE NEWS: Lung nodule screening programs have been shown to be an effective way to increase the detection of early-stage lung cancers. UCI Health started its Lung Cancer Screening Program in 2018, followed by a multidisciplinary lung nodule initiative in 2020. UCI Health cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Hari B. Keshava led a study last year in which data from every patient screened in the lung cancer program between 2018-2022 was collected. Individuals who had nodules 7mm or greater were referred to the lung nodule program for additional scans, biopsies and possible treatment. As a result of the screening, 62% of patients received additional screening for possible lung cancer.

On 2 year ‘cancerversary,’ WTOP’s Neal Augenstein reflects on living with lung cancer
“Two years ago today I heard some news I hoped I wouldn’t hear — I had lung cancer.”

Metropolis Healthcare Unveils Key Insights From Seven-Year Lung Cancer Genomics Study
“In honour of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Metropolis Healthcare, a leading diagnostic chain in India, has shared key findings from a seven-year research study (2015-2021) that examined the molecular and clinicopathological characteristics of lung cancer patients. The study analysed over 3,200 cases, shedding light on genetic alterations that are revolutionising lung cancer care through targeted therapies.”

Asthma or COPD: How Symptoms Could Mask Signs of Lung Cancer
“Certain chronic conditions that affect the lungs, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), can have symptoms that mimic lung cancer. A recent study found that this could delay a timely lung cancer diagnosis. The study was published in the British Journal of Cancer.”

Back on Top: Gary Evans Climbing Mountains After Lung Cancer
“Nov. 22, 2024 | The view from the 1,011-foot summit of Pinnacle Mountain is spectacular, and Gary Evans does his best to get there as often as he can. But after a lung cancer diagnosis in January 2023, Evans wasn’t sure he would get to the top of his favorite mountain ever again. “I felt good about my health. I climbed Pinnacle just about every day, did yoga and my own yard work,” said Evans, who was 70 when he was diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer.”

Associations of advanced lung cancer inflammation index with all-cause and respiratory disease mortality in adults with asthma: NHANES, 1999–2018
“The Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index (ALI) represents both the inflammatory and nutritional status of the host, but its link with mortality in asthma patients is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to look at the relationship between ALI levels and all-cause and respiratory disease mortality in asthmatic patients.”

Impact of natremia on metastatic non small cell lung cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors
“Our findings suggest that serum sodium levels < 140 mEq/L at baseline and initial assessment are independently associated with poorer PFS and OS in mNSCLC patients undergoing first-line treatment with ICIs.”

He’s a doctor studying why lung cancer rates are rising in Asian Americans with no smoking history. Now he’s also a patient.
“Dr. Bryant Lin, a Stanford University School of Medicine physician and professor, has never smoked, but in early May 2024, he received a life-altering diagnosis: stage IV lung cancer. Lung cancer rates have declined precipitously in the last several decades. But they’re rising among Asian Americans with no smoking history. Lin was aware of the concerning trend; it’s one of the emerging medical issues he’d hoped to facilitate a better understanding of when he founded Stanford’s Center for Asian Health Research and Education six years ago. “But I never would’ve thought that I would have this cancer,” Lin tells Yahoo Life, “or become the poster child for my center working on this cancer.”

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Future Treatment Landscape for EGFR-mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Panelist discusses how the future treatment landscape for EGFR-mutant advanced non–small cell lung cancer is evolving to address current unmet needs and offers clinical pearls to community oncologists for optimizing patient care in this rapidly changing field.”

News 12 health report inspired viewer to get lung cancer screening. It saved her life
“”I felt like it was haunting me. I said to my doctor, I feel like it’s essential, I’ve been smoking, I keep seeing it, please order it,” Deb Greco says.”

“State of Lung Cancer” Report Shows Need for Increased Screening Leading to Early Detection
“The American Lung Association’s 2024 “State of Lung Cancer” report ranks Florida 17 out of 47 surveyed states for survival of lung cancer at 29.1%. The report also shows a 25.3% early diagnoses rate in the state. Specialists at Moffitt Cancer Center continue to emphasize the importance of screening for those at risk. “Despite the remarkable advances we have made in treating advanced-stage lung cancer with immunotherapy, targeted agents, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy and other innovative approaches, the most effective way of significantly increasing the cure rate of lung cancer is finding it early, when it is confined to the lung and potentially curable,” Lary Robinson, MD, director of Moffitt’s Lung Cancer Early Detection Center said.

New Report Reveals South Dakota Among Best in Nation for Early Diagnosed Lung Cancer Cases American Lung Association’s ‘State of Lung Cancer’ report examines lung cancer in South Dakota
“SIOUX FALLS – The American Lung Association released its 2024 “State of Lung Cancer” report, which examines key indicators to highlight how the toll of lung cancer varies by state. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in South Dakota and across the U.S., but the report reveals positive news. The report finds South Dakota is ranked 10th in the nation for cases of lung cancer diagnosed at an early stage.”

Obesity-Specific improvement of lung cancer outcomes and immunotherapy efficacy with metformin
“Conclusions: Metformin may improve lung cancer-specific clinical outcomes in obese and overweight lung cancer patients and enhance immunotherapy efficacy in this growing population as well. This work identifies obesity as a potential predictive biomarker of metformin’s anticancer and immunotherapy-enhancing properties in lung cancer while shedding light on the underlying immunological phenomena.”

New Research Sheds Light on a Surprising Connection Between COVID-19 and Cancer Regression
“A new Northwestern Medicine study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation has revealed a connection between COVID-19 infection and cancer regression. The team’s discovery could pave the way for novel cancer treatments.”

FDA Approves Companion Diagnostic for Tepotinib in mNSCLC Harboring MET Exon 14 Skipping Alterations
“Key Takeaways: FoundationOne Liquid CDx is approved to identify mNSCLC patients with MET exon 14 skipping alterations for tepotinib treatment. The VISION trial demonstrated tepotinib’s efficacy, with notable overall response rates and progression-free survival in mNSCLC patients.”

State of Lung Cancer
“States must do more to protect their residents from lung cancer.”

‘Troubling’ data show lack of awareness about lung cancer screening
“Key takeaways: Over 80% of people at high risk for lung cancer were unaware of screening or had not discussed it with a doctor. Informational interventions in clinics and communities could improve screening awareness.”

AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo submit BLA to FDA for lung cancer treatment “AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo have submitted a new biologics license application (BLA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking accelerated approval for datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

New Cancer Vaccine May Boost Immunotherapy in Treating Lung Cancer
“Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85% of cases. While treatment advances have improved outcomes for some patients, advanced non-small cell lung cancer remains challenging to treat, especially when tumors have high levels of PD-L1, a protein that helps cancer evade immune defenses. Traditional chemotherapy approaches can have significant side effects, but newer immunotherapy treatments like pembrolizumab, which boosts the immune system’s ability to target and destroy cancer cells, have proved beneficial. However, they may not work for every patient.”

Single-fraction SBRT confers ‘surprisingly excellent’ outcomes for central lung tumors
“Key takeaways: Patients with central lung tumors treated with single-fraction radiation did not experience any grade 3 or higher adverse events. The approach resulted in local disease control for most trial participants.”

Less Than 1 In 5 Americans Who Are Eligible Are Getting Screened For Lung Cancer. Here’s Why
“Less than 20% (19.6%) of Americans who are eligible to get screened for lung cancer are getting the test they need, according to research published in JAMA Network Open. This is in stark contrast to 70-75% of Americans that get screened for other cancers through tests such as mammograms for breast cancer or colonoscopies for colon cancer.”

Detecting Evidence of Lung Cancer in Exhaled Breath
“Exhaled breath contains chemical clues to what’s going on inside the body, including diseases like lung cancer. And devising ways to sense these compounds could help doctors provide early diagnoses — and improve patients’ prospects. In a study in ACS Sensors, researchers report developing ultrasensitive, nanoscale sensors that in small-scale tests distinguished a key change in the chemistry of the breath of people with lung cancer.”

Rest and Recuperation After a Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
“Key Takeaways: Rest and recuperation are essential after cancer treatment, even when remission is achieved, to prevent health issues. The COVID-19 pandemic added stress and responsibilities, complicating recovery for cancer survivors.”

Largest ever UK study reveals stark ethnic and social inequalities in lung cancer diagnosis
“The most comprehensive study ever conducted of lung cancer diagnosis in England has revealed significant disparities between ethnic groups and striking evidence that people living in the most deprived areas were diagnosed with lung cancer at twice the rate of those in affluent areas.”

Thousands of lung cancer cases detected in lorry clinics
“A lung-cancer screening programme that sees mobile clinics visit local communities in England has detected the disease earlier in more than 5,000 people. Specially adapted lorries have been visiting supermarkets, football grounds and town centres in areas with the highest rates of the disease, as part of the biggest initiative of its kind in NHS history.”

Researchers Find Lack of Communication for Lung Cancer Screenings Among High-Risk Individuals
“Less than 16% of high-risk lung cancer individuals have heard or discussed lung cancer screenings with a health care provider.”

Lung Cancer Awareness Month 2024
“Lung cancer is the most common cancer type and the most common cause of cancer death in the world. The most recent global estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) indicate that in 2022 almost 2.5 million people were diagnosed with lung cancer and more than 1.8 million people died from the disease. Lung cancer causes more than twice as many deaths as colorectal cancer, which is the second most common cause of cancer death.”

“It Saved My Life:” Why Biomarker Testing is Vital
“John shares the story of his lung cancer diagnosis and how biomarker testing made all the difference.”

With smoking rates declining, so too are lung cancer deaths. For nonsmokers, the numbers tell a different story.
“November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, which brings both good news and bad. On the one hand, overall rates of the disease — and deaths from it — have declined precipitously as smoking rates have plummeted. But, on the other hand, diagnoses are climbing among people who have never smoked.”

Circulating Tumor DNA Presence Associated With Consolidation Immunotherapy Outcomes in NSCLC
“For patients with inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), measuring circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may help personalize the duration of consolidation immunotherapy, according to a recent analysis published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.”

Perioperative Chemoimmunotherapy Shows Long-Term Benefits in Lung Cancer
“Key Takeaways – Chemoimmunotherapy shows promising long-term benefits for resectable NSCLC, with 65% five-year progression-free survival and 69.3% overall survival. Protocol adherence significantly improves outcomes, with 75.4% progression-free survival and 78% overall survival in the per-protocol group.”

New lung cancer screening initiative looks to increase access to care
“Key Takeaways  – The initiative targets low-income, uninsured, and minority populations to reduce lung cancer disparities through bilingual support and no-cost screenings. Over 700 eligible patients were identified, with 83% completing low-dose CT scans, showing no significant differences across demographics.”

Merck, Moderna Launch Phase III Trial of V940 in Combination with Keytruda for Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Merck and Moderna announced the beginning of the Phase III INTerpath-009 trial for V940 (mRNA-4157) in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as an adjuvant treatment for patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who did not achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant Keytruda plus chemotherapy. According to Moderna, global recruitment has begun, with the first patients being recruited in Canada.”

Scripps Cancer Center to Host Lung Cancer Screening Education Event on Nov. 8
“SAN DIEGO, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — November is lung cancer awareness month and Scripps Cancer Center invites San Diego County residents to learn about lung cancer screening at a free educational event on Friday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Scripps Medical Center Jefferson in Oceanside, Calif.”

UC Davis Health Hosts Lung Cancer Screening Nov. 9
“Lung Cancer Screening Day – UC Davis Health is making it easier to get screened. The UC Davis Department of Radiology is taking part in national Lung Cancer Screening Day. It is setting aside all day on Saturday, Nov. 9, to offer low-dose CT scans. Additional screening appointments are available Nov. 3 – 8.”

Lessening My Apprehension Using Meditation During Lung Cancer
“Key Takeaways – Mindfulness and meditation helped manage anxiety, replacing negative emotions with peace through techniques like deep breathing and visualization. Empathetic environments, journaling, and staying active contributed to emotional well-being and a positive outlook.

Moffitt unveils new mobile lung cancer screening unit
“TAMPA – Moffitt Cancer Center unveiled its new mobile lung cancer screening unit Friday, with a goal to save thousands of lives in Florida. The unit is equipped with a state-of-the-art, low-radiation CT scanner. Eligible patients must be at least 50-years-old, a current or former smoker with a long history of smoking, and currently have no obvious signs of lung cancer.”

Performance in physical tests can help manage treatment for metastatic lung cancer
“A study of patients with metastatic lung cancer by researchers based in Brazil and the United States has found that their performance in simple physical tests such as sitting down, standing and walking can help physicians arrive at a prognosis and approach to treatment.”

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Monitoring Treatment With Different Types of Biopsies in Lung Cancer
“Key Takeaways – Liquid biopsy offers a less invasive method to detect resistance mechanisms by analyzing tumor DNA fragments in blood. Tissue biopsy, though more invasive, provides comprehensive insights into tumor biology, including protein expression and other markers.”

Radon Action Week: How you can test your home

Roche’s Alecensa receives NICE recommendation to treat ALK-positive lung cancer
“Just under 100 non-small cell lung cancer patients in England will be eligible for the drug”

FDA Presses Clinical Hold Button For BioNTech’s Partner Late-Stage Trial Of Investigational Lung Cancer Treatment
“BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) has been notified by its partner, OncoC4 Inc., that the FDA has imposed a partial clinical hold on its Phase 3 PRESERVE-003 trial. The open-label, randomized study evaluates BNT316/ONC-392 (gotistobart) as a monotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have previously progressed after PD-(L)1-inhibitor treatment.”

Complete Consolidative Radiotherapy May Have Survival Benefits in ES-SCLC
“Compared with incomplete consolidative radiotherapy, complete consolidative radiotherapy generally improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) among patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), according to James Ninia, MD.”

How Oral Azole Use Affects Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy for NSCLC
“Multivariable analysis indicated clotrimazole was the only individual azole identified to show an association with improved OS. Multivariable analysis also showed improved OS with using more than 1 azole and worse OS with miconazole.”

Estimating Costs Associated with Adverse Events in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer
“Conclusion: Costs associated with AEs in advanced lung cancer patients treated with first-line therapies were substantial. These estimates could be adopted for future cost-effectiveness analyses of new lung cancer treatments.”

Understanding how deadly lung cancers control the local immune system
“Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered how a protein in a deadly type of lung cancer can control how the immune system responds to the tumor, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.”

Complete Response to Immunotherapy in Stage IV Lung Cancer
“A case report highlights a 51-year-old man with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer and brain metastasis who received whole brain radiotherapy followed by immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. The patient achieved complete response, with overall survival at 87 months and progression-free survival at 73 months, maintaining quality of life.”

New tool predicts risk of lung cancer’s spread to brain
“In a new study published in Nature Medicine UHN researchers have identified specific DNA changes that can predict a patient’s risk of cancer spreading to the brain, offering new approaches to managing patients and improving health outcomes.”

Novacure’s Wearable Lung Cancer Treatment Device, Optune Lua, Receives FDA Approval
“The FDA has granted approval for Novocure‘s wearable medical device, Optune Lua, designed to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The device utilizes portable transducer arrays placed on the skin to deliver alternating electrical fields, termed Tumor Treating Fields (TTFs), thereby disrupting malignant cell division while leaving healthy cells largely unaffected.”

First-line maintenance regimen improves OS, PFS in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
“The addition of lurbinectedin to atezolizumab improved survival for certain adults with lung cancer, according to the agent’s manufacturer. Lurbinectedin (Zepzelca; Jazz Pharmaceuticals, PharmaMar) is an RNA polymerase II inhibitor. Atezolizumab (Tecentriq, Genentech) is an anti-PD-L1 antibody.”

Obesity and survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or chemoimmunotherapy: a multicenter cohort study
“Obesity may be associated with an increased overall survival among male patients treated with chemotherapy, whereas not associated with the outcomes in patients treated with immunotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy.”

Chemo Plus Immunotherapy Benefits Subset of Lung Cancer Patients
“Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have demonstrated that patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring specific mutations in the STK11 and/or KEAP1 tumor suppressor genes were more likely to benefit from adding the immunotherapy tremelimumab to a combination of durvalumab plus chemotherapy to overcome treatment resistance typically seen in this patient population.”

Impact of Air Pollution on Lung Health Sparks Call for Physician-Led Action at CHEST 2024
“Experts explored the impact of climate change in the chest medicine space through numerous sessions and posters at the CHEST 2024 annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, last week. The topic was first introduced during the keynote address, “The Climate and Health Pandemic,” delivered by Vanessa Kerry, MD, MSc, director of global and climate health policy in the Department of Environmental Health at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.1 She discussed various effects of climate change, calling on clinicians to recognize these threats and implement sustainable practices to mitigate them.”

ACS Guidelines Expand Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility — Is That a Good Thing?
“BOSTON — Whether low-dose CT screening for lung cancer should be expanded to include people who quit smoking more than 15 years ago, as the American Cancer Society (ACS) now recommends, was the topic of much debate here.”

Neural network models help predict immunotherapy efficacy in small cell lung cancer
“As immunotherapy makes breakthrough progress in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), predicting treatment outcomes has become a focal point in clinical practice. Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has been approved as first-line therapy for small cell lung cancer due to its survival benefit in randomized controlled trials. However, predicting its efficacy remains a challenge in the absence of currently available biomarkers.”

Frontline EGFR/VEGF Inhibition Slows Advanced EGFR-Positive Lung Cancer
“Adding the VEGF inhibitor ramucirumab (Cyramza) to the EGFR inhibitor osimertinib (Tagrisso) slowed progression of untreated EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by 9 months compared with osimertinib alone, an interim analysis of the randomized RAMOSE trial showed.”

Fox Chase Cancer Center Researchers Find Gene That Triggers Immune Response in Treatment-Resistant Small-Cell Lung Cancer
“PHILADELPHIA (October 10, 2024) — TREX1, a gene previously associated with autoimmune diseases, has been linked to small cell lung cancer. The discovery by Fox Chase Cancer Center scientists is a step toward understanding why this aggressive cancer is so resistant to treatment. The findings are significant because they identify a pathway that could be targeted to make small cell lung cancer immunogenic, a quality that produces an immune response from the body. This could make the pathway sensitive to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.”

New approach enhances radiation treatment for lung cancer brain metastases
“In new research, a team led by University of Cincinnati researchers has identified a potential new way to make radiation more effective and improve outcomes for patients with lung cancer that has spread to the brain.”

FDA Approves Nivolumab for the Treatment of Adult Patients With Resectable NSCLC
“The FDA has approved nivolumab (Opdivo; Bristol Myers Squibb) for the treatment of adult patients with resectable (tumors ≥4 cm or node positive) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with no known epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements, for neoadjuvant treatment in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy, followed by single-agent nivolumab as adjuvant treatment after surgery (or perioperative therapy). The approval comes after results from the phase 3 CheckMate-77T trial (NCT04025879).”

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Early Biomarker Testing Key for Perioperative NSCLC Success
“Ticiana Leal, MD, Winship Cancer Institutes, explains the importance of biomarker testing and multidisciplinary conversations while caring for patients with early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Goals of Therapy and Considerations for Treatment Sequencing in Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Ticiana Leal, MD, discusses how in cases of extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) that progress within 6 months of platinum-based chemotherapy, treatment options such as tarlatamab, lurbinectedin, topotecan, and irinotecan should be considered, alongside the potential to extend chemoimmunotherapy cycles. She also addresses the impact of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines and the consideration of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) despite negative brain imaging results.”

After wife dies from non-smoking lung cancer, Utah man urges all to test for radon
“Rachel Smith was a NICU nurse who took care of some of the most vulnerable lives possible until she received her own life-changing diagnosis—non-smoking lung cancer. An avid gym-goer and mom of two, Rachel was the pinnacle of health before she came down with a cough that wouldn’t let up. After a visit to the emergency room and a pneumonia diagnosis, tests revealed her body was fighting lung cancer at just 32 years old.”

Quality Improvements in Lung Cancer Surgery and Tumor Pathology May Extend Survival Postsurgery
““Over the past 15 years, a quality improvement initiative in the heart of the Mississippi Delta has made stepped progress to change the status quo for lung cancer outcomes in this high-risk population. Their consistent efforts led the 120-day mortality rate after surgery to be cut in half and improvements in both 3- and 5-year overall survival,” emphasized Fumiko Chino, MD, a radiation oncologist at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.”

New Mount Sinai Research Brings Hope for Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients
“New York, NY (September 30, 2024)  Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have made a promising breakthrough in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Their study, published in Science Advances, on September 27 and titled “ATR Inhibition Activates Cancer Cell cGAS/STING-Interferon Signaling and Promotes Anti-Tumor Immunity in Small Cell Lung Cancer,” presents an exciting new approach that offers hope to patients with this challenging disease.”

The impact of family cancer history on tumor metabolism and prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
“Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, and the role of family cancer history in disease progression and treatment response remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the influence of family tumor history on disease-free survival, tumor metabolism, and treatment response in NSCLC patients.”

Trial shows timing matters when adding immunotherapy to chemoradiation for limited-stage small cell lung cancer
“People with limited-stage small cell lung cancer may benefit from adding immunotherapy to chemoradiation, but not if both treatments are given at the same time, new research finds. The results suggest that the timing of when immunotherapy is given plays a key role in its ability to extend survival.”

Survival of lung cancer patients according to screening eligibility using Korean Lung Cancer Registry 2014–2016
“This study assessed survival for lung cancer patients meeting criteria for the National Lung Cancer Screening Program in Korea launched in 2019 and updated guideline reported by the US Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF).”

J&J lung cancer drug combo had superior progression-free survival in study
“Patients who took Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) drugs Rybrevant and Leclaza in combination to treat EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer had a longer progression-free survival period than those who took AstraZeneca’s (AZN) Tagrisso, according to a new study.”

American Lung Association Campaign Aims to Address Lack of Diversity in Clinical Trials, Improve Lung Cancer Care for Hispanic Individuals
“CHICAGO, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In the past decade, clinical trials have contributed to rapidly advancing research, which has led to more individuals living with lung cancer exceeding the five-year survival rate than ever before. Unfortunately, this progress has not been shared equally amongst the populations facing high lung cancer burdens. That’s why the American Lung Association is expanding its work through the Awareness, Trust and Action program to educate Hispanic individuals about clinical trials and encourage them to speak with their healthcare provider about their treatment options.”

FDA approves osimertinib for locally advanced, unresectable (stage III) non-small cell lung cancer following chemoradiation therapy
“On September 25, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved osimertinib (Tagrisso, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals) for adult patients with locally advanced, unresectable (stage III) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease has not progressed during or following concurrent or sequential platinum-based chemoradiation therapy and whose tumors have EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test.”

Video:

Advancing Lung Cancer Screening: Detection and Management of Early-Stage Lung Cancer
“Tune in to this expert-led, on-demand video for a discussion on the latest recommendations, guidelines, and best practices related to lung cancer screening, and management of early-stage disease. Insights from previous peer-to-peer discussions on lung cancer screening barriers across primary care clinics will also be discussed.”