Lung Cancer Weekly News

Detecting Small Cell Transformation in Patients with Advanced EGFR Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma through Epigenomic cfDNA Profiling
“Histologic transformation to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a mechanism of treatment resistance in patients with advanced oncogene-driven lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) that currently requires histologic review for diagnosis. Herein, we sought to develop an epigenomic cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based approach to noninvasively detect small cell transformation in patients with EGFR mutant (EGFRm) LUAD.”

Adjuvant Chemotherapy May Have Survival Benefit in Stage III Locally Advanced NSCLC
“Favorable recurrence-free survival and overall survival outcomes were not observed in the overall patient cohort receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC.”

Incidence of and predictive factors for lung cancer in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A retrospective long-term follow-up study
“Close monitoring of lung cancer is needed for RA patients with smoking history and pulmonary complications, especially CPFE.”

Triplet Therapy Shows Promise in Advanced Lung Cancer
“A combination of an antibody-drug conjugate, immune checkpoint inhibitor and chemotherapy is showing promise for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Results from the phase 2 EVOKE-02 study will be presented at the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer.”

Lung Cancer Cases Rising in Young Women of Asian and Latina Descent: What You Need to Know
“In the past 25 years, cases of lung cancer have been rising among people without previous tobacco use. These cancer cases are approximately 2.5 times more likely to be found in women than in men. These women tend to be younger, and cases are rising more rapidly in people of Asian or Hispanic/Latina descent.”

TGF-Beta and RAS Signaling Are Both Required for Lung Cancer Metastasis, Study Finds
“When it comes to cancer metastasis, it takes two to tango. That was one of the key findings of a new study led by researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK): The TGF-beta and RAS signaling pathways work together to spur the spread of cancer in lung adenocarcinoma, a leading cause of cancer deaths around the world. Take away one of those two signals, and lung cancer will not be able to spread (metastasize) to new parts of the body, their findings in animal models suggest.”

Ifinatamab Deruxtecan Continues to Demonstrate Promising Objective Response Rates in Patients with Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer in IDeate-Lung01 Phase 2 Trial
“Objective response rate of 54.8% seen with Daiichi Sankyo and Merck’s ifinatamab deruxtecan at 12 mg/kg dose in pretreated patients. 12 mg/kg selected as optimal dose for extension part of IDeate-Lung01 phase 2 trial and recently initiated IDeate-Lung02 phase 3 study.”

Survey reveals progress and persistent barriers in lung cancer biomarker testing
“Despite significant improvements in the perception of biomarker testing compared to a 2018 survey, substantial barriers to implementation persist globally, according to results of the 2024 IASLC Global Survey on Biomarker Testing released today at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) World Conference on Lung Cancer 2024.”

Summit lung cancer drug shows ‘striking’ benefit over Keytruda
“An experimental medicine from a small biotechnology company cut the risk of lung cancer progression in half when tested against the world’s most dominant immunotherapy in a clinical trial, according to study data presented Sunday at a major medical meeting. The results come from a Phase 3 trial pitting a drug from biotech Summit Therapeutics against Merck & Co.’s Keytruda in people recently diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Data show Summit’s drug held tumors at bay for a median of just over 11 months, compared to almost six months for those given Keytruda. The 5.3-month difference in progression-free survival equated to a statistically significant 49% reduction in the risk of cancer progression or death.”

Deep Learning Models Expedite Biomarker Discovery, Detection in Lung Cancer
“In the first,1 investigators from China found a high degree of accuracy for detecting biomarkers using whole slide images (WSIs) obtained from lymph node biopsies. In the second,2 researchers from Australia analyzed the tumor and its microenvironment (TME) across patients who did or did not respond to checkpoint inhibitor therapy, which detected distinct metabolic patterns of response for immunotherapy.”

AstraZeneca says lung cancer drug trial shows no significant improvement in overall survival
“LONDON, Sept 9 (Reuters) – Detailed results from one of AstraZeneca’s (AZN.L), opens new tab key lung cancer trials released on Monday showed that its experimental precision drug did not significantly improve overall survival results for patients in the trial. The overall survival, or OS rates, in the TROPION-Lung01 trial “did not reach statistical significance”, the company said in a presentation at the World Conference on Lung Cancer in San Diego.”

Longitudinally cultured precision cut lung slices as a predictive ex vivo model for lung cancer
“By providing a reliable, ethical, and efficient alternative for lung cancer studies, PCLS could significantly enhance preclinical research and drug development, marking a critical step towards more humane and representative scientific investigations.”

South Florida’s Hispanic communities see fewer late-stage lung cancer diagnoses
“When it comes to cancer disparities, community may count. A study published Aug. 21 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed that although Hispanic non-small cell lung cancer patients tend to be diagnosed at later stages than white patients, that disadvantage disappears in South Florida.”

TruSight Oncology Test Receives FDA Approval for NTRK and RET Fusion Cancers
“The TruSight Oncology (TSO) Comprehensive test has received approval from the FDA as a companion diagnostic (CDx) for 2 important cancer indications. The test is approved to identify patients with solid tumors harboring NTRK gene fusions and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring RET gene fusions. This marks the first distributable comprehensive genomic profiling in vitro diagnostic kit with pancancer companion diagnostic claims to be approved by the FDA.”

Merck Provides Update on Phase 3 KEYNOTE-867 and KEYNOTE-630 Trials
“RAHWAY, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today provided updates on two Phase 3 trials, KEYNOTE-867 and KEYNOTE-630. Merck is discontinuing the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-867 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA ® (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for the treatment of patients with stage I or II (stage IIB N0, M0) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including those who are medically inoperable or have refused surgery. This decision is based on the recommendation of an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), which reviewed data from a planned interim analysis.”

Median Technologies Announces Pivotal REALITY Study of Its eyonis™ LCS Lung Cancer Diagnostic Met All Primary and Secondary Endpoints
“eyonis™ LCS met the primary endpoint for accuracy, achieving an Area Under the Curve (AUC)1 of 0.90, significantly above the 0.80 set for regulatory clearance. eyonis™ LCS met all 9 secondary endpoints in REALITY with statistical significance.”

FDA Approves Chemo-Free Combo for Advanced Lung Cancer
“On August 29, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rybrevant (amivantamab) plus Lazcluze (lazertinib) as a chemotherapy-free initial regimen for people with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with specific mutations.”

Addressing Rising Rates of Second Primary Lung Cancers
“Although early detection of lung cancer through increased screening has improved survival rates, it has created new challenges. As more patients survive, there is an increased risk of developing secondary cancers. Authors of a study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology discuss the surveillance, diagnosis, and management challenges of second primary lung cancer (SPLC), noting that its incidence may be higher than previously thought, with up to 1 in 6 survivors developing SPLC within 5 years.”

Long-term conditions could delay lung cancer diagnosis, new study finds
“A new study from researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) reveals that patients living with certain long-term health conditions may face delays in being diagnosed with lung cancer. This is particularly concerning as lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the UK for both men and women, with high mortality rates largely due to late-stage diagnosis.”

How Family History of Cancer Affects Lung Cancer Risk
“Family history of cancer is a risk factor and predictor of who may develop lung cancer, and when, according to recent study findings. The study, which was published in Lung Cancer, used data from the Thoracic Tumors Registry, a nationwide database sponsored by the Spanish Lung Cancer Group, to perform 2 analyses using artificial intelligence (AI).”

A real world analysis of secondary BRAF variations after targeted therapy resistance in driver gene positive NSCLC
“Secondary BRAF variations have been identified as a mechanism of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with driver gene-positive NSCLC. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of consensus regarding the characteristics and subsequent treatment strategies for these patients.”

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Dr Singhi on Areas of Interest in Metastatic Lung Cancer Research

Alternative lung cancer screening criteria may increase sensitivity versus current guidelines
“1. In this modeling study, an alternative set of lung cancer screening criteria was more sensitive and specific overall in identifying high-benefit people as compared to the current United States Preventive Services Task Force criteria. 2. The alternative criteria were also more sensitive in identifying high-benefit people among racial and ethnic minorities.”

Kiromic Puts Gamma Delta T-Cells to the Test for Lung Cancer in Deltacel-01 Clinical Trial
“Kiromic BioPharma’s KB-GDT-01 (Deltacel), an investigational allogeneic gamma delta T-cell (GDT) therapy, is currently being evaluated in the phase 1/2 Deltacel-01 clinical trial (NCT06069570) for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).1 Following up on World Lung Cancer Day, observed annually on the August 1 by the clinician and patient communities, CGTLive® has decided to take a closer look at this novel cell therapy this month.”

FDA Lifts Partial Clinical Hold on Phase 1 YL202 Trial in NSCLC and Breast Cancer
“The partial clinical hold placed on the phase 1 YL202-INT-101-01 trial (NCT05653752) of YL202 (BNT326) has been lifted by the FDA. This study is evaluating treatment with the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutations or hormone receptor (HR)-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer. Trial enrollment will resume in the US; however, patients will not be enrolled in dose cohorts higher than 3 mg/kg of YL202.”

RYBREVANT® (amivantamab-vmjw) plus LAZCLUZE™ (lazertinib) approved in the U.S. as a first-line chemotherapy-free treatment for patients with EGFR-mutated advanced lung cancer
“RYBREVANT® plus LAZCLUZE™ is the first and only chemotherapy-free regimen showing superior progression-free survival versus Osimertinib. Following Priority Review, approval is based on Phase 3 MARIPOSA results showing RYBREVANT® plus LAZCLUZE™ reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 30 percent versus osimertinib, with a nine-month-longer median duration of response.”

FDA Grants BTD to GSK5764227 for Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
“The FDA has awarded breakthrough therapy designation to the B7-H3–targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), GSK5764227 (HS-20093), for the treatment of patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) that has progressed on or following platinum-based chemotherapy.”

AI tools help uncover connections between radiotherapy for lung cancer and heart complications
“Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital have used artificial intelligence tools to accelerate the understanding of the risk of specific cardiac arrhythmias when various parts of the heart are exposed to different thresholds of radiation as part of a treatment plan for lung cancer.”

International Lung Cancer Experts Seek Public Comments on Updated Molecular Testing Guideline to Improve Patient Selection and Targeted Therapies
“Newswise — ROCKVILLE, MD — August 22, 2024 — The College of American Pathologists (CAP), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) announced today the open comment period for the revised 2018 evidence-based guideline, “Updated Molecular Testing Guideline for the Selection of Lung Cancer Patients for Treatment With Targeted Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.”

Temple professor raises funds for lung cancer patients
“John Matthews is the founder of Ride Hard Breathe Easy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness, assisting lung cancer patients and working to end the stigma associated with the disease.”

Promising lung cancer vaccine trial begins in UK
“A 67-year-old man has become the first person in the UK to try what doctors hope will be a revolutionary new treatment for lung cancer – a vaccine that tells the body how to fight and kill the disease. It uses the same mRNA technology as some Covid jabs to give instructions to the immune system.”

Leal Examines Latest Data for Lurbinectedin and Tarlatamab in ES-SCLC
“Peers & Perspectives in Oncology: Could you explain the recent indirect analysis of lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) vs topotecan in pretreated patients with ES-SCLC who have a chemotherapy-free interval (CTFI) of at least 30 days?”

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US participates in world’s first lung cancer vaccine trials
“A doctor with the Yale Cancer discusses what researchers are hoping to accomplish with upcoming clinical trials.”

Solid Lung Nodules Found in 42% of Non-Smokers
“A new study of more than 10,000 non-smoking adults found that solid lung nodules were present in a considerable portion of study participants. Non-smokers are traditionally thought to be at low risk for lung nodules and lung cancer. The results of the study were published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).”

Comparative long-term prognosis of early surgery and surgery after surveillance for patients with ground-glass nodule adenocarcinomas
“To compare the pathological results and long-term survival results of early surgery and surgery after at least one year follow-up for ground‐glass component predominant lung adenocarcinoma patients. From January 1, 2013 to August 31, 2017, a total of 279 patients with ground-glass nodules (GGNs) undergoing surgical resection and pathologically proved to be pulmonary adenocarcinoma were included in this study.”

Genprex Announces Positive Clinical Study Updates from Acclaim-1 and Acclaim-3 Phase 1/2 Clinical Trials in Lung Cancer
“AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 14, 2024 /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 positive clinical study updates for its Acclaim-1 and Acclaim-3 clinical trials for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), respectively, and plans to re-focus its oncology clinical development program.”

Imfinzi granted Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy Designation for patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer in the US
“AstraZeneca’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Imfinzi (durvalumab), based on the results from the positive ADRIATIC Phase III trial in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) whose disease has not progressed following platinum-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT), has been accepted and granted Priority Review in the US.”

Homotypic cell-in-cell structure as a novel prognostic predictor in non-small cell lung cancer and frequently localized at the invasive front
“Homotypic cell-in-cell structures (hoCICs) are associated with tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis and is considered a promising prognostic marker in various cancers. However, the role of hoCICs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear.”

Polypharmacy May Shorten Survival in Lung Cancer
“Older patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving immunotherapy treatment tended to have worse survival outcomes if they were taking five or more other oral or inhaled medications, according to a study published in the Journal of Geriatric Oncology.”

What to know about small cell lung cancer and pneumonia
“Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) may increase the risk of pneumonia due to a weakened immune system or structural changes to the lungs.”

First Patient Enrolled in ON-SITE Study of AI-Based Image Analysis for Lung Cancer Detection
“The ON-SITE study has enrolled its first patient. This multicenter investigation will explore the effectiveness of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based image analysis module for lung cancer detection.”

Climate Change And Lung Cancer: Pollution A Major Cause Of Lung Cancer In Non-smokers
“Lung Cancer In Non-smokers: A recent report by The Lancet under the title ‘Lung cancer in Asia: the impact of climate change’ highlights the growing number of lung cancer in non-smokers. The study is a testimony to the already catastrophic impact of climate crisis the world is witnessing. Numerous conferences and events are organized to address the challenge of climate crises that costs a huge lump of money. However, only a few challenges are given priority and effective measures. Rising pollution in cities is a sheer sight of climate change and its adverse effect. However, it is still not given the prominence it deserves and demands.”

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Harrisburg mom takes to TikTok to chronicle lung cancer journey and empower others

Immune Therapy, EGFR Inhibition Take Hold of Stage III NSCLC
“Clinicians specializing in caring for patients with lung cancer discussed clinical trial updates on agents in stage III NSCLC.”

Dr. Carbone on the Importance of Biomarker Testing for Patients With Lung Cancer
“David P. Carbone, MD, PhD, director of the James Thoracic Oncology Center at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the importance of biomarker testing for patients with lung cancer.”

Genetic correlation and causal associations between circulating C-reactive protein levels and lung cancer risk
“Conclusion: There may be a genetic and causal association between circulating CRP levels and the risk of SCLC, which is in line with previous population-based observational studies.”

Ex-YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki dies at 56 of lung cancer
“SAN FRANCISCO: Tech pioneer and former YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki, who played an instrumental role in the rise of Google, has died at the age of 56 after battling lung cancer, her husband announced on Friday.”

Rheumatoid Arthritis Tied to Higher Risk for Lung Cancer
“FRIDAY, Aug. 9, 2024 — Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a significantly increased risk for lung cancer, according to a study published online July 28 in Arthritis & Rheumatology. “RA was associated with a >50 percent increased risk of lung cancer, and RA-ILD represented a particularly high-risk group with an approximate threefold increased risk,” the authors write. “Increased lung cancer surveillance in RA, and especially RA-ILD, may be a useful strategy for reducing the burden posed by the leading cause of cancer death.””

AFFINITY Study Completes Enrollment for Novel Aliya PEF System in Advanced Lung Cancer
“Aliya works by delivering high voltage, short duration electrical energy locally, which changes the transmembrane potential of cells and leads to loss of homeostasis. This can induce nonthermal programmed cell death without denaturing cellular proteins or the extracellular matrix. Preclinical and prior clinical feasibility studies of Aliya show the potential of this process in releasing antigens from the dying tumor cells that may stimulate an immune response for a potential systemic effect beyond focal ablation.”

New Study Assesses Ifinatamab Deruxtecan for Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Merck has recently announced the initiation of their Ideate-Lung02 (NCT06203210) trial—a global, multicenter, randomized, open-label phase 3 study that assesses the efficacy and safety of ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd; Daiichi Sankyo) to treat individuals with relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC).”

A fractional-order model for optimizing combination therapy in heterogeneous lung cancer: integrating immunotherapy and targeted therapy to minimize side effects
“This research presents a novel approach to address the complexities of heterogeneous lung cancer dynamics through the development of a Fractional-Order Model. Focusing on the optimization of combination therapy, the model integrates immunotherapy and targeted therapy with the specific aim of minimizing side effects. Notably, our approach incorporates a clever fusion of Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) feedback controls alongside the optimization process.”

Invenio enrolls 1st patients in AI-based lung cancer image analysis study
“Invenio Imaging announced that it has begun enrolling patients in a pivotal study of its artificial intelligence (AI)-based image analysis module for lung cancer. The On-Site study is a multicenter study in bronchoscopy combining stimulated Raman histology with AI for rapid lung cancer detection; it will be conducted at centers that include the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Corewell Health, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.”

MSD discontinues Phase III KeyVibe-008 trial for lung cancer treatment
“SD (Merck & Co) has discontinued the Phase III KeyVibe-008 trial designed to evaluate a fixed-dose combination of vibostolimab and pembrolizumab with chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). The company’s decision follows a recommendation from an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) after a pre-planned analysis indicated that the trial’s primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) met pre-specified futility criteria.”

LP-300 Shows Promise in Treating Advanced Lung Cancer in Never Smokers
“Findings from a primary analysis of the phase 2 Harmonic trial (NCT05456256) of the investigational new drug candidate and disulfide small molecule LP-300 (Tavocept, BNP7787, DImesna) with carboplatin and pemetrexed for the treatment of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in never smokers showed positive results, including a clinical benefit rate (CBR) of 86% and an objective response rate (ORR) of 43%.”

Metastatic NSCLC Survival Rates in the Immunotherapy Era
“The survival rates of patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have improved since the introduction of the first immunotherapeutic in this population in the United States in 2015, according to a recent study published by Wang et al in Cancer. NSCLC accounts for up to 90% of all lung cancer cases and is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among male and female patients in the United States.”

Metformin in Chemoprevention of Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study in Lithuania
“Conclusions: This study shows that metformin may have a dose-dependent chemopreventive effect against lung cancer in T2DM, while the impact of pioglitazone remains unclear and requires further investigation.”

Stepped Care Model for Lung Cancer May Maintain QOL With Fewer Visits
“The mean number of palliative care visits was nearly halved for stepped-palliative care vs early palliative care in patients with advanced lung cancer.”

Biomarkers for Lung Cancer Found Using Circadian-Rhythm Data
“The researchers write, “This model demonstrates a dependable capacity to forecast the outcome of the disease, which can further guide the relevant mechanism of lung adenocarcinoma and combine behavioral therapy with treatment to optimize treatment decision-making.””

Can Adjunctive AI Facilitate Earlier Lung Cancer Detection on Pre-Op CT Scans?
“New research shows the use of adjunctive AI resulted in a 12 percent higher sensitivity rate for lung nodule detection in comparison to radiologists without AI.”

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Panel Discusses How to Talk to Patients About Starting Lung Cancer Treatment
“A roundtable discussion, moderated by Millie Das, MD, covered challenges, advances, and future directions for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as critical clinical trial data and updates from the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Dr. Das was joined by Ticiana Leal, MD, Martin Dietrich, MD, PhD, and Kent Shih, MD. In the second segment of the roundtable series, the panel discusses how to talk to patients about starting treatment for NSCLC, what to do while awaiting next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing results, and how to help patients navigate treatment options and quality-of-life considerations.”

Proposed lung cancer screening guideline could eliminate racial disparities, allow for early detection
“Early detection of lung cancer through low-dose computed tomography screening is one of the most promising strategies to reduce lung cancer mortality among high-risk individuals.”

Most Americans Don’t Know About Lung Cancer Screening: Survey
“People who’ve had a history of smoking can get lung cancer spotted early — when it’s most treatable — through annual CT screening.”

Smoking & Vaping Together Raise Lung Cancer Risks Even Higher
“FRIDAY, Aug. 2, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Experts have long suspected it, but a new study confirms that folks who vape and smoke tobacco face higher risks for lung cancer than if they’d done either alone.”

New York State Department of Health Recognizes Lung Cancer Awareness Day
“Albany, N.Y. (August 1, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health recognizes Lung Cancer Awareness Day this August 1 and encourages New Yorkers to remain proactive in screening for and preventing lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in New York State. Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer.”

Missed Follow-up is associated with worse survival in stage I lung cancer: results from a large multi-site academic hospital system
“The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of early incomplete follow-up on overall survival among stage I lung cancer patients.”

US launches campaign to address racial disparities in lung cancer biomarker testing
“In the US, GlobalData epidemiologists forecast that there will be nearly 200,000 diagnosed incident cases of NSCLC by the end of 2024 in adults aged 18 years and older.”

Recent study reveals key immune cells as critical factors in lung cancer prognosis
“An extensive analytical study performed at the Terasaki Institute and published in Frontiers in Immunology highlights the crucial role of tissue-resident memory T cells and how they influence the immune environment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer and their overall prognosis.”

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Best Management Practices for a Patient With Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Ticiana Leal, MD, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, discusses the course of treatment she would take for a patient with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Introduction of the Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Face-Off
“Joshua K. Sabari, MD, introduces a Face-Off program in which Northwestern University and the University of Chicago will present data and discuss treatment practices in non–small cell lung cancer.”

The largest population-based study to date supports the survival benefits of immunotherapy for people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
“Since the first immunotherapy drug to boost the body’s immune response against advanced lung cancer was introduced in the U.S. in 2015, survival rates of patients with the disease have improved significantly. That’s the conclusion of a recent real-world study published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.”

Clinical Lung Cancer Publishes Study: 93% of Oncologists Adjust Treatment Recommendations with OncoHost’s PROphetNSCLC™ Test
“BINYAMINA, Israel and CARY, N.C., July 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — OncoHost, a technology company transforming the approach to precision medicine for improved patient outcomes, today announced the publication of a study in Clinical Lung Cancer demonstrating the impact of its PROphetNSCLC™ test on first-line treatment decisions for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.”

Enhancing surgical precision in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer: A novel approach through temporary pulmonary vascular occlusion
“Conclusion: The technique, leveraging temporary pulmonary arteriovenous occlusion, offered a significant advancement in the surgical treatment of peripheral early-stage NSCLC. It reduced operation time and lowered overall surgical costs. This method represented a promising alternative to traditional surgical approaches.”

ODAC Votes to Require Trial Assessment of Neoadjuvant vs Adjuvant Benefits in Resectable NSCLC
“The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) has voted 11 to 0 that the regulatory body should require adequate within trial assessment of treatment phase contribution in new trial design proposals for perioperative regimens for resectable non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Novel molecular subtypes of METex14 non-small cell lung cancer with distinct biological and clinical significance
“Not all MET exon 14 skipping (METex14) NSCLC patients benefited from MET inhibitors. We hypothesized an inter-tumoral heterogeneity in METex14 NSCLC. Investigations at genomic and transcriptomic level were conducted in METex14 NSCLC samples from stage I-III and recurrent/metastatic patients as discovery and validation cohort. Four molecular subtypes were discovered.”

23andMe, Advocacy Organizations Partner on Lung Cancer Genetics Study
“The study, according to a news release, is intended to increase understanding of the genetics of people with lung cancer in an effort to improve detection, risk reduction and care.”

Alliance for Global Implementation of Lung and Cardiac Early Disease Detection and Treatment: Meeting Highlights
“The international meeting in Madrid of the newly formed Alliance for Global Implementation of Lung and Cardiac Early Disease Detection and Treatment (AGILE) was held in May 2024. This diverse forum included health-care professionals, public health leaders, industry representatives, and patient advocates from many nations to discuss the status and implementation challenges of low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer, including the opportunity to impact global health beyond reducing lung cancer mortality alone.”

State and Regional Trends in Incidence and Early Detection of Lung Cancer Among US Adults, 2010–2020
“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both male and female adults in the US (1,2). Overall incidence rates of lung cancer continue to decline following historical declines in cigarette smoking, estimated to account for roughly 90% of lung cancer cases (3,4). However, disparities in incidence persist among certain racial and ethnic groups and between sexes.”

Examining Treatment Delay Trends in Patients With Lung Cancer
“An analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology focusing on lung cancer patients in Missouri reveals a concerning increase in treatment initiation delays, exceeding national guidelines and calling for further investigation into potential causes.”

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USC study explores at-home atezolizumab treatment for non-small cell lung cancer patients
“In a first-of-its-kind study, USC researchers are treating cancer patients in the comfort of their own home with a single shot therapy. Could this be the future of cancer care?”

World Lung Cancer Day – August 1, 2024
“Every year on August 1st, people around the globe come together to observe World Lung Cancer Day. This important health awareness day serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against one of the most prevalent and deadly forms of cancer. It’s a time to educate, support, and inspire action in the fight against lung cancer, which continues to be a significant global health challenge.”

Chemotherapy plus nintedanib has ‘promising’ efficacy in small cell lung cancer with IPF
“Key takeaways: A pharmacotherapy is needed for patients with small cell lung cancer plus IPF. Patients frequently experienced grade 3 or greater neutropenia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia with chemotherapy plus nintedanib.”

Immutep Announces Successful Meeting with FDA on Phase III Design in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“Final discussion with the FDA, successfully concluding the regulatory preparations for the TACTI-004 Phase III trial design to evaluate efti in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), MSD’s anti-PD-1 therapy, and standard chemotherapy in first-line non-small cell lung cancer. TACTI-004 registrational trial will enroll ~750 patients regardless of PD-L1 expression in order to address the entire 1L NSCLC market eligible for anti-PD-1 therapy.”

Doctor with cancer gets unprecedented liver, double-lung transplant from Northwestern Medicine
“t’s a medical story that’s off the charts. Northwestern surgeons have successfully performed a combined lung-liver transplant on a patient who had advanced lung cancer. And the patient is a doctor himself.”

Strategy may reduce tobacco treatment disparities among people with cancer
“A universal screening and opt-out referral strategy may reduce disparities in tobacco treatment access and increase use of smoking cessation services by people with cancer, according to results of a qualitative improvement study.”

RPL13A and GNL3 May Help Assess Immunotherapy Resistance for NSCLC
“Ribosomal RNA genes, ribosomal protein L13a (RPL13A) and G protein nucleolar (GNL3), may be used to help assess immunotherapy resistance for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a study published in the Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer.”

Automated PD-L1 status prediction in lung cancer with multi-modal PET/CT fusion
“Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expressions play a crucial role in guiding therapeutic interventions such as the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in lung cancer. Conventional determination of PD-L1 status includes careful surgical or biopsied tumor specimens. These specimens are gathered through invasive procedures, representing a risk of difficulties and potential challenges in getting reliable and representative tissue samples.”

Beyond Docetaxel: Adagrasib Shows Promise in KRAS G12C-Mutant NSCLC
“Adagrasib (Krazati) showed deep, durable responses in patients with previously treated KRAS G12C-mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the phase 1/2 KRYSTAL-1 trial (NCT03785249). The phase 3 KRYSTAL-12 study (NCT0468513) sought to build on these findings and compared adagrasib with docetaxel in this intent-to-treat population.”

Research points the way toward an exhaled-breath test for lung cancer
“The foundational science to develop an exhaled-breath test for detection of lung diseases, including lung cancer, is underway, according to new research published by a laboratory at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI).”

Diabetes Drug may make lung cancer treatment more effective
“A medication used to treat diabetic neuropathy may make chemotherapy treatments more effective for patients with lung cancer, according to a new study.”

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to Abdera Therapeutics’ Treatment for Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
“The FDA has granted Fast Track Designation to Abdera Therapeutics’ ABD-147, a next-generation precision radiopharmaceutical therapy designed for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) who have progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy. According to the company, ABD-147 implements advanced antibody engineering to deliver Actinium-225 to solid tumors expressing DLL3, which is a protein commonly found on neuroendocrine tumors but rarely expressed on the surface of normal cells or tissues.”

NSCLC Biomarker Testing: Some Pulmonologists Defer Testing to Oncologists
“NSCLC biomarker testing was ordered by 62% of pulmonologist-survey respondents for at least some of their patients and by 36% for most or all patients.”

Immunotherapy Has Improved Survival in Metastatic NSCLC
“Patients treated in the immunotherapy era had significantly better overall survival and cancer-specific survival than patients treated in the pre-immunotherapy era.”

Closing the Gap: New Campaign Focuses on Increasing Biomarker Testing in High-Risk Communities
“CHICAGO, July 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — About every two and a half minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with lung cancer. Thankfully, access to early diagnosis, precision medicine and biomarker testing can save lives and may provide for a better quality of life for people living with lung cancer. Unfortunately, biomarker testing is often underutilized, especially in the Black community. To address this disparity and improve the lives of people impacted by lung cancer, today, the American Lung Association launched Biomarker, Education, Awareness and Testing (BEAT) Lung Cancer, a new initiative for biomarker education and awareness, with a focus on increasing biomarker testing rates in communities most impacted by lung cancer disparities.”

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Radiation a Curative-Intent Option in NSCLC and Interstitial Lung Disease
“Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) has been found to be a viable curative-intent treatment option among some patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and lung scarring known as interstitial lung disease, according to research.”

Approach to Treating Patients with NSCLC with Uncommon EGFR Mutations

Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy Linked to Hearing Loss in Cancer Survivors
“Patients with cancer who received cisplatin-based chemotherapy for an average of 14 years experienced significant hearing difficulties in everyday listening, according to study authors from the University of South Florida (USF). The study is the first to assess listening challenges and hearing loss (HL) progression in recovered patients, highlighting the need for regular audiological evaluations to prevent and mitigate HL in patients who received cisplatin-based chemotherapy.”

Unlocking the mystery of preexisting drug resistance: New study sheds light on cancer evolution
“The evolution of resistance to diseases, from infectious illnesses to cancers, poses a formidable challenge. Despite the expectation that resistance-conferring mutations would dwindle in the absence of treatment due to a reduced growth rate, preexisting resistance is pervasive across diseases that evolve—like cancer and pathogens—defying conventional wisdom.”

PIM1/NF-κB/CCL2 blockade enhances anti-PD-1 therapy response by modulating macrophage infiltration and polarization in tumor microenvironment of NSCLC
“Elevated infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) drives tumor progression and correlates with poor prognosis for various tumor types. Our research identifies that the ablation of the Pim-1 proto-oncogene (PIM1) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) suppresses TAM infiltration and prevents them from polarizing toward the M2 phenotype, thereby reshaping the tumor immune microenvironment (TME).”

The impact of tertiary lymphoid structures on tumor prognosis and the immune microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer
“Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common malignancy whose prognosis and treatment outcome are influenced by many factors. Some studies have found that tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in cancer may contribute to prognosis and the prediction of immunotherapy efficacy However, the combined role of TLSs in NSCLC remains unclear.”

40% of US cancer cases linked to lifestyle choices
“In a recent study published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, a team of researchers analyzed nationally representative cancer incidence, risk factor prevalence, and mortality data to determine the number and proportion of various types of cancer cases and cancer-related mortality that could be attributed to modifiable risk factors.”

Chinese doctors successfully implement global first remote robot-assist lung cancer surgery for patient in Xinjiang
“A groundbreaking remote robot-assisted lung cancer surgery spanning over 5,000 kilometers was successfully completed at the Second People’s Hospital of Kashi in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in collaboration with the Shanghai Chest Hospital On Saturday.”

FDA Awards Fast Track Designation to CT-0525 for HER2-Overexpressing Solid Tumors
“CT-0525 is an anti-HER2 CAR-monocyte therapy showing promising preclinical results in HER2-overexpressing solid tumors. The phase 1 study will assess safety, tolerability, and manufacturing feasibility in patients with advanced HER2-overexpressing tumors.”

Tecentriq combination fails to improve survival in metastatic lung cancer
“Tiragolumab plus atezolizumab added to chemotherapy did not extend survival outcomes as first-line therapy of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, interim results from a randomized study showed.”

The Role of AI in Empowering Early Lung Cancer Detection & Transforming Patient Outcomes
“Lung cancer remains the single most common etiology of cancer-related mortality globally, with most patients diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment efficacy is limited. Detecting lung cancer earlier can significantly improve survival rates, with a greater than 90% survival rate when treatment commences at stage 1.”

ACS awards grant to Hollings pulmonologist to improve lung cancer biomarker testing at community hospitals
“The American Cancer Society has awarded an MUSC Hollings Cancer Center pulmonologist a career development grant to begin research on a logistical question that could improve care for lung cancer patients at community hospitals across South Carolina.”

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to ABD-147 for Small Cell Lung Cancer
“The FDA granted fast track designation to Abdera Therapeutics’ ABD-147 as treatment for extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who have progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. The drug is a next-generation precision radiopharmaceutical that delivers Actinium-225 to solid tumors that express the DLL3 protein.”

Detecting lung cancer early with sugar-sensing nanotech
“For such a common disease, lung cancer can be hard to spot. In the early stages you probably won’t even know you’ve got a problem. But by the time you investigate that persistent cough, your livelihood may already hinge on a range of expensive, invasive treatments. Quan Zhou and Dr Richard Lobb say it doesn’t have to be this way – and they’ve got a sugar-sensing piece of technology that proves it.”

New Imaging Detects Deadly Lung and Prostate Cancers, May Improve Treatment
“A new imaging technique developed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) shows promise for detecting deadly forms of lung cancer and prostate cancer. The technology uses a radioactive particle that binds to a ligand (molecule) on cancer cells called DLL3, making the cells more visible on PET scans. The DLL3 ligand is especially prominent in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), which are aggressive types of the disease.”

Real-World Challenges in Cancer Screening: Understanding Data Sources
“In a recent interview with The American Journal of Managed Care®, Jessica K. Paulus, ScD, senior director of real-world research, Ontada, a business of McKesson, and a trained epidemiologist, addressed challenges in the non–small cell lung cancer space (NSCLC) that include advanced disease at presentation and trends seen in real-world data for these patients.”

Moffitt Researchers Develop Synthesis Method to Enhance Access to Cancer-Fighting Withanolides
“TAMPA, Fla. — Withanolides, a class of naturally occurring compounds found in plants, have long been a focus of cancer research due to their ability to inhibit cancer cell growth, induce cell death and prevent metastasis. These compounds are important in developing new cancer treatments. However, the difficulty of obtaining enough of these compounds from plants has hindered research and therapeutic development.”

Back in Spotlight, Incredibly Youthful Newsman John Stossel, 77, Beat Lung Cancer & Quickly Returned To Work— Early Detection Is Key
“TV presenter John Stossel was diagnosed with lung cancer back in 2016 and underwent surgery remove it. Stossel thankfully didn’t further treatment for the disease, which he credits his “overanxious wife” for leading to him to detecting it early on, and he returned to work soon.”

Slowing inflammation may boost immunotherapy’s effectiveness against advanced lung cancer
“Adding an anti-inflammatory drug to anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy has shown great promise as a new strategy against advanced lung cancer, based on results from a clinical trial led by investigators at the Abramson Cancer Center at the Perelman School of Medicine.

FDA Declines To Approve Merck-Daiichi Sankyo Partnered Lung Cancer Drug
“On Wednesday, the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) for the Biologics License Application (BLA) seeking accelerated approval of Daiichi Sankyo (OTC:DSKYF) (OTC:DSNKY) and Merck & Co Inc’s (NYSE:MRK) patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously treated with two or more systemic therapies.”

Blood test developed by KU researchers can detect early-stage lung cancer
“Biosensor technology can detect lung cancer in blood when it is still curable and could be used to screen large populations at risk for the disease.”

Update on ADJUVANT BR.31 Phase III trial of Imfinzi in non-small cell lung cancer
“High-level results from the ADJUVANT BR.31 Phase III trial, sponsored by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG), showed Imfinzi (durvalumab) did not achieve statistical significance for the primary endpoint of disease-free survival (DFS) versus placebo in early-stage (IB-IIIA) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after complete tumour resection in patients whose tumours express PD-L1 on 25% or more tumour cells.”