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Lung Cancer
COVID-19

Almost Two-Thirds of Surveyed Thoracic Oncologists Reported Using Telehealth for the First Time During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nearly two-thirds of thoracic oncologists surveyed indicated they used telehealth tools for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report issued by Baird et al at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Abstract...

Lung Cancer
Issues in Oncology
Genomics/Genetics

Survey Examines Oncology Clinician Perceptions of Biomarker Testing for Underserved Patients With Lung Cancer

Less than half of community oncologists surveyed indicated that they use biomarker testing to guide patient discussions compared with 73% of academic clinicians, according to a report by Boehmer et al presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2021 World...

lung cancer
immunotherapy

Prasad S. Adusumilli, MD, on CAR T-Cell Therapy for Mesothelioma

Prasad S. Adusumilli, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses phase I/II research he is conducting on CAR T cells delivered intrapleurally in patients with mesothelioma. The treatment is targeting mesothelin, a cancer cell-surface antigen overexpressed in many solid tumors and associated with aggressive disease (Abstract PL05.01).

lung cancer

Jamie L. Studts, PhD, on The Stigma of Lung Cancer: It’s Time to Eliminate It

Jamie L. Studts, PhD, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, discusses data that show the stigma surrounding lung cancer hinders optimal patient care. This information stems from a campaign launched by the National Lung Cancer Roundtable to eliminate this stigma and offer a range of initiatives that could alter societal perspectives (Abstract PL04.02).

Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy

Neoadjuvant Atezolizumab Under Study for Resectable Pleural Mesothelioma

Neoadjuvant atezolizumab combined with pemetrexed and cisplatin, followed by surgical resection and maintenance atezolizumab, proved safe and feasible and offered hints of benefit in patients with resectable pleural mesothelioma. Results from a small multicenter study were presented by Boris...

Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy

Maintenance Durvalumab: Increased Utilization Could Improve NSCLC Outcomes

Maintenance durvalumab—the recommended maintenance treatment for patients with unresectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following chemoradiation—remains significantly underutilized, according to research presented by Liu et al at the International Association for the Study of Lung...

Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy

POSEIDON Trial: Dual Checkpoint Blockade Plus Chemotherapy Improves Survival in First-Line Metastatic NSCLC

Findings from the phase III POSEIDON trial showed significantly improved progression-free and overall survival in patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received first-line durvalumab and tremelimumab plus chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone. These findings were presented by ...

Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy

IMpower010 Study of Atezolizumab in Resectable NSCLC: Benefits Observed Regardless of Stage, Type of Prior Treatment

In an exploratory analysis of the pivotal phase III IMpower010 trial—which found that adjuvant atezolizumab significantly improved disease-free survival in resectable non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)—benefit was shown regardless of the type of surgery or the chemotherapy doublet received by the...

Lung Cancer

No Overall Survival Benefit With Lurbinectedin/Doxorubicin in Small Cell Lung Cancer

As a second-line treatment for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), lurbinectedin plus doxorubicin failed to improve overall survival in the multicenter ATLANTIS trial, but it did provide other benefits, Luis Paz-Ares, MD, PhD, and colleagues reported at the International Association for...

lung cancer
global cancer care

Christine D. Berg, MD, on Lung Cancer Deaths Attributable to Air Pollution: Global Variability

Christine D. Berg, MD, of the National Cancer Institute, discusses air pollution as a carcinogen that disproportionately affects poorer, overburdened communities and the elderly and frail—especially in countries where smoking rates are high and the use of coal predominates. Clinicians, Dr. Berg says, can help their patients by advocating for switching to clean energy and transportation and helping health-care facilities become more sustainable (Abstract PL02.07).

Lung Cancer

Amivantamab-vmjw for Previously Treated Advanced NSCLC With EGFR Mutation

On May 21, 2021, amivantamab-vmjw, a bispecific antibody directed against EGFR and MET receptors, was granted accelerated approval for treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, as detected by a U.S. Food and...

lung cancer
global cancer care

Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD, on Disparities in Lung Cancer Care: The Global Burden

Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD, of the Mayo Clinic, talks about the fact that despite strides in lung cancer treatment, more than 60% of the world’s patients with the disease are in countries with relatively scarce medical resources, where less than 50% of patients are screened. There is a great need, says Dr. Adjei, to focus on ways to reduce disparities and remove the barriers of cost, access, quality, and lack of awareness (Abstract PL01.03).

lung cancer
covid-19

Matthew Smeltzer, PhD, on International Lung Cancer Clinical Trials: The Impact of COVID-19

Matthew Smeltzer, PhD, of the University of Memphis, discusses a study of 171 trials in 45 countries that saw reduced enrollment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the recommended steps to remove barriers and improve participation are more flexibility in allowing telehealth visits with researchers as well as clinicians, local lab testing and scans, altering trial schedules, and mailing experimental agents to patients whenever possible (Abstract PL02.09).

Lung Cancer
COVID-19

IASLC 2021: Single-Center Study Examines Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients With Lung Cancer

Patients coping with lung cancer treated at one hospital in Mexico reported high levels of anxiety and saw their treatment delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study presented by Oscar Arrieta, MD, at the 2021 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) World...

Lung Cancer
COVID-19

IASLC 2021: Enrollment in Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer Declined Significantly During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Enrollment in lung cancer clinical trials declined by 43% during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research presented by Smeltzer et al at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Abstract PL02.09). IASLC Survey To assess the impact...

Lung Cancer
Global Cancer Care

IASLC 2021: Study Examines Global Risk of Lung Cancer Due to Air Pollution

Five European countries rank highest for lung cancer risk attributable to air pollution among those aged 50 to 69 years, according to research presented by Berg et al in the Presidential Symposium Plenary Session at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2021 World...

Lung Cancer
Genomics/Genetics

Genomic Analysis of Lung Cancer in Never-Smokers

A genomic analysis of lung cancer in people with no history of smoking has found that a majority of these tumors arise from the accumulation of mutations caused by natural processes in the body. This study was conducted by an international team led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute...

Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy

Several Studies Show Rovalpituzumab Tesirine Is Ineffective Against SCLC

Four independent studies published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology demonstrate that rovalpituzumab tesirine (Rova-T), a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate directed against delta-like protein 3 (DLL3), is not effective against small cell lung cancer (SCLC). An accompanying editorial by...

Lung Cancer

Ensartinib Shows Superior Efficacy to Crizotinib in Advanced ALK-Positive NSCLC: eXalt3 Trial

As reported in JAMA Oncology by Leora Horn, MD, MSc, FRCPC, and colleagues, the phase III eXalt3 trial has shown significantly prolonged progression-free survival with ensartinib vs crizotinib in patients with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non–small...

Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy

Study Highlights Gaps Between Lung Cancer Treatment Recommendations and Real-World Use of Durvalumab

A recent study published by Ronden et al in JTO Clinical and Research Reports highlights the gap between treatment guidelines and real-world care with the monoclonal antibody durvalumab for patients with non–small cell lung cancer. Researchers studied treatment decision-making by three Dutch...

Lung Cancer

First-Line Veliparib Plus Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Current Smokers With Advanced Squamous Cell NSCLC

In a phase III trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, and colleagues found that the addition of the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor veliparib to platinum-based chemotherapy did not improve overall survival in current smokers with previously untreated...

Lung Cancer

High Prevalence of Previously Undiagnosed Emphysema Among Individuals Undergoing Low-Dose CT Screening for Lung Cancer

In a prospective cohort study reported in Clinical Imaging, David Steiger, MD, of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York, and colleagues in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) identified emphysema in ...

Lung Cancer

Low-Dose CT Screening for Lung Cancer and the Incidental Findings That May Improve Future Health

Every interaction with patients is an opportunity to change the course of their lives. In the context of screening for disease, every encounter is an opportunity to detect the precursors or early changes that signal early pathophysiology. Smoking status and age are the factors that currently...

lung cancer

PD-L1–Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

In this video, Drs. Justin F. Gainor, Ibiayi Dagogo-Jack, and Jyoti D. Patel discuss current therapy options for PD-L1–positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dr. Gainor presents the case of a 65-year-old man with 55-year smoking history who was diagnosed with stage II NSCLC. The faculty discuss the importance of molecular testing in patients such as this; molecular testing revealed a PD-L1 tumor proportion score of 25%. They then turn their attention to adjuvant treatment options in light of the recent IMpower010 trial, which found that adjuvant PD-1 pathway inhibition with atezolizumab led to improved disease-free survival among patients with PD-L1 ≥ 1% stage II–III NSCLC. Editor's Note: On October 15, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved atezolizumab for adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with stage II to IIIA NSCLC with PD-L1 expression on ≥ 1% of tumor cells, as determined by an FDA-approved test. 

lung cancer
genomics/genetics

ALK-Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

In this video, Drs. Justin F. Gainor, Ibiayi Dagogo-Jack, and Jyoti D. Patel discuss current treatment options for ALK fusion–positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dr. Gainor presents the case of a 31-year-old patient with minimal tobacco exposure who was diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC. PD-L1 immunohistochemistry revealed a tumor proportion score of 90%, and an EML4-ALK fusion was found on targeted next-generation sequencing. The faculty discuss the importance of testing for oncogenic drivers even in the presence of high PD-L1 expression and review the different generations of ALK inhibitors and their distinguishing features. Finally, they discuss their decision-making processes as it relates to first-line therapy, emphasizing the importance of patient communication, understanding toxicity profiles and resistance, and long-term follow-up.

lung cancer
genomics/genetics

NTRK Fusion–Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

In this video, Drs. Justin F. Gainor, Ibiayi Dagogo-Jack, and Jyoti D. Patel discuss the management of NTRK fusion–positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dr. Gainor presents the case of a 44-year-old man with a 5 pack-year history of tobacco exposure who was diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC; molecular testing was initially negative, but subsequent targeted next-generation sequencing revealed an NTRK1 fusion, a key oncogenic driver. The faculty discuss when and where to order additional molecular testing or next-generation sequencing in patients such as this. They review recent clinical data surrounding two agents approved by the FDA for NTRK fusion–driven lung cancer, larotrectinib and entrectinib.

lung cancer
genomics/genetics

RET Fusion–Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

In this video, Drs. Justin F. Gainor, Ibiayi Dagogo-Jack, and Jyoti D. Patel discuss the management of RET fusion–positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The case presented is a 65-year-old never-smoker patient with metastatic NSCLC who was found to have an EGFR A118V mutation and a KIF5B-RET fusion. The faculty provide background on RET fusions in lung cancer and discuss the different testing modalities used to identify RET alterations. In addition, they discuss how the treatment landscape for these patients has changed in recent years, reviewing data from the recent ARROW and LIBRETTO-001 trials.

Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy

Does Antibiotic Exposure Affect Response to First-Line Chemoimmunotherapy in Patients With NSCLC?

In an international, multicenter study, researchers evaluated the impact of prior and concurrent antibiotic exposure in a cohort of patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy combinations. In contrast to what has been reported in patients...

Lung Cancer

Does Sparing the Hippocampus During Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation for SCLC Help to Preserve Cognitive Function?

In the Spanish phase III PREMER trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Rodríguez de Dios et al found that hippocampal avoidance during prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) was associated with better preservation of cognitive function vs PCI alone and ...

Lung Cancer

Hypofractionated Image-Guided vs Conventional Radiotherapy in Patients With Stage II/III NSCLC Ineligible for Concurrent Chemoradiation

In a phase III trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Puneeth Iyengar, MD, PhD, and colleagues found that accelerated hypofractionated image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) did not improve 1-year overall survival vs conventional radiotherapy in patients with stage II/III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who ...

Leukemia
Skin Cancer
Gynecologic Cancers
Kidney Cancer
Lung Cancer
Thyroid Cancer
Immunotherapy

FDA Pipeline: Reviews for Agents in Lung Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Kidney Cancer, and More

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted applications for agents aiming to treat non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), differentiated thyroid cancer, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), hypersensitive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), mucosal melanoma, and endometrial carcinoma....

Lung Cancer
Genomics/Genetics

Amivantamab for Patients With EGFR Exon 20 Insertion–Mutated NSCLC After Disease Progression on Platinum Therapy

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Keunchil Park, MD, PhD, and colleagues, amivantamab-vmjw given at the selected phase II dose in a phase I trial (CHRYSALIS) produced durable responses in patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion–mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease...

Lung Cancer
Breast Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Health-Care Policy
Legislation

Evaluation of Baseline Cancer Mortality Risk in Medicaid Expansion and Nonexpansion States

In a study of National Cancer Database data reported in a research letter in JAMA Oncology, Salazar et al found little difference in baseline cancer mortality rates between U.S. states that expanded Medicaid enrollment and nonexpansion states prior to expansion in 2009 and immediately following...

Lung Cancer

NRG-LU001 Trial: Addition of Metformin to Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced NSCLC

In the phase II NRG-LU001 trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Skinner et al found that the addition of metformin to concurrent chemoradiation did not improve progression-free survival or overall survival at 1 year in patients with unresectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Study...

Lung Cancer
COVID-19

Lung Cancer Screening Rates Improved in 19 States Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic

A new population-based study showed that although national lung cancer screening rates decreased in some states, 19 states actually experienced significant improvements in screening rates despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall lung cancer screening rates remained low and unchanged, according to...

Lung Cancer

Addition of Metformin to Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced NSCLC

As reported in JAMA Oncology by Tsakiridis et al, the Canadian phase II OCOG-ALMERA trial, which was closed early due to slow accrual, showed that the addition of metformin to chemoradiation therapy was associated with worse outcomes in patients with unresected locally advanced non­–small cell lung ...

Lung Cancer

Lorlatinib for Metastatic ALK-Positive NSCLC

On March 3, 2021, lorlatinib was granted regular approval for treatment of patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ALK-positive tumors as detected by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved test.1,2 The FDA simultaneously approved the Ventana ALK (D5F3) CDx Assay ...

Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy

Addition of Ipilimumab to Nivolumab in Previously Treated, Immunotherapy-Naive Patients With Stage IV Squamous NSCLC

As reported in JAMA Oncology by Scott N. Gettinger, MD, and colleagues, the phase III Lung Cancer Master Protocol S1400I trial showed no improvement in overall survival with the addition of ipilimumab to nivolumab in previously treated, immune checkpoint inhibitor–naive patients with stage IV...

Lung Cancer
Genomics/Genetics

Study Identifies MET Amplification as a Driver for Some Non–Small Cell Lung Cancers

A study published by D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, and colleagues in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology has helped to define MET amplification as a rare but potentially actionable driver for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dr. Camidge said many of the major developments in the treatment of NSCLC have ...

Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy

Adding Perioperative Durvalumab to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Stage IIIA NSCLC

In a Swiss phase II trial (SAKK 16/14) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Rothschild et al found that the addition of perioperative durvalumab to neoadjuvant cisplatin/docetaxel resulted in a high major pathologic response rate and an event-free survival rate of 73% in patients with...

Lung Cancer
Genomics/Genetics

Consensus Statement From IASLC on Liquid Biopsy for Advanced NSCLC

As reported in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology by Christian Rolfo, MD, PhD, and colleagues, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) has issued a consensus statement on the use of liquid biopsy in advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Select recommendations are...

Lung Cancer

Does the Presence of Neuronal Autoantibodies Contribute to Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Lung Cancer?

In a German prospective cross-sectional study reported in JAMA Oncology, Bartels et al found that a high proportion of patients with lung cancer had neuronal antibodies that may be associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment. As stated by the investigators, “Paraneoplastic neurological...

Lung Cancer
Genomics/Genetics
Immunotherapy

Expert Point of View: Edward B. Garon, MD, MS

Invited discussant of the BOOSTER trial,1 Edward B. Garon, MD, MS, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, said the study’s research question is appropriate, since osimertinib was established...

Lung Cancer
Genomics/Genetics
Immunotherapy

Study Finds Bevacizumab Offers No Boost to Second-Line Osimertinib in EGFR T790M–Mutated Lung Cancer

For the second-line treatment of advanced EGFR T790M–mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the performance of osimertinib alone was not found to be different from that of osimertinib plus bevacizumab in the phase II ETOP 10-16 ­BOOSTER trial, reported at a European Society for Medical...

Lung Cancer
Genomics/Genetics
Immunotherapy

Expert Point of View: Nicolas Girard, MD, PhD

Invited discussant Nicolas Girard, MD, PhD, of the Curie Institute, Paris, said, “A major challenge in NSCLC is what happens when osimertinib resistance develops.” “A key takeaway point from this study is that the efficacy is driven by resistance mechanism. The overall response rate was 47% in the ...

Lung Cancer
Genomics/Genetics
Immunotherapy

Amivantamab/Lazertinib Combination May Overcome Osimertinib Resistance in Patients With EGFR-Positive NSCLC

Combination targeting of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with amivantamab/lazertinib achieved durable responses in more than one-third of chemotherapy-naive patients with EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that had progressed on osimertinib, according to a cohort analysis of the ...

Genomics/Genetics
Colorectal Cancer
Lung Cancer

Mechanisms of Acquired Resistance to KRAS G12C Inhibition in Patients With Cancer

In a study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Awad et al identified potential mechanisms of acquired resistance to the KRAS G12C inhibitor adagrasib in patients receiving the agent for treatment of KRAS G12C–mutant cancers. As noted by the investigators, clinical trials of the KRAS...

Lung Cancer

Emerging Reasons for Optimism in Lung Cancer

Despite public smoking cessation initiatives and improved methods for early detection and treatment, lung cancer persists as the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States. However, over the past decade, smoking cessation efforts, increased screening, and new...

Lung Cancer

Sotorasib: Subgroup Analysis of Phase II Trial Shows Activity With Breakthrough KRAS Inhibitor in Lung Cancer

The breakthrough KRAS-specific inhibitor sotorasib achieved responses in patients with KRAS G12C–mutated non–small lung cancer (NSCLC) who had experienced disease progression on platinum-based chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or both treatments. The objective response rate was 37.1%, and responses...

lung cancer
immunotherapy

Martin Reck, MD, PhD, on NSCLC: Nivolumab, Ipilimumab, and Chemotherapy for Advanced Disease

Martin Reck, MD, PhD, of LungenClinic, discusses a 2-year update of the CheckMate 9LA study, which sought to determine whether nivolumab plus ipilimumab combined with two cycles of chemotherapy is more effective than four cycles of chemotherapy alone as a first-line treatment for patients with stage IV non–small cell lung cancer (Abstract 9000).

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