Lung Cancer | Tumor

CURE’s Top Stories: January 2021

February 1st 2021

Each month, we take a look back at the most popular CURE® stories. Here are the top five stories for January 2021.

‘Saved by the Bell’ Actor Dustin Diamond Dies Weeks After Lung Cancer Diagnosis

February 1st 2021

Dustin Diamond, known best for his role as “Screech” in “Saved by the Bell,” has died after receiving a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis a few weeks ago.

Decreased Funding Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Negative Impact on Lung Cancer Patient Advocacy and Support Organizations

February 1st 2021

Despite offering an increased number of services to patients, the decrease in funding as a result of the pandemic has put a strain on patient advocacy and support organizations around the world, leaving many, particularly those that specialize in the support of patients with lung cancer, in urgent need of financial support to continue to meet the increased need.

Long-Term Follow-Up Shows Keytruda Continues to Improve Survival in Patients With PD-L1–Positive Advanced NSCLC

February 1st 2021

Keytruda monotherapy continued to significantly improve overall and progression-free survival in patients with previously treated, PD-L1–positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Onivyde Shows Promise in Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer Who Become Resistant to Chemotherapy

January 31st 2021

Onivyde may offer patients with small cell lung cancer whose disease has progressed after initial chemotherapy a new treatment option, according to updated study results.

Immunotherapy May Be More Beneficial in Treating Small Cell Lung Cancer

January 30th 2021

Treatment with immuno-oncology therapies induces better responses in younger patients with small cell lung cancer, compared to older patients.

Potential New Treatment Option Shows Promise in Advanced Small Cell Lung Cancer When Combined with Single Agent Chemotherapy

January 29th 2021

Though there are currently few approved treatments for advanced, pre-treated small cell lung cancer (SCLC), this patient population may have a safe and effective new option in apatinib, according to updated data from a prospective phase 2 study.

Novel Therapy in Combination With Opdivo Shows Promise for Lung Cancer Subset

January 29th 2021

Treatment with Opdivo (nivolumab) in combination with the novel therapy BMS-986012 demonstrated a median overall survival of 18.7 months and a median progression-free survival of 2.1 months among a group of patients with relapsed/refractory small cell lung cancer.

Patients With Lung Cancer May Need More Support, Education When Making Treatment Decisions

January 29th 2021

In a survey conducted by the Cancer Support Community, 33% of patients with lung cancer reported they were somewhat or not at all involved in the decision-making process, and 66% were not as knowledgeable about their treatment options as needed to make this decision.

How Biomarkers Impact Treatment Decisions in Lung Cancer

January 28th 2021

Biomarkers play an important role in treatment decisions of many tumors, but in lung cancer they are a deciding factor between which immunotherapy is the best option.

CURE’s Clinical Trial Corner: January 2021

January 28th 2021

Here is a list of some recent trials that launched within the cancer space in January.

Chemotherapy With Immunotherapy Improves Overall Survival for Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

January 27th 2021

Tecentriq with carboplatin and etoposide led to a median overall survival rate of 12.3 months versus 10.3 months in those assigned placebo, carboplatin and etoposide, although the death rate was high at a median follow-up of 22.9 months.

Real-World Patients May Have More Side Effects to Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer Compared With Clinical Trial Data

January 20th 2021

Findings from a study focused on patient-reported experiences, found that aching joints, aching muscles and fatigue were more common than initially found in clinical trials.

Patients With Lung Cancer Subset Report Better Quality of Life, Improved Survival After Treatment with Lorbrena

January 13th 2021

Patients with ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer who received Lorbrena reported better quality of life and had longer progression-free survival than patients who received Xalkori.

Novel Therapy-Tecentriq Combo Receives Breakthrough Designation from FDA for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

January 6th 2021

The FDA based its decision on data that demonstrated that the novel therapy in combination with Tecentriq induced a higher overall response to therapy compared to Tecentriq alone in patients with PD-L1-positive non-small cell lung cancer.

Lorbrena Granted Priority Review By FDA for Treatment of Previously Untreated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Subtype

January 6th 2021

The FDA granted a priority review to the supplemental new drug application for Lorbrena for the firstline treatment of ALK-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Pulls Small Cell Lung Cancer Indication for Opdivo

January 4th 2021

The company has withdrawn the small cell lung cancer indication for Opdivo (nivolumab) based on discussions with the FDA, particularly focused on post-market studies that missed their primary endpoints of overall survival.

Communication With the Treatment Team, Self-Advocacy Play Important Roles in Small Cell Lung Cancer

January 2nd 2021

In an interview with CURE®, Dr. Wade T. Iams discussed small cell lung cancer, a subtype of lung cancer that starts from neuroendocrine cells in the lung, how different stages are treated and the potential benefits of having a treatment team to communicate with every step of the way.

Medicaid Expansion Effects Mortality for Patients with Cancer

December 23rd 2020

Mortality rate for patients with cancer decreases due to Medicaid expansion for patients with newly diagnosed breast, colorectal and lung cancer.

Immunotherapy Side Effects: Know What to Look For

December 22nd 2020

Dr. Sally J. York goes over the types of immunotherapy-related side effects, and what patients with lung cancer and their caregivers should look out for.

Investigational Therapy Granted Breakthrough Designation for Lung Cancer Subset

December 21st 2020

The decision was based on data that demonstrated sotorasib induced anticancer activity and achieved a positive benefit-risk profile in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose disease harbors a KRAS G12C mutation.

FDA Approves Tagrisso as Adjuvant Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After Tumor Resection

December 18th 2020

This approval allows Tagrisso to be used after tumor resection in non-small cell lung cancer patients with tumors that have certain epidermal growth factor receptor mutations or deletions.

Delaying Cancer Treatment May Increase Risk for Mortality

December 17th 2020

As treatment delays become more common – especially with the COVID-19 pandemic – delays as much as four weeks can impact the risk for mortality in seven different types of cancer.

Educated Patient Lung Cancer Summit On-Demand: Dec. 12, 2020

December 16th 2020

View all three sessions of the CURE Educated Patient Lung Cancer Summit here!

Making Cents of Mesothelioma

December 13th 2020

A new grant program offers financial assistance for patients with mesothelioma who must travel for cancer care.

CURE®’s Top Stories: November 2020

December 1st 2020

Each month, we take a look back at the most popular CURE® stories. Here are the top five stories for November 2020.

ALK+ Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: The Importance of Biomarker Testing

December 1st 2020

Navigating Both Cancer and a Viral Pandemic Is a Difficult Balancing Act

November 25th 2020

Living with cancer is not dissimilar to the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic is presenting all of us, but living with cancer during this pandemic is a challenge all to itself, a tough balancing act to pull off.

Rare Genetic Changes Can Make a Big Difference in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Survival

November 24th 2020

Drugs that target certain gene mutations are improving survival rates for patients with lung cancer.

New Drug Combinations Are Helping Patients With Mesothelioma Live Longer

November 24th 2020

Patients with mesothelioma are living longer thanks to new drug combinations – including the first FDA-approved regimen in 15 years.