Research on lung cancer detection and treatment. Covers microbial predictors of immunotherapy, MRI detection, microplastics, and RAS-mutant drugs.
Researchers at Yale Cancer Center discovered that a small amount of the PD-L1 biomarker can predict long-term survival benefits from using pembrolizumab in patients with advanced lung cancer. The study found that overall survival was about 99% one year after discontinuing treatment, and ranged from 23% to 35% three years after treatment.
A team of researchers has identified new biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer by analyzing repetitive DNA regions. These markers show consistent expression in both healthy cells and cancerous tumors, with potential applications for more accurate diagnoses and treatments.
A study of over 925,000 adults with new cancer diagnoses found that Medicaid expansion improved insurance status, led to earlier cancer stage detection, and resulted in timely treatment. The findings suggest a positive association between Medicaid expansion and cancer care outcomes.
Researchers identified a molecule that maintains a healthy balance of airway basal stem cells and mature mucociliary cells, potentially leading to new treatments for lung cancer. The compound, Wnt Inhibitor Compound 1 (WIC1), has been shown to limit the proliferation of basal stem cells and restore balance in human cells.
Thoracic radiation therapy increases fatigue and difficulty breathing in cancer patients, but engaging in physical activity prior to treatment may help improve these symptoms over time. High levels of physical activity are associated with concurrent improvements in fatigue and shortness of breath.
Researchers discovered that combining alectinib with EGFR-inhibitors prevents CNS metastasis progression in mouse model. This combination treatment overcomes alectinib resistance, offering potential novel therapies for NSCLC and secondary cancers.
A Phase 2 clinical trial demonstrated improved localization and complete removal of small and peripheral lesions in 12% of patients. The treatment, OTL38, targets adenocarcinomas of the lung and has received fast-track designation for both lung and ovarian cancer indications.
A recent study across 40 countries found higher lung cancer rates in young women compared to men, driven by a rise in adenocarcinoma. Historically, lung cancer was more prevalent among men due to earlier smoking habits, but the gap is narrowing in some regions.
Researchers at USC have developed a new imaging technique called spectrally encoded enhanced representations (SEER) that provides greater clarity and works up to 67 times faster than existing methods. This technology has the potential to revolutionize disease diagnosis, particularly in detecting lung cancer and damage from pollutants.
Researchers found niche mutations to have higher mortality than EGFR, but similar mortality to KRAS mutations. Next-generation sequencing helps identify a large panel of mutations for precise treatment selection.
A study by the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center shows that a lung cancer screening decision aid delivered through tobacco quitlines effectively reaches a screening-eligible population and results in informed decisions about lung cancer screening. The decision aid, which explains eligibility, risks, and benefits, encoura...
A study found that people who quit smoking have more genetically healthy lung cells than current smokers, with a lower risk of developing into cancer. These 'protective cells' can help protect against lung cancer and may even allow new, healthy cells to actively replenish the lining of airways.
Chronic exposure to interleukin-1-beta promotes lung cancer metastasis by altering gene expression, enabling cancer cells to adopt a phenotype that facilitates distance organ colonization. The study provides new insights into the role of chronic inflammation in tumor progression and metastasis.
A new tumor-highlighting technology called OTL38 enhances the visualization of lung cancer tissue, improving patient outcomes. Researchers found that OTL38 helped identify 10 additional cancers in 7 patients and improved margins for 26% of patients.
A study published in the British Journal of General Practice found an increase in shortness of breath and cough as the first symptoms reported by patients diagnosed with lung cancer. This suggests earlier detection, possibly due to awareness campaigns.
Researchers have discovered that inhibiting p38 reduces the growth of lung tumors in genetic mouse models. Lower levels of p38 in tumors are associated with a more favorable prognosis for patients.
The American Cancer Society's annual report on cancer rates and trends shows a steady 26-year decline in overall cancer mortality, with long-term drops in lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. Lung cancer death rates have dropped by 51% since 1990, with the most rapid progress in recent years.
Restoring p53 using synthetic mRNA nanoparticles delays the growth of lung and liver cancer cells and makes them susceptible to available cancer drugs. The approach may also make tumors more vulnerable to cancer drugs known as mTOR inhibitors.
A University of Kentucky-led coalition is partnering with employers to connect men in rural Kentucky with critical lung cancer prevention and control resources. The worksite intervention targets predominantly male employees in eight rural counties, providing tobacco treatment, lung cancer screenings, and smoke-free workplace policies.
The study found that higher doses of radiation and adding the drug cetuximab did not improve patient survival compared to standard of care chemoradiation. The 5-year overall survival estimate for the standard radiation dose arm was 32.1%, amongst the highest for Stage III NSCLC.
The pooled analysis of three clinical trials shows entrectinib is effective in 77% of patients with ROS1+ NSCLC and 57% of patients with NTRK+ NSCLC, with significant response rates and progression-free survival times. Entrectinib's ability to penetrate brain metastases makes it a promising treatment for these patients.
A community-based program enables patients to donate tumor tissue and blood samples for research, allowing researchers to study genetic and molecular makeup of tumors after treatment failure. Analysis reveals similar DNA mutations and varying protein biomarker expression among samples from the same patient.
Researchers identified novel respiratory cell changes in smokers and pre-cancerous tissue, which may lead to new therapies for lung cancer prevention. The study used single-cell genomics to analyze gene expression in cells from never and current smokers.
A new study found wide variations in surgery rates for early-stage lung cancer across US counties, with socioeconomic and healthcare delivery factors contributing to the gap. Counties with higher poverty rates, non-Hispanic black populations, and lower surgeon-to-population ratios had lower surgery rates.
A new study found that depression affects approximately one-third of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients, leading to severe symptoms such as pain, hopelessness, and impaired day-to-day functioning.
A study found that AI can accurately measure coronary artery calcium, a marker of heart disease, in patients getting lung cancer screening CT scans. The system uses deep learning to automate the assessment, making it easier for doctors to decide on preventative therapy.
Researchers at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center found TBK1 and its adaptor protein contribute to tumorigenesis when activated by growth factors. Targeting TBK1 inhibits tumor growth and promotes antitumor immunity in mouse models.
Researchers have found that anti-cancer agents with low-molecular weights cannot reach tumors effectively due to obstructed small arteries. This limits the use of conventional chemotherapy and highlights the need for new treatments, according to Professor Tetsuya Kodama.
Researchers developed nanoparticles that can deliver immunostimulants via inhalation to induce systemic immune response against lung cancer. The treatment converted cold tumors to hot, immune-responsive tumors and showed significant regression of tumors in both lungs and prolonged survival of mice.
Researchers aim to reduce malnutrition among lung cancer patients by providing nutritional counseling and medically tailored meals. The study, funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, will recruit up to 150 newly diagnosed patients with lung cancer across four medical centers.
A deep convolutional neural network-based software improved radiologist detection of malignant lung nodules by 70.3%, reducing false positives to 0.18 per X-ray. The study suggests machine learning methods can help overcome challenges in detecting lung lesions on chest X-rays.
Researchers at Stanford and UC-San Francisco have developed an experimental drug that targets lung cancer by neutralizing a single protein, slowing its growth. The decoy version of the receptor protein was engineered to preferentially bind to the protein, repelling other proteins involved in tumor growth.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a new guidance statement for colorectal cancer screening in average-risk adults between 50 and 75 years old. The guidance suggests that physicians select the most suitable screening test for each patient based on factors such as benefits, harms, costs, availability, frequency, and p...
Researchers analyzed BTB and BBB changes in NSCLC brain metastasis over time, revealing key changes including loss of aquaporin-4 and zona occludens-1. These findings provide a comprehensive analysis of the transition of the blood-brain barrier to the blood-tumor barrier.
A high-fiber and yogurt-rich diet has been shown to reduce lung cancer risk by 33% compared to a low-fiber diet. The study's findings support the US Dietary Guidelines recommending a high fiber and yogurt diet for cardiovascular health and gastrointestinal cancer prevention.
Screening for ever-smokers with high lung cancer risk and long life-expectancy can prevent more deaths than current guidelines. A new study suggests using gains in life expectancy as a criterion to select candidates for screening, which could improve the balance of benefits and harms.
A study of over 14,000 participants found associations between specific cigarette characteristics and lung cancer outcomes. Researchers analyzed data from a lung screening trial to investigate the impact of cigarette filter status, tar level, and menthol flavor on lung cancer outcomes.
A new study presented at the IASLC 2019 North America Conference on Lung Cancer found that lung cancer screening guidelines are inadequate to diagnose patients who contract lung cancer from occupational exposure, including first responders. Low-dose computed tomography was shown to detect disease earlier in this population.
Researchers have discovered that patients' blood samples and tumour biopsies can reveal early signs of lung cancer spreading and becoming untreatable. The TRACERx project has identified possible causes of recurrence and developed new techniques to predict tumour aggression.
A study has identified key proteins in signaling pathways that control tumor growth in lung tissue, paving the way for personalized cancer treatment and new drug development. The research, published in Cell, also reveals new proteins activated by cancer mutations contributing to tumor growth.
A 40-year epidemiological study found that cancer incidence and mortality rates often move in concert for certain cancers, such as lung cancer, indicating a desirable trend. However, other cancers like thyroid, kidney, and melanoma show rising incidence rates with stagnant mortality rates, suggesting overdiagnosis may be at play
The breast cancer death rate has slowed in recent years, but the gap between black and white women remains significant. Breast cancer incidence rates have continued to rise, with a greater increase seen in hormone receptor-positive disease.
A phase II trial found that adding radiation therapy to immunotherapy increases progression-free survival for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. T cells played a key role in the immune response, with certain markers predicting longer disease-free periods.
Researchers found that adding durvalumab to radiation and chemotherapy significantly decreased the recurrence of lung cancer in both chest and distant sites, with new lesions occurring primarily in the brain. This suggests that aggressive local therapies may further extend survival for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Researchers at Medical College of Georgia have found a link between high levels of TIMP-1 and IL-6, two molecules that contribute to chemotherapy resistance in non-small cell lung cancer. The study's findings suggest that elevated levels of these molecules may be an indicator of poor prognosis and a potential target for improving treat...
A study by VA Portland Health Care System and Oregon Health and Science University researchers found that early palliative care can increase survival in patients with advanced lung cancer. The study analyzed data on over 23,000 veterans and showed that palliative care provided shortly after diagnosis can lead to improved survival rates.
A new electronic nose can identify lung cancer patients who will respond to immunotherapy with 85% accuracy, outperforming the current gold standard of immunohistochemistry. The non-invasive test detects chemicals in patient breath and provides instant feedback, potentially avoiding ineffective treatment and side effects.
Scientists have identified distinctive characteristics of KRAS-positive lung cancers that can be targeted to inhibit growth, offering a new approach for personalized therapy. The study suggests exploring co-existing mutations as an alternative to traditional therapies.
Researchers developed a new classification method using artificial intelligence to identify primary cancerous tissue in head and neck cancers. The method achieved an accuracy of over 99% in distinguishing between primary lung squamous cell carcinomas and head and neck metastases, offering potential benefits for patients.
Markey researchers identify nuclear glycogen's role in cancer progression and find epigenetic connections between glycogen metabolism and gene expression. The study reveals new therapeutic targets to treat non-small cell lung cancers.
Patients taking nivolumab experience a significant five-fold increase in overall survival, with five-year rates of 13.4% compared to docetaxel's 2.6%. Long-term benefits and improved progression-free survival have been observed with nivolumab treatment.
The KEYNOTE-024 trial found that pembrolizumab significantly improved progression-free and overall survival in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Patients treated with pembrolizumab had a median overall survival of 26.3 months compared to 14.2 months for those on chemotherapy.
A survey of European patients with lung cancer revealed that many were unaware of or had never heard of clinical trials. Despite positive experiences by over 50%, respondents identified difficulties in accessing trials, including language barriers, limited information, and disparities across Europe.
The Impower131 Trial found that atezolizumab + chemotherapy improved overall survival by 3.9 months compared to chemotherapy alone, particularly among patients with high PD-L1 expression. Treatment-related side effects were common but manageable in both arms.
A nurse-led follow-up service has improved patient care for those with early-stage lung cancer by increasing clinic capacity, reducing waiting times, and ensuring continuity of care. The service also promotes junior medical training and is well-received by patients and the multidisciplinary team.
The NLMT trial tests eight targeted therapies tailored to specific molecular changes in cancer cells. Researchers found promising responses with single-agent targeted therapy, particularly in oncogene-addicted NSCLC, and identified potential biomarkers for further research.
A Scottish study shows that combining an autoantibody test with CT imaging can significantly decrease late-stage lung cancer diagnoses and potentially lower lung cancer-specific mortality. The EarlyCDT-Lung Test identifies high-risk individuals, allowing for earlier interventions.
A new trial found that video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) significantly reduces in-hospital complications and shortens hospital stays compared to open surgery for early-stage lung cancer patients. VATS, a minimally invasive technique, showed improved outcomes without compromising oncologic results.
A European lung cancer screening model outperformed a US model in detecting cancers, with 99% of cancers found using the European method compared to 77%. The study found that the model detected more cancers among high-risk patients and had a higher accuracy rate.
The bioMILD trial demonstrated that a blood microRNA assay, combined with low-dose CT screening, is safe and effective in enhancing lung cancer prevention. Preliminary analysis showed a significantly higher lung cancer incidence and overall mortality in subjects with positive LDCT and/or miRNA at baseline.