Research on lung cancer detection and treatment. Covers microbial predictors of immunotherapy, MRI detection, microplastics, and RAS-mutant drugs.
Researchers have developed a simple and rapid device to detect volatile organic compounds on the breath, demonstrating potential for early lung cancer detection. The device can discriminate different kinds and concentrations of cancer-related biomarkers with high accuracy.
Researchers found that rare EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have distinct impacts on disease outcome and therapy response. Classic EGFR mutations were associated with better overall survival and higher TKI therapy response rates compared to rare mutations, which were linked to tobacco smoking and poorer prognosis.
The NELSON trial found that individuals with better health profiles and younger age were less likely to participate, but the study's findings remain relevant due to modest differences. The trial showed a higher mortality rate among eligible non-participants compared to participants.
Researchers found elevated levels of malignant mesothelioma cases in southern Nevada counties due to environmental exposure to carcinogenic mineral fibers. The incidence is higher in locations with known industrial exposure, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1 in affected counties.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that SapC-DOPS can selectively target and kill lung cancer cells while sparing normal cells. The nanovesicle delivery system has shown promising results in animal models and human cell cultures, offering hope for a targeted treatment option for this deadly disease.
A recent retrospective study found that Lung-RADS guidelines generated fewer false-positives than the National Lung Screening Trial, reducing unnecessary follow-up testing. The guidelines provide structured reporting tools for practices to benchmark performance and improve lung cancer screening's cost-effectiveness.
Using Lung Imaging Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS) criteria may reduce false positives in low-dose CT lung screenings by raising the nodule size cutoff. However, this comes at the cost of reduced sensitivity.
A recent study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that patients with a prior cancer diagnosis have similar clinical outcomes to those without a history of cancer. The researchers studied over 102,000 patients and found that these patients had better overall survival and lung cancer-specific survival rates.
A package of scientific papers reveals that private wells in many US states and parts of Canada are contaminated with arsenic, threatening public health. The reports highlight the need for better regulation and mitigation measures due to low levels of oversight and inadequate measures.
A new report from the American Cancer Society finds that lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in females in developed countries. The tobacco epidemic in women is cited as a major factor contributing to this shift.
Health economics calculations for targeted anti-cancer therapies are often based on assumptions that can change when re-examined. Adjusting these assumptions can significantly alter the cost-effectiveness ratio, making treatments seem more or less viable.
A retrospective cohort study found that metformin use was associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer in diabetic patients who had never smoked. Nonsmokers taking metformin for five years or longer showed a 52% reduction in lung cancer risk, but this finding was not statistically significant.
Researchers at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute found that low levels of tristetraprolin (TTP) protein are associated with more aggressive tumors and poorer prognosis in breast and lung cancer patients. A network of 50 genes linked to TTP is present in various tumor types, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies.
Researchers identified a link between a PARK2 gene mutation and familial lung cancer, implicating the mutation as a genetic susceptibility factor. The findings suggest potential targeted therapies for individuals with this mutation variant.
A study found that multiplexed genetic screening for EGFR and ALK gene rearrangements followed by molecularly-guided treatment is cost-effective compared to standard chemotherapy. The approach offers better outcomes in terms of quality-adjusted life years gained and life-years, making it a valuable option for patients with NSCLC.
A study from Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that an existing epigenetic drug can increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have BRG1 or EGFR mutations. This breakthrough suggests a new approach to precision medicine in cancer treatment.
Moffitt researchers identify a key protein pathway involved in the spread of lung cancer, including beta-arrestin-1 and E2F1. Blocking this pathway may offer new therapeutic strategies to combat lung cancer metastasis.
Researchers found that a protein called FADD picks up a phosphate for a specific amino acid when KRAS is active, and that blocking this process can prevent tumors from forming. A CK1-alpha inhibitor is currently being developed as a potential treatment for lung cancer caused by KRAS mutations.
Researchers at the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center have identified pyruvate carboxylase as a key enzyme in lung cancer cell growth and survival. The study suggests that inhibiting this enzyme could lead to novel drug development for treating lung cancer, offering new hope for improving current treatment options.
According to the study, death rates from lung cancer are predicted to exceed those for breast cancer among European women in 2015. The rate of cancer deaths is expected to decline overall, with notable exceptions such as lung and pancreatic cancer.
A team of researchers has developed a platform to rapidly identify effective drug combinations for lung cancer patients with resistant tumors. The NFCR-supported study uses cells taken from patient tumors and treats them with various drug combinations to find the most effective treatments.
A new study identifies pyruvate carboxylase as a key metabolic enzyme that drives proliferation in non-small cell lung cancer. Elevated PC expression was found in cancerous tissues and decreased growth rates when PC was reduced or inhibited.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a method to amplify gene samples containing damaged DNA adducts, which are common in cancer. This breakthrough could enable the analysis of molecular mechanisms involved in cancer initiation and risk factors.
A new study published in PeerJ found an inverse relationship between oxygen concentration and lung cancer incidence, with counties at higher elevations experiencing lower rates. The association was consistent across population subgroups and demographic variables, suggesting that inhaled oxygen may be a human carcinogen.
A multidisciplinary team found that adding head and neck cancer screenings to recommended lung cancer screenings could improve early detection and survival. The study suggests that people at risk for lung cancer are also at higher risk for head and neck cancer, with the five-year survival rate being over 83% when caught early.
A study of almost 75,000 US nurses found a modest increase in all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality among those working rotating night shifts for five or more years. Lung cancer mortality was also higher among women with 15 or more years of rotating night shift work.
A clinical trial combining stereotactic body radiation therapy with erlotinib improved overall and progression-free survival times for stage 4 lung cancer patients. The treatment combination increased survival rates by more than doubling, from 6-9 months to 20 months.
The American Cancer Society's annual cancer statistics report found a 22% drop in cancer mortality rates over two decades, resulting in the avoidance of more than 1.5 million cancer deaths. The report also shows substantial variation in decline rates by state, with the Northeast experiencing the largest decline and the South the smallest.
A recent article describes clinical trials targeting TRK fusions in various cancer types, including lung, breast, and melanoma. The TRK family of genes can cause cancer when improperly fused with other nearby genes.
Researchers found that lung cancer cells sever protein ties, allowing them to break loose and spread. Targeting this process could stop lung cancer from spreading by keeping cells stuck together.
Researchers discovered new gene fusions in lung cancers with worse outcomes than patients with fewer fusions. The study identified several new genetic anomalies, including those found in smokers, which could be targets for developing new treatments.
Researchers found that a high-calorie diet before tumor onset can trigger ER stress, hindering tumor growth. The study identified a specific protein, FKBP10, as a potential therapeutic target, which could selectively inhibit cancer cell proliferation without damaging healthy tissues.
Researchers used targeted NGS to identify genetic alterations in genes involved in DNA repair, cell survival, and proliferation pathways. The study found that accumulated mutations correlate with tumor progression and decreased survival rates in patients with advanced malignant lung cancer. The results highlight the potential of NGS to...
A nationwide survey of 2200 French adults reveals significant knowledge gaps about lung cancer, including misconceptions about screening, treatment options, and prognosis. The study emphasizes the need for public education to address these gaps and improve outcomes.
A new study by the American Cancer Society finds that cigarette smoking causes about three in ten cancer deaths in the United States. The study concludes that reducing smoking prevalence as rapidly as possible should be a top priority for US public health efforts to prevent future cancer deaths.
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that crizotinib significantly improves symptoms and delays cancer growth in patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The trial involved 343 previously untreated patients, showing promising results without unexpected side effects.
A new lung cancer risk model, PLCOm2012, refines decisions to screen individuals for annual CT scans, identifying a risk threshold for selecting high-risk smokers. The study found that this threshold resulted in higher sensitivity and specificity than the USPSTF criteria.
Improvements in cancer survival mean half of all people diagnosed today will survive at least 10 years, compared to a quarter 40 years ago. However, cancers like lung, stomach, and pancreatic cancer remain extremely challenging to treat.
A Women's Health Initiative study found that removing ovaries lowers the risk of pelvic organ prolapse in women after menopause. Age, rather than menopause, is a stronger predictor of the condition.
Researchers at Salk Institute develop a powerful dual-drug therapy that doubles the survival rate of mice with lung cancer and halts cancer in pancreatic cells. The treatment combines two existing drugs, Zometa and rapamycin, to successfully target KRAS mutation.
A phase I/II clinical trial has demonstrated that rociletinib, a new oral EGFR inhibitor, can respond to treatment-resistant advanced non-small cell lung cancer, including those with the T790M resistance mutation. The overall response rate was 46%, and disease control rate was 84% among patients who received the pivotal dose.
African Americans and Hispanics are less likely to receive effective radiation therapy for early-stage lung cancer, according to a study. The study highlights significant disparities in treatment options based on hospital type and insurance status.
A novel medical-imaging technology called TexRAD has been shown to enable early diagnosis of bowel-cancer patients not responding to standard cancer therapy. The technology analyzes the texture of tumors, distinguishing patients with good prognosis from those with poor prognosis.
A pooled analysis of five cohort studies found that smoking before first cancer diagnosis increases risk of developing a second smoking-related cancer. Smoking survivors have up to a 5-fold higher risk of developing a second primary smoking-associated cancer compared to non-smokers.
Researchers found that pretreatment interstitial lung disease significantly increases the risk of developing symptomatic and severe radiation pneumonitis in stage I non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy. The study's results suggest that clinicians should be cautious when considering SBRT f...
A new study from Dartmouth researchers suggests that lung cancer screening using annual low-dose CT scans can be done in a cost-effective manner, particularly for adults aged 65-75. The study found that the screening test produces $81,000 in quality-adjusted life years per dollar spent.
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that tumor-associated neutrophils stimulate T cell responses in early-stage human lung cancer. These cells produce molecules promoting inflammation, and their role is crucial for bolstering anti-tumor immune responses.
A new analysis of NLST results concludes that CT lung screening is cost-effective in aging smokers, but its implementation will depend on various factors. The ratio of costs per quality-adjusted life-year added was $81,000, below the $100,000 threshold.
A risk stratification model based on lymph node characteristics confirms the true lack of lung cancer in sampled nodes. The model categorizes low-risk nodes with a high chance of being truly negative, while high-risk nodes have a significant false-negative rate.
Patients with emergency-diagnosed lung cancer reported difficulties in seeing their general practitioner (GP), including lack of confidence and fear of diagnosis. Nearly half of the patients delayed seeking medical attention for over 12 weeks, highlighting the need for improved patient education and rapid-access diagnostic clinics.
A team of researchers has made a breakthrough in early diagnosis of invasive cancers, detecting lung cancer in patients at risk through circulating cancer cells in their bloodstream. This method could enable early surgical intervention and potentially improve patient survival.
Research shows that primary care providers who know guideline recommendations for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening are more likely to order LDCT for high-risk individuals. This knowledge gap is highlighted by a survey of over 200 primary care providers, which found that 48% knew three or more guideline components.
Research reveals that minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) and adenocarcinoma in-situ (AIS) lung cancer patients have comparable five-year disease-free and overall survival rates of 97.7%. This finding suggests that tumor sub-classification may not provide additional prognostic information for patients with tumors ≤3 cm in size.
Research found that post-operative radiation therapy improved overall survival for patients with resected NSCLC, with a median survival time of 42 months compared to 38 months without PORT. Factors associated with better survival included female gender, adenocarcinoma histology, and younger age.
A 10-year analysis of data from an institutional patient registry indicates that 79% of tumors are controlled locally for early stage lung cancer patients treated with SBRT. The treatment resulted in minimal toxicity, with no grade 4 or 5 events recorded.
A study analyzing Medicare claims found that biopsies accounted for 43.1% of $38.3 million in diagnostic costs for patients with ultimately negative lung cancer diagnoses. Lung biopsies were also the most expensive test, with a median cost of $3,784 and an average cost including complications of $37,745.
Researchers found that erlotinib, a targeted drug for advanced-stage lung cancer, can increase the aggressiveness of tumors in early-stage patients, leading to accelerated growth and decreased survival rates. The study suggests combining an EGFR inhibitor with a Notch inhibitor may overcome this effect.
A European multicenter harmonization study reveals that standardized semi-quantitative anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) IHC is reliable and comparable to FISH testing for detecting ALK protein expression. The study showed 100% concordance among institutions on 15 well-characterized NSCLC specimens, making IHC a potential stand-alone test.
A novel software application, CANARY, can automatically analyze high-resolution CT images to classify early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients into risk groups. The tool was developed at Mayo Clinic and demonstrated accurate stratification of patients into categories with different 5-year disease-free survival outcomes.
Researchers at UTMB have discovered three small-molecule compounds that activate Bax and induce high levels of cell death in lung cancer cells without harming noncancerous tissues. These findings represent a new class of anticancer drugs with a unique therapeutic target for the treatment of cancers expressing Bax, including lung cancer.