Lung Cancer

Precise mediastinal staging of non-small-cell lung cancer is extremely important, as mediastinal lymph node metastases generally indicate unresectable disease. Reliance on computed tomography (CT) and positron-emission tomography (PET) alone to stage and determine resectability is limited by false-positive results. Whenever possible, pathologic confirmation of metastases is desirable. Mediastinoscopy and transbronchial fine-needle aspiration are widely established but imperfect modalities. Endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has emerged as a diagnostic and staging tool because of its safety, accuracy, and patient convenience. We reviewed 13 prospective studies evaluating the comparative performance of EUS for staging lung cancer. We conclude that EUS is a valuable staging modality. Further studies of the role of EUS compared to other modalities such as integrated PET/CT and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) are forthcoming.

Precise mediastinal staging of non-small-cell lung cancer is extremely important, as mediastinal lymph node metastases generally indicate unresectable disease. Reliance on computed tomography (CT) and positron-emission tomography (PET) alone to stage and determine resectability is limited by false-positive results. Whenever possible, pathologic confirmation of metastases is desirable. Mediastinoscopy and transbronchial fine-needle aspiration are widely established but imperfect modalities. Endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has emerged as a diagnostic and staging tool because of its safety, accuracy, and patient convenience. We reviewed 13 prospective studies evaluating the comparative performance of EUS for staging lung cancer. We conclude that EUS is a valuable staging modality. Further studies of the role of EUS compared to other modalities such as integrated PET/CT and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) are forthcoming.

Clinical trials may be running out of volunteers, according to a report at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2006 meeting

Lung and bronchus cancer rates have declined in California at a faster rate than in the United States as a whole, mirroring a decline in tobacco consumption and helping to validate anti-tobacco efforts aimed primarily at changing societal norms regarding smoking.

The US Justice Department's lawsuit against the major tobacco companies ended with more of a whimper than a bang. A federal judge found that the companies engaged in a decades-long conspiracy to deceive Americans about the dangers of smoking cigarettes but said that a 2005 ruling by a federal appeals court severely limited the penalties she could impose.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States. A significant number of patients present with disease involving mediastinal lymph nodes. As survival after surgery alone for stage III disease is poor, radiation therapy and chemotherapy have been evaluated in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings to improve outcomes. The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in the subgroup of patients with N2 disease is uncertain. Small randomized trials enrolling patients with stage III disease have shown a benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy over surgery alone. Whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy is superior to adjuvant chemotherapy is under investigation. Furthermore, whether neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is superior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is controversial, and few randomized studies comparing these approaches have been reported. Nevertheless, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy appears to be associated with higher rates of resection, higher rates of clearance of mediastinal nodal disease, and better local/regional control. The use of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) has declined since the publication of the 1998 meta-analysis suggested a detriment in survival with this strategy. However, radiation techniques are improving and emerging data support the use of carefully delivered PORT. Finally, it remains unclear whether surgical resection offers an advantage over definitive chemoradiotherapy alone for stage III disease. In summary, locally advanced NSCLC remains a formidable challenge with few cures, and optimal treatment requires the careful use of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

The Maryland-based 20/20 GeneSystems, Inc ("20/20") announced study results showing that its multibiomarker blood test may be able to detect non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) significantly earlier and with better accuracy than computed tomography (CT) scans, the most advanced technique in current use for detecting the disease.

Sanofi-Aventis announced that a meta-analysis performed on seven clinical trials in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed that patients receiving docetaxel (Taxotere) had demonstrated overall survival and less febrile neutropenia than those treated with vinca alkaloid (vinorelbine or vindesine) regimens.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States. A significant number of patients present with disease involving mediastinal lymph nodes. As survival after surgery alone for stage III disease is poor, radiation therapy and chemotherapy have been evaluated in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings to improve outcomes. The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in the subgroup of patients with N2 disease is uncertain. Small randomized trials enrolling patients with stage III disease have shown a benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy over surgery alone. Whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy is superior to adjuvant chemotherapy is under investigation. Furthermore, whether neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is superior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is controversial, and few randomized studies comparing these approaches have been reported. Nevertheless, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy appears to be associated with higher rates of resection, higher rates of clearance of mediastinal nodal disease, and better local/regional control. The use of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) has declined since the publication of the 1998 meta-analysis suggested a detriment in survival with this strategy. However, radiation techniques are improving and emerging data support the use of carefully delivered PORT. Finally, it remains unclear whether surgical resection offers an advantage over definitive chemoradiotherapy alone for stage III disease. In summary, locally advanced NSCLC remains a formidable challenge with few cures, and optimal treatment requires the careful use of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

In small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), a new anthracycline amrubicin demonstrated significant activity, both in patients sensitive to and refractory to previous chemotherapy

Sunitinib (Sutent), which blocks several tumor tyrosine kinase targets, and sorafenib (Nexavar), which targets the tumor Raf/MEK/ERK pathway, are both active in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to phase II studies

In the treatment of recurrent or refractory non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the addition of bevacizumab (Avastin) to either chemotherapy or erlotinib (Tarceva) was associated with a trend toward improved progression-free and overall survival in a phase II study

Talabostat (PT-100, Point Therapeutics), an oral, small-molecule inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) fast-tracked by the FDA for stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer, also looks promising in salvage regimens for patients with advanced melanoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL

Bronchoscopy, which is routinely used when there is suspicion of lung cancer, has a sensitivity ranging from 30% to 70%. Now, a gene expression microarray added to bronchoscopy has dramatically increased that figure, detecting 95% of lung cancers in initial studies with a high-risk population.

Targeted therapy shows promise in extending survival in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but trial results are mixed and much further work needs to be done. One important next step is research on selecting patients according to the target protein, said Paul Bunn, MD, director of the University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center in Aurora.

According to a new multicenter study, the drug sunitinib malate (Sutent) is more effective than the current standard cytokine treatment given as initial therapy for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The study was presented at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Atlanta.

Abraxis BioScience Inc presented data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting from multiple phase II studies with paclitaxel albumin-bound particles for injectable suspension (Abraxane) as first-line treatment for late-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Lung cancer is estimated to be the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women in 2006, and the leading cause of cancer mortality. Non-small-cell lung cancer represents the majority of such cases. Most of these patients have locally advanced disease at presentation and are not eligible for curative resection. For the minority of patients who are technically resectable at presentation, lobectomy or pneumonectomy and pathologic mediastinal nodal staging offer the best overall survival. The high rate of comorbid medical illness and poor baseline pulmonary function in this population, however, make many such early-stage patients medically inoperable. For these patients, conventional single-modality radiotherapy has been the primary definitive treatment option, as discussed in part 1 of this article, which appeared in last month's issue. Numerous retrospective reports demonstrate long-term disease-free and overall survival data that are modestly superior to that expected after observation, but both local and distant failure continue to be significant risks. Investigation of radiotherapy dose escalation is ongoing, in an effort to improve local control while maintaining minimal toxicity. Additionally, emerging evidence suggests that new modalities, such as stereotactic radiosurgery and radiofrequency ablation, may also be potentially curative treatment alternatives. These modalities are addressed in part 2.

Lung cancer is estimated to be the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women in 2006, and the leading cause of cancer mortality. Non-small-cell lung cancer represents the majority of such cases. Most of these patients have locally advanced disease at presentation and are not eligible for curative resection. For the minority of patients who are technically resectable at presentation, lobectomy or pneumonectomy and pathologic mediastinal nodal staging offer the best overall survival. The high rate of comorbid medical illness and poor baseline pulmonary function in this population, however, make many such early-stage patients medically inoperable. For these patients, conventional single-modality radiotherapy has been the primary definitive treatment option, as discussed in part 1 of this article, which appeared in last month's issue. Numerous retrospective reports demonstrate long-term disease-free and overall survival data that are modestly superior to that expected after observation, but both local and distant failure continue to be significant risks. Investigation of radiotherapy dose escalation is ongoing, in an effort to improve local control while maintaining minimal toxicity. Additionally, emerging evidence suggests that new modalities, such as stereotactic radiosurgery and radiofrequency ablation, may also be potentially curative treatment alternatives. These modalities are addressed in part 2.

Lung cancer is estimated to be the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women in 2006, and the leading cause of cancer mortality. Non-small-cell lung cancer represents the majority of such cases. Most of these patients have locally advanced disease at presentation and are not eligible for curative resection. For the minority of patients who are technically resectable at presentation, lobectomy or pneumonectomy and pathologic mediastinal nodal staging offer the best overall survival. The high rate of comorbid medical illness and poor baseline pulmonary function in this population, however, make many such early-stage patients medically inoperable. For these patients, conventional single-modality radiotherapy has been the primary definitive treatment option, as discussed in part 1 of this article, which appeared in last month's issue. Numerous retrospective reports demonstrate long-term disease-free and overall survival data that are modestly superior to that expected after observation, but both local and distant failure continue to be significant risks. Investigation of radiotherapy dose escalation is ongoing, in an effort to improve local control while maintaining minimal toxicity. Additionally, emerging evidence suggests that new modalities, such as stereotactic radiosurgery and radiofrequency ablation, may also be potentially curative treatment alternatives. These modalities are addressed in part 2.

Image-guided thermal ablation can provide much needed relief of chronic pain in chest wall tumor patients. According to research presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology (abstract 168), thermal ablation not only relieves pain but may even contribute to longer survival. In addition, ablation may have synergistic effects with radiation therapy.

Dramatic improvements in high-resolution, or spiral, CT imaging over the past decade have created widespread and increasing demand for both lung and cardiac screening, two procedures that could and probably should be combined, according to David Yankelevitz, MD, professor of radiology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York.

The Lung Cancer Alliance applauded a recent court decision on the rights of terminally ill cancer patients to take experimental drugs. In 2003, The Abigail Alliance and the Washington Legal Foundation filed suit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to give terminally ill cancer patients access to drugs that have passed initial safety tests but not the full regalia of clinical trials normally required for approval.

Smoking history contributes to poor outcomes in the treatment of lung cancer, according to a new study. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who have never smoked before have better overall survival rates and respond better to chemotherapy than current or former smokers.

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pfizer's antismoking pill, varenicline (Chantix). The first new prescription medication approved for smoking cessation in nearly a decade, varenicline received priority review designation by the FDA because of its potential to be a significant therapeutic advance over existing therapies.