April 18th 2024
The FDA has approved alectinib for the adjuvant treatment of patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer with tumors that are least 4 cm or node positive, as detected by an FDA-approved test.
Breaking Down Biomarkers in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case-Based Discussion for the Oncology Nurse
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Go To PER in Chicago
May 31, 2024 - June 2, 2024
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The Top 10 Oncogenic Drivers in NSCLC for 2023: What You Need to Know on Tumor Testing, Targets, and Treatment Strategies to Move the Field Forward
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Expanding the Armamentarium of Actionable Mutations in NSCLC: Uncovering the Potential of CEACAM5 as a Therapeutic Target
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Pathology Implications for CEACAM5 as a Therapeutic Target in Advanced NSCLC
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Medical Crossfire®: What Are Effective Strategies for Onco-Nurses to Improve Outcomes in Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer?
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Virtual Show Me the Data™: How HER2, HER3, and TROP2 Targeted Strategies Will Impact Evolving Paradigms in NSCLC
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42nd Annual CFS®: Innovative Cancer Therapy for Tomorrow®
November 13-15, 2024
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Community Practice Connections™: 5th Annual Precision Medicine Symposium – An Illustrated Tumor Board
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How CEACAM5 Expression Can Be Measured and Leveraged in NSCLC Care: Current Developments & Future Therapeutic Opportunities
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Medical Crossfire®: Where Are We in the World of ADCs? From HER2 to CEACAM5, TROP2, HER3, CDH6, B7H3, c-MET and Beyond!
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Community Oncology Connections™: Overcoming Barriers to Testing, Trial Access, and Equitable Care in Cancer
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22nd Annual Winter Lung Cancer Conference®
January 31, 2025 - February 2, 2025
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Dialogues With the Surgeon on Integration of Systemic Therapies in Perioperative Settings for NSCLC: Looking at EGFR, ALK, IO, and Beyond…
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Combined-Modality Therapy in Lung Cancer Yields Encouraging Results
September 1st 2001NASHVILLE,Tennessee-"The significant discovery of the 1980s was that chemoradiotherapy is better than radiation alone for treating locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer," stated Hak Choy, MD. "In the 1990s we learned that concurrent chemoradiotherapy is better than a sequential schedule. Our task now is to discover which drug regimen is best." Dr. Choy is professor and vice-chair of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Irinotecan and Taxane Regimens Tested Against SCLC
September 1st 2001NEW HAVEN, Connecticut-‘‘We’ve hit the wall in management of small- cell lung cancer (SCLC). We need a paradigm shift," John R. Murren, MD, stated. He is associate professor of medicine at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.
Chemotherapy Plus Irinotecan, Paclitaxel, Carboplatin Shows Activity
September 1st 2001CHICAGO-Preliminary results of a phase I trial of induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy with irinotecan (Camptosar), paclitaxel (Taxol), and carboplatin (Paraplatin) showed that this approach is feasible and active in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), reported Ann M. Mauer, MD. The dose-limiting toxicity when combining these three drugs with concurrent chest radiotherapy was neutropenia, and weekly delivery of the regimen was not feasible at the originally planned doses. Dr. Mauer is assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.
Biological Agents Provide Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer
September 1st 2001HOUSTON-‘‘We appear to be approaching a ceiling for benefits of cytotoxic chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). All recent randomized studies have had similar results, and there has been no clear efficacy benefit from nonplatinum combinations or triplets. Certainly for advanced disease and even for early disease, where metastases kill most patients, a paradigm shift is needed, and that shift will probably be to targeted therapy that works against specific biologic pathways," said Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD. Dr. Herbst is assistant professor of medicine and chief of the Section of Thoracic Oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
Current Clinical Trials of Epothilone B Analog (BMS-247550)
September 1st 2001BMS-247550 is a methyl, semi-synthetic analog of the natural product epothilone B. Provided to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) by Bristol-Myers Squibb, BMS-247550 was chosen for clinical development because it demonstrated
Two New Lung Cancer Studies Test Irinotecan Plus Gemcitabine
September 1st 2001TAMPA, Florida-Irinotecan (Camptosar)/gemcitabine (Gemzar) combinations are being studied in two lung cancer trials. Caio Max S. Rocha Lima, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of South Florida’s H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, presented overviews of the protocols.
Preventing Severe Esophagitis Critical in Chemoradiotherapy for Lung Cancer
August 2nd 2001PHILADELPHIA-Concurrent chemoradiotherapy seems likely to become standard therapy for treating locally advanced lung cancer. That would make preventing radiation-induced esophagitis even more important, according to Maria Werner-Wasik, MD.
Amifostine Offers Little Advantage in Small Trial of Twice-Daily Radiation Plus Chemotherapy
August 2nd 2001ST LOUIS-In a small phase II study, amifostine (Ethyol) provided little advantage in esophageal protection for patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with chemotherapy and twice-daily radiation. Results of the trial were reported by Todd H. Wasserman, MD. Dr. Wasserman is professor of radiation oncology and clinical chief, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis.
Amifostine Ameliorates Pneumonitis and Esophagitis During Radiochemotherapy
August 2nd 2001HOUSTON-Amifostine (Ethyol) can reduce the risk of acute pneumonitis and severe esophagitis associated with concurrent radiation and chemotherapy administered to patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results of a phase III study were reported by Ritsuko Komaki, MD, professor of radiation oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Amifostine Reduces Side Effects During Treatment for Advanced Lung Cancer
August 2nd 2001PIREAUS, Greece-In advanced-stage lung cancer, radiation therapy provides effective local-regional control but requires irradiation of large tissue volumes and high total tumor doses. "Bolus tumor doses higher than 60 Gy produce better local tumor control but more toxicity," Dosia Antonadou, MD, explained.
Current Clinical Trials of the Anti-VEGF Monoclonal Antibody Bevacizumab
August 1st 2001Given the well-established role of angiogenesis (or new blood vessel formation) in tumor growth and metastasis, antiangiogenic therapy, a concept first proposed by Dr. Judah Folkman,[1] has become increasingly recognized as a promising
Consensus Growing for SV40 Role in Some Mesotheliomas
July 1st 2001CHICAGO-Multiple independent laboratories have verified the presence of simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA and proteins in human mesotheliomas, brain tumors, and bone tumors, using a variety of methods of detection. This was the consensus reached by a panel of scientists at an international conference hosted by the University of Chicago.
NCI Launches Randomized Trial of Shark Cartilage in NSCLC
July 1st 2001BETHESDA, Md-Enrollment has begun in a trial of Neovastat (Aeterna Laboratories), also known as AE-941, to test the Canadian-produced shark cartilage extract in patients with unresectable stages IIIA and IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are undergoing induction chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Reanalysis Suggests Mortality Advantage for Lung Cancer Screening Screening
July 1st 2001SAN FRANCISCO-The Mayo Lung Project has been widely interpreted to be negative because it failed to demonstrate a significant reduction in lung cancer mortality among persons randomized to screening chest x-rays. But a rigorous new analysis, with mortality adjusted for cancer incidence, suggests otherwise: that mortality from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is reduced by chest x-ray screening and that public policy recommendations against screening deserve to be reconsidered.
Cancer Patient’s Family Wins Suit for Undertreatment of Pain
July 1st 2001HAYWARD, California-A California jury has awarded $1.5 million to the family of a lung cancer patient for undertreatment of his pain in the last days of his life. The suit was filed against the patient’s physician under the state’s Elder Abuse Act, since the state’s malpractice laws do not allow recompense for pain and suffering after the patient has died. The jury found that the physician’s failure to treat the pain adequately amounted to "reckless" behavior.
Epoetin Alfa Raises Quality of Life for Lung Cancer Patients
July 1st 2001SAN FRANCISCO-Weekly doses of recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin alfa [Procrit, Eprex, Erypo]) improved quality of life as well as hemoglobin levels for 154 lung cancer patients in a 16-week, nonrandomized pilot study. Self-assessments from patients at baseline, 8, and 16 weeks showed that their energy rose by 30% above baseline, activity by 30.6%, and overall quality of life by 22%.
Hemoglobin Modifier May Enhance RT in Lung Cancer
July 1st 2001SAN FRANCISCO-Used with concurrent radiation therapy after induction chemotherapy, an investigational agent that decreases hemoglobin’s oxygen-binding affinity produced good response rates and favorable projected survival rates in patients with unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Amifostine Reduces Chemoradiation Toxicities, and Improves Response
July 1st 2001SAN FRANCISCO-Amifostine (Ethyol) reduced acute pneumonitis and severe esophagitis while significantly increasing the complete response rate in patients receiving chemoradiation for inoperable stage II or III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) during a randomized phase III study. Hypotension was significantly more frequent among those receiving amifostine, although only one patient discontinued therapy because of a hypotensive episode.
Experts Explore Criteria for Lung Cancer Screening Exams
June 1st 2001NEW YORK-Researchers outlined some elements of the scaffolding needed to build a rational lung cancer screening policy at the 4th International Conference on Screening for Lung Cancer. Screening for lung cancer has become an important issue with the development of newer screening tools, such as low-dose spiral CT scans, that may permit diagnosis at an early, treatable stage.
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors in Clinical Trials
June 1st 2001With the understanding of the mechanism of malignant transformation has come the knowledge that oncogene products are frequently growth factors, growth factor receptors, or elements of growth factor signal-transduction pathways. Overexpression
Irinotecan Is a Candidate for Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy
May 1st 2001NASHVILLE, Tennessee-Irinotecan (Camptosar) is a candidate for concurrent chemoradiotherapy to treat non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because it is synergistic with platinum and is a potent radiation sensitizer, reported Hak Choy, MD, professor of radiation oncology at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. The irinotecan/platinum combination was shown to be active in NSCLC in phase II studies. A number of researchers are now working on refining irinotecan/radiotherapy approaches for NSCLC in phase I and phase II trials, Dr. Choy noted.
Project Will Screen Nuclear Fuel Workers for Lung Cancer Using CT
May 1st 2001NEW YORK-More than 6,000 nuclear fuel workers in three gaseous diffusion plants will be screened for lung cancer using single-slice helical low-dose CT scans in a project funded by the US Department of Energy, said the program’s medical director, Albert Miller, MD, Center for Biology of Natural Systems, Queens College, City University of New York.
Irinotecan Produces Responses in Small-Cell and Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
May 1st 2001NASHVILLE, Tennessee-The failure of current chemotherapy to make much of an impact on lung cancer mortality makes the need for more effective chemotherapy obvious and data on active new agents was presented at the Vanderbilt University Symposium by Alan Sandler, MD.
Proteasome Inhibitors Can Increase Efficacy of Topoisomerase Poisons in NSCLC
May 1st 2001CLEVELAND-Tinkering with NFkB has little effect on the activity of topoisomerase poisons in non-small cell-lung cancer (NSCLC), but proteasome inhibitors can increase the efficacy of drugs such as irinotecan and etoposide. Information on proteasome inhibitors was presented at the Vanderbilt University Symposium by Ram Ganapathi, MD, staff scientist at the Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Center.