Lung cancer screening and early detection were major topics of discussion at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), held in San Diego from September 7-10, and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conference in Barcelona from September 13-17. This fourth and final blog in our series of updates summarizes highlights from these discussions. 

You can read the other update blogs from these fall science meetings: 

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On Tuesday, October 8, Christine Lovly, MD, PhD, discussed the importance of clinical trials and the role of translational research in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The discussion was moderated by Misty Shields, MD, IU Health, and LUNGevity’s Amy C. Moore, PhD and VP of Global Engagement and Research Partnerships. This monthly virtual series highlights the latest discoveries and breakthroughs for SCLC.

Read time: 5 minutes.  

This is Part 3 in our series on how drugs get approved to treat lung cancer.  

Read time: 6 minutes. 

This is Part 2 of 3 in our series on how drugs get approved to treat lung cancer. Make sure to read Part 1 on the phases of clinical trials and why they are important for new drug development. 

Read time: 3 minutes.

This is Part 1 in a 3-part series explaining how new drugs and treatments get approved to treat lung cancer. Parts 2 and 3 will be published in the coming weeks.

Have you ever wondered how a new medicine or drug to treat lung cancer is brought to the people who need it? That’s what clinical trials help us do.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is an alliance of leading cancer centers across the United States working together to improve cancer care. NCCN develops evidence-based cancer care recommendations used by healthcare providers worldwide, and they release a companion version of the guidelines specifically for people with cancer and their caregivers.

Read time: 3 minutes.  

One of LUNGevity’s two flagship survivorship events, the International Lung Cancer Survivorship Conference (ILCSC), is being held virtually September 20 – 21, 2024. This is a free, online event that allows people with lung cancer and caregivers from around the world to join from the comfort of their own homes and hear from a star-studded lineup of lung cancer experts discussing the latest advances in research and treatment.  

Read time: 2 minutes.  

Traditionally, people associate getting involved in lung cancer research with enrolling in a clinical trial. But most don’t realize they can also partner with researchers behind the scenes and get involved in designing clinical trials.  

On May 16, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the accelerated approval of tarlatamab-dlle (Imdelltra®) to treat patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). 

This targeted immunotherapy, the first of its kind, is based on new technology. Tarlatamab is a bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE)—a drug with two arms that simultaneously binds to a T cell (a part of the immune system) and a tumor cell. This allows the T cell to come close enough to the tumor cell to recognize and destroy it. 

Read time: 2 minutes

Integrative oncology adds holistic approaches—such as acupuncture, nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness—into a treatment plan. Research shows these interventions can have a tremendous impact on people going through lung cancer treatment and their quality of life. Unfortunately, they are also topics riddled with myths and falsehoods. 

LUNGevity spoke to an expert to help sort out the facts from the fiction.