Screening and Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Highlights from WCLC and ESMO 2024

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: Metastatic NSCLC Highlights Small Cell Lung Cancer Highlights Early-Stage and Locally Advanced NSCLC Cancer screening involves tests that can detect early-stage cancer when

Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Christine Lovly - Video

Missed the Facebook Live? Watch the video! 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.

How Do Drugs Get Approved (and Fast-Tracked) by the FDA?

Read time: 5 minutes. This is Part 3 in our series on how drugs get approved to treat lung cancer. Part 1: Understanding Clinical Trials - Why Are They Important for Drug Development? Part 2: How We Define Success for a Clinical Trial The United States federal government aims to regulate prescription drugs to ensure people are receiving medication that’s safe and effective. Every prescribed drug in the U.S. has gone through a rigorous testing process that can take over a decade to complete before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the drug and people can benefit from

How We Define Success for a Clinical Trial

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. We all want a treatment for lung cancer that is completely safe and entirely effective. While researchers are working toward that goal, the reality is we aren’t there yet. Every treatment we are considering comes with potential benefits and side effects. The overarching role of clinical trials is to measure the pros and cons of each drug to help us identify the best treatments for

Understanding Clinical Trials: Why Are They Important for 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. According to the National Cancer Institute, a clinical trial is a type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches (such as screening tests, prevention habits, or disease treatments) work in people. Sometimes, a clinical trial is called a clinical

New NCCN Guidelines for Patients

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. The newly updated and published guidelines for patients with small cell lung cancer can be viewed, downloaded, and printed here. Learn how treatment options have changed for patients with small cell lung cancer.

Countdown to ILCSC24: Bringing the World’s Experts Right to Your Living Room

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. You can register today for free, or view the conference agenda. Last year’s conference was one of our most successful events yet, with over 900

How Can Patients and Researchers Design Clinical Trials Together?

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. In the first of a three-part series, Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research has partnered with LUNGevity to understand the role people with lung cancer can play in developing clinical trials. Through panelist presentations and discussions, this video focuses on patient-centric endpoints, showcases this collaboration from the

New Treatment Approved for Patients with Extensive Stage SCLC

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. Tarlatamab is a second-line treatment that can be considered if chemotherapy

Safely Bring Yoga, Dietary Supplements, Exercise, and More into Your Lung Cancer Journey

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. In the webinar below, Gabriel Lopez, MD, medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center, explains how integrative medicine can be safely