New Lung Cancer Treatments: Latest Advances and How to Access Them?

Lung cancer is amongst the most prevalent and severe forms of cancer diagnosed all over the globe. It starts in the lungs and may spread to nearby organs like lymph nodes, the brain, bones, or even the liver in a process known as metastasis.
There are two main types of lung cancer:

• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): This is the most common variant, constituting around 85% of cases.
• Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC): This is relatively less common, but it is more aggressive and has faster rates of spread.

It is crucial to figure out what type of lung cancer a patient has to determine what the best treatment is. Currently, with advances in medical science, patients have access to a range of new hundreds of treatment options, such as targeted and immunotherapy. These treatments seemingly guarantee better results with fewer side effects.

Can Lung Cancer Be Cured?

Surgery and other therapies have the potential to cure early-stage lung cancer, especially when it involves localized NSCLC. Unfortunately, a large portion of lung cancer patients receive their diagnosis at a later stage, making curing the illness exceptionally challenging. In such cases, treatment is focused on controlling the disease and enhancing the patient’s quality of life. Besides the stage of the cancer, several other important factors impact the possibility of treatment success, such as:

• The patient’s overall health condition
• The tumor’s size and positioning
  Cellular mutations (EGFR, ALK, RET)
• Responses to prior treatment(s)

If the patient goes into remission, there is still a chance that lung cancer may relapse. With that said, improving the long-term prognosis hinges on effective regular monitoring and access to the latest therapies.

How is Lung Cancer Treated?

For any type and stage of lung cancer, treatment differs, but it’s often accompanied by surgery. The primary treatment options include:

Surgery: Depending on how early-stage the lung cancer is, the tumor or the lung part that houses the tumor can be surgically removed. Usually, this is done in cases of non-small cell lung cancer where the tumor has yet to spread significantly.

Chemotherapy: Strong anti-cancer drugs like chemotherapy kill or reduce cancer cells. Anti-cancer drugs can also be used before surgery (neoadjuvant) or after it (adjuvant) to reduce the risk. In advanced cases, chemotherapy is used to help prolong life.

Radiation Therapy: High-energy rays used in radiation treatment target and kill cancer cells. Radiation treatment can be used alone or with chemotherapy, especially for small-cell lung cancer.

Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy is a cancer treatment that uses specific drugs meant for a cell’s gene mutations, formulating a more personalized treatment plan with less harmful effects than chemotherapy. Some specific gene mutations are EGFR, ALK, and RET.

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy changes the game in advanced NSCLC with the use of drugs that allow the immune system to identify and destroy mutated cells, transforming the cancer care landscape.

Latest Lung Cancer Treatments Approved by the FDA:
In the past couple of years, there have been advancements in the treatment of lung cancer for patients with advanced disease or some rare genetic mutations. A few of these innovations include:

Gavreto (pralsetinib):

• Indication: RET fusion-positive NSCLC (metastatic)
• Approval: FDA, September 2020
• Highlights: Gavreto is a metastatic RET fusion-positive lung cancer treatment with a potent kinase inhibitor, which specifically works on RET gene alterations and is effective in patients with widespread disease. It was given Breakthrough Therapy designation for its remarkable clinical potential.

Retevmo (selpercatinib):

• Indication: RET fusion-positive NSCLC and thyroid cancers
• Approval: FDA, May 2020
• Highlights: Retevmo received Accelerated Approval, Priority Review, and Orphan Drug designation. It provides a novel strategy for treating some patients with RET mutations that have been clinically unaddressed.

Tabrecta (capmatinib):

• Indication: NSCLC with MET exon 14 skipping (METex14) mutation
  Approval: FDA, May 2020
  Highlights: Tabrecta is the first drug specifically developed for patients with METex14 skipping mutations. This medication is essential for patients who have previously lacked a targeted treatment for this mutation.

Zepzelca (lurbinectedin):

• Indication: Metastatic Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) post-platinum therapy
• Approval: FDA, June 2020
• Highlights: Zepzelca is approved under Accelerated Approval. It is used when the disease progresses after platinum-based chemotherapy. This medicine offers another line of defense in aggressive small cell lung cancer.

Tepmetko (tepotinib):

• Indication: Advanced NSCLC with MET exon 14 skipping alterations
• Approval: PMDA Japan, March 2020 | Breakthrough status: FDA
• Highlights: Tepmetko is an oral MET inhibitor with global approval and offers an innovative treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC who harbor specific genetic mutations.

Additional Lung Cancer Medicines Available for Global Access:
Along with the above new drugs, patients may also benefit from other targeted therapies and immunotherapies that are revolutionizing lung cancer care:

• Tagrisso (osimertinib)
• Tecentriq (atezolizumab)
• Opdivo (nivolumab)
• Keytruda (pembrolizumab)
• Imfinzi (durvalumab)
  Alecensa (alectinib)
• Alunbrig (brigatinib)
• Portrazza (necitumumab)
• Cyramza (ramucirumab)
• Afinitor (everolimus)
• Vizimpro (dacomitinib)
• Lorviqua (lorlatinib)

These treatments are prescribed according to the tumor’s molecular features and prior therapies. Most of the drugs listed above are FDA-approved, but may not be accessible in all countries.

Disclaimer: This blog contains information only and is not intended to act as a substitute for professional medical advice or guidance. Consult your physician before making any treatment-related decisions.