Lung Cancer News Update

Racial disparities in lung cancer start with research “It is well documented that Black smokers develop lung cancer at younger ages than white smokers. But the guidelines that doctors use to recommend patients for screening don’t reflect the disparity.” STUDY: 25% of Virginia homes contain dangerously high levels of cancer-causing gas “RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — As the second-highest leading cause of lung cancer, the American Lung Association is urging Virginians to test their home for radon after a study found 25% of homes tested across the Commonwealth had dangerously high levels of the gas.” Risk of Incident Lung Cancer in Individuals With Clonal Hematopoiesis “In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Tian et al found that clonal hematopoiesis was associated with an increased risk of subsequent lung cancer, independent of known risk factors.” Deep-Learning Model Identifies Lung Cancer Risk Using Chest X-rays “A deep-learning model may help identify individuals who could benefit from lung cancer screening, including those missed by Medicare screening eligibility criteria.” Novocure Announces Pivotal LUNAR Study in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Met Primary Overall Survival Endpoint “ROOT, Switzerland, January 05, 2023–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Novocure (NASDAQ: NVCR) today announced the LUNAR study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival over standard therapies alone.” Abequolixron Plus Docetaxel Elicits Responses in Relapsed/Refractory Lung Cancer “Among 17 patients treated at the recommended phase 2 dose of 120 mg of abequolixron twice daily on a 5-days-on/2-days-off schedule plus docetaxel, 13 were evaluable for response, including 5 patients with second- or third-line NSCLC and 8 patients with second-line SCLC. Patients experienced an overall response rate (ORR) of 38%, with 5 patients achieving a partial response (PR). The disease control rate (DCR) was 77%.” DEQ Recognizes National Radon Action Month with Free Radon Test Kits For Montana Residents “HELENA—January is National Radon Action Month. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is offering free radon test kits for Montanans to test radon levels in their homes. Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that can build up in homes over time. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to a risk of lung cancer. Testing is the only way to know whether there is a radon problem in a home and the winter months are the best time to test because radon levels are typically at their highest. This is because there is typically less ventilation from doors and windows during winter.” FoundationOne Liquid CDx Receives FDA Approval as a Companion Diagnostic for Entrectinib “On January 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved FoundationOne Liquid CDx to be used as a companion diagnostic to identify patients with ROS1-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or NTRK fusion–positive solid tumors who do not have a tissue sample available and may be appropriate candidates for treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor entrectinib. FoundationOne Liquid CDx is the first and only blood-based companion diagnostic approved for entrectinib; with this latest approval, it is now approved as a companion diagnostic for nine targeted therapies.” Video: Lung Cancer Cases on the Rise Among Non-Smokers “Doctors say more people are getting diagnosed with the disease despite never having smoked cigarettes.” Largo man who volunteered at Ground Zero raises awareness for lung cancer screening “LARGO, Fla. – A Largo man who volunteered at Ground Zero and was later diagnosed with lung cancer is raising awareness for lung cancer screenings. Nationwide 14.5 million people reach the criteria for getting scanned, but only 5.5% do it, according to Moffitt Cancer Center. In Florida, Moffitt doctors said the number is even worse at just 3% of people who complete the lung cancer screening, and it’s a significant problem that hinders catching cancers early on.”