Weekly News

Week Ending July 26, 2021

A Huge Heart for Patients With Lung Cancer
“I’m nominating Katie Brown as my hero and, I’m sure, the hero for many lung cancer survivors. I was diagnosed on December 29, 2017, with small cell lung cancer.”

Roundtable Discussion: Gadgeel Leads a Discussion on the Timing for RET-Targeted Therapy in NSCLC
“According to a poll, the majority of physicians (64%) would wait for molecular testing on a patient metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. Then, upon diagnosis of RET-mutant non–small cell lung cancer, a group of oncologists explained how they would go about treatment for the patient.”

Telehealth leapt forward with COVID-19. Who was left behind?
“When Johnnett Kent learned she had lung cancer, the COVID-19 pandemic was already descending on California. Her doctor didn’t want the 49-year-old to risk her health by heading into a crowded clinic between surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.”

Emerging Therapies Expand Options in Lung Cancer
“During the past 12 months, the treatment landscape for patients with non–small cell lung cancer has expanded dramatically with FDA approvals of the first drugs directed at KRAS G12C and EGFR exon 20 mutations as well as continued progress in developing new therapies for subsets of patients with other molecularly targetable alterations and with PD-L1–high disease.”

FDA’s Rybrevant Approval ‘A Step Forward’ For Group of Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“The FDA’s recent approval of Rybrevant marks the first targeted therapy for a certain group of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, according to an expert at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.”

Best Practices to Define, Care for Lung Cancer
“When wondering what step to take first after learning of your cancer diagnosis, assembling the right care team and creating a treatment plan designed uniquely is important to get you on the right track. Comprehensive biomarker testing can then help identify your type of lung cancer and help move steps forward for proper care.”

VIDEO:
The Future of Lung Cancer Precision Medicine with Dr. Andrea Mazzocchi
“The co-founder and CEO of Known Medicine dissects the art and science of how profiling biomarkers, epigenetics and the microenvironment may provide the synergy needed to revolutionize the oncologic landscape.”

Week Ending July 26, 2021

Exercise can add to your sense of purpose and vice versa
“It’s well established that regular exercise can improve one’s mental outlook. A new study found the connection also works in the other direction: a sense of purpose makes it more likely you’ll stay physically active.”

Can You Eat Dandelions?
“Dandelions pop up overnight to blemish a perfect green lawn and crowd out the petunias in your flower garden. But instead of going to war with the ubiquitous yellow weeds, you might want to welcome them into your kitchen.”

Prescriptions for Fruits and Vegetables a Blossoming Program
“Chef Michel Nischan has won the prestigious James Beard Award four times, written cookbooks, and launched a restaurant with the late actor Paul Newman. But the motto on his website reveals what he’s really about: “Changing the world through food.”

Holistic Healing System Offered as Antidote to Virus, Stress
“It originated in India thousands of years ago and uses lifestyle intervention and natural therapies to encourage balance in the body and mind. Treatments start with inner purification and can include changes in diet, herbal remedies, meditation, yoga and massage therapy.”

Get to the Point: Your Guide to the Foot Reflexology Chart
“Reflexology is a therapeutic practice that’s been around for centuries. Foot reflexology is especially popular, and it involves applying pressure to different points on your feet.”

Reiki and more: can alternative therapy treatments fortify the mind-body connection?
“Like many people, I have spent most of the past year working from home. As a result, my mind and body have suffered from a lack of sufficient screen-free downtime. After months of work-life imbalance and excessive sitting, there came a time when I needed to truly reset.”

Want to Take Care of Your Brain? Take a Walk
“A new study found that six months of regular brisk walks led to better cardiovascular fitness and improvements in white matter and memory.”

Week Ending July 19, 2021

Delay in Surgical Intervention for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Increases Risk for Recurrence
“Patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) should undergo expedited surgical intervention to reduce recurrence risk. These findings were published in JAMA Network Open.”

Preventing lung cancer’s unwelcome return
“When a doctor gives a patient antibiotics for a bacterial infection, they usually require them to finish the entire treatment, even when symptoms go away. This is to ensure the drugs kill off any remaining bacteria. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Visiting Scientist Raffaella Sordella investigated a similar problem that occurs in some lung cancers.”

Liquid Biopsy-Guided Therapy Improves Survival in Lung Cancer
“Liquid biopsies can match non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients to life-prolonging targeted therapy and have prognostic importance. Targeted therapy has transformed the treatment landscape of NSCLC and fundamentally made it possible, by next-generation sequencing of tissue, to match patients to therapies that prolong overall survival (OS).”

Efficacy and Feasibility of Neoadjuvant Osimertinib Demonstrated in Early-Stage EGFR+ Lung Adenocarcinoma
“Neoadjuvant osimertinib (Tagrisso) is effective and feasible for use as treatment for patients with stage II-IIIB EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma, according to interim analysis results of the NEOS study.”

Lung Cancer Repository Trial Presents Early Data
“The ongoing PGC (Prospective Clinico-Genomic) study is exploring how various technologies, such as electronic health records (EHRs), clinical images of patients and liquid biopsies, can be integrated to streamline and simplify clinical trials for people with advanced lung cancer. Data from the trial, which has enrolled patients at 23 sites from 19 community oncology practices across the country, were presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2021 World Congress on Lung Cancer.”

Advances Propel Lung Cancer Paradigms Forward to Improved Outcomes and Quality of Life
“Among a plethora of novel immunotherapeutic and targeted agents, the treatment landscapes for small cell lung cancer and non–small cell lung cancer have witnessed a rapid expansion that has led to improved survival and quality of life for patients, including a wider range of patients who harbor molecular abnormalities.”

Pembrolizumab Provides Durable Survival Benefit in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With High PD-L1 Expression
“First-line therapy with pembrolizumab provides a long-term overall survival (OS) benefit over chemotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and high PD-L1 expression, according to trial results published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.”

Have You Been Screened for Lung Cancer?
“Screening for lung cancer can save lives, but the majority of people who qualify for the free exam aren’t taking advantage of it.”

VIDEO
Stephen Liu, MD, on the Potential Treatment Impact of Amivantamab Plus Lazertinib in EGFR+ NSCLC at ASCO 2021

Week Ending July 19, 2021

A fermented-food diet increases microbiome diversity and lowers inflammation, Stanford study finds
“Stanford researchers discover that a 10-week diet high in fermented foods boosts microbiome diversity and improves immune responses.”

How can consumers be empowered to eat healthy and sustainable foods?
“How can an ‘enabling food environment’ be created to encourage healthy and sustainable diets across Europe?”

Diet Affects Mental Health More for Women Than Men, Study Finds
“Your mood may be directly related to your food. That’s the finding of a new study published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, Women’s mental health is tied even more directly to the food they eat, since eating a healthy diet of whole grains, dark leafy greens, beans, and nuts allow people to work out more often than a standard American diet high in fat and simple sugar, which can negatively impact mood.”

Dancing to music may halt progression of Parkinson’s disease
“Previous research has suggested that dance classes may improve walking speed, balance, and movement in those with PD. However, most of these studies happened over short periods and did not include widely-used tools to diagnose the condition, such as the ​​Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS).”

Dr. Deepak Chopra launches telehealth platform at the intersection of modern and alternative medicine
“Alternative medicine advocate Dr. Deepak Chopra is teaming up with Verizon and CareSpan on a new platform called Chopra Integrative Medicine Center Telehealth, which was designed to bring a network of holistic medical providers into one space.”

6 Expert-Approved Drinks Perfect For Unwinding Before You Go To Bed
“When bedtime approaches and you’re looking for a calming beverage to sip on, what do you go for? Not all nighttime drinks are created equal, so we asked experts for their favorites—plus, how much you should (or shouldn’t) drink before bed to avoid waking up.”

A simple compound to control complex gut microbes
“Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) have discovered that acetate, a major metabolite produced by some intestinal bacteria, is involved in regulating other intestinal bacteria. Specifically, experiments showed that acetate could trigger an immune response against potentially harmful bacteria.”

Week Ending July 12, 2021

Annual Report to the Nation: Declines in lung cancer, melanoma death rates drive overall cancer mortality drop
“From 2015 to 2018, the overall cancer death rate in the United States fell by 2.3% per year for men and 2.1% per year for women—an unprecedented drop, led by accelerated decline in deaths from lung cancer and melanoma.”

Hope in Strength
“Deborah Pickworth, who is living with stage 4 lung cancer, was nominated for the Lung Cancer Heroes® award for her impact in supporting and advocating for others with the disease.”

Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Deemed Safe for Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment Despite “Lagging” Immune Response in Some Malignancies
“Despite some delayed immune responses, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine appears safe and effective in patients with cancer who are receiving treatment for their disease.”

Financial assistance available for early lung cancer screening
“Highly regarded for advanced treatment and state-of-the-art facilities for patients with lung cancer, Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH) has offered a lung cancer screening with low-dose CT (LDCT) since 2011.“

Video:
Emerging Therapies for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“— Benjamin Besse discusses new treatments and targets currently under investigation”

DFCI’s Jacob Sands Discusses All Things Considered About Lung Cancer Screening
“Sands ,a medical oncologist who specializes in lung cancer, says the false discovery has been misconstruted as a false positive rate. He also makes a case for early detection and new USPSTF as working to correct disparities.”

Week Ending July 6, 2021

New law draws awareness to link between radon and lung cancer
“COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine today signed legislation that aims to raise awareness of the link between radon exposure and cancer risk by designating January as Radiation Awareness Month in Ohio.”

Incredible Hero Without A Cape
“There may be many worthy of the Lung Cancer Heroes® award, but none more deserving than Carolyn Baggett, M.S.N., RN, OCN. Carolyn has made a measurable impact on the lives of her patients and colleagues as the oncology nurse navigator and lung cancer screening coordinator at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center. She also steps outside the health care system to contribute to the education and involvement to many in the Jacksonville and North Florida communities.”

First-ever Language Guide: A Lexicon to Promote Best Practices for Submitted Abstracts
“Patients diagnosed with lung cancer often feel particularly stigmatized because the disease is so strongly associated with smoking. Their interaction with family, friends and doctors is often affected as a result, and many patients, particularly those who had stopped smoking years ago or those who had never smoked, feel unjustly blamed for their illness.[1]”

High BMI Negatively Impacts Survival Outcomes With Osimertinib in EGFR+ NSCLC
“In a retrospective analysis of patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and EGFR mutations treated with osimertinib (Tagrisso), investigators found that body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/mq2 or more had a negative impact on survival outcomes.^1”

OH implements program for early lung cancer detection
“Jul. 2—Owensboro Health has partnered with Eon, a Denver-based health-tech company, to implement EPM, a lung cancer screening program in an effort to increase early detection of lung cancer.”

Mayo Clinic study suggests patients with lung cancer be screened for MET oncogene
“ROCHESTER, Minn. — Research by investigators at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center suggests that physicians should screen patients with lung cancer for MET amplification/overexpression before determining a treatment strategy. Their findings are published Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.”

Week Ending July 6, 2021

Does Magnesium Help You Sleep?
“In the eternal quest for a good night’s sleep, magnesium has gained attention as the latest supplement of note. Could this mineral help you catch some ZZZs?”

What to know about anxiety at night
“Anxiety at night is common, especially among people who fixate on upsetting events of the day or who worry about every noise in the dark.”

9 Science-Backed Benefits Of CBD Oil
“Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a chemical compound found in the cannabis sativa plant. When applied topically or consumed through smoke inhalation or edible consumption, CBD interacts with neuroreceptors in your endocannabinoid system, which sends signals between your cells to help regulate your movement, mood, homeostasis and immune system.”

Switching diet promotes healthy skin and joints, say scientists
“A study, carried out by researchers at the University of California, found that simple changes in diet can have significant effects on skin disease, such as psoriasis – a chronic skin condition triggered by an overactive immune system that attacks healthy skin cells and causes inflammation in the form of itchy, red patches.”

There Could Be a Simple Way to Offset The Negative Health Impacts of Terrible Sleep
“Staying active and fit could help to ward off some of the negative health impacts that would normally result from low-quality sleep, according to a large study of 380,055 middle-aged people involved in the UK Biobank research project.”

Do You Follow a Cancer-Prevention Diet?
“The eating habits of most American adults aren’t in line with dietary guidelines that can reduce the risk of cancer, a new study finds.”

Want more happiness? Try this
“If the events of the past year have left you feeling emotionally deflated, you’re not alone. Cheer has been in short supply during the pandemic, and you may be in serious need of a mood boost. Yet while this slice of time may have been unusually stressful, people often struggle to find happiness even in normal times.”

Better understanding and use of nutrition apps
“Nutrition apps are effective helpers when it comes to initiating and supporting dietary changes. They are therefore considered by many researchers in the field of digital health technologies to be a low-threshold, easily available, and inexpensive option for individual nutrition management.”

Choosing the best turmeric supplements: Options and considerations
“Turmeric supplements may provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. People should research turmeric supplements carefully to choose one that suits their health needs and goals.”

Lung Cancer News
Week Ending June 28, 2021

Adagrasib for KRAS G12C+ Lung Cancer Granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by FDA
“The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation (BTD) from the FDA for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a KRASG12C mutation following prior systemic treatment, according to a press release by Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.”

What Is a Liquid Biopsy for Lung Cancer — and Do You Need One?
“A liquid biopsy is a blood test designed to detect cancer cells, or DNA fragments from cancer cells, that circulate in the bloodstream. While a liquid biopsy may be useful for several different types of cancer, researchers are particularly excited about its potential for aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.”

Garassino Highlights What’s In Store for Lung Cancer
“Patients with lung cancer were identified as an at-risk group for developing severe complications as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and thoracic oncologists were fast to respond with the establishment of the Thoracic Cancers International COVID-19 Collaboration.”

Radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer explained
“Treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will depend on the stage of the condition. If the cancer is at an early stage, treatment such as radiation will aim to destroy the cancerous cells and cure the disease. If the cancer has progressed, radiation therapy may help prolong a person’s life.”

Lopes Shines a Light on the Explosion of Targeted Therapies in Lung Cancer Treatment Arsenal
“Now that several targeted agents have acquired regulatory approval across settings in the lung cancer paradigm, real-world considerations for the utilization of these agents in practice are warranted, and determining how they fit in and measure up with other available options in the arsenal is necessary to optimize their use, according to Gilberto Lopes, MD.”

Quest Diagnostics to Offer Biocept’s Target Selector NGS Lung Cancer Test
“NEW YORK — Biocept said on Tuesday that it has entered a collaboration with Quest Diagnostics to provide its Target Selector next generation-sequencing-based liquid biopsy lung cancer panel to Quest patients.”

Campaign aims to increase use of ‘crucial’ biomarker testing in NSCLC
“National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend all patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer undergo biomarker testing.”

Rural areas lack access to CT lung cancer screening
“June 25, 2021 — A hospital’s geographic location can influence what kinds of services it offers, and low-dose CT (LDCT) for lung cancer screening may not be available to many living in rural areas, according to a study published June 15 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.”

Video:
IMpower010: Post-Op Atezolizumab Improves DFS in Lung Cancer
“— Jack West opens the debate about whether DFS endpoint is sufficient to change practice”

Week Ending June 28, 2021

Are Canned Beans Healthy? Nutrition, Benefits, and Downsides
“Beans are members of the legume family — plants that produce pods with seeds inside. They’re a staple food in some cultures and an important source of plant-based protein and other essential nutrients, such as iron and folate.”

Feeling nutty? Here’s why you should add nuts to your diet
“Enjoying a wide variety of nuts has multiple health benefits. The crunchy, delicious snacks are a great source of protein, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. Nuts are naturally cholesterol-free and pack disease-fighting antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin E and magnesium.”

What Seniors Should Know About Herbal Medicines
“A lifelong commitment to healthy living can improve life expectancy and quality of life while reducing a person’s risk for various conditions and diseases, including cancer and heart disease.”

10 Realistic Ways to Eat Less Processed Food
“Processed food is any food item that has been canned, cooked, frozen, pasteurized, or packaged. You can enjoy many processed foods, including canned vegetables, frozen fruits, and pasteurized dairy products, as part of a healthy diet. However, some highly processed items are loaded with salt, sugar, additives, and preservatives, which can harm your health.”

What Does Eating a Balanced Diet Actually Mean? Breaking Down the ‘Good’ to ‘Bad’ Diet Ratio
“Maintaining a healthy diet shouldn’t mean depriving yourself of all the foods you love. Achieving that feel-good, eat-well balance is really a numbers game.”

Why exercise may help ease depression
“Now neuroscientists from the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research into Mental Illness have found out how exercise does that oh-so-welcome magic trick. They discovered that, in mice, exercise stimulates the production of a molecule called lactate. It then acts as an antidepressant by helping cool excess brain oxidation and inflammation, nourishing neurons and even stimulating the growth of new nerve connections.”

Your Guide To Adaptogens
“Adaptogens (edible plant extracts) are far from an American health fad. They have been used to treat a variety of ailments over several millennia, particularly in parts of Asia and India.”

The Definitive Guide to Healthy Eating in Real Life
“Depending on whom you ask, “healthy eating” may take any number of forms. It seems that everyone, including healthcare professionals, wellness influencers, coworkers, and family members, has an opinion on the healthiest way to eat.”

The 12 Best Natural Remedies for an Upset Stomach
“Just about everyone gets an upset stomach from time to time, and while it’s usually nothing to be concerned about, it can be a real pain. Fortunately, there are a number of natural remedies for an upset stomach that may help.”

Prohibited, unlisted, even dangerous ingredients turn up in dietary supplements
“When buying a dietary supplement, you probably assume that what’s on the label is what’s in the pill. But this assumption doesn’t always hold up, says Pieter Cohen, a physician at Cambridge Health Alliance.”

Trying Acupuncture for the First Time Helped Pull Me Out of My Quarantine Fog
“Not to put too fine a point on it, but acupuncture has always freaked me out. I’m all for woo-woo adventures – I’m the only person I know who can say they’ve experienced an “organ massage” – but paying somebody to give my body the voodoo-doll treatment? I wasn’t so sure.”

What do they measure in an HDL blood test?
“Some people refer to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol as “good” cholesterol. A doctor can measure its levels with a blood test. Having unhealthy levels of HDL cholesterol can increase the risk of certain conditions, such as heart disease.”

Week Ending June 21, 2021

A Social Worker Leads ACCC, and Her Timing Is Perfect
“Improving health equity. Developing practice-based solutions for reducing barriers and improving outcomes. Making the case for supportive care. Building a culture that supports professional well-being. Championing resiliency.”

Targeted Therapy for ‘Undruggable’ Lung Cancer Stems from Decades of UCSF Research
“Over the past two decades, targeted cancer therapies have changed the prognosis for thousands of patients. By targeting the specific genetic mutation behind a patient’s cancer, these therapies have enabled increasing numbers of patients to experience fewer toxic side effects and, often, live free of disease following their treatment.”

PET/CT Effective Measures NSCLC Biomarker, Predicts Therapy Response
“PET/CT images can non-invasively measure levels of a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) biomarker, eliminating the need for biopsy and predicting the patient’s response to therapy.”

AMG 757 Elicits Early Response, Safety in Small Cell Lung Cancer+
“First-in-human results of a phase 1 trial (NCT03319940) evaluating AMG 757 in patients with small cell lung cancer revealed early signals of efficacy and a favorable safety profile in findings presented at the European Lung Cancer Virtual Congress 2021. AMG 757 is a DLL3-targeting bispecific T-cell engager.”

Prognostic Understanding Influences Patients’ Lung Cancer Care Decisions at the End of Life
“A new study of patients with advanced cancer explored relationships between patient perceptions of prognosis and end-of-life care. The study and its findings were presented at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting by Carlisle Topping of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues.”

Genecast to Evaluate Liquid Biopsy EGFR Mutation Test in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
“NEW YORK – Genecast said on Monday that it will launch a clinical trial to assess whether its qPCR-based liquid biopsy test can detect EGFR mutations in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, patients.”