You never want to believe it when someone tells you bad news, do you? It’s human nature.
When I received my lung cancer diagnosis, I was no different.
Tejal with her brother
However, I had to accept the news when my younger brother, a critical care and pulmonology physician, uttered the words, “You have stage 4 lung cancer.”
When you first receive a lung cancer diagnosis it can feel so isolating. All of a sudden, you’re in this new reality where nothing makes any sense. Thoughts were whirling around my head… “Why me, and what did I do?”
There’s still so much stigma around cancer, especially lung cancer, right? You get a lot of people who think you must have done something “wrong.” But the truth is, even though I’m a vegetarian, I don’t drink, I have never smoked, and I’m physically fit, I have lung cancer.
My life was derailed. My family and I had so many plans… I was finishing a Master’s degree, had just started a new job, and my husband and I were looking forward to a fun summer with our twin boys.
I knew I had to fight this so I could watch my boys grow up. That’s when I became determined to breathe easy and fight hard – it became the mantra for my fight and for my efforts to raise money for Lung Cancer Research Foundation at the Free to Breathe Walk this past October.
Tejal with her husband and twins
You see, I want my diagnosis to help break the stigma associated with lung cancer. And as a South Asian woman, I want to raise awareness of this disease for women like myself.
When you first receive a lung cancer diagnosis it can feel so isolating. All of a sudden, you’re in this new reality where nothing makes any sense. It’s a very vulnerable time, like you’re open and raw almost. Once you accept this new reality and decide to fight it can still feel really lonely.
I am so grateful that I found Lung Cancer Research Foundation. Not only are they funding life-changing lung cancer research – like new screening methods that help diagnose the disease much earlier – but they also offer so much support and care.
The kindness and generosity shown by LCRF donors makes such a difference. Without their financial support, the research that makes new discoveries and treatments possible would come to a halt. It touches my heart more than I can possibly say that so many people I have never met – and may never meet – are committed to extending survival and improving quality of life for people like me with lung cancer.
Tejal and her brother at the Free to Breathe Walk
So many advances have been made in lung cancer research in the past decade. But we need more support for this disease. We need more research. And research requires funding.
As we approach the new year, LCRF Executive Director Aubrey Rhodes and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Antoinette (Toni) Wozniak share an encouraging update about our lung cancer research program. Watch the video below.
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is pleased to announce the awardees of its 2023 Scientific Grant Program. This years’ grant cycle includes awards in the following areas:
LCRF Leading Edge Grant in Lung Cancer, LCRF Research Grant on Early Detection and Pre-Neoplasia in Lung Cancer, LCRF Research Grants on Understanding Resistance in Lung Cancer, and LCRF Minority Career Development Award (CDA) for Lung Cancer.
LCRF awarded its grants for projects that show promise to make a sustained and lasting impact on the field of lung cancer research and lung cancer outcomes. These grants are made possible, in part, by support from Bristol Myers Squibb and donations from LCRF’s many generous supporters.
“It is always exciting to extend grant funding to these dedicated investigators,” said Colleen Conner Ziegler, Chair of LCRF’s Board of Directors. “It is through these research grants that LCRF can have the most impact on the lung cancer community and improve patient outcomes, both in the short and long term.”
“We are committed to supporting science that seeks solutions to lung cancer’s most challenging issues,” said Katerina Politi, PhD, Chair of LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board, Cancer Biologist and Professor at Yale’s School of Medicine. “Breakthroughs can only happen if the most promising ideas of these talented investigators are funded.”
Through its Leading Edge Research Grant in Lung Cancer, LCRF funds innovative research focused on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. This year, LCRF will be funding two projects through this mechanism.
LCRF’s Minority Career Development Award for Lung Cancer, a two-year award to support early-stage scientists from underrepresented groups, is supported in part by a grant from Bristol Myers Squibb. This year, LCRF will be funding one project in this area that will increase representation of investigators from underrepresented groups in the lung cancer research workforce.
LCRF’s Research Grant on Early Detection and Pre-Neoplasia in Lung Cancer is presented to an investigator whose project facilitates or advances the understanding and characterization of pre-neoplasia or approaches for early detection in non-small cell and small cell lung cancer.
The LCRF Research Grants on Understanding Resistance in Lung Cancer are presented to two recipients whose projects focus on combatting therapeutic resistance.
Lloyd Bod, PhD
Each year, LCRF recognizes exemplary projects through its James B. Dougherty, MD Award, and its William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer, in honor of the contributions to LCRF made by these esteemed former board members.
The James B. Dougherty, MD Award for Scientific Merit is presented to the investigator whose proposal was selected for outstanding overall merit by the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board. This year’s recipient is Lloyd Bod, PhD of Massachusetts General Hospital, whose project is titled “Harnessing B cell specific checkpoint molecules in lung cancer.”
“This award fuels our quest to explore B cells in lung cancer, aiming to unlock groundbreaking treatments. I’m deeply grateful for the recognition,” remarked Dr. Bod.
LCRF’s William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer is presented to the investigator whose proposal not only demonstrated exceptional scientific merit but also exemplified an enduring commitment to making an impact in the field of lung cancer research. This year’s recipient is Francisco Expósito, PhD from Yale University, whose project is titled “Investigating novel synthetic lethal vulnerabilities in EGFR-driven lung cancer.”
Francisco Expósito, PhD
“I am really honored to receive the William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer from the Lung Cancer Research Foundation,” said Dr. Expósito. “Thanks to the support from LCRF we hope to uncover novel genetic vulnerabilities of EGFR-driven lung tumors and leverage these findings to implement and inform new precision-based treatments for this type of tumors in the future.”
LCRF 2023 Grant Award Recipients:
The 2023 Leading Edge Grant Program award recipients include:
Francisco Expósito, PhD, Yale University William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer recipient Investigating novel synthetic lethal vulnerabilities in EGFR-driven lung cancer
Benjamin Morris, PhD, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Deep whole genome sequencing of circulating tumor DNA for studying evolution and therapy resistance in small cell lung cancer
The 2023 Minority Career Development Award recipients include:
Lloyd Bod, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital James B. Dougherty, MD Award for Scientific Merit recipient Harnessing B cell specific checkpoint molecules in lung cancer
Luis Pietro, PhD, Mayo Clinic Impact of senescent cells on lung tumorigenesis
The 2023 Research Grant on Early Detection and Pre-Neoplasia in Lung Cancer award recipient:
Darren Chiu, MD, Boston University The Spatial B Cell Landscape in Lung Squamous Premalignant Lesions
The 2023 Research Grants on Understanding Resistance in Lung Cancer award recipients include:
Trever Bivona, MD, PhD, Regents of the University of California, San Francisco Characterization and therapeutic targeting of a tumor-tumor microenvironment network promoting resistance to targeted therapy in lung cancer
Ann Pendergast, PhD, Duke University School of Medicine Uncovering novel vulnerabilities to treat SCLC therapy resistance
For more information about LCRF and the Scientific Grant Program, visit LCRF.org/Research.
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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 416 research grants, totaling nearly $43 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit LCRF.org.
Contact: Sheila Sullivan Sr. Director, Marketing and Communications ssullivan@lcrf.org
Our December 6 #TogetherSeparately webinar addressed the use of integrative therapies in treating lung cancer. Dr. Narjust Florez, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, joined moderator Dr. Isabel Preeshagul to discuss this interesting topic.
Groups introduce $2.5 million, four-year research partnership focused on finding cure for oncogene-driven lung cancers
NEW YORK, NY (December 5, 2023) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) today announced a new research partnership, titled IASLC – LCRF Team Science Research Grant on the Next Step in the Cure of Oncogene-Driven Lung Cancers.
Lung cancer is responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other cancer, accounting for an estimated 130,180 deaths annually in the United States alone. In the last 10 to 15 years, accelerated clinical trials and FDA approvals of targeted therapies for non-small cell lung carcinoma have been possible in part due to advances in molecular profiling of tumors. Many of these targeted therapies are directed against oncogenic drivers, with EGFR as one of the first oncogenic drivers that was successfully targeted with the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs.) Shortly thereafter, EML4-ALK rearrangements were identified as molecular markers and tumors harboring these alterations could successfully be treated with molecularly targeted agents. Subsequently additional oncogenic driver alterations in BRAF, RET, KRAS G12C, HER2, MET, NTRK, and ROS1 were identified along with corresponding therapeutic options for treatment. Despite substantial progress in this area, available treatments are not curative, and resistance to those treatments invariably develops.
Because current therapeutic options are not curative, IASLC and LCRF have created this Team Science award to focus on furthering the development of novel therapies, including immunotherapeutic approaches, for patients with oncogene-driven lung cancers. It is the intent of the two organizations to fund work that will have the potential to increase survivorship, and have a near-term benefit for these patients.
“Resistance in oncogene-driven lung cancers is a frustrating inevitability for these patients,” says Dr. Antoinette Wozniak, Chief Scientific Officer for LCRF. “Partnering with IASLC on funding research that will bring us closer to a cure is not only exciting, it is the right thing to do. We firmly believe that it is in working together – funders as well as researchers – that solutions will be discovered and survivorship will increase.”
“We, along with LCRF, recognize that it takes teams of people to address large, complicated problems like oncogenic-driven lung cancers and resistance to therapy,” says Dr. Karen Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, IASLC. “We’re pleased to be collaborating with LCRF to create this Team Science award to work on curing oncogenic-driven lung cancers.”
The IASLC-LCRF Team Science Research Grant on the Next Step in the Cure of Oncogene-Driven Lung Cancers award is expected to total $2.5 million for a period of four years to a team of researchers whose proposals have a program of closely integrated projects focused on the specific goal of curing oncogene-driven lung cancer that would not otherwise be realized by any single component of the team.
All applications will be subject to a rigorous review by IASLC’s Scientific Affairs Committee and LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board. More details about the Request for Proposal, along with eligibility, requirements, and deadlines will soon be available at LCRF.org/FundingOpportunities.
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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 418 research grants, totaling nearly $44 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information about the LCRF grant program and funding opportunities, visit LCRF.org/research.
About IASLC The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association’s membership includes more than 10,000 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit IASLC.org for more information.
Contact:
LUNG CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION (LCRF) Sheila Sullivan Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications ssullivan@lcrf.org
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF LUNG CANCER (IASLC) Chris Martin IASLC Media Relations cmartin@davidjamesgroup.com
Five years ago, Amy had a birthday surprise that she never wanted or expected.
She was told that she had Stage 4 squamous non-small cell lung cancer.
Amy explains: “I had a flu shot and 2 weeks later, a lymph node popped up on my neck. I just assumed it was a side effect of the flu shot. After 2 weeks, I realized it was more than a side effect or infection. I went to my Primary Care Doctor, who ordered bloodwork and a CT scan of my neck where the lymph node was. The bloodwork showed a slightly elevated calcium level, no big deal…the CT scan, however, caught a lesion in my right lung.”
At that point, Amy had a CT-guided biopsy on the neck lymph node and was given the unfortunate news on her birthday. Then a PET scan showed her cancer was Stage 4.
Her treatments at the University of Pennsylvania varied. Keytruda, an immunotherapy, did not work for her; she also had radiation on her hips, femurs, and foot; stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) on the lung nodule; and cryoablation on her adrenal gland.
Fortunately, Amy had a lot of support. “I found several support groups online. Having a place to go to follow other people and ask about side effects, vent my worries, and hear all about people surviving longer gave me hope.” In addition, her family gave her strength. “It’s not what they said, it’s the fact that they stayed by my side the whole time.”
Amy learned about LCRF about six months after diagnosis, through one of her Facebook support groups. She has used LCRF’s educational materials and attended webinars such as the #TogetherSeparately series with guest expert speakers.
“I have learned so much about lung cancer. I think knowing as much as you can is part of fighting the fight. You can help others in the same boat with accurate information, as well as talk to your own doctors about the information.”
Amy urges newly diagnosed patients to look for support groups online, such as the Lung Cancer Community Facebook group.
Her advice for those patients: “Do not automatically think you’re not going to be alive in a year. You may live longer than what the internet says – or even what you may think and feel.”
> LCRF offers information and materials through its support line: (844) 835-4325. > Join the Lung Cancer Community Facebook group here. > Other resources and groups are listed on our Quick Links page for patients and caregivers.
Treatment is available for Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS), a rare disorder that affects the neuromuscular system. Patients with LEMS usually have muscle weakness that is proximal in nature making it difficult for them to walk, climb stairs, and arise from a chair. Other nerves can also be affected causing double vision, difficulty swallowing, and shortness of breath.
Why it’s important
LEMS is closely associated with the presence of a malignancy, particularly Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung (SCLC). About 2-3% of patients with SCLC will have LEMS. The patient can present with a wide range of symptoms from mild to severe. The physical signs of LEMS can be present before the cancer is evident. LEMS is often misdiagnosed, so it is very important to make a correct diagnosis so that there can be a thorough evaluation for the presence of cancer.
What it means for patients
It is very important to determine if a patient has LEMS associated with cancer so that the cancer can be treated as soon as possible. Effective treatment of the cancer can improve muscle weakness, but sometimes if the symptoms are more severe additional therapy may be needed. The effects of LEMS can be very debilitating and have a great impact on the quality of life of patients suffering from this condition. Amifampridine is the only FDA-approved drug available for the treatment of adult patients with LEMS. The drug works by increasing a substance called acetylcholine which improves the connection between nerves and muscle. Clinical trials employing amifampridine have demonstrated an improvement in muscle strength for LEMS patients with manageable side effects.
What to watch for
It is important to be aware of LEMS as a diagnosis despite its rarity. Awareness of the signs and symptoms of this syndrome could lead to earlier diagnosis of small cell lung cancer, resulting in more timely treatment. It is also important to know that there are treatments available such as amifampridine that can improve some of the devastating symptoms and have a positive impact on a patient’s quality of life.
The European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress was held recently in Madrid. Advances presented in the treatment of lung cancer were particularly prominent.
Why it’s important
The results of several large trials in lung cancer were presented.
For early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the phase III CheckMate 77T study compared neoadjuvant (before surgery)chemotherapy alone with neoadjuvant nivolumab (immunotherapy) plus chemotherapy followed by adjuvant (after surgery) nivolumab. Data revealed improved survival free of any disease-related events for patients who had the nivolumab and chemotherapy.
A second similar trial, KEYNOTE 671, testing neoadjuvant pembrolizumab and chemotherapy, indicated that patients who received the treatment before surgery lived longer. This is the first time that a neoadjuvant study has shown these results.
For patients with ALK-positive NSCLC who have had their cancer surgically removed, the phase III ALINA trial demonstrated a better outcome for patients who received the ALK inhibitor alectinib after surgery.
Other interesting information was presented for patients with advanced NSCLC. Promising results were presented for patients with EGFR mutated lung cancer. Amivantimab, an antibody which targets both EGFR and MET, looked promising when combined with other therapies as a first or second treatment for patients. We continue to see additional updates on the use of an antibody drug conjugate, datopotamab deruxtecan. Even for small cell lung cancer (SCLC), we had encouraging news. There was evidence of activity of the DLL3-targeted bispecific T cell engager tarlatamab in advanced-stage SCLC.
What it means for patients
It is very exciting that advancements in the treatment of lung cancer were front and center at the ESMO meeting. These findings may further expand the range of therapeutic options available for patients with many different types of lung cancer.
What to watch for
Nivolumab combined with chemotherapy has already been approved for the treatment of NSCLC patients before surgery. The FDA just approved a similar use for pembrolizumab based on the results of the KEYNOTE 671 trial. Researchers will continue to use the results of these trials to refine the treatment of patients with early-stage NSCLC.
Many questions still need to be answered, especially determining which patients benefit the most from treatment and how long to treat patients to obtain the maximum benefit and the fewest side effects. Look for more trials evaluating the novel agents that hopefully will determine their use in treatment.
LCRF’s 2023 Scientific Symposium was held November 1, the first day of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Joining the record-breaking group online were program chair and moderator, Kathryn O’Donnell, PhD; our chat moderator, Isabel Preeshagul, DO, MBS; and speakers Brendon M. Stiles, MD; Colleen Conner Ziegler; Aaron Hata, MD, PhD; Nikhil Joshi, PhD; Stephen V. Liu, MD; Christine Lovly, MD, PhD; and Triparna Sen, PhD.
First major milestone met in trial to inform neoadjuvant targeted therapy options for patients with early-stage lung cancer
NEW YORK, NY (October 24, 2023) – The Lung Cancer Mutation Consortium (LCMC), facilitated by the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF), announces the enrollment of one hundred patients in its fourth study, LCMC4 Evaluation of Actionable Drivers in EaRly Stage Lung Cancer (LEADER), examining targeted drugs given as single agents and combinations as neoadjuvant therapies matched to specific genetic mutations.
This is the first of the LEADER trial’s major milestones to be met, with many more to come. Seventeen sites are currently enrolling patients in the study with more sites expected to join the trial.
The LEADER trial, together with matched industry-sponsored therapeutic trials, aims to develop data that will support oncologists in their targeted treatment planning for cancer patients prior to surgery by screening for eleven actionable driver mutations in patients.
“We’re incredibly excited to have met this first major milestone in patient accrual. The importance of this study to patients with early-stage lung cancers cannot be overstated. Expanding the benefit of targeted treatment to this group can have a marked impact on patient care,” says Mark G. Kris, MD, Attending Physician, Thoracic Oncology Service, Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and one of the investigators of the LEADER trial.
Patients with early-stage lung cancers who are interested in participating in the LCMC LEADER trial should discuss the study with their oncologist to determine eligibility and the process for enrollment.
To learn more about LCRF and its grants program, visit LCRF.org
To learn more about LCMC and the LEADER trial, visit LCRF.org/LCMC4
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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 409 research grants, totaling nearly $42 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit LCRF.org.
