In the last week, the FDA made several announcements that exemplify the accelerating pace at which new treatments for lung cancer are reaching patients. These advancements underscore the importance of and need for continued research that affect quality of life and survival rates of people living with lung cancer.
Breakthrough therapy designation to mobocertinib for NSCLC patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations
The FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to mobocertinib for treatment of certain patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The designation applies to use of mobocertinib (TAK-788, Takeda) by patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations whose disease progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Importantly, there are currently no approved therapies designed to treat this specific form of NSCLC. The expedited path for development and approval of this drug represents an important advancement for this underserved population of lung cancer patients. Read more
New dosing regimen for pembrolizumab
The FDA granted accelerated approval to a new dosing regimen for pembrolizumab that showed efficacy and safety to take once every six weeks instead of three. This approval will provide important flexibility in some patients’ treatment schedules who are receiving immunotherapy. Read more
Accelerated approval to capmatinib for metastatic NSCLC patients with MET exon 14 skipping mutations
FDA granted accelerated approval for capmatinib for the treatment of metastatic NSCLC patients with a confirmed MET exon 14 skipping mutation. Capmatinib had previously received orphan drug and breakthrough therapy designations, and it is the first approved therapy that specifically targets MET exon 14 mutated advanced NSCLC. Read more
Selpercatinib approved for lung cancer with RET gene mutation
The FDA has approved selpercatinib for patients with metastatic RET fusion-positive NSCLC. Selpercatinib was previously granted orphan drug designation and represents the first therapy that specifically targets RET-driven cancers. Read more
Nivolumab + ipilimumab combo approved for first-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC
The FDA has approved the combination of nivolumab (OPDIVO) plus ipilimumab (YERVOY) as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with PD-L1 without the EGFR or ALK mutations. Read more
Update junio 15, 2020:
Accelerated approval to lurbinectedin for second-line treatment of metastatic SCLC
FDA granted accelerated approval to lurbinectedin for adult patients who have metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Read more
PHILADELPHIA (abril 23, 2020) — Israel Cañadas, PhD, an assistant professor in the Blood Cell Development and Function Research Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center, recently transferred a grant that will allow him to study how different cancer cells within a tumor may affect the environment around it and the tumor’s response to therapy.
Israel Cañadas, PhD
The grant was awarded to Cañadas by the Lung Cancer Research Foundation in 2018 and was transferred after Cañadas began his own lab focusing on tumor immunity and microenvironment at Fox Chase last year. The grant awards Cañadas a total of $150,000 over two years.
“Both small-cell and non-small cell lung cancers contain different subpopulations of cancer cells, a feature known as tumor heterogeneity. Although this cell heterogeneity is a key determinant of cancer progression and drug resistance, how it impacts the immune system in lung cancer patients remains incompletely defined,” Cañadas said. “This project is highly relevant because it could directly improve outcomes for lung cancer patients.”
The research is predicated on a group of genetic elements known as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). These ERVs become altered in certain drug-resistant populations of lung cancer cells. His work has shown that signaling from ERVs promotes tumor growth; but at the same time, the retroviruses can also make cancer cells vulnerable to immunotherapy.
Cañadas is seeking to connect the drug-resistant cancer cell state to the activation of ERVs and use this information to develop new drugs that could enhance a tumor’s response to immunotherapy.
“The proposed strategy addresses a key unmet need in the field in an effort to overcome resistance to immunotherapy due to intra-tumoral heterogeneity. If the proposed preclinical research shows promising results, we will be directly positioned to open a clinical trial in lung cancer patients using effective combination therapies,” said Cañadas.
Although the research will be focused primarily on lung cancer, Cañadas expects his research findings will impact the treatment of other cancer types that are similarly characterized and driven by different cancer cells within a tumor.
This week’s message from LCRF Executive Director Dennis Chillemi highlights the worldwide #GivingTuesdayNow movement on may 5 and invites you to join in, #TogetherSeparately.
Join us #TogetherSeparately™
Sign up for our next #TogetherSeparately Lung Cancer Community Talk Thursday, abril 30 at 12 PM EDT.
Register for Free to Breathe Yoga, happening virtually, all over the country on junio 20.
Get our latest information on lung cancer and coronavirus at LCRF.org/COVID19.
In this week’s message from LCRF Executive Director Dennis Chillemi, he thanks those who gathered Thursday for the #TogetherSeparately live talk and makes an exciting announcement about Free to Breathe Yoga.
Join us #TogetherSeparately
Sign up for our next #TogetherSeparately Lung Cancer Community Talk Thursday, abril 23 at 12 PM EDT.
Register for Free to Breathe Yoga, happening virtually all over the country on junio 20.
Get our latest information on lung cancer and coronavirus at LCRF.org/COVID19.
These days, gathering in large groups is a distant memory. Concerts, festivals, and athletic events have been cancelled, but one runner isn’t letting the coronavirus pandemic get in the way of his goals.
John Glassman had planned to run the BMO Vancouver Marathon, held annually the first Sunday in may. He decided to partner with LCRF to raise awareness and funds for lung cancer research – an issue that has become all too real for him this past year.
“Last summer, my father was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutation,” he told his supporters on his fundraising page. “This was a scary experience that left us wondering what the path forward looked like, and what potential outcomes were on the table.“
“Luckily, my Dad found an incredible doctor. And research had generated an incredible drug. Twenty years ago, such a situation would not be likely. But today, my Dad is able to continue living his life and maintaining his health by taking a pill once a day that, in the near term, inhibits further growth of the cancer.”
While John was disappointed that the marathon in Vancouver was cancelled, he decided he needed to keep fundraising. He will do a virtual marathon in May or June, running a 26-mile route of his own creation.
“There’s more work to be done…” John explained. “Research continues in order to find drugs and treatments that will fill in after the effectiveness of this drug declines, which it does after a period of time.”
John has already exceeded his initial fundraising goal, and there’s no stopping him. His fundraising page ends with a request: “Help me outrun lung cancer. :)”
You can donate to John’s efforts here. If you’re interesting in doing your own virtual event, get started by contacting us at events@lcrf.org.
As the world continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, LCRF has heard from many scientists about the challenges in pursuing their important work. We are firmly committed to maintaining the momentum in lung cancer research and have provided additional flexibility for new applicants and our investigators alike. Support for research is critical – perhaps now more than ever.
Deadlines for LCRF’s previously announced 2020 funding opportunities have now been extended to may 29. We know that the COVID-19 pandemic and response measures being taken pose many challenges for scientists, and our goal is to provide investigators with additional flexibility during this unprecedented time.
