Advances in lung-cancer screening and treatment have improved survival for patients across the United States. But new research suggested that healthcare delivery might be just as important as medical innovation in determining outcomes.
Cancer Vaccines in Lung Cancer: A New Strategy to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) resistance can be caused by tumor evasion mechanisms that prevent T cells from recognizing or killing cancer cells. Cancer vaccines are designed to address those challenges by stimulating the immune system to recognize tumor-specific antigens. Unlike preventive vaccines, these therapeutic approaches can “induce de novo or amplify pre-existing tumor-specific immune responses, thereby enhancing long-term immunological memory while maintaining a favorable safety profile,” according to a new study.
Duration-Based Lung Cancer-Screening Criteria Might Improve Equity Among Diverse Populations
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, and early detection through screening is one of the most effective ways to reduce mortality. Yet despite expanded eligibility criteria, racial and ethnic disparities in lung cancer screening persist.
Lung Cancer Screenings Often Find Esophageal Cancer, As Well
An added benefit of lung cancer screening (LCS) at the VA is that it also often identifies incidental esophageal abnormalities.
Identification, Management of Incidental Findings in VA Lung Cancer Screening Program
Incidental findings (IFs) are common on low dose CT obtained during lung cancer screening (LCS) of veterans.
Pandemic Data: SCLC Survival Outcomes for Carboplatin Comparable to Cisplatin
AMSTERDAM, the NETHERLANDS – Based on a consensus of clinical guidelines, cisplatin is the preferred platinum agent in the first-line treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC), especially limited-stage disease (LS-SCLC). During the COVID-19 pandemic, however,...
What Is Link Between Merkel Cell Polyomavirus, Lung Carcinogensis?
NANCHANG, CHINA – Even though tobacco smoking is predominantly associated with lung cancer (about 85%), another 15-25% of lung cancers occur in non-smokers. “This suggests that other biological cofactors, such as chronic infection and inflammation, are responsible for...
Tarlatamab Had Acceptable Safety Profile, Unprecedented OS in ES-SCLC Trial
SEATTLE -- Tarlatamab, a delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3)-directed bispecific T-cell engager immunotherapy, in combination with anti-PD-L1, demonstrated an acceptable safety profile, with long-term tolerability and “unprecedented” overall survival in small cell lung cancer,...
Predicting Outcomes for Lung Cancer With Radiology/Pathology Integration
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally and includes non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (85% of cases) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (13–15% of cases).
New Test Shows Promise for Improving Lung Cancer Detection, Reducing Costs for VA
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Early detection is vital, especially for veterans, who face a disproportionately high risk of lung cancer due to higher rates of smoking and other exposures.
Predicting Outcomes for Lung Cancer with Radiology/Pathology Integration
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally and includes non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (85% of cases) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (13–15% of cases).
Insulin Resistance Surrogates Linked to Greater Small Cell Lung Cancer Risk
Insulin resistance (IR) has shown correlation with increased cancer risk, but few studies have explored the relationship between IR and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), according to a new Chinese study.
AI-based Radiomic Features Help Predict Benefit, Outcomes in Advanced SCLC
With small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the majority of patients develop resistance to chemotherapy. The new study led by Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, evaluated radiomic features to predict progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in limited-stage SCLC (LS-SCLC).
Women Veterans Less Adherent with Lung Cancer Screening Follow-up
Although the 2021 update to the United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for lung cancer screening (LCS) called for a reduction in disparities related to sex, race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, few studies have looked at LCS adherence among female veterans.
Historic p87 Marker Is Promising for Earlier Lung Cancer Diagnoses
With lung cancer the most common cancer worldwide, low-dose computed tomography (CT) scanning has been disappointing for early diagnosis due to the high false positive rate.
Veterans Three Times More Likely to Be Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening
Keenly aware that veterans face a 25% to 76% increased risk of lung cancer, the VA has committed to increasing lung cancer screening and ensuring access to treatment, but challenges remain.
Women Veterans Less Adherent with Lung Cancer Screening Follow-up
Although guidelines from
Clinical Challenges When NSCLC Histologically Transforms Into SCLC
In the last two decades, targeted therapies have dramatically improved the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that possess actionable driver mutations.
Psychological Distress Common in Veterans with Lung Cancer
Cancer patients often suffer psychological distress, but the condition often is an underrecognized and burdensome adverse effect of cancer diagnosis and treatment, according to a new study.
Longer Survival for SCLC Patients with Immunotherapy-Related Adverse Events
A new study examined if small-cell lung cancer patients live longer when they have side effects from immunotherapy.
Pandemic Decreased Already Too Low Lung Cancer Screening Rates
A new study demonstrated how critically the COVID-19 pandemic affected lung cancer screening (LCS).
Shared Decision-Making Tool Promotes More Effective Use of Lung Cancer Screening
Research, including a new study of 57,000 U.S. veterans diagnosed with lung cancer, has shown that low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening (LCS) saves lives.
Military Study Finds That Pulmonary Hypertension Diagnosis Has Detrimental Effect on NSCLC Survival
A study from the VA and U.S. military research organizations addresses the question of how a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) affect survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
In Advanced NSCLC, Frail Patients Receive Less Intensive Treatment Even If Performance Status Isn’t Poor
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy is often preferred over intensive ICI treatment for frail patients and those with poor performance status (PS) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
KRAS G12C in Veterans with NSCLC Has Favorable Outcomes Compared to Non-G12C Variants; Availability of Sotorasib Treatment Credited
KRAS mutations have historically carried a poor prognosis in NSCLC, and the most common variant, G12C, had similar suboptimal survival compared to non-G12C variants. That has changed with the approval of new KRAS G12C inhibitors.
Real-World VA Study Shows Substantial Mortality Benefit From Lung Cancer Screening
Veterans who underwent VHA lung cancer screening were more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier stage and had higher cure rates than those who were not screened, according to a new observational study.
Lung Cancer Survival Rates in Federal Medicine Compare Well to Community
Survival rates are rising for veterans diagnosed with lung cancer within the VHA and, unlike in the general population, Black veterans are benefiting as much or more than white ones.
Lung Cancer Survival Rates Continue Improvement Within VHA
VA’s increasing usage of cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic treatments for lung cancer, as well as its equal access model to address healthcare disparities, could be a model for other medical systems, according to a new study.
Many Patients with Limited Life Expectancy Choose to Undergo Lung Cancer Screening
Lung cancer screening has the potential to save lives by catching lung cancer at an early stage with definitive treatment. But it also carries potential harms—including overdiagnosis, distress from false-positive results and complications of further testing. For some people, those downsides can outweigh any benefits.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Improve Overall Survival for VA NSCLC Patients
DURHAM, NC -- Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients showed significant benefit from the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in a study looking at use of the therapy for five major cancer types in the VA healthcare system. The study from the VA’s National...
