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Breakthrough in lung cancer treatment: Drug combination that stops disease progression more than 40% longer than standard therapy
An important breakthrough in the field of lung cancer treatment brings hope to patients and their families. A recent global study showed that a new drug combination, amivantamab and lazertinib, can stop the progression of lung cancer for an average of 23.7 months, more than 40% longer than the standard treatment with osimertinib, which offers a median survival progression free for 16.6 months. This progress marks an important step in what experts call the “golden age” of cancer research, according to The Guardian.
Details about the global study
The study, conducted between 2020 and 2022, involved 1,074 patients from countries including the UK, US, Australia, France, Brazil, India and China, all with an advanced form of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer.
These patients also had a mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, which is associated with about a quarter of lung cancer cases globally and 40% of cases in Asia.
How this lung cancer treatment works
Amivantamab is a monoclonal antibody that targets cancer cells, while lazertinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Together, these drugs work complementary to stop the growth and division of tumor cells.
According to Professor Raffaele Califano, principal investigator of the study at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, “the combination of the two drugs provides a significant improvement in progression-free survival rates compared to standard therapy.”
This discovery was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US, and doctors hope that the treatment will be available in other countries, including through public health systems.
“The more treatment options we have, the more hope we can bring to patients and their families,” Califano said, adding that he expects this therapy to be evaluated and approved by health bodies such as NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), to be widely used.
Side effects and safety of treatment
Although the results are promising, most patients have reported some side effects, including rashes, infections, or blood clots. These side effects are considered manageable, and doctors continue to monitor the long-term safety of the treatment.
This drug combination is an excellent example of precision medicine, a field that uses detailed information about a patient’s genetic characteristics to develop personalized treatments.
“Advances in precision medicine are significantly improving outcomes for patients by developing therapies that exploit the vulnerabilities of tumours,” explained Prof Martin Forster, oncologist at University College Hospital London and UK study coordinator.
Reactions from the medical community
The results of this study have been met with enthusiasm by cancer research experts and organizations. Anna Kinsella, Research Information Manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “These results are excellent news. Patients benefiting from this combination of drugs can have more time with their loved ones.”
Paula Chadwick, chief executive at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, added: “Every breakthrough gives us hope in the fight against lung cancer, improving treatments and giving patients the chance to live better and longer.”
Advances in oncology research and the development of personalized treatments, such as the combination of amivantamab and lazertinib, bring new hope for patients with advanced lung cancer. Although there are still steps to be taken for the widespread adoption of these treatments, the results are promising and pave the way to more effective and better-tailored therapies for patients.
Source: www.doctorulzilei.ro
