Welcome to the summer edition of LUNGevity's ALK Patient Gateway newsletter. The outside temperatures have been hot, and so has the latest news for ALK+ NSCLC!
In the spring, the FDA approved the ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) alectinib for patients with early-stage ALK+ NSCLC who have had their tumors removed by surgery. Alectinib was shown to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence or death by 76% compared to chemotherapy, based on the phase III ALINA trial. This expansion to early-stage disease underscores the importance of comprehensive biomarker testing for all patients with lung cancer, regardless of stage.
At the recent ASCO meeting in Chicago, data from the CROWN study demonstrated that the ALK TKI lorlatinib can significantly improve progression-free survival (PFS). Remarkably, 60% of patients receiving lorlatinib were still alive 5 years later, suggesting a future where ALK+ NSCLC could be considered a chronic disease.
However, we recognize that many patients may not have such a response or lack access to these drugs due to regulatory or cost issues. Advocacy remains crucial to ensure everyone has access to the latest advances and treatments.
An ongoing challenge with TKIs is drug resistance over time. Scientists are continually developing new drugs to keep the treatment pipeline open. Learn more about these efforts in one of the articles highlighted in this edition.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and stay cool!
Research News
Roche
FDA approves Roche’s Alecensa as the first adjuvant treatment for people with ALK-positive early-stage lung cancer
Published Jul 17, 2024
swissinfo
Swiss giant Roche given green light for lung cancer drug in Canada
Published Jul 17, 2024
Middle East North Africa Financial Network
Nuvalent to Present Updated Data for ROS1-Selective Inhibitor, Zidesamtinib, and ALK-Selective Inhibitor, NVL-655, at the ESMO Congress 2024
Published Jul 16, 2024
Executive Bulletin
Five Year Follow-Up Data of Pfizer’s CROWN Trial Shows Prolonged Progression-Free Survival in ALK-Positive Advanced Lung Cancer
Published Jun 3, 2024
MSN.com
Lung Cancer Was a Death Sentence. Now Drugs Are Saving Lives.
Published Jun 2, 2024
Get Connected
Join us for the ALK Virtual Meetup
This is an easy way to build your community. On the fourth Wednesday of each month, you can connect with others who understand what it’s like to live with ALK+ lung cancer. The next ALK Meetup is happening on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at 12 pm ET. Register for this virtual meetup to get a confirmation email with details about how to join the virtual meeting. New attendees are always welcome and encouraged to join! Can’t make it? Don’t worry, there’s a full list of virtual meetups to fit your schedule.
Have You Seen?
Breakthroughs in Lung Cancer Research at ASCO 2024
Thousands gathered at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting to discuss groundbreaking lung cancer research. This year's theme, "The Art and Science of Cancer Care: From Comfort to Cure," emphasized both creativity and scientific advances in treatment. Highlights included new treatment options for SCLC, big wins for biomarker-driven NSCLC, and promising data on patient quality of life and personalized care. Discover the most impactful studies presented at this year's conference. Read the full recap.
Designing Clinical Trials Together
In a groundbreaking initiative, the Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research has partnered with LUNGevity to explore the vital role that patients with lung cancer can play in designing clinical trials in a three-part webinar series. The first webinar delves into the collaboration between patients and researchers, emphasizing patient-centric endpoints and perspectives. Key highlights include Dr. Shabbir Alibhai discussing his team's studies involving patients in trial design and Winston Klaas sharing his experiences and tips for effective patient engagement in research. Janet Freeman-Daily leads a compelling discussion on the skills needed for successful collaboration.
Watch the full video or jump to specific segments of interest here. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on enhancing clinical trial design through patient-researcher partnerships!
New Insights on Young Adults with Lung Cancer: An Interview with Dr. Florez
Young adults under 50 are being diagnosed with lung cancer at increasing rates, often facing unique challenges. Dr. Narjust Florez, awarded LUNGevity’s 2022 Health Equity and Inclusiveness Junior Investigator Award, is leading research to address these needs. Her study, presented at ASCO, highlights the impact of lung cancer on their mental, social, and financial health. Learn more about this groundbreaking work and her 360-degree approach to caring for patients.
Safely Bring Yoga, Dietary Supplements, Yoga, and More into Your Lung Cancer Journey
Integrative oncology adds holistic approaches—such as acupuncture, nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness—into a treatment plan. Research shows these interventions can have a tremendous impact on people going through lung cancer treatment and their quality of life. Unfortunately, they are also topics riddled with myths and falsehoods. LUNGevity spoke to an expert to help sort out the facts from the fiction. In this recent webinar, Gabriel Lopez, MD, medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center, explained how integrative medicine can be safely used by people managing a lung cancer diagnosis.
You can watch the entire conversation on our ALK Patient Gateway.
Advice and Insights from Author and Two-Time Cancer Survivor Kathy Giusti
Kathy Giusti joined LUNGevity for a special conversation about her life as a cancer patient, caregiver, and the founder and former CEO of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Her involvement with the medical system from these different perspectives inspired her to write her recent book, Fatal to Fearless: 12 Steps to Beating Cancer in a Broken Medical System.
Watch the full 40-minute conversation with Kathy and learn more about the topics and advice discussed.
…and there is always so much more to explore on the ALK Patient Gateway.
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If you need further assistance along your lung cancer journey, please email us at support@lungevity.org. Our team is always here to assist you.
