Transforming Lung Cancer Through Science

Welcome to LUNGevity’s quarterly newsletter dedicated to bringing you the latest news in lung cancer research.

This inaugural issue showcases impactful lung cancer research that aims to directly address the unmet needs of patients.

Science Spotlights

Targeting Tumor Cells That Escape Treatment 

Strategic investment in research to target driver mutations in lung cancer has led to dramatic improvements for people living with this disease. However, drug resistance is a constant concern, as not all cancer cells are killed by these treatments. Some cells, called drug-tolerant persister cells (DTPCs), evade treatment and eventually begin to grow again.

LUNGevity spoke with Christine Lovly, MD, PhD, about her groundbreaking work at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center funded by LUNGevity in partnership with the EGFR Resisters to understand and eliminate DTPCs—the hidden culprits behind treatment resistance. This research could unlock the next generation of durable therapies. [Learn more]

Sending Cancer to the Trash Can

Cells have a natural ability to break down and recycle proteins they don’t need anymore. This process, called protein degradation, relies on tagging the proteins that need to be recycled.

The pioneering approach developed by Justin Drake, PhD, at the University of Minnesota, supported by LUNGevity and RETpositive, to degrade cancer-driving RET-fusion proteins using the cell’s own recycling system has the potential to revolutionize treatment for RET-driven cancers. [Learn more] 

Early Detection: A Game-Changer for Survival Rates 

Detecting lung cancer early, when it is the most treatable, is the key to saving lives. That’s why LUNGevity and Rising Tide for Clinical Cancer Research are pleased to support co-investigators Abhijit Patel, MD, PhD, at Yale School of Medicine and Steven Skates, PhD, at Massachusetts General Hospital as they develop cutting-edge technology to detect lung cancer at its earliest stages—well before symptoms appear. [Learn more]

Featured Research

How Orphan Drugs Are Advancing Lung Cancer Treatment 

As researchers work to develop new ways to treat small cell lung cancer (SCLC)—an aggressive and notoriously treatment-resistant disease—innovation often means thinking creatively. Noura Choudhury, MD, a rising star in oncology at the University of Chicago, is doing just that by strategically leveraging orphan drugs to tackle one of lung cancer’s toughest challenges: resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). With limited tissue samples and few effective therapies, SCLC has long lagged behind other types of lung cancer in research breakthroughs. But Dr. Choudhury’s work, sparked by a promising discovery at Memorial Sloan Kettering, is changing that narrative. 

By targeting LSD1, a protein linked to immune regulation, and combining an orphan-designated drug—iadademstat—with ICIs, her team is launching a groundbreaking clinical trial aimed at overcoming drug resistance. This approach not only accelerates the path from lab to patient but also exemplifies how existing resources can be leveraged to deliver faster, more effective treatments. [Learn more] 

Going Beyond the Lungs

Tackling Cachexia  

One-third of cancer deaths are linked to cachexia, a debilitating wasting syndrome that causes extreme muscle loss and fatigue. For over a decade, LUNGevity has been working to improve how we treat this condition. [Learn more] 

Lung Cancer in the News

Scientific Insights from the Field 

LUNGevity is committed to keeping you updated on the latest developments in lung cancer science. Each year, we attend the major oncology meetings and report on the biggest news in lung cancer research.   

• SCLC Hot Topic Meeting Highlights 
• Key Takeaways from the AACR Annual Conference 
• Top Lung Cancer News from ASCO’s Annual Conference 

Recent FDA Approvals   

LUNGevity celebrates the recent treatment approvals for lung cancer that build on foundational work from basic scientists and translational researchers and will improve outcomes for many people living with this disease.  

• On June 11, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of taletrectinib to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ROS1 rearrangements. Get more information about this approval.
   
• The FDA announced on June 23 the accelerated approval of datopotamab deruxtecan to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with mutations in the EGFR gene. Learn more about this approval and this exciting new class of drugs, antibody-drug conjugates or ADCs.
   
• Sunvozertinib received accelerated approval from the FDA on July 2 for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. Learn more about this approval.

Advocating for Research: Protecting the Pipeline of Innovation 

LUNGevity is at the forefront of national advocacy, responding swiftly to federal policy shifts that threaten research progress. We’ve mobilized the lung cancer community, issued influential policy statements, and conducted anonymous surveys to ensure researchers’ voices are heard. This proactive stance aims to safeguard lung cancer innovation and progress. [Read more]

Support Lifesaving Research

Join Us in Driving the Future of Lung Cancer  

LUNGevity is more than a foundation—we are a catalyst for change. With your support, we can continue to fund the bold ideas and brilliant minds that will transform lung cancer from a deadly diagnosis into a survivable condition.