Welcome to the August 2024 edition of the EGFR Patient Gateway newsletter.

2024 marks a milestone anniversary for the EGFR lung cancer community. Twenty years ago, EGFR was shown to play a role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), marking the beginning of precision medicine for lung cancer. Since that first targeted therapy for EGFR-positive NSCLC, there has been tremendous progress in our understanding of this disease and in our ability to treat it.

In this newsletter, you can see this progress in action, from data showing that the EGFR-targeting drug osimertinib is extending survival in stage III NSCLC to the growing number of global approvals to use osimertinib to treat patients with EGFR-positive lung cancer.

We are also seeing new first-line options for patients that go beyond osimertinib. Last week we saw the FDA approval of a chemotherapy-free combination of two drugs, amivantamab and lazertinib. This combination can cause significant side effects in some patients, so we will be watching to see if it replaces osimertinib as the preferred treatment.

Below, you will also find articles highlighting advances in targeting harder-to-treat EGFR mutations, such as EGFR exon 20 insertions. Additionally, there is growing recognition that the way a drug is administered to patients matters. An important study showed that giving a treatment through a simple injection under the skin (rather than through an IV infusion) improved patient satisfaction, quality of life, and overall survival too.

The EGFR field has come a long way in 20 years, and the science is still marching forward.

Get Connected

The Latest EGFR+ Treatment News From the Comfort of Your Home
Don’t miss this opportunity to chat with Dr. Tejas Patil, an accomplished lung cancer expert from the University of Colorado Cancer Center, and Kristen Kimball, a patient advocate, during the EGFR Breakout Session at LUNGevity’s International Lung Cancer Survivorship Conference on September 20-21. This free virtual conference brings a full slate of lung cancer experts and cutting-edge information directly to you!  Check out the full agenda and register today.

Join Us for the EGFR Virtual Meetup
This is an easy way to build your community. On the first Wednesday of each month, you can connect with others who understand what it’s like to live with EGFR+ lung cancer. The next EGFR Meetup is happening on Wednesday, September 4, 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?

Research in Action: October 10 at 12 pm ET
Join us for an interactive Facebook Live discussion to learn how immune cells can be engineered to target EGFR+ NSCLC. This webinar features Jill Feldman and Laura Book, members of the EGFR Resisters, and Dr. Alexandre Reuben from the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Reuben is a 2023 EGFR Resisters/LUNGevity Foundation grant recipient who works on engineering T cells to treat several types of lung cancer. Tune in on October 10.

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, 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 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.

…and there is always so much more to explore on the EGFR Patient Gateway.

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Want to learn about the Foundation’s efforts to transform the way people are diagnosed and live with lung cancer? Check out LUNGevity’s monthly newsletter.

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.