LUNGevity Hosts Inaugural Early Lung Cancer Center Meeting
Last month, the Early Lung Cancer Center (ELCC) held its inaugural meeting, attracting over 50 attendees. During the event, patient Terri Ann DiJulio shared her inspiring story as a three-time early lung cancer survivor and clinical trial participant.
The ELCC is laying the groundwork for strategies and priorities across early lung cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment with a clear vision of achieving a world where no one dies of lung cancer. Areas to be explored include non-screen eligible/Incidental Pulmonary Nodules (IPN), policies that will drive access and expand opportunities for early detection, population and nodule risk assessment and biomarker tools, and treatment coordination.
Spring Activities at LUNGevity
Join the Momentum: eRACE Hits Major Milestones
A little rain can’t stop us! A group logged miles in Atlanta during LUNGevity’s HOPE Summit.
It's the halfway mark of eRACE Lung Cancer, and the enthusiasm is as high as ever! Our community has surpassed 1,700 miles and is nearing our $22,000 fundraising goal, set in recognition that someone in the US is diagnosed with lung cancer every 2.2 minutes. Participants are finding creative ways to contribute, from yoga to paddling to reading sessions.
- Cheryl Van Allen walks daily in honor of her friend, Mayra, and in memory of her mother-in-law while facing the challenges of ovarian cancer herself.
- Jon Bondroff leads our fundraising efforts, honoring his father's memory with each contribution.
- Team Burke Forever continues to inspire, raising over $3,800 in memory of Jim Burke.
There's still time to join these amazing efforts and make your impact by doing whatever activity brings you joy and make a difference for people living with lung cancer!
HOPE Summit 2024
LUNGevity’s 12th annual HOPE Summit was hosted in Atlanta, GA, from May 3-5, gathering over 300 patients, caregivers, and survivors from across the country. The weekend buzzed with new connections, valuable insight from healthcare experts, and engaging sessions on topics ranging from nutrition, sexual health, and advocacy to lung cancer basics, standing up for yourself, and palliative care. New friendships and memories were made for those of all ages. For the first time ever at HOPE Summit, kids enjoyed special activities thanks to Camp Kesem and Pickles Group.
We’re grateful to all who made this year unforgettable. Don’t forget to check out photos from this year, and to save the date for HOPE Summit 2025, which will be hosted in Bethesda, MD, from May 2-4.
Team LUNGevity Triumphs at Big Sur International Marathon!
Some of our Big Sur athletes met for an early morning photo before conquering the course.
Team LUNGevity had an incredible showing at the Big Sur International Marathon, with 27 dedicated athletes raising more than $50,000—a fundraising record for this event! Despite course modifications due to a recent landslide, our team embraced the challenge and made their mark. From pre-race socializing with a pizza and pasta lunch to a spirited cheer station during the final mile, the weekend was filled with camaraderie, support, and success. Participants were motivated by personal achievements and the sense of community and purpose in supporting lung cancer research.
Check out the exciting race weekend photos, and get ready to join us for the Life Time Chicago Spring Half Marathon & 10K on May 19!
If you're interested in joining Team LUNGevity, look for events near you. Let's make strides together in the race to stop lung cancer!
Science and Research Corner
New Treatment Approved for Extended Stage SCLC
On May 16, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the accelerated approval of tarlatamab-dlle (Imdelltra®) to treat patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
This targeted immunotherapy, the first of its kind, is based on new technology. Tarlatamab is a bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE)—a drug with two arms that simultaneously binds to a T cell (a part of the immune system) and a tumor cell. This allows the T cell to come close enough to the tumor cell to recognize and destroy it. Visit our SCLC Patient Gateway to learn more about this exciting development and access additional SCLC resources.
New Treatment Approved for Early-Stage ALK+ NSCLC
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced the approval of alectinib to treat patients after surgical removal of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Alectinib is approved for use in patients with completely resected stage IB to IIIA ALK-positive NSCLC whose tumors are at least 4 cm wide. This approval is supported by data from the phase 3 ALINA trial, which showed that treating patients with alectinib reduced the risk of disease recurrence by 76% compared to treating them with chemotherapy.
Highlights of AACR 2024
The annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting took place in April in San Diego. This gathering of over 23,000 laboratory scientists and clinicians focuses on translating bench science to patient care. Highlights include:
Air pollution was identified as a major risk factor that could play a role in lung cancer development in patients in China, India, Pakistan, and Nigeria who have never smoked. Traditionally, SCLC was considered a tumor that was only caused by tobacco exposure. More recent research indicates that there are three types of SCLC, each with a distinct molecular profile that can help doctors choose the best treatment option.
A new treatment using osimertinib and chemotherapy was approved in February as a first-line treatment for EGFR+ NSCLC. A new blood test may help determine which patients will benefit from osimertinib alone or in combination with chemotherapy.
Around 50% of patients develop major side effects from immunotherapy. Researchers shared the results of a new test that may predict the clinical benefits of immunotherapy. In the future, it may be used to identify which patients will develop side effects.
Be sure to check out LUNGevity’s Patient Gateways for curated research news about your specific type of lung cancer.
New Advocacy Group for Small Cell Lung Cancer
LUNGevity is proud to partner with Misty Dawn Shields, MD, PhD, assistant professor of clinical medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Shields brings invaluable expertise as a translational thoracic oncologist with a personal connection to small cell lung cancer (SCLC), having lost her father to the disease. We hope you will join us this Facebook Live on LUNGevity’s page, Thursday, May 30, at 12 pm ET, to hear from Dr. Shields, learn about her new group, the Small Cell Smashers, and have your SCLC questions answered. This virtual event promises to be insightful and informative, providing a platform to connect with others and gain valuable insights about living with SCLC.
LUNGevity Action Network
Are you interested in lung cancer advocacy? Sign up for emails from the LUNGevity Action Network to receive the latest news, events, and action alerts.
Already on the list? We encourage you to check out the Take Action page for the latest campaigns you can use to write to your legislators about priorities for the lung cancer community. New campaigns are added throughout the year, so be sure to check in often!
In Case You Missed It
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