Lung cancer drug doubles survival rate

A NEW type of treatment could double the chances of survival for some patients suffering from the most common type of lung cancer, according to scientists.

Drug firm Roche has been carrying out tests on an immunotherapy treatment, with early results suggesting it could be a better option than chemotherapy for those with non-small cell lung cancer.

In Scotland, rates of the disease are significantly higher for both sexes than they are in the other nations of the UK.

Of the 43,463 new cases of the disease diagnosed in the UK 2011, 5,096 were in Scotland.

But less than 30 per cent of lung cancer patients will still be alive one year after the disease is detected.

About 85 per cent of sufferers have non-small cell lung cancer and could be helped by the new treatment, which is known as MPDL3280A.

The drug, which had been awarded breakthrough therapy designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), works by interfer- ing with the PD-L1 protein on tumour cells.

By doing this, it may help T cells in the blood, restoring their ability to detect and attack tumour cells.

Patients from the Royal Free Hospital, the Charing Cross Hospital and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, all in London, along with some from the Christie Hospital in Man- chester, have been involved in a study.

Jesme Fox, medical director at Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said: “Lung cancer remains a devastating disease, with the vast majority of patients diagnosed when the disease is in the late, non-curative stage.

“For this reason new and innovative therapies are of great need.”