Lung cancer research gives patients access to the newest treatments

Approximately 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with new cases of lung cancer every year. More people die from lung cancer than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined.

The good news is that treatment methods and the odds of long-term survival improve every day because of continuing worldwide research and ongoing clinical trials, including those at MemorialCare Cancer Institutes in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

“In the last 10 years, the treatments for all cancers have changed significantly with the introduction of immunotherapy and targeted therapies,” said Amol H. Rao, M.D., oncologist and the MemorialCare medical director of cancer research.

Rather than traditional surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, researchers are finding that patients respond well to new therapies that employ the natural immune system as well as new medications that target various kinds of cell growth, the doctor said.

Tumor testing identifies the genetic mutations that drive cancer, allowing therapy to be customized to each patient. In some cases, chemotherapy — the infusion of chemicals that can cause devastating side effects — is not needed.

“There has been a lot of attention paid to immunotherapy, which uses antibodies to activate the immune system to destroy cancer cells,” Dr. Rao said. “It has been highly effective and has resulted in a significant improvement in survival rates.”

The other promising approach to all stages of lung cancer is targeting the specific pathways that drive cancer with new, targeted medications and radiotherapy, sparing surrounding healthy tissue, and therefore, minimizing side effects, he said.

The advanced detection and treatment approaches available today are the result of data generated by past clinical trials.

Forget what you have heard about clinical trials in which some unknowing patients are given a placebo, rather than the treatment being studied.

“Modern clinical trials are not placebobased,” Dr. Rao said. “Trials are ethically designed for everyone to have at least the standard of care that has been proven effective. Some participants will be randomized to receive something promising but not yet proven. These drugs have been evaluated for safety already. No one receives sub-optimal care.

“Having separate groups helps us get a clear assessment of how a new combination advances treatment compared to the standard of care. We aim to assess results like improved cure rates, survival and safety."

MemorialCare’s legacy in clinical trials began in the 1950s with the development or cardiac stress tests. Today, the health care system’s research program is still on the leading edge of innovative diagnostic and treatment studies, Dr. Rao said. Oncologists at MemorialCare Cancer Institute have at least 10 lung cancer studies currently, focused on specific kinds of cancers seen in local communities. Patients are encouraged to discuss the benefits of participating in clinical trials with their oncologists.

“In clinical trials, patients have access to cutting-edge treatments that may become the new standard of care in the future,” the doctor said. “Patients in clinical trials have the benefit earlier than everyone else and contribute to advancing cancer care globally.”