Aiming to improve cancer prevention, ESMO calls for strong policy measures to fight the tobacco epidemic

 The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) recently submitted its response to the European Union in regards to the Tobacco Products and Tobacco Advertising directives.  As per ESMO, "up to 40% of all cancers are preventable...robust tobacco cessation policies are among the most effective strategies for reducing the risk of cancer, improving human health, and reducing cancer cases."  According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 7 000 000 million people worldwide die from tobacco use each year (700,000 deaths in Europe alone), contributing to 25% of all cancer-related deaths.  

Click here to read the full ESMO report. 

Research unlocks insights into lung cancer evolution from electronic medical records

 A recently completed study at the University Hospital of Toulouse, France emphasized the benefits of a "domain-specific natural language processing (NLP) pipeline...in extracting clinically meaningful information from diverse clinical documents of patients with non-small cell lung cancer."  Following an analysis of 1,028 discharge summaries and external consultation letters from 120 non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing oral targeted therapy, "the domain-adapted NLP solution achieved an F1 score of 79.7% for tumor evolution concept extraction and 62.0% for temporality alignment." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Vinot, C., et al. "Automated extraction of temporalized tumor evolution from oncology EMRs using natural language processing." ESMO Real World Data and Digital Oncology 11 (2026): 100660.

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy and understanding anticancer immunity

 Study results currently being presented at the ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress (held in London, England, December 10-12, 2025) showcase the rise of neoadjuvant immunotherapy studies "from small investigator-led window-of-opportunity...to standard of care paradigms across various tumour types."  Using triple-negative breast cancer and early-stage non-small cell lung cancer as examples, treating patients before surgery provides "access to living tumour ecosystems responding - or not- to immunotherapy." 

Click here to read more and note the Immuno-Oncology Congress program details below: 

Mulder K, et al. Residual tumour immune microenvironment shapes relapse risk in early TNBC following immunotherapy. ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress 2025 - Abstract 328MO

Nijman H, et al. Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibition skews the B cell response in mismatch repair deficient endometrial cancer. ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress 2025 - Abstract 329MO

Pircher A, et al. Neoadjuvant induction with pembrolizumab (Pembro) plus lenvatinib (Len) in resectable early-stage NSCLC impacts the tumor microenvironment (TME): Clinical results including multi-omic deconvolution of the TME from the INNWOP01 study. ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress 2025 - LBA1

Antitumour activity of patritumab deruxtecan in heavily pretreated patients with active brain metastases of breast cancer and NSCLC

 Results from TUXEDO-3, a prospective multicentre open-label single-arm multicohort phase II study were recently published on The Lancet Oncology.  TUXEDO-3 evaluated patritumab deruxtecan in 3 patient cohorts: 1. patients with metastatic breast cancer with untreated or progressing brain metastases after local treatment"; 2. "patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with untreated or progressing brain metastases after local treatment" 3. "patients with treatment-naive leptomeningeal disease (LMD) or LMD progressing after radiotherapy from any advanced solid tumour."   

To read more about the TUXEDO-3 study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Bartsch R, Marhold M, Garde-Noguera J, et al. Patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) in patients with active brain metastases of breast cancer (TUXEDO-3): a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial . The Lancet Oncology 2025;26(11):1467-1478.  
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• Fuereder T, Garde-Noguera J, García-Mosquera JJ, et al. Patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) in patients with active brain metastases of non-small cell lung cancer (TUXEDO-3): a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial . The Lancet Oncology 2025;26(11):1454-1466.   
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• Jerzak KJ, Leighl NB, Sahgal A. Systemic therapy for brain metastases: a changing landscape . The Lancet Oncology 2025;26(11):P1398-1400. 

Savolitinib plus osimertinib show a high response in EGFR-mutated NSCLC progressed on first-line osimertinib due to MET-driven resistance mechanisms

 Results of SAVANNAH, a phase II study comprised of "one of the largest datasets evaluating an oral MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor in EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer" was recently reported in Annals of Oncology.   Considered to be the first study to use a novel biomarker-based patient selection strategy, results from SAVANNAH "demonstrate efficacy benefit with a chemotherapy-free, orally administered, combined EGFR and MET targeted treatment regimen." 

To learn more about the SAVANNAH study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

de Marinis F, Kim TM, Bonanno L, et al. Savolitinib plus osimertinib in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer with MET overexpression and/or amplification following disease progression on osimertinib: primary results from the phase II SAVANNAH study . Annals of Oncology 2025;36(8):P920-933. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2025.04.003

Lung adenocarcinoma with mucinous histology

 A recently completed study conducted amongst four academic institutions/cancer centres across the United States (Dana Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Massachusetts General Hospital), along with the University of Bologna in Italy have uncovered that "mucinous histology is seen in 10% of patients with lung carcinoma."  Further, the researchers determined that patients diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma with mucinous histology, have never smoked.  These findings indicate the need to strongly consider mucinous histology in future lung cancer prognostications. 

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Di Federico A, Hong L, Elkrief A, et al. Lung adenocarcinomas with mucinous histology: clinical, genomic, and immune microenvironment characterization and outcomes to immunotherapy-based treatments and KRASG12C inhibitors. Annals Of Oncology; Published online 2 December 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2024.11.014

Prevention and screening have been major contributors to saving lives among five cancer types

 A recent study published in JAMA Oncology focusing on mortality from breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer indicates that cancer prevention and screening significantly contributes to reductions in death among these 5 cancer types.  According to Dr. Katrina Goddard, co-lead investigator for the study, "8 out of 10 deaths from these five cancers were averted over the past 45 years due to advances in prevention and screening."  Further, the study, looking at cancer mortality over 45 years (1975-2020) states that 5.94 million deaths were averted...[where] "prevention and screening interventions accounted for 4.75 million, or 80% of the averted deaths." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

1. Goddard KAB, Feuer EJ, Mandelblatt JS, et al. Estimation of Cancer Deaths Averted From Prevention, Screening, and Treatment Efforts, 1975-2020. JAMA Oncol. Dec. 5, 2024. DOI:10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.538Exit Disclaimer
   

Benefit in overall survival with neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab in patients with resectable, early-stage non-small cell lung cancer

 Findings from the KEYNOTE-671 study, a randomized, placebo-controlled phase III trial, has shown that neoadjuvant prembrolizumab and cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab "significantly improved overall survival compared with neoadjuvant chemotherapy along in patients with molecularly unselected, resectable stage II, IIIA or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)."  Following a study of 797 NSCLC patients, 393 of whom received pembrolizumab while 400 received placebo, online survival estimates were "71% in the pembrolizumab group and 64% in the placebo group." 

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Spicer JD, Garassino MC, Wakelee H, et al. on behalf of the KEYNOTE-671 investigators. Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab compared with neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone in patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (KEYNOTE-671): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet 2024;404(10459):P1240-1252.
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  Presley CJ, Owen DH. Improved survival for patients with lung cancer treated with perioperative immunotherapy. The Lancet 2024;404(10459):P1176-1178.
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  Garassino MC, Gao S, Liberman M, et al. Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab (pembro) or placebo (pbo) plus chemotherapy and adjuvant pembro or pbo for early-stage NSCLC: Subgroup analyses of the phase III KEYNOTE-671 study. Annals of Oncology 2024;35(Suppl 2):S778-S779.  

EMA recommends extension of therapeutic indications for encorafenib and binimetinib

 The European Medicine Agency (EMA) has recommended a change to marketing authorization for encorafenib and binimetinib for the treatment of adults with non-small cell lung cancer.  These drugs, when used in combination, as well as the drug cetuximab, may also be used to treat metastatic melanoma and metastatic colorectal cancer. 

To learn more about this recommendation, click here. 

Cost of care discussions rarely documented for patients with advanced cancer

 A recently completed population study by researchers at the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute shows "cost discussions were infrequently documented in medical records" of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma.  According to lead study author Dr. Robin Yabroff, scientific vice president of health services research at the American Cancer Society, cost discussions were noted in only 20.3% of non-small cell lung cancer and 24% of melanoma patients.  

To read more about this study, click here. 

Study mentioned: Yabroff KR, Mittu K, Halpern MT. Cost-of-care discussions for individuals with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma: Findings from a large, population-based pilot study. Cancer. 2024 Jun 13. doi: 10.1002/cncr.35380. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38869706.

Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy superior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with event-free survival benefit in patients with resectable NSCLC and tumour PD-L1 less than 1%

 A recently published meta-analysis, conducted within the Department of Surgery at McGill University, concluded that "neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy as associated with improved overall survival, event-free survival, major pathological response and pathological complete response" compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.  In particular, improvements were noted in patients diagnosed with either stage II or stage III NSCLC.   

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Sorin M, Prosty C, Ghaleb L, et al. Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy for NSCLC A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Oncology; Published online 21 March 2024. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.0057
• Rolfo C, Russo A. The Chemoimmunotherapy Revolution in Resectable NSCLC—The Times They Are A-Changin’. JAMA Oncology; Published online 21 March 2024. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.0043

First prospective description of familial EGFR-mutated lung cancer

A prospective cohort study, conducted at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston has confirmed the existence "of an underappreciated syndrome of familial EGFR-mutated lung cancer predisposition which is characterized by development of lung adenocarcinomas harbouring an atypical spectrum of somatic EGFR mutations and high prevalence of lung nodules in germline carriers without a lung cancer diagnosis."   The study team further describes how cancer genomics has aided in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, including an understanding of inherited risk in lung cancer patients who have never smoked.  

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: Oxnard GR, Chen R, Pharr JC, et al. Germline EGFR mutations and familial lung cancer. JCO; Published online 14 August 2023. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.23.01372

Stopping treatment Is a reasonable strategy for patients with advanced NSCLC who are progression-free to front-line ICI at 2 years

 Recent findings from a retrospective cohort study conducted within the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania found no difference in overall survival between fixed 2-year vs. indefinite duration front-line treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.  Following extensive analysis of 1091 patients on ICI treatment 2 years after diagnosis, overall survival from 760 days was 79% in the fixed-duration group compared to 81% in the infinite duration group.  The study authors therefore determined there was no statistically significant difference in overall survival and thus determined that their study "supports treatment discontinuation at 2 years as a valid approach that does not appear to compromise survival outcomes." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

Sun L, Bleiberg B, Hwang W-T, et al. Association Between Duration of Immunotherapy and Overall Survival in Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. JAMA Oncology; Published online 4 June 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.1891

West H(J). Clinical Decision Making in the Real World—The Perfect as the Enemy of the Good. JAMA Oncology; Published online 4 June 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.1811

Long-term clinical benefit with nivolumab and ipilimubab extends beyond treatment discontinuation in patients with metastatic NCSLC, regardless of PD-L1 expression

According to a 5-year follow-up of the CheckMate 227 trial, nivolumab and ipilimumab "continued to demonstrate long-term, durable clinical benefit for previously untreated patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) versus chemotherapy, regardless of tumour PD-L1 expression."   Following a 5-year survival rate of 24% for nivolumab and ipilimumab in PD-L1, the authors of CheckMate 227 concluded that this is the "first phase III study to report 5-year clinical outcomes with a first-line combination of ICIs for patients with metastatic NSLSC." 

To read more about CheckMate 227, click here. 

Source mentioned: Brahmer JR, Lee J-S, Ciuleanu T-E, et al. Five-Year Survival Outcomes With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Versus Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in CheckMate 227. JCO; Published online 12 October 2022. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.22.01503

Some patients with NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) may respond poorly to COVID-19 MRNA vaccines

 A recently completed study from the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, determined that 25% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) experienced a negative antibody response after receiving COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.  Study lead Professor Rafi Ahmed further emphasized that his team "did not find a correlation with the type of cancer treatment and the magnitude of the antibody response."  In addition, further research is required as the Emory University study was small, comprised of 82 patients with NSCLC and 53 heathy volunteers.

To read more about this study click here.  

Source mentioned: Valanparambil RM, Carlisle J, Linderman SL, et al. Antibody Response to COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine in Patients With Lung Cancer After Primary Immunization and Booster: Reactivity to the SARS-CoV-2 WT Virus and Omicron Variant. JCO; Published online 27 June 2022. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.21.02986

Study shows public perception of e-cigarettes vs. cigarettes harms changed sharply during EVALID epidemic and COVID-19

 A new study conducted by the American Cancer Society indicates that perceptions by adults of "electronic or e-cigarettes as being more harmful than cigarettes...more than doubled between 2019-2020."  This perception coincides with results from the EVALI study, which focused on lung injury associated with e-cigarettes or vaping.  According to principal scientist Dr. Priti Bandi, all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes are harmful to one's health,  and "there is a need for behavioral interventions to encourage individuals to be informed consumers of available scientific findings and appreciate that while no tobacco product is safe, there are inherent differences between relative and absolute harms between tobacco products that can influence behavior."  

To read more about this study, click here. 

Humoral response to the third dose of the MRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine in a large cohort of patients with cancer

 A recently published letter to the editor in Annals of Oncology, authored by Dr. Vincenzo Di Noia from the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in Rome, Italy, "described the serological response to the third dose of the BNT162b2 mENA COVID-19 vaccine in a large cohort of patients with cancer."  407 patients received a third dose of BN1162b3 between September - November 2021.  366 (89.9%) of patients were on active anticancer treatment 28 days before BNT162b2 was administered.  Median age of patients was 67, with breast (28.5%) and lung (19.9%) identified as the most common cancer types.  402 (98.8%) of patients studied "had a positive serological status after the third vaccine dose." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Study mentioned: Di Noia V, Pimpinelli F, Renna D, et al. Potentiation of humoral response to BNT162b2 vaccine after the third dose in patients with solid cancer. Annals of Oncology; Published online 21 February 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2022.02.006

Trial alert from the PACIFIC study: Robust and sustained survival benefit with consolidation durvalumab after concurrent chemoradiotherapy for unresectable, stage III non-small-cell lung cancer

 Recently released results on survival analyses from the PACIFIC study focusing on the benefits of durvalumab in patients with unresectable, stage iii non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and no cancer progression following concurrent chemoradiotherapy treatment indicated that "42.9% of patients randomly assigned to durvalumab remain alive at 5 years and 33.1^ of patients remain alive and free of disease progression. 

Click here to read more about this study, the first to "demonstrate a survival advantage with immune checkpoint inhibitor in a curative-intent setting."

Source mentioned: Spigel DR, Faivre-Finn C, Gray JE, et al. Five-Year Survival Outcomes From the PACIFIC Trial: Durvalumab After Chemoradiotherapy in Stage III Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer. JCO; Published online 2 February 2022. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.21.01308

Lung cancer leading cause of cancer death in Canada

A recent study conducted by Health Canada as part of the Canadian Health Measures Survey has revealed that lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and leading cause of cancer death in Canada.  While exact figures have not been tabulated, it is estimated that 21,000 Canadians will have died from lung cancer in 2021, more than colorectal, pancreatic and breast cancers combined.  The study further reports that "about half of all lung cancers are diagnosed at stage IV, at which point survival is extremely low: five-year survival is 4%."   

To read more about the findings from this report, click here 

Origins of lung cancer in never smokers

 A new study lead by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has conducted a genomic analysis of lung cancer in individuals who have never smoked, determining that "a majority of these tumors arise from the accumulation of mutations caused by natural processes in the body."  The epidemiologic study, conducted a genomic analysis on 232 non-smoker patients with a non-small call lung cancer diagnosis, revealing 3 cancer subtypes categorized by musical names according to number of genomic changes in the tumors.  The "piano" subtype had the least number of mutations, with "mezzo-forte" exhibiting chromosomal changes, and "forte" showcasing "whole-genome doubling, a genomic changes that is often seen in lung cancers in smokers." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Zhang T, Joubert P, Ansari-Pour N, et al. Genomic and evolutionary classification of lung cancer in never smokers. Nature Genetics. Sept 6, 2021. DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00920-0.