Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer News

Trainee colloquium at YCC

Two genes could serve as a screening mechanism for resistance to immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), though further research is needed.

The workshop, hosted by Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital June 12 – 13, was held in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the discovery of EGFR mutation in lung cancer, which launched the era of personalized medicine in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, leading to a dramatic shift in treatment.

May 2024 marked the 20th anniversary of the publication of papers on the role of EGFR mutation in lung cancer. This is a seminal event that changed the history of this disease and that can be traced back to one reason why cancer mortality has been declining in the United States.

In a comprehensive discussion of EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, a number of significant advancements were highlighted, particularly from the LAURA trial which showed improved progression-free survival with osimertinib (Tagrisso) in patients with locally advanced disease.

A recent study conducted by scientists at Yale Cancer Center demonstrates that spatial gene signatures can significantly enhance the prediction of immunotherapy outcomes in patients with melanoma.

David Rimm, MD, PhD, Anthony N. Brady Professor of Pathology, professor, medicine, Medical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine; director, Physician Scientist Training Program, Pathology Research, director, Tissue Microarray Facility, director, Yale Pathology Tissue Services, Pathology, Yale Cancer Center, discusses the primary challenges in distinguishing between HER2-low and HER2-ultralow breast cancer using current immunohistochemistry diagnostic kits.

Even the addition of immunotherapy “works less well,” said Dr. Roy Herbst, deputy director, chief of medical oncology and director of the center for thoracic cancers at Yale Cancer Center, during an interview with CURE®. “While we’ve seen some significant progress in the non-small cell [lung cancer] area, with targeted therapies and immunotherapies, in small cell [lung cancer], we haven't seen as much — the targeted therapies really don't apply,” Herbst said.

In this exclusive MedPage Today video, Roy Herbst, MD, PhD, of Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, Connecticut, discusses exciting new data surrounding osimertinib (Tagrisso) in patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from both the LAURAopens in a new tab or window and ADAURAopens in a new tab or window trials, including improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) in stage III patients and the potential of using minimal residual disease to predict optimal length of treatment.