A targeted therapy for a specific type of advanced lung cancer could work better when given earlier, according to findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has posted research on sunvozertinib, a drug that targets a genetic change known as an EGFR exon 20 mutation (a fault in a gene that drives certain lung cancer cells to grow). The drug has received regulatory approval in the United States and China as a later-line treatment — meaning patients receive it after other therapies have been tried — though its availability through NHS England has not been confirmed at the time of publication. The new research asks whether giving it first could improve outcomes for people with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common form of the disease.
NSCLC accounts for the large majority of lung cancer diagnoses. EGFR exon 20 mutations affect a smaller subset of those patients, but they are associated with poor responses to standard chemotherapy, making targeted treatments like sunvozertinib chiefly relevant for this group.
The NEJM summarised its findings in a short video format it calls a Quick Take — a brief visual overview of the research. The full paper is available in the New England Journal of Medicine, where the findings are subject to ongoing peer scrutiny in the normal way.
For Kent residents, lung cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers. Any changes to treatment pathways would be decided at NHS level — through NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) — before affecting what is available through NHS Kent and Medway services.
If you have concerns about lung cancer symptoms — a persistent cough, unexplained weight loss, or breathlessness that won’t go away — speak to your GP in the first instance, or call NHS 111 for advice.
Source: @NEJM