In a nutshell This article looked at using cancer cell type to identify patients who may benefit from drugs used to treat EGFR mutations. Some background Non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common type of lung cancer but can be difficult to treat. Some NSCLC’s have mutations (changes to DNA) and these mutations can be targeted by drugs...
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“Chasing the Face of Men’s Health**” On your mark, get set, grow face hair grow…but only on the upper lip! The Mo, Australian for mustache, is taking over the faces of men worldwide. Started from a fashion discussion among a couple of guys in a bar in Australia, the fundraiser has really taken off. But where does all the money from this...
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In a nutshell This study examined the use of sequential chemotherapy and erlotinib as a first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. Some background Certain genetic mutations, for example in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; a protein found on the surface of cells in the body), can often play a role in the growth of...
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In a nutshell This review examines the use of immunotherapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Some background Non-small cell lung cancer is often diagnosed at more advanced stages, as it does not present with many symptoms. The first-line treatment for most patients is platinum-based chemotherapy (for example carboplatin...
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Lung Cancer Facts In 2014, its been estimated that there will be 224,210 new cases of lung cancer and 159,260 deaths in the US. Sadly, one of the people lost was a brilliant young woman that we featured last year, Jessica Rice. She died March 14, 2014, after 2 1/2 years of treatment at age 32. Lung cancer patient survival rates have not increased...
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In a nutshell This study examined the association between microRNA levels and survival rates in small cell lung cancer. Some background Small-cell lung cancer accounts for 15-25% of lung cancer cases, and is associated with faster tumor growth and metastasis (spread of the cancer) compared to non small-cell lung cancer. While small-cell lung...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M1 is a useful prognostic marker for chemotherapy treatment response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Some background Platinum-based chemotherapy, using a variety of agents, is a main course of treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer....
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In a nutshell This study examined the use of gefitinib (Iressa) following chemotherapy in patients with stage 3 epidermal-growth-factor receptor positive non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Some background The initial treatment for non-small cell lung cancer is usually surgical removal of the tumor, which...
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In a nutshell This analysis explored whether class 3 β-tubulin levels are associated with chemoresistance in non-small cell lung cancer. Some background Non-small cell lung cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages, and therefore is often diagnosed at later stages. Despite treatment advances, the outlook for later-stage non-small cell...
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In a nutshell This study focused on the effectiveness of thoracic radiotherapy in treating extensive stage small-cell lung cancer. Some background Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fast growing cancer that has a tendency to spread to other parts of the body like the brain, liver and bone. Often, SCLC has already spread to the brain even if...
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Being a Spoonie You may not know it but if you are a patient with a chronic illness, you may be a spoonie. In 2010 Christine Miserandino wrote a post called The Spoon Theory. In the post, Christine describes explaining to her best friend what it really feels like to live with Lupus. She asks her friend to hold 12 spoons and tells her that the spoons are...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in patients with oligometastatic lung cancer. Some background Oligometastatic lung cancer refers to a tumors that have only spread to a limited number of sites in the body. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (or SBRT) involves the delivery of high dose...
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