The benefits in terms of overall and progression-free survival are also confirmed after five years for patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and who have not progressed after chemo-radiotherapy. At the Congress of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in progress until June 8, in fact, the updated 5-year data of the results of the Phase III Pacific study were presented which confirm that durvalumab demonstrates a clinically significant benefit and that it maintains over time both in terms of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).
Lung cancer, new confirmations for “agnostic” therapy
Inoperable lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in Italy. Of the more than 40,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in our country last year, about 80-85% can be classified as non-small cell. Today, one in three patients with this type of cancer has stage III disease at diagnosis, a stage in which most of the time the tumor can no longer be removed surgically. Prior to the approval of durvalumab for decades, chemo-radiotherapy was the only treatment option available for these patients. “The locally advanced stage of non-small cell lung cancer – he explains Richard Umberto, director of the Department of Oncology and of the University Complex of Radiotherapy of the City of Health and Science of Turin – is a complex and clinically heterogeneous setting, where however in the past only 15-25% of patients survived five years later (chemo ) radiotherapy, with locoregional progression and the onset of metastatic disease as a pattern of therapeutic failure “.
Lung cancer, US extends screening
by Tina Simoniello
The results at five years
After the publication of the first data of 2017 and 2018 published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the results of the updated analyzes of the Pacific study conducted in 235 centers in 26 countries and involved 713 patients were presented at the Asco Congress. Among the most significant results was the median overall survival which was 47.5 months for durvalumab compared to 29.1 months for placebo: “The data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology congress – explains Giorgio Scagliotti, director of the Department of Medical Oncology at the University of Turin – confirm, even after a 5-year follow-up, the potential of immunotherapy as a therapeutic approach in the treatment of unresectable stage III lung cancer. The 5-year update of the Pacific study shows an overall survival figure of 42.9% and a reduction in the risk of death of approximately 30% for patients treated with durvalumab. In addition, 1 in 3 patients in the durvalumab treatment arm did not experience disease progression, a particularly relevant result in terms of disease control and which further confirms the possibility of offering curative treatment in this setting ” .
Lung cancer, lots of news and hope becomes a promise: the interview with Silvia Novello
by Daniela Minerva
Effective therapies but managed in a team
In order to better manage the tumor, however, it is not enough to have more and more effective therapeutic weapons available. “The data presented at Asco – continues Icardi – further confirm the possibility of offering locally advanced patients an immunotherapy treatment capable of increasing the chances of cure and optimizing the effectiveness of chemo-radiotherapy, an opportunity that cannot be ignored. from the involvement of an adequate multidisciplinary team, which includes oncologist, surgeon and radiotherapist for an adequate diagnostic-staging framework and for a correct selection of patients to whom to offer the best therapeutic option “.
ASCO 2021
Lung cancer, ‘combo-immune’ reduces risk of death by 28%
by Irma D’Aria
The next steps of the research
Durvalumab is a human monoclonal antibody directed against PD-L1, which blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 and CD80, counteracting the immune-evasion mechanisms implemented by the tumor and allowing the reactivation of the immune system. The drug is approved in Italy for the curative treatment of unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has received European approval for the first-line treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Since first approval in February 2018, more than 80,000 patients in this setting have been treated with durvalumab worldwide. As part of a large development program, durvalumab is also being studied as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, small molecules and tremelimumab (an anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody), as a first or second line treatment for patients with NSCLC, SCLC, urothelial carcinoma, head and neck carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and other solid tumors.
.