Clinical Trials
Clinical trials in lung cancer treatments represent the frontlines of innovation in delivering the most effective and forward thinking care to patients. These are working learning based treatments which are administered to a number of lung cancer patients. Much of what we know now, with regards to surgical, radiology, and chemotherapy treatments is the result of brave individuals who volunteered their services for a better chance and physicians working on the cutting edge of cancer treatment. Below is a brief examination of recent clinical trials in lung cancer related capacities.
1.) Radiotherapy Can Prevent Spread of Small-Cell Lung Cancer to the Brain
This study, which was recently initiated by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, was working on developing a treatment program that would lessen the chances of small cell lung carcinomas spreading to the brain region. The study concluded that among those small-cell lung cancer patients who received chemotherapy for advanced stage cancer, those who received radiation treatment to the head had their chances of developing related brain tumors substantially lessened. Spread of lung cancer to the brain is quite common in small cell cases. In fact, in 20% of patients the cancer has already spread to the brain at the time small cell lung cancer is diagnosed. In two years, the percentage of patients with cancer spread to the brain is more that 50%. This recent discovery will likely change the standard of treatment for those with already developed advanced staged small cell lung carcinomas.
2.) Meta-Analysis Suggests Cisplatin Superior to Carboplatin for Advanced NSCLC
This analysis is based upon the findings of oncologists at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute. Conducted to establish the most effect chemotherapy agents, the study concluded that Cisplatin, a powerful chemotherapy agent already in use for many cancers, is likely still the most effective agent in the treatment of advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer. While the study suggests that Cisplatin was already regarded as more generally successful, it alleviated notions that the side effects of Cisplatin were unfortunate realities not associated with Carboplatin. In fact, carboplatin's side effects were much more worrisome, including a severe drop in platelet counts. Compared with Cisplatin's typical side effects of nausea and kidney issues, these seem somewhat less severe. It is an important revelation for those with non-small cell lung cancers who are attempting to develop a roadmap with their physician for their ongoing treatment.
3.) Post-Surgery Chemotherapy Improves Survival in Early Lung Cancer
This study shows the field of oncology is constantly striving to develop integrated methods betweens surgical and other treatment programs. For those with early detected tumors, a combination of complete surgical resection of the cancer and chemotherapy appears to be the longest survival rate of any lung cancer. Overall survival rate for those who were included in the treatment integrations was an average of 94 months, compared to 73 months for those who had surgery alone. This is a significant increase and gives hope to those whose cancers have been detected quickly.