Utilizing ctDNA to discover mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies in patients with metastatic NSCLC: towards more informative trials.

Advances in targeted therapies for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer have substantially improved the outcomes of those with actionable alterations in certain oncogenic driver genes. However, acquired resistance to these targeted therapies remains a major challenge. Understanding the mechanisms underlying acquired resistance will be crucial for the development of strategies that might either overcome this effect or delay the onset.

Antibody-drug conjugates in NSCLC with actionable genomic alterations: Optimizing smart delivery of chemotherapy to the target.

The advent of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) aims to transform the therapeutic landscape of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The distinctive architecture of ADCs enables the targeted delivery of highly potent cytotoxic payloads directly to cancer cells that express the molecular target specified by their monoclonal antibody component. This precision targeting stems from the notion that ADCs may be highly effective therapeutic agents, particularly for treating NSCLC tumors harboring actionable genomic alterations (AGAs).

Elucidating the Role of EGFR in Brain Metastasis Among Patients With Advanced NSCLC Undergoing TKI Therapy.

Introduction: Brain metastases (BM) are a prevalent and severe complication of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that significantly affects quality of life. Although several predictive factors for BM have been identified, the influence of EGFR mutation subtypes remains under-explored.

Methods: We retrospectively examined patients with advanced NSCLC and EGFR mutations treated with first-line EGFR-TKIs.

De-Escalation Strategies With Immune Checkpoint Blockers in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Do We Already Have Enough Evidence?

Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) have revolutionized the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, one-dose-fits-all maximalist regimens have been considered the standard of care, with ICBs administered at flat doses regardless of patients' weight. Treatment duration with ICBs is often arbitrary across stages, ranging from a fixed time point to until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Synergistic production of nitrogen-rich hydrochar and solid biofuels via co-hydrothermal carbonization of microalgae and macroalgae: When nitrogen circularity matters.

This work explores the synergies between N-rich (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) microalgae and N-deficient (Undaria pinnatifida) macroalgae for the production of N-containing hydrochar and solid biofuels via co-hydrothermal carbonization (co-HTC). The impact of the feedstock (each alga alone and all possible binary mixtures) was comprehensively assessed under different temperatures (180-260 °C) and times (60-240 min). The synergies between micro and macroalgae governed product distribution, nitrogen transformation pathways, and hydrochar quality, with these effects varying by processing conditions.

An international and multidisciplinary EORTC survey on resectability of stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: The EORTC-Lung Cancer Group initiated a Delphi consensus process to establish a consensual definition of resectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for the use in clinical trials, including a systematic review, survey, and review of clinical cases. Here, the survey results are presented, aimed to identify areas of controversy.

Methods: A survey was distributed among the members of six international organizations related to lung cancer.

Pushing the boundaries of radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations: highlights from the 7 immunorad conference.

Over the last decade, the annual Immunorad Conference, held under the joint auspicies of Gustave Roussy (Villejuif, France) and the Weill Cornell Medical College (New-York, USA) has aimed at exploring the latest advancements in the fields of tumor immunology and radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations for the treatment of cancer. Gathering medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, physicians and researchers with esteemed expertise in these fields, the Immunorad Conference bridges the gap between preclinical outcomes and clinical opportunities. Thus, it paves a promising way toward optimizing radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations and, from a broader perspective, improving therapeutic strategies for patients with cancer.

Baseline for marine cave monitoring strategies in the Alboran Sea using modified Cave Ecosystem-Based Quality Index (CavEBQI).

Marine caves constitute vulnerable habitats with unique and diverse biocoenoses. Monitoring these habitats is still challenging, which hinders the ability to evaluate global and local pressures that threatens their ecological value. In this study, ecological quality is estimated in twenty-one marine caves distributed along the northern and southern coasts of the Alboran Sea, a highly understudied area regarding marine caves.

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy strategies for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Current evidence among special populations and future perspectives.

About one third of patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) presents at diagnosis with localized or locally advanced disease amenable to curative surgical resection. Surgical operability refers to stage I to IIIA and selected stage IIIB NSCLC. One of the main challenges in the management of early-stage resectable NSCLC is the optimization of available therapeutic strategies to prevent local and distant disease relapse, thus improving survival outcomes.

Non-small-cell lung cancer.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most frequent cancer types and is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The management of NSCLC has improved considerably, especially in the past 10 years. The systematic screening of populations at risk with low-dose CT, the implementation of novel surgical and radiotherapeutic techniques and a deeper biological understanding of NSCLC that has led to innovative systemic treatment options have improved the prognosis of patients with NSCLC.

Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: New Challenges with Immune Checkpoint Blockers and Targeted Therapies.

The recent advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has dramatically modified treatment strategies by improving the prognosis in this setting. Osimertinib and alectinib, both TKIs, have shown significant improvements in outcomes for patients with resected - and -positive NSCLC, respectively, changing the standard of care in these subgroups. More recently, the LAURA trial showed the efficacy of osimertinib after chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC harboring mutations.

Central nervous system metastases in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A review of the therapeutic landscape.

Up to 40% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) develop central nervous system (CNS) metastases. Current treatments for this subgroup of patients with advanced NSCLC include local therapies (surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, and, less frequently, whole-brain radiotherapy), targeted therapies for oncogene-addicted NSCLC (small molecules, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and antibody-drug conjugates), and immune checkpoint inhibitors (as monotherapy or combination therapy), with multiple new drugs in development. However, confirming the intracranial activity of these treatments has proven to be challenging, given that most lung cancer clinical trials exclude patients with untreated and/or progressing CNS metastases, or do not include prespecified CNS-related endpoints.

Impact of pembrolizumab treatment duration on overall survival and prognostic factors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Background: The efficacy of front-line pembrolizumab has been established in studies that limit treatment duration to 2 years, but decision to stop pembrolizumab after 2 years is often at physician's discretion. ATHENA is a retrospective cohort study using a comprehensive administrative database aimed firstly at exploring the optimal duration of pembrolizumab and secondly real-life prognosis factors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Using the French National Health Insurance database (SNDS), we identified patients with incident lung cancer in France from 2015 to 2022.

Circulating tumor DNA to guide diagnosis and treatment of localized and locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Liquid biopsy is a minimally invasive method for biomarkers detection in body fluids, particularly in blood, which offers an elevated and growing number of clinical applications in oncology. As a result of the improvement in the techniques for DNA analysis, above all next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has become the most informing tumor-derived material for most types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although ctDNA concentration is higher in patients with advanced tumors, it can be detected even in patients with early-stage disease.

Prevalence of pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variants in cancer predisposition genes among selected patients with lung adenocarcinoma: The GERMLUNG study.

Introduction: Pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in cancer predisposition genes may play a role in lung cancer (LC) susceptibility. However, determining an eligible population for genetic testing remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PGVs in a selected cohort of individuals with lung adenocarcinoma.

Recommendations for the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for patients with advanced cancer in 2024: a report from the ESMO Precision Medicine Working Group.

Background: Advancements in the field of precision medicine have prompted the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Precision Medicine Working Group to update the recommendations for the use of tumour next-generation sequencing (NGS) for patients with advanced cancers in routine practice.

Methods: The group discussed the clinical impact of tumour NGS in guiding treatment decision using the ESMO Scale for Clinical Actionability of molecular Targets (ESCAT) considering cost-effectiveness and accessibility.

Results: As for 2020 recommendations, ESMO recommends running tumour NGS in advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and ovarian cancer.

Immune checkpoint blockers in solid organ transplant recipients and cancer: the INNOVATED cohort.

Background: Patients with solid organ transplant (SOT) and solid tumors are usually excluded from clinical trials testing immune checkpoint blockers (ICB). As transplant rates are increasing, we aimed to evaluate ICB outcomes in this population, with a special focus on lung cancer.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study collecting real data of ICB use in patients with SOT and solid tumors.

New Treatment Options for Patients With Oncogene-Addicted Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Focusing on -Mutant Tumors.

Druggable oncogene-driven non-small cell lung cancer has led to innovative systemic treatment options, improving patients' outcome. This benefit is not only achieved in the metastatic setting but also in the postsurgical setting, such as in lung cancers harboring a common sensitizing mutation or -rearrangement. To enhance the outcome of these patients, we need to understand the mechanisms of acquired resistance and evaluate the role of new drugs with novel mechanisms of action in the treatment landscape.