Experts explain invisible threats and the latest treatments and preventions

Dr. Wu said that Asians are prone to lung cancer, and even non-smokers have a high incidence rate. Therefore, even if you don’t smoke and have no family history, it is still recommended that you get a low-dose CT scan after you are over 40 to see if you have any lung problems.

The latest progress and future prospects of lung cancer treatment

In the past, it was generally believed that patients with advanced disease usually only needed genetic testing when surgery was not possible, in order to select appropriate targeted drugs or immunotherapy. Dr. Wu said that current research shows that different gene mutations in lung cancer actually represent different diseases, so the treatment options suitable for each mutation are also different. For example, if an EGFR mutation is detected (the most common gene mutation in Asian lung cancer patients), the corresponding EGFR targeted drug can be selected. Currently, there are mutations in 10 important genes that can be mapped to specific targeted drugs.

At a conference of ASCO (American Society of Cancer Oncology) in early June this year, Dr. Wu shared the treatment options for non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is very common in the Asian population. Early patients can choose surgical treatment, while in some cases where surgery is not possible, a combination of immunotherapy and targeted drugs may be required. In addition, for small cell lung cancer, the latest research shows that the use of immunotherapy can significantly improve the survival rate of patients.

For example, in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, Dr. Wu said that different treatment methods are adopted at different stages. If it is in the early stage, surgical resection can be chosen; if it is in the late stage, drug treatment is the main treatment, with targeted drugs, immunotherapy and chemotherapy as auxiliary treatments.

Secondly, genetic testing is done to detect specific gene mutations. If specific gene mutations (such as EGFR mutations) are found, corresponding targeted drugs can be used to enhance the treatment effect.

There are two new research advances in lung cancer treatment this year:

First, the study showed that for patients with stage III disease who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), the progression-free survival rate was significantly improved with the use of targeted drugs.
Second, for patients with early-stage disease who have gene mutations, adjuvant targeted drugs or immunotherapy may be needed after surgery to reduce the recurrence rate.