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Newly approved drug effective against lung cancer caused by genetic mutation

2greys profile image
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The new drug sotorasib reduces tumor size and shows promise in improving survival among patients with lung tumors caused by a specific DNA mutation, according to results of a global phase 2 clinical trial. The drug is designed to shut down the effects of the mutation, which is found in about 13% of patients with lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of non-small-cell lung cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration approved sotorasib May 28 as a targeted therapy for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer whose tumors express a specific mutation — called G12C — in the KRAS gene and who have undergone at least one previous therapy for their cancer.

Non-small-cell lung cancer makes up over 80% of all lung cancers. More than 200,000 new cases of non-small-cell lung cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States.

medicine.wustl.edu/news/new...

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2greys
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Snackjack profile image
Snackjack

I guess I am one of that 80%, my cancer was pT1b N1 M0 R0 PL0 Squamous Cell Carcinoma which I seem to remember non-small-cell lung cancer being mentioned, I think the letters and numbers mean the staging but not certain on that. I had the upper right lobe of my lungs removed. It was only caught by chance as I was having a scan for something else when it was spotted, which in a way was lucky I suppose. Not that having cancer of any kind is lucky. Three months of severe anxiety whilst they did tests to see if my heart was up to the operation as I have Ischaemic Heart Disease with Left Ventricular impairment. There is always a niggle at the back of my mind that it may come back elsewhere in my lungs and may not be found early enough next time. My check ups end in March 2022. Your posts are always of interest so thank you. xx

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to Snackjack

O course you have that little niggle at the back of your mind, so do I and to be honest I think all cancer patients hold that thought. The trick is to be able to set it aside. My checkups end in May 2023. We are very similar, I too have Ischaemic Heart Disease with Left & Right Ventricular impairment. Surgery was not really a viable option for me with my lung function with drastic outcomes on both survivability and the survivable prognosis's, hence why I opted for the Radiotherapy pathway. Here is an explanation of the 'type coding letters and numbers':

cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

Snackjack profile image
Snackjack in reply to 2greys

Thank you so much 2greys that information is very interesting, It gives me a better understanding of the letters and numbers which I didn't have before. The heart problem seems to be the main cause of my breathlessness which has got worse over the last couple of months, I do exercises every day thinking that it would help both heart and lungs but do wonder some times if I am just making the heart worse. I have just had some blood tests and another ECG this week, my doctor wants to see if she can adjust my medication to help the breathing, have an appointment with her on Thursday this week, hope she can do something as I am now getting breathless just doing everyday tasks and I don't really want to give up my daily exercises. Thank you for your help and listening to my woes. xx

2greys profile image
2greys

I do not want to give up my exercise either. I do not drive, Shank's Pony is my only means of transport, I do not want to give up my independence one bit. One of the reasons I did not entertain having surgery, as had I survived it was odds on I would be wheelchair bound on supplementary Oxygen 24/7. I have had 3 years, so far, of complete independence that I would not have had. Little wonder that I regard Stereotactic Radiotherapy as a miracle treatment.

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