Advancing High-Quality Development of Lung Cancer Immunotherapy and Accelerating the Transition to Chronic Disease Management

HarbinJuly 7, 2023 /PR Newswire/ --On July 7, 2023, the AstraZeneca Lung Cancer Immunotherapy Summit was held in Harbin. Professor Jinming Yu, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Shandong Cancer Hospital, Professor Ying Cheng, Director of Jilin Cancer Center and Director of the Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Clinical Research on Malignant Tumors at Jilin Cancer Hospital, Professor Yi Hu, Director of the Department of Oncology Medicine at the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Professor Baosheng Li, Vice Dean of the School of Clinical and Basic Medicine at Shandong First Medical University, and Professor [Name], Director of the Oncology Department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University.Liu JiweiProfessor Yu Yan, Director of the Internal Medicine Teaching and Research Section of the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, and more than a hundred experts and scholars in the field of lung cancer gathered together to discuss non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treatment, comprehensive management of the perioperative period for non-small cell lung cancer, and cutting-edge exploration of immunotherapy in the field of lung cancer treatment were discussed in depth, focusing on the high-quality development of lung cancer immunotherapy in China.

"High-quality development" is one of the core propositions of the 14th Five-Year Plan.Immune therapies such as PD-L1 inhibitors have been clinically used in China for several years, accumulating a wealth of clinical experience. How to advance quality control in immunotherapy for lung cancer, allowing patients with non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer to achieve long-term survival benefits, has become an important topic for clinical experts to consider and explore.

High Incidence and Mortality: Early Screening and Immunotherapy Offer Hope for Prolonging Survival in Lung Cancer Patients

Lung cancer ranks first in China's cancer disease burden.^[1]. According to statistics, onlyIn 2020, there were over 820,000 new lung cancer patients in China each year, and more than 710,000 people died from lung cancer, accounting for 23.8% of all cancer deaths.^[2]The "Healthy China 2030" Planning Outline proposes that by 2030, the overall five-year survival rate for cancer in China will increase by 15%. Achieving this goal is inseparable from the improvement in the survival rate of lung cancer patients in China.

Professor Jinming Yu, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Shandong Cancer Hospital, stated: "Early detection and early treatment of lung cancer can help patients achieve better prognosis. Large-scale studies have confirmed that low-dose spiralCT for Lung Cancer Screening Can Reduce Lung Cancer Mortality by 20%^[3], while the age-specific incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer increase significantly after the age of 45.^[4]"Therefore, it is recommended that people over 45 years old and those at high risk for lung cancer undergo early screening with low-dose spiral CT as soon as possible."

In addition to early screening and treatment, emerging immunotherapy also brings hope for extending survival to lung cancer patients.The mechanism of immune drugs like PD-1/PD-L1 mainly involves blocking the binding between PD-1 and PD-L1, thereby enhancing the human immune function and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.^[1]。

Spanning Five-Year Survival, Immunotherapy Shows Promise for Clinical "Cure" of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer can be divided into non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, among which80-85% are non-small cell lung cancer^[5]About one-third of non-small cell lung cancer patients are at stage Ⅲ (locally advanced) when diagnosed. This means that approximately 230,000 new cases of stage III non-small cell lung cancer are diagnosed each year in China, and the majority of patients with stage ⅢB and ⅢC are unresectable.^[6]. In the past few decades, concurrent chemoradiotherapy has been the standard treatment regimen for these patients, butThe 5-year survival rate is less than 20%.^[7]。

AndThe emergence of immunotherapy has broken the single choice of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, providingPatients with Stage III Unresectable Non-Small Cell Lung CancerBrought hope for a cure.Professor Yu Jinming said: "After patients receive concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the use of immunotherapy can provide continuous and stable survival benefits. There have even been cases where patients achieved prolonged overall survival (OS) after its use.OS) related data shows that some patients can surpass the five-year mark, achieving 'clinical cure.'

For patients with operable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, the risks of postoperative recurrence and tumor metastasis cannot be ignored. As research on immunotherapy continues to advance, studies on its application in the perioperative period are also beginning to emerge. Looking ahead, immunotherapy is expected to be used for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients to reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence, further improve patient prognosis, and increase the hope for a cure.

Extending Survival: Immunotherapy Breaks Through the Median Survival Bottleneck for Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Accounting for only a portion of all lung cancer patients15% of small cell lung cancer is a typical "small but terrible" cancer type, with high malignancy and strong invasiveness.AboutTwo-thirds of small cell lung cancer patients are diagnosed with extensive stage.Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), that isCancer cells have spread throughout the lungs and even metastasized to other organs.^[8]Although small cell lung cancer is relatively sensitive to chemotherapy, it is highly prone to secondary progression in a short period of time.^[9], poor patient prognosis,The 5-year survival rate is only 3%.^[7]。

In recent years, the application of immunotherapy in the field of small cell lung cancer treatment has brought new treatment options to patients.PD-L1 Inhibitors Combined with Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Have Been Consistently Recommended by Multiple Authoritative Guidelines Both in China and Abroad^[10]、[11], breaking through the long-term survival dilemma of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, making the median survival period of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer calculable in "years".

“"The emergence of PD-L1 immunotherapy has achieved a historic breakthrough in first-line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Its long tail effect can bring long-term survival benefits to patients, surpassing the limitations of past treatments. Compared with single chemotherapy, it provides long-term survival benefits for patients and becomes the new standard," added Professor Yu Jinming.

High-Quality Development in Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Accelerating Lung Cancer"Chronic Disease Management" to be Achieved Soon

In recent years, China's lung cancer treatment field has undergone tremendous changes, achieving rapid progress in clinical research, diagnostic and treatment innovations, and the accessibility of new drugs. As one of the leading companies that ventured early into the lung cancer treatment sector, AstraZeneca has continuously accelerated and expanded its R&D efforts and clinical trials related to lung cancer. It has introduced world-leading high-quality lung cancer drugs into China, ranging from targeted therapies to immunotherapies, providing optimal treatment options for patients with different stages and subtypes of lung cancer, thereby speeding up the transformation of lung cancer into a manageable chronic disease.

Mr. Liu Ming, Vice President of AstraZeneca China and Head of the Lung Cancer Business Unit, stated: "This year marks AstraZeneca's deep-rooted presence in China..."Over the past 30 years, AstraZeneca has witnessed and participated in many milestone breakthroughs and high-quality development in the field of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment while deeply cultivating the Chinese market. We have always adhered to the commitment of 'patient-centeredness,' dedicated to promoting and implementing innovative healthcare models. In the future, we will continue to collaborate with all parties to support our partners in advancing the full chronic disease management process for lung cancer, including prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and care. This will enable Chinese lung cancer patients to achieve high-quality long-term survival and contribute to the realization of the 'Healthy China 2030' goals."

Disclaimer: For reference use only in disease education, not for any promotional purposes. If you have any questions, please consult a healthcare professional.

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[5] National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, et al. "Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Lung Cancer (2022 Edition)." Exploration of Rational Drug Use in China 19.9(2022):28.

[6] Wu Yilong, Zhong Wenzhao, Song Yong, et al. Management of Stage Ⅲ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Consensus and Controversy[J]. Evidence-Based Medicine, 2022(003):022.

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[8] Cancer.Net. Lung Cancer - Small Cell. Available at https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/33776/view-all. Accessed June 2021.

[9] National Cancer Institute. NCI Dictionary – Small Cell Lung Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/small-cell-lung-cancer. Accessed June 2021.

[10] Guidelines Working Committee of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology. Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines 2022 [M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 2022.

[11] Ganti AKP, Loo BW, Bassetti M, et al. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology (NCCN Guidelines ®) for small cell lung cancer (Version 1. 2023)[EB/OL]. (2022-08-25)[2022-11-09]. https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/category_1