New Lung Cancer Drug Shown to Have Groundbreaking Impact in 5-Year Study
Experts are hailing miraculous results from a clinical trial of Osimertinib, a new medication marketed as Tagrisso. Patients with Stage 1B-3A lung cancer and a specific genetic mutation have seen a reduction in recurrent cancer risk of up to 73% over five years, as well as a 51% lower risk of mortality, according to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Dr. Faiz Y. Bhora, chief of thoracic surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey, described the findings as “earth-shattering.” He noted that medical oncologists used to be satisfied with only 5-10% improvement in survival rates, but now patients are experiencing more than a 50% improvement with Tagrisso.
Patients who have the specific genetic mutation EGFRm and have previously undergone surgery are considered ideal candidates for Tagrisso. For those with stage 4 lung cancer and the EGFR mutation, the medication is also a viable option, even without prior surgery.
In order to determine if a patient has the mutation, a sample of tissue is taken from the tumor and tested. Looking ahead, Dr. Bhora hopes to be able to prescribe the pill to patients before any other procedure or therapy, with the goal of shrinking tumors before surgery.
The pill, which is “groundbreaking,” according to Dr. Bhora, has already made a significant impact on the life of patient Kim Mosko. Diagnosed with stage 2A lung cancer, Mosko underwent robotic surgery and subsequent chemotherapy before being prescribed Tagrisso. She has been taking the medication for three and a half months, with plans to continue for three years. Mosko has seen positive results and remains hopeful for her future.
Bhora is encouraged by the developments in personalized medicine and the hope it presents for lung cancer patients. He believes that Tagrisso and similar therapies could turn the fatal disease into a chronic illness or even lead to a complete cure.
However, he also notes that the medication can have side effects, and patients should consult with their healthcare provider if they experience any bothersome or long-lasting issues.
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