Researchers in the USA have reviewed the advances in lung cancer research over the past 20 years
For their paper, published in Nature, they focused on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, making up between 70–80% of cases.
They cite that there has been major progress in the field in the last 20 years, with new treatment options like targeted therapies and immunotherapy becoming available for people with certain types of lung cancer. These have shown promising results, and tend to have fewer side effects than treatments like chemotherapy.
However, the researchers also note that these new personalised treatments are not currently appropriate for most people with NSCLC, and that cure and survival rates are still low overall. They therefore urge for more research into new drugs and combinations of therapies so that a broader population of people with NSCLC can benefit from them.
Read the abstract of the journal article.
Visit the lung cancer patient priorities website for more information on the condition.