The provinces hospitals diagnosed more than 300 new cases of lung cancer during 2021

Sat, 09/17/2022 - 12:00

Publicaciones

Last year, specialists from the province's health centers diagnosed a total of 339 new cases of lung cancer, of which almost 82% were men and just over 18% were women. In the European Lung Cancer Week, the Jaén University Hospital emphasizes the importance of prevention to avoid risk factors.

The Board has explained in a statement that, unlike other types of lung cancer, early detection is more difficult, since the patient begins to show visible symptoms when the tumor is already in an advanced stage. Tobacco is the main risk factor for lung cancer, since almost 90% of cases are detected in smokers. In addition to environmental pollution, genetic factors or molecular alterations can also be risk factors for lung cancer, although in a smaller percentage.

Lung cancer is the second most diagnosed in the world, behind breast cancer, and is the main cause of death from cancer in the world, with 18% of the tumors detected. In Spain, about 20,000 new cases are detected every year, in which 80% of those affected are men and the remaining 20% are women.

This cancer is a process produced by the abnormal and disordered growth of cells found in the respiratory tract and lung tissue. This process of disordered cell development gives rise to a mass of cells called a tumor. Malignant tumors are characterized by their ability to grow uncontrollably, invading other tissues in the body.

Depending on the size and appearance of the malignant cells, lung cancer is classified into two large groups: non-small cell (non-small cell cancer), which represents 85% of cases, or small cell (small cell cancer). It deals with different tumors in terms of behavior, treatment and prognosis.

In recent years, the incorporation of immunotherapy and targeted therapies in the therapeutic algorithm of these patients is allowing a significant increase in survival and improvement in the quality of life of affected Andalusian patients. The better knowledge of the molecular bases of lung cancer and the therapeutic and technological advances incorporated in its diagnosis and treatment in the last decade have turned this type of tumor into a paradigm of precision medicine in Oncology.

Regarding the diagnosis of lung cancer, it is increasingly precise, improving its classification thanks to the incorporation of new endoscopic and imaging techniques and especially at the anatomopathological and molecular level, with the incorporation of massive sequencing analysis on the tumor and liquid biopsy. which have made it possible to optimize prognostic and predictive information on the different tumor subgroups, in addition to promoting the development of new effective therapeutic targets.

One of the objectives of the Cancer Strategy in Andalusia approved in 2021 for its development in the next 3 years, is to include genomic sequencing, molecular biology and liquid biopsy techniques to be able to make a precision diagnosis in cancer, fundamentally, lung among others.

Regarding treatment, progress is being made in its different strategies: surgery through endoscopic procedures, radiotherapy including radiosurgery techniques, chemotherapy and it is worth highlighting the development in recent years of immunotherapy and therapies directed against molecular targets. Thus, at the present time, the molecular study of these tumors is essential for their correct characterization and treatment.

In Andalusia we have great lung cancer specialists and units in community hospitals, who are participating in projects and clinical trials, which allows patients in our community to have the most innovative treatments and which is also representing progress. clear in the research and treatment of this type of tumor.

PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE

With the aim of addressing this disease with the best possible provision, the hospitals in the province of Jaén have a committee for monitoring thoracic tumors, with the aim of sharing knowledge, evaluating and supervising the cases that occur, counting on a multidisciplinary team made up of professionals from the various centers.

The objective of the work carried out is to add and improve the care of these patients, to seek the best staging of the disease in order to decide on the most personalized treatment possible. This committee is made up of pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, pharmacists, and research coordinators.

In the coming months, the launch of two very relevant techniques for the diagnosis of patients with lung cancer at the HUJ is planned, such as PET-CT and echobronchoscopy (EBUS).

At the University Hospital of Jaén, 18 clinical trials are also being carried out for patients with lung cancer, which make it possible to offer novel and safe therapeutic alternatives to Jaén patients, and throughout the last quarter of 2022 another five trials will begin. In addition, several basic and translational research initiatives are being developed, in collaboration with the University of Jaén, Biobanco and the Medina foundation.

ADVANCES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH

Currently, the Public Health System of Andalusia has a total of 93 active clinical studies that carry out precision medicine in lung cancer, of which 88% are clinical trials, 11% are observational studies and the remaining 1% are clinical research with health products.

Of the 82 clinical trials currently being carried out, just half are in early phases (phases I and II), which is a very high figure since the usual figure is around 30%. These tests require a higher level of complexity in terms of quality, safety and facilities measures. Early-phase trials evaluate the effectiveness and safety of new drugs and include studies in which the drug is administered for the first time in humans.

Because many clinical studies are multicenter and are being carried out in several centers simultaneously, we have to talk about 136 participations. The Andalusian centers that most participate in clinical studies related to this topic are the Regional Hospital of Málaga (36%), the Virgen del Rocío Hospital (23%) and the Virgen Macarena Hospital (15%).

PRECISION MEDICINE

Regarding precision medicine in lung cancer, there are currently a total of 13 active research projects. Five of them are carried out at the Virgen del Rocío Hospital.

The financing of these projects amounts to a total of 1,290,276, 64% coming from the Junta de Andalucía. Furthermore, within the framework of the Andalusia-Roche Network Alliance for the Development of a Scientific Program in Precision Medical Oncology, there is a specific line of research in lung cancer.

The scientific objectives of this strategic alliance are the development of diagnostic biomarkers to improve and increase prediction and prognosis in different types of cancer, as well as the evaluation of new immunotherapy agents and strategies, providing innovative solutions to patients from a multidisciplinary approach.

At the Jaén Hospital, massive sequencing (NGS) was recently incorporated to improve the detection of molecular biomarkers in all lung cancer patients.