Preceptorship reports
memo inOncology Education Preceptorship Reports summarise the latest in lung cancer research and treatments to come out of our Preceptorship meeting series. Sponsored with an unrestricted medical education grant, Springer Lung Cancer Preceptorship meetings bring lung cancer specialists from around the world to a centre of excellence, where lung cancer experts present the latest hot topics.
Preceptorship Shanghai 2018
Springer and the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital held the Lung Cancer International Preceptorship on the 28th-29th June 2018, in Shanghai, China. The overall topic was the modern management of advanced lung cancer: Immunotherapy & Targeted Agents
Preface – Preceptorship Shanghai
On 28th and 29th June, 2018, a Lung Cancer International Preceptorship directed towards medical oncologists took place in Shanghai, China. The scientific provider was the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital affiliated to the local Tongji University. In the course of these two days, lectures and workshops were held with the aim of improving the participants’ knowledge about lung cancer management in China and internationally.
Immunotherapy: the emerging paradigm of cure
The introduction of molecularly targeted agents 15 to 20 years ago marked the beginning of a new era. Today, immune-checkpoint–inhibiting drugs have established yet another level of treatment. While both chemotherapy and targeted agents exert their effects directly at the tumor, which implies the eventual emergence of resistance, immunotherapy targets the immune system, enabling a certain percentage of patients to survive over extended periods of time.
EGFR- and ALK-targeted treatment: present and future
Chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic lung carcinoma has evolved slowly with limited progress between 1948 and the beginning of the 21st century. Until then, only minimal gains in long-term OS had been achieved, and the benefit of chemotherapy was discussed in a controversial manner. Fortunately, this was the very time when the rise of molecularly targeted agents started.
序言
2018年6月28日和29日，面向肿瘤内科医师的Lung Cancer International Preceptorship在中国上海召开。场地提供方为同济大学附属上海市肺科医院。在这两天的时间里，我们举办了讲座和研讨会，旨在提高与会者对中国以及国际肺癌管理的了解。参加指导会议的24名代表中，绝大多数在中国医院工作。会议主题范围涵盖了肺部恶性肿瘤的筛查、诊断和病理学以及各种类型的治疗。会议最后环节为参观上海市肺科医院。
免疫疗法：新兴的治疗范例
15至20年前分子靶向药物的引入标志着一个新时代的开始。今天，免疫检查点抑制剂也已开启另一治疗模式。由于化疗和靶向药物直接作用在肿瘤上，这意味着耐药性最终会出现，而免疫疗法针对免疫系统，使一定比例的患者能够生存更长时间。在治疗开始后2年仍存活的晚期非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）患者有些生存超过5年的。因此，晚期癌症治疗的新范例已经出现。
EGFR和ALK靶向治疗：当下与将来
用于晚期或转移性肺癌的化疗发展缓慢，在1948年至21世纪初期间进展有限。在此之前，仅有很少达到了长期OS获益，因此对于化疗的益处一直存在争议。幸运的是，分子靶向药物正在彼时兴起。过去二十年间取得了惊人的进展。如今，许多药物可用于治疗癌基因驱动的肺癌患者。 靶向敏感EGFR突变的药物包括厄洛 替尼、吉非替尼、阿法替尼（afatinib）、达克替尼（dacomitinib）、埃克替尼（icotinib）、奥希替尼（osimertinib）和nazartinib。
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Preceptorship Cologne 2018
Springer and The University Hospital Cologne held the Lung Cancer International Preceptorship on the 1st–2nd February 2018, in Cologne Germany.
Preface – Preceptorship Cologne
This report summarizes presentations that were given during the Lung Cancer International Preceptorship Conference that took place in Cologne, Germany, on February 1 and 2, 2018. The University Hospital of Cologne and the Center for Integrated Oncology Köln-Bonn jointly organized this conference, which was addressed to medical oncologists involved in the care of patients with lung cancer.
Challenges and State of the Art: The early stage patient
Surgical treatment of patients with early lung cancer is often a challenging task that requires robust preoperative risk assessment as a first step. Wherever possible, pneumonectomy should be avoided, in an attempt to maximally preserve functional capacity, as Khosro Hekmat, MD, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Cologne, emphasized.
Challenges and State of the Art: The intermediate stage patient
A key determinant for which type of treatment can be offered to patients with NSCLC is their intrathoracic (mediastinal) nodal status. If the disease has not spread to the ipsilateral mediastinal nodes, subcarinal (N2) nodes, or both, and the patient is otherwise considered fit for surgery (i.e., ‘functional resectability’), resection is often the treatment of choice.
Challenges and State of the Art: The advanced stage patient
With 2-year OS of
Focus Molecular Diagnostics
All existing guidelines call for timely determination of molecular parameters relevant for approved targeted and immune treatments of unresectable NSCLC, as Reinhard Büttner, MD, Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Cologne, emphasized.
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Preceptorship Singapore 2017
Springer and the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO) held the Young Oncologist Preceptorship over the 8th–10th December 2017, in Singapore, bringing young oncologists under the guidance of a panel of renowned experts in the field of lung cancer in order to boost the participants’ research, refine their presentation skills, and discuss evidence-based standard care decisions for non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The Preceptorship was entitled: “Basics of leadership in clinical research with a focus on lung cancer.” Read a memo inOncology report of the meeting here. For more information about this Preceptorship please visit the JSMO website! (click here for Japanese version)
Preface – Preceptorship Singapore
From 8th to 10th December, 2017, 15 young oncologists from Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea and Vietnam convened in Singapore to participate in the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO) Young Oncologist Preceptorship that was held under the guidance of a panel of renowned experts in the field of lung cancer.
How to approach translational research as a clinician
A career as a physician scientist can be extremely fulfilling, as it is an opportunity to make a difference in patient care by way of academic excellence. Clinical observations are explored in the translational setting based on experience and prior knowledge; eventually, the insights gained in this way can give rise to clinical innovation.
Statistical considerations in randomized controlled trials
In the setting of a clinical study, sample data are used to make an inference for the entire population. Generally speaking, results from a randomized clinical trial (RCT) will be unlikely to be exactly the same as population parameters, which is the reason for bias involved. In addition, when a RCT were repeated 100 times, results obtained each time would not be identical, which is the reason for uncertainty involved.
Combination of molecularly targeted drugs in lung cancer
Most of the targeted agents currently recommended for the treatment of lung cancer are administered as single agents. However, there is a rationale for combinations, as two drugs might act in an additive or synergistic manner and may control different populations of tumor cells. Tumor heterogeneity plays a major role here, especially in patients who have already developed resistance to their first treatment.
Precision medicine in the field of lung cancer in Japan
In 2013, Japanese researchers launched a nationwide, prospective, observational study for patients with lung cancer and genomic alterations, called Lung Cancer Genomic Screening Project for Individualized Medicine in Japan (LC-SCRUM-Japan). The number of participating institutions has risen greatly over time, and today 241 institutions from almost all regions across the country are part of the project.
Behind the magic of giving academic lectures
According to a Wikipedia definition, a presentation is the act of giving something to someone in a formal way. This should not just be a narration of information or data; ideally, a presentation should contain a story, which means that a plot, characters and a narrative point of view need to be included. All of the established types of presentation, i.e., oral abstract presentations, abstract discussions and education symposia, can be created to match this requirement.
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Preceptorship Vienna 2016
Springer had their inaugural Lung Cancer International Preceptorship at the
highly regarded MedUni Vienna in June 2016, with Professors Robert Pirker and Sabine Zöchbauer-Müller. Read a memo inOncology report of the meeting here.
Pathology and WHO classification of tumours of the lung: what is new?
“The 2004 classification had only one type of pre-invasive lesion, called atypical adenomatous hyperplasia”, Dr. Müllauer explained. “This type is still part of the new classification, but a new entity has been added, which is adenocarcinoma in situ.” By definition, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia is a localised, small (≤ 0.5 cm) proliferation of mildly to moderately atypical type II pneumocytes and/or Clara cells that line the alveolar walls.
Screening and early detection of lung cancer
According to the principles stated by the World Health Organisation, screening programmes are aimed at timely detection of diseases that represent important health problems and for which there are accepted treatments. Suitable and acceptable tests are required, and the cost of case finding should be economically balanced.
Staging of lung cancer: the 8th TNM classification
In 2009, the 7th Edition of the TNM classification of malignant tumours was published. The proposals for the revised T, N and M categories will be implemented in the 8th Edition that is expected for late 2016. These proposals have been developed by the Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) based on a large prospective database.
Treatment of lung cancer: status quo & news from ASCO 2016
Robert Pirker, MD, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Austria, discussed evidence from clinical trials for the treatment of lung cancer, with a focus on the findings presented at the ASCO 2016 Congress. As Dr. Pirker emphasised, a variety of topics was discussed at the conference, although none of the clinical trial results reported on this year have heralded fundamental changes in clinical practice.
Disease monitoring using circulating cell-free tumour DNA
In Caucasian patients, mutations of the EGFR gene occur in 10 % to 15 % of adenocarcinomas of the lung. “These tumours depend on EGFR signalling for growth and survival,” explained Anna Buder, MSc, Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Videos
Impressions from participants – Preceptorship 2016 Vienna
Participants of the inaugural Springer International Lung Cancer Preceptorship 2016 give their impressions of the meeting.
