Focusing on Patients With NSCLC, Scientists Hunting For Second-Line Defence

Concerning lung cancer, people who successfully benefit from drugs like erlotinib will certainly develop drug resistance. This is heralded by cancer growth and increasing tumor-related symptoms. Now scientists are investigating a second line of defense by studying the use of the novel AKT inhibitor MK-2206 in combination with erlotinib for patients whose benefit from erlotinib has begun to wane. Results of a Phase II trial will be presented during the 5th Latin American Conference on Lung Cancer. Dr. Primo Lara, medical oncologist and professor of medicine at the University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center in Sacramento, U.S.A, will share the latest on this research at an abstract session Friday, July 27 at 8 a.m. in the Louvre I & II rooms at the Windsor Barra Hotel.

Dr. Lara will present the initial efficacy and toxicity analysis of a stratified phase II trial of MK2206 plus erlotinib in two patient cohorts: those tumors with or without activating EGFR mutations. The trial, sponsored by the US National Cancer Institute through the California Cancer Consortium, has enrolled 42 patients with advanced NSCLC who have had prior benefit from erlotinib (either response or stable disease for at least 12 weeks) but have since progressed.

Dr. Lara is willing to do media interviews. The media is invited to attend all events with proper registration. All events will be simultaneously translated from English to Portuguese.

The 5th Latin American Conference on Lung Cancer will highlight the latest in lung cancer research and tobacco control. Nearly 1,000 medical professionals will gather at the conference to discuss the latest lung cancer research and treatment. Lung cancer kills more than 1.5 million people each year worldwide. It is also among the most challenging cancers to treat.

Source-Eurekalert