As one might expect, lung cancer is one of the major focuses at each CHEST conference. The following are highlights from this year's recently released abstracts and late-breaking studies.
As one might expect, lung cancer is one of the major focuses at each CHEST conference. The following are highlights from this year’s recently released abstracts and late-breaking studies.
Deepak et al presented the data from their study, Socioeconomic Disparities and the Relationship Between COPD and Lung Cancer. Because smoking is a common risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer is more common in adults with lower socioeconomic status (SES), researchers report that “SES and COPD may result in a late diagnosis of lung cancer, less stage-based appropriate treatment, and a reduced survival.” This study analyzed patients that were diagnosed with lung cancer 2001 to 2005 that were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries. Upon completion of their analysis, researchers concluded that “Contrary to expectations, patients diagnosed with comorbid COPD were diagnosed at earlier stages, which likely altered stage-appropriate treatment and outcomes,” and that “within SES strata, it is likely that patients with COPD had both better primary care and pulmonologist follow-up, which facilitated early stage diagnosis.”
Dhillon et al released the data from their study, Metformin Usage and Not Diabetes Influences the Long-Term Survival of Resected Early Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients. According to the research team, previous data have suggested that diabetes influences survival of patients with colorectal, lung, and breast cancer. Additionally, “the anti-cancer effect of metformin, a common oral anti-hyperglycemic drug, further confounds this association.” For these reasons, the study authors sought to examine the influence of diabetes and metformin on the survival of patients undergoing resection of early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study authors examined 3393 patients with stage I NSCLC undergoing anatomic resection based on information retrieved from the Tumor Registry of the NCI Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Following their analysis of these patients, the authors concluded that “metformin use rather than diabetes improves long-term outcome of patients with stage I lung cancer.”
Rickman et al presented the data from their study, Nashville Early Detection Lung Cancer Project: Establishing a Cohort to Validate Candidate Biomarkers for Early Detection of Lung Cancer, the objective of which was to “validate candidate biomarkers for the detection of lung cancer to develop a high-risk cohort and to determine whether a surveillance program will lead to early diagnosis and improved outcomes.” To date, 1219 subjects have been prescreened, 762 of which were not eligible. However, data have only been collected for 68 subjects (according to the authors 70 subjects are on study and 131 are under review). Although this is a small sample size and accrual is below target, the research team reports that “surrogate tissues are being collected and stored in biorepository for diagnosis and risk assessment of lung cancer,” and“CT has detected nodules in 86% of participants and found 1 nodule resected for presumed cure.” The study authors plan to enroll a cohort of 480 high-risk subjects at 3 sites in a 5-year annual screening trial for lung cancer.
To read more about research highlights at CHEST 2012, please visit the American College of Chest Physicians website.
ATS 2024: Bridging the Past, Present, and Future of Respiratory Care
May 16th 2024The application of artificial intelligence in medicine is anticipated as a highlight of ATS 2024, with sessions exploring its applications in research, radiological interpretation, and pediatric pulmonology.
Read More
CMS Medicare Final Rule: Advancing Benefits, Competition, and Consumer Protection
May 7th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Karen Iapoce, senior director of government products and programs at ZeOmega, about the recent CMS final rule on Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage.
Listen
Congress Urged to Repeal Comstock Act Threatening Reproductive Rights and Public Health
May 16th 2024In a joint letter addressed to Congress, Healthcare Across Borders, Take Back the Court Action Fund, and UltraViolet Action called out the resurgence of the Comstock Act, urging immediate action to repeal this century-old law that threatens reproductive rights and public health in the US.
Read More
After the ACA Expanded Health Care Access, 2024 Elections May See Voters Demand Affordability
May 15th 2024At the spring conference of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, speakers discussed how health policy, affordability, and transparency may play a role in voters’ decisions.
Read More