Spanish researchers discover how to make a 'deadly' form of lung cancer 'curable' and double survival rates

According to the report in The Lancet Oncology, research by the Spanish Lung Cancer Group (GECP) through their 'NADIM' study has found that a 'different approach' to treatment is producing positive results.

Survival rates for the strain of lung cancer in question have historically been very low indeed, and treatment has typically involved surgery followed by chemotherapy.

But over two years, researchers treated patients with an immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy before operating, and found that during this period, 89.9% survived, and in 77%, the cancer did not progress.

In fact, nearly two-thirds – 63.4% - were cancer-free after the drug treatment and surgery.

With the usual method – operation followed by chemotherapy – only around 30% of patients were still alive after three years, with rarely more than 20% surviving for longer, says the GECP.

Its scientists stress that the drug combination they have used is 'completely safe'.

Only three in 10 patients experienced side-effects, and in all cases, these did not interfere with the surgical process.

Giving drug treatment before surgery allows oncologists to target the specific makeup of the tumour and start building up the body's 'immune memory' at an earlier stage, which increases defences long-term.

They targeted patients whose cancer was at a 'medium stage' – operable, but having already spread to the nearby lymph nodes, albeit not to any other organs.

The CEGP says lung cancer is usually diagnosed when it is 'locally advanced', meaning it is generally considered 'terminal', in broad terms, since 'likely long-term survival is very limited'.

Until now, it says, research has focused on very advanced stages of lung cancer, meaning 'there has been no progress in the last 20 years'.

“The NADIM study is the first worldwide research project that has analysed the benefits (viability, safety, efficiency and survival rates) of administering immunotherapy and chemotherapy to patients with lung cancer at early or locally-advanced stages before surgery,” the Lancet report reads.

Some of the problems scientists have found over the last decades – and which holds back research into lung cancer – is its public stigma, meaning funding rarely comes via donations.

Spain's main cancer research and care organisation, the AECC, says the general attitude among those who perhaps would otherwise donate to research is that in the case of lung cancer, it is 'the patient's own fault for smoking'.

But the AECC and CEGP have stressed that not all lung-cancer sufferers smoke, or have even ever smoked, even though the habit dramatically increases the risk.

And research into lung cancer does not just benefit the patient, smoker or non-smoker: Family and friends of those diagnosed also want to see a cure found.

Photograph: MBR Priza on Flickr