Evaluation of the association of chronic inflammation and cancer: Insights and implications
Learning To Live With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Coretta found a path towards positivity and hope through her journey of being diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Coretta is a LIBTAYO® (cemiplimab-rwlc) patient and is being compensated by Regeneron for her time in sharing her story. Source: Regeneron
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
By Regeneron
When Coretta received a diagnosis of stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), she was shocked. Thanks to her oncologists, they established a care plan together. Having her treatment plan underway allowed Coretta to return some of her attention to the things she enjoys such as spending time with her family, working on her business and visiting the beach when possible.
Before her diagnosis, Coretta enjoyed spending time with her husband and daughters, taking trips to Atlantic City, N.J., and visiting her mother in Florida. Coretta was excited to follow her entrepreneurial spirit and be her own boss by opening a new consignment shop, selling small businesses' wares from candles and lemonade to soaps and jars of honey. During the pandemic, businesses were suffering, and she was thrilled to help her community.
Shortly after opening her business, Coretta started experiencing back pain that would not go away. Thinking she had just pulled a muscle while restocking shelves and organizing her new shop, she went to see a doctor. During this first assessment she explained, "I was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and sent home with antibiotics." A week later, the pain had not improved and, in fact, had gotten much worse. Coretta's primary care doctor sent her to the emergency room where, after several tests and hours of waiting, she was diagnosed with advanced NSCLC. Eight in 10 people diagnosed with NSCLC receive their diagnosis at a later stage, just like Corettai. Through additional testing, she soon discovered the cancer had metastasized – or spread – to her spine and brain.
"I wondered what was next," said Coretta. "I had heard of lung cancer before — in fact, my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer two years before I was," Coretta said. It was a scary diagnosis – lung cancer affects more than 230,000 people every yeari, but Coretta put her energy into learning more. "I started to do additional research online about advanced non-small cell lung cancer to prepare for conversations with my doctor."
After her diagnosis, it became increasingly difficult for Coretta to maintain her daily routine. Her family outings slowed down, and unfortunately, she had to close her business.
Coretta made a decision while in the hospital: "I wasn't going down without a fight."
When Coretta met with her oncologist for the first time, she felt very fortunate that he appreciated her desire to learn, understand more about the disease and be involved in her treatment plan. After going through a similar cancer diagnosis with her mother, whom she is incredibly close with, Coretta was determined.
"We sat down together and talked through all my options and agreed on a plan for my treatment: straight to radiation to try to shrink the tumors, and then treatment with something he explained was an immunotherapy," Coretta said.
Coretta enjoys a picnic with her daughter, Iyyonnah. Source: Regeneron
After learning that her tumors had a high PD-L1 expression, which is a cancer cell marker that can help oncologists determine if a targeted treatment option might be right for patientsii, her oncologist recommended an immunotherapy that had been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration called LIBTAYO® (cemiplimab-rwlc).
LIBTAYO (cemiplimab-rwlc) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with NSCLC. LIBTAYO may be used alone as a first treatment option when your lung cancer has not spread outside your chest (locally advanced lung cancer) and you cannot have surgery or chemotherapy with radiation, or your lung cancer has spread to other areas of your body (metastatic lung cancer), and your tumor tests positive for high "PD-L1," and your tumor does not have an abnormal "EGFR," "ALK," or "ROS1" gene. It is not known if LIBTAYO is safe and effective in children.
LIBTAYO can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in areas of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems can happen anytime during treatment or even after treatment has ended.
LIBTAYO can be administered in a hospital, clinic or infusion center as a 30-minute intravenous (IV) infusion every three weeks until the disease progresses or if side effects become intolerable.
Coretta's oncologist explained to her the risks and benefits of LIBTAYO. She was appreciative that her healthcare team took the time to make sure she was well informed prior to making any definitive decisions about her course of treatment. After deciding to move forward with LIBTAYO treatment, she learned more about a patient support program that helps patients navigate their journey by providing support, financial and educational tools, and resources and healthcare referrals for those who may be eligible.
"The oncology clinic even sent me home with information about treatment and patient support options, which answered a lot of my questions," said Coretta. "My advice to anyone else newly diagnosed would be to do your research – get a good understanding of your condition and treatment options before meeting with your doctor. I encourage you to advocate for yourself and keep fighting."
Coretta continues to receive infusions. She plans to continue to work with her doctor and monitor her treatment. "I trust my doctor immensely."
When asked what she's learned since her diagnosis, Coretta said, "I have had to learn to live with this disease and cope with all of it. I've learned to focus on my mental health and have patience which has been great for me."
Coretta's journey has proven the strength of her relationships with her family as well. "My husband and daughters are amazing. They are my rocks," she said. Her experience has also inspired her family and loved ones to be more aware about cancer and to receive regular checkups.
Individual results with LIBTAYO treatment may vary. Coretta has gone back to some of her routines, from re-opening her business to making plans for the activities she enjoys with the people she loves. Her plans include travel, such as resuming her visits with her mother and taking trips to different places when she can. "I'd be happy to go anywhere nice with a beach," Coretta said.
Her determination to understand her diagnosis and be involved in her treatment plan gave her a different perspective for her future. "I know the experience is not going to be the same for everyone as it has been for me," Coretta shared, "and how you feel today is not necessarily how you will feel tomorrow, but you have to start with hope."
iAmerican Cancer Society (2024). Cancer Facts & Figures 2024. American Cancer Society. Https://www.Cancer.Org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2024/2024-cancer-facts-and-figures-acs.Pdf
iiAmerican Lung Association (2022). PD-L1, Pd1, TMB and Lung Cancer. American Lung Association. Https://www.Lung.Org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/symptoms-diagnosis/biomarker-testing/pdl1-pd1-tmb
Story from Regeneron: US.LIB.24.09.0050 1/2025
Is Breast Cancer Curable?
Survival rates for breast cancer are higher with early diagnosis and treatment. A combination of treatments can effectively treat the condition, and it is possible for the condition to go into complete remission.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), curing cancer means that treatment has eliminated the disease from the body. Therefore, a person does not need more treatment, and doctors do not expect the cancer to return.
A doctor can rarely be sure a person's cancer will never return. Instead, they may say the disease is in remission.
Partial remission means the cancer has shrunk but has not gone away completely. Complete remission means that the signs and symptoms of cancer are entirely gone and that tests do not find any cancer cells.
The National Cancer Institute states that a doctor may consider a person's cancer cured when they cannot detect the disease after 5 years of complete remission.
This article discusses whether breast cancer is curable in different stages. It also looks at the survival rates and provides information on where people who have a breast cancer diagnosis can find support.
It is possible for breast cancer to go into complete remission. This means that breast cancer treatment has been effective and that the disease will not return.
A person's outlook can depend on a variety of factors, such as:
Breast cancer is highly treatable in its early stages, and the outlook is generally very positive.
Advanced cancer is not curable in most cases, according to the ACS. Still, treatment can often help with:
Stage 1
A person with stage 1 breast cancer has cancerous cells that have invaded the surrounding breast tissue.
A variety of treatment options can cause the cancer to go into remission at this stage.
The primary treatment for stage 1 is surgery with radiation. However, some people may benefit from additional treatments, such as chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, to decrease the risk of the cancer coming back.
Stage 2
Individuals with stage 2 breast cancer have cancer cells in their breast tissue, the nearby lymph nodes, or both.
This stage of cancer is curable with a combination of treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy.
Such treatment techniques have increasing recognition as an effective approach for improving a person's likelihood of curing the disease or prolonging survival.
Stage 3
Stage 3 breast cancer occurs when a tumor has developed and spread to several lymph nodes. It can be harder to treat but is still curable with aggressive treatment.
The treatment can involve a combination of drug-based treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted cancer drugs, and hormone therapy, as well as surgery.
However, the likelihood of successful treatment depends on the extent of spread, the grade of the cancer, the hormone receptor status of the disease, and the individual's response to treatment.
Stage 4
Metastatic breast cancer occurs at stage 4, when the disease has spread to other areas of the body, such as the brain, bones, lungs, and liver.
Although this stage of breast cancer is not curable, it is usually treatable.
Current advances in research and medical technology mean that more people can live longer by managing their disease as a chronic condition and focusing on quality of life as a primary goal.
The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database tracks 5-year relative survival rates for breast cancer in people in the United States according to how far the disease has spread. It groups cancers into localized, regional, and distant stages.
A relative survival rate helps indicate how long someone with a particular condition will live after receiving a diagnosis compared with those without the condition.
For example, if the 5-year relative survival rate is 70%, it means that a person with the condition is 70% as likely to live for 5 years as someone without the condition.
It is important to remember that these figures are estimates. A person can consult a healthcare professional about how their condition will affect them.
The 2014 to 2020 data show that the 5-year relative survival rate for female breast cancer was 91.2%.
Males have a 1 in 726 risk of developing breast cancer and have a lower overall survival rate than females.
The average survival rates according to the stage at diagnosis, based on data from SEER and the ACS, are:
If a person has received a diagnosis of breast cancer, they may feel fearful or overwhelmed.
Speaking with a doctor can be helpful. A doctor may recommend breast cancer support groups or online communities that can offer help, advice, and resources.
Bezzy has a breast cancer community forum where people with experience of breast cancer can connect and share their stories and advice.
Individuals can find important health information and listen to personal stories on the My Motivated Moment podcast series from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Breast Cancer Now, which is based in the United Kingdom, hosts virtual meetups for men to share information, raise awareness, and support each other.
Enhertu Approved For HR+, HER2-Low/Ultralow Metastatic Breast Cancer
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Enhertu® (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 1+ or IHC 2+/in situ hybridization [ISH]-) or HER2-ultralow (IHC 0 with membrane staining) breast cancer, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that has progressed on 1 or more endocrine therapies in the metastatic setting.
Enhertu is a HER2-directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate. Approval of the new indication was based on data from the phase 3 DESTINY-Breast06 trial (ClinicalTrials.Gov Identifier: NCT04494425).
Study participants with HR-positive, HER2-low or HER2-ultralow metastatic breast cancer who disease had progressed on endocrine therapy were randomly assigned to receive trastuzumab deruxtecan (n=436) by intravenous (IV) infusion every 3 weeks or investigator's choice of chemotherapy (n=430; capecitabine 60%, nab-paclitaxel 24%, or paclitaxel 16%). The primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS) in patients with HER2-low breast cancer assessed by blinded independent central review based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1
In the HER2-low population, findings showed treatment with trastuzumab deruxtecan reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 38% compared with chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.62 [95% CI, 0.52-0.75]; P <.0001). Median PFS was 13.2 months (95% CI, 11.4-15.2) in the trastuzumab deruxtecan arm and 8.1 months (95% CI, 7.0-9.0) in the chemotherapy arm. The confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 62% (95% CI, 56.5-67.3) with trastuzumab deruxtecan and 35.2% (95% CI, 30.0-40.7) with chemotherapy. Median duration of response (DOR) was 14.1 months (95% CI, 11.9-15.9) and 8.6 months (95% CI, 6.7-11.3), respectively.
In the overall population, median PFS was 13.2 months (95% CI, 12.0-15.2) in the trastuzumab deruxtecan arm and 8.1 months (95% CI, 7.0-9.0) in the chemotherapy arm (HR, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.54-0.76]; P <.0001). Confirmed ORR was 62.6% (95% CI, 57.6-67.4) with trastuzumab deruxtecan and 34.4% (95% CI, 29.7-39.4) with chemotherapy. Median DOR was 14.3 months (95% CI, 12.5-15.9) and 8.6 months (95% CI, 6.9-11.5), respectively.
An exploratory analysis of patients with HER2-ultralow expression (n=153) showed trastuzumab deruxtecan reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 24% compared with chemotherapy (HR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.49-1.17); median PFS was 15.1 months (95% CI, 10.0-17.3) vs 8.3 months (95% CI, 5.8-15.2), respectively. Confirmed ORR was 65.7% (95% CI, 53.1-76.8) with trastuzumab deruxtecan and 30.8% (95% CI, 19.9-43.4) with chemotherapy. Median DOR was 14.3 months (95% CI, 11.8, not estimable) and 14.1 months (95% CI, 5.9, not estimable), respectively.
At the time of analysis, the overall survival data were immature. In the overall population, a total of 335 patients had died across both study arms.
The most common adverse reactions reported with trastuzumab deruxtecan were decreased white blood cell count, decreased neutrophil count, nausea, decreased hemoglobin, decreased lymphocyte count, fatigue, decreased platelet count, alopecia, increased alanine aminotransferase, increased blood alkaline phosphatase, increased aspartate aminotransferase, decreased blood potassium, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, decreased appetite, COVID-19, and musculoskeletal pain. The prescribing information for Enhertu also includes a Boxed Warning regarding the risk of interstitial lung disease and embryo-fetal toxicity.
Enhertu is supplied in a single-dose vial containing 100mg of lyophilized powder for reconstitution and further dilution prior to IV infusion. Patients should be selected for treatment with Enhertu based on HER2 expression.
This article originally appeared on MPR
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