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Ramos R, Moura CS, Costa M, Lamas NJ, Correia R, Garcez D, Pereira JM, Sousa C, Vale N. Enhancing Lung Cancer Care in Portugal: Bridging Gaps for Improved Patient Outcomes. J Pers Med 2024; 14:446. [PMID: 38793028 PMCID: PMC11121920 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14050446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer has the highest incidence and cancer-related mortality worldwide. In Portugal, it ranks as the fourth most common cancer, with nearly 6000 new cases being diagnosed every year. Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer-related death among males and the third cause of cancer-related death in females. Despite the globally accepted guidelines and recommendations for what would be the ideal path for a lung cancer patient, several challenges occur in real clinical management across the world. The recommendations emphasize the importance of adequate screening of high-risk individuals, a precise tumour biopsy, and an accurate final diagnosis to confirm the neoplastic nature of the nodule. A detailed histological classification of the lung tumour type and a comprehensive molecular characterization are of utmost importance for the selection of an efficacious and patient-directed therapeutic approach. However, in the context of the Portuguese clinical organization and the national healthcare system, there are still several gaps in the ideal pathway for a lung cancer patient, involving aspects ranging from the absence of a national lung cancer screening programme through difficulties in histological diagnosis and molecular characterization to challenges in therapeutic approaches. In this manuscript, we address the most relevant weaknesses, presenting several proposals for potential solutions to improve the management of lung cancer patients, helping to decisively improve their overall survival and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Ramos
- PerMed Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal; (R.R.); (C.S.)
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Unilabs Portugal, Centro Empresarial Lionesa Porto, Rua Lionesa, 4465-671 Leça do Balio, Portugal; (M.C.); (N.J.L.)
| | - Conceição Souto Moura
- Pathology Laboratory, Unilabs Portugal, Rua Manuel Pinto de Azevedo 173, 4100-321 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Mariana Costa
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Unilabs Portugal, Centro Empresarial Lionesa Porto, Rua Lionesa, 4465-671 Leça do Balio, Portugal; (M.C.); (N.J.L.)
| | - Nuno Jorge Lamas
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Unilabs Portugal, Centro Empresarial Lionesa Porto, Rua Lionesa, 4465-671 Leça do Balio, Portugal; (M.C.); (N.J.L.)
- Anatomic Pathology Service, Pathology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António (CHUdSA), Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 4099-001 Porto, Portugal
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, Rua da Universidade, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Renato Correia
- Technology & Innovation Department, Unilabs Portugal, Rua Manuel Pinto de Azevedo 173, 4100-321 Porto, Portugal; (R.C.); (D.G.)
| | - Diogo Garcez
- Technology & Innovation Department, Unilabs Portugal, Rua Manuel Pinto de Azevedo 173, 4100-321 Porto, Portugal; (R.C.); (D.G.)
| | - José Miguel Pereira
- Radiology Department, Unilabs Portugal, Rua de Diogo Botelho 485, 4150-255 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Carlos Sousa
- PerMed Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal; (R.R.); (C.S.)
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Unilabs Portugal, Centro Empresarial Lionesa Porto, Rua Lionesa, 4465-671 Leça do Balio, Portugal; (M.C.); (N.J.L.)
| | - Nuno Vale
- PerMed Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal; (R.R.); (C.S.)
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Community Medicine, Health Information and Decision (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
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Pinto JA, Raez LE, Domingo G. Clinical consequences of resistance to ALK inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer. Expert Rev Respir Med 2020; 14:385-390. [PMID: 31971859 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2020.1721285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: ALK rearrangements are present in 2-7% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases, where the EML4-ALK fusion is the most frequent. Rearrangement of ALK with other fusion partners occurs only in ≈5% of NSCLC ALK-positive. These patients have benefited from ALK inhibitors, and currently, there are three generations of drugs as the standard of care. The first-generation ALK inhibitor crizotinib is approved in the front-line setting for the treatment of advanced NSCLC; unfortunately, these tumors may eventually develop resistance to this molecule. The Second-generation ALK inhibitors, ceritinib, alectinib, and brigatinib, are approved for patients recently diagnosed or in relapse. The third-generation inhibitor lorlatininb is approved for patients who have developed resistance to any ALK inhibitor.Areas covered: In this review, an unstructured search in Pubmed and SCOPUS was conducted. We summarized the mechanisms of resistance to ALK inhibitors and its consequences in the treatment-decision making in advanced or metastatic NSCLC after failure to a first-line ALK inhibitor.Expert opinion: Currently, there are a growing number of options of therapeutic agents against ALK+ NSCLC (approved and in development); however, adequate selection and sequencing of agents are crucial to deal with the tumor evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Pinto
- Unidad De Investigación Básica Y Traslacional, Oncosalud-AUNA, Lima, Perú
| | - Luis E Raez
- Thoracic Oncology Program, Memorial Cancer Institute/Memorial Health Care System, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Gelenis Domingo
- Thoracic Oncology Program, Memorial Cancer Institute/Memorial Health Care System, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
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Yang J, Gong W. Lorlatinib for the treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2019; 12:173-178. [PMID: 30657349 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2019.1570846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Approximately 3-5% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)belonged to anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive NSCLC. The treatment drugs of ALK-positive NSCLC mainly included crizotinib, ceritinib, alectinib, and brigatinib. Although these drugs had some effects, most of them were usually easy to develop drug resistance. Lorlatinib is a new inhibitor of ALK for treating ALK-positive NSCLC,the effect is obvious, and not easy to develop resistance. Areas covered: The main mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of lorlatinib were introduced in this paper. Expert commentary: Lorlatinib is a new, reversible, ATP-competitive small molecule inhibitor of ALK and c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1). It can inhibit tumor cell growth in ALK- and ROS1-overexpressing tumor cells. Clinical trial indicated that lorlatinib had obvious therapeutic effect for patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. Lorlatinib could also pass through the blood-brain barrier, which had a good effect on patients with brain metastasis. Adverse events of lorlatinib were mostly mild and moderate in severity, and patients were easily tolerated. Most common adverse events were edema, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive effects, dyspnea, fatigue, weight gain, arthralgia, mood effects, and diarrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyi Yang
- a Department of Pharmaceutical , Central Hospital of Linyi City , Yishui , Shandong , China
| | - Weiliang Gong
- a Department of Pharmaceutical , Central Hospital of Linyi City , Yishui , Shandong , China
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