J Korean Med Assoc.
2023 Mar;66(3):154-158. 10.5124/jkma.2023.66.3.154.
All-round counterattack to conquer lung cancer
- Affiliations
-
- 1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea
- KMID: 2541442
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2023.66.3.154
Abstract
- Background
Lung cancer is increasing exponentially as the population ages. To conquer lung cancer, early diagnosis, developing new treatments, and combining multidisciplinary treatment modalities are essential.
Current Concepts
Since the national lung cancer screening program for high-risk individuals using low-dose chest computed tomography has launched, the rate of early diagnosis of lung cancer is expected to increase. The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors and target agents is paying off in terms of producing new anticancer drugs. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are administered in combination with existing treatment modalities in various clinical situations, such as for not only patients with metastatic lung cancer but also for those with resectable lung cancer and with surgically unresectable locally advanced disease. These trials dramatically improved survival outcomes. The development of targeted anticancer drugs is also advancing at a rapid pace. The survival rate of patients with lung cancer who have specific gene mutations has greatly improved when targeted anticancer drugs are administered alone or in combination with conventional therapies.
Discussion and Conclusion
Early diagnosis of lung cancer and the development of new treatment modalities are greatly improving the prognosis of patients with lung cancer. Attempts to combine conventional and new treatment modalities should continue. It is necessary to discuss changing medical policies for long-term survivors, which will inevitably increase.
