Celebrating 20 Years of Progress in Lung Cancer Research and Treatment

Juhi Kunde, Director of Science and Research Marketing

Read time: 5 minutes.

This year marks 20 years since researchers made a key discovery that changed the face of lung cancer research and treatment.

By uncovering EGFR’s role in lung cancer, researchers developed a new class of drugs—targeted therapies—designed to target specific mutations in lung cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

As we’ve welcomed this era of precision medicine, we’ve also benefited from other treatment progress in lung cancer—including the development of effective immunotherapies.

During LUNGevity’s 2024 International Lung Cancer Survivorship Conference (ILCSC)—a free, virtual conference bringing the latest lung cancer research news to people across the globe—we were honored to have Solange Peters, MD, PhD, an internationally acclaimed researcher and thoracic oncologist, share the story of EGFR’s role in lung cancer.

You can watch her exceptional keynote address below, as Dr. Peters guides us through the groundbreaking discovery—setting the stage, explaining how this discovery came about, and sharing the progress that we’ve made over 20 years.

If you like this keynote, you’ll love the rest of the conference.

Register today to get free access to recorded sessions from ILCSC with experts speaking on a range of topics. From advances in treating small cell lung cancer to exciting immunotherapies on the horizon, there is something for everyone.

Welcome and Introductions

0:00 – 7:24

Learn more about ILCSC and Dr. Peters through the opening remarks of Dr. Amy Moore, Vice President of Global Engagement and Research Partnerships.

Laying the Groundwork

7:25 – 11:11

Dr. Peters sets the stage with the definitions of different types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and an explanation about how NSCLC is classified.

11:12 – 14:58

In this overview, Dr. Peters takes us back in time to understand lung cancer treatments 20 years ago compared to lung cancer treatments today.

15:00 – 17:16

Learn about Claude, a patient living with lung cancer. The story of his lung cancer journey is sprinkled throughout this video.

17:17 – 21:43

Dr. Peters helps us understand precision medicine and the goal of targeted therapies. She also explains how researchers detect biomarkers to select the best targeted therapy.

The Big Discovery

21:42 – 26:10

Learn about driver mutations and understand who is likely to be affected by them. Plus, get key insights into the importance of kinase proteins (such as EGFR) when developing new targeted lung cancer treatment.

26:11 – 33:18

The incredible story of EGFR. Get the true story of how researchers discovered the importance of the EGFR protein in the development of lung cancer.

Highlighting Progress in Lung Cancer Research and Treatment

33:19 – 35:53

Dr. Peters explains how we built on this EGFR research to target other driver mutations in NSCLC, such as ALK, KRAS, RET, ROS1, and NTRK.

35:53 – 42:51

Learn about immunotherapies—how they work, treatment types, combination approaches, and drug resistance.

Today and Tomorrow

42:52 – 44:10

How is Claude doing now?

44:13 – 46:25

Dr. Peters explains how most of the findings she discussed were made in patients with late-stage disease, but now researchers are working to bring the benefits of targeted therapies and immunotherapies to patients with early-stage lung cancer.

46:26 – 55:40

Dr. Peters dives into the politics of treating lung cancer. She shares challenges facing many people living with lung cancer, as well as important goals for the next 20 years to increase access to biomarker testing and treatments globally.

Q&A

55:41 – 1:08:29

Discussion with Dr. Peters and Dr. Moore.

Solange Peters MD, PhD, is a full professor and chair of medical oncology and the thoracic malignancies program in the Department of Oncology at the University Hospital of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland. She received both her doctorate in medicine and PhD from the University Hospital of Lausanne. After completing her clinical education in medical oncology and molecular biology in Switzerland and Italy, Prof. Peters specialized in thoracic tumors, lung cancer, and pleural tumors.

Get more research and treatment news from lung cancer experts! Register today for free access to ILCSC recorded sessions.