Research is the key to survivorship—and even a cure. Lung cancer research has led to new treatments, including targeted therapies that bring precision medicine to life. Research has helped us understand the impact of real-world events, like COVID-19, on people with lung cancer and their care. Research is the key to helping us understand why young adults are getting lung cancer, how to manage side effects from lung cancer treatment, and how to enable survivors to thrive long term.
At GO2 for Lung Cancer, we confront lung cancer every day through innovative research programs that help find lifesaving treatments and cures.
One vehicle for current lung cancer research is clinical trials—research studies that evaluate the safety and efficacy of new ways of treating cancer or providing cancer care. Clinical trials are a vital part of improving outcomes for the cancer community. People may choose to participate in a trial for several reasons including receiving the newest treatments early, the high level of care received as part of a trial, and wanting to directly help drive research advances for people with cancer.
Our research team designs and fields studies, gathers data, and presents the findings to create change. Our robust research portfolio spans the care continuum from early detection and precision medicine to community engagement.
Advancements in lung cancer research
Lung cancer research has led to the development of many new treatment options and improvements in care. More treatment options are available than in the past, and more people than ever before are living with lung cancer long-term. Since the first targeted therapy approval for lung cancer in 2003, we have seen targeted therapy options expand for different biomarker lung cancer types.
Since the first immunotherapy was approved for lung cancer in 2015, we have seen novel combinations and new immunotherapy drugs that expand this type of treatment to more people. We’ve also seen the advancement of targeted therapies and immunotherapy from treating just advanced lung cancer to also treating early-stage lung cancers. Now, we’re witnessing the development of completely new types of therapies. Clinical trials and lung cancer research made this possible.
GO2 has supported and conducted patient-centered research that will contribute to real advancements in lung cancer treatment and care.
- The SPACEWALK study, in collaboration with ALCMI, identified mechanisms of resistance to ALK targeted therapies that may inform development of new treatment approaches when resistance occurs.
- The Genomics of Young Lung study identified and characterized a population of people diagnosed under the age of 40, contributing to our understanding of who is at risk for lung cancer, which may lead to improved diagnosis.
GO2 continues to explore innovative ways to conduct and drive patient-centric research that will lead to advances in areas that are truly impactful across the lung cancer continuum.
The challenges and future of lung cancer research
Despite the positive impact research has had on improving lung cancer survival and quality of life, there are still many challenges that prevent this work from having an even greater impact on the lung cancer community.
Lack of research funding
Even though lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death, lung cancer receives the lowest amount of federal research funding per death caused, when compared to other major cancer types. Advocacy by the lung cancer community, led by GO2, has resulted in a dedicated lung cancer research funding program within the Congressional Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) which is helping close this funding gap. Continued efforts to support lung cancer research through proper funding will help benefit more of the community.
Unequal access to research and underrepresentation
Other issues that prevent more people with lung cancer from reaping the benefits of research are unequal access to research opportunities and underrepresentation within trials. Only 8% of people with cancer in the U.S. participate in clinical trials. Participation is even lower among racial and ethnic minority groups. Among people in the U.S. who participate in clinical trials, only about 6% are Black, 3% are Asian American, and 2% are Hispanic.
These disparities can prevent us from fully understanding if the results of research apply to all people with lung cancer. They also stop researchers from knowing if newly approved drugs are effective and have similar side effects for every type of person with lung cancer.
In addition, it is estimated that almost 80% of people with cancer are treated in community-based medical settings, but most clinical trial locations are at larger academic cancer centers and their affiliates. This mismatch between where trials are located and where people with cancer are receiving their care creates access barriers to research opportunities and may increase research disparities.
There have been several innovative efforts to increase clinical trial access, including making trial procedures and designs more patient-centric.
Decentralized trials: bringing research directly to people with cancer
In addition to trying to open new locations for clinical trials in the local communities where people with cancer live, some researchers are also implementing decentralized trials. Decentralized trials are designed to allow patients to participate in parts of trials from local facilities or directly from their own homes. For instance, some trials will allow participants to go to a clinic or lab close to home for simple or common clinical trial procedures such as medical imaging, blood sample collection, etc. Decentralized trials can reduce the number of times a person has to visit a trial location that may be far away. Some trials even allow patients to have procedures done in their own homes. For example, with mobile phlebotomy, a medical professional can come directly to a person’s home and collect required blood samples there. We expect to see new patient-centric elements like these incorporated in future research studies.
Innovative clinical trial designs
Researchers are coming up with new ways to design and carry out clinical trials that could bring new targeted therapy options to patients faster and more efficiently. A few key examples of new trial designs are:
- Basket trials: A single targeted therapy associated with a specific biomarker is given to people whose tumor has tested positive for that biomarker, regardless of the type of cancer.
- Umbrella trials: Multiple targeted therapies are tested on individuals with the same cancer type. People are “matched” to specific targeted therapies based on the results of comprehensive biomarker testing.
- Platform trials: Multiple treatments are tested at the same time, and the study can be “adapted” or changed as we better understand the best treatments.
GO2 will continue to advocate for increased resources for lung cancer research and research methods that are patient-centric to ensure all people with lung cancer can benefit.
New lung cancer research studies
GO2’s research programs help find lifesaving treatments and cures. Our studies are designed to focus on all aspects of lung cancer care including early detection, treatment, and survivorship. These studies are actively recruiting patient or caregiver participants. Participate from home today!
SUCCEED
The SUCCEED study seeks to improve access to clinical trials for people living with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Because many people with SCLC face barriers such as age, other health conditions, or distance from treatment centers, SUCCEED is testing a “direct-to-patient” approach that allows participants to provide blood samples from home or nearby. The study also gathers feedback about what matters most to people with SCLC when making treatment and research decisions.
If you are living with SCLC, you may be able to enroll.
Lung Cancer Risk Survey
The Lung Cancer Risk Survey is a research effort created by lung cancer specialists, researchers, and advocates. It explores how family history, lifestyle, environment, and work-related exposures may affect a person’s risk for developing lung cancer. The goal of the study is to improve screening practices, support earlier diagnoses, and help ensure that people at highest risk get the care and support they need.
If you have specific risk factors, such as military service or family history, you may be able to enroll.
INHERIT
The INHERIT study, part of the multi-year “Origins Initiative,” seeks to discover the true origin of lung cancer to transform survivorship. This study builds upon earlier research by GO2, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) that identified one specific inherited genetic mutation in the EGFR gene that is associated with a higher risk of developing lung cancer. INHERIT will expand the research pool to include many more lung cancer genetic mutations, such as ALK+, ROS1, and KRAS, and enroll many more families.
If you have a family history of lung cancer, you may be able to enroll.
International Caregiver Survey
The International Caregiver Survey is designed to understand the experiences of people who help care for people with lung cancer. The 20-minute study focuses on the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers, coping mechanisms, cultural differences, financial contributions to their loved one’s care, and the different ways that caregivers find and define value while they care for a person living with lung cancer.
This survey is available in 5 languages: English, Spanish, French, German and Simplified Chinese. You are eligible to participate if you are caring for have in the past cared for a person with lung cancer.
Lung Cancer Registry
GO2's Lung Cancer Registry is the place to share your lung cancer story to improve research and achieve better outcomes for all. It was designed so that people with lung cancer and their loved ones could contribute their individual experiences with lung cancer through survey questions asking you about their medical history and diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, and quality of life. Our research studies include the landmark SHAWL study, which looked at the impact of lung cancer treatments on women’s sexual health.
If you are living with lung cancer, caring for someone with the disease, or are at risk, you can join GO2's Lung Cancer Registry.
Ongoing lung cancer research studies
These studies are happening right now. Some are still recruiting new participants, but only in specific locations. Others have finished recruiting and data analysis is underway.
Empathic Communication
Through an ongoing collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), we’re developing training for doctors in empathic, non-stigmatizing communication. The training module is currently being pilot-tested across 16 sites nationwide, including 8 GO2 for Lung Cancer Centers of Excellence.
ENIGMA
Elucidating Novel Immune and Genomic Markers for ALK (ENIGMA) is a study to understand the biology of ALK-positive (or ALK+) lung cancer. ALK+ lung cancer is a subtype of lung cancer which carries a genetic change involving the anaplastic lymphoma kinase, or ALK, gene. About 5% of all lung cancers are ALK+, in which abnormal ALK protein tells the cancer to grow.
Epidemiology of Young Lung Cancer
The Epidemiology of Young Lung Cancer (EoYLC) is designed to help researchers and healthcare professionals better understand why more younger people are developing lung cancer. Specifically, the study is looking at environmental and childhood exposures—as well as other risk factors for lung cancer in people under age 50.
Ready-LUNG
Research addressing lung cancer awareness, screening, and barriers to lung cancer care within the low socioeconomic status (low-SES) population has mainly been studied in the Non-Hispanic, White population while leaving a gap in understanding the unique challenges faced by African Americans/Blacks, despite their significantly higher incidence rate of lung cancer among minority groups.
Readiness of Economically Disadvantaged African Americans Developing an Initiative to Yield Change in Lung Cancer Awareness, Screening, Treatment, and Supportive Care (Ready-LUNG) aims to gain insights into community readiness and develop a community-led initiative to effectively address lung cancer disparities in the African American/Black population.
SPARK
While there are drugs for people with KRAS lung cancer that slow cancer growth, they lose their effectiveness over time as KRAS lung cancer finds ways to avoid the therapies by developing new mutations. Understanding the biology behind resistance to KRAS inhibitors has the potential to lead to new lines of therapy and novel combinations—and to increase KRAS mutation lung cancer survival rates.
Studying Resistance in KRAS-driven Cancers (SPARK) is a research study designed to help understand treatment resistance in KRAS-positive lung cancer. In this study, we are specifically looking for genetic changes in the KRAS gene that could help us understand why a cancer has developed drug resistance.