Search
What are you looking for?
Start main content

Press Releases

Press Releases

https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/international-lung-cancer-study-involving-cu-medicine-shows-that-a-targeted-therapy-doubles-the-progression-free-survival-of-advanced-cancer-patients-compared-to-standard-treatment
https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/international-lung-cancer-study-involving-cu-medicine-shows-that-a-targeted-therapy-doubles-the-progression-free-survival-of-advanced-cancer-patients-compared-to-standard-treatment

International lung cancer study involving CU Medicine shows that a targeted therapy doubles the progression-free survival of advanced cancer patients, compared to standard treatment

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) joined the world’s first international study to investigate the effect of a targeted therapy on newly diagnosed advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. For NSCLC patients who are rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion-positive, a driver of lung cancer, the medicine demonstrated a significantly improved mean progression-free survival rate, more than double that of people who received the current first-line standard treatment.

 

The study results showed that targeted therapy can be the first-line standard of care in untreated RET fusion-positive advanced NSCLC patients. Dr Herbert Loong Ho-fung, a member of the international research team and Associate Professor from the Department of Clinical Oncology at CU Medicine, presented the results of this multinational clinical trial, involving China, Italy, Australia and South Korea etc., on behalf of fellow investigators at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress on 21 October 2023. Details of the study have just been published in the leading international journal The New England Journal of Medicine.

 

The first randomised trial of a targeted agent versus immunotherapy plus chemotherapy in a biomarker-selected patient population

 

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is also the leading cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong, with about 4,000 cases every year. NSCLC accounts for over 80% of all lung cancers. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene mutation and Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) positive are common lung cancer drivers, while RET fusions have been identified in approximately 1% to 2% of all NSCLC cases. 

 

Dr Herbert Loong

Featured in the photo is Dr Herbert Loong, Associate Professor from the Department of Clinical Oncology at CU Medicine, presenting the results of this multinational clinical trial on behalf of fellow investigators at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Madrid, Spain. 

For NSCLC patients who are EGFR or ALK negative, including those who are RET fusion-positive, platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin) plus pemetrexed with or without the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab is the current first-line standard of care.

In this phase 3 study, a targeted therapy, selpercatinib, was used as an initial treatment for patients with RET fusion-positive advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Their treatment outcomes were compared to those of patients receiving the current first-line standard medicine. This study represents the first randomised trial of a targeted agent versus immunotherapy plus chemotherapy in a biomarker-selected patient population.

 

Study results highlight the importance of timely and comprehensive genomic testing for NSCLC patients

 

The study enrolled 212 patients with unresectable stage III to IV NSCLC at 103 study sites across 23 countries. They were randomly assigned to the targeted therapy group or the control group. Results showed that the median progression-free survival of the targeted therapy group was 24.8 months, more than double the 11.2 months of the control group. They also had a higher overall response rate, longer duration of response and significantly reduced central nervous system progression incidence rate. Adverse events observed from the targeted drug were generally consistent with those identified in previous reports. The details can be found in table 1 in the appendix.

 

Dr Loong stated, “Patients need the most effective therapies to be used early in treatment. Our study results support selpercatinib as the first-line standard of care for RET fusion-positive advanced NSCLC. The improved treatment outcomes also highlight the importance of timely and comprehensive genomic testing for RET fusions at the time of diagnosis to inform first-line therapy for this patient population.” 

 

Appendix

 

Table 1: Key treatment outcomes of the targeted therapy group and the control group

 

 

Targeted therapy group
(*selpercatinib)
n = 129

Control group

(*pembrolizumab plus
chemotherapy)
n = 83

Median progression-free survival, months

24.8

11.2

Overall response rate, %

83.7

65.1

Median duration of response, months

24.2

11.5

12-month cumulative incidence rate of central nervous system (CNS) progression in patients without CNS metastases at baseline, %

1.1

14.7

*Selpercatinib is a targeted therapy drug while pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy drug.

More Press Releases

 CU Medicine uncovers the key for immune suppression in lung cancer Translating blood’s hidden gem “Neutrophil” into a new generation anti-cancer therapy

CU Medicine uncovers the key for immune suppression in lung cancer Translating blood’s hidden gem “Neutrophil” into a new generation anti-cancer therapy

Research
CUHK-led Research Confirms Novel Targeted Therapy Doubles the Effectiveness of Current Standard Treatment for ALK-Positive Lung Cancer

CUHK-led Research Confirms Novel Targeted Therapy Doubles the Effectiveness of Current Standard Treatment for ALK-Positive Lung Cancer

Research
CUHK Joint Research Sets a New Global Direction for Lung Cancer Treatment Molecular Targeted Therapy Proved more Effective in Treating Patients with ALK-Positive Lung Cancer

CUHK Joint Research Sets a New Global Direction for Lung Cancer Treatment Molecular Targeted Therapy Proved more Effective in Treating Patients with ALK-Positive Lung Cancer

Research
International lung cancer study involving CU Medicine reveals that combination of immune drugs and chemotherapy represents new treatment regime for metastatic NSCLC patients

International lung cancer study involving CU Medicine reveals that combination of immune drugs and chemotherapy represents new treatment regime for metastatic NSCLC patients

Research
Professor Tony Mok Recognised as a Giant of Cancer Care  for His Remarkable Contribution in Advancing Global Healthcare in Lung Cancer

Professor Tony Mok Recognised as a Giant of Cancer Care for His Remarkable Contribution in Advancing Global Healthcare in Lung Cancer

Awards and honors
CUHK Receives an International Cancer Care Team Award Nominated by Patients

CUHK Receives an International Cancer Care Team Award Nominated by Patients

Awards and honors
CUHK-led Global Study Sees Improvement in Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer

CUHK-led Global Study Sees Improvement in Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer

Research
CU Medicine developed an innovative mRNA drug for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

CU Medicine developed an innovative mRNA drug for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Research
CU Medicine combats resistance to immunotherapy in liver cancer

CU Medicine combats resistance to immunotherapy in liver cancer

Research
CUHK discovers a blood regulator linked to tumour microenvironment formation,  sparking a new therapeutic target for lung cancer

CUHK discovers a blood regulator linked to tumour microenvironment formation, sparking a new therapeutic target for lung cancer

Research
CUHK performs world’s first robotic-assisted bronchoscopic  microwave ablation of lung metastases

CUHK performs world’s first robotic-assisted bronchoscopic microwave ablation of lung metastases

Surgical advancement
CUHK co-leads global lung cancer study  Supporting lorlatinib as first-line treatment option for ALK-positive advanced NSCLC patients

CUHK co-leads global lung cancer study Supporting lorlatinib as first-line treatment option for ALK-positive advanced NSCLC patients

Research
CUHK leading Asia’s battle to improve bile duct cancer survival rates by developing a novel combinational strategy in clinical trial

CUHK leading Asia’s battle to improve bile duct cancer survival rates by developing a novel combinational strategy in clinical trial

Research
CU Medicine collaborates with South Korean institutes to develop  an AI-powered analytic tool for lung cancer immunotherapy

CU Medicine collaborates with South Korean institutes to develop an AI-powered analytic tool for lung cancer immunotherapy

Research
CUHK performs the first hybrid operating room robotic-assisted bronchoscopy procedure outside the US

CUHK performs the first hybrid operating room robotic-assisted bronchoscopy procedure outside the US

Surgical advancement
CU Medicine finds Eastern Asia’s lung cancer incidence and mortality highest in the world

CU Medicine finds Eastern Asia’s lung cancer incidence and mortality highest in the world

Research
CUHK in collaboration with West China School of Medicine co-Led World’s First-in-human Clinical Trial using CRISPR technology for lung cancer Confirmed gene-edited T-Cell Therapy is Safe and Feasible in Treatment of Advanced NSCLC

CUHK in collaboration with West China School of Medicine co-Led World’s First-in-human Clinical Trial using CRISPR technology for lung cancer Confirmed gene-edited T-Cell Therapy is Safe and Feasible in Treatment of Advanced NSCLC

Research
CUHK to Commence the Next-Generation Clinical Trials of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Haematological Malignancy

CUHK to Commence the Next-Generation Clinical Trials of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Haematological Malignancy

Research
CUHK Successfully Conducts Asia-Pacific’s First Hybrid Operating Room Non-invasive Bronchoscopic Microwave Ablation to Treat Lung Cancer

CUHK Successfully Conducts Asia-Pacific’s First Hybrid Operating Room Non-invasive Bronchoscopic Microwave Ablation to Treat Lung Cancer

Surgical advancement
Professor Tony MOK Honoured with the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award Recognising His Global Leadership in Defining Lung Cancer Treatment Standard

Professor Tony MOK Honoured with the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award Recognising His Global Leadership in Defining Lung Cancer Treatment Standard

Awards and honors
CUHK Pioneers Early Lung Cancer Treatment with Hybrid Operating Room Image Guided Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy

CUHK Pioneers Early Lung Cancer Treatment with Hybrid Operating Room Image Guided Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy

Surgical advancement
A CUHK-led International Study Demonstrates Immune-checkpoint Inhibitor Is Effective in Patients with Advanced Nasopharyngeal Cancer

A CUHK-led International Study Demonstrates Immune-checkpoint Inhibitor Is Effective in Patients with Advanced Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Research
CUHK Study Proves Ablative Chemoembolization Doubles the Progression-Free Survival for Liver Cancer Patients

CUHK Study Proves Ablative Chemoembolization Doubles the Progression-Free Survival for Liver Cancer Patients

Research
CUHK Research Receives Recognitions by Top Medical Journals

CUHK Research Receives Recognitions by Top Medical Journals

Awards and honors
CUHK Unravels the Whole Genome of Nasopharyngeal Cancer A Great Leap Forward in Personalized Medicine Development

CUHK Unravels the Whole Genome of Nasopharyngeal Cancer A Great Leap Forward in Personalized Medicine Development

Research
CUHK Leads a Multinational Study that Finds New Treatment Paradigm of Mutated Lung Cancer

CUHK Leads a Multinational Study that Finds New Treatment Paradigm of Mutated Lung Cancer

Research
Factsheet on Personalised Medicine (Only available in Chinese Version)

Factsheet on Personalised Medicine (Only available in Chinese Version)

Research
Inaugural Lecture of Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Professorship in Clinical Oncology by Prof. Tony Mok 'Declaration of War Against Lung Cancer'

Inaugural Lecture of Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Professorship in Clinical Oncology by Prof. Tony Mok 'Declaration of War Against Lung Cancer'

Symposium
CUHK Proves a Non-invasive Technology Can Successfully Cure Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation

CUHK Proves a Non-invasive Technology Can Successfully Cure Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation

Clinical service

Our Expert List

Many experts under the Faculty of Medicine are available for media interview.
Please click here for the expert list or contact us.