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APLCC 2016
INSIGHT
APLCC 2016 | IASLC ASIA PACIFIC LUNG CANCER CONFERENCE
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"CURE" FOR
Dr Prakit Vathesatogkit
Healthcare workers can bolster
tobacco control
Health professionals including lung cancer
experts have a prominent role to play in tobacco
control. They have the trust of the population,
the media and opinion leaders, and their
voices are heard across a vast range of social,
economic and political arenas.
At the individual level, they can educate the
population on the harms of tobacco use and
exposure to second-hand smoke. They can
also help tobacco users overcome their
addiction said Dr Prakit.
(Cont. on page 2)
Conference Secretariat
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Summarises
Prof Prakit Vathesatogkit:
(Cont. from page 1: Cure for lung cancer: More Hype or New Hope?)
Immunotherapy: is it a new
revolution?
Another new form of treatment
that has boosted hope for cure is
immunotherapy. First form of
immunotherapy that has been a
pproved for lung cancer involves
monoclonal antibodies that are
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Dr Paul Bunn
directed to proteins called checkpoint
inhibitors. Checkpoints are proteins
that cancer cells make to protect them
from being killed by lymphocytes
which are part of our immune system.
These monoclonal antibodies block
proteins which were protecting cancer
cells so that our lymphocytes can
kill those cancer cells. Monoclonal
antibodies are proteins that have to
be given intravenously. The response
of immunotherapy with monoclonal
antibodies lasts much longer and has
far less toxicity said Dr Bunn.
But immunotherapy does not work
on all patients of lung cancer because
all patients do not have checkpoint
inhibitors. That is why we are trying
to find biomarkers to define which
patients may respond to immunotherapy.
These monoclonal antibodies are very
expensive which makes it even more
important to find which patients are
more likely to respond. Also
currently scientists are evaluating
whether these monoclonal antibodies
are more likely to cure advanced stage
or early stage patients of lung cancer.
Currently it is likely that these
monoclonal antibodies may improve
cure rate for early stage patients of
lung cancer shared Dr Bunn.
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scientific
exchanges
and
academic
networking for a range of experts playing
a crucial role in lung cancer research,
diagnosis, treatment and care. The main
highlights of APLCC 2016 are the latest
advances in lung cancer especially basic
and clinical research, immunotherapy,
multidisciplinary practices in Asia Pacific,
practical clinical management, and also
expert ideas and knowledge sharing from
outside the region from different parts of the
world including the Americas and European
region. We have several invited speakers
in key sessions on issues varying from
pathology, surgery, early lung cancer
detection, and cancer treatment aspects
including radiation, surgery, chemotherapy,
immunotherapy, among others. The delegates
will get an opportunity to learn and
share in several thematic oral and poster
presentations daily at APLCC 2016 shared
Prof Thongprasert.
Dr Sumitra Thongprasert
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PS=Plenary Session
IS=Invited Session
AS=Abstract Session
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LUNG CANCER
SCREENING: THE THAILAND PERSPECTIVE
The survival rate for lung cancer is strongly
related to the stage of the disease. The
earlier is its detection, better is the survival
rate. Currently, low-dose computerized
tomography (LDCT) is the standard
technique for lung cancer screening. The
National Lung Screening Trial (NLST),
launched in 2002, found that screening with
LDCT resulted in a 15% - 20% lower lung
cancer-specific mortality and 6.7% lower
all-cause mortality relative to chest
radiography (X-ray) over a median of
6.5 years of follow-up said Dr Natthaya
Triphuridet, Pulmonologist and Assistant
Director for Medical Affairs at Chulabhorn
Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Dr Natthaya is
among the faculty members for IASLC Asia
Pacific Lung Cancer Conference (APLCC
2016).
Dr Natthaya added: Since the release of the
NLST data, many guidelines have endorsed
the use of LDCT screening for high-risk
individuals. In 2013, United States
Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
Dr Natthaya Triphuridet
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Former and current heavy smokers (>30 pack-years) aged 50-70 years without a history
of active TB within a recent year were included in the study. Out of the 634 high risk
subjects (mostly males) investigated, 66% had lung nodule(s) in their initial LDCT
screening (58% with multiple nodules). Nine out of these 634 cases (1.4%) were
diagnosed to have lung cancer - 5 of stage I, 1 of stage II/III, and 2 of stage 4 lung
cancer. All 6 cases of stage I and II had multiple lung nodules, while 3 cases of stage III
and IV had single lung nodule.
Dr Natthaya Triphuridet who had received the IASLC Global Mentorship Award 2013
for Screening of Lung Cancer by Low-Dose CT (LDCT), Digital Tomosynthesis (DT)
and Chest Radiography (CR) in a High Risk Population in Australia shared that the
study showed: despite a high burden of TB in Thailand, LDCT screening in heavy
smokers could yield a high rate of primary lung cancer in high risk population.
However, high prevalence of lung nodules is one of the major problems in diagnosis and
staging lung cancer in endemic area of TB.
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