Overview
Lung cancer starts in the lungs and can spread to other organs through lymph nodes. So lung cancer can be considered one of the causes of different types of cancer. Lung cancers are of two types: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer spreads faster and requires a different treatment than small cell lung cancer.
Lung cancers are the second most frequent type of cancer. Older people are more likely to get lung cancer. Most lung cancer patients are 65 years of age or older.
According to the American Cancer Society, the number of new lung cancer cases in 2022 will be around 236,740 (117,910 in men and 118,830 in women), with 130,180 lung cancer fatalities (68,820 in men and 61,360 in women).
Although surgeries and therapies are already available for treating lung cancer, other breakthroughs happened this year. The FDA has approved a few of the latest lung cancer treatments. It's important to get treated by oncologists at the best cancer hospital in India for better treatment and recovery. Know everything about cancer treatment, lung cancer hospitals, lung transplant hospital, their cost, etc.
FDA has approved 3 different treatments in 2022. Let’s take a closer look at their specifications, side effects, and more. Keep reading till the end to find out!
More Details of New Lung Cancer Medications
1. OPDIVO (Nivolumab ) treatment
- This medicine Opdivo (Nivolumab), aims to treat advanced-stage lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer.
- The Opdivo drug prevents metastases and stops the cancerous cells from growing and spreading into other body parts.
- A prescription drug called OPDIVO (nivolumab) is combined with YERVOY (ipilimumab) and two cycles of chemotherapy using platinum and another chemotherapy drug.
- These medicines work by affecting your immune system. They make the immune system attack any tissues or organs in your body, affecting their functioning.
Side Effects:
- Opdivo drug, when taken along with Yervoy, can cause serious side effects like cough and difficulty in breathing, pain in the chest, diarrhea, black stool, stomach ache,
- Other side effects of the Opdivo drug can be headaches, hair loss, and mood swings.
- Losing your appetite might be one sign that should concern you. Eye pain or redness can be additional symptoms that indicate the need for medical assistance.
2. Selpercatinib
- Selpercatinib was the new lung cancer treatment breakthrough. The FDA approved Selpercatinib, a selective RET inhibitor drug for the treatment of Lung Cancer
- It effectively treats lung cancer in adults and pediatrics over 12 years of age. It is an oral medication usually taken twice a day.
- It can treat adult patients with RET gene fusion-positive solid tumors that are locally or metastatically advanced.
- This drug is used when cancer has progressed during or after systemic therapy or when the patient has no other effective therapeutic alternatives.
Side Effects:
- Edema, diarrhea, lethargy, dry mouth, hypertension, stomach discomfort, constipation, rash, nausea, and headache are typical side effects of Selpercatinib(Retevmo).
3. Tabrecta(Capmatinib)
- FDA approved Capmatinib on August 10, 2022.
- It is known to treat adult patients having metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
- It is an oral kinase inhibitor that targets and inhibits the action of MET, including the variant mutation brought on by exon 14 skipping.
- Capmatinib inhibits the proliferation and survival of MET-dependent cancer cells by inhibiting MET phosphorylation and MET-mediated downstream-signaling proteins.
- There are two doses of capmatinib: 150 mg and 200 mg tablets.
- For this indication, 400 mg of capmatinib should be given orally twice daily with or without meals.
Side Effects:
- Edema, nausea, musculoskeletal discomfort, weariness, vomiting, dyspnea, coughing, and reduced appetite were the most frequent adverse effects occurring in more than 20% of patients during the clinical trials.
References:
https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB15685
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/selpercatinib
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-tabrecta#side-effects
