Researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have found that a combination of two drugs may be effective in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer and accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases.

The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, involved analyzing data from over 1,000 patients with NSCLC. The researchers identified a group of genes that were associated with resistance to immunotherapy, a type of cancer treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight cancer cells.

The researchers then tested a combination of two drugs, a checkpoint inhibitor and a targeted therapy, in mouse models of NSCLC. The checkpoint inhibitor works by releasing the brakes on the immune system, allowing it to attack cancer cells. The targeted therapy works by inhibiting a protein that is overexpressed in many types of cancer cells.

The researchers found that the combination of the two drugs was effective in shrinking tumors in the mouse models of NSCLC, including tumors that were resistant to immunotherapy alone. The researchers then conducted a small clinical trial in humans with NSCLC, and found that the combination of the two drugs was well-tolerated and showed promising results in treating the disease.

The researchers say that the combination of the two drugs may offer a new treatment option for patients with NSCLC who are resistant to immunotherapy alone. They also say that the study highlights the importance of personalized medicine, as identifying the genetic factors that contribute to resistance to treatment can help tailor therapies to individual patients.

Reference: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/condition-alert-new-combination-therapy-shows-early-promise-in-treating-lung-cancer#:~:text=A%20new%20combination%20therapy&text=%E2%80%9CTreatment%20with%20KRASG12%20in,immune%20cells%20surrounding%20the%20tumor