Our top 5 Plain Language Summaries on lung cancer
Plain Language Summaries of Publication articles (PLSPs) are easy-to-understand summaries of technical or scientific research that aim to make research findings more accessible to a wider audience, including patients, policymakers and stakeholders.
Future Science Group, which publishes Future Oncology, is keen to recognize and promote the vital role of patients in medical and scientific research. Lung cancer is a complex disease, with many different subtypes, causes and treatment options. Therefore, PLSPs are a particularly useful tool for improving the understanding and awareness of thoracic oncology.
Below we have compiled our top 5 PLSPs exploring the latest guidelines and recommendations for lung cancer.
PLSP and patient perspective of the revised STARS study
Two studies, which were pooled together for analysis, previously reported increased survival rates for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) compared to surgery for early-stage NSCLC patients, which has been handily summarized in a PLSP. However, the trials termed STARS and ROSEL, had several limiting factors.
To overcome these hurdles and to provide a more rounded answer, a revised single-arm prospective STARS trial was designed that included a larger number of patients using a propensity-matched comparison, with the primary endpoint being overall survival.
Overall, the researchers found that long-term survival was similar between SABR and surgery. The team highlight that SABR remains promising for such cases, but multidisciplinary management is strongly recommended.
Read the Plain Language Summary here
PLSP and patient perspective of the ASCO guideline: management of Stage III NSCLC
The next PLSP in our lineup is an ASCO guideline, which provides comprehensive evidence-based recommendations to clinicians on how to evaluate and stage patients with suspected Stage III NSCLC. The recommendations also cover the treatment of Stage III NSCLC including surgical management, neoadjuvant and adjuvant approaches.
ASCO devised these guidelines by bringing together an Expert Panel of thoracic and pulmonary experts to conduct a literature search, with a particular focus on survival, disease-free or recurrence-free survival, and quality of life.
Read the Plain Language Summary here
PLSP of 2022 lung cancer statistics
This PLSP provides a bitesize overview of the American Cancer Society’s lung cancer statistics for 2022, which spans the number of new cancer cases and deaths in the US as well as the up-to-date data on population-based cancer occurrence and outcomes.
Key points covered are that lung cancer incidence declined steeply for advanced disease while rates for localized-stage lung cancer increased suddenly by 4.5% annually. In terms of mortality rates, they reflected incidence trends, with a marked decline in the field of lung cancer, highlighting the progress that has been made in screening and its treatment.
The authors stress that an increased focus on targeted cancer control interventions and investment in early detection technologies would reduce cancer mortality.
Read the Plain Language Summary here
PLSP and patient perspective of the ESMO expert consensus statements on treating EGFR-positive NSCLC
An expert consensus organized by ESMO, involving 34 experts from 18 different countries, has helped fill in knowledge gaps about how to diagnose and treat EGFR-positive NSCLC. Key topics covered in the consensus were: tissue and biomarkers analyses; early and locally advanced disease; metastatic disease and clinical trial design and patient’s perspectives.
This PLSP and patient perspective breaks down why the recommendations were required and what the main outcomes were.
Read the Plain Language Summary here
PSLP and patient perspective: 2020 lung cancer screening recommendations by the US Preventive Services Task Force
The final PLSP in our round-up describes the research carried out by the US Preventive Services Task Force during a review and update of their lung cancer screening recommendations, with a focus on the effectiveness of low-dose computed tomography.
The review found that performing annual LDCT scans for those at high risk of developing lung cancer is beneficial, as it means that some patients will be diagnosed earlier than they would be without this type of screening.
Read the Plain Language Summary here
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