Targeted treatments for lung cancer

Monday 08 April 2019, Royal Marsden Hospital London

Description: In this course I describe the faulty genes, pathways and proteins that drive small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. I also explain the scientific rationale behind targeted treatments in use and in development for these diseases, including the progress made with checkpoint inhibitors such as nivolumab, pembrolizumab and durvalumab. Other treatments covered include inhibitors of EGFR, ALK, ROS1, B-Raf, HER2, MET, FGFR and Trk proteins, and angiogenesis inhibitors.

Audience: Ideal for pharmacists, research nurses, pharmaceutical companies, junior doctors or anyone who has been on one of my other courses. Requires a basic understanding of cancer genetics and cancer cell biology.

To book, contact: conferenceteam@rmh.nhs.uk, or call: 020 7808 2922

Programme summary:

Introduction to lung cancer: a disease of many layers
  • Cell of origin of non-small cell and small cell lung cancer
  • Mechanisms of development
  • The molecular landscape of adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas
  • The role of EGFR signalling pathways
  • The immune system and lung cancer
Targeted treatments for non-small cell lung cancer – part 1
  • EGFR sensitising mutations
  • 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation EGFR-targeted treatments (gefitinib, erlotinib, afatinib, dacomitinib, neratinib, osimertinib)
  • ALK inhibitors (crizotinib, ceritinib, alectinib,brigatinib, lorlatinib)
Immunotherapy approaches for lung cancer & current trials
  • Introduction to T cells and checkpoint proteins
  • Mechanism of action of checkpoint inhibitors (CTLA-4, PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies)
  • Overview of the major clinical trials to date
  • Biomarker development
Targeted treatments for non-small cell lung cancer – part 2
  • Angiogenesis inhibitors
  • More targets and treatments: B-Raf, HER2, MET, RET, NTRK