NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER (NSCLC)

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States with 160,000 deaths annually being more than colon, breast & prostate cancer combined. 85% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and roughly 75,000 people are newly diagnosed with stage 4 every year. Approximately only 50% of patients diagnosed with advanced, non-squamous NSCLC are candidates for targeted chemotherapy drugs or immunotherapy (circa 45,000 patients annually in the US). Hence, we see the significant unmet need for patients with late-stage disease requiring chemotherapy.

NSCLC may be broken down into three main subtypes: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma represents ~40% of all lung cancers as the most common form. Typically found in (ex)smokers and are usually located in the outer parts of the lungs meaning they are more likely to be found before becoming metastatic.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma accounts for ~25% of lung cancers, again, often linked to smoking. These tumors start in the squamous cells which are flat cells in the airways and are subsequently found in the central area of the lungs (near a main airway).

Large Cell Carcinomas equate to ~10% of lung cancers and can be found anywhere in the lungs. These tumors grow and spread rapidly making them much harder to find and treat