Shanghai Chest Hospital to Initiate CAR-T Therapy Trial for Lung Cancer

Key Insights

• Shanghai Chest Hospital will begin a clinical trial in January to assess a novel CAR-T cell therapy for lung cancer, aiming to enroll 20 patients in the first phase.
• The trial leverages CAR-T, an immunotherapy that reprograms a patient's immune cells to target and combat their specific cancer.
• Chinese researchers have made significant strides in lung cancer treatment, achieving parity with developed countries in providing advanced therapies to patients.

Shanghai Chest Hospital is set to commence a clinical trial in January, exploring the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy for lung cancer. The initial phase of the study aims to recruit 20 patients.

CAR-T Therapy for Solid Tumors

CAR-T, or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is an immunotherapy approach that involves modifying a patient's own immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. While CAR-T therapy has demonstrated notable success in treating hematological malignancies, its application to solid tumors like lung cancer is still under investigation, with an increasing number of clinical trials being conducted.

Advancements in Lung Cancer Treatment in China

According to experts at the Sino-Euro Forum on Thoracic Disease, China's medical capabilities in lung cancer treatment are now closely aligned with those of developed countries. This allows Chinese patients to access cutting-edge treatments promptly. Dr. Lu Shun from Shanghai Chest Hospital emphasized that molecular typing technology enables the identification of different types of lung cancer, facilitating precise treatment strategies.

Targeted Medication and Innovative Medicines

Dr. Lu noted that the US has marketed nine medicines targeting nine lung cancer targets. Chinese research teams have developed innovative medicines with 8.5 targets, nearly closing the gap with the US. This progress ensures that Chinese patients have comparable treatment opportunities.

"China Plan" for EGFR-Mutated Lung Cancer

Dr. Lu also spearheaded the world's first research on terminal lung cancer patients with EGFR genetic mutations, establishing a "China Plan" for precise and innovative treatment that has gained international recognition.

International Collaboration

Dr. Hou Xumin, president of Shanghai Chest Hospital, highlighted the importance of international exchange and cooperation. The hospital has launched an international expert visiting plan, inviting cardiothoracic surgery professionals from Europe to Shanghai annually, while also sending young doctors to visit European hospitals for collaborative research.