Cure Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma International (iCureASPS)

Summary
Immunotherapy with a new drug called a PD-1 inhibitor can be a powerful treatment option for people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but thus far doctors haven’t been able to predict which patients it will work for. Now a Memorial Sloan Kettering study shows the drug is more likely to be effective in people whose tumor DNA contains a lot of mutations caused by exposure to tobacco smoke.

The researchers are hopeful these insights will make it possible to achieve even better results for more patients with different cancer types. Dr. Chan notes that scientists are only beginning to understand the relationship between a tumor’s genetic makeup and its responsiveness to checkpoint inhibitors. Future studies might reveal whether gene changes induced by factors other than smoking, such as UV light or aging, contribute to shaping a tumor’s responsiveness to immunotherapy.