Targeted therapy reduces risk of lung cancer recurrence by 83% in rare genetic subtype

Doctors have found a new way to help a small group of lung cancer patients avoid their cancer coming back. The treatment is a drug called selpercatinib, and it targets a rare genetic change called RET fusion. This change happens in only about 1% to 2% of people with non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC.

RET-positive lung cancer can sometimes be treated early with surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. But even after this treatment, many patients see their cancer return, sometimes in a more serious form. Doctors wanted to know if selpercatinib could help stop that from happening.

To find out, researchers ran a large study called LIBRETTO-432. They enrolled 151 patients with early-stage RET-positive lung cancer who had already finished their main treatment. Half the patients received selpercatinib, and the other half received a fake pill called a placebo, for up to three years.

The results were impressive. After two years, 92% of patients who took selpercatinib were still alive with no sign of their cancer returning. Compare that to only 61% of patients who took the placebo. Overall, the drug lowered the risk of the cancer coming back or a patient dying by 83%.

Dr. Jonathan Goldman, who helped lead the study at UCLA, called this a major step forward. He explained that even when patients are treated early, many still worry about their cancer returning. This new drug offers real hope for keeping that from happening.

The drug did have some side effects, mostly related to liver function, but doctors say these were manageable with dose changes.

Because of results like this, doctors are learning how important it is to test patients’ tumors for genetic markers like RET. Finding the right genetic match means doctors can offer better, more personalized treatments that give patients a stronger chance of staying cancer-free long term.