Dr. Levy on Therapy for Rapidly Progressing NSCLC

Benjamin P. Levy, MD, assistant professor of oncology, clinical director of medical oncology, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine, discusses therapy options for patients with rapidly progressing non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Levy says this patient population is “in trouble,” with a different tumor biology than what physicians normally see. There is really one opportunity to provide the necessary treatment for a patient with rapidly progressing disease. Recent data suggest that patients with rapidly progressing disease on a first-line regimen derived a meaningful response from a combination of ramucirumab (Cyramza) and docetaxel. Levy says this is important for patients who are progressing on triplet therapy and need a highly active regimen, but it still varies on a patient-to-patient basis.

For patients who have indolent tumor growth, this may be an opportunity to utilize radiation for that specific spot, while keeping them on the same drugs they are receiving.