More life expectancy of lung cancer patients

Therapy can increase life expectancy of lung cancer patients

05/01/2014

Every year, around 50,000 people die of lung cancer in Germany. A new therapy should lead to a threefold longer survival time of the patients compared to the chemotherapy. The first health insurance company is already paying the costs for the new procedure. Even from politics comes praise.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death
Around 50,000 people die each year from lung cancer in Germany, the most common cause of cancer death. Leading experts from the University Hospital Cologne and North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister of Science Svenja Schulze (SPD) reported on Wednesday in Düsseldorf that a new diagnostic and therapeutic approach based on genetic testing has led to improved chances of survival in lung cancer patients. Pathologists determine in the Cologne method in an analysis of the lung tumor tissue, which genetic changes has led to the formation or growth of the tumor. As Professor Jürgen Wolf, head of the Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) at the University Hospital, said, then in consultation with specialized oncologists use a treatment with targeted effective drugs.

Three times longer survival of lung cancer patients
Compared to chemotherapy, the method tested since 2009 in the catchment area of ​​Cologne's top center has given up to three times longer survival time for lung cancer patients. Professor Reinhard Büttner, Director of the Institute of Pathology, says: „With this procedure we are revolutionizing diagnostics.“ He and Wolf spoke of one „quantum leap“. The procedure should also be applied to other common cancers such as colon cancer. Every year, experts in Cologne's pathology study around 3,500 tissue samples using molecular diagnostics. As Wolf pointed out, that equates to seven percent of new lung cancers nationwide. Thus, the largest diagnostic platform for lung cancer was created throughout Europe. In more than half of the patients, therapeutically relevant mutations were found, which could then be selectively controlled with medication. This is more effective and compatible with chemotherapy. Basically, an alternative to chemotherapy would be desirable for many patients because this standard of care for many cancers is associated with unpleasant side effects such as hair loss and nausea.

Reliable and safe molecular diagnostics
At present, around 50 established clinics, oncologists or pulmonary specialists participate in the „Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer“: They send the lung tissue of their cancer patients to the Cologne pathology, which informs within a few days about a discovered mutation and recommends a therapy. Büttner explained that the goal was to set up networks nationwide in which oncology, molecular diagnostics, clinics and specialists cooperated. Minister Schulze spoke of one „reliable and safe molecular diagnostics“ and a positive example of how „outstanding“ medical-scientific results arrive quickly at the patient.

Millions of funding from the Ministry of Science
Above all, the politician emphasized the impressive speed with which the transfer of scientific results into routine care has been achieved. „For the benefit of cancer patients, I wish this therapy approach two things: many other clinics that join in and that other health insurances also go into the reimbursement of costs“, so Schulze. The Ministry of Science has funded the establishment of the research platform at the University of Cologne with a total of 3.5 million euros.

The first health insurance company is already covering the costs of diagnostics
The AOK Rheinland / Hamburg is the first statutory health insurance company, which takes over the costs for the complex diagnostics, lump sum 1,700 euros per patient. Matthias Mohrmann, board member of the AOK Rheinland / Hamburg, said that they were convinced that the procedure would extend the life of the patients, alleviate their suffering and improve their quality of life. He also said: „We attach great importance to the care of the seriously ill and, with the support of the genome analysis, want to improve the treatment options for lung cancer.“ (Sb)