US Oncologist Survey: Optimizing Treatment for Advanced Lung Cancer

Countries covered: United States Experience real patient situations that progressively unfold, presented to 154 oncologists in a survey for their open-ended responses providing rich insight into their clinical decisions. Data includes specific treatment choices, factors that influence their decisions, barriers to optimal treatment and confidence in treatment and management of patients. This primary research provides the oncology prescribing information that you are missing, directly from high-prescribing US oncologists on the treatment of patients with advanced lung cancer. Case highlights include: Smoker with squamous cell carcinoma Light smoker with adenocarcinoma Nonsmoker with adenocarcinoma Former light smoker whose cancer is EGFR positive Treatment decisions for advanced stages of cancer are difficult to track as information quickly changes along with the introduction of new information and products impacting oncologists’ decisions. This series of reports will allow you to see what is actually happening at the patient level for different types of patients presenting with a wide range of issues in advanced stages of cancer. This report allows you to: Understand what occurs with actual patients Access the most up-to-date prescribing trends Gain actionable data for developing and improving your market strategies Pinpoint needs of your target audience Focus resources to maximize the effectiveness of your budget Understand where your product fits Understand where your competitor’s product fits Design messages to advance brand performance

Additional Information

Report Excerpts

Advanced non-small cell lung cancers make up over three-quarters of all new lung cancer cases in the United States. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. NSCLC can spread throughout the body through the lymph nodes and bloodstream. While there is only one type of small cell lung cancer, there are three types of non-small cell lung cancer. The three types of non-small cell lung cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in the skin, lungs, head and neck, esophagus, cervix, and anus. Adenocarcinoma is the name of a broad category of cancers. Although commonly associated with lung cancer, adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that develops in cells lining glandular areas of internal organs, such as the lungs, breasts, colon, prostate, stomach, and pancreas. About forty percent of all lung cancer cases diagnosed today are adenocarcinomas. Large cell carcinoma shows no evidence of squamous or glandular maturation. These tumors are often diagnosed by default. Their diagnosis is made when elements of squamous or glandular differentiation cannot be proven. Large cell carcinoma represents 10-20% of bronchogenic tumors. These tumors lack any specific clinical features to suggest their diagnosis prior to biopsy. They tend to grow rapidly, metastasize early, and are strongly associated with smoking.

Treatment depends on a number of factors, including the type of lung cancer, the size, location, and extent of the tumor, and the general health of the patient. Many different treatments and combinations of treatments may be used to control lung cancer, and/or to improve quality of life by reducing symptoms. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment are three common forms of treatment that have been used with varying success for a number of years. Newer combinations of medications now available may provide clinical benefit beyond these three types of treatment. Given the current state of therapy for non-small cell lung cancer, continued clinical studies are needed to find better treatments and the optimal duration of those treatments, especially as they relate to improving survival for patients with this disease.