Lung cancer is the “No. 1 cancer” in terms of either incidence or mortality, so the clinical and scientific research progress of lung cancer can easily attract the attention of the whole world.

The 21st World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2020) was officially held on January 28-31, 2021. Although it was postponed due to the global outbreak of COVID-19, it was even more longed-for. Professor Wu Yilong from Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute became the first Chinese scholar acting as the conference president in the 50 years history of the WCLC, reflecting the increasing international influence of Chinese clinical trials and translational research on lung cancer.

Professor Wu Yilong became the first Chinese scholar acting as the conference president

Professor Wu Yilong appeared at the conference with 27 achievements of Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute

The World Conference on Lung Cancer is the “bellwether” and an “exhibition of achievements" of global cutting-edge studies on lung cancer. WCLC 2020 also welcomed the first Chinese conference president, Professor Wu Yilong, in its 50 years of history.

As the prelude to the conference, the President's Forum has been held on August 8, 2020 in the form of globally synchronous network broadcast. As the global epidemic continued, the 21st World Conference on Lung Cancer was held in the form of global online virtual conference.

Professor Wu Yilong said frankly that “I was sincere, patient and anxious” as well as "uneasy, expected and excited" during two years of offline preparation and one year of conversion to virtual venue. During the preparation period, he made hotline communications with the conference co-chairs, Professor Daniel Tan and Professor Ross Soo from Singapore, as well as the office members of International Association for Study of Lung Cancer (ASLC) by exchanging emails weekly and holding an online meeting biweekly, and finally overcame countless difficulties to ensure that the World Conference on Lung Cancer would be held online for the first time.

What made Professor Wu Yilong prouder was that Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute had 27 research achievements including 4 oral presentations, 4 mini oral presentations, 2 specialized posters and 17 posters appearing at WCLC 2020. In addition, 2 postgraduates won more important awards at the conference.

The first RET inhibitor expected to be launched on the Chinese market appeared at the first China Special Session

January 28 was the date of the first debut of the World Conference on Lung Cancer - China Special Session which focused on the progress of the cutting-edge research of VEGFR antibody monotherapy and joint application. China's research findings won the lead.

Professor Wu Yilong introduced that altogether three Chinese clinical trials and one translational research appeared at the conference:

Professor Zhou Qing from Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute reported the Chinese cohort study on RET inhibitor BLU667, with effective rate of 56.3%. It is expected to be the first RET inhibitor being launched on the Chinese market;

Professor Zhou Caicun from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University reported the study of Icotinib adjuvant therapy. The results were similar to that of CTONG1104 and EVAN, and adjuvant targeted therapy was proved to be better than adjuvant chemotherapy. The disease-free survival data provided added new basis for adjuvant targeted treatment;

Professor Wang Yan from Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences brought the study on the treatment of HER-2 mutant non-small-cell lung cancer with the combination of Pyrotinib and Apatinib, and reported that the relative risk (RR) was 35.7% when treating HER2 mutant patients with the combination of the small molecule inhibitors Pyrrotinib and Apatinib ……

Professor Wu Yilong pointed out that research on the oral administration of small molecule inhibitors has been popular in China in recent years, so the theme of the China Special Session was proposed as “Oral Administration of Small Molecule Anti-angiogenesis Inhibitors: Unveiling the Mystery”. In addition to the eye-striking Chinese research achievements, Professor Pirk, an international expert from University of Vienna, and Mr. Wakelle, President-Elect of IASLC from Stanford University also elaborated their views. He personally believed that the voice of international scientists was of great benefit to the relevant studies of China.

Professor Wu Yilong explained three focuses.

On the second day of the WCLC, the number of online audience was nearly 7,000, and wonderful cutting-edge studies were reported ceaselessly. Professor Wu Yilong specially introduced three focuses for the listeners who had no in-depth research on lung cancer.

Focus 1: Is chemotherapy needed or not?

In the field of lung cancer, osimertinib adjuvant therapy is undoubtedly one of the most eye-catching studies. Professor Wu Yilong introduced that the role of the adjuvant chemotherapy of ADAURA study was announced in this WCLC , “It is clear that the effect of adjuvant Tagrisso does not depend on adjuvant chemotherapy, that is to say, it doesn’t matter to have chemotherapy or not," said Professor Wu Yilong.

Many people may ask further: So, whether to have chemotherapy or not?

Professor Wu Yilong said bluntly: in fact, the design of ADAURA study could not directly answer this question, but the three Chinese randomized controlled studies, Iressa CTONG1104, Conmana EVIDENCE and Tarceva EVAN, directly compared the efficacy of the first-generation targeted drugs and chemotherapy. The result was very clear that the targeted drugs were better than chemotherapy in recurrence reduction and progression delay. According to the result of Tagasso adjuvant chemotherapy announced this time, it was obvious that adjuvant chemotherapy was not necessary.

Focus 2: Is immunotherapy feasible for patients with mutations?

Professor Wu Yilong introduced that Dr. Lai from Singapore reported a study on the effect of Opdivo on double immunotherapy. The result showed that either single immunotherapy or double immunotherapy, with progression-free survival (PFS) of less than two months, was effective for only one patient. “As there are two strategies for two kinds of lung cancer, it is quite difficult to combine them," said Professor Wu Yilong.

Focus 3: How to do after immunotherapy drug resistance?

Professor Wu Yilong pointed out that Dr. Krebs from UK reported the Phase II study. According to the report, as for AXL positive patients, it seemed possible to correct drug resistance with AXL inhibitors. However, he reminded that the results of the latter two studies were preliminary results, and that it would need some time to change our medical clinical practice.

Source: Guangzhou Daily