Lung Cancer Survival Rates Improve in South Korea Amidst Advances in Personalized Medicine

Lung cancer continues to be the deadliest cancer in South Korea, claiming around 20,000 lives each year. Despite its grim prognosis, recent progress in precision medicine is offering new hope, significantly improving survival rates. The 5-year relative survival rate for lung cancer has risen to 42.5% in the 2019-2023 period, a substantial leap from the 12.5% recorded between 1993-1995.

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Lung cancer is a disease where the optimal treatment can vary for each patient, even within the same stage. Treatment decisions should be based on a comprehensive evaluation, including imaging, tissue, and genetic test results, alongside the patient's overall health, lung function, and co-existing conditions.

Treatment for lung cancer is increasingly personalized. "Lung cancer is a disease where the optimal treatment can vary for each patient, even within the same stage," explained Dr. Lee Seung-hyun, a professor at Kyung Hee University Hospital's Division of Respiratory and Allergy Internal Medicine. He emphasized that treatment decisions should be based on a comprehensive evaluation, including imaging, tissue, and genetic test results, alongside the patient's overall health, lung function, and co-existing conditions.

While surgery and chemotherapy were once the mainstays of treatment, the focus has shifted to 'personalized treatment' that considers the patient's specific condition and the cancer's biological characteristics. For early-stage lung cancer patients who are not candidates for surgery due to factors like cardiopulmonary function, co-morbidities, or age, precise radiotherapy can be an effective alternative. For advanced lung cancer, drug therapy is key, and accurate genetic testing is essential to identify the most effective chemotherapy or immunotherapy for each individual.

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In the past, testing for gene mutations individually was time-consuming and costly, but now, next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows for the analysis of hundreds of genes simultaneously. This allows for the rapid selection of targeted therapies or immunotherapies based on specific mutations, enabling true 'patient-specific personalized treatment' that enhances survival rates for advanced lung cancer patients.

"In the past, testing for gene mutations individually was time-consuming and costly, but now, next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows for the analysis of hundreds of genes simultaneously," Dr. Lee noted. This allows for the rapid selection of targeted therapies or immunotherapies based on specific mutations, enabling true 'patient-specific personalized treatment' that enhances survival rates for advanced lung cancer patients.

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There are no nerves in the lungs, so tumors can grow without causing specific symptoms. Pain is only felt when the cancer invades the chest wall, bones, or bronchi, which have sensory nerves. He advised that individuals in high-risk groups should consider regular low-dose chest CT scans.

Despite these treatment advancements, early detection remains paramount. "There are no nerves in the lungs, so tumors can grow without causing specific symptoms," Dr. Lee stated. "Pain is only felt when the cancer invades the chest wall, bones, or bronchi, which have sensory nerves." He advised that individuals in high-risk groups should consider regular low-dose chest CT scans. Furthermore, anyone experiencing persistent coughing lasting over three weeks, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, or unexplained weight loss, regardless of smoking status, should seek medical attention to rule out lung cancer.

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Regardless of smoking status, anyone experiencing persistent coughing lasting over three weeks, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, or unexplained weight loss should seek medical attention to rule out lung cancer.