Lung Cancer Patient Journey Across the World - A Multidisciplinary Global Tumor Board Enduring-Lung Cancer Patient Journey Across the World

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This global webinar, moderated by Drs. Ily Turjaman and Rajat Dhawani, features a multidisciplinary panel of lung cancer experts from diverse regions including India, the Philippines, Chile, Nigeria, Israel, and the U.S. They discuss lung cancer patient journeys through two real-world cases, highlighting disparities in diagnosis, staging, and treatment shaped by resource availability, healthcare infrastructure, and economic factors.<br /><br />The first case illustrates challenges in staging (PET-CT access, mediastinal assessment via EBUS or mediastinoscopy) and treatment decisions where neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy is becoming standard but often limited by cost and availability, especially in low-resource settings. Dose-reduction strategies for immunotherapy were discussed as pragmatic compromises. The role of lung cancer screening and overlap with tuberculosis endemicity was also addressed, emphasizing the need for tissue diagnosis and short-interval monitoring.<br /><br />The second case of a younger, non-smoker woman incidentally diagnosed with early-stage EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma illustrates evolving risk profiles linked to environmental exposures like air pollution. Multidisciplinary tumor boards vary worldwide in composition and function, influencing shared decision-making and treatment sequencing. Molecular testing availability ranges from limited individual gene assays to larger NGS panels depending on healthcare settings.<br /><br />Panelists underscored surgical resection as fundamental for operable lung cancer, supplemented by multimodal approaches. Survivorship care involves vigilant monitoring despite challenges like scan-induced anxiety. The discussion called for enhanced global collaboration, tailored regional guidelines, and innovative approaches to optimize lung cancer management universally amid disparities.

Keywords

lung cancer

global webinar

multidisciplinary panel

diagnosis disparities

treatment challenges

neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy

molecular testing

lung cancer screening

survivorship care