Category: Research
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Dr. Jessica Lin and Dr. Ibiayi Dagogo-Jack join ALKtALK
Dr. Jessica Lin Attending physician, Hematology/Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Instructor, Medicine, Harvard Medical School Dr. Lin: I first began interested in oncology in my undergraduate years. I started out as a biochemist, but I met a mentor who was a pediatric oncologist who also worked in basic research. He really inspired me and made me…
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Targeted Therapy in Advanced and Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. An Update on Treatment of the Most Important Actionable Oncogenic Driver Alterations
An updated review of the most current targeted therapies in NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) by targetable mutation. Dr. David Konig, Dr. Spasenija S. Prince, and Dr. Sacha I Rothschild did a great review on the current status of targeted therapy in NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer). Because of the advancement of molecular diagnostics and…
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Dr. Christine Lovly joins ALKtALK
Editor’s Note: A special thanks to Marc Rosenzweig for creating and scheduling the ALKtALK programs. Alice Chou graciously committed her time to transcribe thisALKtALK with Dr. Lovly so that it would be available here for other ALK patients. Thank you so much Alice Chou for your hard work and generosity!! . . and a big…
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Normal ALK Function
What function does ALK serve in a healthy human? Read on for some fascinating proposed hypotheses. We all know that a faulty ALK activation domain leads to all kinds of trouble. But what is the normal function of the ALK protein? ALK was identified in 1997 by two groups, Iwahara et. al. and Morris et…
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Covid-19 vaccines and lung cancer patients
What are Covid-19 vaccines made of and how do they work? Moreover, should lung cancer patients take them? With the rise of Covid-19 infection rates and the promise of a Covid-19 vaccine, we are going to delve into the questions of “what is a vaccine?” and “should we or should we not take it”? What…
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Vitamin D in cancer and Covid-19
What is Vitamin D and does it have a role in fighting lung cancer and the Covid-19 virus? Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods (fish such as salmon, trout, or tuna) or available as a dietary supplement. Vitamin D can also be produced by our own body when…
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The use of traditional chemotherapy in lung cancer
Many of us are on a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), however there are definite benefits to the use of traditional chemotherapy (chemo). In this article, we will learn a little more about this treatment option. Chemo may be recommended by your doctor in different situations: In stages I-III only: Before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy): Neoadjuvant…
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ALK patients with hight PD-L1 expression and immunotherapy
Many of our members are wondering if immunotherapy with current checkpoint inhibitors may be a good idea for them if they have been diagnosed with a high PD-L1 expression. Spoiler alert: it is a bad idea for most. Read on to find out why. Using immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has invigorated the treatment and hopes…
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Side effects compliation & comparison
IMPORTANT: This table is a list of various side effects members have shared. Please remember, this is NOT a medical document. Please use it as a guide and a starting point. Please consult your medical team for specific advice! Please open the PDF for the full compilation AUTHOR: Alice Chou
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What is Leptomeningeal Disease and how is it treated?
A number of our members deal with leptomeningeal disease (LMD) at some point in their diagnosis. Read more on what LMD is and how it is treated. What is Leptomeningeal Disease and how is it treated? Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) occurs when cancer cells migrate from the breast, lung, or other parts of the body to…