Rare mutation in lung cancer patients helps extend life

Hisa Aoshima, 52, a resident of Yatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, lives without any treatment for his lung cancer and finds joy in his daily life. He first discovered the disease in September 2016 when a shadow was discovered on his right lung during a health check.

“I Don’t Smoke, So Why Did I Get Lung Cancer?” Aoshima shared, recalling the shock of the diagnosis. After discovering his illness, Aoshima quickly underwent surgery to remove a 3.8 cm tumor, which was larger than expected and had spread to his lymph nodes, indicating an advanced stage of the disease. A third of his right lung was removed and he also underwent chemotherapy. However, the cancer later spread to his left lung, leading to a stage 4 diagnosis. He was then told he only had six months left if the next treatment didn’t work.

“I couldn’t sleep after that,” Aoshima admitted. “I was afraid that if I fell asleep, I might not wake up the next morning, or that I might die in my sleep.”

He was 46 years old at the time and lived with his wife and two children: a son in his second year of high school and a daughter in sixth grade. He recalls, “I was devastated because I thought I was going to die soon. I often cried in the hospital room and felt lost.”

Determined to find another treatment option, Aoshima joined a support group for lung cancer patients, where members openly discussed their treatments and health concerns. “Listening to their stories made me realize how little I knew about my own illness. All I really knew was that I had lung cancer and had to have surgery for it,” he reflected, prompting him to learn more about lung cancer learn.

Through support group meetings and research, Aoshima found hope in “genome medicine,” a treatment tailored to each patient’s specific gene mutation. In genomic medicine, cancer is treated based on genetic mutations that vary from person to person. If a suitable drug is found for a specific mutation, the treatment can have a major impact.

One of the most notable advances in lung cancer treatment over the past two decades has been the development of molecularly targeted drugs, which are now available to nearly half of lung cancer patients undergoing genetic testing.

About eight years ago, Aoshima asked his doctor to test him for significant mutations, but none were found. However, through his involvement in the patient community, he learned about other possible mutations. Retesting found a rare mutation in the “ROS1” gene, a mutation that only occurs in about 1% of lung cancer cases. Fortunately, a targeted therapy had already been developed for this.

“When they told me, I felt like I was grabbing onto a lifeline,” Aoshima said emotionally. “I cried with relief because I felt like my life could go on.”

Aoshima began treatment with the target drug in 2020. Although he experienced high fever and rashes as side effects, he was relieved by a handmade calendar sent by his family that he looked at every morning to feel connected to them, despite being unable to do so. see them in the hospital.

After a year of treatment, Aoshima’s tumor had shrunk so much that it was almost undetectable on CT scans. Although he has since experienced health problems, he has returned to full-time work and has not had any treatment in over a year.

Recently, Aoshima visited the hospital with his wife for a six-month check-up. As they waited for the results, his wife expressed the familiar anxiety of each visit.

“Everything is stable,” the doctor assured them. “There is no sign of progression and for the time being there is no need to resume treatment.”

“I don’t expect the cancer to go away completely,” Aoshima admitted. “But as long as I can live with it, I will continue to hope for new treatment options.”

Source: M.B.S