The expanding range of therapies and interventions available for treatment of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has brought medical oncologists and interventional pulmonologists into closer partnership.
Oncologist Dr. Joy Feliciano and interventional pulmonologist Dr. A. Christine Argento, both colleagues at Johns Hopkins University, comment on their evolving relationship as a team.
Pulmonologists now often serve as the "gatekeepers into thoracic oncology," says Dr. Argento. Recent advances in technology, including endobronchial ultrasound, navigational bronchoscopy, and robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, allow for diagnosis, staging, and collection of sufficient tissue for advanced studies into molecular markers and genetic studies necessary to guide treatment decisions for metastatic NSCLC.
In resectable disease, patients who might have gone straight to surgery in the past now can be considered for neoadjuvant treatments. Here again, says Dr. Feliciano, it is critical for oncologists to understand the biomarkers and molecular profile of the tumor before considering an intervention, and the role of bronchoscopy is key.
A multidisciplinary practice of NSCLC specialists, who have access to on-site or virtual tumor boards, sometimes on an international scale, helps ensure optimal treatment for patients in the increasingly complex NSCLC arena.
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A. Christine Argento, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University; Director of Bronchoscopy, Department of Interventional Pulmonary Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
A. Christine Argento, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Biodesix; Olympus; Cook; Intuitive; Boston Scientific
Josephine L. Feliciano, MD, Associate Professor, Clinical Director, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Josephine L. Feliciano, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Received research grant from: Bristol-Myers; Pfizer; AstraZeneca.
Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Genentech; AstraZeneca; Eli Lilly; Merck; Regeneron; Coherus; Takeda; Bristol-Myers