Targeted Therapy for Stage 4 Lung Cancer: 241 Real Stories

241 stories match lung cancer, stage 4 and targeted therapy. 116 of them mention chemotherapy.

Cancer Stories

Anne, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Anne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Anne Laporte, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-mutated; several additional mutations mentioned but not specified

Metastatic Site: Spine; liver; lymph nodes

As of March 2024, Anne was living with Stage IVB EGFR-mutated NSCLC on a clinical trial after progression on Tagrisso, with early signs of decreased tumor burden and major improvement in pain.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
Ashley, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Ashley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ashley, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR T790M mutation

Metastatic Site: Both lungs / bilateral lung nodules

As of March 2024, Ashley was living with Stage IV EGFR-mutated NSCLC controlled on daily Tagrisso for 43 months, with stable scans but no cancer-free or NED claim.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Keegan, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Adenocarcinoma: Keegan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Keegan Murphy, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK fusion mutation

Metastatic Site: Lungs; lymph nodes; ribs/bone; abdomen

As of March 2024, Keegan had gone from Stage IV ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma with tumors in the lungs, lymph nodes, ribs, and abdomen to no evidence of disease after alectinib and surgery.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV lung adenocarcinoma presenting as a painful thigh metastasis

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: right thigh soft tissue/muscle, bilateral iliac bones…

After 9 months of therapy, the lung lesion had a partial response and the painful thigh mass had markedly decreased, although she remained unable to walk.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

EGFR-mutated stage IV lung cancer complicated by radiation lung injury and severe COVID-19

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation; TP53 mutation

Metastatic Site: bone

Osimertinib produced a significant reduction in the lung lesions. She remained alive at the last follow-up in July 2023 after recovering from severe COVID-19 and treatment-related lung complications.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Ivy, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR Lung Cancer: Ivy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Ivy E., Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation

Metastatic Site: Bone: elbow, cervical spine/neck, rib, pelvis; brain

As of January 2024, Ivy reported no evidence of disease 1 year after right upper lobectomy, after years of response to EGFR-targeted therapy for initially Stage IV lung cancer.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV enteric-type lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations and MSI-high disease

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; acquired EGFR T790M; MSI-high; high tumor mutation burden; MLH1 mutation; pMMR; PD-L1-negative

Metastatic Site: lung, pleura

The cancer progressed through multiple targeted, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy regimens. He died about 30 months after the initial diagnosis.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma Responding to Osimertinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR L833V/H835L mutations; PD-L1 50%; CDK4 amplification; MDM2 amplification

Metastatic Site: contralateral lung, brain

After 3 months of osimertinib, the right upper lobe lesion had decreased and right hilar lymphadenopathy had resolved. The brain lesion remained stable, and subsequent imaging continued to show improvement in the lung lesion.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Matt, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Matt's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Matt Hiznay, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Not reported

As of November 2023, Matt was a 12-year survivor with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer in remission, no evidence of disease, and ongoing lorlatinib treatment.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Brain radiation therapy complication (radionecrosis) potentially linked to combined chemo-immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 0%; tumour mutational burden 33 mutations/Mb; TP53 mutation at diagnosis; later ctDNA included KEAP1 and NOTCH3 alterations

Metastatic Site: brain; presumed leptomeningeal disease

She recovered completely from surgery for radiation necrosis, resumed cancer treatment and remained neurologically intact at 18 months. She was found deceased 9 months later; the cause of death was unknown.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Christine, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Christine's Patient Story

Patient Info: Christine, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Brain | Liver

As of October 2023, Christine was living with Stage IV ALK-positive NSCLC that remained in check on targeted therapy after alectinib cleared brain and liver spots and lorlatinib continued, with significant chronic side effects.

Lung Cancer Research Foundation
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

BRCA2-Mutated Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma Controlled for 30 Months With Olaparib

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1-negative; BRCA2 mutation; ATM mutation; EGFR-negative; ALK-negative

Metastatic Site: brain

Olaparib provided about 30 months of disease control, and PET imaging remained overall stable when a separate new breast primary was found in February 2023.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

MET-mutated lung cancer: testing savolitinib before surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: MET exon 14 skipping, TP53 and BRAF mutations; PD-L1 expression 5%

Metastatic Site: pleura; mediastinal lymph node

Savolitinib produced a partial radiological response, but surgery confirmed persistent pleural and mediastinal nodal metastases with ypStage IVA disease. He recovered and continued adjuvant savolitinib.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Lung cancer recurrence in the thyroid, initially mistaken for thyroid cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; TTF-1-positive; Napsin A-positive; PAX8-negative; thyroglobulin staining limited to tumour cells adjacent to normal thyroid tissue

Metastatic Site: thyroid; cervical lymph nodes

After starting osimertinib for EGFR exon 19-deleted recurrent lung adenocarcinoma, he was disease free 5 months after thyroid surgery.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Tiffany, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Tiffany's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tiffany, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation

Metastatic Site: Bone: pelvis, right femur, cervical spine

As of March 2023, Tiffany had benefited from Tagrisso plus Cyramza, but later CT findings suggested worsening disease and she had started a new early-stage clinical trial with results pending.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Dan, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Dan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Dan, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK-rearranged

As of November 2022, Dan was living with Stage IV ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer on Alectinib, with stable scans since spring 2020 and ongoing monitoring.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Bekah, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Bekah's Patient Story

Patient Info: Bekah Cunningham, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: breast

Maintenance scans remained clear 6 years after starting alectinib, and she continued to live an active life with Stage IV lung cancer.

Dana-Farber
OutcomeResponding Well
Emily, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR Lung Adenocarcinoma: Emily's Patient Story

Patient Info: Emily Bannister, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR Exon 19-positive; no other driver mutations present

Metastatic Site: Intrathoracic lymphatic spread

Emily had Stage IV EGFR Exon 19-positive lung adenocarcinoma with a strong early response to trial-based targeted therapy, and later passed away on March 14, 2023 from complications caused by Stage IV lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Research Foundation
OutcomeIn Memory