The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) annually presents several awards to clinical physicians and researchers who have made significant contributions to the treatment of lung cancer patients. Awardees are invited to receive their awards at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) and give speeches in their respective fields. At the WCLC 2023 conference, these awards were presented for the first time in a dedicated plenary session titled “Plenary Session 2: IASLC Lectureship Award Presentations,” jointly hosted by IASLC CEO Karen Kelly and IASLC President Heather Wakelee.
The Lectureship awards are presented to members from various fields, including radiation oncology, medical oncology, small cell lung cancer, nursing/health, translational research, thoracic surgery, staging, and tobacco control. Dr. Wang Jie from the Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences was awarded the 2023 Small Cell Lung Cancer Heine H. Hansen Lectureship Award for her outstanding contributions to small cell lung cancer research and treatment.
Dr. Wang Jie’s presentation during the plenary session was titled “Molecular Subtyping and Precision Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC).” The report emphasized that immunotherapy only benefits a small subset of extensive-stage SCLC patients, making the exploration of molecular subtyping and biomarkers for SCLC crucial. Researchers have proposed subtyping based on transcription factor expression profiles, but such classifications still face challenges due to the plasticity and heterogeneity of SCLC. Subtype transitions during treatment are also significant contributors to drug resistance. Hence, there is a need to explore combination treatment strategies and conduct umbrella or platform clinical studies guided by biomarkers. Additionally, liquid biopsy can assist in monitoring molecular phenotypes throughout the disease process and identifying biomarkers predictive of treatment response and patient prognosis.
Dr. Wang Jie stated in a media interview at the WCLC event, “The Lectureship award presented this time recognizes scholars who have made contributions in the field of thoracic malignancies, involving various disciplines. We have made some progress in small cell lung cancer translational and clinical research, which were carried out by our team in collaboration with fellow researchers in China. Receiving the Small Cell Lung Cancer Heine H. Hansen Lectureship Award is not only a personal honor but also a recognition of the entire team’s efforts and the work of Chinese scholars in the field of thoracic oncology.”
List of Awardees:
– IASLC Tobacco Control and Smoking Cessation Lectureship Award: Silvia Novello, MD, PhD
– Staging Clifton F. Mountain Lectureship Award: Navneet Singh, MD, DM
– Surgical Tsuguo Naruke Lectureship Award: Alan Sihoe, MBBChir
– Oncology Daniel C. Ihde Lectureship Award: D. Ross Camidge, PhD, MRCP
– Surgical Robert J. Ginsberg Lectureship Award: Rafal Dziadziuszko, MD, PhD
– Radiation Oncology James D. Cox Lectureship Award: Rafal Dziadziuszko, MD, PhD
– Small Cell Lung Cancer Heine H. Hansen Lectureship Award: Professor Wang Jie
– Translational Research Fred R. Hirsch Lectureship Award: Wendy Cooper, MBBS, PhD
– IASLC Nurse and Allied Health Professional (NAHP) Lectureship Award: Melissa Culligan, RN, BSN, MSc
