At the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), and the Chinese Alliance Against Lung Cancer (CAALC) came together once again to host a joint session. Held on Saturday, September 7, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the session focused on the development and future prospects of evidence-based medicine in lung cancer prevention worldwide. The session was chaired by IASLC President-Elect, Dr. Caizun Zhou from Shanghai East Hospital, alongside Dr. Yilong Wu from Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, IASLC CEO Dr. Karen Kelly, and Dr. Chunxue Bai from Fudan University’s Zhongshan Hospital.
In an interview with IASLC media, Dr. Caizun Zhou emphasized, “This is an excellent opportunity for Chinese clinicians and researchers to exchange ideas with their colleagues from Europe and the U.S. We all understand that differences in healthcare systems and cultures can impact clinical practice in lung cancer treatment, and this session presents an important learning opportunity for all of us. Research outcomes in lung cancer have shown substantial improvements in tumor response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival compared to chemotherapy. The five-year survival rate for advanced lung cancer now ranges from 18% to 32%, representing significant progress over chemotherapy. We are hopeful for further advancements with bispecific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and look forward to seeing more lung cancer patients cured.”
Dr. Chunxue Bai, in his IASLC media interview, pointed out that lung cancer in China, much like in other Asian countries, exhibits notable gender differences. Almost all male lung cancer cases are linked to smoking, while 90% of female lung cancer cases occur in non-smokers. Factors such as environmental pollution, workplace hazards, and household pollutants also contribute to these differences, but data on these influences are limited. China has long been the world’s largest consumer of cigarettes, and despite significant efforts by organizations like CAALC, the reduction in smoking rates has been modest. While China consumes about 40% of the world’s cigarette production, and primary prevention efforts have had little effect on smoking rates, lung cancer mortality has sharply declined since 2021.
“We believe secondary prevention may have played an important role in this,” Professor Bai explained. “Some evidence from CAALC and other associations suggests that early detection and treatment of lung cancer may be key. We know that the number of CT scans performed in China increased between 2020 and 2021, potentially detecting more early-stage tumors, but these scans were conducted to monitor for COVID-19, not specifically for lung cancer screening.”
Professor Bai further noted that due to widespread smoking in earlier years, Chinese guidelines recommend low-dose CT screening starting at age 40. The large population eligible for screening has sparked interest in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for lung assessment, though the challenge lies in the lack of adequate training datasets. Currently, most AI datasets come from European and American populations, where the prevalence of tuberculosis is very low compared to China.
“We need training datasets based on Chinese patients,” Professor Bai stated. “The datasets from the U.S. and Europe are not very useful for Chinese patients, as the likelihood of tuberculosis is much higher in China, and AI-driven misdiagnoses are too common. Combining liquid biopsy results with low-dose CT screening holds great promise, and biomarker research continues to show encouraging results.” Professor Bai shared insights on China’s advancements in lung cancer prevention and biomarker-guided treatment in his talk titled Progress in China’s Lung Cancer Prevention and Biomarker-Guided Treatment: A Half-Century Pursuit.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Karen Kelly highlighted, “This session will showcase the achievements of Chinese doctors in the fight against lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. The collaboration between Chinese academic organizations and IASLC in hosting joint sessions at WCLC has a long history. This is a successful example of international cooperation, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in future WCLC meetings, where we foresee a bright future.”
Dr. Yilong Wu also delivered opening remarks, expressing pride and excitement in hosting this joint session, co-organized by IASLC, CSCO, and CAALC, at this pivotal moment in IASLC’s 50th anniversary. He noted that the session would present the latest discoveries in targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and lung cancer prevention, encouraging attendees to enjoy the academic journey.
The theme of the joint IASLC-CSCO-CAALC session was Prevention and Evidence-Based Medicine: The Past and Future of Global Lung Cancer. The carefully curated content reflected the fusion of Eastern and Western perspectives, with invited scholars from both sides discussing lung cancer prevention, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy from their respective regional viewpoints. Chinese researchers also presented their latest findings in these areas, through oral reports, more than ten poster presentations, and multiple expert discussions.
The attendees at the WCLC China session included not only Chinese and Chinese-American scholars but also many international researchers and top experts. The session garnered enthusiastic attention from doctors worldwide, with a packed audience and lively academic atmosphere. The frequent interaction and exchange of ideas underscored the event’s importance. This special session provided a platform for global researchers to gain insights into lung cancer incidence in China, prevention strategies, and the research efforts of Chinese scholars. It also created opportunities for academic collaboration, helping to propel original Chinese research and innovative therapies onto the international stage.
