Introduction
The drug durvalumab (trade name: Imfinzi) has been approved in Germany since September 2018 for the treatment of locally advanced lung cancer. It is an option for adults with non-small-cell lung cancer that can no longer be surgically removed, if they have had platinum-based chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy and it was able to prevent further progression of the illness.
Lung cancer is caused by the growth of malignant cells in the airways ( bronchi) and their branches (bronchioles). It is also referred to as a bronchial carcinoma. There are two main types of tumors:
- small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and
- non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
NSCLC is surgically removed, if possible. But sometimes it is already too large or has spread to other parts of the body (metastasis) through the blood or lymphatic system. It is then called advanced lung cancer.
Pembrolizumab has been approved for use in people who have a tumor with elevated levels of the protein PD-L1. This protein weakens the body's immune response to the tumor cells. Durvalumab blocks the effect of PD-L1 in order to prevent further tumor growth.