My cousin is 28. Can immunotherapy cure his lung cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

My cousin is 28 years old and was recently diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. He initially went to the doctor because of a persistent cough, chest pain, and severe fatigue for nearly three months. After several tests, including a CT scan and a PET scan, doctors found that the cancer had already spread to nearby lymph nodes and possibly to the liver. His biopsy report showed non-small cell lung cancer, and doctors are currently checking for genetic mutations and PD-L1 levels to see if immunotherapy might work for him.

His recent blood tests show hemoglobin 11.7 g/dL, and his liver enzymes are slightly elevated. He has never smoked and was otherwise healthy before this diagnosis. The oncologist mentioned immunotherapy as a treatment option, but we are trying to understand its effectiveness. Please tell me,

Can immunotherapy cure stage 4 lung cancer at age 28?
Is it mainly used to slow the disease?
What factors determine whether a patient responds well to immunotherapy?
How long can it control advanced lung cancer in young patients?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

I understand how difficult this situation must be for your family, especially when someone so young is diagnosed with lung cancer. It is good that the doctors are doing detailed testing because that helps guide the most effective treatment.

Immunotherapy works differently from chemotherapy. Instead of directly attacking the cancer cells, it helps the body’s immune system recognize and fight the cancer. In patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, immunotherapy has become an important treatment option and has improved outcomes for many people.

In stage 4 lung cancer, treatment is usually aimed at controlling the disease rather than completely curing it. However, immunotherapy can sometimes produce very strong and long-lasting responses in your cousin. In my experience, some patients with advanced lung cancer have remained stable for several years on immunotherapy with a good quality of life, especially when their tumors respond well to the treatment.

The chances of your cousin responding to immunotherapy depend on several factors.

The programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) level in the tumor, because higher PD-L1 expression often means a better response.
The patient’s overall health.
The extent of disease spread.
Certain genetic characteristics of the tumor. This is why doctors check molecular mutations and PD-L1 before deciding the treatment plan.

If your cousin responds well, immunotherapy can sometimes control the cancer for a few years or even longer in some cases. Younger patients who are otherwise healthy often tolerate these treatments better, which can help them stay on therapy longer.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.