Promising New Therapy Extends Survival in advanced Lung Cancer Patients
A novel experimental treatment is offering hope to patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease has progressed despite standard immunotherapy, according to results presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) 2025.
The Phase 2A clinical trial, conducted by researchers at the Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, evaluated the combination of Can-2409, an experimental drug delivered directly into tumors via intraumoral injection, with oral valaciclovir, which activates the drug within the body. The study focused on patients with Stage III or IV NSCLC who were ineligible for surgery and had previously failed to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
the trial enrolled 76 patients, with data from 46 included in the final analysis. After a median follow-up of 32.4 months, the overall median survival rate reached 24.5 months, with 37% of patients still alive after two years of treatment. Notably, patients whose disease was actively progressing prior to treatment still experienced a median survival of 21.5 months.
Researchers observed a notable correlation between tumor type and survival. Patients with non-squamous NSCLC demonstrated superior outcomes (25.4 months median survival) compared to those with squamous cell tumors (13.3 months). This difference was linked to a marked increase in cytotoxic T cells – crucial immune cells responsible for destroying cancer cells – and other positive changes in the immune response.
A notably encouraging finding was the systemic anti-tumor effect observed in 69% of patients with multiple tumor lesions. This “abscopal effect” – where localized treatment leads to regression of distant, untreated tumors – suggests Can-2409 triggers a broad immune response throughout the body.
“These data reinforce the potential for long-term benefit with Can-2409 in patients with limited options following ICI failure,” stated Dr.charu Aggarwal. “They support further investigation through a larger, randomized clinical trial, particularly in patients with non-squamous histology.”
The treatment was also found to be safe and well-tolerated throughout the study period.
While Can-2409 remains an experimental medicine and is not yet approved for clinical use, these results represent a significant step forward in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. the research was funded by candel Therapeutics,a biotechnology company specializing in “off-the-shelf” viral immunotherapies designed to both directly kill tumor cells and stimulate the immune system to fight cancer.
