Optune treatment is now available for lung cancer
Imperial College Healthcare Private Care is the first UK centre to offer Optune treatment for lung cancer.
We are now offering a wearable device, Optune, that disrupts cancer growth for people with lung cancer. The treatment has been an option for certain brain tumours at Imperial College Healthcare Private Care for several years.
Lung cancer is responsible for approximately 35,000 deaths each year in the UK (i) and there is evidence that Optune can extend life expectancy for patients with the most common types of lung cancer. Clinical trials have found that patients who receive the Optune device had improved survival rates of around 13 months compared to 10 months. However, patients who receive the Optune device alongside having immunotherapy have average survival rates of around 18.5 months (ii).
Two separate late-stage clinical trials, the first in patients with glioblastoma and the second in patients with lung cancer, found that adding Optune improved patient outcomes in terms of disrupting growth for these two types of cancer - glioblastoma and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, respectively. An earlier clinical trial also demonstrated improved outcomes for mesothelioma, another type of lung cancer.
The Optune device works by generating low-frequency electrical fields (known as tumour-treating fields) to disrupt cell division or kill cells inside the tumour. Unlike typical cells, tumour cells divide quickly, and the electrical fields target them at a specific frequency. This helps slow down or halt the growth and spread of the tumour.
Optune stands out from other cancer treatments due to how it targets the tumour through adhesive electrodes. These electrodes attach to the skin and are linked to a small, portable device that fits in a bag, which is worn for eighteen hours a day. Patients are encouraged to wear it for longer, if possible, as there is a benefit from doing so. A common side effect however can be skin irritation from frequently changing the electrodes.
Optune is not currently available on the NHS because it has not yet been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for routine NHS funding. We can offer this privately, either through health insurance or by self-funding. While Imperial College Healthcare Private Care does not provide the device directly, it has referred people to Novocure, the manufacturer, for several years.
As the leading Optune centre in the UK and organiser of the UK Optune Support Group and associated website, we took part in the TRIDENT trial of Optune for brain tumour patients (iii) during and after radiotherapy. The centre will also be the lead UK site for the LUNAR 2 trial looking at using Optune for non-small cell lung cancer.
Dr Mohammed, leading the Optune lung cancer service, said: “This is a prime example of how Imperial College Healthcare Private Care enables access to innovative treatments. It not only enhances our expertise and positions us as national leaders in the field but also opens the door to new clinical trials that improve patient outcomes and strengthen the evidence base for these treatments."
Dr Williams, lead oncologist for neuro-oncology and leading the Optune service for brain tumours, said: “As the largest referrer of Optune in the country, Imperial College Healthcare Private Care has built up considerable experience in caring for patients using Optune. Making sure these patients get the tailored support and advice they need is part of our continued commitment to providing the best care possible.”
People using Optune have access to a monthly Optune support group on Zoom. The group is open to anyone in the UK using Optune, no matter how they’ve accessed it — whether privately, through a clinical trial, or self-pay. It’s a chance to ask questions, discuss how Optune works, and talk about any concerns they might have while using the device.
Find out more
If you have lung cancer and are interested in accessing Optune, please email: imperial.private.healthcare@nhs.net
If you are already using Optune and would like to access the clinic, please email Sarah Lazare, Oncology Co-ordinator at: sarah.lazare@nhs.net
For more information on Optune, how it works and the support available to patients and caregivers visit https://optunesupport.uk/
(i) Cancer Research UK, Lung cancer statistics
(ii) The Lancet Oncology, Tumor Treating Fields therapy with standard systemic therapy versus standard systemic therapy alone in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer following progression on or after platinum-based therapy (LUNAR): a randomised, open-label, pivotal phase 3 study
(iii) Trident Gliboblastoma Clinical Trial
