About Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and remains the leading cause of cancer-related death. In the United States alone, more than 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The disease is broadly categorized into two main types: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which represents approximately 80–85% of cases, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which accounts for 10–15%. While advances in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted treatments have improved outcomes for some patients, metastatic lung cancer continues to present significant clinical challenges and is often associated with poor prognosis. Lung cancer is an active area of research for Zenith Epigenetics, as we explore potential strategies and collaborations to initiate clinical trials in this space.
BET Inhibitors and Lung Cancer
Both main subtypes of lung cancer are sensitive to BET inhibition in several preclinical models. Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is a type of NSCLC, comprising 20-30% of all lung cancers, with poor response rates to immunotherapy and in general has a poor prognosis. ZEN-3694 targets the oncogenic pathways of the oncogene NSD3 which drives progression in 25% of LUSC cases. A phase 2, investigator-initiated trial (NCT05607108) is investigating the efficacy of ZEN003694 as monotherapy in patients with NSD3 amplified squamous lung cancer.
