Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Currently, over 1000 patients die from lung cancer every day in Europe. In 2018, it was estimated that there were more than two million new cases worldwide, representing 11.6% of all new cancers, with someone dying of lung cancer every 30 seconds globally. In the EU, lung cancer causes 267,700 deaths annually, which is more deaths than that caused by the two most common cancers, breast and colorectal, combined. The high mortality rate is demonstrated by its dismal 5-year survival rate of just 18%, compared to 89% for breast cancer and 65% for colorectal cancer.
Surgery is recognised as the gold standard curative treatment, but it is invasive with long recovery times and expensive to deliver. ENDOWAVE, with funding support through H2020, are developing a minimally invasive treatment for early stage lung cancer that will both improve patient outcomes and reduce treatment costs.
The ENDOWAVE system uses microwave energy, that is delivered using a long and flexible catheter through the patient’s airway directly into the target tumour. Microwaves are emitted from an antenna located at the distal tip of the catheter to heat the lesion and the diseased tissue, whilst sparing surrounding healthy lung. This approach is less invasive and expensive than surgery, and is well suited for treatment of early stage tumours.
The overall objective is to bring ENDOWAVE’s pioneering technology to patients. This will require significant investment to complete product development work, conduct clinical trailing and obtain approvals for market launch.
