Cancerwise

I work in the pharmaceutical industry with a drug that treats Parkinson’s disease symptoms, so I’m familiar with the drug-vetting process. Just because a drug hasn’t been approved yet by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not safe or effective — it just means it’s still being studied in anticipation of approval.

So, when my UT MD Anderson thoracic medical oncologist, Dr. Eric Singhi, offered me a new targeted therapy clinical trial after a rare stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis in March 2026, I didn’t hesitate. I joined the study right away. Here’s why.

Rare genetic mutation made me eligible

The 1.2-inch tumor in my lower left lung was found by chance during a routine physical. My doctor said it was suspicious for cancer, but that there was a chance it could be something else.

It wasn’t until UT MD Anderson interventional pulmonologist Dr. Julie Lin performed a lung biopsy by robotic bronchoscopy and other tests that I learned what I actually had: Stage 4 lung cancer. Because it had already metastasized, surgery wasn’t an option for me.

UT MD Anderson did genetic testing and found that my tumor has an extremely rare mutation called an NTRK1 fusion. This appears in only about 0.1-0.2% of all lung cancer cases.

Dr. Singhi explained that the goal wasn’t just to treat lung cancer; it was to treat my lung cancer. The genetic testing results allowed us to choose the treatment that best matched the biology of my cancer. Because my tumor had the NTRK1 fusion, I qualified for a clinical trial evaluating a new targeted therapy, TL-118, designed specifically for cancers with this rare genetic alteration.

Compelling arguments convinced me

At that time, I was unaware of what targeted therapies could do, but Dr. Singhi said the drug has been showing very promising results, so I was incredibly grateful to have this option.

He added that this clinical trial was in Phase 2, meaning researchers were studying how well the treatment worked while continuing to monitor its safety. I would be the only lung cancer patient on it in the Houston area, due to the mutation’s rarity.

Dr. Singhi explained my options thoroughly, so I knew that if this didn’t work, there were still other FDA-approved options available. I was sold.

A new appreciation for cancer research

Before my diagnosis, I don’t think I realized just how much progress had been made in cancer treatment and research. We hear about money being raised for cancer research all the time, but I always wondered what progress had actually been made. Many people still think of cancer treatment as just chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but there have been massive strides in other areas, too, including targeted therapy.

There’s a saying among my colleagues: “If you’ve met one Parkinson’s patient, then you’ve met one Parkinson’s patient.” That’s because individual patients can have such different symptoms and respond to treatment so differently. I’ve learned that the same is true of cancer, which is why genetic testing and proper assessment are so important for each patient.

UT MD Anderson also has a saying: “Where you go first matters.” I understand that now, because the doctors at UT MD Anderson assess, test, and analyze your specific cancer before any treatments are even started. That process ensures you’ll have all options available and the best possible shot at survival.

I’ve only been on this medication now for a couple of months, but my last CT scan showed a great response. There’s also no predicting how I might do on it long-term. The hope is that my body will tolerate this drug and control the disease for a long time before the cancer develops resistance. I’m thankful every day for UT MD Anderson, Dr. Singhi, his team and all the research they do.

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