Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2020; 41(03): 409-434
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1700994
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Targeted Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Zorawar S. Noor
1   David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
,
Amy L. Cummings
1   David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
,
McKenna M. Johnson
1   David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
,
Marshall L. Spiegel
1   David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
,
Jonathan W. Goldman
1   David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
25 May 2020 (online)

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Abstract

Lung cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and the availability of comprehensive genomic profiling has allowed for the characterization of its molecular subtypes. This has increased the ability to deliver “personalized medicines” by tailoring therapies to target driver mutations in a patient's cancer. The development of targeted therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has helped define the era of precision medicine throughout oncology. This article aims to contextualize recent research and provide an updated summary of targeted therapies available for patients with NSCLC. With practitioners and clinical researchers in mind, we note standard of care therapies, important approvals, practice guidelines, and treatments in development. The first section discusses mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, and the second section examines rearrangements in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and ROS1 fusions. Finally, we explore the rarer molecular alterations in BRAF, RET, MET, HER2, and KRAS. Given the many available therapies, it is important to understand the molecular alterations in NSCLC, and how to target them.