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Review
. 2015 Feb;4(1):36-54.
doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2218-6751.2014.05.01.

Targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer: current standards and the promise of the future

Bryan A Chan  1 , Brett G M Hughes  1
Affiliations
Review

Targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer: current standards and the promise of the future

Bryan A Chan et al. Transl Lung Cancer Res. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a major paradigm shift in the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC should now be further sub-classified by histology and driver mutation if one is known or present. Translational research advances now allow such mutations to be inhibited by either receptor monoclonal antibodies (mAb) or small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Whilst empirical chemotherapy with a platinum-doublet remains the gold standard for advanced NSCLC without a known driver mutation, targeted therapy is pushing the boundary to significantly improve patient outcomes and quality of life. In this review, we will examine the major subtypes of oncogenic drivers behind NSCLC as well as the development of targeted agents available to treat them both now and in the foreseeable future.

Keywords: Non-small cell lung carcinoma; anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK); epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR); targeted therapy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
NSCLC by histology and mutations. NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overview of molecular pathways and potential targets in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [(from Alamgeer et al. (18)].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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