Targeted Therapy for Brain Metastases in EGFR-Mutated and ALK-Rearranged Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Approximately half of all patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) develop brain metastases (BM) during the course of their disease, leading to significant challenges in treatment. Molecular targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors have proven effective for patients with activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene and chromosomal rearrangements involving the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene. Despite their efficacy in systemic disease control, their effectiveness in patients with BM is not well established. In this article, we review recent data on the use of epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic lymphoma kinase tyrosine kinase inhibitors for treatment of patients with NSCLC and BM. These data highlight the potential for meaningful disease control within the central nervous system and the inherent challenges in treating patients with NSCLC and BM.