Title:Landmark Studies of Targeted Therapies for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Guide for Pulmonologists
VOLUME: 16 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Adrien Costantini, Theodoros Katsikas and Clementine Bostantzoglou*
Affiliation:Hopital Saint-Louis Service de Pneumologie, Paris, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “Agioi Anargyroi”, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Athens, Intensive Care Unit, Korgialeneion-Benakeion General Hospital, Athens
Keywords:Anaplastic lymphoma kinase, epidermal growth factor, non-small-cell lung cancer, targeted therapies, tyrosine
kinase inhibitors, mutation.
Abstract:Over the past decade, major breakthroughs in the understanding of lung cancer histology
and mutational pathways have radically changed diagnosis and management. More specifically, in
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), tumour characterisation has shifted from differentiating based
solely on histology to characterisation that includes genetic profiling and mutational status of
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGFR), Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK), c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1)
and BRAF. These genetic alterations can be targeted by specific drugs that result in improved
progression-free survival, as well as higher response rates and are currently standard of care for
NSCLC patients harbouring these mutations. In this a narrative, non-systematic review we aim to
handpick through the extensive literature and critically present the ground-breaking studies that lead
to the institution of tailored treatment options as the standard of care for the main targetable genetic
alterations.
