Landmark Studies of Targeted Therapies for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Guide for Pulmonologists

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 standard of care for the main targetable genetic alterations.