Targeted agents in non-small cell lung cancer therapy: What is there on the horizon?

Victoria M Villaflor, Ravi Salgia
Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
DOI: 10.4103/1477-3163.109253

ABSTRACT

Lung cancer is a heterogeneous group of diseases. There has been much research in lung cancer over the past decade which has advanced our ability to treat these patients with a more personalized approach. The scope of this paper is to review the literature and give a broad understanding of the current molecular targets for which we currently have therapies as well as other targets for which we may soon have therapies. Additionally, we will cover some of the issues of resistance with these targeted therapies. The molecular targets we intend to discuss are epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), anaplastic large-cell lymphoma kinase (ALK), KRAS, C-MET/RON, PIK3CA. ROS-1, RET Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR). Ephrins and their receptors, BRAF, and immunotherapies/vaccines. This manuscript only summarizes the work which has been done to date and in no way is meant to be comprehensive.

Keywords: Cellular mechanism, HGF, MET, oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase, targeted cancer therapy