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Advances towards the design and development of personalized non-small-cell lung cancer drug therapy

Sabrina Vari1, Sara Pilotto, Marcello Maugeri-Saccà

  • 1Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Division of Medical Oncology A , Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome , Italy +39 06 52666919 ; +39 06 52665637 ; michelemilella@hotmail.com ; milella@ifo.it.

Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery
|October 4, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Personalized treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is advancing with targeted therapies like EGFR-TKIs and crizotinib. Further research is needed to identify and validate new molecular targets for improved NSCLC patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtypes are driven by specific genetic aberrations, necessitating personalized treatment approaches.
  • The discovery of novel molecular aberrations in NSCLC is accelerating, presenting both opportunities and challenges for targeted therapy development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical development of epidermal growth factor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) and crizotinib for EGFR-mutant and ALK-rearranged NSCLC.
  • To discuss emerging molecular targets in NSCLC, including the rationale for targeting and clinical development strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical development of EGFR-TKIs and crizotinib.
  • Discussion of emerging molecular targets and therapeutic strategies in NSCLC.

Main Results:

  • EGFR-TKIs and crizotinib represent successful targeted therapies for specific NSCLC molecular subtypes.
  • Several emerging molecular targets are under investigation for NSCLC treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Target identification and validation remain critical challenges in NSCLC, with approximately 50% of cases lacking clear molecular aberrations.
  • Novel clinical trial methodologies and a 'biology-to-trial' approach are essential for advancing personalized NSCLC therapy.
  • Despite challenges, a personalized approach to NSCLC treatment is increasingly attainable.

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