Targeted therapy for lung cancer: present and future

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genomics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Genomic profiling advances understanding of cancer biology.
• Histology and molecular signatures offer prognostic and predictive value.
• Molecular characterization enables individualized cancer treatment approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in targeted cancer therapy.
• To focus on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and investigational strategies.
• To highlight individualized treatment for metastatic disease.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on genomic profiling and targeted therapies.
• Analysis of molecular testing in various cancer subtypes (NSCLC, breast cancer, melanoma, CML).
• Examination of specific molecular alterations (e.g., EGFR, EML4-ALK) guiding NSCLC treatment.

Main Results:

• Personalized chemotherapy and targeted biological therapies optimize efficacy and minimize toxicity.
• Molecular testing is routine for specific cancers, guiding therapeutic decisions.
• New targeted therapies (EGFR inhibitors, ALK inhibitors, MEK inhibitors) are in clinical development.

Conclusions:

• Targeted therapies facilitate integration of palliative care in advanced malignancies.
• Individualized treatment strategies based on molecular profiles are increasingly feasible.
• Investigational strategies offer new hope for patients with metastatic disease, particularly in NSCLC.