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Updated: Nov 30, 2025
Detection of Targetable Alterations in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer using Next-generation Sequencing
Published on: October 10, 2025
Current Targeted Therapies for the Fight against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Lisa Maria Mustachio1,2, Jason Roszik3,4
1Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Abstract:
Lung cancers contribute to the greatest number of cancer-related deaths worldwide and still pose challenges in response to current treatment strategies. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for over 85% of lung cancers diagnosed in the United States and novel therapeutics are needed for the treatment of this disease. First and second generation targeted therapies against specific mutated or rearranged oncogenes in NSCLCs show anti-tumor activity and also increase survival. However, many NSCLC patients eventually develop resistance to these therapies or do not properly respond if they have central nervous system metastases. Thus, this review summarizes recent developments and findings related to the generation of novel targeted therapies recently or currently being developed to tackle hurdles that prior therapies were not able to overcome.
Insights
New targeted therapies are being developed for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to overcome resistance and central nervous system metastasis challenges that limit current treatments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Science
Background:
- Lung cancer causes the most cancer deaths globally, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the most common type in the US.
- Current targeted therapies for NSCLC offer benefits but face limitations like acquired resistance and central nervous system (CNS) metastases.
- There is a critical need for novel therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for NSCLC patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in novel targeted therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- To discuss strategies addressing resistance and CNS metastasis in NSCLC treatment.
- To highlight emerging therapeutic approaches for overcoming limitations of existing treatments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent preclinical and clinical studies on novel NSCLC targeted therapies.
- Analysis of mechanisms of resistance and CNS penetration of emerging drugs.
- Synthesis of findings related to targeted therapies currently in development.
Main Results:
- Several novel targeted therapies are in development, showing promise in preclinical and early clinical studies.
- New agents are being designed to overcome specific resistance mutations and improve CNS penetration.
- Emerging therapies aim to address a broader range of oncogenic drivers and bypass resistance pathways.
Conclusions:
- Novel targeted therapies are essential to overcome resistance and CNS metastasis in NSCLC.
- Ongoing research is yielding promising new treatment options for NSCLC patients.
- Future NSCLC treatment will likely involve more sophisticated targeted approaches to improve patient survival and quality of life.
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