Established, emerging and elusive molecular targets in the treatment of lung cancer

J Pathol. 2018 Apr;244(5):565-577. doi: 10.1002/path.5038. Epub 2018 Feb 14.

Abstract

Although histological subtype still underlies tumour classification and treatment, the recognition that lung cancer is, largely, a genetic disease has prompted a push to reconfigure cancer taxonomies according to molecular criteria. In this review, we discuss established (e.g. EGFR, ALK, ROS1, and programmed cell death 1/programmed death-ligand 1), emerging (e.g. MET, RET, and NTRK) and elusive (e.g. TP53, KRAS, and MYC) molecular targets in the treatment of lung cancer. We synthesize a large and rapidly growing body of literature regarding the discovery and therapeutic inhibition of these targets in lung cancer. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Keywords: ALK; EGFR; PD-1; PD-L1; lung cancer; precision medicine; targeted therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genomics / methods*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods*
  • Pathology, Molecular / methods*
  • Phenotype
  • Precision Medicine
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor