Molecular targeted therapy of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death both in men and women in Poland and worldwide. Patients diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of non-squamous and not otherwise specified (NOS) histologies may benefit from targeted therapies, because these types of cancers most often harbor molecular disturbances such as activating EGFR gene mutations, rearrangements of ALK, ROS1 or NTRK genes and BRAF gene mutation. These disorders are a positive predictors of the response to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The necessity of molecular tests in patients with advanced NSCLC to be performed prior to qualification for systemic chemotherapy should be emphasized and — in the case of positive results — the use of targeted therapy in the first line treatment.