Published online Oct 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i4.576
Revised: May 7, 2014
Accepted: May 28, 2014
Published online: October 10, 2014
Processing time: 172 Days and 12.9 Hours
The last decade has witnessed the development of oncogene-directed targeted therapies that have significantly changed the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this paper we review the data demonstrating efficacy of gefitinib, erlotinib, and afatinib, which target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and crizotinib which targets anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). We discuss the challenge of acquired resistance to these small-molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitors and review promising agents which may overcome resistance, including the EGFR T790M-targeted agents CO-1686 and AZD9291, and the ALK-targeted agents ceritinib (LDK378), AP26113, alectinib (CH/RO5424802), and others. Emerging therapies directed against other driver oncogenes in NSCLC including ROS1, HER2, and BRAF are covered as well. The identification of specific molecular targets in a significant fraction of NSCLC has led to the personalized deployment of many effective targeted therapies, with more to come.
Core tip: The development of oncogene-directed targeted therapies has significantly changed the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. We review the data demonstrating efficacy of small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors against epidermal growth factor receptor, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, ROS1, and other oncogenes. We also discuss the challenge of acquired resistance to these therapies and review promising agents which may overcome resistance.