Therapeutic advances in non-small cell lung cancer: Focus on clinical development of targeted therapy and immunotherapy

Abstract

Lung cancer still contributes to nearly one-quarter cancer-related deaths in the past decades, despite the rapid development of targeted therapy and immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The development and availability of comprehensive genomic profiling make the classification of NSCLC more precise and personalized. Most treatment decisions of advanced-stage NSCLC have been made based on the genetic features and PD-L1 expression of patients. For the past 2 years, more than 10 therapeutic strategies have been approved as first-line treatment for certain subgroups of NSCLC. However, some major challenges remain, including drug resistance and low rate of overall survival. Therefore, we discuss and review the therapeutic strategies of NSCLC, and focus on the development of targeted therapy and immunotherapy in advanced-stage NSCLC. Based on the latest guidelines, we provide an updated summary on the standard treatment for NSCLC. At last, we discussed several potential therapies for NSCLC. The development of new drugs and combination therapies both provide promising therapeutic effects on NSCLC.