Brain Metastases Management in Oncogene‐Addicted Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Targeted Therapies Era

Abstract

The therapeutic landscape in patients with advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer harboring oncogenic biomarkers has radically changed with the development of targeted therapies. Although lung cancers are known to frequently metastasize to the brain, oncogene‐driven non‐small‐cell lung cancer patients show a higher incidence of both brain metastases at baseline and a further risk of central nervous system progression/relapse. Recently, a new generation of targeted agents, highly active in the central nervous system, has improved the control of intracranial disease. The intracranial activity of these drugs poses a crucial issue in determining the optimal management sequence in oncogene‐addicted non‐small‐cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases, with a potential change of paradigm from primary brain irradiation to central nervous system penetrating targeted inhibitors.