New target therapies in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a review of the literature and future perspectives

Lung cancer (LC) is the most common neoplasm worldwide, and 85% of these tumors are classified as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). LC treatment was initially restricted to cytotoxic chemotherapy-platinum compounds associated with 3rd generation cytotoxic agents (paclitaxel, gemcitabine, pemetrexed) and, more recently, with monoclonal antibodies (bevacizumab, ramucirumab). Advancements in treatment are correlated with prolonged overall survival (OS). Current advances are focused on target therapies. Target agents: Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy consists of 1st and 2nd generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs such as erlotinib, afatinib). In 60% of cases, resistance to these TKIs occurs due to T790M mutation in EGFR, which is overcome 3rd generation drugs (osimertinib). Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is the target for drugs such as crizotinib, alectinib, ceritinib. Programmed death 1 (PD-1) and its ligand serve as targets for immunotherapy agents such as pembrolizumab, nivolumab, atezolizumab.