[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/advances-in-non-small-cell-lung-cancer\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/advances-in-non-small-cell-lung-cancer\/","headline":"Advances in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: How Targeted Therapies Can Help Some Patients\u00a0","name":"Advances in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: How Targeted Therapies Can Help Some Patients\u00a0","description":"Advances in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: How Targeted Therapies Can Help Some Patients\u00a0 May 30, 2025 Progress in the battle against lung cancer has been astoundingly rapid. Consider that, during the typical lung cancer treatment journey, a patient can receive a medication that didn\u2019t exist when he or she was first diagnosed.1\u00a0Targeted therapy, a treatment […]","datePublished":"2025-05-30","dateModified":"2025-05-30","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/author\/ceastway\/#Person","name":"ceastway","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/author\/ceastway\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/007b7979610c70c3cd4b24ed960fb78ff62c0b68401d393e79cb483d56812050?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/007b7979610c70c3cd4b24ed960fb78ff62c0b68401d393e79cb483d56812050?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo.svg","width":506,"height":228}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/oncologist-discussing-lung-scan-with-patient.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/oncologist-discussing-lung-scan-with-patient.jpg","height":836,"width":1254},"url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/advances-in-non-small-cell-lung-cancer\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":1863,"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdvances in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: How Targeted Therapies Can Help Some Patients\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMay 30, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProgress in the battle against lung cancer has been astoundingly rapid. Consider that, during the typical lung cancer treatment journey, a patient can receive a medication that didn\u2019t exist when he or she was first diagnosed.1\u00a0Targeted therapy, a treatment modality that attacks the specific biologic cause of a cancer\u2019s growth, has been an integral player in the lung cancer advancement story, in particular for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Used alone or with other treatments, targeted therapy is helping patients with aggressive late-stage NSCLCs live longer.2Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) is one of the nation\u2019s leading cancer treatment networks with locations near you in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., area. Here, our expert oncologists and hematologists discuss the burgeoning role of targeted therapies in NSCLC and how the patients who might benefit most from this treatment are identified.\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\u00a0What Is NSCLC?Non-small cell lung cancers, or NSCLCs, are cancers of the cells lining the surface of the lung airways. Despite numerous treatment and diagnostic advances, lung cancer overall is still the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States,1 and the American Cancer Society projects that 2025 will see roughly 226,650 lung cancer diagnoses and about 124,730 deaths from the disease.3 Roughly 1 in 5 persons with any type of lung cancer is still alive 5 years after diagnosis.4NSCLC is by far the most common lung cancer type, accounting for 85% of these cancers.5 NSCLC is less aggressive than other lung cancer types, but lung cancers can develop and linger in the lungs for years before coughing, shortness of breath, or other symptoms become noticeable.6 So, in 4 in 10 cases, an NSCLC will have spread beyond the lungs by the time it\u2019s diagnosed.5What Causes NSCLC?Smoking, which causes as many as 90% of lung cancer deaths in the United States,7 is the most prevalent risk factor for NSCLC. The more extensive a person\u2019s smoking history, the greater the risk of developing NSCLC.5 Exposure to secondhand smoke, or radon, workplace exposure to asbestos or chemicals, and air pollution are less common but still possible causes.8Lung cancer typically begins when cells have specific genetic changes (called \u201cmutations\u201d) that alter their normal makeup and cause them to proliferate and form tumors. Targeted therapies act against cancerous cells or the biological processes that support their development and growth, and this stops the cancer from growing and spreading.9Targeted therapies have been shown to prolong survival among patients with late-stage NSCLCs that have spread, with as many as 1 in 2 patients surviving 5 years after diagnosis depending on the genetic mutation.2 The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends use of different targeted therapies based on the mutation that is being targeted.2Targeted Therapies for NSCLCSeveral types of targeted therapies are approved for specific NSCLCs, and each type works differently. These include:Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which block the processes that allow cells to grow and divide.Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which bind to cancer cells with help from the immune system. Once the cell and ADC are bound, the ADC releases chemotherapy into the cell and kills it.\u00a0Angiogenesis inhibitors, which starve cancer cells by stopping new cell growth. This type of targeted therapy is made from a monoclonal antibody, a laboratory re-creation of an immune system protein that targets cancer cells.9Another type of targeted therapy, proteasome inhibitors, has been studied for NSCLC treatment,10 but none of these agents have yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this use.Targeted Therapy vs. ChemotherapyTargeted therapy differs from standard chemotherapy, a systemic treatment that travels throughout the bloodstream and can kill cancer cells anywhere in the body.9,11 In the process, chemotherapy can also attack healthy cells near the cancerous cells, and this can lead to bothersome side effects, most commonly hair loss and digestive discomfort.9,11By contrast, targeted therapy has less of an effect on nearby healthy tissue, which reduces \u2013 but does not eliminate \u2013 the side-effect risk.1 Targeted therapies do cause side effects, with skin rash or dryness, changes in the nails, irritation or inflammation, fatigue, mild diarrhea, and nausea and vomiting among the most common.1,12\u00a0But as researchers continue to probe cancer-causing cellular changes and how to combat them, they\u2019re also developing targeted therapies that more precisely target cancerous cells and cause fewer side effects. For example, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)\u2013targeting TKI osimertinib, which was approved by the FDA in 2015,13 causes fewer side effects than the original EGFR inhibitors developed 20 years ago.1How Targeted Therapy Is Used \u2013 and for Which PatientsTargeted therapies typically are used to treat aggressive late-stage NSCLCs.1,14 This therapy can be given alone or in combination with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or another targeted agent depending on the mutation, the cancer\u2019s aggressiveness, or the patient\u2019s ability to tolerate multiple treatments.14Not all patients with NSCLC are candidates for targeted therapy; only patients with NSCLC caused by a specific mutation are likely to respond to a targeted therapy formulated to address that genetic change. However, roughly 40% to 50% of patients with NSCLC have biomarkers that indicate their particular lung cancer would respond to a targeted therapy.1 These biomarkers signal alterations in the following 10 genes:1ALKBRAFEGFRHER2KRASMETNTRKPDL1RETROS1EGFR and KRAS are the 2 most common types of mutations in NSCLC, accounting for about 40% of all alterations seen in this disease.1 Some mutations are most prevalent among people in an ethnic or demographic group or based on patient characteristics.1 For example, EGFR-driven lung cancers are most prevalent among women, Asians, and never-smokers, whereas KRAS and BRAF are most prevalent among current or former smokers.1If you\u2019re battling NSCLC, your oncologist might recommend biomarker testing to determine whether you have a genetic mutation that could be targeted.\u00a0Biomarker testing in NSCLC typically is done by removing a tissue sample from a tumor biopsy and analyzing it for mutations.15 Alternatively, a blood draw may be done if tissue samples are limited or cannot be obtained.15Different types of biomarker tests are available.15 One type of test, next-generation sequencing, often is recommended in NSCLC because it can detect many biomarkers at one time.15\u00a0Biomarker testing also can detect presence of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), a protein that cloaks cancer cells and keeps the immune system from destroying them. If a patient\u2019s PD-L1 levels are above normal, that patient\u2019s NSCLC may respond to a targeted immunotherapy.16You and your oncologist should discuss biomarker testing before a biopsy is performed, so the doctor will know how much tissue to remove for the test.15 If the cancer continues to grow despite use of a targeted therapy, additional biomarker testing may be needed.15The Future of Targeted TherapyResearchers continue to explore use of targeted cancer treatment, and their findings could soon expand the treatment\u2019s role in treating NSCLC and other lung cancers.1 For example, researchers are investigating use of targeted agents for locally advanced, earlier-stage lung cancers.1 Newer treatments that target additional mutations also are being developed, and this could make targeted treatment available to many more patients with NSCLC.1Explore Targeted Therapy for Cancer at RCCARCCA has more than 100 medical oncologists and hematologists who practice at 25 locations across New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., area. RCCA\u2019s cancer specialists see more than 30,000 new patients each year and provide care to more than 265,000 established patients, collaborating closely with those patients\u2019 other physicians. RCCA physicians offer patients innovative therapies, including immunotherapies and targeted therapy, as well as access to approximately 300\u00a0clinical trials. In addition to serving patients who have solid tumors, blood-based cancers, and benign blood disorders, RCCA care centers also provide\u00a0infusion services to people with a number of non-oncologic conditions\u2014including\u00a0multiple sclerosis,\u00a0Crohn\u2019s disease,\u00a0asthma, iron-deficiency anemia, and\u00a0rheumatoid arthritis\u2014who take intravenously administered medications.To learn more about RCCA, call 844-346-7222 or contact us today.ReferencesDahlstrom E. How are targeted therapies used in lung cancer treatment? The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.\u00a0https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/how-are-targeted-therapies-used-in-lung-cancer-treatment.h00-159699123.html. Published July 30, 2024. Accessed January 31, 2025.Jaiyesimi IA, Temin S, Singh N; ASCO Expert Panel. Therapy for stage IV non\u2013small-cell lung cancer with and without driver alterations: ASCO Living Guidelines Q and A. JCO Oncol Pract. 2022;18(10):699-702.\u00a0Key statistics for lung cancer. American Cancer Society.\u00a0https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/lung-cancer\/about\/key-statistics.html. Updated January 16, 2025. Accessed February 1, 2025.Cancer Stat Facts: Lung and bronchus cancer. National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.\u00a0https:\/\/seer.cancer.gov\/statfacts\/html\/lungb.html. Accessed January 29, 2025.\u00a0Non-small cell lung cancer. Yale Medicine.\u00a0https:\/\/www.yalemedicine.org\/conditions\/non-small-cell-lung-cancer. Accessed February 1, 2025.\u00a0Polanco D, Punilla L, Gracia-Lavedan E, et al. Prognostic value of symptoms at lung cancer diagnosis: a three-year observational study. J Thorac Dis. 2021;13(3):1485-1494.\u00a0Lung cancer risk factors. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\u00a0https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/lung-cancer\/risk-factors\/index.html#. Published October 15, 2024. Accessed February 1, 2025.\u00a0Lung cancer in nonsmokers. Yale Medicine.\u00a0https:\/\/www.yalemedicine.org\/conditions\/lung-cancer-in-nonsmokers. Accessed February 1, 2025.\u00a0Targeted therapies for lung cancer. American Lung Association.\u00a0https:\/\/www.lung.org\/lung-health-diseases\/lung-disease-lookup\/lung-cancer\/treatment\/types-of-treatment\/targeted-therapies. Updated October 1, 2024. Accessed February 1, 2025.Chua A, Thaarun T, Yang H, Lee A. Proteasome inhibitors in the treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer: a systematic review of clinical evidence. Health Sci Rep. 2023;6(11):e1443.\u00a0How is chemotherapy used to treat cancer? American Cancer Society.\u00a0https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/managing-cancer\/treatment-types\/chemotherapy\/how-is-chemotherapy-used-to-treat-cancer.html#..UpdatedNovember 22, 2019. Accessed February 1, 2025.How does targeted therapy work? UPMC Hillman Medical Center.\u00a0https:\/\/hillman.upmc.com\/cancer-care\/medical-oncology\/targeted-therapy\/how-does-targeted-therapy-work. Accessed February 1, 2025.Tagrisso [package insert]. Wilmington, DE: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP; 2024.\u00a0Targeted drug therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. American Cancer Society.\u00a0https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/lung-cancer\/treating-non-small-cell\/targeted-therapies.html#. Updated January 28, 2025. Accessed February 1, 2025.\u00a0Lung cancer biomarker testing. American Lung Association. https:\/\/www.lung.org\/lung-health-diseases\/lung-disease-lookup\/lung-cancer\/symptoms-diagnosis\/biomarker-testing. Updated October 2, 2024. Accessed February 1, 2025.Reck M, Rodriguez-Abreu D, Robinson AG, et al. Pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy for PD-L1\u2013positive non-small-cell lung cancer. N Engl J Med. 2016;375:1823-1833.\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twe are here for you\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTo learn more about RCCA, call 844-928-0089 or visit RCCA.com.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trequest an appointment\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRELATED ARTICLES\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Blood Work\u2019 and Cancer Detection: 2 RCCA Oncologists Explain What Doctors Look for in Your CBC\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cYou\u2019re going to feel a little pinch.\u201d Each year, tens of millions of Americans hear that phrase, or words to the same effect, just before\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCutting Your Cancer Risk: RCCA Oncologists Discuss 4 Lesser-Known Steps\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYou don\u2019t smoke. You drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. You avoid processed meats and you dab on the sunscreen before you hit the\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetting Your First Mammogram on Schedule Really Matters: 2 RCCA Oncologists Explain Why\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThere are many reasons women don\u2019t obtain their first mammogram at the recommended age: work commitments and other demands on their time, uncertainty regarding when\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRegional Cancer Care Associates is one of fewer than 200 medical practices in the country selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM); a recent Medicare initiative aimed at improving care coordination and access to and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy treatment.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Advances in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: How Targeted Therapies Can Help Some Patients\u00a0","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/advances-in-non-small-cell-lung-cancer\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]