Lung cancer: current therapies and new targeted treatments

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 389; no. 10066; pp. 299 - 311
• Main Authors: Hirsch, Fred R, Scagliotti, Giorgio V, Mulshine, James L, Kwon, Regina, Curran, Walter J, Wu, Yi-Long, Paz-Ares, Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 21.01.2017; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Cancer therapies; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - genetics; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - mortality; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - therapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Early Detection of Cancer; Humans; Immunotherapy; Internal Medicine; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - diagnosis; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Lung Neoplasms - mortality; Lung Neoplasms - therapy; Medical screening; Mutation; Oncology; Prevention; Survival; Survival Rate
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30958-8

Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Every year, 1·8 million people are diagnosed with lung cancer, and 1·6 million people die as a result of the disease. 5-year survival rates vary from 4–17% depending on stage and regional differences. In this Seminar, we discuss existing treatment for patients with lung cancer and the promise of precision medicine, with special emphasis on new targeted therapies. Some subgroups, eg—patients with poor performance status and elderly patients—are not specifically addressed, because these groups require special treatment considerations and no frameworks have been established in terms of new targeted therapies. We discuss prevention and early detection of lung cancer with an emphasis on lung cancer screening. Although we acknowledge the importance of smoking prevention and cessation, this is a large topic beyond the scope of this Seminar.