Recent Developments and Challenges in Molecular-Targeted Therapy of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of lung cancer with conventional therapies, which include radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy results in multiple undesirable adverse or side effects. The major clinical challenge in developing new drug therapies for lung cancer is resistance, which involves mutations and disturbance in various signaling pathways. Molecular abnormal-ities related to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (B-RAF) Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) mutations, translocation of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene, mesenchy-mal-epithelial transition factor (MET) amplification have been studied to overcome the resistance and to develop new therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). But, inevitable development of resistance presents limits the clinical benefits of various new drugs. Here, we review current progress in the development of molecularly targeted therapies, concerning six clinical biomarkers: EGFR, ALK, MET, ROS-1, KRAS, and B-RAF for NSCLC treatment.

Automated summary

Conventional therapies for lung cancer, such as radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy, often lead to undesirable side effects. The major challenge in developing new drug therapies for lung cancer is resistance, which involves mutations and disruptions in signaling pathways. This review article highlights the progress in developing molecularly targeted therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by studying biomarkers such as EGFR, ALK, MET, ROS-1, KRAS, and B-RAF. However, resistance development limits the clinical benefits of these new drugs.