Summary
Over the last decades, the comprehensive molecular characterization of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has expanded our understanding of the cellular origins and molecular pathways affected in this lung cancer subtype. Many of these genetic alterations represent potential therapeutic targets for which new drugs are constantly under development. As such, targeted therapy has emerged as the therapeutic cornerstone for patients with oncogene-driven advanced NSCLC. This personalized treatment strategy not only improved the treatment outcomes compared to traditional chemotherapy, it also had a significant impact on the quality of life of patients. Nowadays, targeted agents directed against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangements have become standard therapy for patients harbouring these genetic aberrations. In addition to this, targeted agents directed against other, more rare, genetic aberrations (e.g. ROS1, NTRK, MET, RET, etc.) have generated promising results and several of these agents will enter the NSCLC treatment arsenal in the near future. This article provides an overview of key studies in patients with oncogene-driven NSCLC that were presented in the past year.
