Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Targeted Therapy: Drugs and Mechanisms of Drug Resistance

Abstract

The advent of precision medicine has brought light to the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), expanding the options for patients with advanced NSCLC by targeting therapy through genetic and epigenetic cues. Tumor driver genes in NSCLC patients have been uncovered one by one, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mesenchymal lymphoma kinase (ALK), and receptor tyrosine kinase ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1) mutants. Antibodies and inhibitors that target the critical gene-mediated signaling pathways that regulate tumor growth and development are anticipated to increase patient survival and quality of life. Targeted drugs continue to emerge, with as many as two dozen approved by the FDA, and chemotherapy and targeted therapy have significantly improved patient prognosis. However, resistance due to cancer drivers’ genetic alterations has given rise to significant challenges in treating patients with metastatic NSCLC. Here, we summarized the main targeted therapeutic sites of NSCLC drugs and discussed their resistance mechanisms, aiming to provide new ideas for follow-up research and clues for the improvement of targeted drugs.