Treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: 2018 guidelines of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)

Abstract

The treatment landscape of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has dramatically evolved in recent years, since the recognition of several clinical–biological entities requiring personalized treatment approaches, leading to significant improvements in patients’ survival outcomes. In particular, targeted therapies acting against EGFR, ALK, and ROS1, and immunotherapeutic agents modulating the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, represent new milestones in the treatment of advanced disease, supporting a chemotherapy backbone within a multidisciplinary model. The Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) has developed evidence-based guidelines for the management of lung tumors. Given the epidemiologic relevance, this report is dedicated to the treatment of advanced/metastatic NSCLC. These guidelines serve as a practical tool for oncologists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals to easily embrace the updated key points of NSCLC treatment strategies. Considering the upcoming introduction of potential new standards of care in several disease settings, these guidelines represent a benchmark from which to move forward.