Treatment of subtypes in non-small cell lung cancer
Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Lung cancer accounts for the highest number of cancer related deaths among all \ncancer patients. It has been well established that exposure to tobacco significantly \nincreases the risk of developing lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is \ndiagnosed in almost 80% of all lung cancer patients. Despite different subtypes of \nNSCLC, treatment regimens to not distinguish between subtypes. Different stages \nand localization of determine treatment with surgery, radiotherapy or systemic \ncytotoxic agents. Adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell \ncarcinoma are the three major subtypes make up 90% of all NSCLC patients. \nDifferences in morphology, differentiation, smoking history and genetic alterations \ndetermine these subtypes. A new generation anti-cancer drugs have been designed \nto specifically target tumor-specific alterations such as amplifications or mutations. \nVarious clinical trials have shown the importance of pretreatment screening for \nspecific alterations that can be targeted by targeted therapies. Mutations and \namplification of the epidermal growth factor have made it an interesting target for \nnew drug development with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and mono-clonal antibodies as \nresult. The future of NSCLC treatment will be based on individualized medicine in \nwhich molecular mechanisms underlying tumor development will be of most \nimportance.
Author: Luc M. de Waal
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W75961687