Combination Targeted Therapies More Effective in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Cancer treatments have moved much beyond the conventional surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Drugs have been developed that target certain abnormal proteins in the cancer cells and prevent their proliferation. The drugs target proteins that are either excessive in the cancer cells, or are a result of a mutant gene in the cancer cells. Such treatment, called targeted therapy, has the advantage of a better effect on the cancer and lesser side effects on the other parts of the body. Recent research reveals that multiple genes may drive a non-small cell cancer of the lung and genetic changes may occur during the treatment with targeted therapy, which could make the treatment ineffective.