Targeted therapy and immunotherapy have changed the treatment standard of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Distinct molecular subtypes of NSCLC have enabled the emergence of treatments that target the driver mutations that have revolutionized the approach to patients with metastatic disease, according to a recent review. Oncologists now select a treatment based on the profile of that particular tumor.

More recently, an understanding of immune checkpoints has led to the development of checkpoint inhibitors that enable the host immune system to better recognize tumor cells as foreign and to destroy them.

Citation: Naylor E, Desani J, Chung P. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy for lung cancer. Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2016;25(3):601-609. doi:10.1016/j.soc.2016.02.011.