The cancer cells you have are unique. Studying them at the molecular level makes personalized treatments like targeted therapy for lung cancer possible.
Targeted therapies are revolutionizing lung cancer treatment. At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, you have access to the full scope of existing and emerging targeted therapies for lung cancer.
Analyzing the genetic makeup of the cancer is one of the first steps in your care. That way, we can ensure you receive the most effective treatment possible right from the start.
How Does Targeted Therapy Treat Lung Cancer?
Targeted therapies are drugs that target the specific changes (mutations) in cancer cells that make them grow out of control. The mutations are also called molecular targets. Targeted therapy is also called precision medicine because it’s precisely matched to a specific cancer’s characteristics.
Targeted treatments are often more successful and have fewer side effects than traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy. This is because they cause less harm to healthy cells.
Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer: Why Choose Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health?
The number of people eligible for targeted treatment continues to grow as researchers discover more molecular targets. Our lung cancer team has been on the front line of this new frontier for years.
Thanks to these efforts, our patients are always among the first to have access to the newest targeted therapies. Read more about our lung cancer clinical trials.
You also benefit from:
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Experienced specialists: Our doctors have the highest level of training (fellowship training) in lung cancer care. They’ve spent decades treating lung cancer and work together to leave no stone unturned in your care.
- Advanced tests: At Penn Medicine, our researchers developed a groundbreaking blood test called liquid biopsy. Liquid biopsy shows your doctor if you are eligible for a targeted therapy. You receive liquid biopsy results much faster than traditional biopsy procedures (removal and analysis of tumor tissue). Find out more about the advanced tools we use to diagnose and treat lung cancer.
- Patient-driven care: We really get to know you and your loved ones, your hobbies and goals, and potential hurdles to accessing the care you need. We adjust your treatment plan as needed to optimize both your short- and long-term quality of life.
- Support services: From the moment you walk through our doors at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute, our staff stands ready to offer an experience full of warmth and support. Before you even see your doctor, we assess and start addressing your needs—whether its assistance planning for out-of-pocket expenses, dealing with pain or getting the proper nutrition. Learn more about our lung cancer support services.
How We Treat Lung Cancer With Targeted Therapy
The cancer’s genetic makeup determines if it will respond to targeted therapy and what specific targeted treatment for lung cancer your doctor will prescribe. We use the latest diagnostic tools to identify if the cancer has any molecular targets, including:
- Tissue biopsy: During this procedure, doctors remove a sample of tumor tissue.
- Next-generation tumor sequencing: Pathologists (lab specialists) then analyze the tumor’s DNA to determine if there are any targets. It usually takes a few weeks to get these results.
- Liquid biopsy: Liquid biopsy, or analysis of circulating tumor DNA, also identifies tumor targets. Results usually come back in a week to 10 days.
If you have a tumor target, your doctor may recommend you take targeted therapy:
Targeted Treatments for Lung Cancer
Targeted therapies for lung cancer include:
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ALK inhibitors: ALK mutations cause cancer cells to grow and spread. ALK inhibitors are pills that target these abnormalities to shrink lung cancer tumors.
- Angiogenesis inhibitors: To receive nourishment and grow, tumors need to form new blood vessels. This process is called angiogenesis. These drugs help stop these new blood vessels from forming.
- BRAF inhibitors: BRAF inhibitors target changes to the BRAF gene and related proteins that cause cancer cells to grow. Doctors sometimes use BRAF inhibitors to treat metastatic non-small cell lung cancers (non-small cell lung cancers that have spread to other parts of your body). You take them as pills or capsules.
- EGFR inhibitors: EGFR is a type of protein that helps cells grow and divide. Some lung cancers have too much EGFR, causing them to grow faster. EGFR inhibitors block this growth. EGFR inhibitors are pills or can be given as an infusion into a vein.
- KRAS inhibitors: These new drugs target mutations in the cancer’s KRAS gene that cause it to grow. You take KRAS inhibitors in pill form, usually once a day.
- MET inhibitors: Changes to the MET gene cause the formation of abnormal MET proteins, which cause cancer cells to grow. MET inhibitors attack these proteins. Doctors sometimes use MET inhibitors to treat metastatic non-small cell lung cancers. They come in pills that you take once or twice a day.
- NTRK inhibitors: In some cancers, a piece of the NTRK gene sticks to a piece of an unrelated gene (called gene fusion). While rare in lung cancers, NTRK gene fusions cause the cancer cells to grow out of control. NTRK inhibitors target NTRK gene fusions. You take them as pills once or twice a day.
- RET inhibitors: Mutations in the RET gene result in abnormal RET proteins, which cause cancer cells to grow. RET inhibitors target and destroy these proteins. Doctors sometimes use RET inhibitors to treat metastatic non-small cell lung cancers. They come in capsules that you swallow once or twice a day.
- ROS1 inhibitors: ROS1 mutations are like ALK mutations. ROS1 inhibitors are pills that shrink tumors with these mutations.
Who Is Eligible for Targeted Treatment for Lung Cancer?
Your doctor may recommend targeted therapy if you have non-small cell lung cancer that’s:
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Advanced (has spread to areas around your lungs)
- Metastatic
- Recurrent (has come back after previous treatment)
Up to 30 percent of people who have lung cancer can be treated with a targeted therapy, including:
- Nonsmokers: 60 to 70 percent of nonsmokers with lung cancer have tumor targets.
- Smokers: 30 percent of people who smoke long-term have a KRAS gene mutation. G12C is a specific KRAS mutation that has a targeted therapy treatment option. About 13 percent of all non-small cell lung cancers have the KRAS G12C mutation.
- People diagnosed with adenocarcinomas: Adenocarcinoma is a type of non-small cell lung cancer. It accounts for 50 percent of all lung cancers. About 50 percent of adenocarcinomas have tumor targets, including the KRAS gene mutation. Learn more about the different types of lung cancer.