Advances in the Management of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Abstract

Recent findings from studies [KEYNOTE 10, 24, 189, 407 (pembrolizumab); Check Mate-17,57,227 (nivolumab); IM power 131,150,OAK (atezolizumab)] using checkpoint inhibitors as a monotherapy as well as in combination of chemotherapy has demonstrated improved outcome in patients with advanced NSCLC without actionable mutation driver and also showed a tolerable toxicity profile and durable response. Based on analysis of studies performed in the first line management of advanced NSCLC, pembrolizumab is preferred for patients without actionable driver mutation. Pembrolizumab should be used as a monotherapy in patients with PD-L1 expression ≥ 50%. In others, it should be added to chemotherapy. For patients with actionable driver mutation, osimertinib for sensitizing EGFR mutation is preferred over afatinib, gefitinib, erlotinib as a first line therapy. For patients with ALK rearrangement alectinib is preferred over crizotinib restricting use of crizotinib as first line therapy to patients with ROS1 rearrangement. Dabrafenib + trametinib have been found effective in patients with BRAFV600E mutations.