Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer

What Is Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer?

Targeted therapy for lung cancer uses drugs that attack proteins and other molecules unique to tumor cells. This stops the spread and growth of cancer while causing minimal harm to normal cells and tissues in the body.

Targeted therapy is typically used to treat lung cancer that has spread. It’s available to patients who have mutations in specific genes in lung cancer cells.

“I was extremely excited to go on this brand-new drug. Here we are, 9 months later, and my tumor has shrunk significantly from last year.”

— Carla, lung cancer patient treated with targeted therapy

Lung Cancer Targeted Drug Therapy Quick Facts

• Targeted therapy is mainly used for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is under investigation for small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
• This type of treatment may be used by itself or in combination with chemotherapy and other medications.
• Patients had a progression-free survival of over 2 years in a recent trial testing the targeted lung cancer drug lazertinib.

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How Does Target Therapy for Lung Cancer Work?

Targeted therapy for lung cancer works by attacking proteins and molecules that are unique to cancer cells and help them divide and spread faster than healthy cells.

Different lung cancer targeted therapies pinpoint biomarkers (genes, proteins, or other substances indicating cancer) to distinguish malignant cells from healthy ones.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several targeted therapy medications for lung cancer. Many are given by pill.

FDA-approved targeted therapies can treat mutations in these genes:

• EGFR
• ALK
• ROS-1
• NTRK
• MET
• RET
• BRAF V600E
• HER2
• KRAS
• NRG1

Doctors first identify the specific gene mutations in a lung cancer patient through biomarker testing, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). They can then use the most appropriate lung cancer targeted therapy that fits the patient’s situation.

If you can’t get targeted therapy, your lung cancer doctor may recommend other treatments like surgery or immunotherapy. You may also qualify to join a clinical trial testing an upcoming targeted therapy for lung cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Targeted Therapy

Oncologists (cancer doctors) typically recommend using targeted therapy for cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that have reached a late stage due to metastasis (cancer spread).

Most widely accepted lung cancer targeted therapies are also available for patients with adenocarcinoma, a common subtype.

Targeted Therapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer

At this time, targeted therapy is not widely available for those with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, doctors continue to explore potential uses of targeted therapy for SCLC in clinical trials.

Call (877) 446-5767 for help affording treatments like targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer after your diagnosis.

Types of Targeted Therapies for Lung Cancer

There are several types of targeted therapy that may be used as part of a larger lung cancer treatment plan. These include angiogenesis inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors

Angiogenesis inhibitors starve lung cancer tumors by stopping new blood vessels from developing.

Lung cancer targeted therapies that are angiogenesis inhibitors include:

• Bevacizumab (Avastin®)
• Ramucirumab (Cyramza®)

Doctors combine angiogenesis inhibitors with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or other targeted therapies to help destroy as much of the cancer as possible.

Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADC)

An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) combines chemotherapy and targeted therapy. The medication binds to cancer cells via the immune system and injects chemotherapy into them.

“It’s kind of like a Trojan horse. That the antibody binds to the surface of the cancer cell, and when it does so, it gets taken inside. But the antibody also has a piece of chemotherapy tied next to it. It releases the chemotherapy and kills the cancer cell.”

– Dr. Justin Gainor, lung cancer specialist

ADCs can be used to treat lung cancer patients with mutations in the HER2 gene, which can help lung cancer cells grow. One ADC called fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu®) is commonly used for NSCLC.

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and EGFR Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) block enzymes that manage cell growth and division. By doing so, TKIs prevent lung cancer cells from growing and spreading.

TKIs are especially effective for NSCLC patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. These mutations cause the EGFR protein to constantly signal cells to grow and divide, leading to cancer spread.

Types of TKI targeted therapies for lung cancer include:

• Lazertinib (Lazcluze®)
• Osimertinib (Tagrisso®)

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to explore targeted therapy and other lung cancer treatments that could help you live longer.

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Other Types of Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer

The American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that there is a wide range of additional lung cancer targeted therapy treatments.

Lung cancer targeted therapies include:

• ALK inhibitors: Mutations in the ALK gene are typically seen in younger patients with adenocarcinoma. Lorlatinib (Lorbrena®), brigatinib (Alunbrig®), ceritinib (Zykadia®), and more can inhibit the ALK protein produced by this mutation to stop tumor growth.
• BRAF inhibitors: The BRAF gene mutation can allow lung cancer to grow. Dabrafenib (Tafinlar®), binimetinib (Mektovi®), and vemurafenib (Zelboraf®) can be used alone or in combination with other therapies.
• MET inhibitors: Capmatinib (tabrecta®), crizotinib (Xalkori®), and more target changes in the MET gene that may help lung cancer tumors spread.
• KRAS inhibitors: Medications like sotorasib (Lumakras®) and adagrasib (Krazati®) attach themselves to cancer cells with mutations in the KRAS protein. KRAS targeted therapy for lung cancer then prevents the tumors from spreading.
• ROS1 inhibitors: This rare mutation is commonly seen in adenocarcinoma patients and is similar to the ALK1 mutation. Lorlatinib (Lorbrena®), repotrectinib (Augtyro®), and many more can help patients.
• TRK inhibitors: Larotrectinib (Vitrakyi®) and entrectinib (Rozlytrek®) are among the medications that disable proteins made by a mutation called NTRK gene fusion, which can make it easier for lung cancer cells to survive.

Doctors also continue to study targeted therapy treatments for small cell lung cancer, such as bevacizumab and sunitinib (Sutent®).

Research & Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer Targeted Therapy

Scientists have been researching targeted therapies in clinical trials for lung cancer to hopefully find ways of improving patient survival times.

Notable lung cancer clinical trials for targeted therapies include:

• LY4050784: Researchers and pharmaceutical company Eli Lily want to learn if LY4050784 can help treat patients with mutations in the Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1), also known as SMARCA4.
• LNCB74-01: Doctors are investigating a new ADC called LNCB74 in treating NSCLC, breast cancer, and other solid tumors.
• KRYSTAL-4: This study is using a combination of the targeted therapy adagrasib along with immunotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with metastatic NSCLC.

Your lung cancer specialist can help determine if you qualify to join a clinical trial testing targeted therapy for lung cancer.

How Effective is Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer?

Targeted therapy for lung cancer is an important option for many patients to consider, often being quite effective.

Targeted therapy for lung cancer helps patients by:

• Having limited side effects: Lung cancer targeted therapy attacks specific pathways and molecules, so it does less harm to healthy cells, and patients experience fewer side effects than other treatments.
• Improving lung cancer life expectancy: Many targeted therapies have allowed patients to live longer and prevent cancer from spreading. For example, lazertinib had a progression-free survival of 24.6 months in a 2023 Cancers report.
• Working when other treatments don’t: Some NSCLC types may not respond well to chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Targeted therapy cancer treatment may stop tumors from growing and spreading in these cases.

Your health care provider or cancer center can tell you more about how targeted therapy for lung cancer could specifically help you or a loved one.

Side Effects of Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer

Targeted therapy does pose a risk of side effects to patients who are receiving it. While these side effects are often less serious than those of other treatments, they’re still important to understand before receiving this type of therapy.

Potential side effects of lung cancer targeted therapy include:

• Back pain
• Cough
• Dry skin
• Headache
• High blood pressure
• Joint pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Nosebleeds
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage in limbs)
• Swelling in hands or feet

In rare cases, severe side effects like intestinal tearing, blood clots in the heart or brain, kidney damage, and more may occur.

Different side effects can develop depending on which type of targeted therapy you receive. Your health care team will monitor you for any possible lung cancer side effects and work to promptly address them.

“Just like we personalize the treatment, we can also adjust the dose for the individual patient to navigate that balance of having the best benefit but also managing their side effects.”

— Dr. Lauren Byers, lung cancer specialist

Get Help Affording Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer

Targeted therapy is a crucial treatment to consider, especially if you or a loved one has received other treatments that didn’t work or is dealing with late-stage cancer.

Lung Cancer Group can help you:

• Better understand targeted therapy and other lung cancer treatments
• Explore compensation options to cover treatment costs
• Walk with you and your family during this difficult time

While many cases of lung cancer are highly aggressive, targeted therapies and other lung cancer treatments are offering hope to more patients than ever before.

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide or call (877) 446-5767 now for help finding compensation options to cover treatments like targeted therapy after a lung cancer diagnosis.