Lung cancer is a type of cancer that happens due to the growth of abnormal cells in the lungs. Unlike normal cells, these cells do not form lung tissues and hinder the proper functioning of the organ.
Gene Mutation in Lung Cancer
All cells in our body contain hereditary material called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). These cells mature and create identical copies of them carrying the same DNA of the original cell. This is how our bodies work when old cells die and the duplicate cells take their place.
Any mutation or error in a cell’s DNA can develop into cancer. When these cells divide, they also transfer their abnormal genes to the new cells. With increased mutation, these cells destroy healthy lung tissues and form a malignant tumor inside the lungs.
Types and Staging
The type and stage of your cancer will determine which lung cancer medication would be suitable for you.
There are mainly two types of lung cancer with different stages
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
NSCLC accounts for up to 85% of total lung cancer cases. This cancer typically clusters around the outer parts of the lungs. The subtypes include:
- Adenocarcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Large cell carcinoma
The Staging process tells if the cancer is still in the lung or has spread to other parts of the body. NSCLC has four stages:
Stage 1: Cancer is found inside the lungs only.
Stage 2: Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 3: Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest. This stage has two sub-types:
- When cancer has spread to the lymph nodes on the chest but only on the same side where it began, this stage is called 3A.
- When cancer has spread to the lymph nodes on the opposite side of the chest, this stage is called 3B.
Stage 4: Cancer has spread in both the lungs or to the lymph nodes, or any other organ.
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC)
It is the less common cancer type that spreads faster than NSCLC and responds more to chemotherapy. However, it is also less likely to be cured with treatment.
Stages of SCLC include:
Limited stage: Cancer is found in only one side of the chest or the lung and lymph nodes near that area.
Extensive stage: Cancer has spread to the opposite side of the chest or other body parts.
Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer Treatment
While surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are some of the options to treat lung cancer, targeted therapy is one of the most amazing developments in cancer medication.
Chemotherapy drugs can’t tell the difference between cancer cells and normal cells. They can kill healthy cells while eliminating malignant ones. However, drugs used in targeted therapy specifically target the proteins in cancer cells that help them grow.
Some of the most potent targeted therapy drugs include:
Erlotinib (Tarceva): Also known as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, this drug blocks the functioning of a receptor called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) found on the cell surface that signals the cancer cells to grow. NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations are more likely to respond to erlotinib 150 mg medication instead of radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Afatinib (Gilotrif): This medication works the same as Tarceva and was approved in 2013 by the FDA in the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC.
Gefitinib (Iressa): This medication is used in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Taking gefitinib 250 mg once daily can slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells in the patient’s body.
Read:
A Complete Overview of Gefitinib For Targeted Lung Cancer Therapy |
While surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are some of the options to treat lung cancer, targeted therapy is one of the most amazing developments in cancer medication.
Chemotherapy drugs can’t tell the difference between cancer cells and normal cells. They can kill healthy cells while eliminating malignant ones. However, drugs used in targeted therapy specifically target the proteins in cancer cells that help them grow.
Some of the most potent targeted therapy drugs include:
Erlotinib (Tarceva): Also known as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, this drug blocks the functioning of a receptor called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) found on the cell surface that signals the cancer cells to grow. NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations are more likely to respond to erlotinib 150 mg medication instead of radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Afatinib (Gilotrif): This medication works the same as Tarceva and was approved in 2013 by the FDA in the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC.
Gefitinib (Iressa): This medication is used in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Taking gefitinib 250 mg once daily can slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells in the patient’s body.
