Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85% of all lung cancer cases. Treatment usually involves a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted treatments, and immunotherapy.
1. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy has been a cornerstone of NSCLC treatment for many years. It involves using drugs to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. Common chemotherapy agents for NSCLC include:
Cisplatin and carboplatin: These platinum-based drugs are often used in combination with other agents. They work by damaging the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from replicating
Paclitaxel and docetaxel: These drugs inhibit cell division by stabilizing microtubules, which are structures essential for cell division
Gemcitabine: This drug is a nucleoside analog that inhibits DNA synthesis
Pemetrexed: This drug targets multiple enzymes involved in folate metabolism, which is crucial for DNA and RNA synthesis.
2. Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapies have revolutionized NSCLC treatment by focusing on specific genetic mutations and abnormalities in cancer cells. Key targeted therapies include:
EGFR inhibitors: epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are common in NSCLC. Drugs like erlotinib (Tarceva), gefitinib (Iressa), and osimertinib (Tagrisso) target these mutations, blocking the signals that promote cancer cell growth and division
Multikinase inhibitors: kinase rearrangements can drive cancer growth in a subset of NSCLC patients. Crizotinib (Xalkori), ceritinib (Zykadia), and alectinib (Alecensa) are used to target these abnormalities.
BRAF Inhibitors: mutations in the BRAF gene can be treated with dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist).
MET Inhibitors: capmatinib (Tabrecta) targets MET exon 14 skipping mutations, which are present in some NSCLC cases.
3. Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy helps the body’s immune system recognize and fight cancer cells. The main types of immunotherapy used in NSCLC include:
PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors: these drugs block the interaction between the PD-1 protein on immune cells and PD-L1 on cancer cells, preventing the cancer from evading the immune system. Key drugs in this category include pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo), and atezolizumab (Tecentriq).
CTLA-4 inhibitors: ipilimumab (Yervoy) and tremelimumab-actl (Imjudo) are checkpoint inhibitors that can be used in combination with PD-1 inhibitors to enhance the immune response against cancer cells.
4. Anti-Angiogenesis Drugs
Angiogenesis inhibitors prevent the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow.
Bevacizumab (Avastin) is the most commonly used angiogenesis inhibitor in NSCLC. It targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is essential for new blood vessel formation.
Drugs used to treat Non Small Cell Lung Cancer
The medications listed below are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.
For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity
Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx
Prescription only.
OTC
Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC
Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label
This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA
An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access
Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A
Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B
Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C
Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D
There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X
Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N
FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M
The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U
CSA Schedule is unknown.
N
Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1
Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2
Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3
Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4
Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5
Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X
Interacts with Alcohol.
Further information
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