Medications for Lung Cancer: An Overview with Frequently Asked Questions
Lung Cancer Treatments: An Overview
Lung cancer, a devastating disease, affects thousands of people worldwide. In the fight against this disease, doctors employ a variety of treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy for both non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
For SCLC, chemotherapy drugs are the primary treatment, with cisplatin and etoposide being the mainstays. These drugs are often combined, and irinotecan is also commonly used in certain regimens. Chemotherapy is often administered alongside radiation therapy, particularly in the early stages of the disease.
Immunotherapy for SCLC involves immune checkpoint inhibitors, which target PD-1 or PD-L1, helping the immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells. A new and emerging type of immunotherapy, BiTEs targeting DLL3, is showing promise in enhancing the immune attack on SCLC cells.
Targeted therapy options for SCLC are more limited, but there are emerging therapies on the horizon. Ifinatamab deruxtecan, a B7-H3 directed antibody-drug conjugate, has recently received a breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA for pretreated extensive-stage SCLC, representing a novel targeted approach.
In contrast, NSCLC treatment often includes targeted therapy drugs such as bevacizumab, sotorasib, erlotinib, crizotinib, and lorlatinib. Immunotherapy drugs for NSCLC include nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, ipilimumab, and tremelimumab. Atezolizumab, specifically, can be used when treating more advanced SCLCs.
Doctors determine the best drug for lung cancer by comparing the efficacy of different medications and weighing these against their possible side effects. Factors considered include a person's overall health, lifestyle, age, and personal preferences.
Supportive agents such as G-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) and trilaciclib (a CDK4/6 inhibitor) are often used to mitigate chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, improving the tolerability of treatments.
This overview reflects treatment options as of mid-2025, based on the latest clinical data and FDA designations. It is important to note that research into new treatments for both NSCLC and SCLC is ongoing, with studies such as mobecertinib and capmatinib currently underway to improve treatment options for people with lung cancer.
[1] National Cancer Institute. (2021). Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) – Health Professional Version. Accessed on 12/05/2023 at https://www.cancer.gov/types/lung/hp/small-cell-lung-treatment-pdq
[2] American Cancer Society. (2021). Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer. Accessed on 12/05/2023 at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/treatment/immunotherapy.html
[3] National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2021). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Small Cell Lung Cancer. Accessed on 12/05/2023 at https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/small_cell.pdf
[4] American Society of Clinical Oncology. (2021). Small Cell Lung Cancer: Chemotherapy. Accessed on 12/05/2023 at https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/small-cell-lung-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy
[5] Food and Drug Administration. (2021). FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca's Enhertu in Previously Treated Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer. Accessed on 12/05/2023 at https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-grants-breakthrough-therapy-designation-daiichi-sankyo-and-astrazenecas-enhertu-previously
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