Two individuals can be diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, the treatment options and decisions that follow may look very different. That’s because advanced NSCLC is not one uniform disease.
What is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)?
NSCLC, the most common type of lung cancer, has 3 main types:
- Adenocarcinoma—the most common, starts in mucous-making cells
- Squamous cell carcinoma—starts in flat cells inside the airways
- Large cell carcinoma—starts in any part of the lung and grows fast
As researchers have learned more about the biology of NSCLC, they have identified differences within individual tumors that provide crucial information to help healthcare providers determine which treatment options may be appropriate. For people living with advanced NSCLC, these differences can shape what comes next.
How Biomarker Testing Helps Guide Advanced NSCLC Treatment
Advanced NSCLC is when the cancer has spread from where it first developed.
In some tumors, genomic alterations, changes within cancer cells, can play a role in driving cancer growth. Certain alterations are considered “actionable” because a targeted therapy may be available that acts on that specific alteration. Up to 50% of patients with NSCLC may harbor an actionable genomic alteration. Biomarker testing can help reveal these alterations and provide important information about whether a targeted therapy may be an option.
Advanced NSCLC Treatment Options Without an Actionable Genomic Alteration
Not every person with advanced NSCLC will have an actionable genomic alteration identified. When that happens, targeted therapies may not be an option, which can narrow the available treatment paths.
Dario Garcia-Carracedo Director, US Medical Research and Strategy
"The treatment experience can vary considerably from patient to patient. For those with actionable genomic alterations (AGAs), targeted therapies may offer an important treatment option, providing meaningful clinical benefit. For patients without an actionable alteration for which a targeted therapy is not available, treatment typically involves immunotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of the two. Identifying an actionable genomic alteration can help inform a more targeted, biomarker-driven treatment approach, while treatment decisions for patients without an identified alteration may depend on a combination of clinical factors and tumor characteristics.”
Why Advanced NSCLC Treatment May Change Over Time
Even after a treatment path is established, it may not stay the same.
Over time, tumors can develop changes or mechanisms that allow them to become resistant to a treatment that previously controlled the disease. New information about the tumor, changes in the patient’s health, or progression of the disease may lead the care team to reassess what comes next.
These changes can bring renewed uncertainty and emotional challenges for patients and their families. When a treatment no longer provides the desired benefit, patients may experience feelings of disappointment, fear or hopelessness as they navigate what comes next. A new treatment may bring a different regimen, new side effects or other challenges to manage. And as the disease progresses, treatment options may become more limited, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already difficult journey.
Advancing Research to Address Unmet Needs in Lung Cancer
As the treatment journey evolves, so too must our understanding of the disease. Continued research and new scientific insights can help inform the questions we ask and how we approach the development of innovative treatment options for people with NSCLC.
At Daiichi Sankyo, we are focused on advancing science in areas of significant unmet medical need, including lung cancer, where treatment approaches must account for the diverse biology of the disease. Our DXd antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform is designed to target different molecules expressed across lung cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), both with and without actionable genomic alterations. By investigating these distinct targets, we aim to expand treatment possibilities for patients across molecularly diverse populations, including those for whom targeted treatment options may be limited.
Through this work, we bring together diverse perspectives and scientific expertise to help address the evolving needs of patients and explore new possibilities in cancer care.
Click here to discover the importance of biomarker testing in lung cancer.
Heading Example
Explore how biomarker testing guides advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment, why treatment paths differ and change over time, and how research aims to address unmet needs and expand treatment options for lung cancer.
Tara Rowek, Senior Study Associate, explains how collaboration, attention to detail and patient-centered clinical research help maintain quality, strengthen clinical trials and advance potential new treatment options for patients.
Early breast cancer is often treated with curative intent—but there is still more to learn about treatment response and recurrence risk. Explore how researchers are following the science earlier in the disease journey to address unmet needs and advance new possibilities for patients.