New lung cancer treatment
There have been several new lung cancer treatments approved or in development in recent years. Here are some examples:
- Imfinzi (durvalumab): In 2017, the FDA approved Imfinzi, a PD-L1 inhibitor, for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with advanced disease who have progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy. Imfinzi is the first immunotherapy approved for lung cancer.
- Keytruda (pembrolizumab): In 2017, the FDA approved Keytruda, a PD-1 inhibitor, for the treatment of NSCLC in patients with advanced disease who have progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy. Keytruda is also approved for the treatment of NSCLC in patients with high PD-L1 expression.
- Tecentriq (atezolizumab): In 2016, the FDA approved Tecentriq, a PD-L1 inhibitor, for the treatment of NSCLC in patients with advanced disease who have progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy. Tecentriq is also approved for the treatment of NSCLC in patients with high PD-L1 expression.
- Lorbrena (lorlatinib): In 2018, the FDA approved Lorbrena, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of NSCLC in patients with advanced disease who have progressed after prior treatment with other tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
- Tagrisso (osimertinib): In 2015, the FDA approved Tagrisso, a third-generation EGFR inhibitor, for the treatment of NSCLC in patients with EGFR T790M mutations.
- Alectinib: In 2017, the FDA approved alectinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of NSCLC in patients with ALK-positive advanced disease who have progressed after prior treatment with crizotinib.
- Ceritinib: In 2014, the FDA approved ceritinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of NSCLC in patients with ALK-positive advanced disease who have progressed after prior treatment with crizotinib.
- Nivolumab: In 2015, the FDA approved nivolumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, for the treatment of NSCLC in patients with advanced disease who have progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy.
- Ramucirumab: In 2014, the FDA approved ramucirumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) inhibitor, for the treatment of NSCLC in patients with advanced disease who have progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy.
- Combination therapies: Several combination therapies have been approved or are in development, including:
- Imfinzi + tremelimumab (a PD-1 inhibitor and a CTLA-4 inhibitor)
- Keytruda + chemotherapy (e.g., carboplatin and pemetrexed)
- Tecentriq + chemotherapy (e.g., carboplatin and paclitaxel)
- Lorbrena + chemotherapy (e.g., carboplatin and pemetrexed)
These new treatments offer hope for patients with lung cancer, particularly those with advanced disease or those who have progressed after prior treatment. However, more research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of these treatments and to identify the best treatment options for individual patients.