E.S. Santos MD

Targeting driver mutations in non-small-cell lung cancer, beyond the usual suspects (EGFR and ALK)

In the last decade, systemic treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer has undergone an unprecedented change because of new targeted therapies and the introduction of immunotherapy. Advances in the understanding of lung cancer biology have led to the discovery of several oncogenic driver genes and the development of drugs that target driver mutations, according to the strategy of ‘personalised therapy’. The bestknown alterations are epidermal growth factor mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangements, but the improvement in genomic technologies and the continuous research in this area have led to the identification of new druggable targets. This is a comprehensive overview focused on the development of targeted therapies and their mechanisms of action.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2018;12(5):223–232)

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Lung cancer screening programs: black or white?

SUMMARY

Lung cancer is a frequent malignancy worldwide with a high mortality rate. Most patients are diagnosed in advanced or metastatic stages that are not amenable to curative treatments, resulting in a poor overall survival rate. Screening programs could provide a solution to this problem, but it is unclear whether the great cost and possible risks that patients must face justify their implementation for lung cancer. This manuscript aims to show the published evidence related to screening programs for lung cancer and the importance and challenges of developing such programs in Latin America.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2017;11(5):242–248)

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