Dr. Pecot on the Growth of Actionable Targets in Lung Cancer

Chad V. Pecot, MD, associate professor of oncology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina (UNC) Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the growth of actionable targets in lung cancer.

The integration and expansion of targeted therapy has revolutionized the treatment of patients with lung cancers that harbor actionable alterations, Pecot says.

In cases of EGFR, ALK, and ROS mutations, next-generation targeted therapies offer more potent and specific options that elicit less off-target adverse effects compared with first-generation agents, Pecot explains.

Some targets, such as KRAS G12C mutations, were identified decades ago but were unable to be targeted effectively, says Pecot. Now, sotorasib (Lumakras), which was FDA approved on May 28, 2021, for patients with KRAS G12C–mutated lung cancer who have received at least 1 prior systemic therapy, offers a reasonable option for this patient population, concludes Pecot.