Radiation Therapy in Today’s NSCLC Era

Photo Credit: Thomas Hecker

At the 2023 North American Conference on Lung Cancer, held December 1-3 in Chicago, Benjamin Lok, MD, FRCPC, presented as part of the “Immunotherapy for Advanced NSCLC” session, a radiation “mini-debate” focused on the “Goldie Locks Effect.”

Dr. Lok recently published a paper that addresses the use of radiation in the current era of NSCLC, which we summarize here:

Radiation Therapy in the Molecular Era of Lung Cancer: How Best to Integrate Targeted Therapeutics With Definitive Radiation Therapy for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutant Unresectable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2023 Sep 1;117(1):115-117.
Summary: In the molecular age, the identification of oncogene-addicted non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), specifically those harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations (EGFRm) susceptible to highly potent tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), has significantly transformed the clinical landscape for individuals with EGFRm NSCLC. The evolution of EGFR TKIs into the third generation, exemplified by agents like osimertinib, has not only enhanced overall survival for patients with advanced metastatic EGFRm NSCLC but has also improved disease-free survival for those who undergo surgical resection for EGFRm NSCLC. This underscores the substantial progress in treating EGFRm NSCLC and highlights the positive impact of targeted therapies, particularly third-generation EGFR TKIs like osimertinib, in extending survival outcomes and managing the disease post-surgery.