Lung Cancer

Christie Bevington shares her story of how immunotherapy was the only treatment that helped stop her cancer progression and relieve her back pain caused by lung cancer.

Two experts discuss the advances made in lung cancer with the introduction of new immunotherapies, which have extended life for patients, and why testing for biomarkers is crucial.

In May 2021, the FDA approved Lumakras (sotorasib), an oral KRAS inhibitor, for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer associated with KRAS G12C mutation. Lumakras is the first drug approved for any cancer associated with any KRAS mutation.

In May 2021, the FDA approved Rybrevant (amivantamab-vmjw), an intravenous antibody that targets mutations in the EGFR and MET pathways, for the treatment of adults with non–small-cell lung cancer and EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. This is the first drug approved for lung cancer with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations.

In March 2021, the FDA approved Lorbrena (lorlatinib), a third-generation ALK inhibitor, for first-line treatment of patients with non–small-cell lung cancer and ALK mutation. Lorbrena was previously approved for the second- or third-line treatment for this patient population.

In February 2021, the FDA approved Cosela (trilaciclib) as the first CDK4/6 inhibitor to reduce the risk of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in adults with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer. Cosela can prevent damage to bone marrow cells by blocking the CDK4/6 enzyme.

The immunotherapy Libtayo received FDA approval as first-line treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer and high PD-L1 expression.