Pathophysiologie und Molekulardiagnostik beim nichtkleinzelligen Lungenkarzinom

Lung cancer is the most common tumor-related cause of death in western industrialized countries, despite continuous improvement in both diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. However, the development of targeted drugs against the critical oncogenic mechanisms in lung cancer is promising. Compounds targeting epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) and EML4-ALK (echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 gene and anaplastic lymphoma kinase) fusion protein are already in use. However, predominantly patients with adenocarcinomas of the lung who have never smoked gain benefit from these developments. Targeted therapies for the more frequent squamous cell carcinomas often found in smokers have been lacking. Recently, the amplification of the fibroblast growth factor receptor type 1 (FGFR1) gene was identified as a possible target in this patient group and is currently finding its way into clinical trials. The underlying pathology and molecular diagnostics necessary to successfully stratify patients for the novel, targeted therapies in lung cancer are discussed.