8 Things to Know About Targeted Therapies for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

One of the most exciting advances in the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the development of drugs that target specific changes, or mutations, that occur inside cells when they become cancerous.

These targeted therapies can often identify and attack cancer cells more effectively than conventional chemotherapy — and usually with fewer side effects.

Here’s what you need to know about this promising advancement in cancer medicine.

1. NSCLC Targeted Therapies Are More Precise Than Standard Chemo

“Traditional chemotherapy is designed to kill any rapidly dividing cells, which tend to be cancer cells. But because they don’t have a specific target, they kill healthy cells as well,” says Edward Garon, MD, director of the thoracic oncology program at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles.