Drugs For Lung Cancer

The treatment of lung cancer involves various drugs, and the choice of medication depends on the type and stage of lung cancer, as well as individual patient characteristics. Here are some commonly used drugs for lung cancer:

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC):

1. Platinum-Based Chemotherapy:
   • Cisplatin and Carboplatin: Often used in combination with other drugs for chemotherapy.
2. Targeted Therapy:
   • EGFR Inhibitors (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor):
     • Erlotinib (Tarceva)
     • Gefitinib (Iressa)
     • Afatinib (Gilotrif)
   • ALK Inhibitors (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase):
     • Crizotinib (Xalkori)
     • Ceritinib (Zykadia)
     • Alectinib (Alecensa)
   • ROS1 Inhibitors:
     • Crizotinib (Xalkori)
     • Entrectinib (Rozlytrek)
   • BRAF Inhibitors:
     • Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) in combination with trametinib (Mekinist) for BRAF V600E mutations.
3. Immunotherapy:
   • PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors:
     • Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
     • Nivolumab (Opdivo)
     • Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)
   • Combination Therapies:
     • Pembrolizumab with chemotherapy
     • Atezolizumab with chemotherapy

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC):

1. Chemotherapy:
   • Platinum-Based Chemotherapy:
     • Cisplatin or Carboplatin with etoposide.
   • Topotecan (Hycamtin): Used in second-line treatment.
2. Immunotherapy:
   • PD-L1 Inhibitors:
     • Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in combination with chemotherapy

Supportive Medications:

1. Anti-Angiogenic Agents:
   • Bevacizumab (Avastin) may be used in combination with chemotherapy for certain cases of NSCLC.

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the cells of the lungs. It is one of the most common cancers worldwide and is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), each with different characteristics and treatment approaches.

1. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC):
   • NSCLC accounts for the majority (approximately 85%) of lung cancer cases.
   • Subtypes include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.
   • Often develops in the outer regions of the lungs.
   • Tends to grow more slowly than SCLC.
2. Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC):
   • SCLC constitutes a smaller percentage (about 15%) of lung cancer cases.
   • Typically grows more quickly and is more likely to spread to other parts of the body early in the disease.
   • Often associated with a history of smoking.

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