Onkologie. 2018:12(4):161-167 | DOI: 10.36290/xon.2018.030

Current treatment options for squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

Miloš Pešek

Klinika pneumologie a ftizeologie FN Plzeň

In this concise article, the author presents the differences between squamous cell and non-squamous cell lung cancers in termsof clinical, phenotypic, and genetic parameters. Squamous cell cancers are generally associated with an older age of patients,more serious comorbidities, and less frequent metastases to the brain in comparison with non-squamous cell cancers. In terms ofgenetics, they have a different spectrum of driver mutations, with biologically targeted therapy having only limited possibilities inthese cancers (ramucirumab, erlotinib, afatinib). More recently, immune-oncological treatment using the monoclonal antibodiesnivolumab, pembrolizumab, and, possibly, atezolizumab as well, has resulted in an improvement in the dire prognosis of patientswith advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The expression of PD-L1 is not a predictor of efficacy of these antibodies;what has shown promise in identifying optimal patients for this treatment is the assessment of tumour mutation load.

Keywords: squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immune-oncological treatment, nivolumab,
pembrolizumab, atezolizumab

Published: September 1, 2018  Show citation