A longitudinal time-based assessment of toxicity prevalence and grade of targeted therapies and chemotherapy for treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer, a disease in which abnormal cells in the lungs grow uncontrollably, is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, affecting millions of people each year. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is characterized by slower-growing tumors compared to small cell lung cancer and often linked to smoking or environmental factors. It is most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85% of all cases.

Target therapies, which are cancer treatments that block specific molecules involved in tumor growth and survival, have changed the landscape of treatment for patients with specific molecular subtypes of lung cancer, approximately 30-50% of all NSCLC cases. Molecular subtypes are found by testing the genes of the tumor to identify what is driving the cancer to grow. Targeted therapies represent a class of oral anti-cancer medications that specifically block these cancer driving pathways. In general. Target therapies represent a class of oral anti-cancer medications that specifically block the genetic alterations driving cancer growth. In general, targeted therapies have resulted in improved outcomes for patients with lung cancer and as a result, patients may remain on therapy for many years without any signs of cancer growth.

Typically, the focus on treatment side effects has been based on chemotherapy models, showing only the worst effects. However, the timing and duration of side effects are also important, though they are often not discussed in detail. For example, a short but severe side effect might be better or worse than a longer, milder one. Understanding when certain side effects occur can help doctors manage them more effectively. This study aims to improve our understanding of how side effects from targeted lung cancer treatments and chemotherapy develop over time.

This project will use patient-level data available from landmark clinical trials to determine the prevalence and severity of toxicities to targeted treatments over time.