1. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)
A protein on the surface of cells that helps them grow and divide. Mutations in the EGFR gene can lead to uncontrolled cell growth, contributing to cancers like NSCLC.
2. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
The most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85% of cases. It includes subtypes such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.
3. Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs)
Medications that block the action of enzymes called tyrosine kinases, which are involved in signaling pathways that control cell division and survival. TKIs are often used to treat cancers with specific genetic mutations, like EGFR mutations in NSCLC.
4. Osimertinib
A third-generation EGFR TKI used to treat NSCLC with specific EGFR mutations, including the T790M resistance mutation. It binds irreversibly to the mutated receptor, inhibiting cancer cell growth.
5. T790M Mutation
A specific mutation in the EGFR gene where threonine (T) is replaced by methionine (M) at position 790. This mutation can cause resistance to first- and second-generation EGFR TKIs but can be targeted by third-generation inhibitors like osimertinib.
6. Amivantamab
A bispecific monoclonal antibody targeting both EGFR and MET receptors. It’s used to treat NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations and has shown efficacy in patients who have progressed on prior therapies.
7. Mobocertinib
An oral TKI specifically designed to target EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations in NSCLC. It’s used for patients whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.
8. Lazertinib
A third-generation EGFR TKI used to treat NSCLC with activating EGFR mutations. It’s often studied in combination with other therapies to enhance efficacy.
9. Exon 19 Deletions and Exon 21 L858R Mutations
Common activating mutations in the EGFR gene that are sensitive to EGFR TKIs. These mutations lead to continuous activation of the receptor, promoting cancer cell proliferation.
10. Exon 20 Insertion Mutations
Less common EGFR mutations that are typically resistant to first- and second-generation TKIs but can be targeted by specific therapies like amivantamab and mobocertinib.
11. MET Amplification
An increase in the number of copies of the MET gene, leading to overexpression of the MET protein. This can drive cancer progression and contribute to resistance against EGFR-targeted therapies.
12. Progression-Free Survival (PFS)
The length of time during and after treatment that a patient lives with the disease without it getting worse. PFS is often used as a measure of treatment efficacy in clinical trials.
13. Overall Survival (OS)
The length of time from either the date of diagnosis or the start of treatment that patients diagnosed with the disease are still alive. OS is a direct measure of a treatment’s benefit on lifespan.
14. Adjuvant Therapy
Additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk of the cancer returning. In NSCLC, this can include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapies like osimertinib.
15. Resistance Mutations
Genetic changes in cancer cells that enable them to survive despite treatment with specific therapies. In EGFR-mutant NSCLC, mutations like T790M can confer resistance to earlier-generation TKIs.
These terms are integral to understanding the diagnosis, treatment, and management of EGFR-mutant NSCLC.