Cutting edge therapies: A review of Food and Drug Administration‐ approved drugs for non‐small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 13% of all diagnoses. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises 85% of lung cancer cases, with recent genetic profiling revealing the critical role of driver mutations in its pathogenesis. Advances in molecular stratification have redefined NSCLC classification, enabling targeted therapeutic approaches based on specific genetic abnormalities. Targeted therapies have shown significant clinical benefits, particularly in NSCLC patients with mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Kirsten rat sarcoma oncogene, and B-Raf proto-oncogene. These mutations are among the most prevalent actionable drivers, and treatments utilizing tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have demonstrated substantial improvements in progression-free survival compared to conventional chemotherapy. Emerging data suggest that TKI therapy may represent the optimal approach for advanced NSCLC with EGFR and KRAS mutations. This review highlights FDA-approved therapies for NSCLC and examines recent clinical and translational research on EGFR and KRAS mutations. The findings underscore the pivotal role of personalized medicine and the potential of targeted therapies to transform treatment paradigms and improve patient outcomes in NSCLC.