KRAS G12 isoforms exert influence over up-front treatments: A retrospective, multicenter, Italian analysis of the impact of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors in an NSCLC real-life population

Unconventional strategy could be the future: From target to KRAS broad range treatment

The RAS gene family comprises genes that regulate cell growth and differentiation. KRAS, a member of this family, is often mutated in different cancers, resulting in uncontrolled cell growth and tumor development. Recent clinical trial results on KRAS inhibition in NSCLC have defined the presence of a significant proportion of patients resistant to direct G12C inhibition. The presence of co-mutations and the occurrence of secondary resistance phenomena observed in preclinical and clinical settings partly justify these poor results. In addition, all other non-G12C mutations currently remain without specific strategies. Evidence of interactions between KRAS signaling and the TME suggests potential in vitro efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this short paper, we have reviewed the most relevant data from recent conferences, with a focus on KRAS inhibitors resistance mechanisms and interactions with the peri-tumor immune system. Commentary.

Exploiting Tertiary Lymphoid Structures to Stimulate Antitumor Immunity and Improve Immunotherapy Efficacy

Tumor-associated tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) have been associated with favorable clinical outcomes and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in many cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer. Although the detailed cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these clinical associations have not been fully elucidated, growing preclinical and clinical studies are helping to elucidate the mechanisms at the basis of TLS formation, composition, and regulation of immune responses. However, a major challenge remains how to exploit TLS to enhance naïve and treatment-mediated antitumor immune responses. Here, we discuss the current understanding of tumor-associated TLS, preclinical models that can be used to study them, and potential therapeutic interventions to boost TLS formation, with a particular focus on lung cancer research.

Understanding the feasibility of chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic targets against non-small cell lung cancers: an update of resistant responses and recent combinatorial therapies

Despite consistent progress in prompt diagnosis and curative therapies in the last decade, lung cancer (LC) continues to threaten mankind, accounting for nearly twice the casualties compared to prostate, breast, and other cancers. Statistics associate ~25% of 2021 cancer-related deaths with LC, more than 80% of which are explicitly caused by tobacco smoking. Prevailing as small and non-small cell pathologies, with respective occurring frequency of nearly 15% and 80-85%, non-small cell LCs (NSCLCs) are prominently distinguished into lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), subtypes. Since the first use of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor gefitinib for NSCLC treatment in 2002, immense progress has been made for targeted therapies with the next generation of drugs spanning across the chronological generations of small molecule inhibitors. The last two years have overseen the clinical approval of more than 10 therapeutic agents as first-line NSCLC medications. However, uncertain mutational aberrations as well as systemic resistant responses, and abysmal overall survival curtail the combating efficacies. Of late, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) against various molecules including programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) have been demonstrated as reliable LC treatment targets. Keeping these aspects in mind, this review article discusses the success of NSCLC chemo and immunotherapies with their characteristic effectiveness and future perspectives.