LAUSR

Pharmacotherapy for lung cancer has changed considerably in recent years. In the 2000s, the discovery of driver genes triggered the discovery of accurate predictors of the therapeutic efficacy of molecular-targeted drugs. Additionally, recent studies have shown the effectiveness and safety of using angiogenesis suppressants and new cytotoxic anticancer drugs for distinct histological subdivisions. Subsequently, a number of driver genes were discovered, and molecular-targeted drugs were marketed. In this era, these drugs have been classified based on the genetic abnormalities they target. With the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors against molecules such as programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), tumors are being classified according to their expression of PD-1 and PD-L1, increasing the complexities in the algorithms of drug selection and molecular testing. The results of many important clinical trials led to the establishment of various treatment modalities, which have resulted in the selection of better treatment strategies. The development of biomarkers and novel pharmaceuticals has dramatically transformed the pharmacotherapy of lung cancer. Traditionally, the 5-year survival rate for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was reported to be approximately 1–3% (1). In contrast, among driver genepositive patients, the median survival was approximately 3 years, and the 5-year survival rate extended to 30% (1). Even in cases without driver gene mutations, the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors has resulted in the 5-year survival rate increasing to more than 15% (2). However, these are the results of clinical trials, and actual clinical practice includes patients that differ from the standard patient population enrolled in clinical studies. There is little information available on the best treatment modalities for distinct patient populations, such as those who exhibit poor performance status, those who are elderly, or those with brain metastases, for whom the standard treatment regimens (e.g., platinum combination therapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy) are deemed unsuitable. Thus, in this Research Topic, we aimed to collect research tailored to these distinct patient populations and discuss novel studies that pinpoint special molecular subtypes of NSCLC. We were excited to receive 59 contributions, and 31 articles authored by more than 260 researchers from