Advanced Squamous Lung Cancer: Therapeutic Options, Future Directions, Unmet Needs and Results of a Monocentric Survey

Abstract

r Squamous cell lung cancer (SqCLC) is challenging to treat according to patients and disease characteristics. r SqCLC is strongly associated to smoking habit and this increases the stigma toward patients affected by this disease. r Immunotherapy has changed the treatment of squamous cell cancer after many years with no relevant changes. r Despite the identification of specific molecular alterations, progress in targeting oncogenic drivers still runs behind adenocarcinoma. r There are not enough resources exclusively dedicated to patients with SqCLC. Lungcancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in worldwide, and NSCLC represents around 85% of all lung cancers. Squamous cell lung cancer (SqCLC) is the second most common subtype and it is challenging to treat. New options have been discovered but progresses are still limited for the lack of 'druggable' mutations. Specific resources for SqCLC are limited and this condition affects treatment and outcomes. This paper describes available and emerging therapeutic options and resources that may help patients to face their disease. We have also performed a monocentric survey collecting information about smoking habit and sense of guilty and analyzed the possibility for patients to find helpful sources for their disease. The results suggest that more materials focused on SqCLC are still needed.

Distinctive roles of syntaxin binding protein 4 and its action target, TP63, in lung squamous cell carcinoma: A theranostic study for the precision medicine

“…Extensive work is underway to expand the treatment options. Among the work in progress, druggable targets speci c to the disease and biomarkers for optimal treatment selection have been intensively researched to develop precision medicine with truly active target drugs (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)20). We have been involved in these researches and identi ed STXBP4 as a possible therapeutic target in LSCC by elucidating its biological function in the malignancy (9,10).…”

“…These ndings are partially validated in clinical practice, although de nitive predictive markers for CDDP, taxane, antiangiogenetic inhibitors and immunecheckpoint inhibitors remain controversial. The use of the immune-checkpoint inhibitor (Pembrolizumab) for metastatic LSCC patients with tumors showing 50% or greater PD-L1 (CD274) is now widely recognized as a standard rst-line therapy (1)(2)(3)30). The putative predictive markers of Ramucirumab-based regimens remain unclear (21), but high-level STMN1 expression was demonstrated as a potent determinant of chemo-resistance and, thus, a poor prognosis in LSCC patients (14).…”

Syntaxin binding protein 4 as a novel therapeutic target and an effective biomarker for better treatment selection in lung squamous cell carcinoma: A theranostic study

“…Extensive work is underway to expand the treatment options. Among the work in progress, druggable targets speci c to the disease and biomarkers for optimal treatment selection have been intensively researched to develop precision medicine with truly active target drugs (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)19). We have been involved in these researches and identi ed STXBP4 as a potent therapeutic target in LSCC by elucidating its biological function in the malignancy (9,10).…”

“…These ndings are partially validated in clinical practice, although de nitive predictive markers for CDDP, taxane, antiangiogenetic inhibitors and immunecheckpoint inhibitors remain controversial. The use of the immune-checkpoint inhibitor (Pembrolizumab) for metastatic LSCC patients with tumors showing 50% or greater PD-L1 (CD274) is now widely recognized as a standard rst-line therapy (1)(2)(3)20). The putative predictive markers of Ramucirumab-based regimens remain unclear (21), but high-level STMN1 expression was demonstrated as a potent determinant of chemo-resistance and, thus, a poor prognosis in LSCC patients (13).…”

“…Despite recent advances in therapeutics, lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains a challenging disease to treat (1)(2)(3)(4). The advent of immunecheckpoint inhibitors along with several active target agents such as anti-angiogenic agents has altered LSCC treatment to some extent, but treatment options remain limited.…”