Targeted Gene Therapy : A Molecular Breakthrough in the Treatment of Lung Cancers

Abstract

Lung cancer is a non-communicable disease that affects millions of individuals around the globe. The Thoracic Oncology Department at Karmanos Cancer Institute aims to attack cancer at its core through multiple forms of treatment and therapy. This Senior Individualized Project aims to discuss my personal experiences and knowledge gained from shadowing a physician assistant in thoracic oncology at Karmanos. It also focuses on a new line of treatment called targeted therapy has benefited healthcare providers and patients in the treatment of lung cancer. This form of therapy aims to precisely eliminate cancer cells through specific protein connections. The expressions of anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti PD-L1) and resistance to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EFGR) are important pathways used in targeted therapy to destroy and stop the spread of lung cancer.