Targeted therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer: New insights into regulated cell death combined with immunotherapy

Abstract

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which has a high rate of metastatic spread and drug resistance, is the most common subtype of lung cancer. Therefore, NSCLC patients have a very poor prognosis and a very low chance of survival. Human cancers are closely linked to regulated cell death (RCD), such as apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis. Currently, small-molecule compounds targeting various types of RCD have shown potential as anticancer treatments. Moreover, RCD appears to be a specific part of the antitumor immune response; hence, the combination of RCD and immunotherapy might increase the inhibitory effect of therapy on tumor growth. In this review, we summarize small-molecule compounds used for the treatment of NSCLC by focusing on RCD and pharmacological systems. In addition, we describe the current research status of an immunotherapy combined with an RCD-based regimen for NSCLC, providing new ideas for targeting RCD pathways in combination with immunotherapy for patients with NSCLC in the future.

Keywords: Ferroptosis; apoptosis; immunotherapy; non-small-cell lung cancer; regulated cell death.