Metastatic Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an advanced stage of lung cancer that has spread, or metastasized, to other parts of the body. In this stage of the disease, the cancer has spread beyond the lungs and is often difficult to treat. Metastatic NSCLC is the leading cause of death from cancer among both men and women in the United States and the rest of the world.

NSCLC is classified into two major categories — small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer progresses quickly and is more responsive to treatment, while non-small cell lung cancer tends to be slower-progressing and is more difficult to treat. Non-small cell lung cancer is further divided into three subgroups — adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer refers to the spread of non-small cell lung cancer that is not squamous cell carcinoma.

The most common symptoms of metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer include:

Shortness of breath
Persistent cough
Chest pain
Fatigue
Weight loss
Hoarseness
Bone pain

Treatment of metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer is usually a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The goal of treatment is to slow the progression of the disease and improve the overall quality of life of the patient. In some cases, targeted therapy may also be used. Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that works by targeting specific genes or proteins that are associated with the growth and spread of cancer cells.

While treatment can be successful in some cases, metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer is typically a very challenging to treat. Due to the advanced state of the disease, prognosis is generally poor, with most patients living less than one year after diagnosis.