Controlling Side Effects from Targeted Drugs in Lung Cancer

GENEVA—Toxicities from targeted agents used in lung cancer differ from those encountered with other drugs but can be managed successfully if recognized early and treated. At the European Lung Cancer Conference, Silvia Novello MD, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences of the University of Turin, Italy, told Oncology Times reporter Peter Goodwin how side effects—including diarrhea, metabolic disturbances and electrolyte imbalances—to treatments targeting EGFR and immune checkpoints have been managed in her clinic, demonstrating that careful planning and vigilance can help deliver new-generation drug regimens on-dose on-time to achieve significant improvements in outcomes.