About NSCLC

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the two major types of lung cancer. The other major type is small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Lung cancer (both small-cell and non-small cell) is the second most common cancer in both men and women,1 and is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide.2

  • NSCLC accounts for approximately 85% of lung cancers.3

  • NSCLC is typically diagnosed in patients over the age of 65 and the average age at diagnosis is 70.2

  • Roughly 70% of patients with NSCLC have locally advanced or metastatic disease when they are diagnosed.1 This means that their cancer has spread from the site of origin.2

  • Many NSCLCs are associated with mutations in the KRAS gene, also called KRAS-positive.

  • KRAS mutations are present in approximately 25% of NSCLC adenocarcinomas (cancer that begins in glandular cells found in the tissues that line the lungs and other organs).1

  • One of the most common types of KRAS mutations is G12V, which are present in approximately 7% of NSCLC.4

  • BRAF mutations are present in 4% of NSCLC cases and are more common in women with NSCLC.

Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until they have spread. Symptoms may include:

  • A cough that doesn’t go away
  • Chest discomfort or pain
  • Wheezing
  • Blood in sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs)
  • Hoarseness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss for no known reason
  • Fatigue
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Swelling in the face and/or veins in the neck

Smoking is the major risk factor for NSCLC. Other risk factors may include:

  • Exposure to secondhand smoke
  • Exposure to chemicals in the workplace such as asbestos and arsenic
  • Exposure to radiation
  • Living in an area with air pollution
  • Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • A family history of lung cancer

  • Treatment options for NSCLC include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.6
  • Mutated forms of the RAS gene are present in about 30% of all human cancers.

Currently available options for patients with KRAS- and BRAF-positive (KRAS+) (BRAF+) NSCLC, a type of RAS mutation, are associated with resistance and toxicity. Other treatment options with potential to address these challenges are currently being investigated.

Download PDF

Download this information

Click the button to download and print information on NSCLC to discuss with your doctor.

Download PDF

1 Roman, Marta, et al. KRAS oncogene in non-small cell lung cancer: clinical perspectives on the treatment of an old target. Molecular Cancer (2018) 17:33.
2 American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Lung Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed December 9, 2020.
3 Molina, Julian R., Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Treatment, and Survivorship. National Institute of Health. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2718421/pdf/nihms121782.pdf. Accessed December 9, 2020.
4 TCGA PanCancer Atlas (cBioPortal analysis)
5 American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html. Accessed December 9, 2020.
6 Baines, A. T., Xu, D., & Der, C. J. (2011). Inhibition of Ras for cancer treatment: the search continues. Future medicinal chemistry, 3(14), 1787–1808. https://doi.org/10.4155/fmc.11.121.