EXPLORING NATURAL COMPOUNDS AS SAFER ALTERNATIVES OF CONVENTIONAL DRUGS FOR NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Abstract

Cancer has become a major global challenge for the healthcare sector and requires extensive research to understand its causes and treatment. Various therapeutic approaches have been developed to regulate cancer cell growth and proliferation, including targeted therapies. Lung cancer is globally the most detected cancer. It is the major reason for cancer-related deaths. Tobacco smoking is considered to be one of the main causes associated with lung cancer, though non-tobacco contributors such as chronic lung diseases, occupational and environmental exposures, and behavioral patterns also play a role. Molecular alterations like EGFR mutations, ALK and ROS1 rearrangements, KRAS mutations, and RET rearrangements are crucial for understanding lung cancer biology. These genetic alterations provide insights into targeted treatment options and personalized therapy approaches. Most therapies primarily focus on inhibiting kinases associated with the activation of these molecular targets. Different tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting these targets have been approved by FDA and are widely used for treatment of lung cancer. But some of these drugs bind to the off targets and cause side effects. So, the aim of this study is to find the off targets of the drug and find effective natural alternatives of the drug which does not cause any such side effects so that safe and effective treatments can be discovered.