Roman Perez-Soler, MD

Roman Perez-Soler, MD, professor in the Department of Medicine (Oncology) and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, and chief of the Department of Medicine Division of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, discusses the use of MET inhibitors as treatment of patients with lung cancer and the evolving role of targeted therapy in the lung cancer setting.

There will be different applications for MET compounds that are approved for patients with 

 alterations, according to Perez-Soler. MET inhibition has been discussed as an option after patients become resistant to other therapy options, such as in patients with other alterations. 

 has been identified as an alteration that drives tumor growth, as well as a mechanism of resistance. This needs more investigation since researchers have seen activity with MET inhibition so far.

Perez-Soler says in the field of targeted therapies, he has seen new compounds work in most patients, but eventually some develop resistance, so many studies are based on understanding that resistance. Other alterations will receive a method of investigation similar to what has been done with EGFR inhibitors, where investigators found a mechanism of resistance and then created a targeted therapy for it. Some of these will be combinations, the same way there were compelling data for chemotherapy and an EGFR inhibitor rather than the targeted therapy alone in the subset of patients with 

 mutations. This method could also be applied to other alterations in these subpopulations.

Videos

Roman Perez-Soler, MD, discusses the use of MET inhibitors as treatment of patients with lung cancer and the evolving role of targeted therapy in the lung cancer setting.

Exploring the Use of MET Inhibition and Targeted Therapies in Lung Cancer

Roman Perez-Soler, MD, professor in the Department of Medicine (Oncology) and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, and chief of the Department of Medicine Division of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, discusses how 

 mutations have evolved and impacted the treatment of patients with lung cancer.

Several compounds are now being used to target 

 in patients with lung cancer, says Perez-Soler. It is exciting to have found a mutation in a sizeable subgroup that drives tumor growth. Capmatinib (Tabrecta), in particular, received its approval from the FDA in May 2020 for the treatment of patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer who harbor a 

These specific compounds for MET can be used in the frontline setting, which was similarly observed with compounds for other targets. The 

 mutation has a similar story to others, such as the 

 inhibitor that has a number of different compounds targeting EGFR. According to Perez-Soler, new technology can help physicians identify a compound specific to MET for these patients so that they achieve response rates of 60% to 80% and progression-free survival medians around 10 to 12 months.

Roman Perez-Soler, MD, discusses how MET mutations have evolved and impacted the treatment of patients with lung cancer.

MET Target Excites Treatment Paradigm for Patients With Lung Cancer

Roman Perez-Soler, MD, chairman and chief, department of medical oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, deputy director, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, talks about non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors becoming resistant&nbsp;to chemotherapy and first-line treatment.&nbsp;

Perez-Soler says that usually NSCLC tumors become resistant within 2 to 3 months, or grow back with a resistance to the same drug initially used as treatment. He adds that once that occurs, it could be time to switch to immunotherapies, which he believes could also be an effective front-line treatment by themselves or with chemotherapies due to their low toxicities.

Roman Perez-Soler, MD, talks about NSCLC tumors becoming resistance to chemotherapy and first-line treatment.

Dr. Roman Perez-Soler on Treating NSCLC After First-Line Treatments 

Roman Perez-Soler, MD, chairman and chief, department of medical oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, deputy director, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, discusses the challenges oncologists still face in lung cancer.

Roman Perez-Soler, MD | Authors

Articles

Exploring the Use of MET Inhibition and Targeted Therapies in Lung Cancer

MET Target Excites Treatment Paradigm for Patients With Lung Cancer

Dr. Roman Perez-Soler on Treating NSCLC After First-Line Treatments

Challenges Oncologists Face in Treating Lung Cancer