Malignant Pleural Effusion from Lung Cancers with Driver Mutations

Abstract

Purpose of Review The presence of driver mutations in lung cancer determines the natural course, options of specific targeted therapies and therefore prognosis and survival. The current review summarizes the knowledge about malignant pleural effusion (MPE) in lung cancer with driver mutations and the limited literature on this topic. Recent Findings The availability of targeted therapy highly effective in tumor control and reducing pleural effusion implies that a definitive pleural fluid control measure may not be beneficial at the early stage of the treatment. However, resistance to targeted therapies invariably develops, and given the longer survival of this subset of patients, they are subject to a high likelihood of requiring a repeated pleural drainage sometimes along the course of the disease. Summary Intense research effort is needed to inform the optimal approach to malignant pleural effusion in this specific subgroup of patients.