Cancer is derived from the Latin word for “crab”, so the name was originally chosen with the disease’s prevalence in humans in mind. Among them, lung cancer has the highest incidence and mortality rate. However, in the enduring battle against lung cancer, humans have mastered many ways to fight it! Where does lung cancer come from? Actually, everyone lives with cancer, such as the original oncogene, don’t panic, it is a normal gene. The cell growth of human body is a dynamic balance, and the maintenance of this balance requires the cooperation of proto-oncogene and tumor suppressor gene, just like a car needs the “brake” and “throttle” to run smoothly. Once these genetic loci mutate under the stimulation, the cells grow in a disorderly manner and continue to accumulate like a snowball to form tumors. Smoking, air pollution, ionizing radiation …… all of these may damage the respiratory system, and of all the adverse consequences, the most unpleasant one is lung cancer, of which non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 85% of all lung cancers, so this type of lung cancer is the focus of medical attention. ”Simple, brutal” and effective surgical treatment In ancient times, cancer was described as a lump or tumor. Obviously, direct excision was the easiest way to think of a cure. But it was not until the 19th century, when anesthesia techniques, aseptic techniques …… etc. matured, that surgery became the main way to treat cancer. To this day, surgical removal of the primary lesion is still an effective method if the diagnosis is obtained at an early stage . However, not all patients have the opportunity to undergo surgery. More than 50% of patients with non-small cell carcinoma are already in the advanced stage of lung cancer when diagnosed, with multiple metastases throughout the body, and by then they have completely missed the opportunity for surgical treatment. According to the International Union Against Cancer, less than 40% of patients have the opportunity and condition to undergo surgery, and more than 60% of lung cancer patients have to find another way out due to their advanced disease or physical condition. This reality has forced us to look for alternative treatment options. The use of gas, biological weapons, etc. during World War II has, by chance, given the medical community a new way of thinking – chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the action of chemical drugs on the anabolism of tumor cells, thus acting to inhibit tumor growth. Chemotherapy is one of the easily achievable treatment modalities for patients with advanced disease who cannot undergo surgery. However, chemotherapy drugs kill normal cells and immune cells along with the tumor cells, so strong side effects are inevitable. Radiation therapy is used to kill tumor cells with radiation. Most of the radiotherapy treatments are effective and can significantly consolidate the efficacy of chemotherapy or surgery and prolong the survival of lung cancer patients. Compared with chemotherapy, radiotherapy is more accurate in localization and less damage to normal tissues. However, local treatment also has limitations, because the irradiation area is small and the integrity of the irradiated area cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, radiotherapy is often combined with surgery and chemotherapy. This comprehensive treatment plan requires accurate assessment and judgment of the patient’s condition to be effective. Targeted therapy is the best way to hit the target. Radiotherapy is like “hitting a target blindfolded” and has a low hit rate. The advent of targeted drugs has greatly improved the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment. Once the cancer-causing molecular targets are clearly identified, cancer cells in human body are like targets with markers, which are easier to be found by snipers and killed in one shot. For example, the fusion gene EML4-ALK is a new target discovered by chance, and more importantly, the occurrence rate of this fusion site in non-small cell lung cancer is as high as 3-5%. Attacking this locus will bring breakthroughs in targeted lung cancer therapy. The promising prospects have led scientists to work on ALK inhibitors specifically targeting this locus. However, because there are many molecular targets, some on cancer cells and some on their signaling pathways, researchers need to clarify the relationship between this target and the “cancer” before they can find the most appropriate way to inhibit it. It is like trying to conquer a large army, besides confronting the enemy, cutting off food supply and communication lines are all effective ways. The ultimate goal of treatment is to combat cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. This individualized targeted treatment program is also bringing lung cancer treatment into a new era. Doctors can get significant therapeutic results by genetically screening patients before prescribing, and selecting relevant drugs clinically approved for use for patients with positive mutations in relevant genetic targets such as ALK. Targeted therapy has become a hot spot in the treatment of advanced lung cancer. For patients with any stage of non-small cell lung cancer, as long as the oncogenic targets are clearly identified, targeted therapy is the preferred treatment option because it acts on tumor cells more precisely, with less impact on normal cells, and the toxicity and adverse effects are unparalleled by radiotherapy. Therefore, for better treatment, we need better genetic screening methods and more genes and targeted drugs for lung cancer to be discovered. The battle against lung cancer is a long and difficult one, and it is obviously too arrogant to say that it will be completely eradicated in a short time. But through these actions and efforts, we can at least get more chances to save our health and prolong our lives in a limited time.