Triplet combination chemotherapy and targeted therapy regimens.
Current agents for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer include gemcitabine (Gemzar), paclitaxel (Taxol), docetaxel (Taxotere), vinorelbine (Navelbine), and irinotecan (CPT-11, Camptosar). Experimental agents include pemetrexed (LY231514, Alimta) and tirapazamine. Molecular and biological therapies include angiogenesis inhibitors, epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, HER2/neu inhibitors, and inhibitors of ras activation and function. Doublet chemotherapy is currently the standard treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. In the past 2 years, randomized trials have shown that many of the new two-drug combinations used to treat non-small-cell lung cancer have equivalent efficacy. These combinations produce 1-year survival rates of about 35% and 2-year survival rates of about 15%. Toxicity rates vary but are sufficiently low as to make the development of three-drug combinations feasible. Preliminary studies from several phase I and II trials suggest that triplet therapy can improve survival beyond that of double therapy regimens.
Bunn
P A
PA
University of Colorado Cancer Center, Denver, Colorado, USA.
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy