Radiosensitization with chemotherapeutic agents.
The combination of low-dose chemotherapy and thoracic radiotherapy is one of the treatments proposed in an attempt to improve the prognosis of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Chemotherapeutic drugs administered at subtoxic doses act by means of a radiosensitization mechanism. Platinum-derived drugs have been historically used as radiosensitizers, without cumulative unacceptable toxicity. Many new chemotherapeutic agents, which have shown promising results in terms of disease control in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, show also a radiosensitizing activity. However, the optimal dose and timing of such drugs when used concurrently to radiotherapy are unknown. This paper will review the results obtained using new chemotherapeutic drugs as radiosensitizers.
Caffo
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Department of Medical Oncology, Santa Chiara Hospital, 38100 Trento, Italy. caffo@tn.apss.tn.it
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077143:Docetaxel; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043823:Taxoids; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077146:Irinotecan; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D002166:Camptothecin; D000093542:Gemcitabine