The role of high-dose chemotherapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
The literature on high-dose chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with autologous bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation does not - as of yet - provide evidence of relevant benefits. At the same time, the significant risks of treatment-related morbidity and mortality associated with dose-intensified chemotherapy in this vulnerable patient population are increasingly recognized. Whether the advent of new cytotoxic agents such as the Taxans or newer Topoisomerase inhibitors will help to improve the hitherto unsatisfying results of high-dose chemotherapy in NSCLC, remains to be determined. The few ongoing studies in the area strive to examine such newer drug-combinations in a multimodality treatment concept combining neo-adjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation with surgery and adjuvant thoracic radiation therapy.
Fetscher
Sebastian
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, City Hospital South, City Hospital South, Kronforder Allee 71/73, D-23560, Lübeck, Germany. s.fetscher@khs-online.de
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011379:Prognosis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006133:Growth Substances