title: Chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: who, what, when, why?
abstract: Despite the poor survival of patients with advanced (stage IIIB with pleural effusion or stage IV) non-small-cell lung cancer, the introduction of new chemotherapeutic agents has improved survival and quality of life with reduced toxicity compared with older cisplatin-based therapies. Randomized trials support the use of two-drug combinations for patients of all ages with performance status of 0 to 1. These two-drug combinations should contain at least one new agent. Some of these two-drug combinations may be acceptable in selected patients with a performance status of 2. Newer, targeted therapies hold promise to improve outcome without adding a great deal of additional toxicity.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Cancer Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA. paul.bunn@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bunn
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D002166:Camptothecin; D000093542:Gemcitabine