title: Other compounds and targets in non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: It has become increasingly apparent in recent years that a therapeutic plateau has been reached for patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with conventional cytotoxic agents. As a result, investigators have directed their efforts toward the development of treatments encompassing novel targeted agents. Apoptosis is one of many cellular pathways currently under investigation as a therapeutic target for the treatment of NSCLC. Anti-inflammatory agents, including cyclooxygenase inhibitors, have been shown to inhibit apoptosis and appear promising based on preclinical studies. However, several phase II studies indicate that this therapeutic strategy is unlikely to be successful. In contrast, the proteosome inhibitor bortezomib has shown promise in preliminary studies, and further efforts to elucidate the role this agent may play in the treatment of NSCLC are ongoing. Agonists of the tumor necrosis factor-related, apoptosis-inducing ligand have also entered into early clinical studies in patients with NSCLC. Further studies will be needed to fully clarify how agents targeting the apoptotic pathway can be used in the treatment of NSCLC, but the results of current clinical trials suggest that certain agents may be active.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Victoria_Villaflor@rsh.net
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villaflor
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonomi
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069286:Bortezomib; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D001897:Boronic Acids; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D011719:Pyrazines; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069286:Bortezomib