title: New targets for non-small-cell lung cancer therapy.
abstract: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of malignancy-related deaths in the USA, regardless of advances in therapeutic agents. Non-small-cell lung cancer demonstrates great molecular heterogeneity in which several pathways are simultaneously active leading to tumorigenesis. Novel agents targeting specific pathways associated with apoptosis, cell proliferation, angiogenesis and other mechanisms have emerged as a separate and unique therapeutic class delivering promising results in a vast number of malignancies. This innovative class of agents has been studied in advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer and, although some agents have demonstrated a clinical benefit, the overall course of the disease remains relatively unchanged, still holding a poor overall prognosis. Most of these agents have been shown to be 'cytostatic', inducing more stable disease rather than objective responses. Thus, the entrance of these novel agents into our drug armamentarium seems to be more attractive in combination with conventional chemotherapy agents based on additive or synergistic response seen with this combined approach. Herein, we review the most relevant clinical data using these novel targeted agents either alone or in combination with chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami Miller's School of Medicine, The William Harrington Latin American Training Program (WHLTP), Division of Hematology - Medical Oncology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1475 NW 12 Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Manrique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Eloy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roman
authors.forename: Edgardo S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Luis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Raez
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors