The potential role of insulin-like growth factor receptor inhibitors in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. NSCLC accounts for > 80% of all lung cancers. The treatment of advanced fit NSCLC patients seems to have reached a plateau. Considerable efforts have been initiated to identify new biological agents.


METHODS
Diagnosis of NSCLC histotype is becoming extremely important to address treatment. While non-squamous histology could start to benefit from the administration of several new drugs only recently, non-adenocarcinoma subtype seems to benefit from the administration of figitumumab (CP-751,871) a fully human anti-IGF 1 receptor (IGF-1R) mAb. In this paper, we reviewed the IGF-1R pathway and its inhibitors.


RESULTS
Approaches targeting IGF-1R include small-molecule IGF-1R tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which are in preclinical and early clinical phases of development, and the mAbs, among which figitumumab is being investigated in Phase III trials of advanced NSCLC.


CONCLUSIONS
Figitumumab reported interesting results in the treatment of advanced non-adenocarcinoma NSCLC patients. Overall, in order to administer the optimal treatment to patients, a more definite histological diagnosis is mandatory.
Gridelli
Cesare
C
SG Moscati Hospital, Division of Medical Oncology, Avellino, Italy. cgridelli@libero.it
Rossi
Antonio
A
Bareschino
Maria Anna
MA
Schettino
Clorinda
C
Sacco
Paola Claudia
PC
Maione
Paolo
P
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015195:Drug Design; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1; C525021:figitumumab