Maintenance chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer.
Currently, platinum-based combination chemotherapy is the standard first-line chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Historically, platinum-based chemotherapy has been recommended for up to six cycles even for responders, and second-line chemotherapy has been considered when disease progression is confirmed. In spite of extensive investigations into maintenance chemotherapy, no positive data have been obtained; however, the results of recent clinical trials suggest both the safety and efficacy of maintenance chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC, although it is still controversial. In this review, we summarize the major clinical trials of maintenance chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC, and discuss its clinical validity and present future perspectives.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. ekim@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Young Hak
YH
Kim
Michiaki
M
Mishima
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents