title: Recent clinical developments and rationale for combining targeted agents in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
abstract: While chemotherapy has been the standard of care for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), efforts have shifted toward evaluating novel targeted agents in an attempt to improve outcome. These targeted agents are directed toward key components in several signalling pathways such as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-IR). There is also increasing interest in using combinations of targeted agents to inhibit more than one pathway; for example, inhibition of VEGFR + EGFR and VEGFR + PDGFR + EGFR. Further investigation is needed to identify the most appropriate combinations of these targeted agents in select patient subgroups, and to define optimal treatment doses to thereby achieve the best therapeutic index. This review outlines the rationale for combining targeted agents for the treatment of advanced NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, 500 University Drive, CH72, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. cbelani@psu.edu
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Belani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goss
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blumenschein
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D011799:Quinazolines; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; C525021:figitumumab