A paradigm shift in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death for men and women worldwide. Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers. Systemic chemotherapy is a cornerstone of treatment in the management of stage IV NSCLC. First-line chemotherapy typically consists of a platinum-based treatment. The optimum approach to long-term treatment beyond 4 to 6 cycles of chemotherapy is still evolving. Second-line chemotherapy given at the time of disease progression has shown clear survival advantages when compared with best supportive care alone. With the recent increase in the number of active and more tolerable agents available to treat NSCLC, there is renewed interest in the role of continuation of antineoplastic agents (continuation maintenance) or switching to a different agent (switch maintenance) after first-line chemotherapy. This case-based review discusses the role of maintenance chemotherapy in the long-term management of advanced NSCLC.
Section of Hematology-Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, USA. svarug@lsuhsc.edu
Shibu
S
Varughese
K Saad
KS
Jahangir
Catherine E
CE
Simpson
Brian C
BC
Boulmay
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D060046:Maintenance Chemotherapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel