title: Targeted therapies for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: The incorporation of targeted agents has considerably improved the management of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) over the last years. The main targets include the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Currently available agents with established role in NSCLC include the anti-EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) erlotinib/gefitinib and the anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody bevacizumab. Moreover, several other agents targeting critical pathways in lung carcinogenesis are currently under preclinical or clinical evaluation. This review presents an update on the role of targeted agents in advanced NSCLC. In addition, we present the main clinical studies investigating the activity of these agents in NSCLC and we provide recent data with respect to future therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Patras University Hospital, 26500 Rion-Patras, Greece. istarakis@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Starakis
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nikolakopoulos
authors.forename: Elias E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Mazokopakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D066246:ErbB Receptors