Vandetanib  for the treatment of lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
VEGF and EGFR are validated pathways for targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Once considered to be separate targets, VEGF and EGFR are now shown to have interconnected downstream pathways, potentiating the effectiveness of their dual signaling inhibition in cancer therapy. Molecules such as vandetanib that inhibit VEGFR and EGFR have also been reported to inhibit other receptors, including RET and additional kinases, and may be beneficial in treating patients with solid tumors.


METHODS
This review covers the significance of targeting VEGF and EGFR in the treatment of NSCLC and the rationale behind their dual inhibition. Clinical trials that evaluate the use of vandetanib in the setting of refractory NSCLC are also explored.


CONCLUSIONS
Vandetanib is currently not approved in the setting of NSCLC. However, its approval for medullary thyroid cancer makes it promising for identifying markers and potentially a NSCLC patient population who will benefit from the treatment.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 432, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Caleb T
CT
Chu
Yvonne H
YH
Sada
Edward S
ES
Kim
D000818:Animals; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
D010880:Piperidines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D066246:ErbB Receptors; C452423:vandetanib