title: Biological agents alone or in combination as second-line therapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: systematic review of randomized studies.
abstract: The only approved agents for second-line therapy in unselected non-small-cell lung cancer are docetaxel and pemetrexed (chemotherapies) and erlotinib (targeted therapies). Several new molecular drugs have now entered clinical trials and are being compared with approved agents (e.g., vandetanib). Alternative pathways are also being explored to overcome resistance to established agents (c-MET and ALK inhibitors), and predictive factors are now crucial for the selection of drug and of patients (e.g., EGFR mutations). Better patient selection permits second-line treatment to be tailored according to disease identity, which confers a particular benefit in certain subgroups of patients. In this review, the authors examine existing trials comparing targeted therapies with the standard of care as second-line therapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, Oncology Department, Piazzale Ospedale 1, 24047, Treviglio (BG), Italy. faupe@libero.it
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petrelli
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Borgonovo
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabiddu
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghilardi
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barni
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products