title: The PI3k inhibitors: new hopes in the battle against advanced NSCLC.
abstract: In terms of both incidence and mortality, lung tumor is the most common cancer in the world today. Among lung tumors, 80% are classified as non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are mostly diagnosed at an advanced stage (either locally advanced or metastatic disease). Platinum-based doublet chemotherapy, the standard treatment for advanced NSCLC, has reached a plateau of effectiveness and achieves mostly partial responses in only 30%-40% of patients and a modest survival increase. Thus, the search for new molecularly targeted therapies is mandatory. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is frequently over activated in human cancers playing a critical role both in the initiation and progression of NSCLC. Activating mutations of this pathway play a role in the development of resistance to chemotherapy and to the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) erlotinib and gefitinib. These mutations are observed in 2-5 % of non-squamous NSCLC and 8-10 % of squamous NSCLC. In this paper, we describe the available data and the possible future role of PI3k inhibitors in the treatment of advanced NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, S.G.Moscati Hospital of Avellino, C.da Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola Claudia
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, S.G.Moscati Hospital of Avellino, C.da Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maione
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, S.G.Moscati Hospital of Avellino, C.da Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, S.G.Moscati Hospital of Avellino, C.da Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Anna
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barecshino
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, S.G.Moscati Hospital of Avellino, C.da Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sgambato
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, S.G.Moscati Hospital of Avellino, C.da Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Casaluce
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, S.G. Moscati Hospital of Avellino, C. da Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.affiliation: USLL5, Cittadella (Padova), Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palazzolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, S.G.Moscati Hospital of Avellino, C.da Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, S.G.Moscati Hospital of Avellino, C.da Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, S.G.Moscati Hospital of Avellino, C.da Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gridelli
mesh_terms: D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors