title: [Anti-angiogenic agents of lung cancer].
abstract: Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth; therefore, inhibition of angiogenesis is considered a promising treatment strategy. Many signaling pathways, such as the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)pathway, the Notch pathway, and the integrin pathway, are associated with each other in a complex manner; the VEGF signaling pathway plays a central role in angiogenesis. Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that specifically targets VEGF-A. Two large phase III trials, ECOG4599 and the AVAiL study, showed that bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy improves the outcome of patients with nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer. Based on these results, bevacizumab is currently the only anti-angiogenic agent approved as the first-line of treatment for advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer in Japan. Many anti-angiogenic agents are currently in clinical development for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. These agents show antitumor activity by binding to a ligand and inhibiting the activation of receptor tyrosine kinases. However, bevacizumab is currently the only agent that extends overall survival. This review mainly discusses the results of a recent phase III trial with bevacizumab. We also discuss the results of a recent trial with new anti-angiogenic agents.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Respiratory Medicine, Shizuoka Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Kazushige
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wakuda
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A