title: Ganitumab for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15 - 20% of all lung cancer cases with few advances made in the systemic treatment and outcomes for extensive-stage SCLC. Many strategies have been evaluated over the past 15 years but none of these approaches has resulted in improved survival rates for patients with SCLC. The IGF receptor (IGF-R) pathway represents a potential actionable target in SCLC patients. Indeed, the IGF-R pathway is involved in cancer development and progression and regulates different vital processes including fetal development, growth and metabolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review provides an overview of insulin inhibitors and the strategies undertaken in recent years with SCLC. Specifically, the article discusses ganitumab and its applicability to SCLC patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At present, there is a lack of therapeutic choices for patients with advanced SCLC. Unfortunately, ganitumab, administered in combination with chemotherapy, demonstrated no clinical activity in patients with SCLC, although it could have utility with other cancers. Furthermore, insulin inhibitors may have some utility in the treatment of SCLC and further studies are required to identify subsets of patients most likely to benefit from their use. The authors also believe that it is important to determine the exact role of the IGF pathway in the pathogenesis and propagation of SCLC.
authors.affiliation: Vall d´Hebron University Hospital and Vall d´Hebron Institute of Oncology, Medical Oncology Department , Barcelona , Spain efelip@vhio.net.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Paula Alexandra
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sales Fidalgo
authors.forename: Enriqueta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Felip
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C545764:ganitumab; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1
keywords: IGF receptor; ganitumab; insulin; small-cell lung cancer