title: Personalized treatment of early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer: the challenging role of EGFR inhibitors.
abstract: Adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy significantly improves outcomes of completely resected early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, its effect on overall survival is limited and may be unsuitable for many patients due to toxicity. Targeted therapies and individualization of adjuvant treatment offer the potential to improve curability and extend survival of these patients while decreasing toxicity. Here we review Phase II and III studies examining the role of EGF receptor inhibitors, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors and the monoclonal antibody cetuximab, as adjuvant therapy in resected patients or as part of multimodality treatment for stage III NSCLC. Recent results from genotype-directed adjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitors trials including early-stage NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations are promising, but more data are needed to support their use in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariacarmela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santarpia
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Altavilla
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pitini
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosell
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000068818:Cetuximab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D057285:Precision Medicine; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab
keywords: EGF receptor inhibitors; EGFR mutations; NSCLC; adjuvant therapy; non-small-cell lung cancer; personalized treatment