title: An overview of angiogenesis inhibitors in Phase II studies for non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiogenesis plays a major role in the development and progression of solid tumors, including lung cancer. Although some anti-angiogenic agents have demonstrated a statistically significant advantage in terms of primary outcome in clinical trials, the reliable clinical benefit obtained with these drugs is still questionable and often quantitatively limited. To better clarify this complex scenario and definitively establish the concrete benefits of anti-angiogenic strategies in lung cancer, several clinical trials have been conducted with others currently ongoing.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, the authors highlight the data ascertained from Phase II trials conducted in NSCLC patients who are treated with recently discovered innovative anti-angiogenic molecules. The authors also discuss older widely investigated anti-angiogenic drugs that have been repurposed or used in different contexts and combinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Globally considered, the results of the countless clinical trials evaluating anti-angiogenic agents suggest that angiogenesis (with its molecules and pathways) represents a non-ideal druggable process for several biologically relevant reasons. Consequently, it is important that the conceptual development and clinical validation of anti-angiogenic agents is different from those employed for traditional target agents (i.e., erlotinib, gefitinib and crizotinib). Indeed, the development and validation of these agents still represents a major challenge for modern scientific research.
authors.affiliation: University of Verona Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Medical Oncology , P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37124, Verona , Italy +390 458 128 124 ; +390 458 027 410 ; emilio.bria@univr.it.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilotto
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novello
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Peretti
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinspergher
authors.forename: Ludovica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciuffreda
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milella
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carbognin
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vavalà
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caccese
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tortora
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bria
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D015195:Drug Design; D058492:Drug Repositioning; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Phase II; angiogenesis; lung cancer; review