title: Drug Eluting Stents for Malignant Airway Obstruction: A Critical Review of the Literature.
abstract: Lung cancer being the most prevalent malignancy in men and the 3(rd) most frequent in women is still associated with dismal prognosis due to advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Novel targeted therapies are already on the market and several others are under investigation. However non-specific cytotoxic agents still remain the cornerstone of treatment for many patients. Central airways stenosis or obstruction may often complicate and decrease quality of life and survival of these patients. Interventional pulmonology modalities (mainly debulking and stent placement) can alleviate symptoms related to airways stenosis and improve the quality of life of patients. Mitomycin C and sirolimus have been observed to assist a successful stent placement by reducing granuloma tissue formation. Additionally, these drugs enhance the normal tissue ability against cancer cell infiltration. In this mini review we will concentrate on mitomycin C and sirolimus and their use in stent placement.
authors.affiliation: 1. Medical Clinic I, ''Fuerth'' Hospital, University of Erlangen, Fuerth, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hohenforst-Schmidt
authors.affiliation: 2. Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, ``G. Papanikolaou`` General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.affiliation: 2. Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, ``G. Papanikolaou`` General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pitsiou
authors.affiliation: 3. Department of General Surgery, Coburg Clinic, Coburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Linsmeier
authors.affiliation: 2. Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, ``G. Papanikolaou`` General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Drosos
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsavlis
authors.affiliation: 2. Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, ``G. Papanikolaou`` General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kioumis
authors.affiliation: 2. Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, ``G. Papanikolaou`` General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papadaki
authors.affiliation: 4. Department of Interventional Pneumology, Ruhrlandklinik, University Hospital Essen, University of Essen-Duisburg, Tueschener Weg 40, 45239 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Freitag
authors.affiliation: 2. Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, ``G. Papanikolaou`` General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsiouda
authors.affiliation: 5. Division of Interventional Pulmonology & Medical Oncology, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Western Regional Medical Center, Goodyear, AZ.
authors.forename: J Francis
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: 6. Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Interventional Pulmonology, National Naval Medical Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.affiliation: 7. Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simoff
authors.affiliation: 8. Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, ``Saint Luke`` Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sachpekidis
authors.affiliation: 8. Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, ``Saint Luke`` Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Kosmas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsakiridis
authors.affiliation: 9. Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Clinic for Thoracic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zaric
authors.affiliation: 10. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sheikh Zayed Cardiovascular & Critical Care Tower, Baltimore, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Lonny
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yarmus
authors.affiliation: 11. Oncology Department, ``Interbalkan`` European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baka
authors.affiliation: 12. 1st Respiratory Medicine Department of National University of Athens, "Sotiria" General Hospital Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Grigoris
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stratakos
authors.affiliation: 1. Medical Clinic I, ''Fuerth'' Hospital, University of Erlangen, Fuerth, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rittger
keywords: pharmacology; stents.