title: Anti-EGFR and antiangiogenic monoclonal antibodies in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: In recent years, several clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy and safety of biological therapies in lung cancer. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the axis vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF/VEGFR) are targeted by small molecules and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), especially in non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  
  The current state of the art of anti-EGFR and antiangiogenic monoclonal antibodies in metastatic NSCLC is reviewed and discussed.
  
  
  
  Bevacizumab and cetuximab are the most studied mAbs in NSCLC, but only bevacizumab is in clinical practice in the first-line setting. Necitumumab is a new anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody that improves survival when combined to cisplatin/gemcitabine chemotherapy and has been approved in first-line advanced NSCLC. Ramucirumab, an antiangiogenic drug binding with high affinity to VEGFR-2, improves the results of chemotherapy alone when administered with docetaxel and has been approved in second-line setting. Moreover, the novel combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib is very promising for the treatment of patients with NSCLC harbouring EGFR mutations. The association of antiangiogenic mAbs and immunotherapy is under investigation too.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Experimental Medicine , University 'Sapienza' , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Losanno
authors.affiliation: b Division of Medical Oncology , S.G. Moscati Hospital , Avellino , Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: b Division of Medical Oncology , S.G. Moscati Hospital , Avellino , Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maione
authors.affiliation: c Division of Pharmacy , S.G. Moscati Hospital , Avellino , Italy.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.affiliation: b Division of Medical Oncology , S.G. Moscati Hospital , Avellino , Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gridelli
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000096662:Ramucirumab
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D000096662:Ramucirumab; C527969:necitumumab; C512478:EGFR protein, human
keywords: EGFR; NSCLC; VEGF; VEGFR; bevacizumab; cetuximab; monoclonal antibodies; necitumumab; ramucirumab