Chemotherapy of advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Until recently the role of chemotherapy in NSCLC has generally been questio ned. Major concerns included marginal activity, considerable toxicity and h igh cost of this treatment. There has, however, been increasing evidence fr om individual studies and meta-analyses that chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC is able to increase survival and improve quality of life. In the past few years a series of active drugs (paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, vinorel bine, topotecan and irinotecan) with novel mechanisms of action and favoura ble toxicity profiles have been developed. These agents appear to hold the promise of added therapeutic benefit. In consequence, chemotherapy has curr ently been considered an important part of the standard treatment in select ed patients with advanced NSCLC. Despite recent developments, treatment out comes in advanced NSCLC remain far from satisfactory, and new effective mea ns are desperately needed if more patients are to enjoy the prospects of lo ng-term survival.