Innovative treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer remains the most frequent and most lethal cancer worldwide. Non -small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises the vast majority of the histolog ical types. Surgery remains the standard therapy for early stage disease bu t for advanced stage disease, modern treatment is unsatisfactory However, d uring the past ten years, improvements in response and survival have been s een with the use of newer chemotherapy regimens. Early studies of neoadjuva nt (pre-operative) chemotherapy for resectable stage III patients have show n promising results. For patients with non-resectable NSCLC platinum-based doublets are now established as first-line treatment, either alone or in co mbination with radiotherapy. Innovative non-platinum based combinations are actively being evaluated. The most promising non-platinum agents at this t ime include gemcitabine, paclitaxel, docetaxel, irinotecan and vinore-Ibine . These agents appear to be effective as single agents and in combinations and also have improved toxicity profiles. Several other systemic approaches are under active evaluation; the most promising areas include anti-angioge nesis agents, immunotoxins, interleukins, vaccines and molecular therapy.