Recent developments of targeted therapies in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a lethal disease with poor prognosis. The main percentage of NSCLC patients are diagnosed to have an advanced disease. Standard treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, has apparently reached a plateau of effectiveness in improving survival of advanced NSCLC patients.

New avenues for second-line treatment of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.

Platinum-based doublets are the standard first-line therapy for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, with approximately a third of patients obtaining an objective response with first-line chemotherapy and another 20-30% achieving temporary disease stabilization. However, all patients inevitably experience disease progression. Three agents are approved for treating patients who progress after one prior regimen: docetaxel, pemetrexed and erlotinib.

New insights in drug development for the non-small cell lung cancer therapy.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a major problem worldwide. Since most patients with NSCLC have advanced disease at diagnosis, to date, chemotherapy, with third-generation platinum-based doublets, represents the standard of care. However, a plateau has been reached with the use of cytotoxic chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC.

Erlotinib in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an essential role in normal cell growth and differentiation, and is involved in tumour proliferation and survival. EGFR overexpression is a common feature in solid malignancies, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and is associated with poor clinical prognosis. Erlotinib is a small-molecule inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase, showing a significant improvement in median survival, quality of life and related symptoms in an unselected population of advanced NSCLC patients in the second- or third-line setting.

Three cases of long-lasting tumor control with erlotinib after progression with gefitinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: We report the cases of three patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer responding to erlotinib after progression under gefitinib treatment.

Methods: Three never-smoker women with advanced lung adenocarcinoma, two pretreated with chemotherapy and with gefitinib and one with gefitinib alone, received erlotinib in a daily dose of 150 mg. All three patients had disease progression and had achieved tumor control with gefitinib.

Informal caregiving burden in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: the HABIT study.

Introduction: This study's aim was to assess economic data regarding the home assistance burden for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in Italy.

Patients And Methods: One hundred four NSCLC patients in second-line chemotherapy (2LC) or in supportive therapy (ST) were enrolled in 18 Italian oncology departments and were observed for 3 months. The main caregiver's workload was assessed monthly by a task scale; other caregivers' activities were also registered.

Sorafenib and sunitinib in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Despite the optimization of chemotherapy regimens, treatment outcomes for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are still considered to be disappointing. Thus, clinical research of new treatment strategies is warranted. Several targeted agents have been introduced into clinical trials in NSCLC, but to date, only a few of these new agents can offer hope of a substantial impact on the natural history of the disease.

Screening for lung cancer: New horizons?

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. At present, the only high rate of cure therapy is surgical resection at early stage of disease. Early detection could potentially decrease lung cancer mortality suggesting that this cancer should be a good candidate for screening.

Treatment of small cell lung cancer in the elderly.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for approximately 20% of lung carcinomas. Chemotherapy is the cornerstone of treatment for SCLC. In limited disease, the median survival time is about 12-16 months, with a 4%-5% long-term survival rate; in extensive disease the median survival time is 7-11 months.

Safety profile of gefitinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer elderly patients with chronic renal failure: two clinical cases.

Objectives: Comorbidities often contraindicate any chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, even single-agent one. This is the case of chronic renal failure.

Methods: Two elderly patients (age >70 years) affected by advanced non-small cell lung cancer and chronic renal failure were treated, as front-line treatment, with gefitinib (ZD1839--'Iressa') administered orally at the dose of 250 mg daily.

Gefitinib as salvage therapy in pretreated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Data from a compassionate use program.

Purpose: To evaluate the tolerabiliy and activity of gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with pretreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: From July 2001 to August 2003, we analysed, retrospectively, the data of 125 previously treated advanced NSCLC patients receiving gefitinib 250 mg, orally once daily in a compassionate use program.

Results: Main toxicity was (% of patients): grade 1-2 skin changes in 7 (5.