The favorable prognostic significance of atelectasis in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: results of a prospective observational study.

Purpose: For lung cancer, the TNM staging system included atelectasis (At) as a negative prognostic factor, within the T category. However, according to our clinical experience, we observed the opposite. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of At on patient outcome for unresectable stage III and IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung and pancreatic cancer: the emerging role of erlotinib.

During the last years, molecular targeted agents generated a small revolution within the various treatment options for malignant tumors. Preclinical data showed that activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-depending downstream pathways, plays a major role in tumor growth and development. Small molecules, like the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), proved their capacity to inhibit the trigger event of this oncogenic activation.