Second and third line treatment in non-small cell lung cancer

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2009 Aug;71(2):117-26. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2009.01.009. Epub 2009 Feb 26.

Abstract

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and the advances in second and third line treatment have led to prognostic improvements in the latest years. Besides the two cytotoxic agents, docetaxel and pemetrexed, approved in NSCLC second line treatment, a new class of drugs against specific molecular targets seems to be an alternative to conventional treatment. Many trials are ongoing to assess the activity of new drugs, alone or in association, and new combinations of third-generation chemotherapeutic agents.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Salvage Therapy*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases