Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. During the past quarter of a century, there have been definite steps forward in understanding the biology of this disease. However, progress in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been more elusive and has not been associated with a realistic probability of long-term survival. For this disease, platinum-based chemotherapy is currently the standard treatment. Numerous studies have compared various platinum doublets and have concluded that all such combinations are comparable in their clinical efficacy. Moreover, several trials evaluating different chemotherapy regimens in NSCLC have failed to document a difference based on histology. Recent evidence suggests that histology represents an important variable in the decision making. This review will discuss this new evidence in the first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC, focusing on different possible therapeutic approaches according to histologic subtype.
MeSH terms
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Adenocarcinoma / classification
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Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
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Adenocarcinoma / pathology
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Adenocarcinoma / radiotherapy
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
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Bevacizumab
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Carcinoma, Large Cell / drug therapy
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Carcinoma, Large Cell / pathology
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Carcinoma, Large Cell / radiotherapy
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / classification
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / radiotherapy
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / radiotherapy
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Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
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Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
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Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
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Disease Management
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Gemcitabine
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Glutamates / administration & dosage
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Guanine / administration & dosage
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Guanine / analogs & derivatives
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Humans
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Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
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Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Lung Neoplasms / pathology
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Lung Neoplasms / radiotherapy
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Multicenter Studies as Topic
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Organoplatinum Compounds / administration & dosage
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Palliative Care
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Pemetrexed
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Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
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Glutamates
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Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
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Organoplatinum Compounds
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Pemetrexed
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Deoxycytidine
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Bevacizumab
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Guanine
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figitumumab
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Gemcitabine