[Targeted therapies and radiotherapy in lung cancer]

Cancer Radiother. 2007 Jan-Feb;11(1-2):77-83. doi: 10.1016/j.canrad.2006.09.036. Epub 2006 Oct 27.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Targeted therapies are now more often used in lung cancer. Inhibitors of EGFR and of angiogenesis have demonstrated a certain activity in this disease. Some experimental in vitro or in vivo studies are in favour of combined targeted therapies and radiation. For example, additive or supra-additive effects have been shown when inhibitors of the EGFR tyrosine kinase were given with radiation. In advanced lung cancer, the combination of bevacizumab with chemotherapy was demonstrated to produce better survival outcomes. But a high rate of fatal hemoptysis was reported with this drug, particularly for central and squamous tumors. This could be a limitation for its use in combination with radiation. Drugs with multiple targets are becoming available; their association with radiation seems to be promising.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bevacizumab
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Bevacizumab
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases