Advances in chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world today, in terms of both incidence and mortality. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers diagnosis, and the majority of people diagnosed with NSCLC have advanced disease.In this review the main advances achieved in the medical treatment of advanced NSCLC are discussed, regarding both targeted therapies and chemotherapy. Among targeted therapies, recent data on the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal antibody bevacizumab and the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosyne kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) gefitinib and erlotinib are described. Among chemotherapeutic agents, the role of pemetrexed is discussed.The reader will gain up-to-date information on the main advances, achieved in the last 3 years in the medical treatment of advanced NSCLC.Some recent advances have changed the face of the first-line chemotherapy of advanced NSCLC, giving physicians more options to tailor choice in this challenging setting.