HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Guest Access | Sign In via User Name/Password

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (12) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Molina, J. R. Articles by Jett, J. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Molina, J. R. Articles by Jett, J. R. Related Content Recent Advances in Chest Medicine

Advances in Chemotherapy of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer^*

^* From the Divisions of Medical Oncology (Drs. Molina and Adjei) and Pulmonary Medicine (Dr. Jett), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN.

Correspondence to: Julian R. Molina, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905; e-mail: molina.julian{at}mayo.edu

Abstract

In the United States, lung cancer kills more men and woman than the next three most common cancers combined. Unfortunately, the long-term outcome of lung cancer is still dismal with a 5-year survival rate of 15%. However, significant improvements in median survival times and 1-year and 2-year survival rates have been achieved in the last decade. This progress has been accomplished not only because of better surgical techniques but also because of the use of platinum-based regimens with newer chemotherapy agents and, more recently, targeted therapy. The role of chemotherapy as an integral part of the treatment of lung cancer has expanded significantly, particularly in the last few years with the proven benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy. For advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), chemotherapy prolongs survival and improves quality of life in patients with good performance status, and appears to provide symptomatic improvement in patients with decreased performance status. Platinum-based doublet chemotherapy regimens are now the standard of care in patients with advanced stage NSCLC, and non-platinum-based combination therapies are reasonable alternatives in certain populations. The combination of the vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor bevacizumab and chemotherapy has proven to prolong survival. As agents such as monoclonal antibodies, small molecules inhibitors of tyrosine kinase, and direct inhibitors of proteins involved in lung cancer proliferation are being developed and tested, we are optimistic that these agents will result in improvement in the survival and quality of life of lung cancer patients.

Key Words: chemotherapy • lung cancer • targeted therapy

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. S. Lee, L. Johansen, Y. Zhang, A. Wilson, M. Keegan, W. Avery, P. Elliott, A. A. Borisy, and C. T. Keith The Novel Combination of Chlorpromazine and Pentamidine Exerts Synergistic Antiproliferative Effects through Dual Mitotic Action Cancer Res., December 1, 2007; 67(23): 11359 - 11367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]