Klin Onkol 2009; 22(4): 131-138.
Summary
After several years of clinical trials in the setting of advanced non‑small‑cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
that were characterized by a lack of efficacy of chemotherapy over best supportive care, we have
more recently seen meaningful clinical benefits realized from selected targeted therapies. In
their constant development, the survival advantage of these new anti‑cancer therapies has been
demonstrated not only in the first‑line setting, but, lately, even in patients with recurrent disease
after failure of one or two previous chemotherapy lines. The first agents in this broad class to
demonstrate clinical efficacy were the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase
(TK) inhibitors. Erlotinib, an EGFR, and bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor
(VEGFR), are the best representative new drugs for tumour control and palliation. This article
reviews the most promising new targeted agents including those that have already been approved
and are currently used in the medical practice.
