Case Based - Overview
A Patient With Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Good Performance Status Achieving a Partial Response After a Platinum-Based Doublet
1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
Release Date: October 14, 2009
Expiration Date: October 14, 2010
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, you should be able to:
- Assess the role of tumor histology in choosing first-line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC
- Discuss clinical data on maintenance therapy following first-line therapy for advanced NSCLC
Overview and Purpose
Over half of the patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are diagnosed with disease at the advanced stage. Platinum-based doublets are standard first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC. Recent findings have demonstrated that an antifolate/platinum doublet exhibits differential efficacy in patients with different histologic subtypes. Targeted agents, such as monoclonal antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), have improved overall survival (OS) when added to standard first-line platinum doublets. In addition, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) has yielded superior efficacy compared with chemotherapy as first-line treatment of patients whose tumors harbor EGFR mutations. Other approaches to improve patient outcomes include maintenance therapy immediately following first-line treatment. Recent phase III trials have demonstrated that maintenance therapy using an antifolate or an EGFR TKI prolonged progression-free survival and OS in advanced NSCLC. Both clinical and molecular characteristics have been examined as predictive markers for maintenance therapy in order to select patients who are most likely to derive benefit.
The purpose of this activity is to update physicians on first-line treatment choices based on tumor characteristics as well as maintenance therapy as a new strategy to improve treatment outcomes in advanced NSCLC.
Target Audience
This educational activity is intended for medical oncologists involved in the care of patients with NSCLC. No specific skills or knowledge other than a basic training in oncology is required for successful participation in this activity.
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- Take the Pretest
- Participate in the Activity
- Take the Posttest
- Take the Evaluation
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This activity is part of PER's Communities of Oncology Practice:
Treatment Options for Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Head & Neck Cancer