Article Details - Overview

Upon completion of this educational activity, you should be able to:

• Evaluate approaches to optimize frontline regimens for patients with advanced NSCLC
• Compare the clinical outcomes of maintenance therapy with chemotherapeutic or targeted agents after frontline treatment of advanced non–small-cell lung carcinoma
• Discuss personalized therapy based on tumor characteristics in advanced NSCLC

Authors

Medical writer: Aarati Ranganathan, PhD; Medical writer: Bing-e Xu, PhD; Reviewed by: George Simon, MD, FACP, FCCP; Reviewed by: Giorgio Scagliotti, MD, PhD; Reviewed by: H. Jack West, MD

Overview and Purpose

Most patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Standard frontline treatment of advanced NSCLC includes platinum-based chemotherapy doublets, and to improve the therapeutic ratio of platinum doublets, new cytotoxic agents with similar efficacy but less toxicity compared to old cytotoxic agents have been incorporated into first-line chemotherapy regimens. Targeted agents, such as monoclonal antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), have improved survival when combined with frontline chemotherapy in eligible patients with advanced NSCLC. Other approaches to improving treatment outcomes of frontline regimens include the administration of maintenance therapy, or early second-line therapy, immediately following first-line treatment in patients with nonprogressive disease. Recent phase III trials have demonstrated a survival benefit with maintenance therapy using either an antifolate or an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor compared to placebo. Personalized therapy based on clinical and/or molecular characteristics of the tumor has also been demonstrated to be feasible. Histological subtypes and biomarkers predictive of efficacy from cytotoxic or targeted agents are now playing important roles in choosing the optimal therapy for individual patients with advanced NSCLC.

The purpose of this activity is to update physicians on frontline regimens, maintenance therapy, and personalized therapy 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.