Rational use of cetuximab in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Charu Aggarwal, Hossein BorghaeiDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USAAbstract: Lung cancer is the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers. Most NSCLC patients prese...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Charu Aggarwal, Hossein Borghaei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2009-08-01
Series:OncoTargets and Therapy
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/rational-use-of-cetuximab-in-the-treatment-of-advanced-non-small-cell--a3493
Description
Summary:Charu Aggarwal, Hossein BorghaeiDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USAAbstract: Lung cancer is the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers. Most NSCLC patients present with loco-regionally advanced or metastatic disease where response rates are low and median overall survival approximates 8 to 10 months. Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for NSCLC patients with metastatic disease. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and family of receptors play a critical role in lung cancer tumorigenesis. Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody that binds the EGFR, has demonstrated preclinical and clinical activity against NSCLC. This review focuses on the use of cetuximab in NSCLC.Keywords: cetuximab, lung cancer, monoclonal antibody
ISSN:1178-6930