Role of targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: hype or hope?

New cytotoxic therapies, including the taxanes, gemcitabine (Gemzar), vinorelbine (Navelbine) and irinotecan (Campto), have improved treatment outcome and expanded treatment options in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. However, despite their promise, a therapeutic plateau with response rates of 20-30% and 1-year survival rates of 30-40% has been reached. It is doubtful if exchanging one agent for another in various combinations will lead to any significant improvement. The thrust of current research focuses on targeted therapy and its careful integration into the standard treatment paradigm. These agents include compunds targeted at growth factor receptors, angiogenesis, cyclooxygenase, farnesyl transferase and protein kinase C-alpha. Preclinical models have demonstrated synergy for many of these agents in combination with either chemotherapy or radiation, although clinical challenges exist. These include the identification of an optimal biologic dose, the proper integration of these agents into systemic chemotherapy regimens, and selecting the best setting in which to test the compounds.