Researchers affiliated with the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) have reported induction therapy with Paraplatin® (carboplatin), Taxol® (paclitaxel), Erbitux® (cetuximab), and Avastin® (bevacizumab) followed by maintenance Erbitux and Avastin is the most active regimen for advanced non–small cell lung (NSCLC) cancer studied by this group. The details of this study were presented at the 2009 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in May/June.[1]
Therapy of patients with advanced NSCLC continues to be unsatisfactory. The advent of targeted agents, however, has shown some promise in improving the outcomes of these patients when these agents are combined with chemotherapy. Currently, Iressa® (gefitinib) and Avastin are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of NSCLC.
The current study included 110 patients with previously untreated advanced NSCLC. They were not screened for EGRF positivity. Induction therapy was given every three weeks with Paraplatin, Taxol, Erbitux, and Avastin.
Maintenance Erbitux was given weekly and Avastin every three weeks until disease progression. Partial responses were achieved in 54% and stable disease in 23%. Progression-free survival was seven months, and median overall survival was 14 months. The one-year survival was 57%. Toxicities were described as tolerable. These authors concluded that this was a very effective regimen for patients with advanced NSCLC. The authors stated that a Phase III study is underway to validate EGFR FISH as a predictive marker.
Comments: These data suggest that targeted agents may make a significant impact on the treatment of patients with NSCLC.
Reference:
[1] Gandara D, Kim ES, Herbst RS, et al. SO536: Carboplatin, paclitaxel, cetuximab, and bevacizumab followed by cetuximab and bevacizumab maintenance in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A SWOG phase II study. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2009;27:15s, (supplement;abstract 8015.)
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