Angiogenesis Inhibitors in Lung Cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for 80-85% of cases. Regardless of histology, the majority of patients present with advanced disease and have a median survival of approximately 10 months for patients treated with traditional chemotherapy agents. Therefore, novel therapies are required. ECOG4599 was the first trial to demonstrate survival beyond 1 year for patients with NSCLC treated with traditional chemotherapy in combination with an anti-angiogenic agent. Angiogenesis, the growth of new from preexisting vessels, is a fundamental step in the transition of tumors from dormant to malignant. In the last few years, there has been substantial interest in developing novel molecular-targeted agents that inhibit the angiogenic pathway. The aim of this chapter is to summarize the data for agents that have been approved and are in development for the treatment of patients with NSCLC and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).