Antiangiogenic agents combined with chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Abstract As a targeted therapy, antiangiogenic treatment has been increasingly studied for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has proven effective for the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting angiogenesis, is the only antiangiogenic agent approved for use in combination with first-line chemotherapy for non-squamous NSCLC. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting the tyrosine kinase receptor have also shown promise when combined with standard chemotherapeutic agents in patients with advanced NSCLC. However, unlike bevacizumab, not all other antiangiogenic agents show significant benefits when combined with chemotherapy. As for the failures of most other combinations, the combination schedule may be an important reason that has so far been overlooked in clinical trials. This article reviews the combination of angiogenic agents with chemotherapy in the treatment of NSCLC.