Emerging Treatments in Lung Cancer
Alimta | Avastin | Iressa | Tarceva |Radiofrequency Ablation | Fast Track Drugs | Disclaimer
Avastin
On October 11, 2006, the FDA announced Avastin is now approved for use with non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer as a first line treatment. This is for use in combination with chemotherapy. Please click here for the LCA announcement.
On April 11, 2006, Genentech and Roche announced they applied to the FDA for Avastin in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced, non-squamous*, non-small cell lung cancer. They have requested a rapid review. If the FDA says it will rapidly review the application, the FDA could make a decision before or by October 2006. Although Avastin is currently approved for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, it must go through a separate approval process for lung cancer.
For more information on the April 11 announcement:
On March 14, 2005, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced results of an early analysis of a randomized clinical trial of Avastin (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy in people with non-squamous*, non-small cell lung cancer. Researchers found that study participants who received a combination of Avastin with standard chemotherapy had a median survival of 2.3 months longer than those receiving chemotherapy only. The most serious side effect among the group receiving Avastin was fatal bleeding from the lungs. The NCI stated this adverse event occurred “infrequently.”
Detailed results from this trial, including a full description of serious side effects, were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO) Orlando, Fla., on May 13-17, 2005.
*Squamous cell carcinoma, a sub-type of non-small cell lung cancer
For more information on the March 14 announcements:
