Two New Second-Line Options For Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Jean-Yves Douillard

Gordon McVie

REFERENCE: Abstracts: 6507 & 2LB, ECCO 14, The European Cancer Conference, Barcelona, 23 – 27 September 2007
JEAN-YVES DOUILLARD, Centre René Gauducheau, Nante
COMMENT: GORDON MCVIE, European Institute of Oncology, Milan
The vinca alkaloid vinflunine and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib both achieved equivalent benefits to standard docetaxel second-line therapy among patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer previously treated with platinum.

John Crown

REFERENCE: Abstract: 2096, ECCO 14, The European Cancer Conference, Barcelona, 23 – 27 September 2007
JOHN CROWN, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin
In heavily pre-treated metastatic breast cancer, lapatinib has been confirmed to add a benefit to capecitabine, according to updated efficacy data presented in Barcelona. The implication is that gene profiles from some breast tumors could help pinpoint which patients might do best on lapatinib.

Rob Tollenaar

Gordon McVie

REFERENCE: Abstract: 3007, ECCO 14, The European Cancer Conference, Barcelona, 23 – 27 September 2007
ROB TOLLENAAR, Leiden University Medical Center
COMMENT: GORDON MCVIE, European Institute of Oncology, Milan
The ECCO conference heard that a gene expression profile could help doctors easily identify patients with stage II colon cancer who need chemotherapy after surgery, and might be better at selecting patients for chemotherapy than the current ASCO guidelines.