Targeted therapies in lung cancer.

The quality-of-life and overall survival are improved by platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with localized or disseminated small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) [1, 2]. In nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), platinum-based combinations with new agents (vinorelbine, gemcitabine, taxanes) improve survival in both resected and advanced NSCLC patients [3–6]. Nevertheless, a therapeutic plateau has been reached with classical cytotoxic agents. Recent advances in cancer biology have led to the identification of new targets in neoplastic cells. Hence, targeting agents have been developed, opening new perspectives in lung cancer treatment. In this article, we review the main targeted therapies in lung cancer by the proposed classification of different cancer cell pathways [7]. In particular, we will focus on cell growth pathways, programmed cell death (apoptosis), neo-angiogenic factors, local invasion and distant metastatic processes.