Gwyn Bebb

Nimotuzumab: a novel anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody that retains anti-EGFR activity while minimizing skin toxicity.

Due to the broad importance of EGFR to tumorogenesis, targeted therapy against it has rapidly developed into a novel paradigm for cancer treatment. Two promising classes of drugs are now in use and undergoing development that target this receptor: tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and mAbs that inhibit EGFRs extracellular domain. Nimotuzumab, a humanized murine mAb created in Cuba, has demonstrated antitumor activity similar to that of other anti-EGFR mAbs and shows promise as a single agent and as an adjunct to radiation in Phase I and II clinical trials. Surprisingly, the typical severe dermatological toxicities thus far associated with anti-EGFR therapy have not been described with nimotuzumab. Here we summarize the background, development and characteristics of this new drug while reviewing the latest preclinical and clinical trial data that underpin its gradual adoption into clinical practice.

The CXCR4/SDF-1 Chemokine Receptor Axis: A New Target Therapeutic for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Chemokines are proinflammatory chemoattractant cytokines that regulate cell trafficking and adhesion. The CXCR4 chemokine receptor and its ligand, stromal cell derived factor (SDF-1), constitute a chemokine/receptor axis that has attracted great interest because of an increasing understanding of its role in cancer, including lung cancer. The CXCR4/SDF-1 complex activates several pathways that mediate chemotaxis, migration and secretion of angiopoietic factors. Neutralization of SDF-1 by anti-SDF-1 or anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody in preclinical in vivo studies results in a significant decrease of non-small cell lung cancer metastases. Since anti-SDF-1/CXCR4 strategies have already been developed for use in combating human immunodeficiency virus infections, it is likely that these approaches will be used in clinical trials in non-small cell lung cancer in the very near future.

The emerging role of nimotuzumab in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

Current non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens, although showing definite survival benefit, still leave patients with a disappointing 15% 5-year overall survival rate. Because of the need to improve traditional outcomes, research has focused on identifying specific tumorigenic pathways that may serve as therapeutic targets. The most successful strategies to date are those aimed at the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is found to be upregulated in 40%–80% of NSCLC. Several tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been developed that inhibit the EGFR receptor and have demonstrated clinical benefit in trials as single agents and in combination regimens. Here we discuss one such agent, the mAb nimotuzumab, the background of its development, its clinical experience in NSCLC thus far, and the rationale for expanding its use to other NSCLC treatment settings.

Demographic and clinical correlates of accelerometer assessed physical activity and sedentary time in lung cancer survivors

To determine demographic and clinical correlates of accelerometer assessed physical activity and sedentary time among a population‐based sample of lung cancer survivors.