[Methodology for the assessment of new targeted treatments in clinical trials. Future perspectives]

Because targeted treatments with cytostatic effect do not usually lead to the reduction in tumoral mass, assessment of their efficacy in terms of response should differ from that of chemotherapy. The notion of "controlling the disease" and the "duration of clinical benefits" have recently been introduced and englobe response and stability. These criteria, which have not been officially validated, are frequently found, notably in studies on metastatic non-small cell lung cancers. The new targeted treatments therefore provide the occasion for us, clinicians and assisted by statisticians, to review our strategy and to progress in the construction of adapted clinical trials.