Incorporating novel agents with gemcitabine-based treatment of NSCLC

First-line treatment with a two-drug combination chemotherapy regimen comprising of a platinum-based agent with a third-generation agent has been the accepted standard of care in most countries for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Previously, the addition of a third agent to standard chemotherapy regimens has failed to improve survival in the majority of randomized trials that have been conducted. However, recent findings suggest that the addition of the novel targeted agent bevacizumab to a standard paclitaxel/carboplatin regimen significantly improves survival. The addition of novel agents to gemcitabine-based regimens is therefore a logical approach to improving the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Several trials of gemcitabine-based regimens with bevacizumab are ongoing.