nab-Paclitaxel for the treatment of advanced squamous non-small-cell lung cancer: a comprehensive update

Despite advances in the treatment of patients with nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lung cancer remains a leading cause of death globally. Studies have demonstrated that survival varies according to histological subtype, and, in many cases, patients with squamous NSCLC have a poorer survival rate than those with nonsquamous NSCLC. For patients with squamous NSCLC, platinum-based doublets remain the standard first-line therapy option. This is in part because of the efficacy and safety concerns with some of the approved therapies and is secondary to the observation that many of the mutations targetable with currently approved therapies are rare in patients with squamous NSCLC. Recently, a subset analysis of a completed phase III trial demonstrated that use of nab-paclitaxel with carboplatin led to improved responses in patients with squamous NSCLC compared with solvent-based paclitaxel with carboplatin. In this review, the current experience and evolving role of nab-paclitaxel with carboplatin in the treatment of squamous NSCLC is discussed.