[New promising anticancer drugs for lung cancer]

New promising anticancer drugs for chemotherapy against lung cancer were reviewed on the basis of the outcomes of clinical trials which were carried out in Japan, USA and Europe. They included irinotecan, 254-S, vinorelubine, gemcitabine, taxol and Taxotere. Response rates of CPT-11 (irinotecan) were evaluated to be approximately 30% for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and more than 40% for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Dose limiting toxicities was leukopenia and diarrhea. These toxicities should be managed very carefully because these occasionally might be life-threatening. Efficacy of 254-S, vinorelbine and gemcitabine were thought to be moderately active for NSCLC. Main toxicity was leukopenia and others were tolerable. Clinical trials of taxol and taxotere showed to be promising for NSCLC. Dose limiting factor was leukopenia. As for hypersensitivity seen in the administration of taxol, it is noted that premedication of antiallergic drugs is required. Taxol and Taxotere will be important for combined chemotherapy for advanced stage lung cancer.