[Lung cancer]

Recently, a number of novel chemotherapeutic agents under development show consider able promise in the treatment of lung cancer. Optimally, these new agents should exhibit a unique mechanism of action, a favorable toxicity profile in comparison to standard cisplatin-based chemotherapy, significant single agent activity (> 20% response rate, or > 40% 1-year survival rate) and synergistic antitumor effects with cisplatin and/or radiation. This review will describe the current development status of these new agents, including paclitaxel, docetaxel, vinorelbine, CPT-11, topotecan and gemcitabine.