Therapeutic options for treating
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) have recently increased.
Ramucirumab (
Cyramza), an anti-angionenic agent was approved in 2014 for treatment of several
malignancies, including second-line treatment of patients with NSCLC with
disease progression on or after
platinum-based
chemotherapy. Areas covered: We performed a comprehensive search of the literature focused on clinical trials with use of
ramucirumab, targeting its evolution in the treatment of NSCLC. This review summarizes the results regarding its safety and efficacy. Expert opinion: Angiogenesis has been widely recognized as a quintessential feature in
cancer, intrinsically mediating
tumor survival and progression.
Ramucirumab, an anti-VEGFR2 agent, combined with
docetaxel, was FDA-approved for NSCLC patients. Results from a phase III trial have demonstrated the usefulness of this combination, with benefits in progression free survival and overall survival for NSCLC patients. A greater magnitude of benefit is seen in patients with aggressive
tumor behavior. Treatment with
ramucirumab is generally tolerable, however, there is potential for severe toxicity. Adverse events reported with this combination include
neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and
hypertension. Also, there is the intrinsic risk of
bleeding resulting from the mechanism of action. As such, adverse events should be identified timely, so
drug-related complications can be prevented.