Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:5.99.1.2 (topoisomerase)
 9,166 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Over the last decade, a group of new agents with differing mechanisms of action have shown great promise in early clinical studies in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These include the taxanes docetaxel (Taxotere) and paclitaxel (Taxol); the nucleoside analog gemcitabine (Gemzar); the vinca alkaloid vinorelbine (Navelbine); the topoisomerase-I inhibitor irinotecan (Camptosar, CPT-11); and the bioreductive agent tirapazamine. Cisplatin (Platinol), which has been the "backbone" of combination chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC because of its proven single-agent activity, has been examined in combination with these agents as well as radiation and surgery in numerous trials. This article summarizes trials of these combination therapies in the treatment of NSCLC.
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PMID:Chemotherapy in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. 1098 Dec 87

The management of non-small-cell lung cancer is undergoing rapid evolution. Although the advent of combined-modality therapy has led to improved survival, most patients eventually succumb to the disease. The arrival of a new generation of chemotherapeutic agents--including the taxanes, gemcitabine (Gemzar), and topoisomerase inhibitors such as irinotecan (Camptosar, CPT-11)--offers the hope of advances against this malignancy. Irinotecan, a camptothecin derivative, has shown impressive activity in a variety of solid tumors, including non-small-cell lung cancer. It is believed to act by stabilizing the topoisomerase-DNA complex formed during diverse cellular processes, including replication and transcription. A considerable body of evidence also demonstrates that camptothecin and its derivatives possess substantial radiosensitization properties. This article will review the in vitro and in vivo data on irinotecan's ability to render tumors more susceptible to ionizing radiation. It will then focus on experience with irinotecan and thoracic radiation in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer, which has yielded acceptable toxicity results and response rates in excess of 60% in early trials. It is hoped that newer treatment strategies--such as the combination of radiation and irinotecan in lung cancer--will significantly impact cure rates in the future.
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PMID:Irinotecan in combined-modality therapy for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. 1122 Oct 19

Although treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer has been improved with the availability of such new agents as the taxanes, topoisomerase inhibitors, vinorelbine (Navelbine), and gemcitabine (Gemzar), platinum-based combination therapy has appeared to reach a threshold of therapeutic effectiveness. A paradigm shift in approach to non-small-cell lung cancer and other tumors may be heralded by the development of agents targeting specific biologic pathways in tumor development. Such new agents include antibody epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors (eg, the monoclonal antibodies trastuzumab [Herceptin] and cetuximab [IMC-C225, Erbitux]) and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (eg, ZD1839 [Iressa] and OSI-774), angiogenesis inhibitors (eg, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors (eg, monoclonal antibody to VEGF ligand and small-molecule tyrosine kinase), and signal transduction inhibitors (eg, ISIS-3521, an antisense oligonucleotide to protein kinase C-alpha). A number of these agents have entered advanced-phase clinical investigation. It is likely that targeted therapy will have applications in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiation therapy at all stages of treatment, including maintenance therapy. It is even possible that these new biologic therapies will be used together as rational combinations (based on pathologic diagnosis) for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
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PMID:Targeted therapy in non-small-cell lung cancer. 1237 97

Locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer represents 30% to 40% of all pulmonary malignancies. Most patients will die of the disease after aggressive contemporary treatments. Therefore, significant improvement in therapeutic methods must be implemented to improve overall survival rates. The arrival of a new generation of chemotherapeutic agents--including the taxanes, gemcitabine (Gemzar), and topoisomerase inhibitors such as irinotecan (Camptosar) and topotecan (Hycamtin)--offers the hope of significant advances in the treatment of lung cancer. Irinotecan and topotecan are camptothecin derivatives that inhibit topoisomerase I enzyme. It is believed that topoisomerase I inhibitors stabilize a DNA/topoisomerase I complex and interact with replication machinery to cause cell death. A significant amount of data demonstrates that these topoisomerase I inhibitors also act as radiosensitizers. With the increasing data that support concurrent chemoradiation treatment for malignancies, including lung cancer and head and neck cancers, there is an impetus to pursue the additional drugs that may potentially improve local control and survival. Irinotecan is undergoing early clinical trials in the combined-modality setting in several different disease sites. This paper will review the data on the role of camptothecin derivatives as a radiosensitizer and as a component of combined-modality therapy for lung cancer. It is hoped that newer treatment strategies, like the combination of radiation and topoisomerase I inhibitors, will have a significant impact on cure rates in the future.
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PMID:Topoisomerase I inhibitors in the combined-modality therapy of lung cancer. 1525 65