Necitumumab in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: translation from preclinical to clinical development

Areas covered: This paper reviews literature on preclinical and early clinical development of necitumumab that is available in PubMed and published abstracts from conferences, as well as ongoing trials as specified by clinicaltrials.gov. Recently, the Phase III clinical trial evaluating the addition of necitumumab to pemetrexed and cisplatin in non-squamous NSCLC was prematurely closed due to concerns about the increased risk of thromboembolic events in the experimental arm. Accrual in the Phase III trial of necitumumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin in squamous NSCLC is ongoing. Expert opinion: Results of the ongoing large randomized trials will be instrumental in determining the drug's clinical significance and, with the analysis of potential molecular predictive factors, are expected to bring valuable additions to future therapeutic strategies in NSCLC.