The role of talactoferrin alpha in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD:

Immunotherapeutic approaches to treating NSCLC via either adoptive transfer of immunity or stimulation of the endogenous immune system have shown increasing promise in recent years.

AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW:

Talactoferrin alpha is an oral immunomodulatory agent currently in late-stage clinical trials that acts through dendritic cell recruitment and activation in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue.

WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN:

Talactoferrin is a recombinant human lactoferrin that is a member of the transferrin family of iron-binding glycoproteins. Lactoferrins have multiple known biological activities including cancer protection, cellular growth and differentiation and antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This review discusses the proposed mechanism of action of talactoferrin-alpha and outlines the pre-clinical, Phase I and II data in NSCLC. The ongoing Phase III trials are discussed.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE:

The current role of Talactoferrin alpha in the treatment of NSCLC is described and we explore potential future roles for this drug in both early stage and advanced stage disease.

• Authors: Ronan J Kelly, Giuseppe Giaccone
• Journal: Expert opinion on biological therapy (Expert Opin Biol Ther) Vol. 10 Issue 9 Pg. 1379-86 (Sep 2010) ISSN: 1744-7682 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20684737 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• talactoferrin alfa
• Lactoferrin

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (drug therapy, immunology)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Humans
• Lactoferrin (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, immunology)
• Treatment Outcome