Oral Chemotherapy for Treatment of Lung Cancer

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare delivery, particularly for patients with advanced lung cancer. While certain aspects of care can be safely omitted or delayed, systemic therapy plays an important role in survival and quality of life for patients with advanced lung cancer; limiting access to systemic therapy will compromise cancer-related outcomes. This can be at odds with strategies to mitigate risk of COVID-19 exposure, which include reducing hospital and clinic visits. One important strategy is implementation of oral cancer therapies. Many standard regimens require intravenous infusions but there are specific circumstances where an oral agent could be an acceptable alternative. Integrating oral therapeutics can permit patients to receive effective systemic treatment without the exposure risks associated with frequent infusions. Here, we review currently available oral cytotoxic agents with a potential role in the treatment of lung cancer.

Cancer management during the COVID-19 pandemic: Choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea

“…More so, oral administration of targeted therapies for the treatment of some types of cancer such as lung cancer may be an appealing alternative in the current crisis, allowing patients to receive their full therapy while lowering hospital visits and minimizing exposure ( Jonna et al, 2020 ).…”

https://ecancer.org/en/journal/article/1096-cancer-treatment-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-the-kurdistan-region-of-northern-iraq

“…Discussions already occurring among these shareholders should be accelerated [15]. • Reduce infusion-based treatment in favor of oral therapy where possible [16].…”

“…Discussions already occurring among these shareholders should be accelerated [ 15 ]. Reduce infusion-based treatment in favor of oral therapy where possible [ 16 ]. Restart clinical trials that have been halted or deferred due to shifts in funding.…”

Construction of a rabbit model with vinorelbine administration via peripherally inserted central catheter and dynamic monitoring of changes in phlebitis and thrombosis

“…It is a potent chemotherapeutic drug for treating breast and non-small cell lung cancer ( 11-13 ). Although oral administration was approved for the clinical application of vinorelbine in 2006 due to convenience and the low risk of venous thrombosis, intravenous infusion exhibits higher efficacy ( 14 ). For example, the results of a phase II study demonstrated that patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with oral vinorelbine exhibited good tolerance, but displayed limited overall survival time compared with those treated with intravenous vinorelbine ( 15 ).…”