A Study of Ramucirumab (IMC-1121B) With Paclitaxel and Carboplatin in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 75-80% of all lung cancers. The advanced stages are associated with poor survival rates, a median survival rate of approximately 3.9 months if left untreated. Angiogenesis is a process for wound healing and restoring blood flow to tissues after injury. It is the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. Angiogenesis may be promoted by growth factors and in diseases such as cancer, where growth factors are over expressed, the body loses the ability to maintain a balanced angiogenesis. This may embellish the existing supplies of blood; potentially increasing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients supplies for cancer growth and survival. Ramucirumab is an angiogenesis inhibitor; and is believed to block the promotion of the growth factor to form new blood vessels, thus reducing the blood supply to the cancer cells.