A new international Phase III trial has shown that oral targeted therapy Vandetanib shows clinical benefits when combined with standard chemotherapy for lung cancer.

It has been reported that the research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has appeared in the Lancet Oncology.

The findings mark the first clinical benefit of a small molecule targeted agent and standard chemotherapy in combination for lung cancer.

"This study shows that an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor can be combined with chemotherapy safely and effectively to provide systematic benefit to patients with this life-threatening disease. Still, we need to build on this research and turn our focus toward better identifying molecular markers involved, with the ultimate goal of personalizing our patient's care," said study's corresponding author Roy Herbst, professor and chief of the section of MD Anderson's Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology.

It has also been reported that the therapy is unique in that as it's a dual inhibitor and targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR).

Herbst, the study's international principal investigator has said that it is the first single agent in lung cancer to target both receptors.

"Both receptors are active in lung cancer. EGFR targets the tumor cell and VEGF targets the blood vessels, so, with vandetanib, we're really targeting the entire tumor environment at the same time. As a dual inhibitor, it also may provide cost-savings to patients in that they can now potentially take one therapy instead of two," he further added.

The ZODIAC, (Zactima in cOmbination with Docetaxel In non-smAll cell lung Cancer) study enrolled 1,391 patients with non-small cell lung cancer from 198 centers between May 2006 and April 2008; all had received chemotherapy previously. (With Inputs from Agencies)