The use of single-agent dasatinib in molecularly unselected non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

A Phase II study of the Src family kinase (SFK) inhibitor dasatinib was recently reported in molecularly unselected patients with metastatic NSCLC. SFK inhibition has a strong rationale as a clinical strategy in NSCLC. The reviewed study unfortunately showed disappointing activity as monotherapy in this molecularly unselected patient cohort and toxicity in terms of pleural effusion was problematic. Therefore, dasatinib as monotherapy in this setting does not appear promising. Nonetheless, the reviewed study may be used in conjunction with other studies of dasatinib in NSCLC to identify patients more likely to benefit from dasatinib either as monotherapy or in combination with other agents. Future studies of dasatinib in NSCLC should examine the agent in combination with EGFR inhibitors and/or cytotoxic chemotherapies.