AstraZeneca started the recruitment into a pivotal Phase II/III study of the novel vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling inhibitor, AZD2171, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The study is being coordinated by the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) clinical trials group at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Centres from Canada, as well as from around the world, are participating in the trial. This study is part of a wider ongoing AZD2171 collaboration between the NCIC clinical trials group and AstraZeneca, claims a company release.

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide; an estimated 1.2 million new cases are diagnosed each year and over 1 million deaths are attributed to this disease annually. The study will investigate overall survival and tumour response rate in patients with advanced NSCLC by comparing the efficacy of 'doublet' chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin) plus either a once-daily AZD2171 tablet or once-daily placebo tablet.

VEGF is a key factor implicated in tumour blood vessel formation (angiogenesis). AZD2171 is one of the most potent inhibitors of VEGF signalling.