The role of talactoferrin alpha in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Overview

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Immunotherapeutic approaches to treating NSCLC via either adoptive transfer of immunity or stimulation of the endogenous immune system have shown increasing promise in recent years. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: Talactoferrin alpha is an oral immunomodulatory agent currently in late-stage clinical trials that acts through dendritic cell recruitment and activation in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: Talactoferrin is a recombinant human lactoferrin that is a member of the transferrin family of iron-binding glycoproteins. Lactoferrins have multiple known biological activities including cancer protection, cellular growth and differentiation and antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This review discusses the proposed mechanism of action of talactoferrin-alpha and outlines the pre-clinical, Phase I and II data in NSCLC. The ongoing Phase III trials are discussed. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: The current role of Talactoferrin alpha in the treatment of NSCLC is described and we explore potential future roles for this drug in both early stage and advanced stage disease.