The trial of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor figitumumab in combination with carbo/taxol as first line therapy for advanced NSCLC was officially closed after it was determined that the experimental arm would not have a meaningful chance of appearing superior to standard carbo/taxol with a placebo ("futility analysis"). Dr. Sanborn had previously written about this trial after it was put on hold due to safety concerns with this combination.

Importantly, this agent is still being studied in combination with Tarceva, and that trial is still ongoing, as are trials with this agent in other cancers. It's not clear whether the safety concerns figitumumab in combination with chemo are specific to this one agent or whether other agents that inhibit the new target IGF-1R as a potentially important anti-cancer treatment will also show show safety problems and lack of efficacy in combination with chemo, nor do we know whether the issues are specific to carbo/taxol or could be a problem with other chemotherapy combinations.