title: Pilot trial of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib plus carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gefitinib is an oral agent that inhibits the tyrosine kinase of the epidermal growth factor receptor. In phase I trials gefitinib was well tolerated and antitumor activity was seen in pretreated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Preclinical studies indicated enhanced effects when gefitnib was added to carboplatin or paclitaxel. This pilot trial combined gefitinib with carboplatin and paclitaxel to define the toxicities of the combination and assess drug-drug interactions in untreated advanced NSCLC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Initially (part 1) patients were randomly assigned to receive intermittent gefitinib with cycle 1 or 2 of chemotherapy. Thereafter (part 2), the highest dose of gefitinib that was given without dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) from part 1 was administered continuously beginning with the first cycle of chemotherapy. Three sequentially enrolled cohorts received gefitinib 250 and 500 mg (intermittently) and 500 mg (continuously).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We treated 24 patients; nine patients with 250 mg and 15 patients with 500 mg (nine patients continuous). Two occurrences of DLT were observed. One patient (500 mg, part 1) developed grade 3 rash and another patient (part 2) developed prolonged neutropenia. Steady-state gefitinib levels did not affect exposure to chemotherapy. In a limited sample, chemotherapy modestly increased the gefitinib area under concentration-time curve at steady-state and minimum steady-state trough concentration. Partial responses were observed in five of 24 patients. The median survival was 8 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The gefitinib with carboplatin and paclitaxel regimen was generally well tolerated and no unanticipated toxicities or clinically relevant pharmacokinetic interactions were observed. Both doses of gefitinib were believed to be safe for further study with chemotherapy. This regimen was thus tested in a completed randomized phase III trial.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA. millerv@mskcc.org
authors.forename: Vincent A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Lee M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Krug
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pizzo
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tyson
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krozely
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sandler
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Heelan
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kris
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ochs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D011799:Quinazolines; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D016190:Carboplatin; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000077156:Gefitinib