title: Gefitinib ('Iressa', ZD1839) is active against brain metastases in a 77 year old patient.
abstract: This report highlights the case of a symptomatic 77-year-old non-smoking female patient who was diagnosed with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), metastatic to the liver and contralateral lung. After tumor progression in the liver and lung following polychemotherapy, multiple diffuse brain and cerebellar metastases were apparent. Oral treatment with the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib ('Iressa') 250 mg/day resulted in progressive and durable symptom relief, and improvements in quality of life and performance status. Reductions in the size of the primary pulmonary tumor and brain, cerebellar, and liver metastases were observed. Furthermore, gefitinib was well tolerated with an absence of adverse events. These results provide evidence that oral gefitinib is active in patients with advanced NSCLC and central nervous system metastases.
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Lago Maggiore, Humaine Clinica S. Chiara, Via Franscini 4, Ticino, 6600 Locarno, Switzerland. roggero@ticino.com
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roggero
authors.forename: Giancarla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Busi
authors.forename: Busi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giancarla
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Palumbo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antonella
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedrazzini
authors.forename: Pedrazzini
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Augusto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib
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