Asian ethnicity as a predictor of response in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib on an expanded access program.
BACKGROUND
The primary objective of this retrospective study was to investigate the potential role of East Asian ethnicity or origin in predicting response to gefitinib in advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
A chart review was done of all patients treated with gefitinib at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center on the Expanded Access Program.


RESULTS
There were 223 patients with advanced-stage NSCLC who were enrolled. Of these, 182 received >or= 1 dose, and 160 were evaluable for response. The partial response rate was 8.8%, and the stable disease rate was 26.3%. Median time to progression was 2.5 months, and median survival was 6.8 months. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 35.3% and 12.4%, respectively. Partial responses were seen in 7 of 12 patients (58.3%) of East Asian origin compared with 7 of 131 patients who were white (5.3%). This difference was statistically significant when controlling for histology, smoking status, hemoglobin, and diarrhea. Never smoking and diarrhea were also independent predictors of response.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, in a multivariate analysis, we observed a positive relationship between East Asian origin and response to gefitinib. These findings might help determine which patients will likely benefit from gefitinib.
Thomas
Sheeba K
SK
Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Fossella
Frank V
FV
Liu
Diane
D
Schaerer
Rainell
R
Tsao
Anne S
AS
Kies
Merrill S
MS
Pisters
Katherine M
KM
Blumenschein
George R
GR
Glisson
Bonnie S
BS
Lee
J Jack
JJ
Herbst
Roy S
RS
Zinner
Ralph G
RG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib