title: Asian ethnicity as a predictor of response in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib on an expanded access program.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Sheeba K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Frank V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Fossella
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rainell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schaerer
authors.forename: Anne S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Merrill S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kies
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Pisters
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Blumenschein
authors.forename: Bonnie S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Glisson
authors.forename: J Jack
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Roy S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Herbst
authors.forename: Ralph G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Zinner
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib