Effect of gefitinib on brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer.
Two patients with non-small cell lung cancer presented with multiple brain metastases. They received gefitinib orally for the treatment of the primary lung lesions. About one month later, the brain metastases unexpectedly disappeared or became smaller. The patients survived without recurrence of brain metastases and growth of lung lesions for 3-4 years. Gefitinib is a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor and is approved for use in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Gefitinib may be very effective for multiple brain metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Nishi
Noriyuki
N
Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka General Medical Center, Osaka, Japan. nishitoku@aol.com
Kawai
Shozo
S
Yonezawa
Taiji
T
Fujimoto
Kenta
K
Masui
Katsuya
K
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*; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib