title: Effect of gefitinib on brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka General Medical Center, Osaka, Japan. nishitoku@aol.com
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: Shozo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: Taiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yonezawa
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masui
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*; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib