title: Recurrent responses to non-small cell lung cancer brain metastases with erlotinib.
abstract: We report the case of a Caucasian female never smoker with erlotinib sensitive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in the brain. Having progressed after receiving whole brain radiotherapy, her brain metastases responded both initially and on re-treatment with erlotinib. However, her extra-cranial disease remained erlotinib-resistant throughout. This case demonstrates that brain metastases may be sensitive to erlotinib and also highlights the oligoclonal nature of non-small cell lung cancer reflected by differential tyrosine kinase inhibitor tumour sensitivity. On the basis of this case we suggest that erlotinib should be considered in the treatment paradigm for patients with intra-cranial disease and propose further study into the continued use of this drug in the situation where there is a differential response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Popat
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Panos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Priest
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meehan
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D018450:Disease Progression; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride