Erlotinib as a single agent in select subsets of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
Erlotinib is an orally active inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor that is effective for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with a poor performance status (PS) of 2 constitute up to 40% of advanced NSCLC. This group of patients have a lower life expectancy and are thought to have a greater degree of treatment-related toxicity. The clinical benefit on 238 patients with poor PS included in an open-label, nonrandomized, phase II trial of erlotinib in advanced/metastatic NSCLC was 57.58% defined as complete response plus partial response plus stable disease. Median time to progression was 2.9 months. This review will summarize available data about erlotinib on patients with a PS of 2.
M. D. Anderson International, Spain. rpcarrion@seom.org
Ramón Pérez
RP
Carrión
Antonio Cubillo
AC
Gracián
Pedro Salinas
PS
Hernandez
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors