[Gefitinib in the treatment of refractory non-small cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the efficacy, median survival time, time to progression, quality of life and adverse effect of gefitinib (IRESSA) in the treatment for refractory advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Forty-one patients with stage III b to IV NSCLC who had previously treated with 2-7 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled into the study, 85.4% of the patients had received second line chemotherapy. The regimen was oral intake of gefitinib 250 mg once daily until the disease progression or intolerable toxic reaction occurred. The patients were required to receive tumor assessment before the treatment, one month, two months and every three months after IRESSA administration.


RESULTS
All 41 patients were evaluable for therapeutic effect. Partial response rate (PR), stable disease (SD) and progression of disease (PD) was 43.9% (18/41), 34.1% (14/41) and 22.0% (9/41), respectively. No complete regression was observed. The overall response rate was 43.9% (18/41) with a rate of 42.1% in the male and 45.5% in the female (P > 0.05). The disease control rate (PR + SD) was 78.0% (32/41). Twenty-two of the 41 patients (53.7%, 22/41) were still alive with MST of 10.1 months when the follow-up ended in Nov. 2006. TP and MST of dead patients was 2.7 and 5.0 months, respectively. The rate of symptom improvement was 78% for all patients with MST of 13.3 months for PR patients. The performance status (Karnofsky) was improved (20 +/- 5) after 28-day treatment. III-IV degree toxicity was not observed.


CONCLUSIONS
IRESSA is effective and safe for the advanced NSCLC patients with poor performance status who previously failed in the second or third line chemotherapy.
Xu
Jian-Fang
JF
Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Zhou
Cai-Cun
CC
Li
Ai-Wu
AW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011788:Quality of Life; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib