Gefitinib in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
Most patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present with advanced disease and their long-term prognosis remains poor, even after platinum-based chemotherapy. EGF receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapies, such as gefitinib, have been subject to comprehensive clinical development. Several Phase II and III trials have evaluated the clinical efficacy of gefitinib as monotherapy in pretreated patients with advanced NSCLC, as well as both monotherapy and combined with chemotherapy in chemo-naive patients. A Phase III trial in heavily pretreated advanced NSCLC patients, 90% of whom were refractory, demonstrated some improvement in survival with gefitinib compared with placebo; however, the difference was not statistically significant in the overall population. A second large Phase III trial in patients with pretreated advanced NSCLC (INTEREST) demonstrated the noninferiority of gefitinib in comparison with docetaxel for overall survival together with an improved quality of life and tolerability profiles. As a result, gefitinib is expected to have a large impact in the management of pretreated patients with NSCLC.
Reck
Martin
M
Department of Thoracic Oncology, Hospital Grosshansdorf, Grosshansdorf, Germany. dr.martin.reck@web.de
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077235:Vinorelbine
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D014747:Vinblastine; D016190:Carboplatin; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000077156:Gefitinib