Clinical predictive factors for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving third-line therapy: Selecting the unselectable?
A not negligible proportion of NSCLC patients may be considered eligible for a third-line therapy with a palliative intent. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to observe toxic side-effects with lack of efficacy. Aim of our study was to analyse clinical factors potentially influencing the global outcome of advanced NSCLC patients receiving third-line therapy. Patients with histologically proven inoperable (IIIB) or metastatic (IV) NSCLC, who received a second- and third-line treatment (either with EGFR-TKIs or chemotherapy), were eligible for our analysis. 143 patients received a second-line treatment after failing a first line cisplatin-based chemotherapy. 52 patients from this series were offered a third-line treatment. In the third-line setting, a better overall survival (months) was related to sex and to response to second-line. Globally, our findings seem to indicate that an improved overall survival in third-line is more strictly dependent on response to second-line, thus suggesting that when planning a third-line treatment, response to second-line should be considered as a relevant factor for the decision making process.
Scartozzi
Mario
M
Clinica di Oncologia Medica, AO Ospedali Riuniti - Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via conca, 6020 Ancona, Italy. marioscartozzi@gmail.com
Mazzanti
Paola
P
Giampieri
Riccardo
R
Berardi
Rossana
R
Galizia
Eva
E
Gasparini
Stefano
S
Zuccatosta
Lina
L
Cascinu
Stefano
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002945:Cisplatin