title: Efficacy of gefitinib for elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor mutations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients aged 70 years or older who had advanced NSCLC with mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene were treated with gefitinib, 250 mg daily. Clinical data, types of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations, efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib were evaluated in these patients. Tumor responses were assessed by computed tomography scan using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients showed a partial response, and the other three exhibited stable disease. The overall response rate was 66.7%. The median progression-free survival was 396 days, whereas the median over all survival was 523 days. No serious toxicities were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gefitinib is very efficacious and safe for elderly patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung harboring an EGFR tyrosine kinase mutation. The present data support the use of gefitinib in this particular subgroup.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory Center, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo. uruga@jikei.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uruga
authors.forename: Kazuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Beika
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takaya
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Nasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morokawa
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurosaki
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib