[Clinical observation of gefitinib for the treatment of 125 cases with advanced non-small cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
125 patients with advanced NSCLC who had failed or not tolerated or refused chemotherapy received 250 mg oral doses of gefitinib once daily until the disease progression or intolerable toxicity.


RESULTS
A total of 125 NSCLC patients were studied, the overall response rate (RR) and the disease control rate (DCR) after administration of gefitinib were 35.2% (44/125) and 77.6% (97/125), respectively. The median progression-free survival and the median survival time were 5.8 and 11.2 months, respectively. The one-year survival rate was 40.5%. The response rate was significantly higher in females, adenocarcinoma and nonsmokers than that in males, non-adenocarcinoma and smokers (P < 0.05). The response rate did not show significant differences regarding ECOG score or previous treatment. The median progression-free survival was significantly longer in ECOG PS 0-1 and gefitinib effective patients than that in ECOG PS >or= 2 and gefitinib ineffective patients (P < 0.01). The median survival time was significantly longer in adenocarcinoma, nonsmokers and gefitinib effective patients than that in non-adenocarcinoma, smokers and gefitinib ineffective patients (P < 0.05). The most common side effects were rash (51.2%) and diarrhea (34.4%), but usually were mild.


CONCLUSIONS
Gefitinib is effective and safe in the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients.
Gu
Ai-qin
AQ
Department of Pneumology, Shanghai Chest Hospital of Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China. guaiqin11@126.com
Wang
Hui-min
HM
Shi
Chun-lei
CL
Xiong
Li-wen
LW
Gao
Zhi-qiang
ZQ
Han
Bao-hui
BH
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib