[Erlotinib in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)].
OBJECTIVE
Erlotinib is a small-molecule inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase, showing a significant improvement of survival in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after the failure of front-line chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor efficacy and toxicity of Erlotinib in the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients.


METHODS
A total of 104 patients with advanced NSCLC admitted in our department during December 2006 to November 2008 were enrolled in this study. Eligible patients received oral Erlotinib 150 mg/d until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. Best clinical response was determined using RECIST criteria, the adverse events were evaluated according to the NCI criteria.


RESULTS
The total effective rate was 27.9% (29/104) and the clinical benefit was 76.0% (79/104). The median progression-free survival was 5.1 months (95%CI 4.0 - 8.0). The median survival time was 13.1 months (95%CI 10.0 - 15.7). The 1-year survival rate was 61.5%. Significant survival benefit from erlobinib therapy was observed for patients with good personal status (HR 0.56, P = 0.006), adenocarcinoma (HR 0.43, P = 0.004) and skin rash (HR 0.46, P = 0.005). But patients with smoking (HR 2.75, P < 0.001) and liver metastasis (HR 2.91, P = 0.002) add the risk of death. The adverse events were mild (grade < or = 2), most common toxicities were skin rash in 73.1% (76/104) and diarrhea in 41.3% (43/104). Only 6.7% (7/104) patients got adverse events of grade > or = 3.


CONCLUSIONS
Erlotinib is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for advanced NSCLC and could offer an alternative for patients after the failure of first-line chemotherapy, unsuitable for or not wishing to receive chemotherapy.
Tang
Chuan-hao
CH
Department of Lung Cancer, Tumor Center of PLA, Affiliated Hospital of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Liu
Xiao-qing
XQ
Gao
Hong-jun
HJ
Li
Jian-jie
JJ
Guo
Wan-feng
WF
Li
Xiao-yan
XY
Wang
Wei-xia
WX
Liu
Bing
B
Qu
Li-li
LL
Wang
Wei-wei
WW
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012907:Smoking; D015996:Survival Rate
D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors