[Efficacy and safety of Erlotinib in the treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer in Chinese patients].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the efficacy and the adverse effects of erlotinib in the treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Chinese patients.


METHODS
From November 2005 to March 2009, a total of 519 patients with unresectable, local advanced, relapsed or metastatic NSCLC were enrolled in the trial. All the patients were treated with erlotinib 150 mg/day until disease progression or intolerable toxicity or for other reasons. The response rate, time to disease progression, overall survival and toxicity were analyzed.


RESULTS
Of these 519 patients, 1 case had complete response, 127 cases had partial response and 263 cases had stable disease, resulting in an overall response rate (CR + PR) of 26.7%, disease stable rate of 54.9% and disease control rate (CR + PR + SD) of 81.6%. The median time to progression was 6.44 months and median overall survival was 15.37 months. The major erlotinib treatment-related adverse events (AE) were mild (CTC AE 1/2), only 3 cases had severe adverse effect, 1 case had interstitial lung disease and died of respiratory failure.


CONCLUSIONS
The study presents excellent response rates, time to progression and overall survival of erlotinib treatment for advanced NSCLC in Chinese patients, and its adverse events are tolerable.
Wu
Yi-long
YL
Cancer Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
Liao
Mei-lin
ML
Qin
Shu-kui
SK
Sun
Yan
Y
Zhou
Cai-cun
CC
D044466:Asian People; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018450:Disease Progression; 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; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate
D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors