[Application of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor as the first-line therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) has been widely used as the second- and third-line therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its effect in the first-line treatment is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EGFR-TKI as first-line therapy.


METHODS
The clinical characteristics, responses rate, disease control rate and overall survival were retrospectively analyzed in 77 chemonaive patients with advanced NSCLC. All of the patients received oral gefitinib (250 mg/d) or erlotinib (150 mg/d) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurrence.


RESULTS
The overall response rate was 33.8% and the disease control rate was 68.8%. The median progression-free survival and the median survival time were 6.0 months and 8.9 months, respectively. One-year survival rate was 61.4%. Responses correlated significantly with histology, PS score, smoking history, skin rash, EGFR mutations and serum CEA. Histology and skin rash were the independent predictors of survival. Common toxicities were skin rash and mild diarrhea. EGFR-TKI could improve the clinical symptoms and the quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
EGFR-TKI is effective and well tolerated as first-line therapy in patients with advanced NSCLC.
Xu
Yang
Y
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
Chen
Liangan
L
Tian
Qing
Q
Yang
Zhen
Z
Zhao
Wei
W
Wang
Ping
P
Liu
Xingchen
X
Li
Chunsun
C
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib