title: [Short-term outcomes of 16 patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving cetuximab combined with standard chemotherapy in the first and non-first line settings].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize our experiences with the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with cetuximab and compare the therapeutic effects of cetuximab applied in the first line and non-first line settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 1, 2006 to December 31, 2009, 16 NSCLC patients were treated with cetuximab combined with standard chemotherapy in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. The short-term efficacy of the therapeutic protocols were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 115 cycles of cetuximab treatment were administered in these patients with a median of 6 cycles (7.5 in the first line setting and 2 in non-first line setting). In the 10 patients with cetuximab treatment in the first line setting, the ORR was 40.0% (4/10), DCR was 80.0% (8/10), median TTP was 6.5 months (2-19), and median OS was 8.5 months (2-48); in the non-first line setting, these indices were 33.3% (2/6), 33.3% (2/6), 3.5 months (3-4) and 18 months (4-28), respectively. Both ORR and DCR were similar between the first and non-first line settings (P=0.790, P=0.062). Ten of the patients (62.5%) developed acne-like rash within 3 weeks, who had an ORR of 60% (6/10) and DCR of 90% (9/10); the ORR and DCR in patients without acne-like rash were both 10.4% (1/6), showing no significant difference in ORR (P=0.080) but a significant difference in DCR between the two groups (P=0.003). No treatment-associated death or cetuximab-associated discontinuation occurred. Altogether 11 patients (68.8%) developed acne-like rash, which occurred within 3 weeks in 10 cases. Seven patients showed side effects associated with the chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cetuximab combined with standard chemotherapy is a good option for Chinese patients with NSCLC and the current data support the application of cetuximab in the first line setting.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Hui-juan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Liang-ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gui-fang
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Fei-fei
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068818:Cetuximab; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068818:Cetuximab