title: Efficacy of erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a pooled analysis of randomized trials.
abstract: Erlotinib is a potent reversible HER1/epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor with single-agent activity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of erlotinib for treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer by carrying out a pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared erlotinib-based regimens with other agent-based regimens between January 1997 and 2011. Outcomes analyzed were objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events. Fourteen trials including 7974 patients were identified. As first-line therapy was compared with chemotherapy, there was a similar ORR [OR: 0.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64-17.36; P=0.15], but decreased PFS [hazard ratio (HR): 1.55; 95% CI: 1.24-1.93; P<0.01] and OS (HR: 1.39; 95% CI: 0.99-1.94; P=0.05). As maintenance therapy was compared with placebo, erlotinib-based regimens significantly increased ORR (OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.31-0.70; P<0.01), prolonged PFS (HR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.60-0.83; P<0.01), but did not improve OS (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.68-1.11; P=0.22). As second/third-line therapy was compared with placebo, erlotinib-based regimens also significantly increased ORR (OR: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.02-0.41; P<0.01), prolonged PFS (HR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.51-0.73; P<0.01), and improved OS (HR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.58-0.84; P<0.01). However, as second/third-line therapy was compared with chemotherapy, the outcomes were similar between the two arms. When compared with PF299804, there was a decreased ORR (OR: 3.87; 95% CI: 1.27-11.81; P=0.02), and shortened PFS (HR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.49-0.95; P=0.02). Meanwhile, erlotinib-based regimens showed no significant difference in adverse events, except for diarrhea, rash, and anemia. Erlotinib-based regimens significantly increased ORR and improved PFS as a first-line maintenance therapy or as a second/third-line therapy when compared with placebo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, PLA General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Huanyi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Daoyuan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride