title: [Gefitinib in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a very poor prognosis. Individualization of treatment and identification of therapeutic molecular targets may improve outcomes. Gefitinib was introduced recently among several other molecular-targeted drugs of activity in NSCLC. Gefitinib is indicated for patients diagnosed with advanced or disseminated NSCLC with an activating mutation in the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) gene. The paper summarize experience with gefitinib in the Department of Lung and Thoracic Tumors of Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute in Warsaw.
  
  
  METHODS
  The group of 11 patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC and activating mutations in the EGFR gene was analyzed. Patients were treated from April 2010 to April 2011. Tolerability, objective response rate (ORR) and progression free survival (PFS), which was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median observation time from the start of gefitinib treatment was 14 months (range 4,8-19 months). The rate of one-year survival in this group of patients was 91% (10 patients) with 54% of patients (6 patients) surviving one year without progression of disease. The ORR rate of 82% and median PFS 11.4 months were reached. No treatment-related deaths were reported. Among the complications skin toxicity (82%) and diarrhea (45%) were most frequently observed, in most cases the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) first grade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirm the literature data on the efficacy and safety profile of gefitinib in the treatment of patients with the diagnosis of advanced NSCLC and activating mutation in the EGFR gene.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Nowotworów Płuca i Klatki Piersiowej, Centrum Onkologii--Instytut, ul. Roentgena 5,02–781 Warszawa. magdalena.knetki@coi.waw.pl
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knetki-Wróblewska
authors.forename: Dariusz M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zajda
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Płużański
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Badurak
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janowicz-Żebrowska
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jaśkiewicz
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krzakowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077156:Gefitinib; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011044:Poland; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib