Efficacy and safety evaluation of icotinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of icotinib hydrochloride in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
A total of 89 patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC received icotinib at a dose of 125 mg administered 3 times a day. Icotinib treatment was continued until disease progression or development of unacceptable toxicity.


RESULTS
A total of 89 patients were assessable. In patients treated with icotinib, the overall response rate (RR) was 36.0% (32/89), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 69.7% (62/89). RR and DCR were significantly improved in patients with adenocarcinoma versus non-adenocarcinoma (P<0.05). The symptom improvement rate was 57.3% (51/89), and the main symptoms improved were cough, pain, chest distress, dyspnea, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status. The main toxic effects were rash [30/89 (33.7%)] and diarrhea [15/89 (16.9%)]. The level of toxicity was typically low.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of icotinib hydrochloride in the treatment of advanced NSCLC is efficacious and safe, and its toxic effects are tolerable.
Department of pulmonary medicine, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.
Aiqin
A
Gu
Chunlei
C
Shi
Liwen
L
Xiong
Tianqing
T
Chu
Jun
J
Pei
Baohui
B
Han
Icotinib; non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); targeted therapy