title: The Role of Gefitinib in Patients with Non-small-cell Lung Cancer in India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, represents a new treatment option for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We analyzed the data of patients who received Gefitinib for NSCLC in a tertiary care center in South India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three patients with advanced NSCLC who had received Gefitinib either after failure of conventional chemotherapy or were previously not treated as they were unfit or unwilling for conventional treatment were included in the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up for the cohort was 311 days (range 11-1544 days). Median time to progression was 161 (range 9-883) days. Complete and partial remission was seen in 1 (2%) and 6 (9%) patients, respectively, with overall response rate of 11%. Twenty-four (38%) patients had stable disease. Gefitinib was well tolerated with no significant side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gefitinib shows anti-tumor activity in pretreated or previously untreated patients with advanced NSCLC. It has a favorable toxicity profile and is well tolerated. Gefitinib should be considered as a viable therapy in patients with NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Cancer Institute and Institute of Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, AIMS Ponekkara P.O. Kochi, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Asmita Anilkumar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Wesley M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.forename: Kicheelath
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavithran
authors.forename: Ganesan S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Triavadi
keywords: Epidermal growth factor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor; Gefitinib; Non-small-cell lung cancer