title: Advanced non-small cell lung cancer management in patients progressing after first-line treatment: results of the cross-sectional phase of the Italian LIFE observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  LIFE (non-small cell Lung cancer management In patients progressing after First-linE of treatment in the metastatic setting) is a multicentre Italian observational study, including a cross-sectional and a longitudinal phase, with the aim of describing the therapeutic approach in clinical practice for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, progressing after first-line treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this paper, the cross-sectional phase is outlined, with the primary endpoint of describing the proportion of patients receiving second-line treatment among those progressed during or after first-line treatment according to clinical practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From July 2011 to January 2012, 603 patients were enrolled and 541 (90 %) were evaluable. A total of 464 (86 %) patients received a second-line therapy outside clinical trials. Chemotherapy and targeted therapies were administered to 65 and 34 % of patients, respectively (1 % both). No tissue collection was required within the observational trial, and biomarkers analysis was performed at diagnosis or later in 314 patients (58 %). In details, activating epidermal growth factor receptor mutations were detected in 21 % of 311 evaluable patients, Kirsten rat sarcoma 2 viral oncogene homolog mutation in 22 % of the 77 evaluable patients and anaplastic lymphoma kinase translocations analysis was performed in 74 patients and resulted positive in 23 % of cases. These high proportions were probably due to enriched patient population tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed a pattern of care for NSCLC second-line therapy which reflects international guidelines recommendations and current expected clinical practice. Interestingly, biomarkers analyses were performed in a higher percentage than expected.
authors.affiliation: A.O.R.N. San Giuseppe Moscati, Contrada Amoretta, 83100, Avellino, AV, Italy, cgridelli@libero.it.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gridelli
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Marinis
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ardizzoni
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novello
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fontanini
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cappuzzo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santo
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cortinovis
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Favaretto
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galetta
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siena
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bettini
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iurlaro
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caprioli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D018401:Sample Size; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C000626173:ALK protein, human; C000626175:Alk protein, rat; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins