title: Second- and further-line therapy with erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in daily clinical practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this retrospective study was to examine effect of erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in second-line and further therapy in daily clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with histologically or cytologically proven NSCLC (n = 84) treated with erlotinib in second-line (n = 34), third-line (n = 36), and more-line therapy (n = 14) were examined for progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), duration of therapy, and adverse effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median PFS of all lines was 83 days (CI 70.0-96.0), OS was 7 months (CI 4.7-9.3), DCR was 66.2% (CI 55-77%), and 1-year survival rate was 33% (CI 22-43%), with no significant difference between therapy lines. Median duration of treatment was 76 days (IQR 39-139.5). Patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation (EGFR-M) reached the highest PFS (204 days), as did patients with good performance status (ECOG 0-1: 94 versus ECOG 2-3: 65 days, P = 0.035). Patients with EGFR-M also revealed a DCR of 100%. The most frequent side effects were rash (69%) and diarrhoea (41%), without any significant difference between therapy lines. In 24 patients, the treatment dose was reduced and in 18, the therapy was paused.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Erlotinib works in all therapy lines without any significant differences in efficacy and side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Pneumology & Allergology, Medical Clinic I, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krainhöfer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Statistics, Computer Sciences and Documentation, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2118-1093
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steinert
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Pneumology & Allergology, Medical Clinic I, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reissig
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride