title: The Effect of ZD 1839 (Iressa(R)) in the Treatment of Refractory Non Small Cell Lung Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of ZD 1839 (Iressa(R)) as a 3rd or 4th line chemotherapy regimen in NSCLC patients who are refractory to a previous chemotherapy regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients who were refractory to previous chemotherapy were selected for this study. The eligible patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 to 2, and an appropriate end organ function. ZD 1839 (Iressa(R))250 mg/d was orally administered until the patients experienced disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five patients were analyzed. The median age of the patients was 57 years. The response rate was 12.0% with partial responses in 3 patients. Fourteen patients (56%) remained in the stable disease state and 8 patients progressed. The median overall survival was 9.0 months (95% CI 6.7~11.2). The median progression free survival was 3 months (95% CI 2.2~3.8). Hematological toxicities of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia were absent. Non-hematological toxicities were grade 2 or 3 skin rashes in 10 (40.0%) patients and 1 (4.0%) patient and grade 3 nausea in 3 (12.0%) patients. No patient failed to continue chemotherapy due to any drug-related adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that ZD 1839 (Iressa(R)) monotherapy is effective and tolerable as a 3rd or 4th line salvage treatment for NSCLC patients refractory to previous chemotherapy regimens.
authors.forename: Yong Tai
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chul
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joo Hyuk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Nae Choon
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Young Sam
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Se Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Kil Dong
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Joo Hang
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer; ZD1839 (Iressa(R))