Erlotinib Monotherapy in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: An Effective Approach with Low Toxicity

Background: Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and particularly erlotinib (Tarceva) has been a field of intense research. This retrospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy of erlotinib and its...

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Published in:Anticancer research 2008-07, Vol.28 (4C), p.2409-2415
Main Authors: ARDAVANIS, Alexandros, KOUMNA, Stella, FRAGOS, Ioannis, MALLIOU, Savvoula, KYRIAKOU, Flora, MANTZARIS, Ioannis, SCORILAS, Andreas, RIGATOS, Gerassimos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - drug therapy
Disease-Free Survival
Erlotinib Hydrochloride
Female
Humans
Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplasm Staging
Pneumology
Protein Kinase Inhibitors - therapeutic use
Quinazolines - adverse effects
Quinazolines - therapeutic use
Retrospective Studies
Tumors
Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum
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Summary:Background: Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and particularly erlotinib (Tarceva) has been a field of intense research. This retrospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy of erlotinib and its impact on survival. Patients and Methods: Patients with stage IIIB or IV, advanced or recurrent metastatic NSCLC were included in the study and were administered erlotinib 150 mg daily, at different lines of treatment. Results: Thirty-six patients were included in the study: 29 (81%) male, 7 (19%) female. At the time of analysis, all patients had progressed and died. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4 months ± 2.43 months (range 0-8 months), whereas median overall survival (OS) was 7 months ± 2.65 months (range 3-15 months). Patients with ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 had better OS and significantly higher PFS rates. Overall response rate was 16.7%, while the disease control rate was 81% . Conclusion: Erlotinib is effective and well tolerated in pretreated patients with advanced NSCLC and a good performance status.
ISSN:0250-7005
1791-7530