ABSTRACT
Median survival of patients with brain metastases from nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor and more effective treatments are urgently needed. We have evaluated the efficacy of erlotinib in this setting and its association with activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. We retrospectively identified patients with NSCLC and brain metastases treated with erlotinib. EGFR mutations in exons 19 and 21 were analysed by direct sequencing. Efficacy and tolerability were compared according to EGFR mutational status. 69 NSCLC patients with brain metastases were identified, 17 of whom harboured EGFR mutations. Objective response rate in patients with EGFR mutations was 82.4%; no responses were observed in unselected patients (p<0.001). Median (95% CI) time to progression within the brain for patients harbouring EGFR mutations was 11.7 (7.9-15.5) months, compared to 5.8 (5.2-6.4) months for control patients whose EGFR mutational status had not been assessed (p<0.05). Overall survival was 12.9 (6.2-19.7) months and 3.1 (2.5-3.9) months (p<0.001), respectively. The toxicity of erlotinib was as expected and no differences between cohorts were observed. Erlotinib is active in brain metastases from NSCLC; this clinical benefit is related to the presence of activating mutations in exons 19 or 21 of the EGFR gene.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/secondary , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism , ErbB Receptors/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Mutation , Quinazolines/pharmacology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biopsy , Brain Neoplasms/metabolism , Cohort Studies , ErbB Receptors/metabolism , Erlotinib Hydrochloride , Exons , Female , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Metastasis , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
AIM: To assess the utility of salivary gland scintigraphy and salivary flow to quantify salivary function and to evaluate the usefulness of pilocarpine in the treatment of radiation-induced xerestomia in head and neck cancer patients. METHOD: Thirty two patients with head and neck tumor treated with radiotherapy (RDT) were studied. Patients were classified into two groups: pilocarpine group (P), that received prophylactic pilocarpine before RDT and during the first year after treatment. No pilocarpine group (NP) that received RDT without pilocarpine. Salivary gland scintigraphy and salivary flow were performed before RDT and during one year after treatment. Parotid and submaxillary uptake and excretion were calculated. Salivary flow after stimulation during five minutes was also obtained. RESULTS: Uptake and excretion in both salivary glands decreased after RDT. There were no statistical differences comparing P and NP groups (p < 0.001). However, in group P a trend to recovery was observed in parotid uptake values at 12 months after treatment, but it was not statistically significant. In both groups the salivary flow decreased after RDT and a good correlation (r = 0.8) between salivary flow and submaxillary excretion and parotid excretion was found. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary gland scintigraphy and salivary flow could be useful to evaluate salivary gland function in patients with head and neck irradiated tumors. Although better results on the salivary uptake at 12 months were noted, pilocarpine did not significantly improve salivary gland function.