Clinical observation of gefitinib for the treatment of 125 cases with advanced non-small cell lung cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>125 patients with advanced NSCLC who had failed or not tolerated or refused chemotherapy received 250 mg oral doses of gefitinib once daily until the disease progression or intolerable toxicity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 125 NSCLC patients were studied, the overall response rate (RR) and the disease control rate (DCR) after administration of gefitinib were 35.2% (44/125) and 77.6% (97/125), respectively. The median progression-free survival and the median survival time were 5.8 and 11.2 months, respectively. The one-year survival rate was 40.5%. The response rate was significantly higher in females, adenocarcinoma and nonsmokers than that in males, non-adenocarcinoma and smokers (P < 0.05). The response rate did not show significant differences regarding ECOG score or previous treatment. The median progression-free survival was significantly longer in ECOG PS 0-1 and gefitinib effective patients than that in ECOG PS >or= 2 and gefitinib ineffective patients (P < 0.01). The median survival time was significantly longer in adenocarcinoma, nonsmokers and gefitinib effective patients than that in non-adenocarcinoma, smokers and gefitinib ineffective patients (P < 0.05). The most common side effects were rash (51.2%) and diarrhea (34.4%), but usually were mild.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Gefitinib is effective and safe in the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients.</p>