RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Maintenance Therapy with Gefitinib after First-line Chemotherapy in Patients Affected by Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 4425
OP 4429
VO 27
IS 6C
A1 M. MENCOBONI
A1 M. BERGAGLIO
A1 M. SERRA
A1 G.P. IVALDI
A1 S. TREDICI
A1 O. RACCHI
A1 L. REBELLA
A1 V. GALBUSERA
A1 M. GROSSO
A1 B. FARAVELLI
YR 2007
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/27/6C/4425.abstract
AB Background: Chemotherapy extends life for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Second-line treatment of NSCLC includes the use of cytotoxic drugs; however, toxicity is of concern. One molecular target for lung cancer is the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Gefitinib (Iressa™) is an EGFR inhibitor. The aim of our study was to evaluate time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS) and toxicities in a population affected by NSCLC using Iressa™ as maintenance therapy after first-line chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: Thirty patients were enrolled with stable disease or partial response. Six cycles of a platinum-based first-line chemotherapy were administered. Iressa™ was administered at the dose of 250 mg/d. Results: Median TTP was 5 months; median overall survival was 8 months. TTP for adenocarcinoma and non-adenocarcinoma patients was 10 months and 3.2 months, respectively. No toxic effects were seen in 80% of the patients; 17% of the patients had grade 1 follicolitis. OS for adenocarcinoma and non-adenocarcinoma patients were 15 and 5.9 months, respectively. Conclusion: Gefitinib could be an ideal second-line therapy for adenocarcinoma patients responding to first-line chemotherapy. Copyright© 2007 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved