The Clinical Efficacy And Tolerability Of EGFR-TKI In Locally Advanced Or Metastatic NSCLC Patients

BACKGROUND:Gefitinib and erlotinib are small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR-TKI).EGFR-TKI is a valid treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Increased likelihood of responding to small-molecule therapy is associated with Asian race,female gender, never smoking and adenocarcinoma.PURPOSE:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of EGFR-TKI in locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC patients.METHODS:Twenty-nine pathologically verified,locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC patients were treated with gefitinib 250 mg/d or erlotinib 150mg/d, until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.Fourteen patients were treated as a first-line treatment and 15 patients were treated as a second-line treatment.RESULTS:Overall response rate(RR) of 29 patients was 48.3%,and the disease control rate(DCR) was 72.4%.The median progession-free survival(PFS) was 7.7 month.At the end of follow-up,eleven patients died of lung cancer.The median overall survival of these dead patients was 8 months.The most common drug-related adverse events were skin rashes and diarrhea,but generally mild and tolerant.CONCLUSION:EGFR-TKI is effective and safe in the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC.