Erlotinib in the treatment of advanced squamous cell NSCLC

• Published in: Neoplasma Vol. 60; no. 6; p. 676
• Main Authors: Fiala, O, Pesek, M, Finek, J, Krejci, J, Havel, L, Hrnciarik, M, Salajka, F, Bortlicek, Z, Benesova, L, Minarik, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovakia 01-01-2013
• Subjects: Aged; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - mortality; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - mortality; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; DNA, Neoplasm - genetics; Erlotinib Hydrochloride; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms - mortality; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Mutation - genetics; Neoplasm Staging; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prognosis; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Quinazolines - therapeutic use; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - genetics; Retrospective Studies; Survival Rate
• ISSN: 0028-2685
• DOI: 10.4149/neo_2013_086

Erlotinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibitor. Clinical trials have shown its efficacy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted a large retrospective study based on clinical experience aiming to prove erlotinib's efficacy and safety in patients with advanced-stage squamous cell NSCLC. Totally 375 patients with advanced-stage (IIIB, IV) squamous cell NSCLC were treated with erlotinib. Erlotinib was continued until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. 1 (0.3%) complete response (CR), 28 (7.5%) partial responses (PR) and 198 (52.8%) stable diseases (SD) were achieved. Overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 7.8% and 60.5%, respectively. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.0 months and median overall survival (OS) was 7.6 months. PFS of patients with CR/PR, SD and PD were 7.6, 3.9 and 1.0 months, respectively (P<0.001). OS of patients with CR/PR, SD and PD were 13.3, 10.9 and 3.8 months, respectively (P<0.001).The most common adverse effects were rash and diarrhoea. In conclusion ertlotinib is effective and well-tolerated in patients with advanced-stage squamous cell NSCLC.