Efficacy of gefitinib as a first-line single agent treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Objective

To assess the efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib as a single agent treatment in Chinese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Forty-five patients with advanced NSCLC were treated with gefitinib at 250 mg daily until the disease progressed or the patient could not tolerate the toxicity.

Results

None of the patients achieved a complete response (CR), while 15 patients achieved a partial remission (PR) and 17 experienced a stable disease (SD). Thirteen patients continued to have a progressive disease (PD). The response rate and the disease control rate were 33.3% and 71.1%, respectively. The symptom remission rate was 72.5%, and the median remission time was 8 days. The median survival time was 15.3 months. The median progression-free survival time was 6.0 months. The most common toxicities included rash (53.3%) and diarrhea (33.3%). Dehydration and pruritus of the skin developed in 26.7% and 22.2% of the patients, respectively. Hepatic toxicity occurred in 6.7% of patients and oral ulceration occurred in 4.4% of patients.

Conclusion

Single agent treatment with gefitinib is effective against advanced NSCLC, and is well tolerated in Chinese patients.