[Advanced lung cancer of performance status 3 successfully treated by gefitinib--a case report]

The prognosis in cases of advanced lung cancer with poor performance status is poor. We report here a patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer of performance status 3 who had severe cancer-induced pain, which was not controlable with morphine and radiation therapy. The cancer was successfully treated by oral administration of gefitinib (250 mg/day) without serious adverse effects of worsening of quality of life. Not only was the tumor controlled but rapid relief of severe cancer-induced pain was achieved.