[Erlotinib in the Second/Third Line Treatment of Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.]

Erlotinib is a targeted drug for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, influencing factors and toxicity of erlotinib in patients with NSCLC.

Patients with NSCLC who had been previously treated with at least one course of platinum based chemotherapy received 150 mg oral doses of erlotinib once daily until disease progression. Response rate, progression free survival, overall survival and toxicity profile were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier methods was used to analyze the survival rate. Cox regression was used to define the predictive factors.

Forty-eight patients were enrolled into the study from Dec, 2005 to Sep, 2006. We followed up these patients until 08.Dec.2008. Median follow up time was 30 months. The compliance rate was 100%. The median symptom improving time was 7 days. Partial response 33.4% (16/48), stable disease 22.9% (11/48), and progressive disease 43.7% (21/48). Response rate was 33.4% (16/48). Disease control rate was 56.3% (27/48). One and two-year progression-free survival rates and overall survival rates were 25%(events 36), 8.3% (events 40) and 43.8% (death 27), 20.8% (death 38); three-year overall survival 5.6%. The median progression-free survival time and median overall survival time was 5 months and 8 months, respectively. Performance status was the only predictor for overall survival in the Cox model (P <0.001). Skin toxicity (grade 1 to 3) was found in 93.7% patients. One patient discontinued erlotinib because of perianal abscess.

Erlotinib is another effective drug for patients with previously chemotherapy advanced NSCLC and accepted toxicity profile.