Gefitinib monotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a retrospective analysis

There is no published data in Nepal regarding the use of gefitinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, a retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate the response and toxicity profile of Gefitinib alone in patients with advanced NSCLC and unknown epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status.

A single institutional retrospective study was conducted for the period from January 2004 to December 2006 involving patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who received gefitinib as monotherapy Primary objective was to evaluate the objective tumor response rate.

A total of 36 patients with advanced NSCLC who received gefitinib 250 mg orally once daily as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th line treatment in 7, 14, 9, and 6 patients respectively were included in the analysis. Comparable number of patients pertaining to sex, smoking status, and tumor histology were included. The overall response rate at 3 months was 60% including 47% in males and 68% in females. After one month 38% and 6.6% patients with adenocarcinoma and squamous histology respectively responded to gefitinib therapy. The median progression-free survival was 5.7 months. Toxicities were generally mild with diarrhea, rash and pruritus being the most commonly observed side effects.

In this single-center experience, gefitinib demonstrated clinically significant response in overall population and provided good palliation in pretreated patients.