Lung adenocarcinoma - For how long a good response is the question

A 75 year old woman was observed at the emergency department with cough, hyperthermia and thoracic pain in October 2004.A pleural effusion was identified and studied. Thorax CT scan evidenced a pleural effusion and thickening in the RSL anterior segment but bronchofibroscopy only identified inflammatory changes. In February 2005 the pleural effusion relapsed and the CT scan showed nodular densification adjacent to LSLB and lingual. VATS converted to thoracotomy was preformed and followed by a long recover period. Histology of surgical specimen revealed an adenocarcinoma. First line CT was administered until progression as bone metastasis, in March 2006. Second line CT was started, with disease stabilization. The administration of erlotinib was started in July 2007 and continues to the present with good tolerance. The patient has no pain and continues without progression of disease after 13 month of treatment. For how long will she maintain this response, is the question. Rev Port Pneumol 2008; XIV (Supl 3): S71-S77.