Retrospective analysis of third-line chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

First- and second-line chemotherapies have been demonstrated to be effective in treatment of patients with inoperable, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), although the role of third-line chemotherapy remains unclear. The present investigation assessed treatment outcomes in patients with advanced NSCLC who received third-line and higher chemotherapy.

This retrospective study included consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who received at least three lines of systemic chemotherapy.

A total of 72 patients who had received third-line or higher chemotherapy were included in the analysis. The median age of patients was 49 years (range 41-76), and there were 13 (18.1%) women and 59 (81.9%) men. Estimated median survival was 26 months. Moreover, overall survival was significantly longer in patients for whom disease control was achieved after second-line chemotherapy compared to those with disease progression (34 vs. 17 months, respectively). Survival after third-line treatment was significantly longer in the group with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1 at the beginning of third-line therapy compared to patients with a status of 2-3.

In patients with advanced stage NSCLC, administration of third-line and higher systemic chemotherapy may be associated with increase in overall survival. Furthermore, greater increases in overall survival were also observed in patients for whom disease control was achieved after second-line therapy and in those with ECOG performance status of 0-1 before third-line treatment.