[Clinical Study of Erlotinib in the Treatment of Patients with Advanced Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.].

Background: Erlotinib has been used widely in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and a portion of patients can gain remarkable benefit. This aim of the study is to evaluate the response and the side effects of Erlotinib as the treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: Total 14 NSCLC(IIIb or IV stage)patients, treated from June 2007 to July 2008, were enrolled in our study. Erlotinib was prescribed on the oral dose of 150 mg daily. The treatment response and side-effects were recorded. Patients were followed up. Kaplan-Meier method was used to perform survival analysis.
Results: Forty-two NSCLC patients were enrolled into the study and followed up until July 10, 2009. The median follow-up period was 16 months and the follow-up ratio was 100%. CR, PR, SD, PD were achieved 2.4% (1/42), 35.8% (15/42), 47.6% (20/42) and 14.3% (6/42), respectively. Disease control rate (DCR) was reported by 85.7%. Median time to progression and median overall survival period were 7 and 12.2 months, respectively. One year progression-free survival rate and 1-year overall survival rate were 29% and 55%, respectively. Adverse events included acneiform rash 78.6% (33/42), diarrhea 35.7% (15/42), hepatic dysfunction 7.1% (3/42) and acute interstitial lung disease 2.4% (1/42).
Conclusions: Erlotinib is an effective therapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with acceptable side effects.