Impacts of treatment lines and initiation timing of erlotinib for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

AIM

This study aimed to analyze whether or not the efficacy and safety of erlotinib are influenced by differences among treatment lines and initiation timing in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Stage III or IV NSCLC cases were retrospectively evaluated at three university hospitals. The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Median PFSs of the second-, third- and fourth-line and over therapies were 138, 250 and 95 days; and median overall survivals (OSs) were 174, 260 and 270 days, respectively, with no significant differences. The response rates (RR) for the second-, third- and fourth-line and over therapies were 14%, 24% and 13%, respectively, with no significant differences. The toxicity profiles did not differ among the groups. The median PFSs and OSs according to initiation timing were not significantly different.

CONCLUSION

Differences in treatment lines and initiation timing affected neither efficacy nor safety in patients with advanced NSCLC.