[Prognostic relevance of body mass index and rash for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer under therapy with erlotinib].

Tyrosine kinase inhibition (TKI) such as erlotinib is a well established treatment option in the palliative care of patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Histology and sex have been associated with different prognostic outcome measures in patients treated with erlotinib. Furthermore, the degree of rash, developed during treatment might be a relevant marker in respect to tumor response. To dissect these clinical relevant features we analysed a cohort of 275 patients treated with erlotinib in different lines of chemotherapy in our hospital. Nutrition status plays an important role in the prognosis of patients in a palliative chemotherapeutic setting, we therefore included body mass index measurements (BMI) in our analysis. We found that BMI and smoking status influence different survival patterns. Male patients have a poorer survival based on low BMI, rash development and smoking status. We therefore conclude that both nutritional and smoking status should be taken into account in the surveillance of patients with NSCLC in a palliative therapeutic setting under TKI treatment.