Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
UHOD-ULUSLARARASI HEMATOLOJI-ONKOLOJI DERGISI, cilt.23, sa.1, ss.1-6, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
Erlotinib is a potent inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase, with single-agent antitumor activity which improves symptom control and quality of life compared with placebo in non-small-cell-lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of the second, third or fourth-line erlotinib in advanced NSCLC patients in Turkish population. Eighty patients (33 males and 47 females) were retrospectively evaluated. All patients had received a platinum-based regimen as the first-line metastatic therapy. Most of the patients (62.5%) had received erlotinib as the second-line treatment. None of the patients had EGFR mutation studied. One patient achieved a complete response, 10 patients partial response and 21 stable diseases. The overall response rate was 14% and disease control rate was 40%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 12 months and 18 months, respectively. Although, there was no survival difference between male and female patients, the median PFS of females was significantly better than male patients (p=0.03). There was no significant difference in disease control rate in terms of age, smoking status, erlotinib line, performance status (PS), stage and skin rash. The most common adverse events were skin rash (56%), diarrhea (9%) and anorexia (8%). Sixteen patients (20%) developed grade 3 toxicities. Grade 4 toxicity or treatment related interstitial lung disease were not observed. Erlotinib showed an acceptable response rate, survival time and toxicity after disease progression with chemotherapy. It's an alternative therapy as a second or third-line therapy in patients with NSCLC. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the efficiency of the treatment in Turkish population.