Clinical response of gefitinib on malignant pleural effusions in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Journal
Journal of Cancer Molecules
Journal Volume
4
Journal Issue
1
Pages
23-28
Date Issued
2008
Author(s)
Abstract
Aim: Gefitinib has been used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and is known to provide favorable outcomes in some patients, especially the Asian ethnicity. However, its ability to stop malignant pleural effusion progression in lung cancer patients remains unclear. Methods: The clinical response and outcome of gefitinib-treated NSCLC patients with malignant pleural effusions were reviewed restrospectively. Their associations with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and skin toxicity were also studied. Results: Fifty-six patients were included in our study. The effusion response rate and effusion control rate were 52% and 77%, respectively. Fifteen of the twenty patients examined were proved to have EGFR mutations. There were favorable association of EGFR mutations with better effusions response and longer effusion-progression-free survival (P=0.032 and 0.02, respectively). Gefitinib-induced skin toxicity was also associated with better effusion responsive (P=0.003). Seventeen patients had received pleurodesis before response was correlated with their extra-pleural response (P<0.001). The median effusion-progression-free survival between the non-pleurodesis and pleurodesis group had shown no significant difference (5.0 and 4.8 months, respectively, P =0.81). Conclusion: Effusion control and response rates are high in gefitinib-treated NSCLC patients. Early pleurodesis can withheld in NSCLC patients taking gefitinib. ? 2008 MedUnion Press.
SDGs
Other Subjects
epidermal growth factor receptor; gefitinib; adult; aged; article; cancer patient; controlled study; correlation analysis; data analysis; disease association; drug response; female; gene mutation; human; lung non small cell cancer; major clinical study; male; outcome assessment; pleura effusion; pleurodesis; retrospective study; skin toxicity; survival time
Type
journal article