Efficacy and safety of first-line erlotinib in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

  • Authors:
    • Ofer Merimsky
    • Chi-Kin Cheng
    • Joseph Siu-Kie Au
    • Joachim von Pawel
    • Martin Reck
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 18, 2012     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2012.1824
  • Pages: 721-727
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Tarceva Lung cancer Survival Treatment (TRUST) was an open-label, phase IV study of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients failing or unsuitable for chemotherapy or radiotherapy received erlotinib 150 mg/day until progression. We examined a subpopulation of elderly patients (≥70 years) receiving first-line erlotinib (n=485) in TRUST. In this subpopulation, disease control rate (n=356 with best response data available) was 79% (vs. 69% for the overall TRUST population; p<0.0001); median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.57 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.68-5.22]; median overall survival (OS) was 7.29 months (95% CI, 6.27-8.67); and one-year survival, was 36.6%. PFS and OS were significantly longer in patients developing rash, compared to those without, and in those with good performance status (PS; 0/1), compared to poor PS (≥2). Eighty-seven subpopulation patients (18%) had an erlotinib-related AE; other than the protocol-defined frequent adverse events (AEs); 4% had a grade ≥3 erlotinib-related AE, 7% had an erlotinib-related serious AE. In the subpopulation, dose reductions were required in 27%, most (97%) were reductions to 100 mg/day; treatment was discontinued in 10%, and one death was associated with treatment-related toxicity (<1%). Erlotinib was effective and well-tolerated and may be considered for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC who are unsuitable for standard first-line chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

August 2012
Volume 28 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Merimsky O, Cheng C, Au JS, von Pawel J and Reck M: Efficacy and safety of first-line erlotinib in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Oncol Rep 28: 721-727, 2012
APA
Merimsky, O., Cheng, C., Au, J.S., von Pawel, J., & Reck, M. (2012). Efficacy and safety of first-line erlotinib in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Oncology Reports, 28, 721-727. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2012.1824
MLA
Merimsky, O., Cheng, C., Au, J. S., von Pawel, J., Reck, M."Efficacy and safety of first-line erlotinib in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer". Oncology Reports 28.2 (2012): 721-727.
Chicago
Merimsky, O., Cheng, C., Au, J. S., von Pawel, J., Reck, M."Efficacy and safety of first-line erlotinib in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer". Oncology Reports 28, no. 2 (2012): 721-727. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2012.1824