In a nutshell
This study looked at Asian patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and compared the use of two drug regimens to see which was better.
Some background
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Some patients with NSCLC have a genetic mutation in a specific gene, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. This mutation leads to cancer growth and occurs in 30% of Asian NSCLC patients. Treatments that block EGFR may be more successful in these patients. It is not clear whether these treatments are more successful than chemotherapy in Asian patients.
Methods & findings
This study compared the effectivness of two treatments, erlotinib (Tarceva) and a combination of two chemotherapy agents, gemcitabine (Gemzar) and cisplatin (Paclitaxel), in Asian patients with NSCLC.
This study included 217 patients of Asian ethnicity with advanced stage III or IV NSCLC (spread to the lymph nodes or to other areas of the body). All of the patients had tested positive for the EGFR gene mutation.
Progression-free survival (time from treatment until the cancer progresses) was 11.0 months in patients receiving erlotinib and 5.5 months in patients receiving chemotherapy. Erlotinib reduced the risk of NSCLC progressing by 66% compared to chemotherapy.
62.7% of patients receiving erlotinib saw an objective response to the treatment (such as tumor shrinkage) compared ot 33.6% receiving chemotherapy.
More side effects were noted in patients given chemotherapy. Side effects included low levels of white blood cells (the cells that help to fight infections) and anemia (low levels of the red blood cells that carry oxygen). The most common side effect of erlotinib was rash.
The bottom line
The authors of this study concluded that patients with NSCLC and the EGFR mutation survived longer when treated with erlotinib compared to a gemcitabine/cisplatin combination.
The fine print
This study was funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, the manufacturers of erlotinib and the genetic test for the EGFR mutation.
What’s next?
Discuss the right treatment for your NSCLC with your doctor.
Published By :
Annals of oncology
Date :
Jun 23, 2015
