In a nutshell
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the anti-cancer drug erlotinib (Tarceva) in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with positive EGFR mutations in caucasian patients. The study concluded that erlotinib was safe and effective as first-line treatment in this type of cancer.
Some background
A mutation (permanent change) in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been associated with the growth of NSCLC. EGFR-mutation-positive NSCLC has been shown to respond well to treaments that block EGFR. This has been shown in several studies with Asian patients. Whether EGFR blocking treatment would be as effective in Caucasian patients is not clear.
Methods & findings
This study investigated whether the EGFR blocker erlotinib was effective in treating EGFR-mutation-positive advanced NSCLC in Caucasian patients.
46 patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung that were EGFR-mutation-positive were selected. The patients selected had not recieved previous treatment for advanced cancer. All patients were treated with erlotinib.
The average progression free survival time (time from treatment until disease progression) was 11 months. 81% of patients were progression free at 3 months.
2% saw a complete response (disappearance of the tumor). 57% saw a partial response (the tumor decreased by more than 50%) and 22% had stable disease (the tumor did not change in size). The average duration of response was 9.7 months. Average overall survival (time from treatment until death from any cause) was 23 months.
The bottom line
This study concluded that erlotinib was effective as a first line treatment for Caucasion patients with EGFR-mutation-positive advanced NSCLC.
The fine print
The study did not have a control group of patients treated with a comparable therapy.
What’s next?
Speak to your doctor about whether treatment with erlotinib is right for your situation.
Published By :
PLOS ONE
Date :
Mar 31, 2016
