Response to: Second-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer with wild-type EGFR status. What is the best approach?

[Second- or third-line treatment with erlotinib in EGFR wild-type non-small cell lung cancer: Real-life data]

INTRODUCTION

The benefit of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for patients with an EGFR wild-type non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial.

METHODS

The survival of patients with an EGFR wild-type NSCLC who received second- or third-line erlotinib treatment was assessed using real-life data that had been collected in a prospective, national, multicenter, non-interventional cohort study.

RESULTS

Data from 274 patients were analysed, 185 (68%) treated with erlotinib and 89 (32%) treated with supportive care only. The median overall survival was 4.2months (95% CI [3.5; 5.4]) with erlotinib, and 1.3months (95% CI [1.0; 1.8]) with supportive care. Survival rate at 3, 6, and 12months was 62%, 37%, and 17%, respectively, with erlotinib, versus 20%, 8%, et 3%, with exclusive supportive care. Significant predictive factors for longer overall survival were the presence of adenocarcinoma, and use of 1st line chemotherapy including either taxanes, pemetrexed or vinorelbine (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Erlotinib remains a valuable therapeutic option to treat inoperable locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen in fragile patients who are not eligible for chemotherapy.