Monnet I, Audigier-Valette C, Girard N, Vergnenègre A, Molinier O, Souquet PJ, Blanchon F, Bonnetain F, Taguieva-Pioger N, Lamour C, Wislez M. Real-life effectiveness of erlotinib as second-line treatment of stage IIIB/IV squamous non-small cell lung cancer: Results of the PEPiTA observational study.
Lung Cancer 2016;
98:84-90. [PMID:
27393512 DOI:
10.1016/j.lungcan.2016.05.016]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Erlotinib, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor, is effective in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Data on erlotinib use in squamous NSCLC are limited. This observational study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of second-line erlotinib in patients with stage IIIB/IV squamous NSCLC in a real-life setting.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Patients with predominantly squamous stage IIIB/IV NSCLC, who failed first-line platinum-based therapy, were recruited and followed-up for 12 months. Patients underwent visits each trimester. Data were derived from case report forms, and functional assessment of cancer therapy-lung (FACT-L) questionnaires.
RESULTS
A total of 152 patients were enrolled; the majority were males (90%) and mean age was 67.7 years. All patients had squamous (97%) or predominantly squamous (3%) NSCLC, of stage IIIB (21%) or IV (79%). Median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 3 and 5.8 months, respectively. Disease progression was observed in the majority of the patients, mostly due to progression of primary tumour and/or metastatic sites, and led to death in 91/107 of patients. Of the 107 deaths reported, none were due to erlotinib. FACT-L questionnaires were interpretable up to the first visit and were in line with PFS data, showing a relatively good quality of life up to Month 3 (mean total score=78.8). No new or unexpected safety issues were reported.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this real-life cohort study like those of previous phase III/IV subgroups study analyses indicate that erlotinib is a valuable option for second-line treatment of stage IIIB/IV squamous NSCLC.
Collapse