Clinical study for previously untreated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with erlotinib

Objective By evaluating the efficacy,toxicity,median survival time and median time to progression of erlotinib in patients with previously untreated advanced NSCLC,to investigate the feasibility of erlotinib as first-line treatment to advanced NSCLC.Methods 33 cases with previously untreated NSCLC in stage ⅢB or Ⅳ confirmed by pathology or cytology were given Erlotinib 150mg orally once a day,until death or tumor progression or withdrawal by intolerable reaction.Responses and toxicities were evaluated in patients once a month.Results The response rate was 30.3%.The disease control rate was 75.8%.The time to progression was 5.9 months.The suvival time was 9.3 months.The skin toxicity is the most common and the blood toxicity is not ob-served.Conclusions Erlotinib is an effective first-line treatment for NSCLC,particularly for the elderly or the patients being not afford chemotherapy.