A randomized placebo-controlled trial of erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following failure of 1st line or 2nd line chemotherapy. A National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG) trial

7022 Background: In phase II studies, erlotinib has shown single agent activity in a number of tumor types, including NSCLC. NCIC CTG BR.21 is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial undertaken to determine if the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib (Tarceva) prolongs survival in NSCLC patients after 1st or 2nd line chemotherapy. Methods: Eligibility criteria included stage IIIB/IV NSCLC, PS 0–3, 1–2 chemotherapy regimens (at least 1 combination regimen if < 70 yrs). Patients were stratified by center, PS (0,1 v 2,3), response to chemo (CR, PR v SD v PD), number of prior regimens (1 v 2), platinum (yes v no), and were randomized 2:1 to receive erlotinib 150 mg po/day or placebo. The 10 endpoint was survival with 20 endpoints of progression free survival (PFS), response, toxicity and QOL. Results: From Nov/01-Feb/03, 731 pts entered the study (median age 61y; 64% male; 67% PS 0,1). 50% had received 2 prior regimens, 93% had received platinum and 37% prior taxanes. Patient characteris...