Cancer Res Treat.  2003 Dec;35(6):502-506.

The Effect of ZD 1839 (Iressa(R)) in the Treatment of Refractory Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Kim YT
• Kim C
• Sohn JH
• Park SY
• Park SY
• Yu NC
• Kim YS
• Kim SK
• Chang J
• Kim KD
• Chung KY
• Kim JH

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of ZD 1839 (Iressa(R)) as a 3rd or 4th line chemotherapy regimen in NSCLC patients who are refractory to a previous chemotherapy regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients who were refractory to previous chemotherapy were selected for this study. The eligible patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 to 2, and an appropriate end organ function. ZD 1839 (Iressa(R))250 mg/d was orally administered until the patients experienced disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were analyzed. The median age of the patients was 57 years. The response rate was 12.0% with partial responses in 3 patients. Fourteen patients (56%) remained in the stable disease state and 8 patients progressed. The median overall survival was 9.0 months (95% CI 6.7~11.2). The median progression free survival was 3 months (95% CI 2.2~3.8). Hematological toxicities of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia were absent. Non-hematological toxicities were grade 2 or 3 skin rashes in 10 (40.0%) patients and 1 (4.0%) patient and grade 3 nausea in 3 (12.0%) patients. No patient failed to continue chemotherapy due to any drug-related adverse events. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that ZD 1839 (Iressa(R)) monotherapy is effective and tolerable as a 3rd or 4th line salvage treatment for NSCLC patients refractory to previous chemotherapy regimens.

Keyword

ZD1839 (Iressa(R)); Non-small cell lung cancer

MeSH Terms

Anemia
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
Disease Progression
Disease-Free Survival
Drug Therapy
Exanthema
Humans
Nausea
Neutropenia
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*
Thrombocytopenia