First-line gefitinib for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations. A combined analysis of North-East Japan Study Group studies

Naoto Morikawa, Yuji Minegishi, Akira Inoue, Makoto Maemondo, Kunihiko Kobayashi, Shunichi Sugawara, Masao Harada, Koichi Hagiwara, Shoji Okinaga, Satoshi Oizumi, Toshihiro Nukiwa, Akihiko Gemma

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To assess outcomes of elderly patients with advanced NSCLC harboring an EGFR mutation treated with gefitinib, as well as safety and impact on quality of life (QoL).Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of pooled data from one Phase III and two Phase II studies of 71 patients aged ≥ 70 years with a performance status of 0-2. The main outcome measures were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and response rate (RR), as well as incidence of adverse events and time to 9.1% deterioration in QoL.Results: Median PFS (14.3 vs 5.7 months, p < 0.001) and overall RR (73.2 vs 26.5%, p < 0.001) in the gefitinib group were superior to those in the standard chemotherapy group, whereas median OS was not significantly different (30.8 vs 26.4 months, p = 0.42). Elevation of aspartate transaminase and/or alanine transaminase (18.3%) was the most common adverse event, and one treatment-related death (pneumonitis) occurred. Time to 9.1% deterioration in the QoL domains of pain and dyspnea, anxiety, and daily functioning was similar between the two age groups.Conclusion: First-line gefitinib is efficacious with acceptable toxicity in relatively fit elderly patients with advanced NSCLC harboring an EGFR mutation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)465-472
Number of pages8
JournalExpert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015 Mar 1

Keywords

  • EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors
  • Elderly patients
  • Gefitinib
  • NSCLC

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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