Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Eighty-seven patients with NSCLC (stage ⅢB to stage Ⅳ) were treated with gefitinib (250 mg/d) until disease progression or development of intolerable toxicity. Results The overall response rate and disease control rate were 31.0％(27/87) and 77.0％(67/87), respectively. The median progression-free survival time and median survival time was 6.6 months and 12.3 months, respectively. One year survival rate was 52.9%. The response rate and disease control rate of those with adenocarcinoma and no history of chemotherapy were significantly higher than those with non-adenocarcinoma and history of chemotherapy (P<0.05). The disease control rates of females and non-smokers were significantly higher than those of males and smokers (P≤0.01). The median progression-free survival time of those with ECOG performance status scale score of 0-1, adenocarcinoma, no smoking and response to gefitinib treatment was significantly longer than that of those with ECOG performance status scale score ≥2, non-adenocarcinoma, smoking and no response to gefitinib treatment (P<0.01). The median survival time of those with ECOG performance status scale score of 0-1 and response to gefitinib treatment was significantly longer than those with ECOG performance status scale score ≥ 2 and no response to gefitinib treatment (P≤0.001). The most common adverse effects were rash (56.3%) and diarrhea (36.8%). Conclusion Treatment with gefitinib is effective and tolerable for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC.

Key words: non-small cell lung cancer, elder, gefitinib, targeted therapy