[A Retrospective Study of Erlotinib in the Treatment of 70 Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.].

Background and objective Erlotinib is a small molecular inhibitor of tyrosine kinase. Multiple foreign and demestic studies have confirmed that it can prolong the median progression-free survival time (PFS) and the overall survival (OS), which could be more significant in the selected population. In this study we retrospectively oberserved the response, the survival and adverse reaction of erlotinib in non-selected non-small cell lung cancer. Methods The retrospective study included seventy non-small-cell lung cancer patients, who were treated with erlotinib from July 2005 to July 2009. Erlotinib was prescribed at a dose of 150 mg daily. Results Sixty-eight patients were evaluated response. Among these patients, CR 0 case, PR 26 cases, RR (CR+PR) 38.2% and SD 24 cases as their best response, disease control rate (DCR=CR+PR+SD) 73.5%, PD 18 cases (26.5%). Sixty-three patients were evaluated PFS. The median PFS was 3.0 months. The median PFS of adenocarcinoma and non-adenocarcinoma was 3.0 months vs 2.6 months. The drug-related adverse reactions were skin rash , diarrhea and interstitial lung disease (ILD)(4.3%). Conclusion Erlotinib is active in non-small cell lung cancer, and it is much more effective in adenocarcinoma and non-smoking patients. There is no difference in response or suvival concerning the sexuality. It is well tolerated in most patients.