Evaluation of efficacy and safety of gefitinib as monotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and very poor performance status
2008

Efficacy and Safety of Gefitinib in Chinese Lung Cancer Patients

Sample size: 42 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Wei Zhong, Mengzhao Wang, Li Zhang, Longyun Li, Xiaotong Zhang

Primary Institution: Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Hypothesis

Can gefitinib be an effective treatment for Chinese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and poor performance status?

Conclusion

Gefitinib is well tolerated and beneficial for Chinese patients with poor performance status in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Supporting Evidence

  • The median overall survival was 10.1 months.
  • 40.5% of patients had a partial response to gefitinib.
  • Adverse events were mostly mild and reversible.

Takeaway

This study found that a medicine called gefitinib can help some people with a type of lung cancer feel better, even if they are not very strong.

Methodology

42 patients with advanced NSCLC and poor performance status received gefitinib 250 mg/day, and survival rates were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the non-randomized nature of the study.

Limitations

The study is retrospective and has a small sample size.

Participant Demographics

Chinese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and ECOG performance status of 3-4.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

95% CI 3.4–16.8 months

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1756-0500-1-102

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