Treatment Information

Back

Lung Cancer treatment details. Biologic therapy.

National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.

Survival: monthsCountry:Japan
Toxiciy Grade:5City/State/Province:Fukuoka
Treatments:Biologic therapyHospital:National Kyushu Cancer Center
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Sep 2008

Description:

Patients: This phase III study involved 489 patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The majority (about 62%) were men. About 44% were 65 years of age or older.

Treatment: Patients were treated with either gefitinib or docetaxel. Gefitinib is a biological therapy, and docetaxel is a chemotherapy.

Toxicity: Four patients died while on this study, all in the group being treated with gefitinib. These deaths were from interstitial lung disease and pneumonia. More patients treated with docetaxel experienced grade 3 and 4 toxicities. The most common toxicities in patients treated with gefitinib were rash/acne, and diarrhea, and neutropenia and alopecia in patients treated with docetaxel.

Results: The median overall survival was 11.5 months for patients treated with gefitinib.

Support: This study was supported by AstraZeneca, which markets gefitinib as Iressa.

Correspondence: Dr. Yukito Ichinose



Back