Treatment Information

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Lung Cancer treatment details. Biologic therapy.

Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.

Survival: monthsCountry:France
Toxiciy Grade:4City/State/Province:Lyon
Treatments:Biologic therapyHospital:Hospices Civils de Lyon
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Oct 2012

Description:

Patients:
This phase 3 study involved patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients, previously treated with cisplatin and gemcitabine, who were divided into two treatment groups. Group A consisted of 154 patients with a median age of 57.9 years and 73.4% male. Group B had 155 patients with a median age of 56.4 years and 72.9% male.

Treatment:
Patients in group A were treated with the chemotherapy agent gemcitabine.

Patients in group B were treated with the biologic therapy agent erlotinib, which blocks tumor cell growth by inhibiting a protein called EGFR.

Toxicities:
There were two treatment-related deaths in group A due to pneumonia and kidney failure. Grade 3-4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia were also reported.

The most severe toxicities in group B were of grade 4. Grade 3-4 toxicities included rash, infection, and pneumonia.

Results:
The median overall survival was 12.1 months for group A and 11.4 months for group B.

Support:
This study was partially supported by the pharmaceutical companies Roche and Eli Lilly.

Correspondence: Dr. Maurice Perol; email: [email protected]



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