Gefitinib in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Prospective Study at South Egypt Cancer Institute | ||||
| SECI Oncology Journal | ||||
| Article 2, Volume 13, Issue 2, April 2025, Page 117-123 PDF (255.49 K) | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Lung cancer is a major health concern worldwide; representing the second most common cancer, and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in both sexes. Gefitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor against epidermal growth factor receptor that is considered a potential therapy for metastatic non- small cell lung cancer. Based on limited data among the Egyptian people, our study was conducted to evaluate gefitinib therapy in metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. Patients and methods: This study is a prospective cohort study aiming to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib as a first-line therapy for patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma who harbor epidermal growth factor receptor gene activating mutations; and who started to receive gefitinib therapy at South Egypt Cancer Institute during the period from January 1st, 2020 to December 31st, 2022. Results: Seventy eight eligible patients with metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated lung adenocarcinoma were enrolled in our study. The tumor overall response rate was 41%; whereas disease control rate was 87.2%. Non- smokers, smaller primary tumor size (≤5 cm), patients with single-organ metastases, tumors of grade 1 or 2; and low mitotic index were all associated with significantly higher response rates. Pointing to survival outcomes; the median progression-free survival was 23.3 months; while the median overall survival was 31.0 months. Multivariate analyses of both progression-free survival and overall survival indicated that non-smoking, primary tumor-related presenting symptoms; and metastases limited to a single organ were independent predictors of improved survival with gefitinib therapy. Safety analysis demonstrated that gefitinib therapy was safe with no grade IV or V adverse events; and no treatment discontinuation due to intolerability. Conclusions: Gefitinib is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for first-line treatment of metastatic, epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated lung adenocarcinoma. Moreover, smoking status, primary tumor size, number of metastatic organs, tumor grade; and mitotic index proved to be significant factors favorly affecting the efficacy of gefitinib therapy. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Non-small cell lung cancer; Epidermal growth factor receptor; Gefitinib; First-line; Metastatic; Efficacy | ||||
|
Statistics Article View: 57 PDF Download: 51 |
||||
