Cited by 5,419Lung Cancer Treatments and MutationsLung Cancer Diagnosis and TreatmentLung Cancer Research Studies

Erlotinib in Previously Treated Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

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Shepherd, Frances A., Rodrigues Pereira, José, Ciuleanu, Tudor, Tan, Eng Huat, Hirsh, Vera, Thongprasert, Sumitra, Campos, Daniel, Maoleekoonpiroj, Savitree +11 more·2005·New England Journal of Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial to determine whether the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor erlotinib prolongs survival in non-small-cell lung cancer after the failure of first-line or second-line chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small-cell lung cancer, with performance status from 0 to 3, were eligible if they had received one or two prior chemotherapy regimens. The patients were stratified according to center, performance status, response to prior chemotherapy, number of prior regimens, and prior platinum-based therapy and were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive oral erlotinib, at a dose of 150 mg daily, or placebo. RESULTS: The median age of the 731 patients who underwent randomization was 61.4 years; 49 percent had received two prior chemotherapy regimens, and 93 percent had received platinum-based chemotherapy. The response rate was 8.9 percent in the erlotinib group and less than 1 percent in the placebo group (P<0.001); the median duration of the response was 7.9 months and 3.7 months, respectively. Progression-free survival was 2.2 months and 1.8 months, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.61, adjusted for stratification categories; P<0.001). Overall survival was 6.7 months and 4.7 months, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; P<0.001), in favor of erlotinib. Five percent of patients discontinued erlotinib because of toxic effects. CONCLUSIONS: Erlotinib can prolong survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer after first-line or second-line chemotherapy.

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  • The clinical development of EGFR inhibitors in NSCLC started before the discovery of EGFR mutations, with initial studies of Gefitinib and Erlotinib conducted in unselected patients in both pretreated and treatment-naïve settings in combination with standard chemotherapy.

    “The clinical development of EGFR inhibitors in NSCLC started before the discovery of EGFR mutations, therefore initial studies with Gefitinib and Erlotinib were conducted in unselected patients in both pretreated [52–54] and in treatment-naïve patients in combination with standard chemotherapy [55–58].”
  • Erlotinib improved OS in second- or third-line treatment of all NSCLC histological subtypes in patients not eligible for further chemotherapy, including those with PS 3.

    “Erlotinib improved OS in second line or in third line in all NSCLC histological subtype patients not eligible for further chemotherapy, including patients with PS 3 [88].”

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Authors
Shepherd, F. A., Rodrigues Pereira, J., Ciuleanu, T., Tan, E. H., Hirsh, V., Thongprasert, S., Campos, D., Maoleekoonpiroj, S., Smylie, M., Martins, R., van Kooten, M., Dediu, M., Findlay, B., Tu, D., Johnston, D., Bezjak, A., Clark, G., Santabárbara, P., & Seymour, L.
Affiliations
  • University Health Network (CA)
  • Institute of Oncology Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta (RO)
  • National Cancer Centre Singapore (SG)
  • McGill University (CA)
  • Chiang Mai University (TH)
  • Phramongkutklao Hospital (TH)
  • Cross Cancer Institute (CA)
  • Instituto Nacional de Câncer - INCA (BR)
  • Institutul Oncologic Bucuresti (RO)
  • Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre (CA)
  • Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CA)
Venue
New England Journal of Medicine
Published
2005-07-14
Volume
353
Issue
2
Pages
123-132
ISSN
  • 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
  • 1533-4406
OpenAlex
W2138297714
Cited by
5,419
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 34 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 63 · 2023: 81 · 2022: 129 · 2021: 110 · 2020: 125 · 2019: 139 · 2018: 186 · 2017: 230 · 2016: 240 · 2015: 349 · 2014: 344 · 2013: 447 · 2012: 418
FWCI
309.60
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Cancer Institute
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Lung Cancer Research Studies
Keywords
erlotinib, non-small cell lung cancer, EGFR inhibitors, second-line chemotherapy, previously treated patients, progression-free survival, overall survival, platinum-based chemotherapy, oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor
MeSH terms
Erlotinib Hydrochloride, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Cisplatin, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Lung Neoplasms, Male, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Quinazolines, Survival Analysis, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, ErbB Receptors

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