The characterization of gefitinib sensitivity and adverse events in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Factors predicting gefitinib sensitivity and adverse events in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain controversial.

Patients And Methods: Correlations among clinicopathological characteristics, gefitinib sensitivity and adverse events were studied in 154 patients with NSCLC, whereas epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations were analyzed in 44 patients.

Results: Female, non-smoker, adenocarcinoma of stage I-II, and gefitinib effectiveness correlated with longer time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS), while the rate of interstitial lung disease in patients undergoing thoracic radiotherapy and stomatitis in females or those who never smoked were significantly higher. EGFR mutations were identified in 18 cases, and among 34 gefitinib-treated patients, 16 patients harboring mutations tended to do better, both in terms of TTP and OS. The results of the mutation analysis from surgical and non-surgical specimens were identical.

Conclusion: Certain clinicopathological characteristics and EGFR mutations can be either predictive of gefitinib sensitivity or adverse events.