Different efficacies of erlotinib and gefitinib in taiwanese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective multicenter study.

Introduction: Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors are used as effective first-line and salvage therapy in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in East Asia. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of gefitinib and erlotinib in Taiwanese patients with advanced NSCLC.

Methods: Clinical data of NSCLC patients treated with gefitinib or erlotinib from January 2004 to December 2008 were collected retrospectively. Five tertiary referral centers in Taiwan participated in the study.

Results: Of the 1122 patients enrolled, 506 (45%) were female, 594 (53%) were never smokers or former light smokers, and 867 (77%) were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors were prescribed as first-line treatment in 465 (41%) patients and as second-line or salvage therapy in 657 patients (59%). The objective response rate was similar between the gefitinib and erlotinib treatment groups, while disease control rate was 58.9 and 65.8% (p = 0.025), respectively. Median progression-free survival of gefitinib and erlotinib groups was 3.6 and 4.6 months, respectively (p = 0.027). Median overall survival of gefitinib and erlotinib groups was 9.6 and 10.7 months, respectively (p = 0.013).

Conclusion: Taiwanese patients with advanced NSCLC treated with erlotinib reported higher disease control rate, longer progression-free survival, and overall survival compared with patients treated with gefitinib.