Comparison of the time-to-response between radiotherapy and epidermal growth factor receptor--tyrosine kinase inhibitors for advanced non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutation

Anticancer Res. 2013 Aug;33(8):3279-84.

Abstract

Background: Patients harboring sensitive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations show a dramatic response to treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, there have been no clinical reports in lung cancer patients that compare the time-to-response between radiotherapy and EGFR-TKIs.

Patients and methods: We reviewed 17 and 32 consecutive patients with inoperable stage III/IV NSCLC who harbored sensitive EGFR mutations and who were treated with thoracic radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy and EGFR-TKIs, respectively.

Results: There were statistically significant differences in time-to-partial response (PR) with regard to the treatment modalities (radiotherapy vs. EGFR-TKIs, median 57 days vs. 22 days, log-rank test, p=0.008).

Conclusion: EGFR-TKIs elicit tumor shrinkage earlier than does radiotherapy in patients with a sensitive EGFR mutation, suggesting that EGFR-TKIs may be useful for early symptom improvement in these patients.

Keywords: Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor; erlotinib; gefitinib; non-small cell lung cancer; radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / radiotherapy*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Radiotherapy
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors