Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor mutations.
Methods and patients: Nine patients aged 70 years or older who had advanced NSCLC with mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene were treated with gefitinib, 250 mg daily. Clinical data, types of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations, efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib were evaluated in these patients. Tumor responses were assessed by computed tomography scan using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.
Results: Six patients showed a partial response, and the other three exhibited stable disease. The overall response rate was 66.7%. The median progression-free survival was 396 days, whereas the median over all survival was 523 days. No serious toxicities were observed.
Conclusion: Gefitinib is very efficacious and safe for elderly patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung harboring an EGFR tyrosine kinase mutation. The present data support the use of gefitinib in this particular subgroup.