Prolonged response to first-line erlotinib for advanced lung adenocarcinoma

• Published in: Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research Vol. 27; no. 1; p. 59
• Main Author: Copeman, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 04.11.2008; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - drug therapy; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Antineoplastic Agents - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Case Report; Case studies; Diagnosis; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Erlotinib; Erlotinib Hydrochloride; Female; Humans; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Patient outcomes; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Quinazolines - administration & dosage; Quinazolines - therapeutic use; Risk factors; Australia
• DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-27-59
• ISSN: 1756-9966; 0392-9078

A 58-year-old, non-smoking female of Philippine origin presented with painful thoracic and neck nodal relapse of lung adenocarcinoma almost 5 years after left pneumonectomy for stage II non-small-cell lung cancer. She refused conventional chemotherapy or radiation because of toxicity concerns, but agreed to oral erlotinib 150 mg/day. Within weeks, her pain was well controlled, with softening of palpable neck nodes. Repeat scans after 7 months on erlotinib showed partial response of thoracic disease and nodal metastases. This response was maintained for 11 months on erlotinib, with symptomatic progression at the original sites of relapse by 15 months. Erlotinib was well tolerated, with grade 2-3 rash, and grade 1 dry cough and diarrhoea being the only significant toxicities. Importantly, the patient was able to maintain daily activities throughout erlotinib therapy.