Second- and Further-Line Therapy with Erlotinib in Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Daily Clinical Practice

. The aim of this retrospective study was to examine effect of erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in second-line and further therapy in daily clinical practice. Methods . Patients with histologically or cytologically proven NSCLC ( n = 84) treated with erlotinib in second-line ( n = 34), third-line ( n = 36), and more-line therapy ( n = 14) were examined for progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), duration of therapy, and adverse effects. Results . Median PFS of all lines was 83 days (CI 70.0–96.0), OS was 7 months (CI 4.7–9.3), DCR was 66.2% (CI 55–77%), and 1-year survival rate was 33% (CI 22–43%), with no significant difference between therapy lines. Median duration of treatment was 76 days (IQR 39–139.5). Patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation (EGFR-M) reached the highest PFS (204 days), as did patients with good performance status (ECOG 0-1: 94 versus ECOG 2-3: 65 days, P = 0.035). Patients with EGFR-M also revealed a DCR of 100%. The most frequent side effects were rash (69%) and diarrhoea (41%), without any significant difference between therapy lines. In 24 patients, the treatment dose was reduced and in 18, the therapy was paused. Conclusion . Erlotinib works in all therapy lines without any significant differences in efficacy and side effects.