Erlotinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: Efficacy and safety findings of the global phase IV Tarceva Lung Cancer Survival Treatment study

Abstract

Introduction: Erlotinib is a small molecule inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine-kinase activity that has been shown to significantly increase survival for patients with previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Here, we report safety and efficacy data from a large, global, open-label, phase IV trial of erlotinib (Tarceva Lung Cancer Survival Treatment). Methods: Patients who had previously failed on chemotherapy or radiotherapy and were unsuitable for these treatments were treated with oral erlotinib (150 mg/d) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: The disease control rate was 69% in 5394 patients for whom best response data were availa..