ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of icotinib in the treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases. Methods This study was performed at Tongji Hospital Cancer Center over the period between September 2011 and November 2015. Thirty cases of advanced NSCLC patients with icotinib monotherapy were enrolled, all with brain metastases, the median follow-up time being 24 months (5.5-49.0 months), with no case censored. The follow-up rate was 100%, and the data of efficacy and adverse effects were collected. Results The intracranial progression-free survival (iPFS) was 9.6 months, while no patient exhibited complete remission (CR), 8 patients showed partial remission (PR) and 14 showed stable disease (SD) in the intracranial foci. The intracranial disease control rate (DCR) was 73.3%, and the objective remission rate (ORR) was 26.7%. The extracranial progression-free survival (ePFS) was 10.1 months, while no patient exhibited CR, 11 patients showed PR and 11 patients showed SD in the extracranial foci. The extracranial DCR was 73.3%, and the ORR was 36.7%. The one-year survival rate was 63.8% in all the 30 patients. Twelve (40.0%) of the total 30 patients developed rash, five (16.7%) developed grade 1 diarrhea, one (3.3%) developed grade 2 transaminase elevation. None of the patients experienced headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, etc. Conclusion Icotinib hydrochloride is effective and safe for NSCLC patients with brain metastasis.