Erlotinib in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Erlotinib is a small-molecule inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase, showing a significant improvement of survival in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after the failure of front-line chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor efficacy and toxicity of Erlotinib in the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 104 patients with advanced NSCLC admitted in our department during December 2006 to November 2008 were enrolled in this study. Eligible patients received oral Erlotinib 150 mg/d until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. Best clinical response was determined using RECIST criteria, the adverse events were evaluated according to the NCI criteria.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 27.9% (29/104) and the clinical benefit was 76.0% (79/104). The median progression-free survival was 5.1 months (95%CI 4.0 - 8.0). The median survival time was 13.1 months (95%CI 10.0 - 15.7). The 1-year survival rate was 61.5%. Significant survival benefit from erlobinib therapy was observed for patients with good personal status (HR 0.56, P = 0.006), adenocarcinoma (HR 0.43, P = 0.004) and skin rash (HR 0.46, P = 0.005). But patients with smoking (HR 2.75, P < 0.001) and liver metastasis (HR 2.91, P = 0.002) add the risk of death. The adverse events were mild (grade < or = 2), most common toxicities were skin rash in 73.1% (76/104) and diarrhea in 41.3% (43/104). Only 6.7% (7/104) patients got adverse events of grade > or = 3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Erlotinib is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for advanced NSCLC and could offer an alternative for patients after the failure of first-line chemotherapy, unsuitable for or not wishing to receive chemotherapy.</p>

Inhibitory effects of a combination of rmhTRAIL and gemcitabine on human non-small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H460 cells in vitro and in vivo / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the inhibitory effects of recombinant mutant tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (rmhTRAIL) combined with chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine (GEM) on human lung cancer cell line NCI-H460 cells in vitro and in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MTT was used to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of rmhTRAIL and GEM either used alone or in combination treatment on NCI-H460 cells. BAL B/c nude mice were transplanted with NCI-H460 tumor. The tumor-bearing nude mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 6): negative control group (to be injected intraperitoneally with normal saline); rmhTRAIL group; GEM group; rmhTRAIL plus GEM group; GEM plus DDP group; rmhTRAIL plus GEM andDDP group. The tumor size was measured every 3 - 4 days. Twenty one days after the administration of different drugs the mice were killed and the tumors were taken out and weighed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The growth inhibition of NCI-H460 cells was dose-dependent after exposure to rmhTRAIL, GEM alone or together. The combination of rmhTRAIL and GEM showed a synergistic inhibitory effect at different concentrations. The relative tumor volume of rmhTRAIL group, rmhTRAIL plus GEM group, GEM plus DDP group and rmhTRAIL plus GEM and DDP group were 4.75 +/- 3.04, 2.53 +/- 1.25, 4.52 +/- 2.87, and 1.69 +/- 0.97, respectively, all significantly smaller than that of the negative control group (8.82 +/- 5.62, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The tumor weight of these four groups were (2.23 +/- 0.29) g, (1.12 +/- 0.77) g, (2.51 +/- 0.87) g, and 0.60 +/- 0.18 g, respectively, all significantly less then that of the negative control group (4.71 g +/- 0.97 g, all P < 0.01). Both the relative tumor volume and tumor weight of rmhTRAIL plus GEM group were significantly smaller than those of either rmhTRAIL group or GEM group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Both the relative tumor volume and tumor weight of rmhTRAIL plus GEM and DDP group were significantly smaller than those of either rmhTRAIL group or GEM plus DDP group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combination of rmhTRAIL and GEM has a synergistic inhibitory effect on human NSCLC cell line NCI-H460 cells either in vitro and in vivo.</p>