Authors : S Mathanraj, Deepa Kameswari P, D Biswajith, S Vinodkumar
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijirm.2019.052
Volume : 4
Issue : 4
Year : 2019
Page No : 224-229
Introduction: Lung cancer uprises from the respiratory epithelium cells is divided into two broad
categories; Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), derived from cells
exhibiting Neuro-endocrine characteristics which is highly malignant tumour. The current drug therapy
of Gefitinib has little evidence for its efficacy and safety profile in Indian patients.
Aim: The research was focused to assess the efficacy of Gefitinib in advanced Non-small cell lung cancer.
Materials and Methods: It is a retrospective study, done during the study period January 2009 to June
2012, and the number of NSCLC patients was 25 cases.
Results: Of the 25 cases, 13 (52%) were males and 12 (48%) were females. The factors affecting survival
have been studied there was a significant difference in survival between male and female sex (males 7.2
months; females 10.9 months). NSCLC patients were also having pleural effusion in 15 (60%) patients;
fluid was hemorrhagic in 13 cases and straw coloured in 2 cases. The mean ADA level was 18.3 IU (5-43)
and the Cell count was predominantly lymphocytic. The pleural fluid cytology was positive for malignant
cells in 9 cases (60%) and the pericardial effusion was present in 4 patients. Calculating the objective
response rate, there was no patients with complete response, 3 (16, 7%) with partial response, 9 (50%)
cases with Stable disease and 6 (33.2%) had progressive disease and the overall rate of survival was 10.9
months (range 8.2-13.6). The most common adverse effect observed was diarrhea reported in 5 cases
(20%), followed by rash in 4 (16.7%) and mucositis in 4 (16.7%) of cases.
Conclusion: From the current study, it’s likely that, its use may not rapidly move NSCLC from advanced
late-stage disease to earlier and less-advanced stages, but it is observed as a well tolerated drug that shows
significant survival advantage with minimal toxicity.
Keywords: Gefitinib, Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), EGFR.