OBJECTIVETo summarize our experiences with the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with cetuximab and compare the therapeutic effects of cetuximab applied in the first line and non-first line settings.

METHODSFrom October 1, 2006 to December 31, 2009, 16 NSCLC patients were treated with cetuximab combined with standard chemotherapy in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. The short-term efficacy of the therapeutic protocols were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 115 cycles of cetuximab treatment were administered in these patients with a median of 6 cycles (7.5 in the first line setting and 2 in non-first line setting). In the 10 patients with cetuximab treatment in the first line setting, the ORR was 40.0% (4/10), DCR was 80.0% (8/10), median TTP was 6.5 months (2-19), and median OS was 8.5 months (2-48); in the non-first line setting, these indices were 33.3% (2/6), 33.3% (2/6), 3.5 months (3-4) and 18 months (4-28), respectively. Both ORR and DCR were similar between the first and non-first line settings (P=0.790, P=0.062). Ten of the patients (62.5%) developed acne-like rash within 3 weeks, who had an ORR of 60% (6/10) and DCR of 90% (9/10); the ORR and DCR in patients without acne-like rash were both 10.4% (1/6), showing no significant difference in ORR (P=0.080) but a significant difference in DCR between the two groups (P=0.003). No treatment-associated death or cetuximab-associated discontinuation occurred. Altogether 11 patients (68.8%) developed acne-like rash, which occurred within 3 weeks in 10 cases. Seven patients showed side effects associated with the chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONCetuximab combined with standard chemotherapy is a good option for Chinese patients with NSCLC and the current data support the application of cetuximab in the first line setting.