BACKGROUNDIressa is the inhibitor of epidemic growth factor receptor and mainly used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the antitumor efficacy and toxicity of Iressa in the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients who had failed to previous chemotherapy.

METHODSTwenty-four patiets with advanced NSCLC who were previously treated with chemotherapy received 250mg of Iressa orally once daily until disease progressing or intolerable toxicity developing. Tumor evaluation was performed before treatment. Then for every four weeks after administration they recevied the examination; after administration for sixteen weeks, examination was repeated once every eight weeks.

RESULTSAll twenty-four patients could be evaluated. One case got complete response, eight cases got partial response, three had no change and twelve had disease progression. So the response rate was 37.5%, the stable disease rate was 12.5%, and the clinical benifit rate was 50.0%. Median time to disease progressing was 87 days. All patients were followed up for two years and 1- and 2-year survival rate was 33.3% and 12.5% respectively. The common adverse effects were skin reaction and diarrhea and no grade III or IV toxicity was observed. Two cases were suspected of pulmonary interstitial changes and the treatment ended.

CONCLUSIONSIressa is effective in treatment of advanced NSCLC patients who had failed to previous chemotherapy and the adverse effects are tolerable. So Iressa is one of the best choice for NSCLC patients who need two or more line therapy.