Comparison of the influnce of gefitinib treatment on quality of life between non-small cell lung cancer patients with high and low ECOG-PS score
10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2013.04.008
- Author:
Juan FU
1
Author Information
1. Center of Medical Oncology
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Carcinoma;
Gefitinib;
Non-small cell lung;
Performance status;
Quality of life
- From:
Tumor
2013;33(4):339-344
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective: To explore the quality of life and drug toxicity in NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) patients who have a ECOC (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group)-PS (performance status) score ≥3 and a response to gefitinib more than 6 months, and to explore the possibily of gefitinib applying in NSCLC patients with a ECOG-PS score ≥3. Methods: NSCLC patients histologically and (or) cytologically confirmed were divided into trial group (ECOG-PS score ≥3) and control group (ECOG-PS score ≤2). The patients in the two groups were treated with a dose of 250 mg/d gefitinib. The efficacy, change of quality of life and the toxicity were evaluated. Results: Eighty-eight NSCLC patients were enrolled in this study (trial group: n = 27; control group: n = 61). The median follow-up time was 20.0 months. All patients in the two groups could be évaluable. In the trial group, 4 (14.81%) patients obtained CR (complete response), 20 (74.07%) patients obtained PR (partial response), 3 (11.11%) patients obtained SD (stable disease); the response rate was 88.89% (24/27). In the control group, 10 (16.39%) patients obtained CR (complete response), 43 (70.49%) patients obtained PR (partial response), 8 (13.11%) patients obtained SD (stable disease); the response rate was 86.89% (53/61). There was no difference in response rate between the two groups (P = 0.794). The median time to symptom improvement of the trial group and the control group were 10.0 and 14.0 d, respectively (P = 0.073), the median PFS (progression-free survival) were 8.0 and 7.0 momths, respectively (P = 0.421). The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 59.269% (16/27), 25.93% (7/27) and 3.70% (1/27) in the trial group and 57.38% (35/61), 21.31% (13/61) and 6.56% (4/61), respectively. There was no difference in survival rate between the two groups (P = 0.180). The ECOG-PS score after gefitinib therapy (vs before gefitinib therapy) was significantly decreased in the two groups (Trial group Z = -4.062, P = 0.000; Control group Z = -4.031, P = 0.000), and the percent decrease of ECOG-PS score after gefitinib therapy in the trial group was significantly higher as compared with that in the control group. The toxicities of gefitinib therapy were tolerated. Conclusion: Gefitinib can be safely applied in NSCLC patients with ECOG-PS score ≥3. There is no difference in survival time between NSCLC patients with ECOG-PS score ≥3 and ≤2, but the quality of life in NSCLC patients with ECOG-PS score 2= 3 is significantly impoved as compard with NSCLC patients with ECOG-PS score ≤2 after gefitinib therapy. Copyright © 2013 by TUMOR.
