OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of the erlotinib versus gefitinib in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC.

METHODSFifty patients with untreated advanced EGFR mutation- positive NSCLC were randomly divided into gefitinib group (n=27) and erlotinib group (n=23). The progression-free survival, objective response rate and disease control rate were evaluated to compare the efficacy of gefitinib and erlotinib.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the objective response rate (P=0.711) and disease control rate (P=0.861) between the two groups. The progression-free survival of gefitinib group and erlotinib group was 8.0 months and 10.0 months, respectively. The efficacy of the two drugs was similar (P=0.293).

CONCLUSIONThere is no significant differences between gefitinib and erlotinib in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Erlotinib Hydrochloride ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Mutation ; Quinazolines ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism