Short-term outcomes of cetuximab combined with standard chemotherapy as non-first line setting for patients with non-small cell lung cancer: A report of 6 cases

Objective: Cetuximab combined with chemotherapy has been used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in recent years, most of them were first line setting. This study was to summarize our experiences in treating NSCLC patients with cetuximab in the non-first line setting. Methods: From October 1st 2006 to December 31st 2009, six NSCLC patients were treated with cetuximab combined standard chemotherapy as non-first line setting in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, China. The short-term efficacies and safeties were analyzed. Results: 1. A total of 18 cycles of cetuximab treatment, with a median of two cycles in the whole group. 2. There were 6 patients treated as non-first line setting, overall response rate (ORR) was 33.3% (2/6), disease control rate (DCR) was 33.3% (2/6), median time to progression (TTP) was 3.5 (3-4) months, and median OS was 18 (4-28) months. 3. There were 50% (3/6) patients occurred acne-like rash within three weeks, their ORR was 66.7% (2/3), and DCR was 66.7% (2/3), however, both of ORR and DCR in patients who didn't occurred acnelike rash were 0% (0/3), the differences of ORR, DCR between two groups were insignificant different (P = 0.143). 4. There was no treatment-associated death and no cetuximab-associated discontinuation. The incidence of acne-like rash was 50% occurred within three weeks, there were two patients suffered side effects associated with chemotherapy. Conclusion: The data of cetuximab application in non-first line setting for patients with NSCLC were rare, and the addition of cetuximab in those population was safe. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.