Successful treatment of EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer with reduced-dose gefitinib: A case report
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- Published online on: May 18, 2015 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2499
- Pages: 386-388
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Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is a favorable prognostic factor of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the majority of patients with EGFR mutations, clinical benefits of EGFR‑tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been reported. One of the TKIs, gefitinib, appears to be less toxic to the skin than other TKIs. The present study reports a case of NSCLC with EGFR mutation (exon 19 deletion) in which dose‑reduced gefitinib was effective against recurrence. Due to development of a grade 3 skin adverse event (AE) after 2 months of daily administration of gefitinib, the frequency of administration of gefitinib was reduced to every other day for 2 weeks. As the AE continued, the frequency of administration was reduced to once every 3 days. The patient has been in remission for 27 months since treatment with 250 mg gefitinib once every 3 days was initiated, which is the lowest dose to be reported in a successfully treated case of NSCLC with EGFR mutation. Dose reduction of gefitinib might be appropriate for patients with severe AEs and should be considered as a treatment option after 1 or 2 months of regular daily dosing of gefitinib if there is no other satisfactory treatment option.
