Elevated levels of plasma lactate dehydrogenase is an unfavorable prognostic factor in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation‑positive non‑small cell lung cancer, receiving treatment with gefitinib or erlotinib
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- Published online on: February 16, 2016 https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2016.779
- Pages: 774-778
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Abstract
Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor‑tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR‑TKIs) has been shown to prolong survival in patients with EGFR mutation‑positive non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The present study performed a retrospective analysis to investigate the association between the plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and survival in patients with EGFR mutation‑positive NSCLC receiving treatment with EGFR‑TKIs. The medical charts of patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC who were receiving treatment with EGFR‑TKIs at Toyama University Hospital between 2007 and 2014 were assessed. The data from 65 patients were included in the analysis. Patients with higher plasma LDH levels exhibited shorter progression‑free survival (6.2 vs. 13.2 months; P<0.01) and overall survival (10.5 vs. 36.1 months; P<0.01) periods compared with patients with lower plasma LDH levels. A Cox proportional hazards model identified that the plasma LDH level was associated with the progression‑free survival (P=0.05) and overall survival (P<0.01). An association was demonstrated between the pretreatment plasma LDH level and the survival in patients with EGFR mutation‑positive NSCLC receiving treatment with EGFR‑TKIs. Close observation is required in EGFR mutation‑positive NSCLC patients exhibiting high plasma LDH levels following the initiation of treatment with EGFR‑TKIs.
