Abstract
Aim:
To evaluate gefitinib outcomes in EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring EGFR mutations, according to their sarcopenia status.
Patients & methods:
We retrospectively evaluated 33 patients with advanced NSCLC and EGFR mutations (exon 19 or 21), dividing them into sarcopenic patients, with low skeletal muscle index ≤39 cm2/m2 for women and ≤55 cm2/m2 for men, and nonsarcopenic patients.
Results:
Sarcopenia does not affect response to gefitinib treatment in EGFR mutated NSCLC patients, even if it is a bad prognostic indicator for overall survival (p = 0.035).
Conclusion:
Early recognition of sarcopenia is beneficial for prevention of cancer cachexia and detection of patients at potential risk of serious adverse events. Gefitinib dosage should be reduced and modulated in sarcopenic patients.
Keywords:
BMI; NSCLC; cachexia; gefitinib; sarcopenia; skeletal muscle index.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
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Cachexia / prevention & control
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / complications
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / mortality
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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ErbB Receptors / genetics*
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Female
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Gefitinib
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Humans
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Lung Neoplasms / complications
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Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Lung Neoplasms / genetics
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Lung Neoplasms / mortality
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Mutation*
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Prognosis
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Quinazolines / administration & dosage
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Quinazolines / adverse effects
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Quinazolines / therapeutic use*
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Retrospective Studies
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Sarcopenia / complications*
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Sarcopenia / drug therapy
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Sarcopenia / mortality
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Survival Analysis
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors
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Quinazolines
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EGFR protein, human
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ErbB Receptors
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Gefitinib