Effect of Erlotinib in 2^nd and 3^rd Line Anticancer Treatment in Patients with Squamous Cell Lung Cancer – Case Series

Czech version

Authors: M. Šatánková ¹; K. Brat ¹; M. Tomíšková ¹; B. Robešová ²; J. Skřičková ¹
Authors‘ workplace: Klinika nemocí plicních a tuberkulózy LF MU a FN Brno ¹; Interní hematologická a onkologická klinika LF MU a FN Brno ²
Published in: Klin Onkol 2017; 30(2): 131-135
Category: Case Report
doi: https://doi.org/10.14735/amko2017131

Overview

Background:
Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (SCC) represents cca 30–40% of new cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the Czech Republic. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib is indicated as a 1^st line treatment for patients with locally advanced and metastatic disease and activating mutations in endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), or as a 2^nd or 3^rd line treatment in EGFR-negative NSCLC patients after chemotherapeutic failure.

Observation:
We present three case reports of patients with SCC treated with erlotinib as a 2^nd or 3^rd line of treatment. All patients were verified by histological analysis of tumor samples. EGFR mutation status was negative in one patient, while the other samples were not suitable for genetic screening. Results: The therapeutic response to erlotinib lasted for 68, 40, and 13 months, resp. The patient with the longest therapeutic response (patient no. 1) is still continuing erlotinib treatment (as of December 2016). The overall survival of the two patients who died was 50 and 43 months, resp. One patient died of an unknown cause with no signs of progression of the disease on CT scans. The other patient died of terminal progression of the oncological disease. All three patients experienced major therapeutic benefit from erlotinib treatment as shown by the long periods of progression-free survival and prolonged overall survival.

Conclusion:
The three case reports demonstrate that erlotinib may be effective as a 2^nd or 3^rd line treatment in patients with SCC, especially in patients with limited alternative anticancer treatment options.

Key words:
non-small cell lung cancer – squamous cell carcinoma – erlotinib – treatment – tyrosine kinase inhibitor

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers.

Submitted:
5. 8. 2016

Accepted:
14. 12. 2016

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