Continued gefitinib treatment after disease stabilisation prolongs survival of Japanese patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: Okayama Lung Cancer Study Group experience

Background: This study aimed to investigate the survival outcome of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had obtained disease stabilisation with gefitinib treatment and to clarify the effect of continued treatment with gefitinib on prognosis. Patients and methods: We reviewed the clinical records of 365 Japanese patients with NSCLC who received gefitinib (250 mg/day). Results: Of 324 (89%) patients assessable for response, 147 (45%) obtained disease stabilisation and 71 (22%) patients achieved an objective response. Overall survival in patients obtaining disease stabilisation was significantly longer than in patients with progressive disease (median survival time 12.1 versus 4.4 months; P