Second-line therapy with gefitinib in combination with docetaxel for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A phase II randomized study

This randomized, open-label, parallel-group, phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of gefitinib and docetaxel in combination, as second-line therapy for advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Eighty-nine patients who had failed first-line, platinum-based chemotherapy were randomly assigned to gefitinib (250 mg/day orally) in combination with docetaxel (75 mg/m² every 3 weeks) or single-agent docetaxel (75 mg/m² every 3 weeks). Objective response rates were 6.8% with gefitinib plus docetaxel and 9.1% with docetaxel alone. Disease control was experienced by a higher proportion of patients receiving gefitinib plus docetaxel (59.1%) versus docetaxel alone (34.1%). Median progression-free and overall survival appeared to be longer with gefitinib plus docetaxel (3.9 months [95% CI:2.3-5.4] and 7.6 months [95% CI:5.4-10.4], respectively) than with docetaxel alone (2.1 months [95% CI:2.1-3.7] and 6.2 months [95% CI:5.2-7.2], respectively). The most common non-hematological adverse events were diarrhea, alopecia, rash and dry skin in the combination arm, and vomiting and asthenia with docetaxel alone. Gefitinib and docetaxel combination therapy has antitumor activity and may be a feasible treatment option in patients with advanced NSCLC who have failed platinum-based chemotherapy.