Benefit in lung function improvement and side-effect profile of long-term responders: An analysis of 14 NSCLC patients treated for at least 9 months with gefitinib

For 14 (6%) out of 240 patients with patterns of diffuse disseminated metastatic disease, gefitinib offered a lasting tumor control with a disease progression-free survival interval between 9 and 25 months. In parallel to therapy, patients' performance status (PS) could be conserved or even improved in many cases. Patients with lung function impairment, as well as patients with other disease-related symptoms obtained additional therapy benefits.