Safety profile of gefitinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer elderly patients with chronic renal failure: two clinical cases

Objectives: Comorbidities often contraindicate any chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, even single-agent one. This is the case of chronic renal failure. Methods: Two elderly patients (age > 70 years) affected by advanced non-small cell lung cancer and chronic renal failure were treated, as front-tine treatment, with gefitinib (ZD1839 - 'Iressa') administered orally at the dose of 250 mg daily. Results: In both patients renal function was not impaired by the treatment with gefitinib and no severe toxicity was recorded. One patient reported a stable disease, lasted 141 days, with symptoms relief. In the other patient a mixed response was reported with one large pulmonary site responding to gefitinib, but with appearance of new small lung metastases. He is still alive at 359 days. Conclusions: Gefitinib resulted safety when administered to advanced NSCLC elderly patients affected by chronic renal failure. Gefitinib should be further evaluated as front-tine treatment in a larger sample of such patients, in order to establish a therapeutic option for a sort of patients unsuitable for any chemotherapy. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Alt rights reserved.