CTS: Gefitinib Superior to Chemotherapy Among Asians with Lung Cancer
CHCIAGO, Nov. 17 — For carefully selected Asian patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib (Iressa) significantly improved progression-free survival compared with the standard carboplatin (Paraplatin) and paclitaxel (Taxol), researchers reported here.
The phase III IRESSA-Pan Asia Study (IPASS) included patients who were chemotherapy na?ve, were never smokers or light smokers with a good performance status, an adenocarcinoma histology and Stage IIIb/IV non-small-cell lung cancer. The patients were selected from centers in China, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan.