'Not only does erlotinib help [lung-cancer patients] live longer, but it also improves their physical function, their quality of life, and it improves their symptoms of cough, shortness of breath and pain.'

The trial, funded by the Canadian Cancer Society,  involved 731 patients at centers in North and South America, Europe, Israel, New Zealand, Asia and South Africa.

The patients already had received at least one or two regimens of chemotherapy and were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 488 patients received erlotinib and 243 received a placebo.

Longer Survival

Treatment with erlotinib resulted in longer survival compared to the placebo. Patients who received erlotinib survived an average of 6.7 months, while patients on placebo survived an average of 4.7 months -- a 42.5 per cent improvement.

Of the patients receiving erlotinib, 31 percent were alive after one year, compared to only 22 percent of patients receiving placebo.

Quality of Life

Unlike many chemotherapies, erlotinib generally was well-tolerated and caused only minor side effects.

"This drug offers a new treatment option to patients at a time in their disease when they have no other options," says Dr. Frances Shepherd, the study's principal investigator, holder of the Scott Taylor Chair in Lung Cancer Research and medical oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital, and professor of medicine at the University of Toronto.

"Not only does erlotinib help them live longer, but it also improves their physical function, their quality of life, and it improves their symptoms of cough, shortness of breath and pain," Dr. Shepherd adds.

Interferes with Cellular Pathway

Erlotinib slows down tumor growth by interfering with epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), which receive an ongoing signal for cells to divide, thus driving the cancer's growth. It is the first drug of the EGFR inhibitors family demonstrated to improve survival.

In November 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration approved erlotinib for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who had received at least one regimen of chemotherapy.

Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide, and it is the leading cause of death from cancer in North America. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for almost 80 percent of all cases.

"This is a welcome advance in the treatment of lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer death in Canada," comments Dr. Barbara Whylie, CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society.