Erlotinib with pemetrexed/cisplatin for patients with EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma with brain metastases

Erlotinib and pemetrexed have been approved for the second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Recent reports indicated that erlotinib and pemetrexed exerted synergistic effects against lung adenocarcinoma. The available treatment options for lung cancer with brain metastases (BM) are currently limited. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of the combined administration of erlotinib and pemetrexed in 9 patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild-type lung adenocarcinoma with BM. Pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) and cisplatin (20 mg/m2) were administered on day 1 and days 1-3, respectively. Erlotinib (150 mg) was administered daily on days 4-20. The 9 patients harbored EGFR wild-type mutation in the primary tumor tissues. With regard to the BM, no patients achieved complete remission, 7 patients exhibited a partial response (PR), 1 had stable disease (SD) and 1 had progressive disease (PD). As regards the extracranial tumors, 3 patients exhibited a PR, 2 had SD, 3 had PD and 1 was not applicable. The performance status and the symptoms improved in 3 patients following treatment. The median progression-free survival for intracranial and extracranial disease control was 179 and 146.5 days, respectively. The median overall survival was 197.4 days. Therefore, erlotinib combined with pemetrexed/cisplatin, was found to be effective in the treatment of patients with EGFR wild-type lung adenocarcinoma.