Long-Term Survival of a Patient With Late-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) a significant component of those deaths.1,2 Treatments for advanced-stage NSCLC, however, are limited. Erlotinib, a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has aided in advancing NSCLC therapy. Erlotinib has been shown to increase survival by 2 months compared with placebo in a phase 3, randomized controlled trial when used as second- or third-line therapy.3 The authors present a case of a man surviving almost 8 years with late-stage NSCLC on treatment with erlotinib at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center (WLAMC).

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