IMPRESS study in NSCLC shows no difference in continuation of Iressa after disease progression - AstraZeneca

The IMPRESS study recruited 265 patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer who were experiencing disease progression after treatment with Iressa (gefitinib) from AstraZeneca. Patients were randomised to treatment with gefitinib plus cisplatin and pemetrexed, or the doublet alone. The primary endpoint for the study was progression-free survival (PFS).

The results from IMPRESS have been describes as "dismal". The response rates for the two patient cohorts were 31.6% for the TKI regimen versus 34.1% for the doublet alone. “No difference whatsoever,” observed Dr Mok investigator of the IMPRESS study." As for median PFS, both study arms showed disease progression at 5.4 months. “Continuation of a TKI is no longer an acceptable practice once the patient has progressed,” Dr Mok concluded. “They should just go on to chemo at this point.”