Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the included patients.
| Variables | H group (n = 48) | S group (n = 48) |
|---|---|---|
| Median age in years (range) | 55.5 (33-83) | 57.5 (32-83) |
| Gender | ||
| Male | 24 | 19 |
| Female | 24 | 29 |
| Current or former smoker, n | 18 | 15 |
| Histopathology, n | ||
| Adenocarcinoma | 44 | 41 |
| Non-adenocarcinoma | 4 | 7 |
| EGFR status*, n | ||
| Mutant type (MT) | 10 | 15 |
| Wild type (WT) | 33 | 25 |
| Unknown | 5 | 8 |
| Current treatment, n | ||
| Second- or third-line | 43 | 39 |
| Fourth-line | 2 | 3 |
| First-line or maintenance | 3 | 6 |
| Former platinum-based chemotherapy, n | 42 | 42 |
*Methods: PCR or direct sequencing (formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue, n = 51) or HPLC (blood sample, n = 32); H groups refers to escalated gefitinib (500 mg/d), while S group refers to standard-dose gefitinib (250 mg/d).