Table 2 Patients characteristics: Arm A: erlotinib followed by docetaxel plus gemcitabine (DG) after progression; Arm B: DG followed by erlotinib after progression (* no significant difference, ** p = 0.013)

n = 48

n = 51

Age mean (years)

76 ± 5

76 ± 4*

Gender male (%)

29 (60 %)

30 (59 %)*

Smoker

6 (13 %)

8 (16 %)*

Current

26 (54 %)

25 (49 %)

Former

15 (31 %)

15 (29 %)

Never smoker

1 (2 %)

3 (6 %)

Unknown

Performance status

22 (47 %)

21 (41 %)*

0

21 (45 %)

28 (55 %)

1

4 (9 %)

2 (4 %)

2

Stage

6 (13 %)

4 (8 %)*

IIIB

42 (87 %)

47 (92 %)

IV

Histology

11 (23 %)

8 (16 %)**

Squamous cell

28 (58 %)

29 (57 %)

Adenocarcinoma

9 (19 %)

14 (28 %)

Undifferentiated

Second line treatment

29 (60 %)

24 (47 %)**