To clarify whether EGFR gene mutation status affects clinical prognosis with these two treatment patterns, subgroup analyses were performed, and the results indicated that only the NSCLC patients who possessed an EGFR gene mutation acquired a survival benefit in terms of PFS (P < 0.05) with the method of EGFR TKI administration between chemotherapy cycles compared to chemotherapy alone. Here, EGFR is linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma.