Erlotinib: A Guide to Its Use in First-Line Treatment of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Epidermal Growth Factor-Activating Mutations

Lyseng-Williamson, Katherine A.

K. A. Lyseng-Williamson
Adis, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay,
North Shore, 0754 Auckland, New Zealand
e-mail: [email protected]

The manuscript was reviewed byA. Bearz, Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy; E. Cortesi, Medical Oncology B, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.

Published online: 19 January 2013

Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy 17(1):p 57-62, February 2013. | DOI: 10.1007/s40291-013-0015-x

Abstract

In the EU, the approved use of erlotinib (Tarceva^®), an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has recently been expanded to include first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with EGFR-activating mutations. In randomized, open-label, phase III clinical trials, oral erlotinib reduced the risk of progression, improved response rates, and was well tolerated relative to standard platinum-based doublet chemotherapy in Caucasian and Asian populations with advanced NSCLC with EGFR-activating mutations.