Experience with erlotinib in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

摘要: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. In last decade, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling pathway has emerged as one most important molecular aberrations, representing an attractive therapeutic target in NSCLC. Drugs interfering with tyrosine kinase domain EGFR (EGFR TKIs), such erlotinib and gefitinib, have demonstrated efficacy patients advanced NSCLC irrespective therapy line particularly harbouring activating mutations gene (EGFR(mut+)). Results large phase III randomized trials clearly established that TKIs are superior to chemotherapy frontline treatment EGFR(mut+), whereas wild-type (EGFR(WT)) or unknown population, platinum-based standard care, no consistent benefit produced by addition TKI. pretreated NSCLC, considered more effective than monotherapy cytotoxics presence classical mutations, EGFR(WT) a similar docetaxel pemetrexed terms survival been demonstrated. Unfortunately, who initially responded invariably develop acquired resistance. For there is urgent need for strategies able delay possibly overcome present review we analysed available data on